The Ultimate Guide to DND Paladin Gods (5e List & Breakdown)
- Nick@Verse
- 2 days ago
- 11 min read
Paladins are the holy champions of Dungeons and Dragons, armored warriors who blend martial prowess with divine power. But where does that power come from? For many, the answer lies with a higher being. Choosing a patron deity is one of the most exciting parts of creating a paladin, shaping their morals, their mission, and the very light they wield.
This guide is the ultimate resource for DND Paladin Gods. We will break down everything you need to know, from whether your paladin even needs a god in 5th Edition to a comprehensive list of the most popular and compelling deities you can serve. We will explore gods from the Forgotten Realms and beyond, helping you find the perfect divine patron to fuel your sacred quest.
Table of Contents
Do Paladins Need a God in 5e? The Oath vs. The Deity
This is the most common question players have, and the answer is a crucial one for understanding the modern paladin.
In previous editions of Dungeons and Dragons, a paladin’s power came directly and exclusively from a god. To be a paladin was to be a divine servant. In 5th Edition, this has changed. A paladin's power now comes from the sheer force of their conviction to a Sacred Oath. Your oath is a set of tenets so powerful and binding that it allows you to shape reality and channel divine energy.
So, technically, no, a 5e paladin does not need a god. You could swear an Oath of Vengeance because you despise a certain evil, not because a god told you to.
However, choosing to serve one of the many DND Paladin Gods adds incredible depth, roleplaying opportunities, and a narrative anchor for your character. Following a deity provides:
A Clear Mission: Your god's portfolio gives you purpose. A paladin of Lathander seeks to create new beginnings, while a paladin of Torm seeks to defend the innocent.
A Community: Worshipping a god connects you to their church, their temples, and their followers, giving you a network of allies (and potential quest givers).
A Moral Compass: When you're faced with a tough choice, asking "What would my god want me to do?" is a powerful roleplaying tool.
For most players, the best experience comes from tying your Oath to a deity whose beliefs align with your tenets. Your oath is the "how," and your god is the "why."
How to Choose a God for Your Paladin
With countless gods to choose from, picking the right one can feel daunting. To find the perfect fit, consider these three key factors.
Consider Your Paladin's Oath
Your subclass, or Sacred Oath, is the single biggest factor. The tenets of your oath should resonate with the teachings of your chosen god.
Oath of Devotion: These paladins are the archetypal knights in shining armor. They are drawn to gods of justice, honor, and compassion like Torm, Tyr, and Bahamut.
Oath of Vengeance: Focused on punishing sinners by any means necessary, these paladins are drawn to gods of justice, retribution, and even war, such as Tyr, Hoar, and Helm.
Oath of the Ancients: These paladins protect the light and life of the natural world. They often serve nature deities or gods of beauty and joy, like Lathander or Selûne.
Oath of Conquest: These paladins believe in crushing chaos through absolute order and iron rule. They may serve Lawful Neutral gods of war or even benevolent deities with a "might makes right" philosophy like Bahamut in his most commanding aspect.
Oath of Redemption: Believing that anyone can be saved, these paladins are drawn to gods of compassion, mercy, and endurance, with Ilmater being the perfect example.
Align with Your Alignment
In Dungeons and Dragons, alignment is a shorthand for your character's moral and ethical worldview. For a paladin, it's the compass that guides how they interpret their sacred oath and serve their chosen god. While the classic image is a Lawful Good knight, 5th Edition offers a much richer tapestry of possibilities. Understanding the nuances of alignment is key to selecting one of the many DND Paladin Gods and creating a truly memorable character.
Your character's alignment should generally be within one step of your deity's. This "one-step rule" ensures that your core values are not in direct opposition to the divine being granting you power. A conflict of ideals makes for a poor partnership.
The "One-Step" Rule Explained
Think of the alignment chart as a grid. You can move one square away from your god's alignment horizontally or vertically.
A Lawful Good Paladin can comfortably serve a Lawful Good god (a perfect match), a Neutral Good god (prioritizing goodness over law), or a Lawful Neutral god (prioritizing law over goodness).
Let's break down what these combinations look like in practice:
The Classic Match (Lawful Good Paladin, Lawful Good God): This is the straightforward path. You serve a god like Torm, and your belief in an orderly, compassionate society aligns perfectly with his. Your personal code and your divine mandate are one and the same.
The Compassionate Champion (Lawful Good Paladin, Neutral Good God): Here, you serve a god like Lathander. You personally believe in laws and structure, but your god prioritizes renewal and beauty above all. This can create compelling roleplaying moments. What happens when a law is unjust and prevents a new beginning? You might bend the rules, knowing your god will approve of the good you are doing.
The Stern Justicar (Lawful Good Paladin, Lawful Neutral God): This is a fascinating dynamic. You serve a god like Helm, whose primary concern is vigilance and upholding the rules, period. You are a compassionate person, but your divine duty may force you to make difficult choices. You might have to uphold a harsh but necessary law, causing personal conflict between your merciful heart and your sacred duty.
Exploring Paladin Alignments Beyond Lawful Good
The alignment you choose defines your paladin's core philosophy. Let’s explore the most common options and how they connect to the pantheon of DND Paladin Gods.
Philosophy: "A just society with strong laws is the best way to protect the innocent and promote goodness."
This is the archetypal paladin. You believe in order, honor, and compassion. You fight for justice not just by striking down evil, but by building and upholding the institutions that keep it at bay. You are a knight, a diplomat, and a symbol of hope. Your strength lies in your unwavering reliability and your belief that working together under a code of honor can overcome any darkness.
Common Oaths: Devotion, Crown, Redemption.
Ideal Gods: Torm (duty), Tyr (justice), Bahamut (honor), Ilmater (compassion).
Philosophy: "Laws and traditions are good, but the well-being of the people is what truly matters. Do what is right, not what is written."
A Neutral Good paladin is driven by empathy and a desire to do good above all else. They respect the law but will not hesitate to break it if it stands in the way of justice or compassion. This is the paladin who smuggles food to starving peasants under a tyrant's rule or defies a king's order to protect a sacred forest. Their loyalty is to the ideals of life and liberty, not to a specific code.
Common Oaths: Ancients, Redemption.
Ideal Gods: Lathander (renewal and hope), Selûne (protection and freedom), Lliira (joy and liberty).
Philosophy: "Order is the only true shield against the chaos that threatens to consume the world. The law is the law, and it must be upheld."
This paladin is a figure of immense conviction and unyielding principle. For them, order, discipline, and judgment are the highest virtues. They may not be driven by compassion, but by a cold, hard belief that a perfectly ordered world is a safe world. This is the paladin who will hunt down a beloved hero who broke a treaty, because the treaty itself is more important than any one person. They are not necessarily unkind, but their devotion is to the system, not the individual.
Common Oaths: Conquest, Watchers, Crown.
Ideal Gods: Helm (vigilance and protection), Hoar (inescapable justice), Savras (absolute truth).
Can a Paladin Be Chaotic Good? The Rebel Saint
While unconventional, a Chaotic Good paladin is certainly possible and makes for an incredible character.
Philosophy: "True goodness comes from individual freedom and the courage to fight for it. Institutions are corruptible; trust your heart and your allies."
A Chaotic Good paladin's divine conviction is tied to the ideals of freedom, rebellion against tyranny, and individual choice. They would see the rigid structure of a Lawful Good paladin as just another form of control. This is the paladin leading a peasant rebellion, the one who breaks into a noble's castle to free a political prisoner, or the one who defends a community of outcasts. Their oath is a promise to tear down oppression wherever they find it.
Common Oaths: Ancients, Vengeance (against a specific tyranny), Glory (personal heroism).
Ideal Gods: Lliira (Our Lady of Joy), Selûne (Moonmaiden), or even a nature god like Silvanus, who represents the untamed wild.
Match Your Character's Backstory
Why did your character swear their oath? The answer often points to a specific god.
Did a wandering priest of Ilmater save your family from a plague? You might dedicate your life to the Crying God.
Was your village destroyed by bandits, leaving you as the sole survivor? You might swear an Oath of Vengeance in Tyr's name, seeking justice for your people.
Did you find solace and hope in the beauty of a sunrise after a great personal tragedy? You might be drawn to the renewal offered by Lathander.
The Core Pantheon: Popular DND Paladin Gods (Forgotten Realms)
The Forgotten Realms is the default setting for many 5e campaigns, and its pantheon is rich with excellent choices for paladins. Here are some of the most revered and popular options.
Torm (The Loyal Fury)
Alignment: Lawful Good
Domains: War, Order
Recommended Oaths: Devotion, Crown
Who He Is: Torm is the god of duty, loyalty, and righteousness. He is a shining beacon of heroism and self-sacrifice. He once died to destroy the evil god Bane and was later resurrected by his followers' unwavering devotion. This act makes him the ultimate paragon for those who believe in laying down their lives for the greater good.
Why a Paladin Would Follow Him: You believe that loyalty and duty are the highest virtues. You are a steadfast defender of the weak and a loyal soldier in the war against evil. You strive to be a source of courage and hope for others.
Tyr (The Even-Handed)
Alignment: Lawful Good
Domains: Order, War
Recommended Oaths: Vengeance, Devotion
Who He Is: Tyr is the god of justice. Maimed and blinded in a battle to trap an evil primordial, he is a symbol that justice must be impartial and blind to temptation. Tyr is uncompromising, believing that the law is the ultimate tool to build a safe and just society. His justice is swift and fair, but not always merciful.
Why a Paladin Would Follow Him: You believe that laws are the bedrock of civilization and that no one, from the king to the commoner, is above them. You are dedicated to rooting out corruption and punishing the wicked for their crimes.
Helm (The Vigilant One)
Alignment: Lawful Neutral
Domains: Protection, Order
Recommended Oaths: Devotion, Watchers, Conquest
Who He Is: Helm is the god of guardians, protection, and vigilance. He is the eternal sentry, the one who stands watch and never falters. During the Time of Troubles, when other gods roamed the earth, Helm was the only one who stayed at his post to guard the heavens, a duty that cost him dearly in popularity but earned him eternal respect for his dedication.
Why a Paladin Would Follow Him: You believe in your duty above all else. You are a protector, a guardian who willingly sacrifices personal comfort to ensure the safety of others. You are the shield that stands between civilization and the darkness.
Ilmater (The Crying God)
Alignment: Lawful Good
Domains: Life, Peace
Recommended Oaths: Redemption, Devotion
Who He Is: Ilmater is the god of suffering, martyrdom, and compassion. He is the one who willingly takes the pain of others onto himself. His followers are dedicated to healing the sick, comforting the afflicted, and protecting the oppressed. They are not pacifists, however; they will fight fiercely to end the suffering caused by others.
Why a Paladin Would Follow Him: You are moved by the suffering in the world and have sworn to alleviate it. You believe that no one should have to suffer alone, and you willingly bear the burdens of others. Your path is one of mercy and self-sacrifice.
Lathander (The Morninglord)
Alignment: Neutral Good
Domains: Life, Light
Recommended Oaths: Ancients, Devotion
Who He Is: Lathander is the god of the dawn, renewal, birth, and creativity. He represents hope, new beginnings, and the untapped potential of a new day. His followers are optimists who fight to destroy the undead and promote growth and creation. They believe in second chances and working towards a better future.
Why a Paladin Would Follow Him: You are a beacon of hope in a dark world. You believe that even after the most terrible night, the sun will rise again. You fight to protect beauty and new life, and you seek to inspire others to build a brighter future.
Bahamut (The Platinum Dragon)
Alignment: Lawful Good
Domains: Order, War, Protection
Recommended Oaths: Devotion, Conquest, Crown
Who He Is: Though not originally a human deity, the King of Good Dragons is worshipped by many humanoids, especially paladins. Bahamut is the god of justice, nobility, and honor. He is a stern but benevolent father figure who demands the best from his followers. He despises evil and is a relentless foe to his evil sister, Tiamat.
Why a Paladin Would Follow Him: You hold yourself to the highest standards of honor and nobility. You seek to protect the innocent and administer justice with a firm but fair hand. You lead by example and inspire greatness in those around you.
Paladin Gods of Other Alignments
While most DND Paladin Gods are Lawful Good, compelling stories can be told by serving deities of different alignments.
Lawful Neutral Gods
Hoar (The Doombringer): A god of poetic justice and deserved revenge. An Oath of Vengeance paladin serving Hoar would be a terrifying and relentless instrument of fate.
Savras (The All-Seeing): The god of divination and truth. A paladin of Savras might be an investigator, dedicated to uncovering hidden truths and exposing lies.
Chaotic Good Gods
Lliira (Our Lady of Joy): The goddess of happiness, freedom, and dance. An Oath of the Ancients paladin serving Lliira would protect the simple joys of life, fighting against tyranny and despair with a song in their heart.
Selûne (The Moonmaiden): The goddess of the moon and stars. Her paladins are often wanderers and protectors of those who travel in the night, fighting against lycanthropes and other creatures of darkness.
Gods from Other DND Settings
Your campaign might not be in the Forgotten Realms. Here are some paladin-centric gods from other popular D&D worlds.
Greyhawk
Heironeous: The god of chivalry, justice, honor, and war. The archetypal choice for any Lawful Good paladin in this setting.
St. Cuthbert: The god of common sense, zeal, and discipline. His paladins enforce a strict and simple moral code.
Dragonlance
Paladine: The Platinum Dragon himself, leader of the gods of good. The equivalent of Bahamut and the highest ideal for the Knights of Solamnia.
Kiri-Jolith: The god of honor, courage, and righteous warfare. The patron of paladins who are also great military leaders.
Eberron
The Silver Flame: Not a god, but a divine force of pure good. Paladins of the Silver Flame are zealous crusaders dedicated to protecting the innocent from supernatural evil.
Dol Arrah: The goddess of honor, sacrifice, and sunlight. She is the light of hope in battle and a perfect patron for a Devotion paladin.
DND Paladin Gods FAQ
What is the best god for a Vengeance Paladin?Tyr and Hoar are excellent choices. Tyr represents systematic justice and punishing lawbreakers, while Hoar embodies a more personal, poetic form of revenge against those who have wronged you or others.
Can a paladin be evil?Yes, but they are rare. The Oath of Conquest can be followed by a Lawful Evil character, and the Oathbreaker is a specific subclass for paladins who have fallen to darkness. An evil paladin might serve a tyrannical god like Bane or an evil dragon queen like Tiamat.
Do paladins lose their powers if they change gods?Since a paladin's power comes from their Oath, not their god, changing your worship does not automatically cause a loss of power. However, if your new god's ideals are in direct conflict with your oath's tenets, your Dungeon Master may require you to either change your oath or seek atonement.
What happens if a paladin's god dies?This is a rare and epic event. A paladin would not immediately lose their power, as their conviction remains. However, it would trigger a massive crisis of faith and a fantastic story arc. The paladin might seek to resurrect their god, find a new deity to champion, or find their faith in their oath alone strengthened.
Can a Paladin follow a custom or homebrew god?Absolutely! Working with your Dungeon Master to create a unique god for your paladin is a fantastic way to integrate your character deeply into the campaign world. Use the gods listed here as inspiration for your own creation.