FoH'adin

Paladin

This build is incomplete, the information and gear on this page is not correct for this class

Character Build

Make sure to finish these quests, allowing for increased stats, skills, and resists:

• Den of Evil, gives a skill in each normal, nightmare, and hell difficulties allowing for 3 extra skills.
• Radament's Lair, gives a skill in each normal, nightmare, and hell difficulties allowing for 3 extra skills.
• The Golden Bird, awards 20 health from each normal, nightmare, and hell difficulties, allowing for an extra 60 hp.
• Lam Esen's Tome, this quest gives 5 stats from each normal, nightmare, and hell difficulties, allowing for an extra 15 stats.
• Fallen Angel, gives 2 skills in each normal, nightmare, and hell difficulties allowing for 6 extra skills.
• Prison of Ice, awards 10 resists in each normal, nightmare, and hell difficulties allowing for 30 extra skills.

Stat Distribution

If you have an Annihilus and Torch, you shouldn't even need to put any points into strength to get to the point that you can wear your Breast Plate Enigma. Equipping your Enigma will add a large amount of strength, satisfying other items' strength requirements, etc. If, after Chain Equipping, you still have not satisfied the stat requirements of all your items, allocate stats into the proper stats so you can equip your items.

Next, if you think you will be pvp'ing you may want a decent block value to block from melee and ranged attacks. Put points into dexterity until you are satisfied with your blockrate. (As you level up, your blockrate will decrease.)

Done with your strength and dexterity requirements? Dump all the rest of your points into Vitality (Shift + Left Click)

Skill Distribution

[Try your own!]

You can access my preferred build by clicking on the link underneath the Paladin skill tree to the right. (My build considers additional skills from gear, Annihilus, and Hellfire Torch, but does not include any regular Skill Charms.)

Character Gear

With this gear build, you will have +11 all skills, and +15 to curses not counting any additional +skills from an Annihilus, Torch, or skill charms.

This section is set up as follows: Item farthest left is your optimal item for that slot in your character. Any items to the right may be a second choice, or a magic find opt-in.

Helm

Harlequin Crest Shako

Defense: 98-141 Minimum Strength: 50 Durability: 12 Level Requirement: 62 +2 To All Skills +1-148 To Life (+1.5 per Character Level) +1-148 to Mana (+1.5 per Character Level) Damage Reduced By 10% 50% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items +2 To All Attributes (Only Spawns In Patch 1.09 or later)

Amulets

Mara's Kaleidoscope Amulet

Level Requirement: 67 +2 to All Skills All Resistances +20-30 (varies) +5 to All Attributes (Only Spawns in Patch 1.09 or Later)

Shields

Homunculus Exceptional: Hierophant Trophy

Defense: 177-213 % to Block: 72% Minimum Strength: 58 Durability: 20 Level Requirement: 42 +150-200% Enhanced Defense (varies) +5 To Mana After Each Kill 40% Increased Chance of Blocking 30% Faster Block Rate +2 To Necromancer Skill Levels +20 To Energy Regenerate Mana 33% All Resistances +40 +2 To Curses (Necromancer Only) (Only Spawns In Patch 1.09 or later)

Boneflame Elite: Succubus Skull

Defense: 323-367 % to Block: 30% Minimum Strength: 95 Durability: 20 Level Requirement: 72 +120-150% Enhanced Defense (varies) +20% Faster Run/Walk +2-3 To Necromancer Skill Levels (varies) All Resistances +20-30 (varies) 15% Chance To Cast Level 3 Terror When Struck (Only Spawns In Patch 1.10 or later)

Armor

Enigma 3 Socket Body Armor

Jah •  Ith •  Ber Level Requirement: 65 +2 To All Skills +45% Faster Run/Walk +1 To Teleport +750-775 Defense (varies) (+0.75 Per Character Level) +0-74 To Strength (Based On Character Level) Increase Maximum Life 5% Damage Reduced By 8% +14 Life After Each Kill 15% Damage Taken Goes To Mana (+1 Per Character Level) +1-99% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items (Based On Character Level)

Putting this in a breast plate allows for a very low strength requirement. As Enigma gives almost 70 strength at higher levels, it allows you to satisfy strength requirements of other items without even putting points into strength. This way you can save the majority of your stat points for Vitality.

Gloves

Trang-Oul's Claws Heavy Bracers

Defense: 67-74 Minimum Strength: 58 Durability: 16 Level Requirement: 45 20% Faster Cast Rate Cold Resist +30% +30 Defense +25% to Poison Skill Damage +2 to Curses (Necromancer Only)

Magefist Light Gauntlets

Defense: 24-25 Minimum Strength: 45 Durability: 18 Level Requirement: 23 +20-30% Enhanced Defense (varies) +10 Defense +1 To Fire Skills 20% Faster Cast Rate Regenerate Mana 25% Adds 1-6 Fire Damage (Only Spawns In Patch 1.09 or later)

Chance Guards Chain Gloves

Defense: 27-28 Minimum Strength: 25 Durability: 16 Level Requirement: 15 +20-30% Enhanced Defense (varies) +15 Defense +25 To Attack Rating 25-40% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items (varies) 200% Extra Gold From Monsters +2 To Light Radius (Only Spawns In Patch 1.09 or later)

Belts

Arachnid Mesh Spiderweb Sash

Defense: 119-138 Potion Slots: 16 Minimum Strength: 50 Durability: 12 Level Requirement: 80 +90-120% Enhanced Defense (varies) Slows Target By 10% +1 To All Skills +20% Faster Cast Rate Increases Maximum Mana 5% Level 3 Venom (11 Charges) (Only Spawns In Patch 1.10 or later)

Tal Rasha's Fine-Spun Cloth Mesh Belt

Defense: 35-40 Defense: 95-100 Potion Slots: 16 Minimum Strength: 47 Durability: 16 Level Requirement: 53 Requirements -20% 37% Damage Taken Goes to Mana +30 to Mana +20 to Dexterity 10-15% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items (varies) +60 Defense (2 Items) 10% Faster Cast Rate (3 Items)

Goldwrap Heavy Belt

Defense: 34-36 Potion Slots: 12 Minimum Strength: 45 Durability: 18 Level Requirement: 27 +40-60% Enhanced Defense (varies) +25 Defense 10% Increased Attack Speed 30% Better Chance Of Getting Magic Items 50-80% Extra Gold From Monsters (varies) +2 To Light Radius (Only Spawns In Patch 1.09 or later)

With regards to MF, Goldwrap is the best belt in the game of Diablo II. I still prefer Tal Rasha's belt to it though because Goldwrap only has room for 3 rows of potions.

Weapons

Beast 5 Socket Axes/Scepters/Hammers

Ber •  Tir •  Um •  Mal •  Lum Level Requirement: 63 Level 9 Fanaticism Aura When Equipped +40% Increased Attack Speed +240-270% Enhanced Damage (varies) 20% Chance of Crushing Blow 25% Chance of Open Wounds +3 to Werebear +3 to Lycanthropy Prevent Monster Heal +25-40 to Strength (varies) +10 to Energy +2 to Mana After Each Kill Level 13 Summon Grizzly (5 Charges)

Rings

The Stone of Jordan Ring

Level Requirement: 29 +1 to All Skills Increase Maximum Mana 25% Adds 1-12 Lightning Damage +20 to Mana

Bul-Kathos' Wedding Band Ring

Level Requirement: 58 +1 to All Skills +0-49 to Life (+0.5 per Character Level) 3-5% Life Stolen per Hit (varies) +50 to Maximum Stamina (Only Spawns in Patch 1.09 or Later)

Boots

Sandstorm Trek Scarabshell Boots

Defense: 158-178 Kick Damage: 60-110 Minimum Strength: 91 Durability: 14 Level Requirement: 64 +140-170% Enhanced Defense (varies) 20% Faster Hit Recovery 20% Faster Run/Walk +1-99 to Maximum Stamina (+1 per Character Level) +10-15 To Strength (varies) +10-15 To Vitality (varies) 50% Slower Stamina Drain Poison Resist +40-70% (varies) Repairs 1 Durability Every 20 Seconds (Only Spawns In Patch 1.10 or Later)

Waterwalk Sharkskin Boots

Defense: 112-124 Kick Damage: 28-50 Minimum Strength: 47 Durability: 14 Level Requirement: 32 +180-210% Enhanced Defense (varies) 20% Faster Run/Walk +100 Defense vs. Missile +15 to Dexterity +5% to Maximum Fire Resist Heal Stamina Plus 50% +40 to Maximum Stamina +45-65 to Life (varies) (Only Spawns In Patch 1.09 or Later)

War Traveler Battle Boots

Defense: 120-139 Kick Damage: 37-64 Minimum Strength: 95 Durability: 48 Level Requirement: 42 +150-190% Enhanced Defense (varies) 25% Faster Run/Walk +10 to Vitality +10 to Strength Adds 15-25 Damage 40% Slower Stamina Drain Attacker Takes Damage of 5-10 (varies) 30-50% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items (varies) (Only Spawns In Patch 1.09 or Later)

Mercenary Gear

Get an act 2 Might mercenary.

Note: All mercenary items should be ethereal, as items do not take durability damage on mercenaries. This way their armor gives much more defense, and their weapons do much more damage.

Armor

Bramble 4 Socket Body Armor

Ral •  Ohm •  Sur •  Eth Level Requirement: 61 Level 15-21 Thorns Aura When Equipped (varies) +50% Faster Hit Recovery +25-50% to Poison Skill Damage (varies) +300 Defense Increase Maximum Mana by 5% Regenerate Mana 15% +5% to Maximum Cold Resist +30% Fire Resist +100% Poison Resist +13 Life After Each Kill Level 13 Spirit of Barbs (33 Charges)

Stone 4 Socket Body Armor

Shael •  Um •  Pul •  Lum Level Requirement: 47 +60% Faster Hit Recovery +250-290% Enhanced Defense (varies) +300 Defense Vs. Missile +16 To Strength +16 To Vitality +10 To Energy All Resistances +15 Level 16 Molten Boulder (80 Charges) Level 16 Clay Golem (16 Charges)

Weapon

Insight 4 Socket Polearms/Staves

Ral •  Tir •  Tal •  Sol Level Requirement: 27 Level 12-17 Meditation Aura When Equipped (varies) +35% Faster Cast Rate +200-260% Enhanced Damage (varies) +9 To Minimum Damage 180-250% Bonus to Attack Rating (varies) Adds 5-30 Fire Damage +75 Poison Damage Over 5 Seconds +1-6 To Critical Strike (varies) +5 To All Attributes +2 To Mana After Each Kill 23% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items

Helm

Andariel's Visage Demonhead

Defense: 310-387 Minimum Strength: 102 Durability: 20 Level Requirement: 83 +100-150% Enhanced Defense (varies) +2 To All Skills 20% Increased Attack Speed 8-10% Life Stolen Per Hit (varies) +25-30 To Strength (varies) +10% To Maximum Poison Resist Fire Resist -30% Poison Resist +70% 15% Chance To Cast Level 15 Poison Nova When Struck Level 3 Venom (20 charges) (Ladder Only) (Only Spawns In Patch 1.10 or later)