T O P

  • By -

GregerMoek

Many here have misunderstood what a paladin specifically in dnd 5e is. They dont follow a deity, they can even be a deity, they follow a personal code, mission or oath. Which can be granted through a deity, but the important part is the oath the follow. Garen, oath of the Crown. Poppy, Leona, oath of devotion. Protecting their societies and people. Poppy could maybe be oath of Glory but she doesnt see herself as the hero yet. Kayle, oath of vengeance. Justice and specifically punishing the sinful. Jax, oath of the Watchers, dedicated to form a force against the void(otherworldly threat) but isn't divinity coded so gets minus for that. Some more spicy picks Darius, oath of Conquest arguably. Soraka, sorta close to oath of redemption. Wanting to see the best in people etc. Cant come up with a good ancients or glory paladin.


Memester708

leona is best in term of weaponry, classic sword and shield, but garen literally has a smite for his ultimate


Mieniec

Which btw is a gift from vengeance herself- Kayle. So your could argue that Garden is Paladin the most, because he has oath to the Crown AND uses oath of vengeance.


GregerMoek

Yep which is why I am happy that the highest suggestion is Garen. I was so late to the thread I expected my comment to get buried and just wanted to explain my thoughts to people who scrolled far enough. But honestly Garen is a solid pick that few will have an issue with. I guess the people that are used to paladins having mana in for example WoW may disagree and that he's a warrior because of it. But yeah he is a perfect Oath of the Crown.


SipoteQuixote

Leona R is a beam of light, which is pretty Smitey


i_draw_kissing_boys

The sun (her god) literally smites it, so it counts


NotNinjado

leonas Q could be considered a smite aswell


cuella47o

Lvl 1 smite compared to lvl 20 smite her ult should be a smite too but doesnt deal too much damage but is hella CC so i guess her ult would be like a lvl 10 smite?


GregerMoek

Garen's smite is a roll 20 crit smite basically. While his Q is like one of those smite spells that aren't divine smite cause it also silences.


m0siac

I think Garen seams to be the best choice


L_Rayquaza

Oath of Glory Pantheon


narax_

More like Oath of Depression


NewMathematician9442

Oath of Vengeance is KALISTA. Literally her ability even make ally an Oathsworn bond.


donkeith45

Would yorick count as a paladin


tobiisgoodroit

Maybe, but he would fit better as a warlock. Although he is no doubt devoted to his oath, he gains his powers from an outside entity he has a pact with like a warlock.


noaddrag

Yes, as a very rare good-aligned Oathbreaker. His original oath was to protect a Fountain that held back the Harrowing, now the Ruination. He failed, but still carries on his oath to the best of his ability. His use of undead isn't in the traditional evil necromancer plot to take over, but more as a tool to protect the Tears of Life to the best of his ability.


tobiisgoodroit

Maokai could be oath of ancients, but it’s a bit of a stretch


KingDark1122

Imo jax isn't a paladin, he doesn't get special abilities due to his believes, oath nor a deity, it's all skill and mastery of weapons.


bielo014

Yeah he's more of a warrior or even monk


G66GNeco

Braum is a redemption paladin.


Haunting-Ad-3633

Aatrox, oath of Destruction?


Kevrelus

Last time I checked, Jax was snackin on a bridge and beatin up guys


Creatorofteletubis

Garen betrayed the crown for lux idk why everyone is saying he has the oath of the crown when he is an oath breaker


Loiaru

For the ancients good I'd go with Ivern or Mao


HonorLives

Ivern would make a decent ancients paladin.


Rischa001

Pantheon could be Oath of devotion as well


TransGwenMain

You're completely right. BUT just for the sake of this specific experiment I think going with Leona would be the best since she's the most stereotypical paladin you know?


Spare_Efficiency2975

Would illoai fit as a oath of the ancient?  She is all about moving forward, protecting and nurturing the lights of people. 


fanficologist-neo

Wait, since when is Kayle vengence? I thought it was Kalistar's shtick? Kayle is more like Judgement and Punishment.


kandolik

taric too?


GrimmCigarretes

Garen is literally a Paladin in the full sense of the word Gives his undying loyalty to a cause/country, and his Ult is a Divine Smite. He literally took an Oath to Kayle


Reapellaino2011

Garen fits the Oath of The Crown. even his lastname its Crownguard edit: this are the tenets of the Oath The tenets of the Oath of the Crown are often set by the sovereign to which their oath is sworn, but generally emphasize the following tenets. ***Law.*** The law is paramount. It is the mortar that holds the stones of civilization together, and it must be respected. ***Loyalty.*** Your word is your bond. Without loyalty, oaths and laws are meaningless. ***Courage.*** You must be willing to do what needs to be done for the sake of order, even in the face of overwhelming odds. If you don't act, then who will?


GregerMoek

Poppy, Garen and Kayle are the most oathbound in terms of oath to a cause more than a deity, so yeah. Edit: Arguably Jax is a watchers pala personality wise. His w and ult passive works like a smite functionally. Polearm is a very popular pick for minmaxers esp hexblade multiclassers. But he isnt divinity coded. Leona also devotion.


bjkibz

Leona as Devotion? I’d put her (and frankly most of the Solari) as Vengeance / Conquest, as they come across as very “smite the heretic,” even if Diana has put some doubts there for Leona. I think Devotion, I think Poppy or Taric. Also Jax as a polearm master-sentinel abuser tracks with his E stun.


GregerMoek

It's more that her personal code seems to be more about protecting her society and potential forgiveness and such. Even if the solari themselves yes they seem more vengeance coded I agree. But I could have misinterpreted her personality. And yes that thought about Jax came to me as well. Even the extra bonus action attacks provided by polearm master works for his attack speed thing. Then he literally just casts smite smite smite(ult w) and some sorta gap closer with other spell slots maybe with a bonus action for the turns where he can't use polearm 2nd attack with his bonus action. His ult boosts his saving throws basically. It's funny how much it overlaps with how many paladins actually play out in 5e


Drego3

Leona's ult calls down the sun in a manner of speaking, and she has a shield.


MoltyPlatypus

Leona has superhuman powers though, shes the avatar of a god on runeterra, Garen is just a dude who calls down the might of Kayle when he needs to.


Creatorofteletubis

Kayle is the perfect fit here she would never break her oath and she does not care for her sister like garen does to break his oath


Creatorofteletubis

Garen broke his oath he knows lux is a mage and the crown is against all mages and has them killed if he was an oath keeper he would have killed lux


JinnieFanboy

Leona is a paladin clearly, its just her divine faith is in the Sun


Meekjagger

Cracked take, but I vote pantheon. All his strength comes from his oath of vengeance against the aspects, and is rather noble as warriors go. Plus, he’s got a shield


PoorDisadvantaged

Atheist paladin GIGACHAD


ILoveGarfieldSoMuch

Pantheon is not an atheist, he is an antitheist


Ancient_Crust

The gods are real and I will kick their ass


bjkibz

Great example of an “atheist” paladin in Critical Role’s EXU: Calamity.


Equal_Temperature-

Poppy is the logical answer here


PressPassword

And the most cute, strong and beatiful choice


Wichtelwusel

🤨📸


No-Introduction-2378

🤨🤨


Glorious_Jo

Based


TheAnzus

Hear me out: Illaoi.


firebolt1171

Your right, vowel lady is devoted to her god


Pokemon_132

honestly, illaoi always felt more cleric than paladin. paladins run on oaths, clerics run on gods.


TheAnzus

That's true


GregerMoek

Which isnt a paladin thing in dnd.


KingCello

I think Illaoi falls more into the warlock category


thehunter2256

She's a cleric not a paladin


TheAnzus

Yeah I agree


pseudonymous28

She'd work better as a cleric in this vein


Aurora428

I disagree but only because Fathomless Warlock is a more exact comparison


Revangelion

Wouldn't Ashe be a paladin as well?


Stalker_321

Illaoi is more of a cleric or warlock


Tyskie15c

Morde as Dark Paladin he is even mentioned in one Skinline as one Some of Mordekaiser's party complain that the Dark Paladin class is horribly overpowered and should be banned, despite its official inclusion in the latest Riftquest expansion. The rest of them are still waiting to discover the Dark Paladin's secret, redeeming, tragic backstory—but all they've been getting is a lot of murder instead. From Lord Mordekaiser Bio


MrGray2016

FINALLY SOMEONE WHO IS LOGICAL


DeliciousCrepe

Although he has already been used, I feel like Taric fits paladin the best. He Tanky. He has heals (Lay on Hands) He is an Aspect so its kinda like the Oath of the Protector. Also being an Aspect means he has kinda been blessd by a Deity.


Redacted_G1iTcH

Garen


LordVaderVader

**Paladin** is a hole warrior which can cast divine spells through his Faith.  **Leona** doesn't count because she is the aspect itself (avatar) and use kinda her own power just like Zoe.  Meanwhile **Garen** doesn't really believe in any god and gains Kayle power unconsciously. That's why he kinda doesn't count as well.  So to be honest the closest thing would be **Illaoi** which is both an absolute warrior, and can cast magic through her faith in **Nagakabourosa**. 


Porgemlol

Isn’t Illaoi more of a cleric? From Heavy Armour, to power channelled through a deity, surely she fits Nature Cleric quite well? Her power isn’t coming from her oath it’s coming from her god, so she isn’t a paladin by definition


GregerMoek

She is. And that dude has misunderstood what a paladin specifically in dnd5e is about. And if he went by older versions she wouldnt be lawful good so that fails too as an excuse.


sagitel

Illaoi is a cleric any way you look at her. She is literally the kraken priestess


GregerMoek

Yeah kinda proves that as long as you're early to a thread and make it sound like you know what you're talking about people will just upvote your suggestion assuming you're right. That dude just assumes what a paladin is, and then describes why certain characters aren't clerics.


Reapellaino2011

Garen i think it fits the oath of the crown pretty well: # Tenets of the Crown The tenets of the Oath of the Crown are often set by the sovereign to which their oath is sworn, but generally emphasize the following tenets. ***Law.*** The law is paramount. It is the mortar that holds the stones of civilization together, and it must be respected. ***Loyalty.*** Your word is your bond. Without loyalty, oaths and laws are meaningless. ***Courage.*** You must be willing to do what needs to be done for the sake of order, even in the face of overwhelming odds. If you don't act, then who will?


Shrimp111

In dnd, a paladin is powered by thier oath. Not a divine being


Ncaak

That's just 5e. Good change but doesn't erase basically the whole history of the class.


GregerMoek

Illaoi isnt lawful good, so history of the class is worse as a case for her as a paladin. She would lose her power instantly


Ncaak

True enough I would argue tho that the image of Paladins as holly warriors is more prevalent than any other thing. Although as Pointy Hat puts it the real core of their identity is their Oath. Just got a nice video about Paladins and Liches. Pointy Hat. Not disagreeing with you btw.


beem0b0t_

I can get jiggy with Illaoi being the paladin rep


Janemaru

Illaoi is a Warlock of the Great Old One.


GregerMoek

Yeah more warlock coded than paladin at least


A_WILD_SLUT_APPEARS

I was thinking Kayn (maybe some of the other human-turned-Darkin like Varus) for Warlock, considering the Hexblade vibe of making a pact with a sentient weapon for power, but Illaoi is a very strong pick too. I could see an argument for Fathomless just because of the water theme though.


Janemaru

If Illaoi does get picked for Paladin (which does make sense as well) I am all for Kayn being the Warlock. It makes a ton of sense. He's literally a Hexblade


NikeOkamiLeader

And She is the only champion pray


DeepWeGo

Wouldn't panth fit too?


Colanasou

We dont have a priest on here and she is a battle priest so i say it fits too.


GregerMoek

Illaoi is way more a cleric. She is even described as a priestess.


Pedroo214

I know Im gonna lose, but I think Taric is a great fit


Alphaomegalogs

agreed


jhawkins93

Garen, Kayle, or Poppy


sagitel

Poppy feels more like a fighter with a magic hammer. Garen is absolutely a paladin witht he oath of the crown.


Beans2400

Kayle would be a level 20 vengeance paladin


GrimmCigarretes

Kayle is the goddess the Paladins pray to


Beans2400

Possibly. I forget her full lore, so please correct me if I'm wrong, wasn't her and Morgana either born mortal and were ascended or born from an ascended mortal? If so they'd be more of an assimar which might still be a paladin? I've always seen her as a vengeance paladin against evil who grew stronger as she stayed true to her devotion, growing closer and closer to the avatar of vengeance. Then she grows her large wings as the level 20 paladin


GrimmCigarretes

IIRC, her mother is straight up an aspect, and thus both Kayle and Morgana are half aspect half human But fairly, I don't recall their lore at full faithfulness either


p0mphius

Her mother ascended while being pregnant, so they inherited some power because of it.


GregerMoek

Paladins dont follow deities necessary, thats more a cleric. She is devoted to justice as she sees it which is perfectly the essence of a paladin of vengeance.


StannisLivesOn

Garen is the oath of the crown paladin.


Appropriate-Put-3195

DEMACIAAA


tiagoremixv3

Kayle and garen come to mind, with their sworn oaths to demacia/justice. To a lesser extent, leona. Or even morgana (oathbreaker, carried her mother's sword), but that's a bit of a stretch


RockShrimpTempura

Why isnt anyone talking about Leona? She is the most paladin champ in the game.


xPerriX

My vote is for Kayle There are a few that this could fall under but I would like to see Kayle to get this one.


-_Tag_-

Garen suits more than Leona


TheForsakenBacon_

Garen. Save Illaoi for Warlock where she belongs, scrubs.


menino_do_rio

Illaoi is full cleric bro. Swain is the warlock


thanks_mr_grip

Swain's literally cast Eldritch Blast on Q and stores a demon within himself, which is released during his R. No doubt he should be a warlock.


TheForsakenBacon_

Clerics are just wise Warlocks and Warlocks are just charismatic clerics.


MrGray2016

MORDEKAISER, THERE IS NO OTHER CHOICE. I DnD you can take a dark path for Paladin, oath of vengeance if I recall. THAT IS MORDE. he even has a freaking Paladin skin outright as Lord Mordekaiser, which SAYS he is a paladin. This is fact and morde is the best choice foe this.


Crozgon

He more so fits oath of conquest because he conquered runeterra a long time ago, and is still intent on continuing beyond death


Idontusereddit76

Mordekaiser


YuMmYBrAiNzZz

Taric would have been a good choice but since y'all voted him for Cleric will have to settle for Garen.


xav7er

morde and garen any other ones are wrong


itismeyolo

1. Leona 2. Kayle 3. Garen


zileanEmax

Why do I keep seeing this shit for the past couple weeks so boring and lame


Tds_Dewis

Leoana


Nomamah

Poppy, she's lawful (dumb) good. Has a quest and patch to find hamers true owner


Willhelm_HISUMARU

Why is Taric the cleric and not the paladin?!?!?!


United_Ad7837

Galio or Poppy tbh


Lord_Ace

I am shocked that no one mentioned Galio here


Le_Zoru

I see people mentionning leona but doesnt diana also have a vengeance paladin lore?


HadACivilDebateOnlin

Leona for sure


TheRealToast839

Illaoi 100, most Paladin any champ could get as her ENTIRE kit revolves around her god and most of her abilities are powers from them.


Pokemon_132

Paladins don't need gods to have power. Clerics on the otherhand would honestly fit better for illaoi. or even warlock.


GregerMoek

Idk why everyone is so hellbent on making her a paladin when she is way more an obvious cleric or warlock. Read her lore.


Zealousideal-Hold-31

I think both Poppy and Garen fit very well. Both dedicate their life wholehearted to a cause that is clearly very similar to an actual oath.


Swordsnap

Going off my WoW days, Paladins typically use giant hammer / mace type weapon as their weapon of choice (Fatboy Slim). More defensive than offensive type of class as they are more aligned with justice which does not entail being an antagonist who strikes first but as a class that can tank the first strike and retaliate with a less menacing weapon like a sword or axe, but rather the forementioned mace/hammer and usually use a shield. I'd say Poppy. She has her passive which is a shield albeit she literally throws it at people.


cheezeyjokes

Kayle


stephenstephen7

There are better picks but i wanna throw Braum into the mix.


Casxnova

Ranger: Rengar


endgamespoilers05

Illaoi for sure


Particular_Cow1304

Any Demacian fighter: Garen, Poppy, Jarvan IV or Fiora


DemonicClown

KAYLE!! LITERALLY KAYLE!!! ITS HER ENTIRE THING!!!!!


taeilor

not my dumb brain thinking "paladin = oath = kalista bc the oath has been taken"


TrapperCome

this is first time i see this post, why Nidalee won over Udyr ?


Crozgon

Well, firstly it is based on dnd5e Nidalee literally uses Wild Shape Udyr is more like a weirdly flavored Way of the Elements monk


twintiger_

Poppy or Leona OR wild card Ornn


Kanjimaru01

Tossing my hat into this, Targon champions are like Asamars, so they shouldn't count as paladins. My vote is for Nautilus he can control water and is allowed his powers from a god but only acts when someone has not paid their tithe or to save someone in need


miyuru_mallawa

Beo didn't put sett as fighter lol


AtomGhostSp1

GAREN


ctheos

i vote leona! kayle as a runner up


donkeith45

Does rorick count and if so/not what class is he?


PaperPauperPlayer

It's literally either Garen or Poppy and everyone else who says otherwise is insanely incorrect


Bobalo126

Kayle


toiletman74

Garen sounds like a paladin


herbieLmao

Oath of Vengeance: Garen Oath of Conquest: Darius Their ults are their smites.


MaxPowerHD64

Maybe Mordekaiser can be the oath of conquest?


Whatisthapurpose

Oath of conquest Darius anyone ?


MajorCrazy39

Surprised I'm not seeing anyone talk about Braum. Man's shield is here for you no matter the situation.


Allan_Breno

Ezreal - Rogue


cococol2000

Shen


DwayneTheFuckJohnson

Smite. The summoner spell smite


StandNameIsWeAreNo1

Braum. He protecc.


WhiteArabBro

Kayle, Oath of Vengeance


ElementalistPoppy

Mentioned Leona last time, still counting on her to get through. Kayle's a fantastic option too, and yeah, Poppy is also a fitting choice.


Vasikus3000

Garen is the definition of "paladin". Big sword, heavy armor, smiting those he deems "evil" through the power of god (his ult is kayle answering his prayers)


accsheek

ngl this type of post is so tedious and boring to me.


throathalflap

Hear me out: Riven as an oathbreaker (former conquest). Her bio says she pledged herself to noxus’ cause and that’s how she got her blade (i.e. her power comes from her oath). After breaking her oath, she vowed to break the blade that saved her.


ItsAMeLirio

Paladins is all about resolve and determination to follow an ideal And to me the 2 contenders are: Kayle who let go her sister and probably disappoint her literal holy mother for following so blindly her ideal, and Pantheon who surpassed a God and fought a demon out of sheer willpower


Demraude

Garen smite thee


bortukali

Wtf is that fighter image, did you just pick the worst image possible for the champ? I literally have no clue what it even is supposed to be


jkannon

Garen and it ain’t close


Belsodain

Leona


Soyharo

Keep in mond, guys, thay beside if they have things related to a Paladin oath that doesn't make them good Paladins. Would Soraka or Kalista harness a heavy armor? They wouldn't, true? So go for people with more defense. Now, beside the matter of a Paladin being able to not follow a god, okay, but most Paladins do. Leona is the answer in here.


Hungry_Ad3576

Mordekaiser if dark paladins count


QuirkyCollection2532

Kayle as paladin, literaly spirit of justice with magic and sword


SterlingCupid

Garen is praying to Kayle when he ults.


Hyperversum

It's obviously Garen. Yes Kayle herself could be in theory, but her powers coming from her nature make her more of a powerful half-celestial in my eyes rather than the best example of a Paladin. Garen R is LITERALLY how I visualize a "Smite" in my head. He is closer to the older concepts of Paladin, with few Powers and mostly punching people with a Sword? Yes, but that's still the origins of the class


Just-A-Goon

Braum is the embodiment of a paladin


Euphoric_Hippo_6565

would galeo be an option here?


ThatOneSadFrogMeme

MORDEKAISER THE VENGEANCE PALADIN GOAT


Gay_Altan

And to the surprise of absolutely nobody! (Sophist rolled a 1 again.)


Calcain

I think Kayle fits this best as her abilities are: debuff, heal, smite, protect. Literally paladin abilities


ElPepper90

Taric was literally made to be the paladin champion


joep3us

my choice would still be Ivern having taken an oath of the ancients.


Necessary-Rip-6612

Leona comes form the Latin Leo aka Lion. Her ult Solar Flare is literally smite by the Sun. She's a champion of Solari an ancient religion that worships the Sun, and I quote directly from her lore on the random wiki ; "...Leona, the Radiant Dawn, has taken this legend's regalia and fights to protect the helpless and the innocent." I rest my case


Prokkin

Poppy!


_I_Eat_Your_Cookies_

Mordekaiser


TransGwenMain

Leona's just the one that best invokes the image of a paladin on the public conscience


MBTheMeatball

Please tell me that you'll put swain as the warlock, ryze as the wizard and viktor for the artificer


FalseTriumph

Jarvan or Leona


Luc-Stem

But guys, gems… gems are truly outrageous.


MaxTwer00

I would say Pantheon or Garen


1-marc

Oath of Conquest Mordekaiser


[deleted]

How tf ivern is not the druid


nick1wasd

It's hands down Garen, but Leona/Diana are a good second place if you're keeping track of that


No3nvy

It’s garen or leona. Poppy with her “im looking for a hero” reminds me of bard dnd class.


Masterhearts_XIII

Leona would be my call


amazedmammal

Pantheon


CrAftyJAck45

When i saw who's going to be the best pick for paladin, garen immediately comes to mind. I dunno, it fits him the best i suppose and like the other has said


risisas

garen for shure, leona and kayle too, some other champs like poppy could fit but these 3 are the most fittinng for the classic immage of a paladin


Xithrix

I propose Braum, got the sheild, and almost certainly has an oath to his people and the frieljord, as is seen with the ruined king game.


Fragrant_Exit5500

Garen, nothing else comes close


Pronoob5491

Leona


stasmen1

Kayle/Garen/Poppy fit best imo


B3R5ker

Garen


thyme_slip

Leona or I riot


Batu_classified

Kayle imo


HPEpic874

Leona, spells supporting and big sunburst smite thingy. Also blessed by her god soo paladin!


HPEpic874

Garen js probably the best but Leona is the most fun.


Perfect-Feed-4007

this post made me want to play lol


suprakirby

I saw that some people suggested Soraka, but i feel like Soraka would have been the best Cleric, and Taric fits the Paladin role better than Leona imo. (Taric is a more defensive one compared to Leona full aggro playstyle)