# Oath of Heironeous > [!info] Subclass Overview > **Class:** Paladin  |  **Archetype:** Sacred Oath  |  **Source:** Greyhawk Homebrew > **Primary Stat:** Charisma  |  **Damage Focus:** Radiant > **Prestige Path:** → [[Knights of Holy Shielding]] *(available at level 10)* *[[Heironeous]], the Archpaladin, stands eternal vigil against the darkness that creeps across Oerth. His paladins are the living shields of the Common People — warriors who swear not merely to fight evil, but to interpose themselves between the innocent and harm. The Oath of Heironeous is one of the oldest formal oaths on the continent, its wording unchanged since the First Crusade against Iuz.* *Those who swear this oath take the name of Meersalm — the ancient Oeridian word for "sacred bulwark" — as both title and obligation. They do not merely defeat evil; they deny it purchase in the world.* *The most devoted among them are eventually called to the [[Knights of Holy Shielding]], the elite martial order that has defended the Shield Lands since before living memory.* --- ## Tenets of Heironeous A paladin who swears the Oath of Heironeous must uphold its three tenets. Violation triggers divine disapproval — three strikes results in loss of all paladin class features until atonement is performed at a temple of Heironeous. **1. Stand Between.** You do not flee when innocents are threatened. You place yourself in harm's way. **2. Suffer No Compromise.** You do not treat with beings of evil alignment when innocents remain at risk. Their promises are poison. **3. Uphold the Meersalm.** You bear the name of the sacred bulwark. Cowardice, treachery, or complicity in evil dishonors all who came before you. --- ## Oath Spells > [!spell] Oath Spells > These spells are always prepared and do not count against your number of prepared spells. > > | Paladin Level | Spells | > |:---:|---| > | 3rd | *Divine Favor*, *Guiding Bolt* | > | 5th | *Calm Emotions*, *Warding Bond* | > | 9th | *Blinding Smite*, *Tongues* | > | 13th | *Guardian of Faith*, *Stoneskin* | > | 17th | *Steel Wind Strike*, *Wall of Light* | --- ## Class Features ### 3rd Level: Channel Divinity > [!tip] Protection of Meersalm *(3rd level)* > As an action, you invoke the sacred name of Meersalm and extend divine protection to those around you. For 1 minute, you and all friendly creatures within 10 feet of you have resistance to bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing damage from nonmagical weapons. > [!tip] Fear the Righteous *(3rd level)* > As an action, you present your holy symbol and call upon Heironeous to break the resolve of his enemies. Each evil-aligned creature within 30 feet of you that can see or hear you must make a Wisdom saving throw. On a failure, the creature is frightened of you for 1 minute. A frightened creature repeats the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on a success. --- ### 7th Level: Aura of Resistance > [!tip] Aura of Resistance *(7th level)* > The divine protection of Meersalm radiates outward from you. While you are conscious, you and friendly creatures within 10 feet of you have resistance to damage from attacks made by evil-aligned creatures. > > At 18th level, the aura extends to 30 feet. --- ### 15th Level: Righteous Conviction > [!tip] Righteous Conviction *(15th level)* > Your faith in Heironeous has become unshakeable. You are immune to the frightened condition. Additionally, when you make a saving throw against a spell or effect created by an evil-aligned creature, you may add your Charisma modifier to the roll (minimum +1) even if you already add your Charisma modifier to saving throws. --- ### 20th Level: True Blessing of Meersalm > [!tip] True Blessing of Meersalm *(20th level)* > As an action, you call down the full blessing of the Archpaladin. For 1 hour, you gain the following benefits: > > - You are **immune** to bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing damage from nonmagical weapons wielded by evil-aligned creatures. > - Evil-aligned creatures have **disadvantage** on attack rolls against you. > - When an evil-aligned creature within 30 feet of you deals damage to a creature other than you, you may use your **reaction** to teleport to an unoccupied space within 5 feet of the attacker and make a single melee weapon attack against it. > > Once you use this feature, you can't use it again until you finish a long rest. --- ## Related Content > [!abstract] Connected Notes > - **Deity:** [[Heironeous]] — Patron of chivalry, valor, and war > - **Prestige Path:** [[Knights of Holy Shielding]] — Elite order for paladins of Heironeous who reach level 10 > - **Rival Oath:** [[Oath of Hextor]] — Mirror-oath sworn to Heironeous's brother and eternal enemy > - **Region:** [[Shield Lands]], [[Furyondy]], [[Veluna]] — Primary strongholds of Heironeous worship