The Paladin joined Diablo 4 on 28 April 2026 together with the Lord of Hatred expansion, and that expansion is the only way to play it. It is a holy warrior with a shield, heavy armour and Auras that empower both the Paladin and the whole party. Here you will find how the Faith resource works, what Oaths are, which four archetypes Blizzard introduced for the class and what you need to own. It reflects the game as of 19 October 2026 (patch 3.2.3, Season 15) on PC and consoles. Builds stay out of it; this guide explains how the class works.
What you need to play the Paladin
The Paladin requires the Lord of Hatred expansion, which in turn requires the base game. The expansion also contains Vessel of Hatred, so it unlocks the Spiritborn and the Warlock at the same time. On Steam (Czech store, prices in euros as of 19 October 2026) Lord of Hatred Standard costs €39.99, Deluxe €59.99 and Ultimate €89.99. Deluxe adds the High Heavensguard cosmetic pack for the Paladin.
The expansion is bought separately for each platform, for example Xbox and Battle.net separately. Game Pass only includes the base game, so it does not give you the Paladin. For every edition and its contents, see our editions and price guide.
Class role and fantasy
The Paladin is a defender of the faith. It carries a shield and heavy armour, and its skills mix Physical and Holy damage. The main stat is Strength, the same as the Barbarian.
What sets the Paladin apart are its Auras. They affect the Paladin and the party, so this is a class that has something to offer teammates. If you plan to play with friends, also check how crossplay and co-op work in Diablo 4.
Faith: the Paladin’s resource
The Paladin pays for skills with Faith. You generate it with Basic skills and with Rally, and it also regenerates slowly on its own. Faith therefore keeps trickling in even when you are not attacking with a Basic skill.
Oaths: the vow that shapes your style
The Paladin’s class mechanic is called Oaths. You choose one of four: Zealot, Juggernaut, Judicator and Disciple. As with the other classes, the mechanic unlocks through a class quest while you level. We do not give the level at which the quest appears, because sources disagree.
Four archetypes according to Blizzard
On the expansion page, Blizzard presents the Paladin through four playstyles:
| Archetype | How Blizzard describes it |
|---|---|
| Arbiter | angelic form |
| Zealot | fanatical offence |
| Judicator | holy “bombardment” with chaining |
| Juggernaut | defence turned into offence |
Three of the names, Zealot, Judicator and Juggernaut, also appear among the Oaths. The fourth Oath in the game is called Disciple, while Blizzard’s list of archetypes names the Arbiter. The official material does not explain exactly how Arbiter and Disciple relate, so we do not link them here. Treat an archetype as a description of a playstyle, not a finished build.
The Paladin skill tree
The Paladin launched with the new skill tree that Lord of Hatred introduced for all eight classes. It has six groups: Basic from level 1, Core from 3, three class groups from levels 4, 8 and 13, and Ultimate from 19. You can only have one Ultimate.
An active skill takes up to 15 points, plus two pairs of Modifier upgrades (one from each) and one Variant out of three. You earn a skill point for every level from 2 to 70 and more from Season Ranks. Paragon follows at level 70.
Who the Paladin is for
- Players who want to hold the front line. Shield and heavy armour are core to the class.
- Players who group up. Auras help teammates too.
- Owners of Lord of Hatred. Without the expansion you cannot create a Paladin.
If you like Strength and melee but do not own the expansion, the closest option is the base game Barbarian. The other new class from Lord of Hatred is the demonic Warlock, a completely different fantasy from the holy knight.
Getting started with the Paladin
- Pick a difficulty. Normal if this is your first ARPG, otherwise Hard.
- Use a Basic skill and Rally. They are your sources of Faith.
- Complete the Oaths class quest. Your Oath is what gives the Paladin a clear direction.
- Stick to one archetype. Early on, put points into skills that fit one style from the table.
Join our Discord to set up co-op with other Paladins and players of every class: Discord GamersTogether.
FAQ
With the Lord of Hatred expansion on 28 April 2026 (in the US already on the afternoon of 27 April, local time). The Warlock arrived alongside it.
No. The Paladin requires Lord of Hatred. Game Pass only covers the base game, so you need to buy the expansion separately.
Oaths are the in-game class mechanic: you choose one of four, Zealot, Juggernaut, Judicator and Disciple. The archetypes Arbiter, Zealot, Judicator and Juggernaut are the playstyles Blizzard used to introduce the Paladin.
Physical and Holy. The main stat is Strength.
Information verified on 19 October 2026. More class and system guides are in our Diablo 4 section.