Review: Diablo IV - Lord of Hatred Special Analysis of the Paladin Class
- @brunosbom
- 11 hours ago
- 4 min read
The warrior of light makes his return as one of the playable classes in Diablo IV.
PALADIN
The Paladin of Diablo IV emerges as a sacred frontline warrior, wielding swords, flails, and shields imbued with Light to confront Hell up close. Officially introduced with the Lord of Hatred expansion and integrated into the Season of Divine Intervention, the class combines physical strength, unwavering faith, and divine power, using Faith as a resource to channel devastating abilities.
A specialist in close combat, the Paladin stands out for high resilience, a strong defensive presence, group support through auras, and focused bursts of holy damage, establishing itself as an indomitable guardian in a world where even faith must fight to survive.
Initially introduced as one of the five original classes in Diablo II, the Paladin has always occupied an emblematic place within the franchise’s universe. Its presence represented order, discipline, and the attempt to impose light amid the absolute chaos of Sanctuary.
Over the years, the class was reinterpreted as the Crusader in Diablo III, sharing many conceptual similarities, until finally returning in full form in Diablo IV, now once again integrated into the main roster of playable classes.
Preserving traditional elements such as holy damage, shield usage, and the presence of auras, the Paladin of Diablo IV feels more consistent than the Crusader at launch. While in Diablo III there was a sense that many abilities were a rearrangement of existing concepts, in Diablo IV the class feels like a true reintroduction.
This new version of the Paladin is clearly inspired by both the classic Diablo II archetype and the Crusader from Diablo III, but it establishes its own identity by adapting to the darker, more restrained tone of Diablo IV. Here, the character ceases to be merely an unshakable symbol of divine justice and becomes a warrior who carries the weight of faith in a world that no longer offers easy answers.
OATHS
The Oaths represent the pillar of the Paladin’s identity in Diablo IV. Each one reflects a different way of expressing faith.
Zealot
Represents burning faith and absolute fervor. The Zealot Paladin advances without hesitation, driven by devotion and the belief that justice must be delivered swiftly and mercilessly.
Juggernaut
Symbolizes unwavering determination. This oath reflects the Paladin who advances like a living wall, resisting any opposition and imposing presence through sheer conviction.
Judicator
Portrays the Paladin as the judge of Sanctuary. Here, faith manifests through punishment and judgment, marking enemies and delivering divine sentences in a methodical and devastating manner.
Disciple
Represents pure devotion and service to the Light. The Disciple is the Paladin who acts as an instrument of faith, channeling sacred power to guide, protect, and inspire, even amid darkness.
The class is introduced during the Season of Divine Intervention, reinforcing its narrative role within the game’s current moment. In this case, the choice was to follow a build based on the Judge archetype, prioritizing area damage and fully exploring the concept of shield throwing, creating almost a Captain America-like battlefield fantasy, ricocheting the symbol of faith against the hordes of Hell.
Regardless of the chosen build, the Paladin remains one of the most iconic classes in the long history of Sanctuary. Wielding a melee weapon and an unmistakable shield, these templars are known for their stoicism, courage, and the sacred devastation they spread across the battlefield, not as absolute saviors, but as warriors who insist on fighting even when faith seems fragile.
BUILD
In the advanced stages of the game, the build I followed revolves around the constant application of Judgment, spreading its marks across large groups of enemies and detonating them in sequence to maximize area damage. To sustain this rhythm, this was the build I used throughout my journey, presented here only as a general overview of the core skills. For those who want to dive deeper into choices, synergies, and possible variations, the link to the complete build is provided below.
It is important to highlight that the class meta may change frequently, as constant updates continue to be released and the full expansion is still on the way.
Diablo III Crusader vs Diablo IV Paladin
Narratively, the Diablo III Crusader and the Diablo IV Paladin represent two distinct moments of faith in Sanctuary. The Crusader emerges as a character with a clear, almost dogmatic mission, driven by an absolute oath that places him as a direct instrument of divine justice, while the Diablo IV Paladin carries a more restrained and introspective approach, less heroic and more human, reflecting a broken world where faith is no longer a certainty, but a choice constantly put to the test.
TRAILER OFFICIAL
MY EXPERIENCE
In practice, the Paladin proved to be an extremely enjoyable class to play, with very clear standout strengths. Shield throwing is undoubtedly one of the class’s greatest highlights, both in efficiency and visual satisfaction. The visuals are incredibly well crafted, with animations and effects that convey weight and impact in every action, while the area damage proves absurdly efficient, making the Paladin excellent at dealing with large groups of enemies.
This attention to visual and sound impact becomes even more evident in the ultimate ability Fury of Heaven. Once finally unlocked, a blinding light descends from the skies and simply crushes everything in front of you, reinforcing the fantasy of sacred power that defines the Paladin in Diablo IV.
On the other hand, some limitations become evident throughout the journey. Performance against single targets does not reach the same level of efficiency seen in area damage, and reduced mobility can make certain encounters feel more rigid, especially for players who prefer more agile classes.
From a personal standpoint, if the idea were to start Diablo IV’s story from scratch, the Paladin would probably not be my first choice. This has more to do with thematic affinity than design quality, as I do not strongly identify with this rigid sense of justice and order. More dynamic classes tend to appeal to me more. Still, it is undeniable how much the Paladin adds to the game’s lore and how rewarding it is to play.
The expectation now turns to the DLC, which promises to further expand the content and context of this class within Diablo IV, deepening both its mechanics and its role within a world that is increasingly skeptical of faith itself.
Comments