The Ultimate Guide to the Best Paladin Builds in D2R

Last updated: 4/9/2024

The Paladin - A natural party leader, holy man, and blessed warrior. The two builds we will talk about today are the Hammerdin, and the Smiter - outlining optimal gear, skills, and strategies.

The Hammerdin

This build centers around the

Blessed Hammer

Blessed Hammer summons an ethereal hammer thatspirals outwards damaging enemies it hits Required Level: 18

, known for its ability to deliver massive magic damage in wide arcs, making it one of the most powerful and iconic Paladin builds in Diablo 2 Resurrected. Suitable for both beginners and veterans, this build combines the potent offensive capability of Blessed Hammer with the defensive fortifications of the Paladin class to navigate through the game's most challenging content.

Key Skills

Blessed Hammer

Blessed Hammer summons an ethereal hammer thatspirals outwards damaging enemies it hits Required Level: 18

(20) your primary skill.

Concentration

Concentration when active, aura increases the damage and decreases the chancethat the attack will be interrupted for you and your party Required Level: 18

(20) your active aura, increases hammer damage.

Vigor

Vigor when active, aura increases stamina recovery rate, maximum staminaand movement speed for you and your party Required Level: 18

(20) passively increases hammer damage and provides a handy movement speed buff while in towns.

Blessed Aim

Blessed Aim when active, aura increases the attack ratingfor you and your party Required Level: 12

(20) passively increases to hammer damage.

Holy Shield

Holy Shield enhances your shield with divine power Required Level: 24

(20) for increased block chance.

Redemption

Redemption when active, aura attempts to redeemthe souls of slain enemies to givelife and mana to you and your party Required Level: 30

(1) for health and mana recovery between packs.

Teleport

Teleport instantly moves to a destination within your line of sight Required Level: 18

(from

Enigma

armor) to position yourself and your volleys.

Suggested Items

Weapon:

D2R Heart of the Oak Flail - 40 All Res - Perfect

Heart of the Oak Runeword

for increased skills and cast rate.

Shield:

D2R Spirit Sacred Targe - 40-44 All Res 35% Fcr

Spirit Runeword Shield

for FCR and +Skills.

Armor:

Enigma

for mobility with Teleport and +Skills.

Helm:

Harlequin Crest Shako

for +Skills and life/mana boost.

Gloves:

Magefist

for FCR and mana regeneration.

Boots:

War Traveler

for added strength and vitality.

Belt:

Arachnid Mesh

for FCR and +Skills.

Sunder Charm (Optional):

D2R Black Cleft - 45 Magic Resist - Perfect

Magic Sunder

to break monster Magic Immunity.

Gameplay Tips

Master the art of positioning to maximize the area of effect of your Hammers.

Utilize

Teleport

Teleport instantly moves to a destination within your line of sight Required Level: 18

for strategic positioning and crowd control.

Balance between offense and defense, adjusting your gear and skills according to the situation.

Best Farming Areas for a Hammerdin in D2R

Act 3 - Travincal - Great for farming High Runes and unique items, with fast clearing speed.

Act 5 - Baal Runs - Efficient for leveling up and obtaining high-level loot.

Chaos Sanctuary - A challenging area that can be effectively cleared with your

Blessed Hammer

Blessed Hammer summons an ethereal hammer thatspirals outwards damaging enemies it hits Required Level: 18

, also great for Diablo loot.

The hammerdin shines in open areas with few magic immunes, which is most of them!

Blessed Hammer

Holy Bolt

The Smiter Paladin

This build focuses on the

Smite

Smite temporarily stun your enemyby bashing it with your shield

skill, a melee attack that never misses and can stun the target. Ideal for boss fights, the Smiter Paladin can deliver relentless damage while maintaining high levels of defense. This guide outlines the key skills, items, and strategies to maximize the effectiveness of a Smiter Paladin, making it an invaluable asset for tackling some of the game's toughest challenges, including Uber bosses.

Key Skills

Primary focus on

Smite

Smite temporarily stun your enemyby bashing it with your shield

for attack, ensuring every hit against enemies.

Fanaticism

Fanaticism when active, aura increases attack speedand attack rating for you and your party Required Level: 30

as your main aura to boost attack speed and damage.

Holy Shield

Holy Shield enhances your shield with divine power Required Level: 24

to increase shield block rate and damage.

Allocate points into defensive auras like

Defiance

Defiance when active, aura increases the defenseof you and your party Required Level: 6

and

Resist Fire

Resist Fire when active, aura decreases fire damagedone to you and your party

to bolster your resistances.

Suggested Items

Weapon:

D2R Grief Phase Blade - 33-40 IAS - 380-399 Damage

Grief Runeword

in a Phase Blade for its massive damage increase.

Shield:

D2R Exile Sacred Targe - Ethereal - 40-44 All Res

Exile Runeword Shield

for life tap on hit, enhancing survivability.

Armor:

D2R Fortitude Archon Plate - 25-29 All Res

Fortitude Runeword

for enhanced damage and resistance.

Helm:

Guillaume's Face

for crushing blow and faster hit recovery.

Gloves:

Dracul's Grasp

for life leech and chance to cast Life Tap on striking.

Boots:

Gore Rider

for deadly strike, crushing blow, and open wounds.

Belt:

Verdungo's Hearty Cord

for increased vitality and damage reduction.

Combat Strategies

Utilize

Smite

Smite temporarily stun your enemyby bashing it with your shield

in combination with your Crushing Blow items to quickly deplete boss health bars.

Keep your

Holy Shield

Holy Shield enhances your shield with divine power Required Level: 24

active at all times for improved blocking and defense.

Adjust your auras according to the situation, using

Fanaticism

Fanaticism when active, aura increases attack speedand attack rating for you and your party Required Level: 30

for offense or defensive auras for increased resistance.

Efficient Boss Runs with a Smiter Paladin

Uber Tristram - Ideal for farming Torch Charms due to the Smiter's effectiveness against Uber bosses.

Chaos Sanctuary - High damage output makes quick work of Diablo.

Pandemonium Event - Specialized for taking down Uber bosses efficiently.

Act 5 - Worldstone Keep - Good for leveling and farming high-level loot in the late game.

Smite Attack

Holy Shield

Paladin Mercenary

For the Hammerdin, the mercenary's role is critical in providing additional damage, crowd control, and survivability. The right mercenary can enhance your Paladin's capabilities, whether you're clearing mobs or focusing on boss runs.

Hammerdin Paladins benefit from mercenaries that can keep enemies at bay or cluster them together for efficient Blessed Hammer strikes. The Act 2 Nightmare Offensive mercenary with the

Might

Might when active, aura increases the damagedone by you and your party

aura increases your damage output, making your hammers even more lethal.

Smiter Paladins, require a mercenary that boosts their survivability and damage. The Act 2 Hell Defensive mercenary with the

Defiance

Defiance when active, aura increases the defenseof you and your party Required Level: 6

aura provides a significant boost to defense. Most people opt to not use a Mercenary for Uber bossess, as they tend to die almost right away.

Helmet:

Andariel's Visage

for added attack speed and life leech, or

Vampire Gaze

for damage reduction and life leech, beneficial in prolonged fights.

Weapon:

Insight

in a Colossus Voulge or Thresher for the Meditation aura, crucial for mana recovery, allowing for continuous skill usage.

Armor:

Treachery

for the Fade proc and IAS, enhancing survivability and response time, or

Fortitude

in an ethereal base for increased damage and resistance, crucial for enduring in high-damage environments.

Paladin Playstyles & Strategies

Hammerdin Build: Focused on area control and high output damage, ideal for players who enjoy decimating hordes of enemies with precise Blessed Hammer strikes. Efficiency in skill casting and positioning maximizes the build's potential.

Smiter Build: Specialized in single-target damage, this build excels in taking down high-difficulty bosses. Gear and skill choices are geared towards maximizing damage output and survivability in close combat.

For both builds, effective use of your mercenary is paramount; they should act as your shield, drawing attention and sustaining damage, allowing you to focus on offense. Adapting gear and strategies to match the enemy at hand will lead to success in both PvE and PvP encounters.

Remember to keep your mercenary well-equipped and consider their positioning in battles to ensure they can perform their role without falling too quickly.