[PFS] Decent Paladin Builds for 2019

[Whisperer in Darkness]

this could have been in the Pathfinder Society forum but it's really more about limiting feats, archtypes, etc to something more PF centric that is usable in most games

Class Guides which are mostly circa 2014 for Paladins. It is now 2019...
Archive of Nethys to check PFS suitability.

You can pick a race but it might be best to just use a human as aasimars are hard to come by and other races just let you tweak an ability score here or there although some racial weapons and abilities are nice. Available races are races: human, dwarf, elf, gnome, half-elf, half-orc, halfling, ifrit, kitsune, nagaji, oread, sylph, tengu, undine, and wayang. I'll add ratfolk, samsaran, suli, vanaran as those are relatively easy to come by.

Ability scores(20 pts) and three good sets (before racial bonuses) that don't compromise too much are; 16,16,10,10,10,10; 16,15,14,10,10,8; 16,14,14,10,10,10.

Multiclassing, hmmm... I like it in general and there are some good combos; Oracle, Sorcerer, Bloodrager, Inquisitor(?), Wizard(Diviner), Monk(type){thinking Iomedae}. Some are dips(1-2 level) and others are more in depth with archetype synergy but I'd prefer to keep at least one-third the character's levels in Paladin otherwise they're something else with a Paladin dip... This is where the PFS constraints will hit hard as you step out of the Paladin box.

There are a couple of roles with Paladins; archers, two-handed weapon users(greatsword), reach weapon users, sword and board(longsword and shield), two weapon users(gladius), mounted(lancer){as the mount rules are overly simplistic}, castigator(intimidate), recovery(medic).

[Miron, Paladin of Hell]

I have taken a Lvl 1 Oracle of Lore dip for my PFS Paladin of Erecura, not for the +CH to AC, but for the Focused Trance.
I managed it to have a Paladin with a +7 in every Knowledge-Skill, and I can Take 30 (instead of Take 10) 4 times per day on any Int-Skill.
He is decent in combat, but I had played him in some investigative-based scenarios, thanks to his 4/day automatic 37 on Knowledges and his decent Diplomacy it was quite a blast. I am using his Oracle's Misfortune solely for boosting bad rolled skill checks.
He uses a normal reach weapon, and the Sacred Servant Oath of Vengeance for more Smites if needed, and for more spells. In his playing history (current lvl 6) he has actually smitten only 2-3 times.
And yes, of course he has dumped Wisdom.

[VoodistMonk]

Half Orc with:
Shaman's Apprentice
Sacred Tattoos

Fate's Favored trait

VMC Oracle with the Lame Curse

1. Urban Bloodrager for:
Fast Movement (to make up for the Curse)
Controlled Rage
A Bloodline of your choice
And Access to Arcane Strike/ Blooded Arcane Strike
Wands you can use

2. Eldritch Scrapper Sorcerer for:
Martial Flexibility
Another Bloodline of your choice, or the real version of your Bloodrager Bloodline
Wands you can use

3. Scaled Fist Monk for:
Charisma to AC
Flurry of Blows
Bonus Feat
Stunning Fist
Improved Unarmed Strike

4+. Whatever Paladin you want for as long as you want...

Use whatever weapon you want (melee or reach or ranged), use whatever armor you want (if any), use Strength or Dexterity, this is a solid start to any Paladin. You can choose Core or UnChained Monk depending if you want BAB or Saves.

[Syries]

Paladin Oath of Vengeance 6 / Abyssal Bloodrager 4 / Nature Oracle 1
Human Str 16+2 Dex 10 Con 14 int 7 wis 9 cha 16
Use a Nodachi as your primary weapon. 18-20/x2 crit chance. Get it keened asap.
P1 // 1) Power Attack, Cleave
P2/B1 // 3) Pick whatever you want
P2/B2/O1 // 5) Great Cleave
P4/B2/O1 // 7) Vital Strike
P4/B4/O1 // 9) All-Consuming Swing, retrain 3rd lvl feat for Furious Finish
P6/B4/O1 // 11) Improved Critical (Nodachi) or any other convenient feat

Apply maximum damage when raging on a great cleave vital strike with high crit chance. End rage, swift action lay on hands yourself with the fatigue mercy. Rinse and repeat. You have the martial prowess to avoid needing to rage every fight, and you'd use most of them to use all-consuming swing usually.

Even without using cleave, you're still a full-bab class with rage, enlarge person, cha to saves and AC, and smite evil. Pretty solid imo.

[Slyme]

I really enjoy playing my Oradin in PFS...he is a dedicated healer though...dunno if that is what you are looking for.

Paladin (Hospitaler / Warrior of the Holy Light) 8 / Oracle 4
Race: Half-Elf Male
Alignment: LG
Faction: Silver Crusade

Str: 14
Dex: 14
Con: 14
Int: 12
Wis: 7
Cha: 17

(Adaptability Skill Focus: Diplomacy)
All stat level ups to Cha

Traits: Merciful Scimitar, Indomitable Faith

1P. Aura of Good, Detect Evil, Smite Evil 1/day
Feat: Fey Foundling

2P. Divine Grace, Lay on Hands 1d6

3O. Oracle Mystery: Life, Curse: Clouded Vision, Revelation: Life Link
Feat: Extra Lay on Hands

4P. Aura of Courage, Divine Health
Mercy: Fatigued

5P. Channel Positive Energy 1d6, Lay on Hands 2d6, Nimbus of Light
Feat: Greater Mercy

6O. Bonus Spell: Detect Undead

7O. Revelation: Channel Energy
Feat: Ultimate Mercy

8P. Divine Bond: Weapon

9P. Channel Positive Energy 2d6, Lay on Hands 3d6
Mercy: Targeted
Feat: Extra Lay on Hands

10O. Bonus Spell: Lesser Restoration

11P. Smite Evil 2/day
Feat: Extra Revelation: Energy Body

12P. Aura of Resolve, Channel Positive Energy 3d6, Lay on Hands 4d6, Nimbus of Light 2

Items:

Bracers of the Merciful Knight 15600
Ornament of Healing Light 10000
Headband of Alluring Charisma +4 16000
Belt of Giant Strength +4 16000
Amulet of Natural Armor +2 8000
Ring of Protection +2 8000
Cloak of Resistance +3 9000
Handy Haversack 2000
Scimitar +2 8315
Full Plate +2 5650
Light Steel Shield +2 4159

[Whisperer in Darkness]

Variant Multiclass(VMC) is a system introduced in Pathfinder Unchained p88-91.
>>> This is not a legal option for PFS, see my initial post. <<< I'd also consider this non-centric for many games aside from the fact that it is generally disadvantageous

A character trades away level advancement feats (3, 7, 11, 15, 19) and gains specific listed class features from his designated secondary class from Variant Multiclassing rules at those levels. Also, a Character cannot take levels in his designated secondary class!

Monk
A character who chooses monk as his secondary class gains the following secondary class features.
1st>> Armor: At 1st level, he loses all his secondary monk abilities when wearing armor, using a shield, or carrying a medium or heavy load.
3rd>> Unarmed Strike: At 3rd level, he gains the Improved Unarmed Strike feat and the unarmed damage of a monk of his character level – 2.
7th>> Evasion: At 7th level, he gains evasion.
11th>> Ki Pool: At 11th level, he gains the ki pool class feature of a monk of his character level – 2, with a number of ki points equal to 1/2 his character level. He only ever gains ki pool(lawful) if he is of lawful alignment.
15th>> AC Bonus: At 15th level, he gains a +3 dodge bonus to AC.
19th>> Improved Evasion: At 19th level, he gains improved evasion.

[Firebug]

Speaking of Ki Pool, I like my Paladins with a side of Ninja.
2 levels of Ninja for Ki pool(and a ninja trick), take the Hospitaler Paladin Archetype and the Ki Channel feat. Mix in some Teas of Transference and laugh at the Oath of Vengeance Paladin when you can smite every combat (and possibly multiple times per combat if you take the time to drink tea). Your Lay on Hands/Smite/Channels are only limited by time and the amount of Tea you want to buy.

Its also fun to do standing jumps as if running while still wearing full plate just because its unexpected.

[Whisperer in Darkness]

I am just looking for what people have tried and done at the table as it takes some play to see how these things work out in actual play experience. I even referenced the existing Class Guides. The options seemed ho-hum. I don't really have a lot of experience playing fighter types unless I'm the GM as personally I design and play Wizards the vast majority of the time.
I also don't want to be a complainer, we have enough of those  =^..^=

[Slim Jim]

Halfling uRogue3or4/Paladin(core)X with Fey Foundling and Greater Mercy, who takes the halfling's favored class bonus for paladin. (Optional: retraining two of the rogue levels to paladin once Agile becomes affordable.) Equipment: light weapons, and an Oathbow at some point.

Nowhere near the highest DPR, but nearly unkillable. Hitpoints just rain out of the sky.