Reaper Endgame THF Paladin

[Gilga1]

U45 UPDATE 04-11-2020

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ORIGINAL POST 06-20-2019

General consensus is that Paladin + THF is a terrible choice these days.
I gave it a try, and I was positively surprised.

In reaper endgame THF pally is really solid, and dps output is good.
It's a heavy melee that works well in party, and can solo decently.
I completed r7 grim solo in under 20 min on this build. Not an achievement ofc, some melees can solo grim faster on more skulls, and some players are better than me. But still a decent result considering my only cc come from dire charge and lay waste.

To decide what build to do, I started from equip: Bloodrage Chrism + Reflection of Blackrazor (and Torn as swap when needed) + Part of the family set were the backbone.
Since Bloodrage Chrism already has healing amplification on it, I went for docent and I chose warforged as race.
I think warforged is a really strong option for pally: racial tree is solid with +0,5W, +15 melee power, Improved Power Attack and PRR. Also, Lay on Hands procs twice on warforged (heal + repair).

Here is my equip:

Helm - Legendary Umber Brim (Improved Quelling Strikes, Insightful Accuracy +16, Insightful Deception +8, Profane Well Rounded +2)
Goggles - Legendary Collective Sight (Wisdom +21, Insightful Constitution +10, Quality Resistance +4, +20 Quality MRR)
Necklace - Legendary Family Recruit Sigil (True Seeing, Armor-Piercing - 33%, Deadly +17, Relentless Fury)
Trinket - Bloodrage Chrism (Competence Healing Amplification +83, Calamitous Blows, Bloodrage Defense, Rune-fueled Warding, Unnatural)
Armor - Legendary Umbral Soul (+15 Enhancement Bonus, Fortification +214%, Physical Sheltering +54, Competence Repair Amplification +85, Hit Points +81)
Cloak - Legendary Mantle of Fury (Constitution +19, Raging Resilience, Doublestrike 22%, Dodge +19%)
Wrist - Brand of Kalok Shash (Strength +22, Quality Accuracy +8, Quality Deadly +5, Fire Absorption 53%)
Belt - SL (Sheltering +45, Accuracy +28, Stunning +20, Quality Strength +4)
Ring - Legendary Celestial Topaz Ring (Charisma +21, Wizardy +440, Parrying +10, Lesser Displacement)
Ring - Circle of Malevolence (Improved Harm 3/Day, Resistance +14, Vitality +60, Insightful Sheltering +23, Intimidate +25, Incite +53)
Gloves - Legendary Hammerfist (Insightful Doublestrike 11%, Cannith Combat Infusion, Seeker 21, Insightful Deadly +8)
Boots - Legendary Softsole Slippers (Ghostly, Anthem, Perform +22, Insightful Charisma +9))
W - Reflection of Blackrazor (+15 Enhancement Bonus, Overwhelming Stealer of Souls, Keen V, Entropic 9, Vampirism 4, Psychic Ward, Deconstructor, Vampire Slayer)

Imho with Sharn pally can count on an almost perfect setup.
I have long been undecided about the Topaz Ring (I have displacement always up via clickies), but I like to have parrying and I have melee power on it.
You could equip a SL ring with Deception and Quality Constitution as an alternative, putting Charisma on goggles. Another option is Ring of Prowess, putting Charisma on goggles and Deception on belt.

Regarding feats, I took Adamantine Body and Construct Exemplar. Rest is the usual stuff (THF line, Power Attack, Completionist, Blinding Speed, IC, OC, PTHF, PTWF, Scion of Arborea)

I spent my ehancements points as follow:
Warforged 4 (+14 free), KotC 41, SaD 25, VKF 10 (+1 free). I invested some points on VKF for +5% doublestrike, deflect arrows and quick draw.

Destiny is LD. Twists I normally use are Sense Weakness, Intolerant Blows, Endless Lay on Hands, Endless Turning (4-3-3-1).

Here are my stats in reaper.





Offensive side, melee power is 231 standing in reaper. Fully buffed melee power is 401 (231 +70 blitz, +30 damage boost, +50 prowess, +20 Reflection)
Doublestrike is 90% standing.




Raw damage shines thanks to Reflection and +W from Weapon attachment, Improved Power Attack, Intolerant Blows and Combat Brute.


THF Paladin Pros
• Holy retribution is a beast. A true beast. I have 46 charges and I usually slot endless turning as twist.
Considering the slow animation of cleaves, holy retribution is the only reason that makes the THF paladin good. Well, not really… the paladin is good by default XD
• Doublestrike 90% standing
• Survivability. Top PRR and MRR for a melee dps build, sky-high saves
• Lay on Hands. Worth a twist for 3 more uses and regenerate to save your companions when needed
• Easy to gear. U42 offers a quite perfect setup.

THF Paladin Cons
• Damage vs single target. Twitching with haste boost, raw damage and doublestrike allow you to deal a fairly decent amount of damage.
• THF usual issues. Glancing blows could use some love
• Slow movement. No sprint boosts. +10% in Sacred Defender tree and that’s all.
• Most features from paladin’s trees are expensive/useless
• As front-line soldier and aggro generator, PLs and reaper points are definitely a factor to survive and be effective in high-skulls endgame content.

In conclusion, I think pally is perfectly viable in reaper endgame as it stands. But for sure pally trees can be improved.

[Kynestra]

sexi boi

[Feal]

Pro

[BandVP]

You're saying that pl's and reaper points are a factor, but couldn't you make the argument that every build seems strong with the old and reaper points?

If you don't mind me asking, can you please post a screenshot or a video of the damage output?

[BandVP]

Also, why don't you just use different boots That have striding? That way you get your 15% alacrity and you're not using up a feat (blinding).
Whenever you need your Divine Might clicky thing, you can always switch it in then go back to the striding boots (like the ones in Death House). This way you don't need that feat, and can get something else?

[Komradkillingmachine]

Also, why don't you just use different boots That have striding? That way you get your 15% alacrity and you're not using up a feat (blinding).
Whenever you need your Divine Might clicky thing, you can always switch it in then go back to the striding boots (like the ones in Death House). This way you don't need that feat, and can get something else?

Charisma stat is more than just a DM clicky for pure Paladins builds like this, not only it boosts his saves sky high, but also fuels his self-healing in High reaper skulls, he even has 2 twists just for endless LoH and endless turning.

[Gilga1]

You're saying that pl's and reaper points are a factor, but couldn't you make the argument that every build seems strong with the old and reaper points?

Hey. Every build benefits from reaper points and PLs, wolf and pally alike. But some builds are just bad. My point is THF paladin is not (so) bad. Both class and KotC tree have some strong merits.

Also, why don't you just use different boots That have striding? That way you get your 15% alacrity and you're not using up a feat (blinding).
Whenever you need your Divine Might clicky thing, you can always switch it in then go back to the striding boots (like the ones in Death House). This way you don't need that feat, and can get something else?

Two reasons: one is ghostly. The second reason is that Charisma also affects saves and lay on hands (like Komradkillingmachine wrote) and above all turn undead charges. Holy retribution is the most effective pally weapon.
For DM I just use Legendary Gauntlets of Innate Arcanum as swap for +4 Quality.

[Palna]

Hey. Every build benefits from reaper points and PLs, wolf and pally alike. But some builds are just bad. My point is THF paladin is not (so) bad. Both class and KotC tree have some strong merits.

Wow, some very impressive stats there! Wondering if you can share what it looks like without reaper points, like how does it look like standing On the ship? Hard to compare since i most likely have less RP then you.

Looks awesome though, glad to see someone making pally work.

[count_spicoli]

2 things. How are you getting your hp so high especially since no leg greensteel items equipped? All reaper points? MY dwarf tempest currently sits at 2400 with edf on in reaper.

Secondly how are you getting str so high? Even with the +33 from dm your still sitting in the 100 range which is solid. Mine is 88 and I got all the same gear you have and using primal scream as twist.

All in all cool expirement but is suspect with the amount of reaper points your sporting any build you used would succeeed pretty easily.

[DaviMOC]

With this level of gear anything looks ok. From popluar wolves to gimpy melee locks.
The issue is exactly that, there is little improvment left and as far you could get is ok. The combat style(THF) needs help badly.

[Gilga1]

Reaper points are a factor, I agree. Reaper trees give +4hit/dmg, +24 melee power, +24 prr etc etc....
But equipment is also crucial. Mythic/reaper bonus on items are underrated, but they can provide huge benefits on melee power and prr/mrr.

2 things. How are you getting your hp so high especially since no leg greensteel items equipped? All reaper points? MY dwarf tempest currently sits at 2400 with edf on in reaper.

Hp from reaper points are 862. I have false life 81 on armor and vitality 60 on ring, and I use epic defensive stance.

Secondly how are you getting str so high? Even with the +33 from dm your still sitting in the 100 range which is solid. Mine is 88 and I got all the same gear you have and using primal scream as twist.

Regarding strength, I can provide a breakdown:

18 base
7 level up
8 tome
2 completionist
2 racial completionist
1 half orc pls
4 enhancements/destiny
6 stance
5 reaper
22 item
34 insightful cha
4 quality
2 profane
1 exceptional
4 filigree
2 yugo pot
2 remnant pot
2 guild
4 alchemical (Tenser)

[chunkitbacs]

Hi Gilga,

Build looks solid alongside pretty high melee power. However I wonder if you have some screenshots where you can showcase how it actually translates to actual DPS? Also not sure if you would have some insights on how this would compare to THF fighter and barb? Would both of those be much further ahead in terms of DPS due to the crit multipliers/range available in their trees?

[Gilga1]

Build looks solid alongside pretty high melee power. However I wonder if you have some screenshots where you can showcase how it actually translates to actual DPS? Also not sure if you would have some insights on how this would compare to THF fighter and barb? Would both of those be much further ahead in terms of DPS due to the crit multipliers/range available in their trees?

Hey. I do not think screenshots can help. A video could, but I don’t have any and I’m preparing for tr
If you want compare dps, you should consider many factors, starting from helpless, vulnerability, dust and so on...
Anyway, crit profile, attack/damage stats and melee power/doublestrike can be easily compared.

Since Killing Time came out, I played mostly wolves as melee dps: half-orc druid 9 fighter 8 monk 3 with Torn, barb 11 druid 8 fvs 1 with Reflection and scourge 8-6-6 with Tremor.
In my experience, best dps was the dark monk split, followed by Tremor.
Paladin is behind wolf for sure.
Comparing thf builds, the most obvious difference imho is the helpless damage. But the main boost come from enhancements and not from classes (falcon +30%, half orc +20%). Ofc you can build a half orc pally investing your points on KotC and Falconry.

[TheWalruss]

A nice build and a helpful write up.

[adrian69]

Hey. I do not think screenshots can help. A video could, but I don’t have any and I’m preparing for tr
If you want compare dps, you should consider many factors, starting from helpless, vulnerability, dust and so on...
Anyway, crit profile, attack/damage stats and melee power/doublestrike can be easily compared.

Since Killing Time came out, I played mostly wolves as melee dps: half-orc druid 9 fighter 8 monk 3 with Torn, barb 11 druid 8 fvs 1 with Reflection and scourge 8-6-6 with Tremor.
In my experience, best dps was the dark monk split, followed by Tremor.
Paladin is behind wolf for sure.
Comparing thf builds, the most obvious difference imho is the helpless damage. But the main boost come from enhancements and not from classes (falcon +30%, half orc +20%). Ofc you can build a half orc pally investing your points on KotC and Falconry.

Good job. Haven't seen a good write up in a while.

[Alled78]

Reaper points are a factor, I agree. Reaper trees give +4hit/dmg, +24 melee power, +24 prr etc etc....
But equipment is also crucial. Mythic/reaper bonus on items are underrated, but they can provide huge benefits on melee power and prr/mrr.



Hp from reaper points are 862. I have false life 81 on armor and vitality 60 on ring, and I use epic defensive stance.



Regarding strength, I can provide a breakdown:

18 base
7 level up
8 tome
2 completionist
2 racial completionist
1 half orc pls
4 enhancements/destiny
6 stance
5 reaper
22 item
34 insightful cha
4 quality
2 profane
1 exceptional
4 filigree
2 yugo pot
2 remnant pot
2 guild
4 alchemical (Tenser)

Ciao tronky!

Really nice build
I was planning a pally for turn undead in thth have you tried it?

How can u reach 231 mp standing???

[Gilga1]

I was planning a pally for turn undead in thth have you tried it?

Hey ciao. No, I haven’t.

How can u reach 231 mp standing???

Reaper points, equip, mythic/reaper bonus on items. Warforged gives +15.

[guzzlr]

Have you happened to play around with the Sanctified Fervor filigree set? I read that it was not applying correctly, and it was on my radar to try.

Nice build, btw.

[Gilga1]

Have you happened to play around with the Sanctified Fervor filigree set? I read that it was not applying correctly, and it was on my radar to try.

No sorry, I didn't. I don't have all the rares yet. I'm using prowess x5, one against many/sucker punch x2, long shadow x3.

[generalfoley]

Why choose warforged race? wouldn't horc have more damage?