PvP Smite Paladin Guide

PvP Rank: A Class / PvM Rank: A Class

Introduction

The PvP Smite Paladin is debatably the strongest melee build in the game and while it's sometimes considered bad manners for melee vs melee duels people typically won't mind in public games. Smite Paladins are S Class for melee vs melee duels but they're A class overall because it's sometimes difficult to chase builds that Teleport and builds that move in a way that make it difficult to click them. Smite Paladins are also very strong in PvM, especially against Uber Bosses, with the Life Tap curse. Smite Paladins have a learning curve in PvP, and it's significantly more difficult to play than some of the other melee builds. Walking is also sometimes recommended in PvP for melee vs melee fights because running makes your character's defense drop to zero.

Smite Paladin Skills

Smite Paladins can Teleport near opponents with the Enigma runeword and then quickly attack them with Smite which can stun opponents and quickly finish them off. Smite Paladins are also considered one of the best melee builds in the game.

Recommendation: Smite Paladin

Stats: 174 Strength for Crown of Ages, enough Dexterity for gear, all remaining points in Vitality, and 0 Energy.

Skill Points:

20 Smite

20 Fanatacism

20 Holy Shield

20 Defiance (Holy Shield synergy)

1 Sanctuary (for Conviction Aura Paladins and Ubers)

All remaining points in Fist of the Heavens to make opponents go into faster hit recovery while dealing a little damage.

PvP Smite Paladin Gear

Main Weapons

Grief Phase Blade (Eth Tir Lo Mal Ral) - This is the best weapon for Smite because it's fast and its added damage affects Smite but normal enhanced damage on weapons doesn't work. Grief's damage isn't shown on the in game tooltip which is a well known bug but yes it still works.

Shield (Default)

Phoenix Sacred Targe (Vex Vex Lo Jah) - Gives up to 400% enhanced damage, 10% to maximum fire resistance, 5% to maximum lightning resistance, level 10-15 Redemption aura, 50 life, and added fire absorb. Sacred Targe is the best shield base for Smite Phoenix and the base can come with up to 45% to all resistances. Phoenix's enhanced damage doesn't show on the in game damage tooltip when using Smite but much like the Grief runeword, yes it still works.

Shield (Ubers)

Ethereal Exile Vortex Shield (Vex Ohm Ist Dol) - Ethereal Vortex is used for its very high defense because the runeword repairs 1 durability every 4 seconds. This shield is used for Life Tap and gives up to level 16 Defiance Aura, +2 Offensive Auras, 5% to maximum fire resistance, 5% to maximum cold resistance, 15% chance to cast level 5 Life Tap on hit, and 25% magic find.

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 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) which has lower requirements than a Monarch shield for +2 to all skills with it.

Helmet

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, up to all resistances +30%, up to 15% reduced physical damage taken, and two sockets. With 2 Bers socketed in a Crown of Ages you can get up to 31% reduced physical damage taken.

Helmet (Resistances)

Kira's Guardian (Um'd) - Useful against Cold Sorceresses, Infinity builds, Poison Nova Necromancers, and Conviction Paladins because they greatly lower your resistances. It gives up to 70 to all resistances, cannot be frozen, and 20% faster hit recovery.

Body

Enigma Archon Plate (Jah Ith Ber) - Gives the Teleport skill (important), +2 to all skills, high strength per level, magic find per level, 40% faster run walk speed, 5% increased life, 8% reduced physical damage taken, high added defense, 15% damage taken goes to mana, and life on kill. This runeword is important to Teleport stomp other builds and is great for mobility.

Gloves

Trang'Oul's Gloves - Gives 20% faster cast rate, 25% increased poison skill damage, and 30% increased cold resistance.

Gloves Vs. Melee

Blood Gloves - These gloves can give 20% increased attack speed, 10% crushing blow, increased life, and resistances.

Gloves (Ubers)

Dracul's Grasp - Gives a second source of Life Tap for Ubers to make sure it's up at the beginning of the fight. Dracul's Grasp has up to 15 strength, 10% life leech, and 25% chance of open wound. Life Tap shouldn't be used because it's very bad manners in PvP.

Belt

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, 1-50 lightning damage, and a 5% chance to cast level 7 Fist of the Heavens when struck.

Feet (Default)

Gore Riders - Gives 30% faster run walk, 15% deadly strike, 15% crushing blow, and 10% chance of open wound.

Feet Vs. Cold and Lightning Builds

Natalya's Boots - Gives 40% faster run walk, high defense, up to 25% cold resistance, and up to 25% lightning resistance.

Feet Vs. Magic Builds

Horazon's Legacy - Gives 30% faster run walk, strength, dexterity, cannot be frozen, and up to 30% magic resistance.

Feet Vs. Fire Builds

Infernostride - Because the recommended Phoenix runeword shield has 10% to maximum fire resistance, you don't need Hotspur boots for 15% to maximum fire resistance. Infernostride have 20% faster run walk, higher defense, 10% to maximum fire resistance, and 30% fire resistance. Infernostride can be Up'd using a Lem rune, Ko rune, and Perfect Diamond in the Horadric Cube.

Amulet

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

Ring 1

Raven Frost - Gives up to 20 dexterity, 250 attack rating, cannot be frozen, and 20% cold absorb.

Ring 2

Nature's Peace - Gives level 5 Oak Sage for more maximum life, slain monsters rest in peace, prevent monster heal, up to 30% poison resistance, and up to damage taken reduced by 11.

Rings (Absorb)

Two Raven Frosts should be used against cold damage builds which each give 20% cold absorb, one Dwarf Star should be used for fire damage builds for 15% fire absorb with the maximum fire resistance from Phoenix and Infernostride, and one Wisp Projector should be used against lightning damage builds for 20% lightning absorb.

Charms

Hellfire Torch for +3 Paladin Skills, Annihilus for +1 to all skills, and an inventory full of max damage/attack rating/life charms.

Mercenary Type

Act 2 Might Mercenary

Mercenary Weapon

Ethereal Reaper's Toll - Gives up to 15% life leech and casts level 1 Decrepify on striking.

Mercenary Armor

Ethereal 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.

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 eventually upgrade to a 30% fire resistance jewel with 15% increased attack speed.

Budget Mercenary Helmet

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

Smite Paladin Leveling Items

You can use Hsarus' Belt and Gloves once you are level 3 and have 30 strength for defense and attack rating from the Hsarus' set. Bane's Garments set should be switched to at level 8 for +1 to all skills, high damage, attack rating, and great set modifiers. Angelics Amulet and Ring can optionally be used for life and attack rating if you're starting off with Sacrifice and/or Zeal because Smite doesn't use attack rating. You also can't leech with Smite so you won't need a Manald Heal for mana leech with Smite. Smoke (Nef Lum) is a nice starter runeword body armor that can be used for 20% faster hit recovery and an easy all resistances +50%.

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