Paladin

Paladin
Pallegina, a godlike Paladin.
General
Role	Leader
Abilities	Paladin Abilities cover three major categories: close passive and modal support abilities, single target support abilities, and a small number of targeted offensive abilities.
Starting Stats
Skill bonus	Lore +1, Athletics +2
Endurance	42 + 14/level (Average)
Health	Endurance x5 (High)
Deflection	20 (Average)
Accuracy	25 (Average)
Character
Companion	Pallegina
Icon

“

Paladins are martial zealots, devoted to a god, a ruler, or even a way of life. They can be found in any culture where a fanatical group of like-minded individuals have formed a warrior society dedicated to advancing their cause. Among those aligned to their worldview, paladins are viewed with respect and admiration, if a bit of fear. Many paladins hold leadership positions in armies and mercenary companies, but in the heat of battle their fanaticism often overrules the chain of command - and common sense.

”

Paladins are one of the playable classes in Pillars of Eternity.

Description

Paladins are extremely devoted, often fanatical, soldiers who have pledged themselves to a chosen cause, combining the zeal of a priest with the ascetic discipline of a monk. They have founded many elite fighting forces, from the original Darcozzi Paladini, a two thousand year-old order of palace guards, to the fledgling Fellows of St. Waidwen Martyr, zealous defenders of the Godhammer pilgrim trail. Often found at the vanguard of many conflicts, paladins are natural leaders and have the ability to quickly assist their allies with targeted commands. A paladin's commands can stave off impending death, overcome fatigue, or hasten the charge to close breached defenses. And though they are not always pledged to the service of a god or gods, paladins are so singularly focused on their chosen cause that their souls are continually creating a wellspring of spiritual energy from which they can blast groups of foes in their immediate vicinity. Despite their often stoic presence and explosive combat style, paladins work best alongside allies. When isolated, they can be vulnerable, especially against singular powerful foes.

Paladin Order

The power of the Faith and Conviction ability can be modified by a paladin's behavior and the reputations they develop from the choices they make.

When players make a paladin, they select an order. Each choice highlights two types of behavior that are celebrated and two types of behavior that are condemned by the given order. Acting in accordance to their order's preferred behavior will gradually increase the power of Faith and Conviction, while acting in a disfavored manner will cause the power of Faith and Conviction to diminish.

These changes are not dramatic, but reflect a measure of dissonance between the character's stated order and how they choose to conduct themselves. As of 1.05, this only affects Paladins created as the main character.

Faith and Conviction gains a bonus of +1 Deflection, +2 Fortitude, +2 Reflex and +2 Will per rank in any favored disposition. Conversely, they receive -1 Deflection, -2 Fortitude, -2 Reflex and -2 Will per rank in any disfavored disposition.

Either way, a Paladin is only affected by ranks up to rank 3; further ranks do not contribute, meaning that the maximum attainable bonus to Faith and Conviction from dispositions alone is +6 Deflection, +12 Fortitude, +12 Reflex, and +12 Will. Having the Untroubled Faith Talent removes penalties from disfavored dispositions.

Playable Paladin Orders:

Order	Favored behavior		Disfavored behavior
	1st disposition	2nd disposition	1st disposition	2nd disposition
The Shieldbearers of St. Elcga	Diplomatic	Honest	Aggressive	Cruel
Bleak Walkers	Aggressive	Cruel	Diplomatic	Benevolent
Kind Wayfarers	Benevolent	Passionate	Deceptive	Cruel
Goldpact Knights	Rational	Stoic	Passionate	Aggressive
Darcozzi Paladini	Clever	Passionate	Cruel	Stoic

Attributes

Highly Recommended:

• Resolve

Recommended:

• Might
• Constitution
• Intellect

Abilities

Select one ability on each odd level. Abilities marked with (WM1) require the expansion The White Marches Part 1.

Paladins powers are fueled by his wellspring of spiritual energy, brought through their strength and devotion to their chosen cause (not necessarily religiously-affiliated). They can enhance these abilities with modal auras, abilities which they can switch at will, such as single-target "commands" (buffs), passive buffs they grant to allies and limited healing ability.

Unique ability types

• Zealous auras – modal buffs that affect all allies within 3 meters.
• Exhortations – single target buffs.

Icon	Ability Name	Description	Automatically learned on Level	Learnable on Level
1				3	5	7	9	11	13
	Faith and Conviction	Paladins have an inherent bonus to all defenses.	1
File:Flames of devotion icon.jpg	Flames of Devotion	The paladin's next melee attack inflicts a large amount of additional burn damage if it hits.
File:Lay on hands icon.jpg	Lay on Hands	heals endurance of a single ally.
File:Zealous Focus.jpg	Zealous Focus	The paladin and all allies standing within 2,5m have their accuracy increased.
File:Zealous Charge.jpg	Zealous Charge	The paladin and all allies within 3m have their movement speed increased.
File:Zealous Endurance.jpg	Zealous Endurance	Fills the paladin and his or her allies with unshakable confidence, increasing their Damage Reduction.
	Inspiring Triumph	Allies within 5m gain a temporary bonus to all defenses when the paladin downs an enemy.
File:Liberating exhortation icon.jpg	Liberating Exhortation	The paladin can command an ally to temporarily ignore existing Hostile effects for a short duration. The effects are suspended; they do not lose any of their duration and will resume as soon as Shake It Off expires.
File:Sworn Enemy.jpg	Sworn Enemy	Paladins gain Accuracy and damage bonus against one targeted enemy.
File:Deprive the Unworthy.jpg	Deprive the Unworthy	The paladin temporarily snuffs out all active benefical effects on a single foe. The effects resume once Deprive the Unworthy ends.
File:Reviving Exhortation.jpg	Reviving Exhortation	Paladins can command an unconscious ally to awaken and get back up with an immediate spike in Endurance, though the target will lose half of the regained Endurance after a short duration.
	Coordinated Attacks	The ally closest to the paladin attacking the same target as the paladin has a bonus to Accuracy.
File:Reinforcing exhortation icon.jpg	Reinforcing Exhortation	Commands an ally to redouble their efforts, improving their Deflection.
	Righteous Soul	Increases the Paladin's defenses against poison, disease, charmed, dominated, frightened and terrified effects.
File:Hastening Exhortation.jpg	Hastening Exhortation	Inspires urgency in one of the paladin's allies, increasing his or her Attack Speed.
	Healing Chain (WM1)	The paladin targets a single ally for healing, but the effect continues to jump between allies up to six times (including the initial heal).
	Sacred Immolation (WM1)	The paladin focuses his or her faith and self-immolates in blue flame. Each time the ability pulses, the paladin takes a small amount of Raw Damage, but enemies in the area take Burn Damage. Allies receive a small amount of Endurance.

Cut Abilities

• Zealous Barrage (Modal) – The paladin and all allies standing within 3m have their attack and ability speed increased.

Paladin Talents

• Critical Focus - Grants allies affected by a paladin's Zealous Focus a 5% Hit to Crit conversion rate.
• Deep Faith - The intensity of the paladin's faith deepens, granting them increased defensive bonuses to Faith and Conviction.
• Greater Lay on Hands - increases the healing of Lay on Hands.
• Intense Flames - Increases damage of Flames of Devotion.
• Untroubled Faith - negates negative Disposition effects on Faith and Conviction.
  

The following talents are available only to members of specific Paladin orders.

Bleak Walkers

• The Black Path - When the paladin defeats an opponent, nearby enemies are Frightened
• Remember Rakhan Field - The paladin's Flames of Devotion does additional Corrode damage.

Darcozzi Paladini

• Inspiring Liberation - Whenever the paladin uses Liberating Exhortation on an ally, the ally gains an Accuracy bonus.
• Fires of Darcozzi Palace - Whenever the paladin uses Flames of Devotion, he or she gains a weak form of Flame Shield.
  

Goldpact Knights

• Enduring Flames - The paladin's Flames of Devotion leave behind a Burn DoT.
• Bond of Duty - Whenever the paladin uses Liberating Exhortation on an ally, the ally gains a large defensive bonus against Charmed, Confused, and Dominated.
  

Kind Wayfarers

• Strange Mercy - When the paladin defeats an opponent, nearby allies gain Endurance.
• The Sword and the Shepherd - The paladin's Flames of Devotion restores Endurance to nearby allies.
  

Shieldbearers of St. Elcga

• Shielding Flames - The paladin's Flames of Devotion grants a temporary Deflection bonus to nearby allies.
• Shielding Touch - Whenever the paladin uses Lay on Hands on an ally, the ally gains a Deflection Bonus.

Notable paladins

• Pallegina

Related Items

• Boots of Zealous Command
• Outworn Buckler

Gallery

• 

  A paladin in a breastplate.