Can a Paladin in Dungeons and Dragons Be Chaotic Evil Without Being a Turncoat?

One of the most intriguing questions in the vast world of Dungeons and Dragons (DnD) is whether a paladin can adhere to the chaotic evil alignment without switching from a previously lawful or good alignment.

Let's delve into the intricacies of alignment, oaths, and the challenges a chaotic evil paladin faces in the fictional world of DnD.

Understanding Alignments

First, it's crucial to recognize that alignments in DnD are strong tendencies rather than absolutes. For mortals, being chaotic or evil means they lean heavily in that direction, but it doesn't restrict their actions entirely. Orcs and other non-player race factions, like hobgoblins, can exhibit elements of hierarchy and order, just not to the same extent as humans or elves.

Chaotic Essence

Being chaotic implies a significant emphasis on individualism over collectivism. In contrast, evil embodies selfishness and ruthlessness. Introducing both of these traits simultaneously—chaos and evil—presents a unique challenge, especially when playing a paladin.

Paladin Oaths in 5th Edition

In the 5th edition of DnD, paladins must adhere to specific oaths, such as Devotion, Ancients, Vengeance, and Conquest. Each of these oaths has strict guidelines that a paladin must follow.

Devotion and Ancients are clearly out of the question for a chaotic evil character. The Devotion oath emphasizes kindness and mercy, which are antithetical to the chaotic evil ethos. The Ancients oath also requires patience and a guided path, which again clashes with a chaotic evil alignment.

Vengeance may have some potential, but its execution is problematic. One could imagine an orc who swears bloody vengeance on elves, but the restitution component might be a significant obstacle.

Conquest is perhaps the most compelling oath for a chaotic evil paladin. It requires crushing enemies, ruling harshly, and never showing weakness. However, this oath aligns closely with lawful evil, and one might question whether a true chaotic evil character could commit to such a strict and hierarchical code.

Playing as a Chaotic Evil Paladin

For the DM and players, a chaotic evil paladin is a challenging concept. Evil is one thing, but chaotic conquest—weeds out the core elements of a paladin. The Devotion and Conquest oaths implicitly require some level of adherence to a structured order, even if it is a flawed one.

Furthermore, if a paladin does not follow their oath, they become an oathbreaker, which is a significant event in the DnD world, often resulting in severe consequences.

Historical Context and the Antipaladin

The antipaladin is a fascinating concept that surfaced earlier in the Old Dungeons and Dragons (Chainmail and ADD). These characters were the polar opposite of paladins, embodying evil and chaos. The genesis of the antipaladin class was an article in Dragon Magazine, but the class struggled to find success and appeal, largely due to its difficulty in play.

Despite the introduction of the antipaladin class, the Chaotic Evil Paladin remained a difficult concept to play effectively, often leading to player discomfort and character dissatisfaction.

Conclusion

While a chaotic evil character can function in a DnD world, the challenge of being a paladin without switching from a previously lawful or good alignment is significant. The oaths impose strict constraints that are difficult to reconcile with a chaotic evil ethos.

For both DMs and players, the chaotic evil paladin presents a fascinating yet challenging role, requiring careful play to balance the alignment's inherent traits with the demands of the oath.