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, and Dual Dreams for level 30 Holy Shock. Physical Zealots sometimes have lower damage compared to some of the other classes which is why a Dual Dream setup is recommended which greatly increases your damage. Points in Resist Lightning and Salvation are also recommended as Holy Shock synergies to increase the damage of your level 30 Holy Shock.

Hybrid Zealadin Skills

One of the best good manners Paladins in PvP is the Zealadin which deals high single target damage and has excellent defenses.

Recommendation: Hybrid Zeal Paladin

Stats: Enough Strength for equipment, 120 Dexterity for medium attack rating and 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)

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 on Zeal but is 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 should 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.

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. This shield gives a level 30 Holy Shock aura when it's combined with a Dream helmet. The Dream runeword also gives up to 20% to all resistances, magic find, up to 30% faster hit recovery, 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 Paly Shield (Tal Thul Ort Amn) which has a lower 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 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 up to all resistances +30%, 300% enhanced damage, high life per level, 5% to maximum lightning resistance, and a 20% chance to cast level 15 Chilling Armor when struck. You can use Charge to run fast without Enigma.

Gloves PvP With Grief

Blood Gloves - Look for Blood Gloves with 20% increased attack speed, 10% crushing blow, life, and high resistances. Blood Gloves can be crafted in the Horadric Cube using a Perfect Ruby, Nef rune, magic jewel, and a pair of Leather/Sharkskin/Vampirebone Gloves but they don't guarantee a 20% increased attack speed roll so it might take a while to craft them.

Gloves PvP With EBotD Berserker Axe

Bloodfist - You won't need increased attack speed on your gloves with a good manners ethereal Breath of the Dying Berserker Axe. Bloodfist should be used for 30% faster hit recovery, +5 minimum damage, 40 life, and has 10% increased attack speed. Bloodfist is recommended so that you can reach the 86% faster hit recovery breakpoint which is very helpful for melee fights.

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 have 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 them is considered bad manners.

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% fhr breakpoint or 86% fhr breakpoint when using Bloodfist.

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 as close to 40% cold resistance and 40% Lightning Resistance as you can get optionally with fire resistance and/or faster hit recovery. As a budget option you can also use Natalya's Boots for 40% faster run walk and up to 25% lightning resistance and 25% cold resistance.

Feet Vs. Fire Builds

Hotspur - These 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 also 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 builds that deal cold damage.

Rings (Absorb)

You should switch one Raven Frost for a Dwarf Star which gives 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, 1 Poison Damage Small Charm to cancel life regeneration, enough faster hit recovery charms to hit the 56% faster hit recovery breakpoint or 86% faster hit recovery breakpoint if you are using Bloodfist (two Dream runewords can give 40%-60% faster hit recovery and Verdungo's Hearty Cord belt gives 10% faster hit recovery), and the rest of your inventory should be filled with maximum damage/attack rating/life charms. You should also switch some of your charms for resistance charms with life when fighting elemental builds that lower your resistances in PvP.

Mercenary Type

Act 2 Might Mercenary

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 on this helmet but you can also use a 30% fire resistance jewel with other modifiers.

Budget Mercenary Weapon

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

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 Fortitude for your body armor for 300% enhanced damage instead of Enigma which gives 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 (which are considered bad manners in PvP because of how strong they are) and Impale Amazons because both of these builds can bypass your block. This build is built for high damage using increases to physical damage and a level 30 Holy Shock which is one of this builds greatest strengths in PvP. Your damage will also 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 Gloves once you have 30 strength and are level 3 for added defense and attack rating per level from its set bonus. Civerb's Cudgel is a great starter weapon that increases in damage as you level and only requires level 9. You can add in Angelic Amulet and Ring once you are level 12 for high life and attack rating and you can use a Manald Heal ring for up to 7% mana stolen per hit as early as level 15. Aldur's weapon socketed with three Shaels can also be switched to at level 42 for a better low level weapon. Smoke (Nef Lum) is a body armor that only requires level 37 and is an excellent inexpensive starter runeword that can be used early on for 20% faster hit recovery and an easy all resistances +50%.

That's all for the Hybrid Zealadin Guide. For another Zeal Paladin build you can check out the Tesladin guide here Tesladin Guide.