So what's good? (new to paladin's)

[Ryum]

So what's good? (new to paladin's)

Just started playing d2 again after a long time. Started up a necro, and wanted to try another class.
I have done a little reading into this class... seems like there are quite a few builds that are popular.

What's the best PVE only build?

From what I have read it seems the best way to get save points, lightly use them til 18 then dump a few into blessed hammer and then from there on blessed hammer is your primary source of dmg.
If this is the case awesome, please give me some info into how this build plays, and what other good skills help this build guessing blessed aim would help a lot

but... there is no sticky for this build, and most the post are about smiting (from what I can tell a pvp build) and zeal (which I have no clue about)

Stat wise I don't like to waste any points so from what I have read put none in energy, vit is going to be where I dump most my points, but how much str, and dex should I shoot for?

Some of the guides and ect I have been reading are super old, that's why i wanted to post here and make sure what I found out is still good info.

Thanks

 

[Ryum]

Re: So what's good? (new to paladin's)

for a hammerdin, where do you spend your first ten skill points?

 

[ThomasJohnsen]

Re: So what's good? (new to paladin's)

I don't know what PvE means, but I take it you mean PvM (player vs. monsters).

It seems to me, that you have gotten the builds a bit mixed up. Basically you are talking about:

1) A pure Smiter (Smite, Holy Shield, Concentration/Fanatism)
2) A Zealot (Sacrifice, Zeal, Fanatism)
3) A Hammerdin (Blessed Aim, Vigor, Blessed Hammer, Concentration)

Holy Shield is a very nice skill and most paladins will use it, requiring the placement of 1 skill-point in smite (prerequisite). And since smite is a 1-point wonder, the Zealot will likely be able to smite (making him a 1-point smiter - as in the kingdryland guide, you refer to). This is why hardly anyone builds pure Smiters.

The Hammerdin is described in detail in the Ragnarod Guide.
There is also a guide on how to maximize the damage output of hammers, while going through the game - find it here.

You should know however, that there is a nice build, Vanquisher, which will combine a Zealot/Smiter/Hammerdin. This type of paladin gets the benefits from two builds (great damage to a large group of enemies supplied by fields of hammers, and quick boss kills with crushing blow smiting). The build is somewhat gear dependant and my advice is to try the Zealot (easy build and very playable) or the pure Hammerdin (little tricky in tight quarters but a very powerfull build - even with mediocre gear) first.

 

[Ryum]

Re: So what's good? (new to paladin's)

yeah I meant pvm

Gonna go with hammerdin

From what I can tell the hammerdin will pretty much only use blessed hammer to deal damage... what attacks, ect do you use with the zeallot?


the guide you linked says to use pts maxxing Concentration to use with BH, but another one says to max out blessed aim then you will use that with BH the most... Which is right?
edit: looked at the skills some more, guessing you max BA for the synergy, but use concentration in combat
Is that right?

lastly... while otw to 18 what attack do you use besides reg melee attack?

 

[BAMFSpecialOps]

Re: So what's good? (new to paladin's)

zeallot, im assuming you mean zealot, which id have to guess zeal is the main attack?>.>
Blessed aim is a synergy so yes do you do max it, and you will use concentration on your right skill to give your hammers more dmg.
While leveling up the reg melee attack is basically all ya got.

 

[lumpor]

Re: So what's good? (new to paladin's)

You only use a regular melee attack. Or charge and smite (they are prerequisites for blessed hammer). In the beginning, put points into all prerequisites and then save your skill points until level 18 (some people like putting points into ba early but I don't).

 

[ZanderC]

Re: So what's good? (new to paladin's)

Stat wise I don't like to waste any points so from what I have read put none in energy, vit is going to be where I dump most my points, but how much str, and dex should I shoot for?
Thanks

Well, for str stats that will be depending on your end game armor str req. Usually, I put it @ about 55. 55str will allow me to use a mage plate enigma. You can get added attributes from charms like torch and anni etc.

The guides are pretty old, but they are still useable. I use them too!

 

[ThomasJohnsen]

Re: So what's good? (new to paladin's)

the guide you linked says to use pts maxxing Concentration to use with BH, but another one says to max out blessed aim then you will use that with BH the most... Which is right?
edit: looked at the skills some more, guessing you max BA for the synergy, but use concentration in combat
Is that right?

Yep that is completely right. You keep the Concentration aura on (right mouse) and have the Blessed Hammer as your main attack (left mouse). This takes a bit of getting used to - sometimes you will start spamming hammers at a completely inopportune time because you clicked on a monster. Clicking in an empty area, while holding down [shift] is the common way to start making a spiral field of hammers.
When I level a hammer, I often max Vigor before Blessed Aim - it is so nice to be able to run really fast. Or you can use charge to move around, but this will empty your mana pool pretty quickly.
Really all the information you need is in those guides I linked. I know it is alot to read - maybe add the guide, you choose, to your favourites and browse it while leveling to make sure you're doing it right.

One last note - the Spirit (Tal+Thul+Ort+Amn) runeword is your friend! It can be made in both swords and shields, so you can wear 2 Spirits at a time. This will help you reach 75fcr or 125fcr, whichever you aim for, plus it adds alot of mana to your pool. Also the Insight (Ral+Tir+Tal+Sol) runeword on an act II merc will do wonders for your mana regeneration! The runes for both runewords are pretty commonly found - the problem will be in finding a sword with 4 sockets, a decent paladin with 4 sockets and a polearm with 4 sockets. But a hammerdin with dual spirits and an insight merc is an unstoppable force all through Normal and Nightmare. I even find myself using spirits in Hell often enough, as I play mostly untwinked [hardcore].

 

[Ryum]

Re: So what's good? (new to paladin's)

there are 1 handed polearms?

or do you get the +stats from things on your secondary weapon set?

 

[BAMFSpecialOps]

Re: So what's good? (new to paladin's)

Spirit sword/shield are used on your pally, while the insight runeword is tossed on your merc.

 

[Ryum]

Re: So what's good? (new to paladin's)

gotcha, but I thought you could only get insight/spirit to work on ladder characters

is this something new with 1.12?

 

[evild2player]

Re: So what's good? (new to paladin's)

There should be tons of spirits and insights on NL, because at the end of every ladder season the chars (and their items) become NL chars.

 

[Ryum]

Re: So what's good? (new to paladin's)

so you can't get this on a single player game?