Baldur’s Gate 3: Best Paladin Multiclass Build

The Paladin is one of the most self-sufficient classes in Baldur’s Gate 3, combining support, weapon damage, and magic in one heavily-armored package. When it comes to multiclassing a Paladin, the best strategy is to build around its Divine Smite feature, mixing in a full caster to increase the amount of spell slots available. While any full spellcaster class can fulfill this role in Baldur’s Gate 3, the best choice is a class that shares the Paladin’s need for high Charisma, such as the Sorcerer, Bard, or Warlock.

Of the three Charisma-based casters, the Sorcerer is the strongest pick overall for this build, forming a synergistic combo with the Paladin that is commonly known as a Sorcadin. The core idea behind the Sorcadin has three parts:

• Use the Sorcerer’s extra spell slots to fuel Divine Smite.
• Use the Paladin’s toughness to mitigate the Sorcerer’s weaknesses.
• Use the Sorcerer’s Twinned and Quickened Metamagics to break the action economy.

The Twinned Spell Metamagic will allow the Sorcadin to apply powerful buffs or debuffs to multiple targets at once, relying on their excellent Constitution Saving Throws to maintain Concentration. Similarly, Quickened Spell will give the Sorcadin the ability to debuff a target with a spell like Hold Person as a Bonus Action, then use their Action to land a guaranteed Divine Smite critical hit for massive damage.

Best Paladin Multiclass Build – The Sorcadin Level 1-6

Any Sorcadin build should begin as a Paladin at level 1 in order to start the game with Heavy Armor Proficiency, allowing the character to dump Dexterity completely. This will allow them to focus on Strength, Charisma, and Constitution, all of which are important for this build. After level 1, players can either continue as a full Paladin to level 6, or mix in Sorcerer levels along the way. Both routes have their advantages and disadvantages, and the simple respec system in Baldur’s Gate 3 means that players can always switch from one to the other.

First Option: Paladin Focus

The simplest route to a 6/6 Sorcadin is to start with 6 levels in Paladin. This will allow players to take full advantage of the Paladin’s survivability in the early game, as well as earning them the all-important Divine Smite, Extra Attack, and Aura of Protection features. While this route is simpler, it’s not the best choice for players who are anxious to reach their multiclass in Act 1.

• Level 1: Paladin
  • Lay on Hands
  • Channel Oath
  • Divine Sense
  • Oath Subclass (Any)
• Level 2: Paladin
  • Divine Smite
  • Fighting Style (Any)
  • Spellcasting
• Level 3: Paladin
• Level 4: Paladin
  • Feat (+2 Strength, or half-Feat with +1 Strength if currently at Strength 17)
• Level 5: Paladin
• Level 6: Paladin

Second Option: Multiclass Focus

Alternatively, Sorcadins can focus on gaining early spell slots and take a few levels of Sorcerer on their way to level 6. This will greatly increase their magical abilities with more and higher spell slots, a Bloodline subclass, Metamagic, and access to useful spells like Shield. With this route, it’s still recommended to start with two levels of Paladin, in order to pick up Heavy Armor Proficiency and Divine Smite.

• Level 1: Paladin
  • Lay on Hands
  • Channel Oath
  • Divine Sense
  • Oath Subclass (Any)
• Level 2: Paladin
  • Divine Smite
  • Fighting Style (Any)
  • Spellcasting
• Level 3: Sorcerer
• Level 4: Sorcerer
  • Sorcery Points
  • Metamagic (Twinned Spell + 1 other)
• Level 5: Sorcerer
  • Metamagic (Quickened Spell)
• Level 6: Sorcerer
  • Feat (+2 Strength, or half-Feat with +1 Strength if currently at Strength 17)

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The Sorcadin Level 7-12

First Option Continued

Players who chose to stay as a pure Paladin from Level 1-6 will want to transition to pure Sorcerer for the rest of the game, creating the ideal 6/6 Sorcadin combo. While this means they lose out on high level Paladin features, the loss is more than compensated by the massive boost to spell slots and Sorcery Points:

• Level 7: Sorcerer
• Level 8: Sorcerer
  • Sorcery Points
  • Metamagic (Twinned Spell + 1 other)
• Level 9: Sorcerer
  • Metamagic (Quickened Spell)
• Level 10: Sorcerer
• Level 11: Sorcerer
• Level 12: Sorcerer

Second Option Continued

Alternatively, players who chose to take Sorcerer from 3-6 should take two more Sorcerer levels and then focus on maxing out their Paladin levels. This will provide them with plentiful spell slots and Sorcery Points through the mid-game, and then unlock the powerful Paladin features like Extra Attack and Aura of Protection just in time for the final difficulty spike.

• Level 11: Sorcerer
• Level 12: Sorcerer
• Level 3: Paladin
• Level 4: Paladin
• Level 5: Paladin
• Level 6: Paladin