Paladin Oath of Conquest Character Ideas

When Xanathar’s Guide to Everything unveiled the new Paladin Oath of Conquest, I immediately noticed the concept was unique to D&D. No other class utilizes the Frightened condition like this subclass. For this reason, I reckon it’s worth writing about. I hope I convince you to try the character concept for yourself. I’ll begin with a fictional character that portrays the Oath of Conquest to me.

Follow along with our article here:

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[blueeyeswhitemoron]

I have a conquest paladin who is gonna give the world to her childhood BFF as a wedding gift using the power of love and sociopathy to fuel her oath.

[forfaerghus]

My idea of an Oath of Conquest paladin is the son of a noble who governs an impoverished territory. Said noble father is a bleeding-heart pacifist who has repeatedly tried, but failed to negotiate with surrounding territories for aid. The paladin grew up surrounded by this desolation, and it twisted his heart. He feels compassion for his suffering people, but that compassion turns to contempt for those outside his borders. He argues with his father, stating that since the other territories have ignored him, he should conquer their territory and take their resources for himself. In other words, "They turned their back on us, let us sink a knife into it." This argument leads to a falling out, with the paladin leaving home to "better himself" while secretly plotting to usurp the title. His adventures with a party, in his eyes, are just preparation for his upcoming conquests.

However, I also have an optional plan. If a DM allows it, the battlefield is in danger of becoming intoxicating to the paladin, and he has to keep his mind firm or get lost in his bloodlust. If he falls enough from grace...you know what will happen.

UPDATE: I have finally put this character idea into action. His name is Arkris, and he's my current character in Curse of Strahd.

[crabmaster]

I like to think of it like General Grievous. A great commander who instils fear in the enemies in the frontlines! I love playing my Paladin like that!

[giraffedragon]

My idea for a conquest paladin is one who upon defeating bandits in battle, gives them the opportunity to join his banner. He believes in strength and self sufficiency, however he’s not fool enough to think he was the strongest at the start. He built himself to that level. He inspires loyalty through action and devotion to his group, and fear through his battle prowess and charisma.

He trains them in combat, takes them on quests slightly above their level to have them overcome trials by fire.

[Whiplash]

Great analogy to udo jine, really shows how terrifying a conquest paladin can be

[theblindjedi]

I had an idea for an oath of conquest paladin. Thinking of a dreaded pirate captain like Blackbeard. Probably chaotic but uses fear and intimidation to make enemies give up and take the treasure they want.

[ron.c.koster]

The feat i love with fear is shield master.

Make there speed 0 and push them prone .

[KatoCoyoteCombatWorkshop]

Having a blast playing this subclass straight. Cackle with delight as you kill enemies, intimidate people with severed heads, aspiring to become a vampire. Drop the moral posturing, you're a killer, but you're honest. It's the ones who mask their desire for destruction behind a veil of altruism and righteousness that are the most venomous of snakes.

"If everyone in the world thinks you are evil, are you?"

[HierophanticRose]

This is great! I am creating an Asmodean Paladin for a campaign so this Oath is perfect I think. I am also thinking of interpreting the "you" in the tenets of the Oath of Conquest to mean the party, so as to not be "that guy" in the group

[DHTheAlaskan]

I will be playing a Hobgoblin Conquest Paladin soon, going to be playing the honorable Lawful Evil conqurer. While he believes that the strong should rule, he still must cover his iron fist with a velvet glove and allow those beneath him to feel that he isn't a complete tyrant. Might come into conflict with some of the tenants, but if you rely on ruling through fear alone eventually someone won't be afraid and will rally people against you. It is better to be loved and feared after all.

[johntolentino]

That anime throwback was a great example. I certainly wasn't expecting it but it inspires my future paladin for sure.

[simonwalker]

My oath of conquest Paladin is a dragon borne called Gallxaatash the petrifier. He's a general infiltrating a party to capture the artifacts they have been collecting as they have the power to rule all. He's a mixture of Kane from early wwf and Jason Statham

[Malisteen]

Unfortunately, the dragon fear racial feat for dragonborn suffers some anti-synergy with aira of conquest. The aura damages enemies at the start of the turn, while the feat gives a new save against the effect any time an affected creature takes damage. As a result, targets effectively get two saves against the frighten effect before suffering any of the key penalties to their movement or actions. This severely weakens the effect, and makes it arguably not worth the feat when compared to other half cha feats like fey touched.

[taurvanath]

Had an idea earlier where a fighter's lover died in combat, and so he swears to conquer death itself to bring her back.

[MrSteveK]

Oath of Conquest Paladin follows the Tarkin Doctrine

[Lobsterwithinternet]

I played an Oath of Conquest Paladin named Konrad Darnatti who I played like a mix of Justice Lords Batman and Darth Vader.

He lost his family to a bandit army and swore an oath to a demon to bring his order to a lawless world and make sure no child will ever lose their parents to some criminal.

[MidKnightOTC]

I went oath of conquest for a drow Jaluk that decided that he would no longer be outdone by the priestesses of lolth and left on a mad quest to bring lolth's darkness to the sword coast. with no support, it was essentially suicide to be on the surface longer than necessary for raids and such. He fought through countless ambushes on his way to the surface, tested by lolth in the darkness, until he reached the surface. When he reached the surface, he received lolth's favor and took an oath to break the forces of her children on the surface.

[vaevictusasmadi]

My conquest pally is a lawful evil half-elf worshipper of Loviatar. She can be racist, cruel, and sadistic; but, she's also dependable, protective, and VERY persuasive/intimidating. She works well with other adventurers because she respects strength and skill. She even tolerates good-aligned allies, as long as they keep focused on the larger goals of the group and don't get distracted helping every miserable soul along the way. She's always super fun to roleplay, especially when other players stand up to her and keep her ego in check!

[kalamander]

I just started my first 5th edition campaign with my brother being DM, and I'm going with this class.

He's a former soldier exiled from his home city for killing his incompetent commanding officer during a mission, even though he took command of his unit after and completed the mission with no other casualties. Upon his exile, he vowed to return a conqueror, and clean up the upper echelons of nepotism and power mongering. With this campaign being set in Forgotten Realms, that vow caught the attention of Bane, God of Tyranny and now his end goal is to be the first to conquer Calimport and devote it to his God.

[ShardPFe]

Great video. I like the 'edgy' paladins like conquest and vengeance. I know the oathbreaker exists but I feel like 5e is missing a properly evil paladin like the blackguard from the Baldur's Gate games.