Can a paladin use his oath spells multiple times

Question

My friend is trying to build a lawful neutral paladin, who has an oath with a god of death. (the raven queen specifically) and was looking through the PHB.

OATH SPELLS Each oath has a list of associated spells. You gain access to these spells at the level description. Once you gain access to an oath spell, you always have it prepared. Oath spells don't count against the number of spells you can prepare each day. If you gain an oath spell that doesn't appear on the paladin spelllist, the spell is nonetheless a paladin spell for you.

Now I've read this thoroughly, and it says that the spells are always prepared. Does that mean that the spells can be used as many times as the paladin see fit? As often as they like? I feel as though I should know this, but for the life of me i'm not confident in an answer.

Answer 1

Yes, if there are spell slots available to cast them with.

The Oath spells add choices, not spell slots, to the Paladin's magical arsenal.

To answer by way of illustration

Paladin, Oath of Vengeance, 5th level, Charisma 16 (+3 mod).

1. How many spell slots does the Paladin have to expend for this adventure day?

   4 1st level spells, 2 2d level spells (p. 83, PHB, Spell Slots per level)

   To cast one of your spells, you must expend a slot of the spell's leverl, or higher. You regain all expended spell slots when you finish a long rest. (p. 84 PHB)

2. How many prepared spells does the Paladin have to choose from when deciding that he needs to cast a spell?

   Preparing and casting Spells (p. 84 PHB)

   You prepare the list of Paladin Spells that are available for you to cast, choosing from the Paladin Spell list. {See PHB p. 208 for 1st and 2d level Paladin Spells}.

   Note that there are more spells available than you can prepare on a given day. How many total spells can you prepare?

   Choose the number of paladin spells equal to your spell casting modifier (+3 for 16 Charisma) plus one half of your Paladin Level, rounded down.

   Before we consider Oath Spells, you can prepare 3 + 5/2 = 5 spells total.

   OK, pick a total of 5 spells from the list on page 208. Let's pick: 3 firsts and 2 seconds for simplicity
   Bless, Command, Cure Wounds (1)
   Magic Weapon, Lesser Restoration (2)

   The Paladin can cast 4 first level spells, and 2 second level spells before running out of slots, and cannot cast any spell that was not prepared. (Such as Wrathful Smite, since that spell was not prepared). The paladin can instead cast 6 first level spells, by using a two second level slots to cast, for example, Cure Wounds cast at second level twice on grievously wounded comrades.

3. How do Oath Spells Figure into this?

   Oath Spells increase the number of choices, not the number of spell slots. Add the following prepared spells for free to your prepared list.
   Bane, Hunter's Mark
   Hold Person, Misty step. (P. 88 PHB)

   The paladin has the same 4 first level slots, and the same 2 second level slots, but can now choose from additional spells that were otherwise not prepared from the list: these are always prepared due to the oath chosen.

   The choices, now, when choosing to cast a spell and having a slot to expend, are:
   Bless, Command, Cure Wounds (1) Bane, Hunter's Mark
   Magic Weapon, Lesser Restoratino (2) Hold Person, Misty step
   Whichever spell is chosen, a spell slot is still expended when the spell is cast.

   When the paladin gets to sixth level, he can prepare six spells (+3 + 6/2 = 6) from the list, and still has the Oath Spells prepared "for free" even though the paladin must always a slot to cast any spell.

Answer 2

Yes

A Paladin can use their Oath spells, just like any other Paladin spell, multiple times.

But only as long as they have spell slots to spend on using them.

There may be some confusion on what 'always prepared' means. A Paladin, like the Cleric and Druid classes, prepares their spells each day between Long Rests, choosing spells from the entire list of Paladin spells that they have proper slots to cast, up to a certain maximum number of spells based on your Paladin level plus Charisma Modifier.

These prepared spells then must be cast using spell slots.

Once a Paladin of sufficient level starts gaining Bonus Spells from their Oath of choice, they gain spells that... in addition to the spells they choose to prepare every day between rests... are always prepared, cannot be changed, and do not count against that certain maximum number of spells. They do still require slots to cast, however.

Also, casting a prepared spell does not unprepare it, and so you may keep using slots to cast any spell the Paladin has prepared for that day, including the bonus Oath Spells.

Answer 3

Yes

But only as many times as you have spell slots. The entry stating that they are always prepared just means that they don't count against the number of spells that the paladin can prepare every day. They still have to spend spell slots to cast them, just like any other spells.