Paladin

* Sprite
* Illustration

## Skills

 Energy Shield
 Holy Warrior

 Splash Ɛ Bash

The  **Paladin** is a playable character. He wears gray, bulky armor with yellow edges and is holding a red shield with a yellow cross. The shield he wields has the same appearance as the weapon Shield, but is a part of his Energy Shield and Splash & Bash skill and thus cannot be used as a typical weapon.

Once unlocked, he can also be encountered during a run as an NPC. Upon interaction, he will give the player a Shield.

## Unlock & upgrade

The Paladin can be unlocked at the cost of $1.00 or equal value in other currencies.

Each upgrade changes the stats slightly.

1. +1 HP - cost: 500 gems
2. +1 Armor - cost: 1,000 gems
3. +20 Energy - cost: 1,500 gems
4. -2s Skill Cooldown - cost: 2,000 gems
5. Skill Upgrade - cost: 2,500 gems
6. "Release a radial blast when the shield is damaged" buff - cost: 5,000 gems
7. Enhance Starting Weapon - cost: 8,000 gems

## Statistics

This character has the highest armor and the lowest health, meaning that the player has little to no need for health potions overall.

The Paladin also has a low energy pool, making proper weapon choices an important matter.

## Alternate Skins

His skin also affects the weapon Shield found in the game.

The Paladin currently has 19 alternate skins, which include:

* 5 gem skins
* 2 achievement skins
* 2 fragment skins
* 7 paid skins
* 2 fish chip skins
* 1 unavailable skin

## Energy Shield

### Basic:

*Activate an energy shield to absorb all damage.*

### Skill Upgrade:

**Damage absorbed will turn into energy.**

### Cooldown:

12 (10) seconds.

Basics
*Activate an energy shield to absorb all damage.*
* The Paladin will gain a large bubble around him for 5 seconds. As long as he has the bubble effect, he takes no damage.
* The bubble itself can absorb enemy attacks but doesn't obstruct movement.
* The bubble does not prevent getting status effects or taking knock back (from enemy missiles for example), but does absorb damage taken from status effects and environment.
* The Reflect Buff applies to the bubble, such that enemy projectiles can also be returned.
* This skill has a cooldown of 12 (10) seconds, and it starts after the skill ends.

Skill Upgrade
*Damage absorbed will turn into energy.*
* When the Energy Shield is active, the Paladin gains 2 energy for each damage instance (including direct damage and ticks of status effects).
	+ The number is visible on how much energy has been restored.
* Not all attacks may restore energy.
* Players can easily regain energy by activating the shield and triggering any damaging traps (Spikes, Explosive Crates).
* This skill can restore energy from damage reduced to 0 (lava tiles with Milk, etc) but not damage completely nullified (lava tiles with Fire Buff.)

Mentor upgrade
*Skill lasts longer.*
* The skill's duration is increased to 7 seconds.

## Holy Warrior

### Basic:

*Transform into a warrior with holy power that wields a giant sword. The sword fires projectiles that can destroy enemies bullets.*

### Cooldown:

14 (12) seconds.

How to unlock
Pay $1.99 to unlock this skill.
Basics
*Transform into a warrior with holy power that wields a giant sword. The sword fires projectiles that can destroy enemies bullets.*

* Turns the Paladin into a giant warrior during 5 seconds.
	+ In this form, Paladin will use a long golden sword. Tap the fire button to swing the sword in a large arc, dealing 10 damage. It also launches a shockwave that deals 10 damage and destroy enemies bullets, like Caliburn.
		- It takes 1 second to swing the weapon.
	+ The movement speed of Paladin stays the same.
	+ The Paladin can't use other weapons.
* This skill has a 14 (12) seconds cooldown, and it starts after the skill effect wears off.

Skill Upgrade
*Defense +2 when skill is active.*
* All damage received while the skill is active will be reduced by 3, regardless of the source of damage, except the Burn and Poison Status Effects and elemental hazards.

Mentor upgrade
*Skill lasts longer.*
* The skill's duration is increased to 10 seconds.
* The Paladin will swing the Sword faster, taking 0,5 to perform 1 swing.

## Splash & Bash

### Basic:

*Hold the shield to defend, and then throw it out to smash enemies. When the shield returns, it restores your armor and energy. Defense +2 when the shield is up.*

### Skill Upgrade:

**When the shield is up, it restores armor and energy of you and your allies.**

### Cooldown:

10.5 (8.5) seconds.

How to unlock
Unlocked at the Design Table using 8 Torn Page (Splash & Bash) (dropped from Grave Guard Scarab Archon).
Basics
*Hold the shield to defend, and then throw it out to smash enemies. When the shield returns, it restores your armor and energy. Defense +2 when the shield is up.*
* When used, the Paladin is equipped with a nameless **Legendary** weapon that looks identical to his Shield but function differently.
* While holding this weapon:
	+ Paladin gains defense +2, meaning he will take 2 less damage from all source.
	+ Tap on the Weapon Button  will cause Paladin to retreat the shield, while tapping on the Attack Button  will make him throw the shield. In either case the CD will start to recharge.
* When throwed:
	+ Paladin will lose his defense boost.
	+ The shield becomes a projectile that deals 6 damage and inflicts stun to its targets.
	+ Upon contact with obstacles or enemies the shield will bounce and redirect itself, up to 7 times.
	+ On the last bounce, or after 8 seconds, the shield will return to Paladin with a slight homing property.
	+ The player can also tap the skill button again to call it back manually.
	+ After 12 seconds, the shield instantly returns to the player.
	+ While returning, the shield pierce through anything, thus dealing damage to enemies in between.
	+ Despite the description, an unupgraded Splash & Bash will not restore armor or energy when the shield returned to Paladin. This effect is locked behind the skill upgrade.
* This skill has a cooldown of 10.5 (8.5) seconds. Which starts after the Paladin throws the his shield.
* Splash & Bash can be further enhanced when paired with the following Buffs:
	+ - Allows the shield bounce 1 more time when throwed. Effect stacked.
	+ - Increases the restoration effectiveness of the shield after the skill is upgraded.

Skill Upgrade
*When the shield is up, it restores armor and energy of you and your allies.*
* Upon activating the skill button, restores 2 armor and 10 energy for all allies.
	+ Restores 3 armor and 15 energy instead when paired with Potion Effectiveness Buff.
	+ When the shield returns, only the thrower receive the restorations.

Mentor Upgrade
*Generate a temporary shield.*
* Activating the skill will also generate a hexagonal barrier for 5 seconds, similar to using the Shield weapon.
	+ This barrier is subject to Reflect Buff.

## Quotes

### Interaction in the Living Room

* *"I like this TV show."*
* *"Stand behind me!"*

 As Monk Pigsy:
* *"Monkey seems weird lately."*
* *"I am hungry, again..."*

When interacted in the Living Room during Chinese New Year update, prior to v2.5.0:
* *"I'm liking this talk show."*

### During a run as an NPC

* *"I was going to take a break."*
* *"Take this Shield. It's alright, I got another one."*

## Related Achievements

Block 1000 attacks with Paladin's skill in a single game to unlock the skin Silverwing
Complete Boss Rush Mode with Paladin with challenge conditions without reviving to unlock the skin [Ku]
*Reward:* skin Ku

## Trivia

* He seems to be taller than other characters, such that he cannot fully fit into a Dragon Dance Armor.
* If his skill is set to Energy Shield, since he uses the main hand to hold the skill Shield (how others carry the main weapon), he needs to use the offhand to carry the weapon, like a dual-wielding Knight.
	+ If he uses Staff of Illusion to summon a copy, the copy will not carry the Shield, and will carry the weapon directly.
	+ He will also take the Shield back while on mounts, or in front of the New Year Dinner.
	+ In this case, if he uses a dual-wielded weapon (like Magic Gloves or Fist Bump), one of his hands will be floating.
* Before Update 1.7.5, his energy shield skill lasts for 3 seconds, has a smaller radius, and is not affected by the Reflect Buff.
	+ Trap Buff still triggers even if he is invincible.
* Before Update 1.8.2, the energy gain from his energy shield skill was 5 per hit instead of 2.
* Since Update 2.0.5, the energy shield skill's bubble starts to spin for the full duration.
* Holy Warrior was added in Update 2.2.0.
	+ Back then, its skill upgrade was only 2 Defense. In an unkown update, this value got increased to 3, though the skill upgrade tooltip still says it's 2.
* Before Update 2.3.0, the shockwave of Holy Warrior skill had a smaller hitbox than its visual appearance.
* In Update 3.0.0, Paladin's default, Silverwing and Dijiang Bird skins received a retexture.
	+ This is the same update that added Splash & Bash.
* In Update 3.1.0, Paladin's Blood Dragon, CH3COOH, Santa Green, Virudhaka, Guardian, Grand Knight Skin and Ku skins received a retexture.