WoW Paladin Guide

by Paul E. Web

Note: This is all written by a Undead Rogue player ;) so expect some cheap shots, pun intended.


In game terms Paladin have some great skills. The ability to heal yourself in battle without the use of potions is only usually reserved for Priests and you can even shield yourself and run like a coward from battle.

The Paladin also get some buffs and smelly aura's that are useful to both yourself and your party, as well as some combat skills. As a warrior/healer, you have a very useful part to play in parties. You can double as a tank and a healer giving the best of both worlds to your party, as well as being able to dish out some impressive damage occasionally.

The Paladin also specialize in holy skills and anti-undead abilities with both Turn Undead and Exorcize. Please note, these skills don't work against undead players like me, only undead monsters. The ability to dish out extra holy damage with each hit is very handy especially when your soloing, as are the healing skills.

One of the best skills you get is called Lay on Hands.  This allows you to heal any friendly character, including yourself, for the amount of your maximum health. This means if you cast it on yourself, you'll heal yourself fully.

Lay On Hands (LOH) is very useful if you're about to die, but can still win the fight, if you can survive for a little bit longer. Its also an instant cast spell, which means it can't be interrupted, though it does take an hour to recharge or "cool down".

Aside from these pluses, you also have a resurrection spell called Redemption, you get it at level 10 - 12 (which is about 3 days play 6-8 if you suck or have too much to do.). This is very handy in a party and allows you to be friendly if you see another player die. Stand back, wait for the monster to wander off and resurrect or "rez" the dead man. He'll probably be pretty grateful, until I kill him again.

One last piece of good news. Most people have to pay 100 gold for a mount at level 40, 80 gold for the horse/ram/me cha strider and 20 gold for the training to use it. We get both free at level 40 with a Paladin specific quest, in which we receive a warhorse. Which means you can spend your gold on armour and weapons, and not have to worry about saving your money for a mount later.

Why Not a Paladin?

There's a bit of a set back with Paladins. As you specialize in a couple of different things, your not as good at them as some. You'll never be as good a tank as a warrior with the same skill level. Equally, you'll never be as good a healer as a priest of a similar level. Because of this some groups won't take you, over a priest or warrior, because they want the best they can get, not a combination of both. Don't hate them for it, their just making their game time easier. Another minor problem with the paladin is your damage potential.

Over time you'll do a similar amount of damage to a mage or rogue, but in short bursts you simply won't be able to match them. Your strong point is longevity, not explosive damage. If you want someone who can really kick ass for about 30seconds at a time, choose a mage or rogue. If you want someone who can fight well for minutes at a time, choose a paladin.


Which Race?

When it comes to Paladins, their are only 2 choices. You can be Human, or you can be Dwarf. Here's a quick rundown of the 2 races.  Note: Skills noted as Passive are always on, and don't need to be
activated.

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Dwarves
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Frost Resistance: Gives +10 to frost resistance (passive)

Gun Specialization: Gives +5 to Guns skill (passive)

Stoneform: Makes you immune to all poisons, diseases and bleed, and gives a 5% armour bonus. Lasts 20 secs and has a 3 minute cool down.

Treasure Finding: Shows all treasure chests on the map when activated. Stays on until cancelled or replaced.

Wow, +5 to guns that would be awesome, too bad paladins don't know how to use guns. Due to some mental problems palis cannot train to use guns, go figure.

Frost Resistance, it is ok but +10 isn't really a big deal. It helps a little in both PvP and PvE, considering that both players and mobs use frost based attacks.

Stoneform is only useful to remove the bleed effect, seeing as Palidins can learn the skill Cleanse which removes the poisons and disease and you get a trinket quest at about level 45 that you can use to remove bleed effects StoneForm can go suck it.

Treasure Finding, strange talent but not too sure if it is useful, most chests spawn near mobs so if you missed it, you need glasses or need to stop playing WoW. You also cannot track herbs or Ores while tracking chests, so unless you like switching between them, you won't wanna be a dwarf unless for just looking like one.

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Humans
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Diplomacy: Gives a 10% bonus to all Faction point gains. (passive)

Human Spirit: Gives a 5% bonus to spirit. (passive)

Mace Specialization: Gives +5 to all Mace skills. (passive)

Sword Specialization: Gives +5 to all Sword skills. (passive)

Perception: Increases the detection of stealthed enemies and players. Lasts 20 secs and has a 3 minute cool down.

Diplomacy, one of the most coveted passive abilities, reputation gain is a big thing once you hit 60, if you are not doing instances you are trying to up your reputation. Seeing as I rolled Horde since my first day playing WoW, besides a few lvl 10-15 ally alts on servers I never play on, I have never experienced this awesome racial ability. Several good things come with high rep, it allows you to purchase other factions mounts, except Horde if you are Alliance and vice versa. For you "slow people" this would mean that if you hit Exalted with the Dwarves/Night Elves then you can purchase a "cool" ram/tiger to ride around on. 

Spirit increases the regeneration speed of your health and mana in and out of combat, so its pretty useful. As it is a +5% and not +5 this can increase your regen by alot, good for casters. Remember that a Paladin is 3/4 Melee and 1/4 caster, so it helps you regen mana, the only thing keeping you from losing all your health and getting your trip to the Grave Yard.

Again +5 to Maces and Swords only increace your chance to hit, no extra damage is calculated so don't wet your self over this.

Perception, it helps you see all stealthed mobs/players(rogues/druids). Note: you do not click this and all stealthed things become big glowing balls of free kill, it just increases your stealth detection a good rogue/druid can still avoid your view and attack as soon as it ends.

Your First Few Days


Right, you've now been throw into the game with just a pair of pants that some kind blind, finger less baby threw together and a weapon that would be better used to scratching your... back.

If you chose to be a Human, your now standing near Northshire Abbey, in Elwynn Forest, just above a contested area (Duskwood) looking somewhat like a hobo.

If you chose to be Dwarf, Congratulations you have the laggiest home city and are knee deep in snow, now freezing your cannon balls off in Anvilmar, a small town in Dun Morogh, hurray for you.

To begin your fun 5 month grind to 60, explore your general area. None of the monsters will attack you, because the devs believe that you are too weak to defend yourself which is probably true. All the monsters within a couple of minutes walk of your start are neutral. This means they won't attack you unless you attack them first.

To know weather they are passive or not it depends on their name, if it is yellow, go up and hug them they won't attack until you try to smash their head in with a mace. If they are red then get close enough and they will try to hug your face, with their claws. 

Throughout most of the rest the game most enemies are aggressive, except for the bunnies that should be killed with no remorse. Anyway, time to get to questing. The people with yellow exclamation marks (!) flying over their heads are quest givers. These people will happily give you nice little jobs to do, that vary from "Go to see someone" or "Murder all the local wildlife". Most likely, your first real job will be to kill some really easy piggies or wolves or whatever.

Holy light is your bread and butter healing spell, it heals a fair amount of health, but unfortunately it has a casting time. If your attacked while your casting it, it'll take even longer every time you get hit. This means if you've got 3 mobs beating your face in you will most likely not be able to cast the spell and will likely die.


When you hit about level 12, you'll probably be off to a new area (Westfall for the Humans, Loch Modan for the Dwarves). Here you'll find new quests and new challenges. On every even level, go back to your trainer and see what new skills he's offering for you. Best of Luck, Paladin. May the Light Bless You, cause I'll be waiting.