Leveling up as a Paladin can be a very fun and engaging experience. This class can handle challenging quests and take on elite or high-health enemies solo. You can also queue for dungeons while leveling up without needing to worry about switching gear, talents, or specializations. The Paladin has self-healing abilities and cooldowns, reducing downtime during quests so you can keep progressing. Additionally, it performs well in leveling groups, allowing you to be helpful to other players.

Best Specialization

Although many players instinctively choose the Retribution specialization when starting a Paladin due to its DPS, the real and significant advantage for leveling lies in the Protection branch. This tank specialization stands out for dealing substantial area damage, offering exceptional survivability, and ensuring near-instant queue times when looking for dungeon groups. Additionally, it provides unique defensive tools and efficient self-healing methods, making it an ideal choice for advancing quickly through the game.

Best Talents

As you level up, you'll unlock talent points that can be allocated both in the Paladin class tree and the specific Protection specialization tree.

Hero Talents order

1.   Wrathful Descent
2.   Unrelenting Charger
3.   Undisputed Ruling
4.   Light's Deliverance
5.   Zealous Vindication
6.   Shake the Heavens
7.   Higher Calling
8.   Hammerfall
9.   Sacrosanct Crusade
10.  Sanctification

Stat Priority

- Haste: Faster cooldowns and smoother rotation

- Versatility: Extra damage dealt and reduced damage

- Mastery: Boosts block chance and mitigation

- Crit: Bonus burst damage, but less reliable

Rotation

The Protection Paladin uses a resource system based on combo points, prioritizing various actions to optimize both damage output and defensive effectiveness during combat. Below, you'll find detailed priority orders recommended for this specialization. Within these priorities, both Consecration and Shield of the Righteous are considered fundamental abilities and high-priority actions, as it's essential to use them strategically to avoid surpassing the maximum limit and wasting Holy Power points, while also maximizing defensive resilience and survival during fights.

Single Target Rotation

1. Consecration 

2. Shield of the Righteous 

3. Judgment

4. Hammer of Wrath 

5. Avenger's Shield 

6. Blessed Hammer 

AoE focused rotation

1. Consecration 

2. Shield of the Righteous 

3. Avenger's Shield 

4. Judgment 

5. Hammer of Wrath 

6. Blessed Hammer 

Bosses rotation

1. Consecration

2. Shield of the Righteous 

3. Judgment

4. Hammer of Wrath 

5. Avenger's Shield

6. Blessed Hammer

The 3 Best Strategies for Leveling as a Paladin

Main Campaign and Side Quests

Start by progressing through the main storyline from levels 10 to 70, then continue with the War Within campaign. Completing War Within unlocks Adventure Mode, greatly benefiting the leveling of alternate characters. This path is mandatory for your first character and provides substantial experience. However, you'll need to supplement it by running dungeons, Delves, and additional side quests to efficiently and smoothly reach level 80.

Dungeons through Group Finder (LFG)

The Protection specialization is ideal for this method since, as a tank, you'll enjoy instant queues and swift, seamless dungeon runs. Currently, this strategy grants excellent XP per hour and consistently rewards you with valuable gear upgrades that will quickly strengthen your character.

Delves

Formerly a highly popular leveling choice, Delves have recently undergone adjustments that significantly reduced their XP efficiency. However, they remain a viable alternative if you prefer solo gameplay, want variety in your leveling experience, or simply wish to temporarily step away from group activities.

Tips

- When abilities like Avenging Wrath or Eye of Tyr are ready, pull larger groups of enemies to maximize their effectiveness.

- Quickly navigate quest zones by utilizing Divine Steed.

- Team up with a friend, preferably a DPS class, to speed up defeating enemies and minimize downtime.

- Take advantage of Shining Light at the end of combat to efficiently heal yourself.

- Activate Crusader Aura to increase your mounted travel speed.

- Turn Warmode on for an extra 10% XP bonus and PvP talents, particularly advantageous if your faction has dominance in the region.