Paladin
Available Races: Human, Dwarf

The Paladin:

Paladins are holy warriors, who dabble in both physical and magical abilities. They are specific to the Alliance cause and are bent on the distruction of undead. Many of their abilities reflect this. They can sense undead around them and once they track them, they call upon their holy powers specific to harm undead. They are also upholders of justice and valor, and protecting others. They have holy abilities to help them protect those in need. They can even give life back to a fallen ally. Their powers are quite vast and can affect a large area around them. One such example is their auras. These auras offer magical enchantments and protections to those around the Paladin. While not quite as combat adept as Warriors, nor as healing adept as Preists. Though they more then make up that lost ground in other areas. Paladins are a valueable asset to any party...except maybe a horde party!


Class Travel: Charger

Paladins may quest at level 40 to receive their own War Horse. It looks cool and saves gold, but its not an instant clickable like a real mount is. It takes cast time to bring it out, and thats the only disadvantage to it

Class Popularity

Here are some statistics for how popular the paladin was in the 9 day Stress Test. The full of this information can be found here

14% of characters on alliance were paladins

Armor & Defence

Shield
Cloth
Leather
Chain
Plate
Lvl 40

The Paladin is 1 of 2 classes in the entire game that is able to wear Plate Armor. Plate of course offers the most protection, and will set your armor level far above every other classes. Though you may not wear plate until 40, other classes are stuck with leather while you're using chain until 40.

You are also able to wield a shield from the get go. Shields in World of Warcraft are quite a bit different from other games. They add more armor then your chest piece does! See below for the formula to convert your armor level into damage absorb %

Weapons

Starting Weapon Skills
 
Unarmed
Mace
2H Mace
 
Learnable Weapon Skills
Axe
2H Axe
Sword
2H Sword
Parry
Lvl 8

Paladin Abilities & Spells

Here are some things to note when looking through the Paladin's abilities. Any attack/spell that's labeled as an Instant, is just that, instant, and is not affected or does not affect any other combat/casting timers. What this means is, you will keep doing your steady, auto hits based on the delay of your weapon, and instants, don't count for an attack round. So essentially, you could lands 2 hits at once...your normal timed auto-attack, and the instant. If the cast time is labeled as Next Melee, then it wont perform the action until your next melee round comes. That is based on your weapons delay. It is not an additional attack, but takes the place of your normal auto attack for that round.

Also, as you will see, there is a # of Ranks next to each ability. For example, Devotion Aura has 7 ranks. This means there are 7 upgrades that follow from the level you get the ability to level 60. You can see what level you get Rank 1 of an ability by looking at the level under the picture for each ability. I did it this way so you could just skim through what a paladin can do, without having to filter through just basic upgrades. There are other sites out there that have this information. This page is intended to help you choose a race and a class, and fill you in on the capabilities of a Paladin.

There are some abilities below that will be highlighted in blue, these abilities are bought with talent points. Also interrupting a spell in World of Warcraft just means prolonging the time it takes to cast it by X seconds. Where as stun, will completely stop a stop and abort a spell from being cast and needs to be cast again.
A single Paladin may only have 1 Aura active at a time.
A single Paladin may only have 1 Seal per player on at any time.
Holy
Combat
Protection

Holy Light (8 Ranks)

Level 1

Category: Heal
Costs: Mana
Cast Time: 2.5 second
Range: 40 yard
Cool Down: None
Description: The paladin calls upon his holy light to heal the wounds of himself and others.

Holy Strike (8 Ranks)

Level 1

Category: Bonus Dmg
Costs: Mana
Cast Time: Next Melee
Cool Down: 10 sec
Description: The paladin calls holy power through his weapon, dealing bonus damage to a normal melee swing. This extra damage is holy damage.

Devotion Aura (7 Ranks)

Level 1

Category: Group Buff (Armor)
Duration: Until Aura Change
Cast Time: Instant
Costs: Nothing
Cool Down: None
Description: The paladin blankets his party in an aura of Devotion increasing the armor of everyone within 30 yards of the paladin.

Purify

Level 6

Category: Cure
Costs: Mana
Cast Time: Instant
Range: 30 yard
Cool Down: None
Description: The Paladin purifys his target, curing them of 1 disease effect and 1 poison effect

Crusader Strike (5 Ranks)

Level 10

Category: Bonus Dmg
Duration: 30 sec
Cast Time: Next Melee
Costs: Mana
Cool Down: None
Description: The paladin strikes for Bonus Damage and increases the holy damage taken by the target per Crusader Strike. Can be applied up to 5 times. Lasts 30 seconds.

Healing Aura (6 Ranks)

Level 4

Category: Group Buff (Regen)
Duration: Until Aura Change
Cast Time: Instant
Costs: Nothing
Cool Down: None
Description: The paladin blankets his party in an aura of Healing increasing the health regeneration of everyone whos not in combat within 30 yards of the paladin.

Lay on Hands (2 Ranks)

Level 10

Category: Mega Heal
Costs: Mana
Cast Time: Instant
Range: 20 yard
Cool Down: 60 Min
Description: The Paladin lays hands on his ally healing his target for an ammount equal to his maximum health, and with rank 2, 250 mana, but uses all of his remaining mana.

Hammer of Justice (4 Ranks)

Level 10

Category: Stun
Duration: 3-5 sec
Cast Time: Instant
Costs: Mana
Cool Down: 1 min
Description: The paladin slams his foe, stunning him for 3-5 seconds.

Divine Protection (2 Ranks)

Level 4

Category: Self Invulnerabilty
Duration: 6-8 sec
Cast Time: Instant
Costs: Mana
Cool Down: 5 min
Description: The paladin calls upon a higher power to temporarily protect himself from physical and magical attacks. Durring the 6-8 seconds the paladin is invulnerable, but he cannot physically attack anything.

Excorism (6 Ranks)

Level 18

Category: Undead Nuke
Targets: Undead Only
Costs: Mana
Cast Time: Instant
Range: 30 yard
Cool Down: 15 sec
Description: The paladin preforms an excorism on his undead foe causing holy damage.

Dominance Aura (5 Ranks)

Level 14

Category: Group Buff (Atk Power)
Duration: Until Aura Change
Cast Time: Instant
Costs: Nothing
Cool Down: None
Description: The paladin blankets his party in an aura of Dominance increasing the attack power of everyone within 30 yards of the paladin.

Seal of Protection (3 Ranks)

Level 8

Category: Target Invulnerablity
Duration: 6-10 sec or diff seal
Costs: Mana
Cast Time: Instant
Range: 30 yard
Cool Down: 5 min
Description: The paladin blesses his target party member with temporary invulnerablity. The target can not be physically attacked, nor can they attack or use physical abilities during that time.

Sense Undead

Level 20

Category: Tracking
Duration: Until Canceled
Cast Time: Instant
Costs: Nothing
Description: The paladin has a 6th sense for all things unholy. Shows the location of all nearby undead on the minimap, only 1 tracking ability may be used at a time

Seal of Fury

Level 14

Category: Buff (+ Threat)
Duration: 20 sec or diff seal
Costs: Mana
Cast Time: Instant
Range: 30 yard
Description: The paladin blesses a target party member with a seal of fury, causing their attacks to cause 50% more threat for 20 seconds.

Seal of Salvation

Level 22

Category: Buff (- Threat)
Duration: 30 sec or diff seal
Costs: Mana
Cast Time: Instant
Range: 30 yard
Cool Down : 15 sec
Description: The paladin blesses a target party member with a seal of salvation, causing their attacks to cause 50% less threat for 30 seconds.

Turn Undead (3 Ranks)

Level 24

Category: Fear
Targets: Undead Only
Duration: 10-20 sec
Costs: Mana
Cast Time: 1.5 sec
Range: 20 yard
Cool Down: 30 sec
Description: The paladin puts the fear of god into his undead target, causing 1 target at a time to turn and flee for up to 20 seconds.

Seal of Righteousness (5 Ranks)

Level 16

Category: Buff vs Undead
Duration: 2 min or diff seal
Costs: Mana
Cast Time: Instant
Range: 40 yard
Description: The paladin blesses his target with improved attack power vs undead.

Wisdom Aura (4 Ranks)

Level 26

Category: Group Buff (MP-Regen)
Duration: Until Aura Change
Cast Time: Instant
Costs: Nothing
Cool Down: None
Description: The paladin blankets his party in an aura of Wisdom increasing the mana regeneration of everyone within 30 yards of the paladin.

Cleanse

Level 26
Category: Cure
Costs: Mana
Cast Time: Instant
Range: 30 yard
Description: The paladin cleanses his target free of 1 disease effect, 1 poison effect, and 1 magic effect.

Retribution Aura (5 Ranks)

Level 18

Category: Damage Shield
Duration: Until Aura Change
Cast Time: Instant
Cosst: Nothing
Cool Down: None
Description: The paladin blankets his party in an aura of Retribution, causing damage to any creature that strikes a party member.

Resistance Aura (3 Ranks)

Level 28

Category: Group Buff (Resists)
Duration: Until Aura Change
Cast Time: Instant
Costs: Nothing
Cool Down: None
Description: The paladin blankets his party in an aura of Resistance, increasing resistance to all magic for everyone within 30 yards of the paladin.

Redemption

Level 40

Category: Resurect Player
Costs: Mana
Cast Time: 10 sec
Range: 40 yard
Cool Down: 60 min
Description: The paladin calls upon the will of god to restore full life into a dead ally. Brings dead player back to life with 100% health and mana.

Seal of Reckoning (4 Ranks)

Level 30

Category: Buff (Lifetap)
Duration: 30 sec or diff seal
Costs: Mana
Cast Time: Instant
Range: 30 yard
Description: The paladin blesses his target with a seal which for 30 seconds heals the seal wearer every time he hits his target.

Divine Shield (2 Ranks)

Level 34

Category: Self Invulnerabilty
Duration: 10-12 sec
Cast Time: Instant
Costs: Mana
Cool Down: 5 min
Description: The paladin calls upon a higher power to temporarily protect himself from physical and magical attacks. Durring the 10-12 seconds the paladin is invulnerable, though his attack speed is slowed by 50%

Judgement (3 Ranks)

Level 40

Category: AoE Undead Nuke
Costs: Mana
Cast Time: Instant
Cool Down: None
Description: The sends bolts of holy light out in all directions, damaging nearby undead targets

Seal of Sacrifice

Level 36

Category: Damage Reduction
Duration: 30 sec or diff seal
Costs: Mana
Cast Time: Instant
Range: 30 yard
Description: The paladin lays a seal on a party member, splitting 50% of all damage taken with the caster

Paladin Talents Comming Soon...

Which Race to Choose...

Paladin is one of the few classes where you dont get much of an option for race. Its either Human or Dwarf. Each one has its advantages and disadvantages and each is a viable choice, you can not gimp yourself by choosing the wrong race. The races were balanced well. One of the most important factors in choosing a race is choosing one you like the look and feel of. Get a few choices in mind then look at the charts below to help you finalize that decision.
Paladin Stats
Green - Best
Race
HP
MP
STR
AGI
STA
INT
SPR
Power
Armor
Dodge%
Crit%
Block%
Human 58 65 22 20 22 20 21 27 42 4.56 4.86 4.84
Dwarf 85 64 24 17 25 19 20 31 36 3.85 4.43 4.84

Racial Rankings
Stat
Winner
Hit Points
Dwarf
Damage Per Second, Dmg Blocked with Shield
Dwarf
Armor Rating, Dodge & Critical Hit Chance
Human
Mana, Spell Critical Hit Chance, Learning Speed
Human
Health Regen, Mana Regen, Proc Chance
Human

Racial Population
Human
Dwarf
35%
18%
These stats were collected durring the WoW Stress Test via this website

Things to Consider...

Racial differences affect you through-out your character's life.

What I mean by this is, say I had a level 14 Tauren Warrior with 34 AGI from rings & buffs. A level 14 Night Elf warrior with 34 AGI, and Identical Armor, will still have more armor then I do. He will still get critical attacks more then I do, and he will still dodge more then I do. Its the same vice versa too, he will never hit as hard as I do, block as much damage as I do, have as many hit points as I do. So know that your choice will affect you for the rest of your character's life.

Remember to look at Racial Traits as well.

Be sure to factor in Racial Traits when deciding on the race for your Paladin. Dwarves have a Treasure Finding ability, and bonus Cold resistance. Humans gain skill points faster.

Key & Formulas

Damage Reduction Formula:

Damage Reduction = (.3*(Armor Class-1)/(10*Level+89))

Okay, so lets make some sense of this formula. Lets say I want to figure out the damage reduction of a naked level 1 night elf rogue who has 58 armor.

So lets see, Armor Class - 1 = 57 * .3 = 17.1
10 * Level 1 + 89 = 99
17.1 / 99 = 0.1727
Which means 17.27%

Lets apply this to a higher level character now.

How about a level 13 Tauren Druid, wearing leather armor, fully buffed & in Bear form. He has 562 armor. So if we do the math the dmg reduction turns out to be about 77%
Abbreviation
Meaning
Abbreviation
Meaning
DD
 Direct Damage   Mez To mesmerize a target, stops it from fighting
DoT
 Damage over Time   CC Crowd Control - process to fight 1-2 monsters at a time
HoT
 Heal over Time   Buff A beneficial spell that improves your character
Proc
 To trigger a magical effect in a weapon   Debuff Opposite of Buff
AoE
 Area of Effect   Snare To slow run speed
PBAoE
 Point Blank Area of Effect   Haste Makes your character attack faster with melee
DPS
 Damage Per Second   Threat What monsters use to judge who to attack. Whoever has the most has the monsters attention
PVP
 Player vs Player   Nuke See Direct Damage
PVE
 Player vs Environment   Mob Mobile/Monster/Hostile NPC
DMG
 Damage   Agro Aggression - when a mob wants to kill you
HP
 Hit Points or Health Points   PC Player Character - human controlled
MP
 Mana Points or Magic Points   NPC No Player Character - computer controlled
STR
 Strength   Pet An NPC friend that follows your commands
AGI
 Agility   DS Damage Shield - A buff that hurts mobs who touch you
STA
 Stamina   Bleed Damage over time
INT
 Intellect   Rez To resurrect a player (bring them back from dead)
SPR
 Spirit   Taunt To get the monsters attention so it attacks you and no 1 else
Regen
 To recover   Wake Process of waking anything that is mezzed
Lull
 To lower the radius in which the monster will attack   Dispell to remove a magical effect
  • Strength
    • Adds to your Attack Power, Damage-Per-Second, Amount of damage blocked with shield in part by Strength (and other part by your shield)
  • Stamina
    • Increases Hit Points
  • Spirit
    • Increases Health and Mana regeneration in & out of combat. Spirit also increases your chance to 'proc' with weapons.
  • Armor
    • Protection gained from spells and armor. Higher yields more damage absorb.
  • Dodge
    • Chance to dodge a melee attack.
  • Agility
    • Increases chance to Critical Hit. The amount of bonus is higher per point on Rogues. Agility affect Dodge. Rogues get more Dodge per points of Agility then other classes. Agility Adds Directly to Armor.
    Intellect
    • Increases Mana Points as well as chance to Critical Hit with magic spells. Intellect also grants a higher chance to increase melee skills. Does not affect trade skills.
  • Power
    • Melee Attack Power Rating (higher yields more damage)
  • Crit
    • Chance to Critical with melee only. Intellect reflects crit chance for spells