Best Oathbreaker Paladin Gods to use in DND

Creating an Oathbreaker Paladin can be one of the most rewarding character builds in Dungeons & Dragons. And it's especially important to choose the right almighty god for an oath-breaking paladin. But where should you start among D&D's broader pantheon?

Whether you choose the Oathbreaker subclass or temporarily give up your current oath, there are plenty of D&D gods to choose from. Ask your DM which gods exist in the pantheon. If so, any of these malevolent gods could be suitable for the person who broke your oath.

Some DMs prefer not to use the Oathbreaker Paladin subclass in their campaigns. If you're still interested in the narrative options available to oathbreakers, work with your DM to find out how a paladin's choice to discard an oath can change or alter its abilities while retaining its original subclass.

10 Sirul Oathbreaker

To start with perhaps the most obvious, Syrul Oathbreaker is an excellent choice for an evil-aligned paladin. Her sigil is a forked tongue, and for good reason. Her lies and deception are well known to those who choose to worship her.

Part of the pantheon of Greyhawk gods, Sirul's followers are often associated with the Scarlet Knights, a sinister force within the city's gates. Perhaps creating a paladin with ties to Sirul and this evil order of assassins could set the stage for a treacherous and sometimes deceitful character who wields subterfuge like a sword.

9 erinul, more

Known for his bloodlust and violence, Erythnul, the Many, is a vicious and malevolent god based in the Greyhawk pantheon. Erythnul's worshipers believe that the blood shed on the battlefield grants their god his power. He is often depicted wielding a mace and hails from the chaotic outer world of Pandemonium.

For a paladin with a military background or backstory, Erythnul could be a great god to worship. Soldiers who believe that power comes from the power of sword and shield rather than words will certainly find much of the maverick flavor in this bloodthirsty god. If you want to create a combat-focused paladin, Erythnul should provide plenty of roleplay ground for that.

8 Kelembor, god of death

A classic D&D god, Kelemvor is the traditional god of the dead in the Forgotten Realms setting. His sigil is a skeletal arm holding a set of scales. In this way, he is a being who weighs life and death and protects the barrier between this world and the afterlife.

While many classic paladin builds offer life force, worshiping Kelemvor as an Oathbreaking paladin can be an interesting roleplay challenge. Kelemvor is not necessarily an evil being, but rather one who follows the natural order of things. Abandoning the oath to protect life and instead promising to protect the power of death provides a complex dimension for roleplay-focused paladin players.

7 Hexter, the scourge of battle

If your paladin is facing a crisis of faith in the natural good of the world, think of Hextor as an oath-breaking god. One of Hextor's tenets is that ruthlessness and cruelty are essential aspects of life. We should not fear them, but rather respect them.

In the various versions of the Greyhawk campaign setting (of which Hextor belongs), there are many religious-military factions that worship the scourge of battle. Creating your own theocratic military order for your paladin to belong to can be a great starting point for your paladin build. It's also worth considering whether your paladins previously came from a more peace-loving cult, and how they were pushed towards Hextor instead.

6 Incabulos, Black Rider

Often seen as a deformed figure with skeletal hands, Incabulus is a very evil god. Those who break their oath to inflict disease and pestilence on their enemies and provide healing only to their most trusted allies should consider this deity as one of their own. Incabulos love plague and other diseases.

If you're using the older Fifth Edition D&D rules and plan to play the Oathbreaker subclass properly, the expanded subclass spell list will help you get the perfect taste of the Paladin of Incabulos with spells like Blight and Contagion. If you play using the 2024 Player's Handbook rules, consider using Origin Feat such as Magic Initate to refine your spell list. Also, ask your DM about magic items that can allow your paladin to inflict disease on others.

5 Nerrell, the Reaper

Neral is a favorite deity of death-loving necromancers and other magic users seeking to alter the barrier between life and death. Feared by most common people, Nerrell's followers believe that only murder can quench their thirst for their god's blood. Nerull is also said to reside in the prison dimension of Carceri, which could prove to be an interesting place for higher level players to visit.

If you want to give Nerull a taste of a paladin build, consider giving your healing spells an extra effect. Work with your DM to determine whether the Cure Wounds spell performed by a paladin of Nerull temporarily reduces maximum health. Alternatively, you can apply a darker energy or tone to your healing spells to add some flare to your spells.

4 Shar

The Sha, who will be familiar to any fan of Baldur's Gate 3, is often known as the Dark Traitor or Mistress of the Night. Her admirers prefer trickery and trickery above all else. If your campaign takes place in Faerun, Shar is an excellent choice in this pantheon.

Char's core motif is darkness. When creating a Paladin of Shar, consider whether your paladin previously worshiped a deity like Pelor whose primary themes were light and goodness. This can create an interesting contrast when deciding to break an oath in favor of a new one.

3 Vecna, the whisperer

Longtime fans of Critical Role will certainly remember Vecna. Vecna ​​was previously mortal, but has attained godlike status and is now one of the darkest and most mysterious characters in the greater D&D realm. Vecna's followers desire arcane knowledge above all else, often the ability to cheat death.

If your paladin is frustrated by a mysterious, benevolent god who refuses to answer or speak directly to you, consider Vecna ​​the god who breaks your oath. Vecna ​​often makes promises to his worshipers. And giving the DM the opportunity to roleplay as one of the most despicable characters in canon might be worth the effort.

2 Siric, God of Lies

Another treacherous god of the Forgotten Realms pantheon, the followers of Siric are some of the most evil gods. Cyric, whose sigil displays a skull at the center of a dark sun, feeds on intrigue and fantasy. His designs seek to turn lifelong friends into enemies, or rulers into tyrants.

Players interested in a role-playing-heavy campaign should consider Cyric as an Oathbreaker paladin. If your build includes a high Charisma stat block, roleplaying as a deceitful worshiper of Cyric can be really fascinating and fun. This is especially true if your campaign is set in a populated area or driven by palace intrigue.

1 Baal, God of Murder

Baal, another classical god widely known throughout the pantheon, craves murder and death above all else. Assassins who work in the shadows also prefer Baal. Ultimately, it is safer to have a knife stabbed in the back than to be stabbed in the chest.

If you or your players have committed a murder recently in the campaign, perhaps unfairly, consider using Baal to tempt your paladin into breaking his oath. This can create some truly unique roleplay moments for you or your players. You can also craft your own build and import the Touch of Death channel divine feature from Fifth Edition's original Death Domain subclass, which adds necrotic damage to weapon attacks.