The Post-Mod 5 Holy Avenger

[Dworkin_of_Amber]

Alright Fans, it's time for the Mod-5 Update on the Holy Avenger Build (Originally by Grenfell).

Mod 5 brought a few changes to the game, but not a whole lot to the Holy Avenger, per se. Yes, the new focus on Undead and importance for the Death Ward spell gives one plus to the "Pure Paladin" argument, I still think that the Holy Avenger is one of the best Paladin-based templates out there.

Now, the Holy Avenger has been pretty much "standardized" in my Basic Paladin Build Guide as the default "Human Evasion Paladin" Template... however, since my brother-in-law finally made his 1750 favor over the weekend, and he wanted an updated copy of Benedict (my Holy Avenger), I sat down and revisited the Holy Avenger a bit to see what I could "update" on it. A few things came to mind... one was a Dragon Raid we did a week or so ago when we had to wait for nearly an hour to get a 2nd Cleric to jump into the Raid to hit the fracking Wis Rune... the other was my Soloing the VON's the night before, only to have to grab a friend to join in to hit the stupid INT runes... so I thought... "With a little bit of tweaking, I wonder if I can get the Holy Avenger to be able to hit 16 INT and 20 WIS?"... and lo-and-behold... I can!

EDIT: I found out the other night that the VON 5 Wis rune is NOT 20 Wis... It appears to be 24 or 25... so that portion will not work. However, the INT is right for VON 3, and I still like the higher-overall Wisdom, as it gives the option to not wear a Wisdom item for more equipment space, or wear one for more SP and Will Saves. If the 20 Wis is not appealing to you with this information, then I recommend dropping Wis to 8 or 9, and pushing up CHA and possibly CON.

So, let me state that the "Basic Human Evasion Paladin" in my Build Guide is still the "default" Holy Avenger template.. but I will offer this as an updated Post-Mod 5 Holy Avenger, to extend the Holy Avenger's abilities to do just a little bit of everything.

NOTE: I am now including the Least and Lesser Dragonmark of Passage as a part of this build. This is from my personal playtesting and play-preference. If you do not want to go the Dragonmark Route, I would suggest Weapon Focus: Slashing, and either Power Critical, Stunning Blow, Mental Toughness, or whatever feat makes it your "personal" fit.

NOTE #2: Yes, this build is set for 6 +6 Stat Items and 5 +1 Tomes... I know that is a steep requirement, but it can still be built without that, it's just the 20 WIS becomes very difficult to hit otherwise. If you do not like the Item/Tome requirements for this build, please look at the Post Mod-4 Post, or the Basic Paladin Build Guide for a less item/tome-stringent build.

The Holy Avenger
Level 14 Human
Lawful Good
11 Paladin / 2 Rogue / 1 Fighter

Stats:
----------------------
STR: 17 + 3 (Levels) + 2 (1750 Tome) + 6 (Item) = 28 (+9)
DEX: 12 + 1 (Tome) + 1 (Rogue's Dex 1) + 6 (Item) = 20 (+5)
CON: 13 + 1 (Tome) + 6 (Item) = 20 (+5)
INT: 9 + 1 (Tome) + 6 (Item) = 16 (+3)
WIS: 12 + 1 (Tome) + 1 (Human Wis 1) + 6 (Item) = 20 (+5)
CHA: 13 + 1 (Tome) + 2 (Paladin Cha 2) + 6 (Item) = 22 (+6)
----------------------
Alternate Build: WIS: 9 + 1 (Tome) + 1 (Human Wis 1) + 5 (Item) = 16 (+2) *AND*
Alternate Build: CHA: 15 + 1 (Tome) + 2 (Paladin Cha 2) + 6 (Item) = 24 (+7)

Level Progression:
----------------------
L1-L7 - Paladin
L8-L9 - Rogue
L10-L13 - Paladin
L14 - Fighter
----------------------

Feats:
----------------------
1) Exotic Weapon: Kopesh
1) Least Dragonmark of Passage
3) Toughness
6) Skill Focus: UMD
9) Improved Critical: Slashing
12) Lesser Dragonmark of Passage
14F) Power Attack
----------------------


Skill Points:
----------------------
Level 1-7 - Max UMD, Jump. After INT Tome is used, put remaining point in Balance
Level 8-9 - Max UMD. +1 Tumble, Rest in Jump, a splash in Balance
Level 10-14 - Max UMD. Any remaining points into Jump or Balance
----------------------


Hit Points:
----------------------
20 - Heroic Durability
110 - Paladin 11
10 - Fighter 1
12 - Rogue 2
70 - Con Bonus
16 - Toughness
50 - Paladin Toughness 4
10 - Draconic Vitality
30 - Greater False Life
----------------------
328 Hit Points


Saves:
----------------------
27 / 24 / 21 - Standing Saves w/ Resistance +4 Item
31 / 28 / 25 - Resistance +4 Item & Greater Heroism
----------------------


To-Hit:
----------------------
13 - BAB
9 - STR
5 - +5 Weapon
4 - Greater Heroism
1 - Haste
1 - Rage Potion
3 - Divine Favor
----------------------
+36 To-Hit
+31 To-Hit w/ Power Attack
+41/+36 To Hit w/ Human Versatility 4 Attack Boost


Damage:
----------------------
9 - STR
5 - +5 Weapon
1 - Rage Potion
3 - Divine Favor
----------------------
+18 Damage
+23 w/ Power Attack
+28 w/ Power Attack & Human Versatility 4 Damage Boost


UMD:
----------------------
17 - Ranks
3 - Skill Focus: UMD
6 - Charisma
4 - Greater Heroism
3 - Golden Cartouche
----------------------
33 UMD - Raise Dead on a 3 or better. Heal on a 7 or Better.
----------------------
5 - Human Versatility 4 Skill Boost
----------------------
38 UMD - Automatic Raise Read. Heal on a 2 or Better.


AC:
----------------------
10 - Base
10 - +5 Mithral Breastplate
5 - Dexterity
7 - +5 Heavy Mithral Shield
3 - Spectacular Optics
2 - Ring of Balance
2 - Chaosguarde
1 - Paladin Aura
2 - Bulwark of Good 2
----------------------
42 AC Standing & Unbuffed
----------------------
3 - Ranger's Barkskin
2 - Recitation
1 - Shield of Faith (Deflection Portion)
1 - Paladin Aura
5 - Human Versatility 4 AC Boost
2 - Defensive Fighting
1 - +5 Mithral Tower Shield (only +1 AC due to -1 Dex)
----------------------
56 AC Buffed & Stanced
----------------------
3 - Chattering Ring
1 - "Of Parrying" Item
----------------------
60 AC Buffed, Stanced, with Raid Loot

[Taerdra]

I thought the Tower Shield would cancel Evasion. Is that an incorrect assumption on my part?

[Dworkin_of_Amber]

I'll have to double-check on that. I have a +5 Mithral Tower Shield on Benedict (My Holy Avenger), but I so rarely use it... But then again, when you are turtling up like that, you usually aren't as worried about evasion and maximizing your AC vs. Melee attacks

[Slayer918]

I'm pretty sure a tower shield does NOT restrict evasion I tested it a while ago don't know if anything has changed though

[Dworkin_of_Amber]

The only problem with a Tower Shield for this build, is that at 20 Dex, and in a +5 Mithral BP, you only get +1 AC going to a Tower Shield, due to the Dex Capping, and the fact that you don't have access to FTSM 1 yet. Now once the cap goes up and you take more Fighter levels, then you can take FTSM 1 for the full +2 AC... now there is more DR... but is -2 to hit worth only +1 AC? I guess it depends on your playstyle and what quests you are in.


I am surprised that no one has really commented on the changes I have made to the build vs. the older version. The increase in INT and WIS (for the ability to hit 16 INT and 20 WIS for Runes and such)... I thought they would be very useful to some, and useless changes for others.

Maybe some people don't think this is a really viable build anymore? Let me assure you, that is not the case at all. Benedict (my Mod-3 Holy Avenger) is a BEAST and an absolute blast to play. Now I have played him for a while, eaten 2x +2 Tomes, and 3x +1 Tomes, and I have some good gear on him, but the build itself is still a rock-solid base to work. Benedict is a DPS-class paladin, and usually ranks at or near the top in kills (not that kills are everything). The only classes that consistantly out-kill Benedict are 2Handed Barbarians! I stand toe-to-toe with pure 14 Fighters and have no problem keeping up. Plus my saves are all above 20, so I rarely fail a save, usually only on a 1, and I have the UMD to save the party in the event of a near wipe (and this has happened MANY times!!!)

I am also loving my 2nd level Dragonmark of Passage. Paired with the Extra Dragonmark 1, I now have 5x 14-minute Expeditious Retreats and 3x Dimension Doors per rest. No more burning through my precious DD Scroll reserves!

Well, that's all for now, but I welcome any input.

[Yaga_Nub]

Don't humans get to add +1 to 2 different stats? I only saw the +1 for Wis. I'd say add +1 for CHA and bank on getting a +2 CHA tome. That would add +1 to your saves and to your UMD.

[Velorn]

Alright Fans, it's time for the Mod-5 Update on the Holy Avenger Build (Originally by Grenfell).

The Holy Avenger
Level 14 Human
Lawful Good
11 Paladin / 2 Rogue / 1 Fighter

Stats:
----------------------
STR: 17 + 3 (Levels) + 2 (1750 Tome) + 6 (Item) = 28 (+9)
DEX: 12 + 1 (Tome) + 1 (Rogue's Dex 1) + 6 (Item) = 20 (+5)
CON: 13 + 1 (Tome) + 6 (Item) = 20 (+5)
INT: 9 + 1 (Tome) + 6 (Item) = 16 (+3)
WIS: 12 + 1 (Tome) + 1 (Human Wis 1) + 6 (Item) = 20 (+5)
CHA: 13 + 1 (Tome) + 2 (Paladin Cha 2) + 6 (Item) = 22 (+6)
----------------------
Alternate Build: WIS: 9 + 1 (Tome) + 1 (Human Wis 1) + 5 (Item) = 16 (+2) *AND*
Alternate Build: CHA: 15 + 1 (Tome) + 2 (Paladin Cha 2) + 6 (Item) = 24 (+7)

Level Progression:
----------------------
L1-L7 - Paladin
L8-L9 - Rogue
L10-L13 - Paladin
L14 - Fighter
----------------------

Nice build but how were you able to take 4 different classes? I thought 3 was the max for cross-classing.

[Dworkin_of_Amber]

Nice build but how were you able to take 4 different classes? I thought 3 was the max for cross-classing.

Ummm, Paladin + Rogue + Fighter = 3 Classes.

The build goes Paladin for Levels 1-7 (1 Class), then Rogue for 8-9 (2 Classes), then back to Paladin for 10-13 (Still 2 Classes), then Fighter for 14 (3 Classes).

[Tomalon]

Anyone have alink for the new character planner? Can you post here if you do?

[Dworkin_of_Amber]

Anyone have alink for the new character planner? Can you post here if you do?

http://forums.ddo.com/showthread.php?t=87799