12-25-2025, 11:18 PM
I've been living in Season 11 since launch, and the Paladin conversation has flipped fast. People were doomposting right after the PTR changes, then a few smart players started sharing clips and suddenly everybody "knew" the class was fine. You run a couple of dungeons and you feel it: the kit can be nasty, but it's picky. If you're gearing up and comparing D4 items to hit the right pace, you'll notice the class either flows like butter or feels like you're stuck in mud, and there's not much in-between.
Holy Fervor Breakpoints Matter
Most of the meta talk still circles Holy Fervor, and yeah, it's for a reason. If you miss the attack speed breakpoints, your whole rhythm collapses. I started out stubborn with a big two-hander because, on paper, the numbers look great. In practice, it got me clipped by stuff I should've dodged. That animation lock is brutal when you're pushing. One-hand plus shield is where the season actually feels playable, and the Aegis of Valor aspect isn't "nice to have" anymore. It's the difference between keeping tempo and spending every pull scrambling to recover.
Paragon Choices: Don't Get Cute
The Paragon split is real. Some folks are stacking every holy multiplier they can find, chasing that highlight-reel damage. You can do it, sure. Then you'll get tagged by an off-screen corpse bow and wonder why your run's over. I've had that happen more than I'd like to admit. The Paladin isn't naturally tanky this season unless you build it that way. Defensive glyphs and aura layering look boring until you realise they let you keep swinging instead of reloading the dungeon. The "glass cannon" setup can work, but it's a lot less forgiving than the hype makes it sound.
Speed Farming vs Pushing Feels Like Two Games
For speed farming, the class is kind of ridiculous. Blessed Hammer procs can erase a screen when everything lines up, and that's why you're seeing so many fast clear videos. High-tier pushing is different. Cooldown timing starts to feel like a job. Miss Holy Shield, or panic-spend mobility, and you're punished instantly. The cleanest runs come from boring habits: hold your spacing, don't overchase elites, and keep your rotation steady even when it's tempting to mash.
Group Value Is Being Underrated
Solo ladders get all the noise, but the Paladin's group utility is quietly cracked. I ran duos with a Rogue and it was obvious right away—Conviction aura turns their damage into something silly. If solo feels rough, you don't have to force it. A support-hybrid setup gets you invited fast, and it's honestly a calmer way to grind. Stack cooldown reduction, respect attack speed, and don't buy into the "I can face-tank anything" clips unless your gear backs it up; if you're shopping around for D4 items cheap, focus on pieces that keep your rotation alive, because that's what makes the class feel unfair in the good way.
Holy Fervor Breakpoints Matter
Most of the meta talk still circles Holy Fervor, and yeah, it's for a reason. If you miss the attack speed breakpoints, your whole rhythm collapses. I started out stubborn with a big two-hander because, on paper, the numbers look great. In practice, it got me clipped by stuff I should've dodged. That animation lock is brutal when you're pushing. One-hand plus shield is where the season actually feels playable, and the Aegis of Valor aspect isn't "nice to have" anymore. It's the difference between keeping tempo and spending every pull scrambling to recover.
Paragon Choices: Don't Get Cute
The Paragon split is real. Some folks are stacking every holy multiplier they can find, chasing that highlight-reel damage. You can do it, sure. Then you'll get tagged by an off-screen corpse bow and wonder why your run's over. I've had that happen more than I'd like to admit. The Paladin isn't naturally tanky this season unless you build it that way. Defensive glyphs and aura layering look boring until you realise they let you keep swinging instead of reloading the dungeon. The "glass cannon" setup can work, but it's a lot less forgiving than the hype makes it sound.
Speed Farming vs Pushing Feels Like Two Games
For speed farming, the class is kind of ridiculous. Blessed Hammer procs can erase a screen when everything lines up, and that's why you're seeing so many fast clear videos. High-tier pushing is different. Cooldown timing starts to feel like a job. Miss Holy Shield, or panic-spend mobility, and you're punished instantly. The cleanest runs come from boring habits: hold your spacing, don't overchase elites, and keep your rotation steady even when it's tempting to mash.
Group Value Is Being Underrated
Solo ladders get all the noise, but the Paladin's group utility is quietly cracked. I ran duos with a Rogue and it was obvious right away—Conviction aura turns their damage into something silly. If solo feels rough, you don't have to force it. A support-hybrid setup gets you invited fast, and it's honestly a calmer way to grind. Stack cooldown reduction, respect attack speed, and don't buy into the "I can face-tank anything" clips unless your gear backs it up; if you're shopping around for D4 items cheap, focus on pieces that keep your rotation alive, because that's what makes the class feel unfair in the good way.