3.4.1 Basics
As a melee class, you will be very dependant on the latest equipment and abilities.
Paladins do not have as many cool weapon choices as a Warrior, nor do they have all
the cool combat abilities. What Paladins do have is the ability to save themselves. No
other class is as good at surviving an onslaught as the Paladin is.
Almost any build of Paladin should focus on strength and stamina. These two stats are
the meat-and-potatoes of the Paladin. Spirit doesn’t hurt, but when you can’t deal or
absorb enough damage, you’re in trouble. Strength should be the main focus of most
Paladins who use one-handed swords with shields. Other types can benefit from
strength, but stamina helps make up for the lack of a shield. In a PvP environment you
will come to value the added hitpoints from Stamina, so the focus here might be slightly
different.
Paladins are all about buff combos. Each Paladin has three standard buff types, auras,
seals, and blessings. Auras are always active, but you can only activate one at a time.
Auras affect all members of the Paladin’s party. Blessings are short buffs that can be
cast on any party member. Seals are very short self-buffs that are used to enhance the
Paladin.
Consecration Aura + Seal of the Crusader + Blessing of Might
The Paladin deals holy damage to all surrounding enemies while enemies he uses the
crusader seal to cause extra holy damage to his target.
Devotion Aura + Seal of Wisdom + Blessing of Wisdom
Regenerates the Paladin’s mana, allowing him to cast more seals and spells while
devotion protects his hitpoints.
Devotion Aura + Seal of Light + Blessing of Might
Allows the Paladin to deal decent amounts of damage while absorbing some of the
hitpoints into himself.
Consecration Aura + Seal of Fury + Blessing of Might
Helps a Paladin to control agro in group situations.
Paladins make decent tanks because of their armor rating and survivability skills. While
they lack the defense mode of the Warrior, they can usually heal themselves enough to
balance that out.
Groupability 6
Paladins can have two functions in a group, tank or secondary healer. As a tank, the
Paladin’s job is simply to absorb damage and hold agro. As a secondary healer, the
Paladin can keep an ally healed to some extent in the fray of battle. Though not as good
as healing as the Druid, Paladins have enough mana to keep an ally healed for a decent
duration. The negative side to Paladins in groups in that allies constantly want seals,
this can drain your mana and be quite repetitious.
Fun Factor 4
Many Paladins feel like they are just buffers, all their energy is consumed with micromanaging
their seals.
3.4.2 Builds
? Group Build Paladins who play mostly in groups should focus on the
holy and protection talents. Protection will help you hold agro much
better while holy will help keep yourself and your allies safe. Make sure
you equip a shield and one-handed weapon.
? Solo Build Paladins who tend to solo should focus on the retribution tree,
then go into protection if they use a shield, or holy if they use a sword.
Focus on retribution will allow you to kill your enemies faster. Solo’ers
should consider wielding only 2h weapons.
3.4.3 Recommended Tradeskills:
Paladins have two tradeskills that benefit them, mining/blacksmithing or
mining/engineering.
? A blacksmith Paladin can make his own armor and weapons. Paladins
have to spend a lot of money, they are cash cows. Though they don’t
need to buy their level 40 mount, they still spend quite a bit on the latest
armor and weapons. If a Paladin isn’t up-to-date, he’s ineffective.
Blacksmithing can reduce some of the cash troubles most Paladins have.
? Engineering is useful all around. And while true, Paladins can’t use guns,
they can use dynamite and bombs. One of the Paladin’s biggest flaws
tends to be that he has no ranged attack. Grab some dynamite and start
chuckin.
3.4.4 Spells and Abilities
Do’s
? Every single spell/seal/blessing except:
Don’t
? Resistance Aura (unless in a raiding environment)
? Fire Resistance Aura (unless in a raiding environment)
Playing a Paladin can be fun due to combos, but in groups you will feel repetitive motion
as you constantly recast seals. One big plus is that you don’t have to save for your level
40 mount, instead you can quest for it. Paladin mounts look much cooler than normal
horses so don’t bother saving for one. Use that cash on much-needed equipment
instead.
Dwarf Human
Agility 16 20
Intelligence 19 20
Spirit 20 21
Stamina 25 25
Strength 24 22
Total 104 108
Useable Weapons: One-handed maces, one-handed swords, two-handed axes,
two-handed maces, two-handed swords
3.4.5 Tips:
?? You are a hybrid class, so if your team is abundant with healers, switch to
tanking. If there are enough tanks, switch to being a backup healer and
just do basic attacks with some mana-enhancing spells.
?? Auras and blessings are where it’s at. If there are many casters in your
group, use a mana-oriented aura. Keep an eye out on what your group
needs, if casters seem to be lacking, use the mana auras. If tanks aren’t
doing enough absorbing or damaging, switch your abilities to boost that.
?? The more people in your group, the better your auras are. What affects
five players is better than what effects one.
3.4.6 Suggested Items
Chausses of Westfall – Legs - +11 Strength, +5 Stamina.
Alliance Quest Reward for “The Defias Brotherhood” in Westfall.
Algae Fists – Arms – Level 23 - +10 Strength, +4 Stamina.
Drops off Gelihast in Blackfathom Deeps.
Ironspine’s Ribcage – Chest – Level 30 - +6 Strength, +3 Agility, +17 Stamina.
Drops off Ironspine in the Scarlet Monestary
Scarlet Chestpiece – Chest – Level 34 - +8 Strength, +19 Stamina.
Drops off Scarlet Champions in Scarlet Monestary.
Carapace of Tuten’Kash – Chest – Level 40 - +10 Strength, +8 Agility, +15
Stamina.
Drops off Tuten’Kash in Razorfen Downs
Ghaz’rilla Scale Armor – Chest – Level 43 - +10 Stamina, +23 Spirit
Drops off Gahz’rilla in Zul’Farrak.
Atal’alarion’s Tusk Ring – Waist – Level 46 - +18 Strength, +8 Stamina
Drops off Atal’alarion in the Temple of Atal’Hakkar
Bracers of the Stone Princess – Wrist - Level 49 - +6 Stamina, +5 Intelligence.
Drops off Princess Theradrasin Maraudon.
Carapace of Anub’shiah – Waist- Level 50 - +11 Strength, +11 Agility, +22
Stamina.
Drops off Anub’shiah in the Blackrock Depths.
Helm of Narv – Head – Level 54 - +13 Agility, +32 Stamina, +18 Spirit.
(Very Rarely) Drops off Rage Talon Flamescale in Blackrock Spire.
Timmy’s Galoshes – Feet – Level 54 - +11 Strength, Agility, Stamina, and Spirt.
Drops off Timmy the Cruel in Strathome.
Plate of the Shaman King – Level 55- +12 Stamina, +29 Spirit.
Drops off Highlord Omokk in Blackrock Spire.
Vigorsteel Vambraces – Wrist - Level 57 - +7 Agility, +17 Stamina.
Drops off Darkmaster Gandling in Scholomance.
Crown of Tyranny – Head- Level 58 - +20 Stamina, -10 Spirit, +40 Attack Power.
Critical Strike +1%.
Drops off Balnazzar in Stratholme.