PvP Hybrid Zeal Paladin With Dual Dream

Hybrid Dual Dream Zeal Paladin Guide for PvP and PvM

PvP Rank: C Class / PvM Rank: C Class

Introduction

A Hybrid Dual Dream Zeal Paladin can be made with Fanaticism, max damage/attack rating/life charms, the Fortitude runeword for 300% enhanced damage, Dual Dreams which give level 30 Holy Shock, and Conviction from your mercenary. Physical Zealots can sometimes have lower damage than some of the other classes which is why a Dual Dream setup is recommended for damage. Points in Resist Lightning and Salvation are also important because they increase Holy Shock damage with every point spent.

Hybrid Zealadin Skills

One of the best good manners PvP Paladins is the Zeal Paladin which deals high single target damage with excellent defenses.

Recommendation: Hybrid Dual Dream Zeal Paladin

Stats: Enough Strength for gear, enough Dexterity for maxed block, all remaining points in Vitality, 0 Energy.

Skill Points:

20 Zeal

20 Sacrifice (Zeal synergy)

20 Fanaticism (used for attack rating, increased damage, and to reach the highest attack speed breakpoint)

20 Resist Lightning (Holy Shock synergy)

1 Charge

Enough in Holy Shield to reach level 11 Holy Shield with plus skills.

All remaining points in Salvation as the final Holy Shock synergy.

Hybrid Zealadin Paladin Gear

Weapon

Grief Berserker Axe (Eth Tir Lo Mal Ral) - This weapon has range 3 which is important for Zeal but it's sometimes considered bad manners in PvP. If you use a Grief Berserker Axe you will need at least 38% increased attack speed to reach the final attack speed breakpoint with 20% increased attack speed on your gloves. For a good manners substitute you can use an Ethereal Breath of the Dying Berserker Axe (Vex Hel El Eld Zod Eth) instead for high damage and a guaranteed 60% increased attack speed modifier. There's also rare weapons with the Fool's modifier that can deal even higher damage than a EbotD Berserker Axe.

Shield

Dream Sacred Targe (Io Jah Pul) - The Sacred Targe shield base has the highest block chance of the Paladin shields and can have up to 45% to all resistances. The Dream Shield gives a level 30 Holy Shock aura when it's combined with a Dream helmet. The Dream runeword has up to 20% to all resistances, up to 30% faster hit recovery, magic find, and a chance to cast level 15 Confuse.

Weapon Switch

Call to Arms (Amn Ral Mal Ist Ohm) - Used for up to +7 to Battle Orders with a Spirit Paladin Shield (Tal Thul Ort Amn) which has a lower strength requirement than a Monarch shield for another +2 to all skills. You can also optionally switch to a Demon Limb unique weapon in town for level 23 Enchant which increases your attack rating and then switch back to your Call to Arms.

Helmet

Dream Helmet (Io Jah Pul) - When this helmet is combined with a Dream shield it gives a level 30 Holy Shock aura. Dream also gives up to 20% to all resistance, up to 30% faster hit recovery, level 15 Confuse curse when struck, high life, and magic find.

Body

Fortitude (El Sol Dol Lo) - Gives 300% enhanced damage, up to all resistances +30%, high life per level, 5% to maximum lightning resistance, and a 20% chance to cast level 15 Chilling Armor when struck which increases your defense. You should use Charge to run faster in PvP with the Fortitude runeword instead of using the Enigma runeword for Teleport.

Gloves (PvP)

Blood Gloves - Look for Blood Gloves with 20% increased attack speed, 10% crushing blow, life, and high resistances. Blood Gloves can be crafted using a pair of Sharkskin Gloves with a Perfect Ruby, Nef rune, and a magic jewel in the Horadric Cube.

Gloves (PvM)

Dracul's Grasp - These gloves are best in slot for PvM because they have Life Tap which recovers a large amount of life on hit and 10% life stolen per hit, 25% chance of open wounds, up to 15 strength, and 10 life after each kill. These gloves shouldn't be used in PvP however because the Life Tap on hit on them is considered very bad manners in duels.

Belt (PvP)

Verdungo's Hearty Cord - Use this belt in PvP for up to 15% reduced physical damage taken, 40 vitality, replenish life +13, and 10% faster hit recovery which helps you reach the 56% faster hit recovery breakpoint or the 86% faster hit recovery breakpoint.

Belt (PvM)

String of Ears - This belt is the best option for PvM for up to 8% life leech (life leech has full effect in PvM but only partial effect in PvP), 15% reduced physical damage taken, and magic damage taken reduced by 15.

Feet

Gore Riders - These boots give 30% faster run walk, 15% deadly strike, 15% crushing blow, and 10% chance of open wounds.

Feet Vs. Lightning & Cold Builds That Lower Your Resistances

Tri-resist Faster Run Walk Boots - Look for rare 30% faster run walk boots with up to 40% cold resistance, 40% lightning resistance, and 40% poison resistance optionally with faster hit recovery. As a budget option you can also use Natalya's Boots for 40% faster run walk, up to 25% lightning resistance, and up to 25% cold resistance.

Feet Vs. Fire Builds

Hotspur - Hotspur boots should be used when fighting fire builds for 45% fire resistance, 15 life, and +15% to maximum fire resistance. Hotspur boots can be Up'd to Demonhide Boots in the Horadric Cube using a Perfect Diamond, Shael rune, and Tal rune. Hotspur can then be Up'd a second time to Wyrmhide Boots in the Horadric Cube using a Perfect Diamond, Lem rune, and Ko rune.

Amulet

Metalgrid - This amulet gives up to 450 to attack rating, high defense, and up to all resistance +35% to over stack your resistances.

Rings

Raven Frosts - You should use two Raven Frosts which each give up to 250 attack rating, 20 dexterity, 20% cold absorb, and cannot be frozen which is very important for attack rating, increased chance to block, and for fighting cold damage builds.

Rings (Absorb)

You should switch one Raven Frost for a Dwarf Star for 15% fire absorb and 40 life when fighting fire damage builds and you should switch one Raven Frost for a Wisp Projector for up to 20% lightning absorb when fighting lightning damage builds.

Charms

Hellfire Torch for +3 Paladin skills, Annihilus for +1 to all skills, one poison damage small charm to cancel enemies' life regeneration, and the rest of your inventory should be filled with maximum damage/attack rating/life charms. You can also switch some of your charms for resistance charms with life when fighting elemental builds that lower your resistances.

Mercenary Type

Act 2 Might Mercenary - This mercenary gives the Might aura which increases your physical damage.

Mercenary Weapon

Ethereal Infinity (Ber Mal Ber Ist) - Gives a level 12 Conviction aura for your Holy Shock to lower enemies defense and resistances.

Mercenary Armor

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

Mercenary Helmet

Ethereal Andariel's Visage (Ral'd) - Gives +2 to all skills, 10% life leech, -30% fire resistance, and 30 strength. Ral rune gives 30% fire resistance to counter the -30% fire resistance but you can also use a 30% fire resistance jewel with 15% increased attack speed.

Budget Mercenary Weapon

Ethereal Insight (Ral Tir Tal Sol) - Gives up to level 17 Meditation which provides very high mana regeneration.

Budget Mercenary Armor

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

Budget Mercenary Helmet

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

Note: Ethereal items don't lose durability on mercenaries.

Hybrid Dual Dream Zealadin Strategy

This character is capable of high single target damage and a very fast run speed when you use your Charge skill. Charge can quickly close the distance with casters and ranged attackers which allows you to use the Fortitude runeword for 300% enhanced damage instead of Enigma for Teleport. Charge also allows you to stun ranged attackers and casters like Sorceresses so that you can quickly finish them off with Zeal. One of the weaknesses of this build is fighting summoning builds like Druids and Summon Necromancers because your Zeal attacks will be spread out to multiple targets. You will also not be very competitive against Smite Paladins or Impale Amazons because both of these builds can bypass your block. This build is built for high damage using increases to physical damage with a level 30 Holy Shock which is one of this builds greatest strengths. Your damage should be much higher when using both physical damage and lightning damage and it's harder to mitigate physical damage and lightning damage at the same time.

Zealadin Paladin Leveling Items

You can start using Hsarus' belt and boots at level 3 once you have 30 strength for added defense and attack rating per level. Bane's Garments set should be switched to at level 8 for high damage, attack rating, and great set modifiers. You can add Angelics Amulet and Ring once you reach level 12 for life and attack rating and you can add a Manald Heal ring for up to 7% mana stolen per hit as early as level 15. Aldur's set weapon with three Shael runes can be switched to at level 42 for a weapon upgrade. Smoke (Nef Lum) runeword body armor requires level 37 and it's an inexpensive runeword that can be used early on for all resistances +50%.

That's all for the Hybrid Zealadin Guide. You can check out more guides in the menu at the top of this page. Good luck!