The Paladin has always been the ultimate hybrid class in D&D 5e. In the 2024 Player's Handbook, the Paladin saw massive changes to their action economy. The most controversial yet balancing change is that Divine Smite is now explicitly a spell that requires a Bonus Action, meaning you can only Smite once per turn. However, to compensate, Lay on Hands is now a Bonus Action, Find Steed is an always-prepared core feature, and Paladins gained access to Weapon Mastery.

Because your Bonus Action is now highly contested (Smites, spells, and healing), the best feats for a 2024 Paladin are those that enhance your Action, utilize your Reaction, or passively increase your party's survivability.

Here is my ranking of the best feats for the 2024 Paladin based on the new action economy, aura synergy, and actual play experience.

Understanding the New Feat Types

As with all 2024 classes, feats are now categorized:

• Origin Feats: Typically acquired at Level 1 via your Background or Species. You can select them at higher levels, but keep in mind they do not provide a +1 stat boost like General Feats do.
• General Feats: Taken at Level 4 or higher. Almost all combat feats are now "Half-Feats," meaning they grant a +1 to a core stat (like Strength or Charisma)!

10. Tough (Origin Feat)

Prerequisite: Level 1 | Best for: Every Frontliner

Paladins are expected to be the shield of the party. While a d10 Hit Die is great, taking damage is inevitable when you are standing in the middle of a dragon's breath weapon to keep your squishy allies inside your Aura of Protection. Tough adds 2 extra Hit Points per level, effectively turning your health pool into that of a Barbarian.

9. Magic Initiate (Origin Feat)

Prerequisite: Level 1 | Best for: Spell-Heavy Paladins

Because Paladins have limited spell slots (which they now strictly need for Smites), getting free magic is huge. Taking the Wizard list gives you a free cast of Shield and cantrips like Booming Blade or True Strike (which is now an excellent damage cantrip in 2024). Taking the Cleric list gives you Guidance and a free emergency cast of Healing Word.

8. Resilient - Constitution (General Feat)

Prerequisite: Level 4 | Stat Bonus: +1 Con

At Level 6, you get Aura of Protection, which adds your Charisma modifier to all saving throws. If you combine that Aura with Proficiency in Constitution saves from the Resilient feat, it becomes mathematically almost impossible for you to fail a Concentration check. You can cast Bless or Shield of Faith on turn one and keep it active for the entire combat, no matter how hard you get hit.

7. Polearm Master (General Feat)

Prerequisite: Level 4, Str or Dex 13+ | Stat Bonus: +1 Str

In 2014, PAM was the ultimate Paladin feat. In 2024, it drops a few spots solely because the Bonus Action attack competes directly with your new Bonus Action Divine Smite and Lay on Hands. However, the ability to make a Reaction attack when an enemy enters your reach is still insanely powerful, especially since you can apply Weapon Mastery effects (like Push or Topple) on that Reaction attack to stop an enemy in their tracks.

6. Mounted Combatant (General Feat)

Prerequisite: Level 4 | Stat Bonus: +1 Str, Dex, or Wis

Paladins now get Find Steed as a free, always-prepared spell, meaning almost every Paladin will be riding a magical mount. Mounted Combatant gives you Advantage on melee attacks against any unmounted creature smaller than your mount. Furthermore, you can force attacks targeting your mount to target you instead, keeping your radiant warhorse alive through brutal encounters.

5. Heavy Armor Master (General Feat)

Prerequisite: Level 4, Heavy Armor training | Stat Bonus: +1 Str or Con

This feat was reworked in 2024 to scale with your character. You now reduce incoming Bludgeoning, Piercing, and Slashing damage by your Proficiency Bonus (even from magical weapons). When combined with your high AC and Aura of Protection, this damage reduction turns you into an absolute fortress. A swarm of low-level enemies will barely be able to scratch your paint.

4. Inspiring Leader (General Feat)

Prerequisite: Level 4, Cha or Wis 13+ | Stat Bonus: +1 Cha or Wis

Paladins naturally want 20 Charisma to boost their Aura. Inspiring Leader allows you to give a speech after a Short or Long Rest, granting up to six allies Temporary Hit Points equal to your Level + Charisma modifier. Over the course of an adventuring day, this prevents hundreds of points of damage, saving your Lay on Hands pool for actual emergencies.

3. Shield Master (General Feat)

Prerequisite: Level 4, Shield training | Stat Bonus: +1 Str

The 2024 rules completely fixed Shield Master. You no longer need to use your precious Bonus Action to bash an enemy! If you hit a creature with a melee weapon, you can try to shove them 5 feet or knock them Prone as part of the Attack Action. Since Paladins desperately need their Bonus Action for Smites and healing, getting free crowd control that doesn't tax your action economy is a godsend.

2. Great Weapon Master (General Feat)

Prerequisite: Level 4, Str 13+ | Stat Bonus: +1 Str

If you want to deal massive damage, this is still the king. The 2024 version removes the -5 accuracy penalty and simply lets you add your Proficiency Bonus to the damage of attacks made with Heavy weapons once per turn. You still get a Bonus Action attack on a critical hit or kill. Even if that Bonus Action attack sometimes competes with Smite, the passive, reliable damage boost is too good to pass up.

1. Fey Touched (General Feat)

Prerequisite: Level 4, Int, Wis, or Cha 13+ | Stat Bonus: +1 Cha

The Paladin's only real weakness is a lack of mobility. If an enemy flies or teleports away, you are stuck running on foot. Fey Touched bridges that gap. It gives you a +1 to Charisma and a free daily cast of Misty Step and a 1st-level Divination/Enchantment spell (like Silvery Barbs or Hunter's Mark). Teleporting 30 feet directly next to an enemy caster and immediately declaring a Divine Smite is the ultimate Paladin power fantasy.

Paladin Build Paths (Level 1-20)

With subclass Oaths moving to Level 3, planning your feat progression is vital. Here are three optimized paths for the 2024 Paladin.

Path 1: The Radiant Cavalry (Mounted Combat)

This build abuses the Find Steed feature and high mobility to dominate the battlefield with a Lance and Shield.

• Level 1 (Origin): Alert. Go first, summon/mount your steed, and position yourself perfectly.
• Level 4: Mounted Combatant (+1 Str). Gain permanent Advantage against infantry and protect your mount.
• Level 8: Inspiring Leader (+1 Cha). Buff your party and give your celestial steed much-needed Temp HP.
• Level 12: Shield Master (+1 Str). Knock enemies prone with your shield from horseback.
• Level 16: Fey Touched (+1 Cha). Maximize your Charisma and gain Misty Step for when you are forced to dismount.
• Level 19 (Epic Boon): Boon of Fate. Manipulate the dice of allies and enemies to ensure victory.

Path 2: The Bastion of Devotion (Sword & Board Tank)

A pure defensive build designed to stand in the front line, absorb damage, and protect the party.

• Level 1 (Origin): Tough. Start with maximum bulk.
• Level 4: Heavy Armor Master (+1 Str). Shrug off physical attacks with flat damage reduction.
• Level 8: Shield Master (+1 Str). Gain free crowd control and protect yourself from fireball dexterity saves.
• Level 12: Resilient (+1 Con). Lock down your concentration on Bless or Shield of Faith forever.
• Level 16: Inspiring Leader (+1 Cha). Increase the party's total HP pool.
• Level 19 (Epic Boon): Boon of Fortitude. Gain another massive HP boost and emergency healing.

Path 3: The Vengeful Inquisitor (Two-Handed Striker)

A hyper-aggressive build focused on maximizing Weapon Mastery and delivering crushing strikes.

• Level 1 (Origin): Magic Initiate (Wizard). Take Booming Blade for crowd control and Shield for emergency AC.
• Level 4: Great Weapon Master (+1 Str). Add reliable damage to your heavy weapon attacks.
• Level 8: Polearm Master (+1 Str). Use a Halberd (Cleave Mastery) to get Reaction attacks when enemies approach.
• Level 12: Fey Touched (+1 Cha). Gain the teleportation you desperately need to catch evasive foes.
• Level 16: Resilient (+1 Con). Protect your concentration on offensive spells like Divine Favor.
• Level 19 (Epic Boon): Boon of Irresistible Offense. Ensure your physical strikes bypass all resistances.

Expand Your Table with Custom Homebrew

Whether you are adopting the new 2024 core rules or sticking with classic 2014 5E, you don't have to limit your builds. If you want to surprise your DM with insane new feats, unique Sacred Oaths, and custom campaign supplements, explore our homebrew PDF collection here!