The Paladin mastery class for the Sentinel in Last Epoch may not seem like much at first, but it can be just as lethal (if not, even more so) than the rest of the subclasses when built properly. The support-oriented abilities it has is deceptively strong, and they have amazing synergy with other abilities too.
This Fire Damage build combines Smite and Warpath with various on-hit and indirect casting effects, powerful personal buffs, and continuous healing to create an unstoppable whirlwind of steel. It's user-friendly and straightforward to set up, making it one of the top Sentinel builds in Last Epoch for all stages of the game.
Smite Warpath Paladin Build - Core Skills
Warpath Paladin in Last Epoch - Smite Warpath Paladin Build - Core Skills
Warpath is one of the damaging skills used in this build. It is great for clearing multiple enemies at once. However, it is recommended to also use Smite for single-target damage, especially when facing bosses. With this build, you can clear level 58 Echoes in the Monolith with a level 49 character even with unoptimized gear. But as you progress to Last Epoch's Empowered Monoliths, the challenges will increase. Let's now take a closer look at how Warpath works.
When using Warpath in Last Epoch, spinning isn't the only action you'll be taking. In addition to spinning, there are many passive abilities available that can enhance your whirlwind damage with extra effects. By following this build, Warpath will not only involve spinning but also include the ability to throw axes.
Launch Divine Bolts
Cast Smite
Heal (via life leech and Smite)
Inflict Ailments like Burning and Blind
Makes burning targets explode
Warpath Specialization Skills | |
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Skill | Effect |
Unchained (5/5) | Reduces Mana Cost |
Iron Reach (1/3) | Increases AOE |
Whirling Steel (2/5) | Increases Warpath damage (bonus doubled if using 2H weapons) |
Cyclone of War (3/5) | Gain bonuses depending on what weapon you have equipped. |
Quicksilver Wind (1/3) | Gain bonus movement speed while spinning. |
Gorebringer (1/3) | Warpath has a chance to inflict Bleed; inflicted stacks last longer than usual. |
Earthscorcher (1/1) | Converts Warpath into a Fire skill. |
Path of Heavens (2/5) | Gain increased Spell damage while spinning. |
Winds of Justice (4/4) | Gain a chance per second to cast Smite while spinning. |
Smite
When casting Smite, various effects are triggered. The passives chosen will affect Smite casts triggered by Warpath, unless stated otherwise. It's important to remember that some effects will activate, while others will not. With this setup, anticipate the following outcomes from Smite:
Heal
Grant increased Global Fire Damage
Increase attack and cast speed
Blind targets
Inflict Electrify
Cast twice when used directly
Cast Healing Hands when used directly
Smite Specialization Skills | |
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Skill | Effect |
Holy Wave (1/5) | Increase Smite's healing radius |
Righteous Fury (5/5) | Grant Global Fire Damage after hitting an enemy with Smite recently |
Righteous Flurry (4/4) | Grant increased attack and cast speed if Smite has hit an enemy recently |
Pillars of Light (3/3) | Smite has a chance to double-cast when cast directly. |
Blinding Flash (1/5) | Smite hits has a chance to Blind enemies. |
Piety (1/5) | Smite has a chance to Electrify on hit. |
Healing Hands
When you use Smite, Healing Hands is the skill that packs the most punch. Each time you cast Smite up close, it not only deals a lot of damage but also heals a big chunk of your health.
Healing Hands Specialization Skills | |
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Skill | Effect |
Hand of Aurelus (5/5) | Casts Smite for 70% of its mana cost whenever you directly cast Healing Hands. |
Searing Light (1/1) | Healing Hands now hits enemies within its area of effect, dealing spell fire damage. |
Cleric's Wrath (2/2) | Healing Hands deals more damage based on your specialized Buff skills. |
Virtue of Patience (2/2) | Decreases cast speed, but increases damage, healing effectiveness, and AoE size. |
Seraph Blade (1/1) | Converts Healing Hands into a melee sweep that hits in an arc. It now scales with Melee Damage instead of Spell Damage, and it will still heal you and allies. |
Purity of Thought (1/1) | Decreases mana cost by 5 |
Blessed Parish (3/3) | Decreases mana cost by 6 and increases AoE size by 45% |
Holy Aura
This is your basic buff that's on all the time. Invest heavily in the upper-right branch to significantly increase Fire damage.
Holy Aura | |
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Skill | Effect |
Rahyeh's Devotion (2/3) | Holy Aura grants you and allies a chance to Ignite enemies. |
Burning Blows (3/5) | Holy Aura grants increased Fire damage. |
Flame Burst (1/1) | Melee hits from you and allies apply stacks of Fiery Inquisition. Upon reaching max stacks, all stacks are consumed to release a Flame Burst, dealing Fire damage to surrounding enemies. |
Improved Flame Burst (4/4) | If you're the one who triggers Flame Burst, it deals more damage. |
Inner Flame (2/2) | Melee hits inflict additional Fiery Inquisition stacks. Flame Burst gains increased AOE size. |
Additional Abilities
For the third and fourth ability slots, feel free to choose any skills that you prefer. Lunge is a fantastic option for improving your overall mobility and movement, while Sigils of Hope can enhance your damage output even more, although it does use up mana. If you'd rather prioritize survivability, consider replacing Sigils of Hope with Rebuke. On the other hand, if you prefer to focus on increasing your burst damage, Judgement is a great alternative.
Core Passive Nodes
Passives for a warpath paladin in Last Epoch - Core Passive Nodes
Sentinel Tree | Paladin Tree |
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Total Points: 23 | Total Points: 40 |
Passives in Last Epoch can boost your damage and help you survive better. You have the flexibility to adjust your points according to your needs and still have a strong Paladin build. Focus on Dedication and Defiance passives, adding more points to increase your Attunement for higher maximum mana and enhance Smite's damage. As you progress and earn more skill points, consider getting Light of Rahyeh in the Paladin tree for additional damage and faster movement speed.
Gear and Stat Priorities
Stats for Warpath Paladin build in Last Epoch - Gear and Stat Priorities
Smite Warpath Paladin Priority Stats | ||
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Main Stats | Offensive | Defensive |
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For this build in Last Epoch, the most effective weapon type to use is 2H Swords. By equipping these, you can increase your base critical hit chance through the Warpath's Cyclone of War passive. The Volcanus flamberge stands out as the top choice for this build, offering bonuses like Fire Damage, Fire Damage Leech, and a chance to unleash Magma Shards with each melee hit. If you don't have Volcanus, opt for any 2H sword that matches your level and has the key stats mentioned above.
Vortex Pennant is a powerful Relic that is ideal for Warpath builds. It provides an extra source of Throwing Axes in addition to the Axe Thrower passive. Moreover, it offers additional stats to further enhance the strength of your Warpath build, including an extra specialization point. It is recommended to utilize this Relic until you acquire one with better affixes that better suit the requirements of your build.
Editor's P/S:
This article provides a comprehensive guide to creating a potent Smite Warpath Paladin build in Last Epoch. The build effectively combines the power of Smite and Warpath, enhancing their damage output with various on-hit and indirect casting effects. The support-oriented abilities of the Paladin mastery class are highlighted, showcasing their deceptive strength and synergy with other skills. The article offers clear explanations of core skills, passives, gear, and stat priorities, making it accessible to both experienced and novice players.
Overall, the article is well-written, informative, and offers valuable insights into building an unstoppable Paladin in Last Epoch. It provides a solid foundation for players looking to optimize their Sentinel character for maximum damage, healing, and survivability. By following the guide's recommendations, players can create a formidable character capable of clearing challenging content and progressing through the game's various stages.