Gnome Oath of Vengeance Paladin Build Guide

Combining the relentless fury of an Oath of Vengeance Paladin with the magical defenses of a Gnome creates an unstoppable, spell-resistant frontline Striker.

4/10 Synergy Striker Role Medium Difficulty

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Why Oath of Vengeance?

As an Oath of Vengeance Paladin, your primary role in the party is a Striker, meaning you excel at focusing on a single high-priority target and taking them down quickly. While most Paladins rely solely on heavy armor and physical might, choosing a Gnome adds a powerful layer of magical defense. Thanks to your Gnomish Cunning, you gain advantage (rolling twice and taking the higher result) on saving throws against magic using Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma, making you exceptionally resilient against enemy spellcasters who try to control or weaken you.

Once you are safely in the fray, your subclass features allow you to hunt down your prey with terrifying efficiency. With your Level 3 feature, Vow of Enmity, you can target a boss or a powerful foe to gain advantage on all attack rolls against them. When combined with your high Strength (15) and Charisma (14), you will rarely miss your strikes, allowing you to reliably unleash devastating Divine Smites.

Additionally, your Gnome Darkvision ensures that dim light or absolute darkness won't hinder your pursuit. You can track your targets into the deepest dungeons without needing a torch, keeping your hands free for your weapon and shield as you execute your righteous wrath.

Oath of Vengeance Features

Oath of Vengeance Spells

Level 3

You gain oath spells at the paladin levels listed in the Oath of Vengeance Spells table. [Oath of Vengeance Spells: 1st - Bane, Thunderous Smite; 2nd - Hold Person, Misfortune; 3rd - Counterspell, Haste; 4th - Dimension Door, Guardian of Faith; 5th - Hold Monster, Scrying]

Vow of Enmity

Level 3

As a Bonus Action, you can utter a vow to strike down a creature you can see within 10 feet of you. For the next minute, you have Advantage on melee attack rolls against the creature. You can end this vow early if the creature drops to 0 hit points or if you become Incapacitated.

Relentless Avenger

Level 7

Your speed increases by 10 feet while you're not Incapacitated. In addition, when you hit a creature with a melee weapon attack, you can make a Bonus Action attack against the creature.

Soul of Vengeance

Level 15

As a Reaction, you can attack a creature that has been hit by you or an ally within 10 feet of you during the last round. You can use this ability a number of times equal to your Charisma modifier (minimum of once). You regain all expended uses when you finish a Long Rest.

Avenging Angel

Level 20

As an action, you can transform into an avenging angel for 1 hour. You gain a Flying speed of 60 feet. You gain resistance to all damage. When you hit a creature with a melee weapon attack, that creature takes an extra 5d6 radiant damage. You can use this feature once, and you regain the ability to use it when you finish a Long Rest.

Recommended Ability Scores

Strength★

15(+2)

Dexterity

10(+0)

Constitution

13(+1)

Intelligence

8(-1)

Wisdom

12(+1)

Charisma★

14(+2)

HP (Lv1)

Initiative

Passive Per.

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Gnome Traits That Benefit Oath of Vengeance Paladin

Gnomish Cunning

Extra saving throw advantages protect against debilitating spells and effects.

Darkvision

Gnome Darkvision helps Paladins scout ahead and fight in darkness without needing a torch.

Combat Effectiveness

Level	HP	Melee DPR
Level 5	39	7.8
Level 11	81	7.15
Level 17	123	7.15

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Strengths & Weaknesses

Strengths

♦ Oath of Vengeance grants Oath of Vengeance Spells at level 3
♦ High hit points for frontline durability
♦ Darkvision for dungeon exploration
♦ Strong melee damage output
♦ Divine Smite provides burst damage

Weaknesses

♦ Small size limits heavy weapon usage
♦ May require careful feat selection to optimize

Pro Tips

Use Vow of Enmity on the strongest enemy in the room to secure easy hits and maximize your chance for critical Divine Smites.

Leverage Gnomish Cunning to confidently charge enemy spellcasters, knowing you have a natural defense against their debilitating magical saving throws.

Use your Darkvision to ambush foes in the dark, utilizing the cover of shadows to get close before initiating your vengeful strikes.

Once you unlock Relentless Avenger, use your opportunity attacks to move closer to fleeing enemies, ensuring they can never escape your reach.

Other Paladin Subclasses for Gnome

Gnome Oath of Devotion Paladin Defender Gnome Oath of Glory Paladin Striker Gnome Oath of the Ancients Paladin Defender

Other Races for Oath of Vengeance Paladin

Aasimar Oath of Vengeance Paladin 10/10 Dragonborn Oath of Vengeance Paladin 10/10 Dwarf Oath of Vengeance Paladin 8/10 Goliath Oath of Vengeance Paladin 5/10 Orc Oath of Vengeance Paladin 5/10 Tiefling Oath of Vengeance Paladin 5/10

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Oath of Vengeance a good subclass for Gnome Paladin?

Yes, it is an excellent and highly durable choice. Gnomes are naturally resistant to mental saving throws, which covers a Paladin's typical weakness against spells like Hold Person. When you pair this defense with the high offensive output of the Oath of Vengeance's Vow of Enmity, you get a tenacious Striker who can shrug off magical crowd-control and stay locked onto their target.

What makes Oath of Vengeance different from other Paladin subclasses?

While other Paladin subclasses focus on defending allies or healing, the Oath of Vengeance specializes in relentless offensive power and tracking down single targets. Features like Vow of Enmity grant you guaranteed combat advantages, while Relentless Avenger ensures your prey cannot escape your wrath, making you the ultimate offensive duelist.

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