The source of the powers of an oathbreaker

archetypednd-5eforgotten-realmslorepaladin

As I understand, in the Forgotten Realms, when a paladin breaks their oath (assuming the optional class option from the DMG is used) they can change their subclass to an oathbreaker.

It functions just like any other subclass and you maintain the base class features.

So… How? If you've broken your oath why is your god still giving you powers and why does breaking it give you new powers? Or if your god isn't the one giving you those powers, what does?

Best Answer

It's a common misunderstanding of paladins to think that they draw their powers from a deity, but in 5e1 , this is a flavor thing. (If they drew their powers directly from a god, after all, they would be a cleric or warlock.) A paladin's strength comes from their dedication to their ideals alone. They may swear their oaths in the service to a god, but that god does not provide their power.

For an Oathbreaker, this means that their dedication is to betraying the lofty ideals they once held. Their power stems directly from their own hate and desire to destroy what they once held dear, regardless of what deities they may or may not venerate.


1 I have no idea how paladins worked in previous editions, but seeing as this is a 5e-specific question, I don't think it matters overmuch.