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 not considered good manners for melee vs melee people typically won't mind in public games. Smite Paladins are S Class for melee vs melee duels but are A class overall because it's sometimes difficult to hit builds that can Teleport away from you and builds that can move in a way that makes it difficult to click on them. Walking in PvP is helpful when fighting melee builds because of the enhanced defense from Holy Shield and Defiance. Walking is recommended because running makes your character drop to zero defense. In PvM Smite Paladins are strong, especially against Uber Bosses if you have the Life Tap curse to keep yourself alive. Smite has a learning curve in PvP and it's more difficult to play than many of the other melee builds. Smite is a great single target damage build and is excellent at survival.

Smite Paladin Skills

Smite Paladins can Teleport near casters with the Enigma runeword and are one of the strongest 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 (optional for 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 its added damage affects Smite but weapon enhanced damage does not and because it has a very fast attack speed.

Shield (Default)

Phoenix Sacred Targe (Vex Vex Lo Jah) - Gives up to 400% enhanced damage which works with Smite but the damage increase isn't shown in the tooltip. It also has 10% to maximum fire resistance, 5% to maximum lightning resistance, level 10-15 Redemption aura, 50 life, and fire absorb. Sacred Targe is the best base for Smite Phoenix and the base can come with up to 45% to all resistances.

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 Ubers 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. Exile is very bad manners to use in PvP because of the Life Tap curse which heals you when you hit your opponents.

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 further increases the level of your Battle Orders.

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 (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 Cold Sorceresses, Conviction Paladins, and Infinity builds because they significantly lower your resistances. Kira's Guardian 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 armor is necessary to Teleport stomp Enigma builds that have Teleport and is great for mobility.

Gloves

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

Gloves (Ubers)

Dracul's Grasp - Gives a second source of Life Tap for Ubers to make sure its up at the beginning of the fight. Dracul's Grasp also has

up to 15 strength, 10% life leech, and 25% chance of open wound. Dracul's is bad manners in PvP because of the Life Tap.

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, and gives a 5% chance to cast level 7 Fist of the Heavens when struck.

Feet

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 (important), up to 25% cold resistance, and up to 25% lightning resistance.

Feet Vs. Fire Builds

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

Amulet

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

Rings

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

Wisp Projector - Gives level 2 Oak Sage, up to 20% lightning absorb, and up to 20% magic find.

Rings (Absorb)

Two Raven Frosts can be used against cold damage builds for 20% cold absorb each, one Dwarf Star can be used for fire builds for 15% fire absorb with Infernostride boots for 10% to maximum fire resistance, and one Wisp Projector can 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 maximum damage attack rating life charms.

Mercenary Type

Act 2 Might Mercenary

Mercenary Weapon

Ethereal Reaper's Toll - Gives up to 15% life leech and the Decrepify curse which slows enemies attack speed and movement speed.

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.

Smite Paladin Leveling Items

You can use Hsarus' Belt and Gloves once you are level 3 for defense and attack rating from the Hsarus' set bonus. You'll want a Paladin Shield early on if you plan on leveling with Smite. If you start with Sacrifice or Zeal, however, you can use a Civerb's Cudgel at level 9 for maximum damage that scales with you as you level. Angelic's Amulet and Ring should also be used for high attack rating if you start off with Sacrifice or Zeal but attack rating doesn't help Smite because Smite always hits. You also can't leech with Smite so you won't need a Manald Heal Ring for mana leech. Skin of the Viper Magi is a nice upgrade 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 Smite Guide. You can also check out the Magic Find Hammerdin here Magic Find Hammerdin Guide.