Paladin (Stranger of Paradise)

The Paladin is an Expert Job in Stranger of Paradise Final Fantasy Origin, available after unlocking the corresponding nodes in the White Mage and Knight Job Trees. In addition, it is available to Neon after clearing the "Scarlet Memories: The Fallen" side mission.
Paladin is a high-maintenance defensive job that excels at maintaining high HP and defense and transforming it into a powerful offense. This job acts as an evolution of the Knight job with its defensive capabilities combined with the White Mage's healing and holy damage traits.
==Gameplay==
===Job Action===
As the antithesis of the Dark Knight, the Paladin receives a damaging buff that recovers HP and greatly increases damage dealt based on maximum HP instead of HP depleted through the "Holy Fang" job action. Though powerful, it is rather taxing on the player's MP as it drains it as long as the buff is active. It is best paired with MP mitigation abilities such as the Samurai's Meikyo-Shisui to increase MP recovered with each attack.
===Equipment===
The Paladin shares its equipment with both the Knight's swords, shields, and greatswords and the White Mage's maces and staves. Each weapon of the Paladin's arsenal is matched with a corresponding combo ability effect that further bolsters its defenses by increasing maximum HP, increasing the damage dealt based on max HP, and decreasing general damage taken.
===Stats===
The Paladin receives the largest stat bonus in Stamina, allowing for a larger HP pool and increasing physical defense.
Job Stat Rating and Growth by Level
Stat 	Rating	Lvl 1	Lvl 30	Lvl 55	Lvl 80	Lvl 99	Lvl 120	Lvl 135	Lvl 150+
HP 	S 	1527 	1969 	2160 	2304 	2425 	2533 	2669 	2771
Strength 	D 	18 	28 	28 	28 	28 	28 	28 	28
Agility 	E 	17 	26 	26 	26 	26 	26 	26 	26
Stamina 	A 	22 	34 	34 	34 	34 	34 	34 	34
Intellect	E 	17 	26 	26 	26 	26 	26 	26 	26
Spirit 	C 	19 	30 	30 	30 	30 	30 	30 	30
Luck 	C 	19 	30 	30 	30 	30 	30 	30 	30
===Job Tree===
These abilities can be bought by using Job Points which are accumulated by earning EXP and leveling up the Job:
Ability 	Icon	Type 	Job Points	MP Cost	Required Ability to Unlock	Description
 	 	Job Action 	— 	1~ 	— 	Recover HP when landing a hit. Deals additional holy damage based on max HP when HP is at max. You can toggle this effect on and off with [Ability].*MP gradually depletes while active.[Any Link]Can be set to any link ability slot.
Paladin Affinity +10% 	 	Passive 	1 	— 	Holy Fang 	Increases paladin job affinity.
All Damage -2.3% 	 	Passive 	2 	— 	Paladin Affinity +10% 	Decreases damage taken.
Spirit of the Sword 	 	Combo Ability Effects	3 	— 	All Damage -2.3% 	[Weapon Type: Sword][3rd Link]Enhances abilities set to [Attack]>[Attack]>[Attack]>[Ability]Staggers nearby enemies.
 	 	Passive 	4 	— 	All Damage -2.3% 	Restores HP when using a soul burst while holy fang is active.
 	 	Mace Combo 	3 	100 	All Damage -2.3% 	[Attack Type: Strike][Stat Bonus: Stamina]Launch the enemy into the air with your shield then smash them into the earth with your mace.*Requires a shield.[Link 3 Ability]Can be set to [Attack]>[Attack]>[Attack]>[Ability]
A True Knight 	 	Combo Ability Effects	4 	— 	Shield Surge 	[Weapon Type: Greatsword][3rd Link]Enhances abilities set to [Attack]>[Attack]>[Attack]>[Ability]Staggers nearby enemies.
All Damage -4.9% 	 	Passive 	5 	— 	Shield Surge 	Decreases damage taken.
Merciless Mace 	 	Combo Ability Effects	6 	— 	All Damage -4.9% 	[Weapon Type: Mace][3rd Link]Enhances abilities set to [Attack]>[Attack]>[Attack]>[Ability]Staggers nearby enemies.
Damage Dealt at Max HP +4.0%	 	Passive 	8 	— 	Merciless Mace 	Increases damage dealt when HP is at max.
Paladin Affinity +25% 	 	Passive 	7 	— 	All Damage -4.9% 	Increases paladin job affinity.
 	 	Sword Combo 	9 	100 	Paladin Affinity +25% 	[Attack Type: Slash][Element: Holy][Stat Bonus: Spirit]Perform a holy-imbued area attack. Hold [Ability] for successive attacks.[Link 1 Ability]Can be set to [Attack]>[Ability].
HP +60 	 	Passive 	1 	— 	Holy Fang 	Increases HP by 60.
Exalted Spirit 	 	Combo Ability Effects	2 	— 	HP +60 	[Weapon Type: Greatsword][Forward Attack Link]Enhances abilities set to [Forward] + [Attack] (Weapon Skill) > [Ability]Restores MP based on physical damage dealt.
Heavy Bash 	 	Mace Combo 	3 	100 	Exalted Spirit 	[Attack Type: Strike][Stat Bonus: Stamina]Charge forward with your shield and then smash the enemy with your mace.*Requires a shield.[Link 2 Ability]Can be set to [Attack]>[Attack]>[Ability].
 	 	Command 	3 	200 	HP +60 	Nullifies a limited amount of damage.*Higher max HP will increase the amount of damage that can be nullified.
Mystical Mace 	 	Combo Ability Effects	4 	— 	Sentinel 	[Weapon Type: Mace][Forward Attack Link]Enhances abilities set to [Forward] + [Attack] (Weapon Skill) > [Ability]Restores MP based on physical damage dealt.
Paladin Affinity +15% 	 	Passive 	5 	— 	Mystical Mace 	Increases paladin job affinity.
Spectral Sword 	 	Combo Ability Effects	6 	— 	Paladin Affinity +15% 	[Weapon Type: Sword][Forward Attack Link]Enhances abilities set to [Forward] + [Attack] (Weapon Skill) > [Ability]Restores MP based on physical damage dealt.
 	 	Sword Combo 	5 	100 	Mystical Mace 	[Attack Type: Slash/Strike][Stat Bonus: Stamina]Charge forward with your shield at the ready to deliver a striking blow, then finish with an upwards slash. Knocks enemies back.*Requires a shield.[Link 3 Ability]Can be set to [Attack]>[Attack]>[Attack]>[Ability]
HP +60 	 	Passive 	7 	— 	Shield Charge 	Increases HP by 60.
Damage Dealt at Max HP +4.2%	 	Passive 	9 	— 	HP +60 	Increases damage dealt when HP is at max.
New Class: 	 	Class Unlock 	— 	— 	All Paladin Tree abilities	Unlocks the Evocation Class for Paladin, Royal Guard. Only available in the Trials of the Dragon King DLC
New Class: 	 	Class Unlock 	— 	— 	All Paladin Tree abilities	Unlocks the Ultima Class for Paladin, Holy Knight. Only available in the Trials of the Dragon King DLC
=== Class Trees===
Introduced in the Trials of the Dragon King DLC, These classes are unlocked after visiting Bahamut's Cave and completing the "A Token of Courage and Strength" conversation with Bahamut and the abilities thereof can be bought by using Rat Tails which are accumulated by completing missions on the Bahamut difficulty onward and purchasing them from the Bahamut Exchange Shop via Dragon Treasures:
======Royal Guard======
Ability 	Icon	Type 	Rat Tails	Required Ability to Unlock 	Description
 	 	Job Action 	— 	All Paladin tree abilities 	Holy Fang+[Class Change Effect: Evocation]Restores MP when attacking an enemy vulnerable to holy.[Any Link]Can be set to any link ability slot.
Stamina +4 	 	Passive 	2 	Shield of Kings 	Increases stamina.
HP +118 	 	Passive 	4 	Stamina +4 	Increases HP by 118.
Luck +6 	 	Passive 	6 	HP +118 	Increases luck.
Paladin Master Points +3 	 	Passive 	11 	Luck +6 	Increases paladin master points acquired.
Stamina +8 	 	Passive 	8 	HP +118 	Increases stamina.
Break +160 	 	Passive 	10 	Stamina +8 	Increases break by 160.
Merciless Staff 	 	Combo Ability Effects	16 	Break +160 	[Weapon Type: Staff][3rd Link]Enhances abilities set to [Attack]>[Attack]>[Attack]>[Ability]Staggers nearby enemies.
Spirit +6 	 	Passive 	2 	Shield of Kings 	Increases spirit.
Elemental Vulnerability Resistance +40.0%	 	Passive 	4 	Spirit +6 	Increases magic vulnerability resistances.
Status Ailment Resistance +18.0% 	 	Passive 	6 	Elemental Vulnerability Resistance +40.0%	Increases resistance to status ailments.
Strength +5 	 	Passive 	8 	Status Ailment Resistance +18.0% 	Increases strength.
Blade's Blessing 	 	Combo Ability Effects	14 	Strength +5 	[Weapon Type: Sword][1st Link]Enhances abilities set to [Attack]>[Ability].Restores HP based on magic damage dealt.
HP +236 	 	Passive 	10 	Status Ailment Resistance +18.0% 	Increases HP by 236.
Paladin Master Points +3 	 	Passive 	15 	HP +236 	Increases paladin master points acquired.
Staff Geist 	 	Combo Ability Effects	16 	HP +236 	[Weapon Type: Staff][Forward Attack Link]Enhances abilities set to [Forward] + [Attack] (Weapon Skill) > [Ability]Restores MP based on physical damage dealt.
======Holy Knight======
Ability 	Icon	Type 	Rat Tails	Required Ability to Unlock 	Description
 	 	Job Action 	— 	All Paladin tree abilities 	Holy Fang+[Class Change Effect: Ultima]While active, temporarily increases additional damage dealt and HP recovery when at near death.[Any Link]Can be set to any link ability slot.
Stamina +4 	 	Passive 	2 	Holy Arts 	Increases stamina.
HP +118 	 	Passive 	4 	Stamina +4 	Increases HP by 118.
Luck +6 	 	Passive 	6 	HP +118 	Increases luck.
Paladin Master Points +3 	 	Passive 	11 	Luck +6 	Increases paladin master points acquired.
Stamina +8 	 	Passive 	8 	HP +118 	Increases stamina.
Break +160 	 	Passive 	10 	Stamina +8 	Increases break by 160.
Merciless Staff 	 	Combo Ability Effects	16 	Break +160 	[Weapon Type: Staff][3rd Link]Enhances abilities set to [Attack]>[Attack]>[Attack]>[Ability]Staggers nearby enemies.
Spirit +6 	 	Passive 	2 	Holy Arts 	Increases spirit.
Elemental Vulnerability Resistance +40.0%	 	Passive 	4 	Spirit +6 	Increases magic vulnerability resistances.
Status Ailment Resistance +18.0% 	 	Passive 	6 	Elemental Vulnerability Resistance +40.0%	Increases resistance to status ailments.
Strength +5 	 	Passive 	8 	Status Ailment Resistance +18.0% 	Increases strength.
Mace of Wisdom 	 	Combo Ability Effects	14 	Strength +5 	[Weapon Type: Mace][Rear Attack Link]Enhances abilities set to [Rear] + [Attack] (Weapon Skill) > [Ability]Guarantees a critical hit.
HP +236 	 	Passive 	10 	Status Ailment Resistance +18.0% 	Increases HP by 236.
Paladin Master Points +3 	 	Passive 	15 	HP +236 	Increases paladin master points acquired.
Staff Geist 	 	Combo Ability Effects	16 	HP +236 	[Weapon Type: Staff][Forward Attack Link]Enhances abilities set to [Forward] + [Attack] (Weapon Skill) > [Ability]Restores MP based on physical damage dealt.
===Job Affinity bonuses===
Most weapons and items of clothing have a certain percentage of Job Affinity for a certain job. By combining them together and raising this percentage, the character may not only gain extra EXP to that Job, but also unlock abilities and bonuses to their stats. The bonuses for the Paladin Job Affinity are:
Name 	Job Ability Percentages	Description
Paladin's Wisdom I 	20% 	Increases the corresponding stat(s).HP+25
Paladin's Wisdom II 	30% 	Increases the corresponding stat(s).HP+50
Vigor Bonus I 	50% 	Increases break damage dealt when HP is at max by 6.8%.
Paladin's Wisdom III	80% 	Increases the corresponding stat(s).HP+75Stamina+2
Vigor Bonus II 	120% 	Increases break damage dealt when HP is at max by 11.3%.
Paladin's Wisdom IV 	160% 	Increases the corresponding stat(s).HP+100Stamina+3Spirit+1
 	250% 	Gradually restores HP when lightbringer is active.
 	400% 	Grants immunity to all status ailments.
 	600% 	A successful soul shield increases your HP. This effect can stack up to twenty times.Also enhances the effects of Paladin's Wisdom.
Paladin's Essence 	800% 	Enhances the effects of Paladin's Wisdom, and also boosts stats based on your affinity.
==Gallery==
SOP Holy Fang.gif|Holy Fang
SOP Sentinel.gif|Sentinel
SOP Radiant Aura.gif|Radiant Aura
SOP Heavy Bash.gif|Heavy Bash
SOP Shield Charge.gif|Shield Charge
SOP Shield Surge.gif|Shield Surge
==Etymology==
Category:Jobs in Stranger of Paradise Final Fantasy Origin