Baldur’s Gate 3: How to Unlock the Oathbreaker Paladin Subclass in BG3

I started playing a Paladin in Baldur’s Gate 3 because I thought I’d wield the light, healing my party and bonking baddies with a bigass hammer. Well, I’m doing the latter but the former went the wayside the moment I decided to follow my conscious, rather than my Oath.

Baldur’s Gate 3 Oathbreaker Unlock Conditions

Breaking your Oath as a Paladin means betraying your Oath by making in-game choices as any traditional Paladin Subclass. For me, it meant betraying the Tieflings when aiding Lae’zel after escaping the Nautiloid. I think this is the fastest way to unlock the Subclass, actually. Other options are killing the Owlbear cub or performing Necromancy (I don’t want to spoil, but if you know you know).

Related: Baldur’s Gate 3: Karmic Dice Explained

Basically, just do some heresy. If it seems like something a Paladin most certainly would not do, do it! Before you know it, a new character named the Oathbreaker Knight will come to you at your camp and confirm your decision.

Baldur’s Gate 3 Oathbreaker Abilities

Oathbreakers get access to some very un-Paladin-ly abilities like Spiteful Suffering, which not only causes Necrotic damage every turn but also grants Advantage on attack rolls against the enemy. You can also Control Undead (but they’ll need to be a lower level than you) and retaliate to attackers using Hellish Rebuke. See below for a full list of spells you’ll access as an Oathbreaker Paladin:

• Level 1 – Spiteful Suffering
• Level 3 – Control Undead, Dreadful Aspect, Hellish Rebuke, Inflict Wounds
• Level 5 – Crown of Madness, Darkness
• Level 7 – Aura of Hate
• Level 9 – Bestow Curse, Animate Dead

So whether you accidentally, or purposefully, break the oath as a Paladin, you can expect some pretty sweet new abilities in return. And if you change your mind? You can talk to the Oathbreaker Knight to restore your Oath, but it’ll cost you 2,000 gold. Nobody said salvation would be cheap. If you want to roleplay as someone even more evil, check our guide on the Dark Urge origin trait.