Don't sleep on single weapon fighting paladin, it's good for first lifers too

[Strimtom]

Hello and good morning, I am Strimtom and I bring to you an easy first life paladin build that will drive you wild. Or rather, will easily clear content in the game for levelling and set you up with a strong character for level 30.

Today I present, Single Weapon Fighter Dynastic Falcata Paladin!



Important notes!
This character is designed to use the sword Dynastic Falcata. If you don't have one, I have a farming guide here.


The build:

SWF Paladin
Paladin 20
Lawful Good Bladeforged


Stats
. . . . . . . .32pt . . Level Up
. . . . . . . .---- . . --------
Strength. . . . 10. . . .4: CHA
Dexterity . . . .6. . . .8: CHA
Constitution. . 16. . . 12: CHA
Intelligence. . 10. . . 16: CHA
Wisdom. . . . . 12. . . 20: CHA
Charisma. . . . 18. . . 24: CHA
. . . . . . . . . . . . 28: CHA

Skills
. . . . . 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
. . . . .------------------------------------------------------------
UMD . . . 2. ½. ½. ½. ½. ½. ½. ½. ½. ½. ½. ½. ½. ½. ½. ½. ½. ½. ½. . .11
Intim . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .2 .10
Balance . 2. ½. ½. ½. ½. ½. ½. ½. ½. ½. ½. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
. . . . .------------------------------------------------------------
. . . . . 8. 2. 2. 2. 2. 2. 2. 2. 2. 2. 2. 2. 2. 2. 2. 2. 2. 2. 2. 2


Feats

.1. . . . : Adamantine Body
.3. . . . : Single Weapon Fighting
.6. . . . : Improved Single Weapon Fighting
.9. . . . : Improved Critical: Slashing
12. . . . : Greater Single Weapon Fighting
15. . . . : Exotic Weapon: Khopesh (At level 30 if you don't have a legendary dynastic falcata then swap this feat for magical training, put points into feydark illusionist, and use longsword)
18. . . . : Offhand Versatility
21 Epic . : Overwhelming Critical
24 Epic . : Construct Exemplar
26 Destiny: Perfect Single Weapon Fighting
27 Epic . : Epic Damage Reduction
28 Destiny: Perfect Two Weapon Fighting
29 Destiny: Dire Charge
30 Epic . : Epic Fortitude
30 Legend : Scion of: Ethereal Plane

.1 Deity. : Follower of: Lord of Blades
.6 Deity. : Bladesworn Transformation


Spells

1. Bless (4), Cure Light Wounds (6), Lesser Restoration (14), Seek Eternal Rest (18)
2. Angelskin (8), Resist Energy (10), Righteous Command
3. Prayer (11), Magic Circle Against Evil (12), Cure Moderate Wounds (19), Dispel Magic (19)
4. Death Ward (14), Holy Sword (15), Zeal (19), Stalwart Pact (20)

Enhancements (Spent: 80 +0r +0u / Max: 80 +0r +0u AP)

Knight of the Chalice (41 AP)

• Slayer of Evil, Courage of Heaven, Slayer of Evil II, Improved Courage of Heaven, Slayer of Evil III, Champion of Good
  1. Extra Smites III, Knight's Authority I
  2. Divine Might III, Exalted Cleave: Melee, Action Boost: Power III
  3. Holy Combatant, Divine Sacrifice: Melee I, Exalted Smite: Melee III, Charisma
  4. Knight's Training, Censure Demons, Vigor of Life, Charisma
  5. Ascendency, Censure Outsiders, Avenging Cleave: Melee, Holy Retribution: Melee

Sacred Defender (14 AP)

• Holy Bastion, Sacred Defense
  1. Extra Lay On Hands III, Durable Defense III, Sacred Armor Mastery III
  2. (none)
  3. Tenacious Defense III

Vistani Knife Fighter (14 AP)

• Knife Expertise, Knife Juggler, Quick Reflexes
  1. Undead Hunter, Mist Stalker, Acrobatic I
  2. Mist Stalker II, Haste Boost III
  3. Charisma

Bladeforged (11 AP)

• Improved Fortification
  1. Mechanist III, Construct Stability I
  2. Communion of Scribing III

Destiny (24 AP)

Fatesinger

1. First Harmonic Chord III, Charisma
2. Bound Fate III, Reign III, Charisma
3. Grim Fate III, Charisma
4. Martial Hymn
5. The Fifth Chord, Bladesong
6. Metamagic Attunement II: Quicken, Turn of the Tide

Twists of Fate (18 fate points)

1. Meld into Darkness (Tier 3 Shadowdancer)
2. Endless Smiting (Tier 2 Sentinel)
3. Extra Action Boost (Tier 1 Dreadnought)
4. Legendary Tactics (Tier 1 Dreadnought)

[Arctigis]

Is this just to save 7AP from FDI?

[tsteigner]

i don't want to stomp on your build, since all your builds are very good ones, but i wonder why do you event care for farming the Dynastic Falcata or any other Khopesh when as a KotC you get LongSword as favored Weapon & Knights Training ( which improves Longsword to the crit lvl of Khopesh ) ?

[Drecas]

i don't want to stomp on your build, since all your builds are very good ones, but i wonder why do you event care for farming the Dynastic Falcata or any other Khopesh when as a KotC you get LongSword as favored Weapon & Knights Training ( which improves Longsword to the crit lvl of Khopesh ) ?

Strim says on the video because it has charisma to damage and works as a favored weapon, and he hopes it will eventually get a legendary version, so you can use it all the way to 30.

[WarDestroyer]

i don't want to stomp on your build, since all your builds are very good ones, but i wonder why do you event care for farming the Dynastic Falcata or any other Khopesh when as a KotC you get LongSword as favored Weapon & Knights Training ( which improves Longsword to the crit lvl of Khopesh ) ?

In fact longsword currently beats Khopesh all the way through because there are +2 threat longswords all the way from level 8. That's so much I think it's worth losing those 7 AP.

[Arctigis]

In fact longsword currently beats Khopesh all the way through because there are +2 threat longswords all the way from level 8. That's so much I think it's worth losing those 7 AP.

This is why I asked. Nightforge Avenger is 17-20 x 2 @L8 which is a lot better than The Falcata on crittable
mobs (14-20 x 4 I think with KT and Holy Sword). At L10 I'd take a Barovian Longsword for Undead.

[kmoustakas]

I am totally on board with single weapon fighting paladin.

As a dwarf with a dwarven waraxe (from dwarf enhancement) benefiting from strikethrough (from 20% knight of chalice+dwarven enhancement). With the speed you attack any % of strikethrough will increase your damage greatly.

Edit: Concerning falcata, you don't just save 7 ap, you save on the need for the magical training feat as well

[Arctigis]

Edit: Concerning falcata, you don't just save 7 ap, you save on the need for the magical training feat as well

Does Paladin get Falchion prof. for free then?

[Arkat]

i don't want to stomp on your build, since all your builds are very good ones, but i wonder why do you event care for farming the Dynastic Falcata or any other Khopesh when as a KotC you get LongSword as favored Weapon & Knights Training ( which improves Longsword to the crit lvl of Khopesh ) ?

Take a very close look at the Dynastic Falcata.

[Kodwraith]

am totally on board with single weapon fighting paladin.

As a dwarf with a dwarven waraxe (from dwarf enhancement) benefiting from strikethrough (from 20% knight of chalice+dwarven enhancement). With the speed you attack any % of strikethrough will increase your damage greatly.

Do BSword and DAxe get strikethrough when SWF as the combat mode? I know there's an additional 1.1x attribute bump but I thought the SWF mode did not get strikethrough unless you were in the THF mode with those feats.

[kmoustakas]

Do BSword and DAxe get strikethrough when SWF as the combat mode? I know there's an additional 1.1x attribute bump but I thought the SWF mode did not get strikethrough unless you were in the THF mode with those feats.

They do, I used it a lot as an artificer. You can't get the two handed feats in combination with single weapon fighting feats but strikethrough works normally if you get it from other sources and so does epic two handed fighting feat

[unbongwah]

Do BSword and DAxe get strikethrough when SWF as the combat mode?

Yes: https://ddowiki.com/page/Strikethrough

While wielding a Two-Handed Weapon, or while wielding a Bastard Sword or Dwarven Axe in your main hand and a Shield, Orb, Rune Arm, or nothing in your offhand, your attacks can Strikethrough.

So as long as your offhand isn't another weapon, you will get Strikethrough with a Bastard Sword or Dwarven Axe which can be boosted with Enhancements like Improved Second Strikes and Dwarven Axe Training. The issue is you can't take both the SWF and THF feat chains, although there is a work-around of sorts: take the SWF feats and run in Fury of the Wild to use Unbridled Fury.

Unbridled Fury: Active Ability: (Cooldown: 5 minutes) Every three seconds, for thirty seconds, you gain Adrenaline Overload: Your next attack deals +200% damage and has +16 critical threat range and confirmation of critical hits. While this is active, you gain +100% Strikethrough chance. You gain the feats Two-Handed Fighting, Improved Two-Handed Fighting, and Greater Two-Handed Fighting for the duration.

[Arkat]

So as long as your offhand isn't another weapon, you will get Strikethrough with a Bastard Sword or Dwarven Axe which can be boosted with Enhancements like Improved Second Strikes and Dwarven Axe Training. The issue is you can't take both the SWF and THF feat chains, although there is a work-around of sorts: take the SWF feats and run in Fury of the Wild to use Unbridled Fury.

Unbridled Fury: Active Ability: (Cooldown: 5 minutes) Every three seconds, for thirty seconds, you gain Adrenaline Overload: Your next attack deals +200% damage and has +16 critical threat range and confirmation of critical hits. While this is active, you gain +100% Strikethrough chance. You gain the feats Two-Handed Fighting, Improved Two-Handed Fighting, and Greater Two-Handed Fighting for the duration.

An alternative to this solution would be to take the THF feats to get all the Strikethrough goodness full-time, and invest heavily in one of the Vanguard trees (Fighter or Pally versions, it doesn't matter) for much of the Melee Attack Speed (+20%) that the SWF feats (+30%) would have given you. You'll have to decide whether the extra attacks from shield bashing make up for the loss of 50% of your appropriate ability score modifier.

[unbongwah]

Quick-n-lazy conversion to F2P dwarf, because everyone loves dwarves, amirite?

Kundarak Sacred Knight
Paladin 20
Lawful Good Dwarf




Stats
               32pt     Tome     Level Up
               ----     ----     --------
Strength        16                4: STR
Dexterity       10       +3       8: STR
Constitution    16               12: STR
Intelligence    12               16: STR
Wisdom           8               20: STR
Charisma        14               24: STR
                                 28: STR


Skills
          1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
         ------------------------------------------------------------
Concent   4  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  23
UMD       1  1     1     1     1     1     1     1     1     1     1  11
Heal                                          2     2     2     2      8
Balance   2     1     1     1     1     1                              7
Tumble    1                                                            1
         ------------------------------------------------------------
         12  3  3  3  3  3  3  3  3  3  3  3  3  3  3  3  3  3  3  3




Feats


 1        : Single Weapon Fighting
 3        : Power Attack
 6        : Improved Single Weapon Fighting
 9        : Improved Critical: Slashing
12        : Greater Single Weapon Fighting
15        : Offhand Versatility
18        : Stunning Blow
20 Swap   : Precision replaces Power Attack
21 Epic   : Overwhelming Critical
24 Epic   : Empower Healing Spell
26 Destiny: Perfect Single Weapon Fighting
27 Epic   : Epic Damage Reduction
28 Destiny: Perfect Two Handed Fighting
29 Destiny: Dire Charge
30 Epic   : Quicken Spell
30 Legend : Scion of: Arborea


 1 Deity  : Follower of: Onatar
 6 Deity  : Onatar's Forge




Enhancements (Spent: 80 +0r +0u / Max: 80 +0r +0u AP)


Knight of the Chalice (41 AP)
Slayer of Evil, Courage of Heaven, Slayer of Evil II, Improved Courage of Heaven, Slayer of Evil III, Champion of Good
Extra Smites II, Improved Second Strikes III
Adept Combatant, Divine Might III, Exalted Cleave: Melee, Action Boost: Power III
Holy Combatant, Divine Sacrifice: Melee I, Lead the Charge III, Exalted Smite: Melee I
Knight's Training, Censure Demons, Vigor of Life
Ascendency, Censure Outsiders, Vigor of Life, Avenging Cleave: Melee, Holy Retribution: Melee

Sacred Defender (22 AP)
Holy Bastion, Sacred Defense, Divine Righteousness, Redemption
Extra Lay On Hands III, Durable Defense III
Bulwark Aura III, Resilient Defense II
Resistance Aura III, Strong Defense III
Swift Defense

Dwarf (17 AP)
Dwarven Toughness, Dwarven Constitution
Axe Training
Child of the Mountain III, Axe Training
Axe Training
Axe Training

Leveling Guide
KoC0 Slayer of Evil; KoC1 Improved Second Strikes I, II, III
KoC1 Extra Smites I; KoC2 Exalted Cleave: Melee; KoC2 Action Boost: Power I, II
KoC2 Action Boost: Power III; KoC0 Courage of Heaven; KoC2 Divine Might I, II
KoC2 Divine Might III; KoC3 Divine Sacrifice: Melee I; KoC3 Exalted Smite: Melee I
KoC3 Lead the Charge I; KoC1 Extra Smites II; KoC2 Adept Combatant
KoC0 Slayer of Evil II; KoC4 Knight's Training; Dwf0 Dwarven Toughness
Dwf1 Axe Training; Dwf0 Dwarven Constitution
Dwf2 Axe Training; Dwf2 Child of the Mountain I
Dwf2 Child of the Mountain II; Dwf3 Axe Training
KoC4 Vigor of Life; KoC4 Censure Demons; KoC3 Lead the Charge II
KoC3 Lead the Charge III; KoC3 Holy Combatant; (Bank 1 AP)
KoC5 Holy Retribution: Melee; KoC5 Avenging Cleave: Melee; KoC5 Ascendency
KoC0 Improved Courage of Heaven; KoC5 Censure Outsiders; KoC5 Vigor of Life
Dwf2 Child of the Mountain III; Dwf4 Axe Training
SD0 Holy Bastion; SD1 Extra Lay On Hands I, II, III
SD1 Durable Defense I; SD0 Sacred Defense; SD1 Durable Defense II, III
SD2 Resilient Defense I, II; SD0 Divine Righteousness; SD3 Strong Defense I
KoC0 Slayer of Evil III; SD3 Strong Defense II, III; SD2 Bulwark Aura I
SD2 Bulwark Aura II, III; SD3 Resistance Aura I, II
KoC0 Champion of Good; SD3 Resistance Aura III; SD0 Redemption; SD4 Swift Defense

Uses a dwarven axe for fighting mobs with Strikethrough bonuses (20 base + 20 Improved Second Strikes + 25 Dwarven Axe Training + 30 PTHF = 95% Strikethrough) and a battleaxe (or longsword) for single-target DPS (16-20/x4 critical threat range with Holy Sword + Knight's Training + Improved Critical feat).

Normally I wouldn't delay Sacred Defender so late but wanted Knights Training ASAP for the crit bonus and tier-3 Dwarven Axe Training by level 12 (so d.axes become favored weapons in time for Ascendancy bonuses), so there ya go.