The New 2024 Oath of Devotion Paladin (DnD 5e Subclass Deep Dive)
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As quintessential knights in shining armor, the Oath of Devotion is one of the most iconic and popular of all the DnD 5e Paladin subclasses. Featuring a range of powerful protective spells and abilities to battle both the undead and the forces of evil, they’re a great option for players who want to have a classic Paladin character experience.
Over the past decade, however, the Oath of Devotion has been largely ignored by Wizards of the Coast, with the subclass remaining cloistered from any significant rules updates. That’s about to change, however, as they’ve now been transformed by the radiant light of the 2024 Player’s Handbook. In fact, the subclass has seen a number of minor but impactful changes to the way they play, including adjustments to both their Sacred Weapon and Smite of Protection features.
So is the Oath of Devotion Paladin still as faithful as ever? Below, we step into the Zone of Truth to find out.
What’s changed in the new 2024 Oath of Devotion Paladin?
Below are all the changes to the 2024 Oath of Devotion Paladin in DnD 5e. For ease of reference we’ve included the level and whether the feature has changed from 2014. It’s important to note that both the old and the new version of the subclass still fall under the DnD 5e core rules.
| Oath of Devotion Paladin Feature | Level | Changed from 2014? | Changes to the 2024 Oath of Devotion Paladin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oath Spells | 3 | Yes | Shield of Faith and Aid replace the Sanctuary and Lesser Restoration spells included in the 2014 Oath Spells. |
| Channel Divinity | 3 | Yes | Can now activate Sacred Weapon feature as part of the attack action (in the 2014 version it cost an action to activate). It also now lasts 10 minutes rather than 1 minute. |
| Aura of Devotion | 7 | No | N/A |
| Purity of Spirit | 15 | Yes | Removed and now replaced by a new feature called Smite of Protection (see below) |
| Smite of Protection | 15 | Yes | New 2024 feature. When you use Divine Smite, allies in your Aura of Protection have Half Cover for a limited time. |
| Holy Nimbus | 20 | Yes | Now usable as a bonus action (in the 2014 version it took a full action to use) and lasts 10 minutes (instead of 1 minute). It can also now be recovered spending a level 5 spell slot (in the 2014 rules it could only be recovered after a Long Rest). |
What are the Oath of Devotion Paladin features for 2024 DnD 5e?
Below are the full list of all the features using the new 2024 core rules. Where applicable we have called out details to the changes that have been made from the 2014 Oath of Devotion Paladin.
Tenets of Devotion
For the 2024 Oath of Devotion, the key tenets that guide character’s remain the same:
- Honesty. Don’t lie or cheat. Let your word be your promise.
- Courage. Never fear to act, though caution is wise.
- Compassion. Aid others, protect the weak, and punish those who threaten them. Show mercy to your foes, but temper it with wisdom.
- Honor. Treat others with fairness, and let your honorable deeds be an example to them. Do as much good as possible while causing the least amount of harm.
- Duty. Be responsible for your actions and their consequences, protect those entrusted to your care, and obey those who have just authority over you.
Level 3: Oath Spells
In the new 2024 rules, your Oath of Devotion Paladin gains spells from the list below (with additional spells added as you advance in level). Once you gain access to an oath spell, you always have it prepared and it doesn’t count against the number of spells you can prepare each day.
Notably Shield of Faith and Aid replace the Sanctuary and Lesser Restoration spells which were included in the 2014 Oath Spells.
| 2024 Oath of Devotion Spells | |
|---|---|
| Paladin Level | Spells |
| 3rd | Protection from Evil and Good, Shield of Faith |
| 5th | Aid, Zone of Truth |
| 9th | Beacon of Hope, Dispel Magic |
| 13th | Freedom of Movement, Guardian of Faith |
| 17th | Commune, Flame Strike |
Level 3: Channel Divinity
In the 2024 rules, you gain the following two Channel Divinity options:
Sacred Weapon. Notably in the 2014 rules this required an action to use and it lasted for 1 minute. For the updated 2024 rules, however, it is now a bonus action that occurs when you attack with a weapon and the effect lasts for 10 minutes. All other rules are exactly the same. You add your Charisma modifier to attack rolls made with a weapon of your choice (with a minimum bonus of +1). The weapon also emits bright light in a 20-foot radius and dim light 20 feet beyond that. If the weapon is not already magical, it becomes magical for the duration. You can end this effect on your turn as part of any other action. If you are no longer holding or carrying this weapon, or if you fall unconscious, this effect ends.
Turn the Unholy. This feature is unchanged from the 2014 rules. As an action, you present your holy symbol and speak a prayer censuring fiends and undead, using your Channel Divinity. Each fiend or undead that can see or hear you within 30 feet of you must make a Wisdom saving throw. If the creature fails its saving throw, it is turned for 1 minute or until it takes damage. A turned creature must spend its turns trying to move as far away from you as it can, and it can’t willingly move to a space within 30 feet of you. It also can’t take reactions. For its action, it can use only the Dash action or try to escape from an effect that prevents it from moving. If there’s nowhere to move, the creature can use the Dodge action.
Level 7: Aura of Devotion
This feature has not been changed from the 2014 rules. Using this feature, you and friendly creatures within 10 feet of you can’t be charmed while you are conscious. At 18th level, the range of this aura increases to 30 feet.
Level 15: Purity of Spirit
In the 2014 rules Purity of Spirit meant you were always under the effects of a Protection from Evil and Good spell. This feature has been removed from the 2024 rules and replaced with the new “Smite of Protection” feature (see below).
Level 15: Smite off Protection
This is a new 2024 feature. When you use Divine Smite, allies in your Aura of Protection have Half Cover for a limited time. This means their AC and Dexterity Saving Throws all increase by +2 for as long as they remain in your Aura.
Level 20: Holy Nimbus
In the 2014 rules, this feature required an action to use, lasted for 1 minute and could only be recovered by a long rest. In the 2024 version, it is now a bonus action, lasts 10 minutes and can be recovered by a long rest or by spending a level 5 spell slot. All other rules remain the same. For the duration of the effect, bright light shines from you in a 30-foot radius, and dim light shines 30 feet beyond that. Whenever an enemy creature starts its turn in the bright light, the creature takes 10 radiant damage. In addition, for the duration, you have advantage on saving throws against spells cast by fiends or undead.
Is the New 2024 Oath of Devotion Paladin worth playing?
The new 2024 Paladin has seen some dramatic changes, including an overhaul to the way Divine Smite works (something many fans have been critical of). The 2024 Oath of Devotion Paladin, however, has been changed largely for the better, with a few minor adjustments that make the way the subclass works more efficient, fast and fun to play. If you’re looking for a classic Paladin experience, the Oath of Devotion will never let you down.
You can find the complete rules for the new subclass in the 2024 Player’s Handbook, which is available for pre-order now on D&D Beyond and Amazon.
Below is also a video from the official Dungeons & Dragons YouTube channel, with DnD lead designer Jeremy Crawford offering details on the changes to the new Oath of Devotion Paladin in the new 2024 DnD 5e rules.
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Cameron Nichols is a Senior Editor who lives in Boston, Massachusetts, and has been playing D&D since the early 90s, when he was introduced by his older brother and cut his teeth on AD&D 2nd Edition. Since then he’s played virtually every RPG he could get his nerdy little mitts on (including a weird Goth phase in the early 2000s when he rocked Vampire: The Masquerade pretty hard). His favorite D&D campaign setting is the Forgotten Realms and his favorite character to play was a Half-Orc Barbarian named Grug (who was unfortunately devoured by a gelatinous cube).
