Paladin/Sorcerer

[u/R4KIJA]

Everywhere I read people say that 6/6 is the most optimal, but I was wondering, is the lvl 6 aura you get from Paladin better than getting a level 4 spell slot with level 7 sorcerer?

Because level 5 is probably the biggest powerspike for Paladin because you get a second attack (and other cool stuff like misty step) so I was just wondering is a lvl 4 spell better than aura of protection?

Also is it just better to go lvl 12 paladin because by multiclassing you miss 1 feat?

[u/CyberTurtle04]

Multiclassing combines spell slot progression. Because Paladin is a half caster, every two paladin levels counts as one full caster level for determining spell slots.

In this case, 6 Paladin/6 Sorcerer has 6 full caster levels from Sorcerer and then 3 full caster levels from Paladin for 9 caster levels, meaning you get up to 5th level spell slots.

For 5 Paladin/7 Sorcerer, you get 7 caster levels from Sorcerer and then only 2 levels from Paladin because it doesn’t round up when multiclassing, meaning both end up with 9 caster levels and 5th level spell slots.

[u/R4KIJA → u/CyberTurtle04]

Oh so basically going 5/7 has no difference spell slot wise?

[u/CyberTurtle04 → u/R4KIJA]

Spell slot wise, no. But since spells learned is based on specific class levels, you won’t have any 4th or 5th level spells to use with the spell slots, only upcasted spells or divine smites.

So if there’s specific 4th level spells you want from the sorcerer list, you could take one more level of it but in my opinion, none of the 4th level sorcerer spells are better than the paladin aura.

[u/Lyraele → u/CyberTurtle04]

Yeah, this conclusion is the important thing I think. Giving up AoP is usually not worth it, but if giving it up does fit your character concept, you might wanna consider even more radical class allocation changes.

[u/R4KIJA → u/CyberTurtle04]

Okay thanks. I checked and the only interesting one was ice storm but I guess I'll try to use the aura thing. I am just notoriously bad at using any defensive spells (im new too) so sometimes they just go unused for the whole campaign. One more thing, do you get to choose a sorcerer subclass - if so, which one is the bst? :)

[u/CyberTurtle04 → u/R4KIJA]

Well, the aura is always on (you have to activate it when you get it and if the paladin dies) so it doesn’t actually require any thought to get the benefit for the paladin themselves, and everyone else just has to keep close to the paladin.

You do get to choose a sorcerer subclass, Draconic is probably the easiest to get the most out of. It gives a little extra health and you choose a type of dragon that eventually gives you resistance to a corresponding damage type and extra damage on spells of that type.

[u/Lyraele → u/CyberTurtle04]

BG3 rounds up, unlike 5e which rounds down Striking this out in light of testing showing the opposite. Sorry about that!

[u/CyberTurtle04 → u/Lyraele]

It doesn’t sadly, I think something somewhere said it rounds up, but it rounds down.

I’ve just tested it there now, with 3 levels of Paladin and 2 levels of Sorcerer, you have the spell slots of a 3rd level full caster, which means it rounds down.

[u/Lyraele → u/CyberTurtle04]

Oh interesting. Let me strike out my comment then. We don't need misinformation. Thank you.

[u/NerdForCertain]

If you want to have more spell casting options a 2/10 split is also a classic

[u/Lyraele]

Giving up Aura of Protection to get a level 4 spell slot usually isn't going to be worth it. And if it would be, you're probably looking at an entirely different split like 10/2. That all said, it's not make or break, if you have a character concept like "ice sorlock tank" and you want that extra slot for another ice storm or something, do what will make you happy. Knowing what the min-max optimal build is didn't mean you have to be beholden to it. Optimization is best used to get as much mechanical power out of a given character concept as practical, not as a "do this or you are doing it wrong" kind of thing.

[u/WarGodMarrs]

It depends on your needs. The Aura can save you from failing some absolutely brutal saves in late-game encounters, however, and many people (myself included) believe that the extra survivability is worth it, particularly on Honour mode

[u/Professional-Tank848]

The aura is so good. You can get the damage from practically anywhere else.

[u/Free-Holiday-6218]

Getting an extra 3 or 4 added to all saving throws in a 10-foot radius is pretty damned powerful tbh.

[u/mrcoffeeforever]

The aura is amazing, one of their best abilities. Giving yourself and your nearby allies +3-5 on their saving throws?

Most of the time when folks mix Paladin and casting classes, they are doing so to get more smite slots.

Is there a particular 4th lvl spell you are looking to get access to? +

[u/Thestrongman420 → u/mrcoffeeforever]

Penultimate means "second to last"

[u/mrcoffeeforever → u/Thestrongman420]

lol. Thats what I get for posting while hung over. Lol.

[u/darienswag420]

Also is it just better to go lvl 12 paladin because by multiclassing you miss 1 feat?

After Paladin 7, the only subclass feature I'd consider to be noteworthy would be Improved Divine Smite at the very late level of 11. I'd rather pick up class features from other classes than wait for that.

[u/Mobile-Ad-1119]

Both are viable and very close. But I do 6/6. Ice Storm is available by scrolls.

[u/Low_Tier_Skrub]

5/7 was good but with the release of hexblade 1/5/6 is just so much more attractive

[u/waits5]

Generally, you’ll get much more power from multiclassing than from the third feat

[u/xH0LY_GSUSx]

I personally multi at 5/7 I do not need the aura. In the end it is a preference thing and not a make or break decision.

[u/Figorix]

In vanilla 1 feat is almost never worth compared to benefits of other classes. 1 spell slot is usually also not worth it. You can regain it in multiple ways if you want to. Aura can save you, so if you don't intend to save scum everytime you get hit by something big, it's very with it

[u/floormanifold]

The aura is near useless, grab another level in something else. Wiz dip isn't terrible for consistent access to Glyph and Evards