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LEVEL 30 RECOMMENDATIONS

Paladin talent builds for three different sessions.

Recommended level-30 Paladin starting builds for leveling, dungeon tank with a shield and PvP. Open each 21-point tree, follow a legal point order and compare the tradeoffs.

By Forever Tavern · · 8 min read
Original fantasy landscape illustration; not a game screenshot

Original fantasy illustration · Not a game screenshot

Choose the activity first, then choose the Paladin tree. A build that solves your solo recovery problem may leave out the control, group support or defensive options you want in another session.

Which Paladin build should you start with?

Our recommended starting points at the current beta cap are:

These are editorial recommendations based on the current public talent records, not independently playtested rankings. Every allocation spends 21 points at level 30. A legal calculator tree does not confirm your trained spell ranks, equipment or live server behavior.

Leveling · Solo melee damage

Leveling: Retribution: movement and seal economy

Holy 0 / Protection 0 / Retribution 21 · 21 points at level 30

Open leveling talent tree

Opens the full tree with these ranks selected. Edit points, read current effects and share your own version.

Why we recommend this starting plan

  • Pursuit of Justice favors travel between objectives rather than only target-dummy damage.
  • Benediction and Sanctified Judgement address Mana expenditure along the seal/Judgement route.
  • Sacred Arbiter gives Holy Strike a reason to matter; Repentance is the level-30 control choice.

The allocated talents

BenedictionRetribution · 5/5Improved JudgementRetribution · 2/2Holy ConduitRetribution · 1/2ConvictionRetribution · 5/5Sanctified JudgementRetribution · 3/3Seal of CommandRetribution · 1/1Pursuit of JusticeRetribution · 2/2Sacred ArbiterRetribution · 1/1RepentanceRetribution · 1/1
Point order from level 10 to 30

This order reaches the allocation above while satisfying the current tier and prerequisite rules. Each level adds one point; it is a planning path rather than a timed leveling route.

  1. Levels 10–14: Benediction — add 5, reach rank 5.
  2. Levels 15–16: Improved Judgement — add 2, reach rank 2.
  3. Levels 17–19: Conviction — add 3, reach rank 3.
  4. Level 20: Seal of Command — add 1, reach rank 1.
  5. Levels 21–22: Pursuit of Justice — add 2, reach rank 2.
  6. Levels 23–25: Sanctified Judgement — add 3, reach rank 3.
  7. Levels 26–27: Conviction — add 2, reach rank 5.
  8. Level 28: Holy Conduit — add 1, reach rank 1.
  9. Level 29: Sacred Arbiter — add 1, reach rank 1.
  10. Level 30: Repentance — add 1, reach rank 1.

How to play around the choices

  • Use the movement benefit while routing objectives; it does not stack with other movement-speed effects.
  • Use Repentance to separate a Humanoid target, then avoid damage that would wake it.
  • Watch Mana before chaining pulls and use seals/Judgements with a purpose.
What you give up

The final point goes to control rather than Two-Handed Weapon Specialization. This is not a shield-tank allocation.

When to choose another plan

For damage without a need for Humanoid control, replace Repentance with one Two-Handed Weapon Specialization rank.

Dungeon · Dungeon tank with a shield

Dungeon: Protection: block and Mana sustain

Holy 0 / Protection 21 / Retribution 0 · 21 points at level 30

Open dungeon talent tree

Opens the full tree with these ranks selected. Edit points, read current effects and share your own version.

Why we recommend this starting plan

  • Maximum Redoubt is the prerequisite for Shield Specialization, whose block-based Mana recovery is a Forever-specific reason to stay with a shield.
  • Improved Righteous Fury adds mitigation only while Righteous Fury is active.
  • Sacred Duty and Templar’s Bulwark prioritize survival tools over Retribution damage talents.

The allocated talents

ToughnessProtection · 3/5RedoubtProtection · 5/5PrecisionProtection · 2/3Improved Righteous FuryProtection · 3/3Shield SpecializationProtection · 3/3Sacred DutyProtection · 2/2Improved Hammer of JusticeProtection · 2/3Templar's BulwarkProtection · 1/1
Point order from level 10 to 30

This order reaches the allocation above while satisfying the current tier and prerequisite rules. Each level adds one point; it is a planning path rather than a timed leveling route.

  1. Levels 10–14: Redoubt — add 5, reach rank 5.
  2. Levels 15–17: Toughness — add 3, reach rank 3.
  3. Levels 18–19: Precision — add 2, reach rank 2.
  4. Levels 20–22: Shield Specialization — add 3, reach rank 3.
  5. Levels 23–25: Improved Righteous Fury — add 3, reach rank 3.
  6. Levels 26–27: Sacred Duty — add 2, reach rank 2.
  7. Levels 28–29: Improved Hammer of Justice — add 2, reach rank 2.
  8. Level 30: Templar's Bulwark — add 1, reach rank 1.

How to play around the choices

  • Check shield, Righteous Fury, and Mana before each pull.
  • Block-based Mana recovery has an internal limit; do not assume every hit refunds Mana.
  • Plan Templar’s Bulwark around Forbearance and tell the healer when using it.
What you give up

Blocks help against appropriate attacks, not every damage source. No Holy Shock or Retribution movement bonus.

When to choose another plan

For dungeon healing, the Holy PvP allocation is a useful framework, but a dedicated healer can trade its control-protection choices for preferred throughput or efficiency talents.

PvP · PvP healer/support rather than melee damage

PvP: Holy: healer and team support

Holy 21 / Protection 0 / Retribution 0 · 21 points at level 30

Open pvp talent tree

Opens the full tree with these ranks selected. Edit points, read current effects and share your own version.

Why we recommend this starting plan

  • Holy Shock provides an instant heal-or-damage choice at 30, a different job from the Retribution route.
  • Voice of Truth and Spiritual Focus address disruption in different ways; pushback protection is not universal immunity.
  • Reverence unlocks Illumination, but the budget leaves the Mana-refund talent at four ranks.

The allocated talents

Divine IntellectHoly · 5/5Healing LightHoly · 3/3Spiritual FocusHoly · 2/2Unyielding FaithHoly · 1/2Voice of TruthHoly · 1/1ReverenceHoly · 3/3IlluminationHoly · 4/5Divine FavorHoly · 1/1Holy ShockHoly · 1/1
Point order from level 10 to 30

This order reaches the allocation above while satisfying the current tier and prerequisite rules. Each level adds one point; it is a planning path rather than a timed leveling route.

  1. Levels 10–14: Divine Intellect — add 5, reach rank 5.
  2. Levels 15–17: Healing Light — add 3, reach rank 3.
  3. Levels 18–19: Spiritual Focus — add 2, reach rank 2.
  4. Level 20: Voice of Truth — add 1, reach rank 1.
  5. Levels 21–23: Reverence — add 3, reach rank 3.
  6. Level 24: Unyielding Faith — add 1, reach rank 1.
  7. Level 25: Divine Favor — add 1, reach rank 1.
  8. Levels 26–29: Illumination — add 4, reach rank 4.
  9. Level 30: Holy Shock — add 1, reach rank 1.

How to play around the choices

  • Position for friendly targets and save the instant option for movement or urgent support.
  • Use Voice of Truth during a planned casting window rather than expecting permanent interrupt protection.
  • Choose whether Divine Favor is for an urgent heal; this route prioritizes allies over melee pressure.
What you give up

No Pursuit of Justice or shield-tanking package; limited personal melee damage.

When to choose another plan

Use the Retribution questing route for a damage-first PvP starting point, retaining Repentance for control.

Paladin checks before you commit

  • These three roles intentionally differ: Retribution questing, Protection tanking, and Holy PvP support. October 8 gave Reckoning a 1.5-second proc limit; none of these allocations relies on unrestricted Reckoning procs.

For a dungeon, confirm the role with your group before changing talents. A healing or tanking recommendation here is for that stated role; a damage seat may need a different allocation and equipment. Read the alternative in the dungeon section rather than assuming one tree covers every assignment.

The PvP plan describes control, survival or support priorities at this point budget. It does not establish that every battleground, bracket or ability is available in the current beta. Check your character's trained abilities and the activity's current access before arranging a session.

Adjust one decision, then compare the whole session

Open the calculator link and save the initial allocation. Test against comparable opponents or pulls with the same gear, then change one decision. For leveling, include recovery and travel interruptions; for dungeons, include the group's pace and mistakes; for PvP, separate surviving an opener from contributing after it. Those observations help you decide whether this recommendation fits the activity you actually play.

Do not spend imaginary points on a higher-tier talent: the level-30 budget is 21. If a prerequisite changes after a patch, read the calculator's validation message before reusing an old link. The point-order panel on every build has been checked against the same rules as the calculator.

Talent evidence and update scope

Public snapshot 1.60.1.70338; recommendations reviewed October 13, 2026. The linked talent cards lead to individual effect references. Our build choices, spending order and play priorities are original editorial guidance.

Official October 8 development notes · Compare your equipment · Browse every class

Spot something that changed?

Send the page link, the detail, and an official source to dleowls01@gmail.com. Please do not include account passwords or private game-account details.

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