When Diablo introduced Sanctuary as a world of angels versus demons, it makes sense to have a class in control of the forces of Light. Players get to receive the Light's blessing in the form of the Paladin in Diablo 2, and their introduction also elaborated on the nature of religious orders in Blizzard's acclaimed franchise.
Despite their absence in Diablo 3 and rumored appearances in Diablo 4, players can feel the impact of the Paladin from both a design and lore aspect. After all, the Paladin specializes in the sword and shield, alongside the usage of auras to turn the tide of battle. Outside their sheer practicality as a class, the Paladin may also have more surprises for players.
10 Protectors Of The World
Most historians attribute the creation of the Paladin order around the time of the crusades to the West. Using the powers of Light, holy warriors defeated their foes without much challenge. However, it appears Paladins have existed before Rakki's First Crusade to Colonize the West. In fact, Paladins may have come from the Protectors of the Word, an organization formed around the Light sometime before Rakki's war.
Moreover, the Barbarians and Monks posed quite a burden against the would-be Paladins. There was also a clash of skills between the Paladins and the Monks in the First Crusade.
9 Different Paladin Sects Exist
Despite the common prevalence of the Light in their lives, Paladins actually got separated into various sects and organizations. For instance, the most prominent of these orders are the Knights of Westmarch that both uphold the Light but remain predominantly assigned to Westmarch.
Meanwhile, newer factions such as the Templars have a stricter approach to the fight against the Burning Hells, albeit with a questionable "recruitment" process. Lastly, modern-day Paladins now either go freelance or end up becoming rogue. As of Diablo 3, the Crusader has become the more prevalent representative of the Paladin in Sanctuary.
8 A Paladin's Duty Requires Sacrifice
Fans of the Paladin know very well that Sacrifice serves as one of the best combat skills in their arsenal. This ability allows the Paladin to strike foes with more powerful attacks at the cost of their own life. Theoretically, Paladins can deal so much damage to the point that it can kill them as well, which means a Sacrifice-based build needs its fair share of potions.
According to the lore, Sacrifice represents the Paladin's requirement to sanctify or purify their own weapons with their own blood. This act allows the Paladin to actively bless the weapon they use, as this sacrifice represents their faith towards the Light.
7 Paladins Always Watch Out For False Lights
As a knight reliant on the Light, the Paladin remains susceptible to being fooled by demons masquerading as angelic beings. In turn, Paladins always maintain extremely orderly lives in order for the Light to remain prevalent. For them, succumbing to temptations will open them to "False Lights" that can stray them away from the path.
The effects of such degradation remain prevalent even decades after Mephisto's corruption of the Zakarum Order. In fact, it's the corruption of the Zakarum order that forced others to form the Crusaders, a splinter group that distanced themselves from the problematic organization.
6 Mephisto's Corruptment Of The Church
When the Prime Evils found themselves exiled in Sanctuary, the Zakarum Church proved instrumental in keeping them locked in their Soulstones. In particular, the Church of Zakarum got a hold of Mephisto's Soulstone after the Lord of Hatred caused a fight in the busy streets of Kehjistan. Unfortunately, the Zakarum's mistake was keeping the Soulstone sealed in the Guardian Tower.
In turn, Mephisto used this opportunity to slowly corrupt the High Council of Zakarum to follow his ways, waiting for a good 200 years to put his plan to action. Mephisto orchestrated his escape by having the Council break his Soulstone into seven pieces. Unfortunately, Mephisto's escape and the Zakarum's subsequent corruption would be revealed to the order.
5 Knights Of Westmarch: More March, Less Knight
Fans of Diablo 2 know that the Paladin character they use served under the Knights of Westmarch. Like most Paladins and holy warriors, the knights closely followed the Zakarum faith and allowed the Light to guide their paths. However, despite their holy mission, they primarily defend Westmarch from evil forces with their potent magic and martial prowess.
Unfortunately, Mephisto's influence in the Church of Zakarum broke the knights' spirits and forced them to separate themselves from the organization. In turn, they absorbed what was left of the Order of Paladins and simply became defenders of Westmarch instead of holy warriors.
4 The Dark Paladin Served Hell
Dark Paladins actually exist in the world of Sanctuary. Albeit not in official Diablo games, the Dark Paladin is referenced in The Awakening module for Advanced Dungeons & Dragons system. The Awakening module elaborated on a Diablo 2-inspired setting for TTRPG fans, especially D&D. It speculated that Dark Paladins may be able to tap into the powers of Darkness to produce the same effects and abilities to aid their monstrous companions.
If Dark Paladins do make an appearance in future Diablo games, their skillset may prove extremely interesting to explore. Would a Dark Paladin be capable of healing magic? How would their presence make an impact on other holy knights at large?
3 The Paladin Prides In Versatility
At first glance, the Paladin may not seem very playable due to its straightforward nature. After all, its aura-based buffs and sword-and-shield gameplay seem pretty "standard" unlike its companion classes. However, the Paladin proves to become an extremely versatile class, especially with the right build. In fact, the popular Hammerdin build enables Paladins to go toe-to-toe with almost any monster and even almost any boss. Meanwhile, the Fist of the Heavens spam build becomes a delightfully-irritating build for PvP.
Moreover, Paladins remain one of the most in-demand classes for team raids, especially thanks to their auras. Aside from being defensive buffs, they can also grant offensive buffs that can turn the tide of battles, especially with bosses.
2 The Paladin Almost Made It To The Nexus
Blizzard-centric Heroes of the Storm almost included the Paladin as a part of its roster of champions. Ultimately, the MOBA opted to instead add iconic characters, NPCs, and more popular classes from Diablo 3. Blizzard also considered other Diablo 2 classes such as the Druid and the Sorceress for the role. Unfortunately, like the Paladin, Blizzard shelved their ideas.
A Paladin champion in Heroes of the Storm could definitely improve upon the lore of the noble knight. Moreover, the Paladin's traditional plate armor outfit could get a modern makeover, courtesy of the design team.
1 The Crusader: The Dark In The Light
The Paladin didn't make it to Diablo 3. However, the Crusader served as its replacement, albeit with a darker tone. Despite its status as an expansion class, Blizzard already had plans to include the Crusader in Diablo 3 as a balance to Malthiel. However, they shelved the Crusader for the expansion in favor of the Monk in the main game.
Despite the thematic similarities, the Crusader is a more offensive version of the Paladin. Whereas the Diablo 2 Paladin relied on buffs from auras, the Crusader from Diablo 3 would use its Wrath resource to dominate the battlefield. The Crusader is Diablo 3's ultimate tank class.