Best undead hunter ?

Post/Author/DateTimePost
#1

Angel7

Aug 19, 2014 20:44:25

The beauty of 5e is that I want to play almost all the classes, but for an undead hunter concept, I've narrowed it down to a few choices and was hoping to get some advice/input on which would be the most effective in this regard between a Cleric and an Oath of Devotion Paladin

 

All clerics have the same basic Turn Undead class feature, regardless of Domain, which is identical to the Oath of Devotion Paladin. Unlike past editions, where the paladin would turn undead like a cleric of 2 or 3 levels lower, these are now equal. 

 

The Cleric has Destroy Undead which becomes more powerful as the Cleric advances in level ie: destroys Undead of CR 1/2 at 5th up to destroys Undead of CR 4 or lower by level 17.

 

The Paladin lacks this feature, but has Sacred Weapon to add a Cha modifier to attack roles for 1 minute as well as Divine Smite which is 2d8 for a 1st level spell slot, plus 1d8 for each spell level higher than 1st up to a max 5d8 (plus another 1d8 for undead and fiends) Does this mean that using a 4th level spell slot for a Divine Smite against an undead creature would have a 6d8 bonus to damage on top a Cha bonus for using Sacred Weapon?  

 

Would this make an Oath of Devotion Paladin the best suited class for fighting undead? or is the cleric's  Destroy Undead more powerful and effective a greater amount of the time? I'm guessing the range of CRs from the weaker skeletons and zombies to the more powerful vampires and liches would be the proving factor for comparison. The cleric also has the ability to later gain a Disruption weapon as he uses a Bludgeoning weapon but this really isn't an option as of yet. 

 

Opinions and advice most welcome. 

 

 

 

 

#2

GladiusLegis

Aug 19, 2014 21:45:31

Cleric is definitely better if you're fighting hordes of weaker undead, which thanks to bounded accuracy are still a threat even at high level.

 

On the other hand, the Devotion Paladin will do better against stronger undead, beyond what the Cleric can destroy with Turn, between his higher base DPR and Smites. Plus all his permanent Auras giving him immunity to basically everything that undead do that's not physical damage. Also the Lv. 15 feature that makes all undead attack him at disadvantage.