PvP Blessed Hammer Paladin (Hammerdin) Guide

PvP Blessed Hammer Paladin Guide

PvP Rank: A Class / PvM Rank: S Class

Introduction

The PvP Blessed Hammer Paladin (Hammerdin) is the highest damage build in the game. It's popularity has, however, increased the cost of gearing them up with high prices for Paladin Torches and Combat Skills Grand Charms with 30-45 life. Some consider PvP Hammerdins to be so powerful that it's sometimes considered bad manners in PvP for Blessed Hammer Paladins to use the Concentration Aura. However, it's fine to use the Concentration aura in public games unless the game is using very strict rules. The magic damage of Blessed Hammer can't be resisted and there's no way to effectively absorb Blessed Hammers' magic damage which gives it an advantage over elemental builds. Blessed Hammer Paladins are S Class for PvP against most builds but because it's difficult to hit some builds that can run away from, Teleport away from, or simply avoid your Blessed Hammers it's rated A Class for PvP. Hammerdins are powerful in PvP and you only need about two Blessed Hammers to land to finish most normal opponents.

Blessed Hammer Paladin Skills

The top spot for a PvP Paladin goes to the Blessed Hammer Paladin which is excellent at both survival and damage.

Recommendation: Blessed Hammer Paladin (Hammerdin)

Stats: Enough Strength for gear, enough dexterity for maximum block, all remaining points in Vitality, and 0 Energy.

Skill Points:

20 Blessed Hammer

20 Vigor (Blessed Hammer synergy)

20 Blessed Aim (Blessed Hammer synergy)

20 Concentrate

All remaining points in Holy Shield for increased block chance and increased defense.

PvP Blessed Hammer Paladin Gear

Main Weapons

Heart of the Oak (Ko Vex Pul Thul) - Gives +3 to skills, 40% faster cast rate, 40% to all resistances, 10 dexterity, and level 4 Oak Sage.

Shield

Herald of Zakarum (Ber'd or Um'd) - This shield gives up to +2 to Paladin Skills, +2 to Combat Skills (Paladin), 30% faster block rate, 30% increased chance to block, 20 Strength, 20 Vitality, and 50% to all resistances. You can also Up the Herald of Zakarum shield in the Horadric Cube for higher defense using a Lem, Ko, and Perfect Diamond.

Weapon Switch

Call To Arms (Amn Ral Mal Ist Ohm) - Gives up to +1 to all skills, +6 to Battle Orders, and +6 to Battle Command. Battle Orders and Battle Command are important because they give greatly increased life and mana and +1 to all skills for a long duration. You should also use a Paladin Shield Spirit (Tal Thul Ort Amn) for its +2 to all skills which increases the level of your Battle Orders further.

Helmet

Harlequin Crest (Ber'd) - Gives +2 to all skills, 10% reduced physical damage taken, high life and mana, and 50% magic find.

Helmet (Optional for Physical Damage Reduction)

Crown of Ages (Berx2) - This helmet can optionally be switched to for physical damage reduction. It gives +1 to all skills, 30% faster hit recovery (allows you to replace one +1 to Combat Skills grand charm with 12% faster hit recovery for one with life), 30 to all resistances, and 15% reduced physical damage taken. With 2 Bers you can also get up to 31% reduced physical damage taken.

Helmet (Resistance)

Kira's Guardian (Um'd) - This helmet should be used against builds that lower your resistances like Cold Sorceresses, Nova Sorceresses that use Infinity, and Conviction Paladins because they can all significantly lower your resistances. Kira's Guardian gives up to 70 to all resistances (85 with an Um), cannot be frozen, and 20% faster hit recovery.

Body

Enigma Dusk Shroud (Jah Ith Ber) - Gives the Teleport skill (important), +2 to all skills, high strength per level, magic find per level, 5% increased life, 8% reduced physical damage taken, high added defense,15% damage taken goes to mana, and life on kill.

Gloves

Trang'Oul's Gloves - Gives 20% faster cast rate and 30% increased cold resistance.

Belt (Default)

Verdungos Hearty Cord - Gives 15% reduced physical damage taken, 40 Vitality, 10% faster hit recovery, and +10 to replenish life.

Belt Vs. Lightning Builds

Thundergod's Vigor - Gives 10% to maximum lightning resistance, 20 lightning absorb, 20 Strength, 20 Vitality, and gives a 5% chance to cast level 7 Fist of the Heavens when struck.

Budget Belt

Arachnid's Mesh - This belt should be used if you can't afford to buy a +2 to Paladin Skill Blood Amulet with 15%+ faster cast rate to meet the 75% faster cast rate breakpoint. It gives +1 to all skills, 20% faster cast rate, and 5% increased maximum mana.

Feet (Default)

Waterwalk - Gives 20% faster run walk, 15 dexterity, 65 life, 5% to maximum fire resistance, and 100 defense vs. missiles.

Feet Vs. Fire Builds

Hotspur - Gives 15% to maximum fire resistance and 45% increased fire resistance. Hotspur can be Up'd twice to Wyrmhide Boots in the Horadric Cube using a Shael Tal and Perfect Diamond to Up it to exceptional and a Lem Ko Perfect Diamond to Up it to elite.

Amulet

Crafted Blood Amulet - Look for +2 to all Paladin Skills, 15%+ faster cast rate, and high all resistance. Using this amulet allows you to reach the 75% faster cast rate breakpoint without using the Arachnid's Mesh belt which allows you to use the Verdungo's belt for 40 Vitality and 15% reduced physical damage taken. It also allows you to use the Thundergod's Vigor belt vs. lightning builds.

Amulet (Budget)

Mara's Kaleidoscope - Gives +2 to all skills, 5 to all attributes, and up to 20-30 to all resistances.

Rings

Bul-Kathos's Wedding Band x2 - Gives +1 to all skills, up to 5% life steal, and added life per level.

Rings (Absorb)

Two Raven Frosts can be used against cold damage builds for 20% cold absorb, one Dwarf Star can be used against fire builds with Hotspur boots for 15% fire absorb and 15% to maximum fire resistance, and one Wisp Projector can be used against lightning damage builds for up to 20% lightning absorb.

Charms

Hellfire Torch for +3 Paladin Skills, Annihilus for +1 to all skills, 1 Combat Skills (Paladin) 12% faster hit recovery grand charm, and a full inventory of +1 Combat Skills (Paladin) grand charms with 40-45 life. For small charms look for 20 life resistance small charms which allows you to use Ber runes in your shield and helmet for an extra 16% reduced physical damage taken.

Mercenary Type

Act 2 Might Mercenary

Mercenary Weapon

Ethereal Insight Thresher (Ral Tir Tal Sol) - Gives up to level 17 Meditation aura which greatly increases your mana regeneration and it also has 23% increased magic find for your mercenary.

Mercenary Armor

Ethereal Fortitude (El Sol Dol Lo) - Gives 300% enhanced damage, all resistances +30%, high life per level, 5% to maximum lightning resistance, and a 20% chance to cast level 15 Chilling Armor when struck.

Budget Mercenary Armor

Duriel's Shell - Gives all resistances +20%, 50% cold resistances, life per level, 15 strength, and cannot be frozen.

Mercenary Helm

Ethereal Andariel's Visage (Ral'd) - Gives +2 to all skills, 10% life leech, -30% fire resistance, and 30 strength. Ral gives 30% increased fire resistance but you can also use a 30% fire resistance jewel with other great modifiers.

Budget Mercenary Helmet

Tal Rasha's Helmet - Gives 10% life stolen per hit, all resistances +15%, and 60 life.

Blessed Hammer Paladin Leveling Items

You can start off using a melee attack with Hsarus' Belt and Gloves once you are level 3 for defense and attack rating from the Hsarus' set bonus. Civerb's Cudgel is a great starter weapon that increases in damage as you level and can be used as early as level 9. You can add Angelics Amulet and Ring once you are level 12 for more life and attack rating. Skin of the Viper Magi can also be used at level 29 for up to +1 to all skills, 35% all resistances, 30% faster cast rate, and magic damage taken reduced by 13.

That's all for the PvP Hammerdin Guide. You can also check out the Magic Find Hammerdin here Magic Find Hammerdin Guide.