page_title: Paladin (character class)
section_title: World of Warcraft
hierarchical_section_title: Paladin (character class) / Paladins in Games / World of Warcraft
caption_attribution_description: Cosplay of Warcraft characters (left: Tier 2 Paladin; right: Sylvanas Windrunner) at WonderCon 2012
context_page_description: The Paladin is a staple character class found in computer and pen and paper role-playing games. The template may have been introduced through the eponymous character class from Dungeons & Dragons. The broad concept is that of a "Holy Warrior", combining aspects of both Warrior and Cleric.
  The Warrior aspect is typically patterned after the fictionalized chivalric image of a knight-errant in shining armor from the high middle ages or renaissance period.
  The religious aspect harkens back to the historical Paladins' purported role as the bodyguards or right-hand men of Charlemagne, the Protector of Christianity; or alternatively to the religious background of the crusaders, especially Knightly Orders such as the Knights Templar, Knights Hospitallers or the Teutonic Knights.
  In game terms, a Paladin is thus typically a Warrior character first and foremost, proficient with heavy arms and armor. Yet at the same time a Paladin is gifted with blessings or magical capabilities such as healing, protection, and countering evil magic, albeit to a lesser degree than a true priest or cleric.
context_section_description: In the MMORPG World of Warcraft, Paladins were at first a class exclusive to the human and dwarf races of the Alliance.  When The Burning Crusade expansion was released, the Horde faction gained these holy warriors with the addition of blood elves, while the draenei race were added to the Alliance faction and given the shaman as a playable class.  With the release of the Cataclysm expansion, tauren are also permitted to become Paladins. With the introduction of the allied races in Battle for Azeroth expansion; Dark Iron Dwarf, Lightforged Dranei and Zandalari troll races can all be paladins. 
  In the Warcraft universe's lore, the Paladin was first conceived by Archbishop Alonsus Faol of Northshire Abbey. Faol felt that the contribution to the war effort by pure clerics during the First Great War (Warcraft: Orcs & Humans) would not be sufficient for the battles ahead, and decided to create a more versatile cleric that didn't need protection in combat. Faol's apprentice Lord Uther the Lightbringer became the first Paladin. Uther used his natural leadership skills to rally the best knights of Azeroth to be blessed as Paladins, and formed the Knights of the Silver Hand.  In Warcraft II, they were upgraded knights who could heal injured comrades and exorcise undead. At this point, Paladins were amongst the Alliance's most powerful melee units.
  By the time of Warcraft III, the Paladin had become a separate class, rather than an upgrade. They were less powerful individual units, and were relegated to more of a support role in combat. In-game, they were Hero units, meaning they could gain experience and improve their abilities. They possessed the weakest direct offensive skills of the four Alliance heroes, instead protecting the troops with their aura, healing and resurrection abilities. During his later life, Uther trained Prince Arthas as a Paladin. In Warcraft III, Arthas was corrupted by the Lich King, and ultimately abandoned the way of the Paladin, killing his father the King and betraying the Alliance to the Scourge. After Uther became possessor of the late King's ashes, he was killed by Arthas, who wished to take possession of the magical urn containing the ashes. This led directly to the collapse of the Silver Hand, and the Paladins became scattered. They now fight under any Alliance flag.
  In World of Warcraft game play, the Paladin is considered to be a melee-oriented hybrid class, which is a class that fulfills more than one role.   Paladins have various protective spells they extend to party or raid members, the ability to heal allies and oneself, and a unique system of seals and judgments for combat. Paladins can be 'specialized' at level 10 and above. The three available specializations are holy, protection and retribution. The Holy Paladin specializes as a healer (acting as an armored cleric), the Protection Paladin takes the role of a damage-absorbing tank for a group, and the retribution specialization increases the Paladin's ability to do melee damage (representing a zealous crusader). 
  In World of Warcraft Paladin's primary resources are Mana and Holy Power. Holy Power is a resource system and is gained through various abilities and consumed by other spells. Up to 5 Holy Power can be stored at a time and Holy Power decays 30 seconds out of combat. Paladins can equip cloth, leather, mail or plate armor. They can use shields, polearms, one or two handed maces, axes and swords. They cannot dual wield or equip daggers or staves or use ranged weapons.
caption: A cosplayer dressed as a Tier 2 Warcraft paladin (left).
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