Baldur's Gate 3's Newest Paladin Subclass Finally Fills An Old Plot Hole

Patch 8 of Baldur's Gate 3 introduces many new features to the game, including the long-awaited cross-play and photo mode. Player testing for this new update starts in January 2025, and fans have been particularly excited about the addition of 12 new subclasses. Players will have more options than ever before for character customization.

Many of the subclasses added in Patch 8 appear to fill areas of the game that were previously vacant. For example, there are several characters, such as Lora and Captain Grisly who are or once were pirates, who are perfect for the Swashbuckler rogue subclass. However, one less obvious character seems to have been heavily implied to have once been a particular subclass, which is only now present in Baldur's Gate 3.

The Oathbreaker Knight Likely Followed The Oath Of The Crown

The Oathbreaker's Backstory Lines Up With Baldur's Gate 3's Newest Subclass

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The Oathbreaker Knight is an elusive character who typically appears when a paladin character breaks their oath. Though most of the time, this will be when the player character is a paladin, in some rare instances, the Oathbreaker can also appear to Minthara. After players first encounter him, he will remain in their camp, and they will be able to speak with him about who he was in life. He'll note that he was the first to ever become an Oathbreaker, along with some details about his backstory.

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Fans have pointed out that his past subclass appears to be something that wasn't previously in the game - the Oath of the Crown. However, this changes with Patch 8. In Dungeons & Dragons, this is an oath usually sworn to a ruler or sovereign, but according to the Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide, it can also be sworn to "the spirit of a nation" or "a deity of law and rulership." Essentially, these are usually paladins who are defined by their loyalty to a particular superior. The ideals of this oath are usually determined by whomever the oath was sworn to.

When I finally saw the truth, he would not be reasoned with. So I ended him. For this, I was called 'Oathbreaker.'

The Oathbreaker Knight swore his Oath to a corrupt lord; he broke his Oath of loyalty to him by killing him once he realized he had to be stopped. Judging by the wording of his story, it's safe to assume that he originally would have followed the Oath of the Crown, given how he swore an Oath to a particular lord and broke it by attacking him specifically, even though it was for the greater good. He now guides other paladins who break their oaths and can guide them away or towards the path of the Oathbreaker paladin.

Patch 8 Introduces New Dialogue For The Oathbreaker Knight

Players May Receive More Insight On His Backstory

In the notes of Baldur's Gate 3's Patch 8, linked to from Larian's X account, one of the things noted was that the Oathbreaker Knight is getting new dialogue lines. When a player first talks to the Oathbreaker Knight, he will have something unique to say to them depending on what their initial Oath was, so it's likely that this means he will have something to say to players explaining what they swore and broke with the Oath of the Crown. However, it could also mean that he could have some dialogue lines acknowledging that this was his original oath.

Some may consider the BG3's Oath of the Crown subclass doesn't add much, especially considering how there isn't an obvious "crown" to swear to. It may open up some interesting backstory possibilities and allow players to feel like their characters are more connected to certain NPCs. It's unlikely that Larian would allow players to choose someone for whom to swear their oaths, similar to how clerics can choose their deities, but that would also be a great addition to the game. It's likely that this subclass will be added to flesh out the Oathbreaker Knight.

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The Oath of the Crown also may be the perfect subclass for paladins who are members of the Flaming Fist or other followers of the lords in Baldur's Gate. Perhaps this could leave the potential for more interactions with this group of characters, as the player's character could feel a kinship with them, similarly to with the Oathbreaker Knight. The Oath of the Crown opens up a lot of possibilities for dialogue and character backstories in Baldur's Gate 3, and there is strong reason to believe it will come with more content for the Oathbreaker Knight.

Source: Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide, Larian Studios/X