Mounted Paladin Build

[EagleJoust]

So I was going to go pure Paladin but decided at level 2 to dip in cavalier to get mounted combat feat and a horse sooner. Did I just waste a level and should have just waited until I get animal bond? Thank you!

[Cutlass Jack]

You could have waited. It doesn't take that long to get to level 5, and you won't need the Boon Companion feat.

The only real reason to dip into another class with an animal companion is if you don't want a horse.

All that said, my first/main of the game was a pure Cavalier and I had a great time. And also worth mentioning you get Seelah who can go the pure paladin route w/horse. So I can see wanting to mix it up a bit so you both aren't the same.

[Chunky]

Sohei would probably be a better choice if you wanted to dip for an early horse.

Wis to ac and flurry of blows. weapon training at level 6 if you go that far. You can also wear the monk robes, which are quite good for melee. Just make sure to go armorless.

[EagleJoust]

Thanks - looks like a respec is in order. I will just wait till level 5!

[Dave]

Paladin over level 11 is a waste, it gains VERY little, and is not worth it.

So you better think of what your plan is for those 9 levels.

Mounted paladin means you will need to go with a pet class. If you go Cavalier then pick it as level 1 as Beast Master (or whatever it is) to get a Dog/Wolf or whatever you fancy (leopard if you're small) instead of an horse.
If you want to go the BORING but still useful Horse, then Sohei is better since 6 levels in Sohei will give you Weapon Specialization (warrior thingie) and 1 extra attack with your chosen weapon.
Ofc you can also go a mix of 3

Only remember....Paladin pet will come online at lvl 5, meaning if you start with a Cavalier/Monk, and then switch Paladin, your pet will be low level until you reach pala 5

For the record, I have Seelah as Sohei 6 pala 3, so at level 9 my Horse is level 6.

[Yannir]

Pure Paladin is fine. Cavalier offers very little to add to it.

Sohei is a very different flavor and you needed to know you were dipping into it when you made the character. Paladin doesn't normally need Wis so it's very little benefit if you weren't speccing with it in mind. Wisdom is actually the stat a Paladin wants the least and its often used as a dumpstat. Ofc respec is an option if you don't care for Core achievements.

[Dave]

Originally posted by Yannir:

Pure Paladin is fine. Cavalier offers very little to add to it.

Sohei is a very different flavor and you needed to know you were dipping into it when you made the character. Paladin doesn't normally need Wis so it's very little benefit if you weren't speccing with it in mind. Wisdom is actually the stat a Paladin wants the least and its often used as a dumpstat. Ofc respec is an option if you don't care for Core achievements.

2 small corrections.

Paladino over level 11 is as fine as a mage with 7 int. Ofc you can keep levelling it but you gain nothing.

WIS is NEVER a dump stat. Dump stats are STR/CHA, every other stat must be handled with care. WIS gives will saving throws, so even if your class doesn't need it, it is NEVER a dump stat.

[Yannir]

Originally posted by Dave:

Originally posted by Yannir:

Pure Paladin is fine. Cavalier offers very little to add to it.

Sohei is a very different flavor and you needed to know you were dipping into it when you made the character. Paladin doesn't normally need Wis so it's very little benefit if you weren't speccing with it in mind. Wisdom is actually the stat a Paladin wants the least and its often used as a dumpstat. Ofc respec is an option if you don't care for Core achievements.

2 small corrections.

Paladino over level 11 is as fine as a mage with 7 int. Ofc you can keep levelling it but you gain nothing.

WIS is NEVER a dump stat. Dump stats are STR/CHA, every other stat must be handled with care. WIS gives will saving throws, so even if your class doesn't need it, it is NEVER a dump stat.

Paladin gets Divine Grace which scales from Cha. So anything you lose with Wis you gain back with Cha. If you want better Will saves, you can pump Wis but it's rather unnecessary on anything below Hard.

I'd argue Str is the way to go with Paladins since Dex builds are feat-heavy. Paladins don't gain extra feats from any of their archetypes. You can go with a Dex build but then that's pretty much all you are doing. With the mount taking all the hits, AC of the rider is kinda irrelevant. You want some Dex for boosting Mobility checks though.

Don't "correct" me. It's rude.

[Happyscientist]

Originally posted by Chunky:

Sohei would probably be a better choice if you wanted to dip for an early horse.

Wis to ac and flurry of blows. weapon training at level 6 if you go that far. You can also wear the monk robes, which are quite good for melee. Just make sure to go armorless.

Isnt flurry of blows limited to monk weapons though (and of those Sohei only gains proficiency in quarterstaves) ? Wouldn't something like nomad be better so you can take two weapon combat style with favored enemy ?

[Chunky]

Originally posted by Happyscientist:

Originally posted by Chunky:

Sohei would probably be a better choice if you wanted to dip for an early horse.

Wis to ac and flurry of blows. weapon training at level 6 if you go that far. You can also wear the monk robes, which are quite good for melee. Just make sure to go armorless.

Isnt flurry of blows limited to monk weapons though (and of those Sohei only gains proficiency in quarterstaves) ? Wouldn't something like nomad be better so you can take two weapon combat style with favored enemy ?

It is limited to quarterstaff until you have weapon training. Then Sohei (though I believe not other monks) can use flurry with any weapon that it has weapon training in. If you take Sohei to 6 you also get evasion (good for unfair difficulty), a few bonus feats, and a ki pool for an extra full bab attack on top of flurry.

I never use 2 weapon combat on a non-sneak attack build so I can't comment on nomad.

[Drake]

Originally posted by Dave:

Originally posted by Yannir:

Pure Paladin is fine. Cavalier offers very little to add to it.

Sohei is a very different flavor and you needed to know you were dipping into it when you made the character. Paladin doesn't normally need Wis so it's very little benefit if you weren't speccing with it in mind. Wisdom is actually the stat a Paladin wants the least and its often used as a dumpstat. Ofc respec is an option if you don't care for Core achievements.

2 small corrections.

Paladino over level 11 is as fine as a mage with 7 int. Ofc you can keep levelling it but you gain nothing.

WIS is NEVER a dump stat. Dump stats are STR/CHA, every other stat must be handled with care. WIS gives will saving throws, so even if your class doesn't need it, it is NEVER a dump stat.

Depends, you can get some good buffs from the spells, and the smite and lay on hands progression is always good to have. The celestial mount immunities is always a plus for the horse, and it's a warrior class, so you get full martial progression. It not nothing. A 7 int mage doesn't do that... a 7 int mage doesn't do anything at all.

[Cutlass Jack]

Originally posted by Dave:

WIS is NEVER a dump stat. Dump stats are STR/CHA, every other stat must be handled with care. WIS gives will saving throws, so even if your class doesn't need it, it is NEVER a dump stat.

This is a joke post right?

CHR is the paladin's casting stat. You literally can't cast without it. Not to mention every other special ability they get. And CHR adds to all the paladin's saving throws. Including Will ones.

I wouldn't dump Str either. But at least you have the horse to help you move while weighed down.

[Chan]

Originally posted by Cutlass Jack:

Originally posted by Dave:

WIS is NEVER a dump stat. Dump stats are STR/CHA, every other stat must be handled with care. WIS gives will saving throws, so even if your class doesn't need it, it is NEVER a dump stat.

This is a joke post right?

CHR is the paladin's casting stat. You literally can't cast without it. Not to mention every other special ability they get. And CHR adds to all the paladin's saving throws. Including Will ones.

I wouldn't dump Str either. But at least you have the horse to help you move while weighed down.

Hey, paladins need their int, wis and con MAXED! ♥♥♥♥ CHARISMA! These paladins use mark of justice and cause the party to lose AB!

/s

[Moo]

Paladin to level 11 for Mark of Justice
Sohei to level 3 for bonus mounted feats, flurry, and extra attack from ki power
Mutation warrior to level 5 for mutagen, extra feats, weapons training for better weapons, as monk weapons are mostly pretty terrible
Fearsome Leader to level 1 for challenge, dazzling display and fearsome inspiration

Your horse will be 1 level below you, but it's a small price to pay for all the upgrades you are getting.

[EagleJoust]

Jeem that looks like an interesting build. Thank you! Will look into it. Classes and levels in that order?

[Moo]

I would do 1 level Sohei first so you get a horse right away, then 3 levels of mutation warrior for some feats and mutagen, will be very helpful early on especially on Unfair in Act 1. You do end up getting mark of justice a little later, but I find the early game to be the hardest anyway.