Diablo 4 Season 11 Paladin Build Tier List (Leveling & Endgame)

Finally confirmed! Diablo 4 Season 11 brings one of the most anticipated moments for fans: the arrival of the Paladin class. With a massive update that introduces new mechanics, reworks to itemization, and the addition of this iconic class, players have plenty of reasons to return to Sanctuary. If you're ready to jump in and try out the Paladin from day one, our early game Diablo 4 Paladin Tier List for Season 11 covers what you need to know about builds, leveling paths, and endgame strategies for this new holy warrior.

Diablo 4 Paladin Class Overview

The Paladin's entrance into Diablo 4 marks a significant moment for the franchise. Available now for those who pre-order the next expansion, Lord of Hatred, the Paladin stands alongside new features such as sweeping changes to itemization, enemy AI, and crafting systems. The class channels the spirit of Diablo II's classic builds, drawing on a mix of holy power, defensive auras, and devastating melee attacks.

Players can access Paladin immediately and begin experimenting with its unique skills like Blessed Hammer, Divine Shield, Smite, Holy Flames, and more. The Paladin's resource, Blessing, fuels these abilities, offering a distinct playstyle compared to other classes. Many players recall the iconic hammer throw from Diablo II, and it's present here as well—summoning spinning hammers that spiral outwards, dealing holy damage and excelling both in area-of-effect and single-target situations.

For group play, Paladin shines with aura skills that heal allies or curse enemies, radiating power that can benefit entire parties. Defensive options are robust, with skills granting immunity or barriers for several seconds. The class also provides flexibility to adapt to burning, shadow, or holy builds, based on the player's preferred approach.

Diablo 4 Paladin Tier List - Best Paladin Builds for Leveling & Endgame in Season 11

With the class just released, the meta is still developing, but several builds already have potential as top contenders for both leveling and endgame content. The tier list currently focuses on S and A tier builds, reflecting the Paladin's strength in the current state of Season 11.

1. Hammerdin Paladin (Blessed Hammer) - (S Tier)
The Hammerdin build is a direct nod to the beloved Diablo II archetype. This approach uses the Blessed Hammer skill to summon spinning hammers that deal holy damage as they spiral outwards. These hammers persist for several seconds, which allows them to hit the same target multiple times, making this build especially effective for boss encounters or elite enemies. The combination of area damage and high single-target DPS positions Hammerdin at the top for both leveling and endgame activities.

2. Orodin Paladin (Aura Paladin) - S Tier
The Orodin build leverages the Paladin's holy light and aura abilities. Holy Light offers life healing per second and can be activated for a boost to critical strike chance, healing both the player and nearby allies. The Unholy Aura, on the other hand, curses enemies, making them vulnerable and dealing substantial shadow damage. These skills are particularly effective in group scenarios, as they provide healing and damage buffs to allies while debilitating foes.

3. Holy Flames Paladin - A Tier
Holy Flames is a skill that engulfs the ground around the Paladin in sacred fire, dealing fire damage and applying burning effects to enemies. The corrupted variant, Unholy Flames, switches the element to shadow damage and inflicts fear, introducing crowd control potential. This build is expected to be powerful, especially if the area of effect is large and if there are synergies with other passive skills.

4. Divine Shield Paladin - A Tier
Divine Shield provides a powerful defensive option, granting immunity for a short duration and generating a passive barrier based on maximum life. This build is well-suited for players who want to focus on survivability, offering a buffer against tough bosses or during high-difficulty content.

5. Smite Paladin - A Tier
While details on the Smite-focused build are still surfacing, it is already gaining attention for its potential in both single-target and crowd-control scenarios. This approach is likely to appeal to those who favor direct melee combat and the iconic feel of striking down foes with holy power.

Paladin Leveling Strategies

For leveling, players are gravitating towards the Hammerdin build due to its strong combination of area and single-target damage, which is effective at clearing packs and tackling bosses. The Orodin approach offers utility and group benefits, making it a solid choice for those playing with friends. Holy Flames provides a visually impressive and damaging option, though it may require some gear or passive synergies to reach its full potential during the early stages.

As you progress, focus on acquiring gear that boosts your main damage type (holy, fire, or shadow) and enhances survivability. Utilize aura skills to support your party or to boost your own critical chance and healing. Experimenting with the new itemization and crafting systems introduced in Season 11 can further refine your build as you approach the endgame.

Paladin Endgame Performance

In endgame content, Hammerdin continues to shine thanks to its high DPS and flexibility. Orodin builds offer valuable support and strong offensive capabilities, especially in group settings where healing and vulnerability debuffs are highly prized. Defensive builds like Divine Shield ensure survivability in the toughest encounters, while Smite and Holy Flames provide alternative paths for players who want to customize their playstyle.

The evolving meta and incoming balance changes mean that build diversity is likely to increase as more players test and optimize the Paladin. With the current state of the class, both solo and group players have a range of powerful options to choose from.