Overview

The Paladin is primarily a melee character, but unlike the Warrior they also get to use spells and other magical abilities. If you like the idea of a Warrior but want to be able to cast spells, resurrect people and have some cool auras, then the Paladin may be the class for you.

In addition to their tanking skills, Paladins are particularly noted for their ability to heal and resurrect people. If your main healer gets in trouble, it's really handy to have a Paladin on hand who can save the day.

Paladins can wear cloth, leather, or mail armor, and can train to wear plate armor at level 40. They can train or can inherently use most melee weapons (1h/2h swords, 1h/2h maces, 1h/2h axes, and polearms). However, Paladins cannot use ranged weapons at all.

Note: The paladins that I have played start with only maces, while the other skills must be purchased, unlike how is shown on the chart. --WakeShinigami

Note also: Paladins with the Engineering profession can craft and use bombs and other explosives as ranged weapons, but not with any great facility or effectiveness. --Pauper

Paladins have the best survivablity of any of the classes in World of Warcraft.

Paladins are the second most numerous class in World of Warcraft, almost tied with Hunters.

Note: This may not be true on your server. For example, according to wowcensus.com, on Whisperwind server Hunters are the most popular class, followed by Rogues, then Warriors, and then Paladins. This is probably because Paladins are an Alliance-only class, whereas both Alliance and Horde characters can be Rogues and/or Warriors. Strictly among Alliance players, Paladins are indeed slightly more popular than Rogues and slightly less popular than Hunters. --Pauper

Races

The Paladin is unique to the Alliance races:

• Alliance
  • Template:Alliance Quest Dwarves
  • Template:Alliance Quest Humans

Auras

In addition to spell buffs, a Paladin can also boost their group's abilities through the use of Auras. Multiple paladins can use different Auras within a group (although two Paladins using the same Aura gain no additional effect). The different Auras are as follows:

• Devotion Aura: Gives additional armor to nearby party members.
  (type: Protection; first acquired at level 1; 7 ranks)
• Retribution Aura: Causes holy damage to any creature that strikes a party member.
  (type: Retribution; first acquired at level 16; 5 ranks)
• Concentration Aura: Gives chance of ignoring spell interruption when damaged to nearby party members.
  (type: Protection; first acquired at level 22; 1 rank)
• Sanctity Aura: Increases Holy damage done by party members within 30 yards by 10%. This is gained from a talent.
  (type: ?; first acquired at level ?; ? ranks)
• Shadow Resistance Aura: Increases the group's shadow resistance.
  (type: Protection; first acquired at level 28; 3 ranks)
• Frost Resistance Aura: Increases the group's frost resistance.
  (type: Protection; first acquired at level 32; 3 ranks)
• Fire Resistance Aura: Increases the group's fire resistance.
  (type: Protection; first acquired at level 36; 3 ranks)

For more details, see Auras at Thottbot.

Blessings

Blessings are spell buffs that can be used on the paladin or any other firendly character.

The different Blessings are as follows:

• Blessing of Might
  (type: Retribution; first acquired at level 4; 6 ranks)
• Blessing of Protection
  (type: Protection; first acquired at level 10; 3 ranks)
• Blessing of Wisdom
  (type: Holy; first acquired at level 14; 5 ranks)
• Blessing of Freedom
  (type: Protection; first acquired at level 18; 1 rank)
• Blessing of Salvation
  (type: Protection; first acquired at level 26; 1 rank)
• Blessing of Sanctuary
  (type: Protection; first acquired at level 30; 5 ranks)
• Blessing of Light
  (type: Holy; first acquired at level 40; 3 ranks)
• Blessing of Sacrifice
  (type: Protection; first acquired at level 46; 2 ranks)

See Blessings at Thotbott for a complete list of available Blessings and their effects.

Seals

Seals are short-term self-buffs which boost the Paladin's power temporarily. Additionally, Paladins can unleash these seals upon an enemy. Each type of seal will have a different effect when unleashed.

The Seals provide the following buffs to the Paladin:

• Seal of the Crusader: Attack power and attack speed bonus, but deal less damage per attack.
  (first acquired at level 6; 6 ranks; type: Retribution)
• Seal of Righteousness: Each melee attack has a chance to do extra Holy Damage.
  (first acquired at level ?; 8 ranks; type: Holy)
• Seal of Fury: Melee attacks cause additional threat.
  (first acquired at level 16; 5 ranks; type: Protection)
• Seal of Justice: Melee attacks have a chance to stun for 2 seconds.
  (first acquired at level 22; 1 ranks; type: Protection)
• Seal of Light: Each melee attack has a chance to heal the Paladin a small bit.
  (first acquired at level 30; 4 ranks; type: Holy)
• Seal of Command: Melee attacks have a small chance to deal additional Holy Damage (equal to the weapon's damage). This is gained through a talent.
  (first acquired at level 30; 5 ranks; type: Retribution)
• Seal of Wisdom: Each melee attack has a chance to restore the Paladin's mana a small bit.
  (first acquired at level 38; 3 ranks; type: Holy)

When unleashed, the Seals have the following effects (Judging an enemy lasts for 30 seconds):

• Seal of the Crusader: Judges the enemy, increasing Holy damage taken.
• Seal of Righteousness: Causes instant damage to the enemy.
• Seal of Fury: Judges the enemy, causing Holy damage to produce increased threat.
• Seal of Justice: Judges an enemy, stopping him from fleeing (PvE only - doesn't work against players)
• Seal of Command: Judges the enemy, causing the enemy to take damage any time they become stunnned.
• Seal of Light: Judges the enemy, giving attacks on the enemy a chance to heal the attacker for a small bit.
• Seal of Wisdom: Judges the enemy, giving attacks on the enemy a chance to restore a small bit of the attacker's mana

See Thotbott for a list of Seal effects at each level.

Talents

Paladin Talents are split into 3 categories:

• Holy
• Protection
• Retribution

Talent builders can be found at Classes of Warcraft, WoW Vault, ThottBot.

Some good info at the official WoW forums:

• A Paladin Talent Guide - Updated 3/14

See Also

See Starting a Paladin for some advice when starting out.
See the Paladin Category for further information on the Paladin class.

Some good info at the official WoW forums:

• Codex of Paladin Builds

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