Sacred Oath
At 3rd level, a paladin gains the Sacred Oath feature, which offers you the choice of a subclass. We present here a new option available to you when making that choice.
Oath of Knowledge
The Oath of Knowledge is a lifelong mission to understand reality, fighting with mind and body to vanquish forces who conceal or hoard information for themselves. These Paladins, endowed with a profound sense of curiosity, find fulfillment in each step of their journey to higher awareness. Even though theirs is an endless path, they know that each new crumble of knowledge gifted to the world makes it thrive more than ever. Knowledge belongs to all; withholding it is the ultimate evil.
As combatants, they stand out for their inquiring gaze and sharp memory: thanks to previous studies and first-hand observation, they quickly develop tactics to take advantage of an opponent's strengths and weaknesses, guiding their companions through a fight as if facing a logic problem.
Tenets of Knowledge
The tenets of the Oath of Knowledge remind a paladin to never let their curiosity and inquisitiveness be tainted, while embarking them on a journey to understand reality and free concealed informations, so that the world may prosper.
Hunger for Understanding. The wonders of the Worlds are endless. You must always yearn to know more.
Chase Knowledge. Study is only a part of understanding. Journey onward, inquire the Worlds and gift your discoveries to all.
Set the Truth Free. Information should not be hoarded and used by the few to shape the world to their interest, nor be concealed to deny it to the peoples. You exist to reveal what some would have locked away.
Know your Enemy. Combat is a matter of both mind and body: knowledge is key for your supremacy on the battlefield. Study your opponents and their tactics, so that you'll always be at an advantage.
Oath spells
3rd-level Oath of Knowledge feature
You gain oath spells at the paladin levels listed in the Oath of Knowledge Spells table. See the Sacred Oath class feature for how oath spells work.
Oath of Knowledge Spells
| Paladin Level | Spells |
|---|---|
| 3rd | comprehend languages, identify |
| 5th | detect thoughts, see invisibility |
| 9th | counterspell, speak with dead |
| 13th | divination, arcane eye |
| 17th | contact other plane, legend lore |
Channel Divinity
3rd-level Oath of Knowledge feature
You gain the following two Channel Divinity options. See the Sacred Oath class feature for how Channel Divinity works.
Divine Insight. When you make an Intelligence check, you can use your Channel Divinity to tap into a divine source of knowledge and understanding. You gain a +10 bonus on that ability check.
Supernatural Examination. As a bonus action, you can use your Channel Divinity to conduct an otherwordly examination of your foes' capabilities. Choose a creature within 60 feet of you that you can see. You learn three of the following information about that creature (your choice):
- All movement modes and speed they have
- Their senses
- If they have damage vulnerabilities, resistances or immunities and what they are
- If they have condition immunities and what they are
- One of their Special Trait
- One of the highest level spells they can cast
- If they have legendary resistances
- One action they can make
About Supernatural Examination...
Some options for the choice presented in the Supernatural Examination feature may seem rather vague. Namely, Special Traits and Actions can vary widely depending on the creatures, and different DMs may have differing opinions on the depth of the information given to the player. For example, when asking for a creature's Action, a DM may prefer providing just the action name, as opposed to the full text. Thus, if you like this subclass, we encourage you to check with your DM to agree about the degree of information given to you when you use this feature.
Blessed Learnings
3rd-level Oath of Knowledge feature
You learn a language of your choice, you gain proficiency with a tool of your choice, and you gain proficiency in two of the following skills (your choice): Arcana, History, Investigation, Nature or Religion.
Additionally, you add your Charisma modifier to Intelligence checks you make.
Combat Inquiry
7th-level Oath of Knowledge feature
You are capable to quickly assess strengths and weaknesses in your foes, allowing you and your allies to have an edge in any fight. As a bonus action, you choose a creature within 30 feet of you that you can see and make an Intelligence (Investigation) check. For 1 minute, you gain the following benefits, depending on the information you gathered:
Combat Tactics (10+ on the ability check). When the inquired creature hits you or one of your allies with an attack, you can use your reaction to roll 1d8 and reduce the damage taken by the rolled number. This reduction can't bring the damage below 1.
Weak Spots (15+ on the ability check). You can use a bonus action on your turn to prepare for an aimed attack, or to guide one of your allies. Choose a creature within 30 feet of you that you can see. If you choose a creature other than you, until the end of their next turn, the first time they hit the inquired creature with an attack, that attack deals an extra 1d8 damage. If you choose yourself, you deal the extra damage the first time until the start of your next turn that you hit the inquired creature with an attack.
Defensive Patterns (20+ on the ability check). When the inquired creature forces one or more creatures within 30 feet of you that you can see to make a saving throw, you can use your reaction to give all the affected creatures advantage on the save.
Tactical Exploits (25+ on the ability check). You can use your bonus action on your turn and choose a creature within 30 feet of you that you can see. If you choose a creature other than you, until the end of their next turn, the first time the chosen creature forces the inquired creature to make a saving throw, the save is rolled with disadvantage. If you choose yourself, the first time you force the inquired creature to make a saving throw until the start of your next turn, the save is rolled with disadvantage.
You can use this feature a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus. You regain expended uses when you finish a long rest.
Starting at 15th level, the dice rolled by the Combat Tactics and the Weak Spots benefits become 2d8.
Arcane Scholar
15th-level Oath of Knowledge feature
In your neverending search, you delved deeply into arcane mysteries, uncovering your hidden magical potential. When you choose your prepared spells, you can choose a spell of 5th level or lower from the wizard spell list. You can cast this spell once without expending a spell slot. The spell counts as a paladin spell for you.
When you finish a long rest, the chosen spell stays the same if you don't prepare a different one.
Battle Sage
20th-level Oath of Knowledge feature
You have studied long and experienced much: nothing can avoid your gaze. As an action, you can enter a state of heightened pattern recognition, predicting with supernatural accuracy what is about to happen. For 1 minute, you are under the effects of the foresight spell.
Once you have used this feature, you can't use it again until you finish a long rest, unless you expend a 5th-level spell slot to do so.
