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Paladin Class Guide

Armor PlateResource Mana and Holy PowerSpecs 3
HolyHealerProtectionTankRetributionMelee DPS

Plate-armored holy warriors that can tank, heal or deal melee damage – sturdy, forgiving and one of the best choices for new players.

Updated 30 October 2026Checked for patch 12.1.53 sources

Paladins are holy knights who fight with the Light. They wear plate, heal themselves, and can fill all three roles, which makes them one of the most commonly recommended classes for beginners.

Specializations

  • Holy (healer) – a healer that can stay in melee range and heal through attacks.
  • Protection (tank) – a shield-bearing tank with strong defensive cooldowns.
  • Retribution (melee DPS) – a two-handed melee spec with big holy burst. Often suggested for leveling because it handles most content alone.

How it plays

Paladins build Holy Power with some abilities and spend it on stronger ones. They have famous defensive tools such as Divine Shield (the "bubble") and Lay on Hands, plus blessings and auras that help the group.

Who it suits

  • New and returning players – plate armor and self-healing make mistakes less punishing.
  • Players who aren't sure which role they want.
  • Fans of the classic holy knight.

Next steps

See how the Paladin compares to the others on our class overview, or start with the Beginner's Guide.

Reference page written by AI (Claude) and checked against the sources above. Games change with every patch – the patch this page was last checked for is shown at the top.