Diablo 4: Best zDPS Paladin build guide (Support Paladin)

Interestingly enough, some of Diablo 4’s best builds are zDPS (zero DPS) support builds, and that includes the zDPS Paladin. These are classes that feature tons of support and healing options, so they keep their party members alive. It doesn’t really do damage by itself, but really shines when you’re in a party of other players. You utilize your various buffs, auras, and ways to heal, to also increase the output of the other players.

Whether you’re playing with dedicated friends, or just using Party Finder, this is the next build I really want to delve into in-game. The zDPS Paladin build looks to be an incredible amount of fun in Diablo 4, and now that I have the pieces for it, I’m looking to do it more frequently myself.

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How does the zDPS Paladin work in Diablo 4?

The zDPS Paladin uses a pair of Uniques to trigger some incredible effects, on top of simply stacking Paragon Points and powers that synergize with their Auras. Wreath of the Auric Laurel, for example, enhances our Purify, making enemies take more damage.

These two Uniques make this build really work (Image via Blizzard Entertainment)

We also enhance the party’s damage further with Sundered Night, which makes your activated Auras also trigger Consecration, alongside increasing your Aura Potency within the Consecration. You’re going to stack your buffs, and Fortress to make allies unkillable, and round up foes with Condemn. You’re the ultimate buffing and support machine.

Ideal Rotation

• Enter the enemy pack and use Defiance Aura to trigger Consecration.
• Use Condemn to pull enemies together.
• Recast your auras off cooldown to keep Consecrate available on the ground.
• When there are dangerous things on the ground, activate Fortress to stay alive.
• Purify to amplify damage, and to also trigger Judgment (Sentence), which also triggers Law passive from Paragon Boards.
• Mash Blessed Hammer until Fortress or Purify are necessary again.

It’s a fairly reactionary build, the zDPS Paladin in Diablo 4. You need to be aware of what’s going on around you (and on the ground) so you can trigger the right abilities at the right time. Your first move in combat is always going to be the Defiance Aura, though.

You also provide a lot of healing, between your Defense/Offensive buffs. With the Anointing trait, you pass on at least 33% of your healing to others. With lots of Life on Hit/Life per Second, and the Undying Aspect, you pass on a lot of health to your allies.

A final thing to note is about how Fanaticism Aura works. When you spend Faith, it snapshots its Potency. To get the most out of this, you want to avoid using your Faith until Consecration is on the ground. This is why Defiance Aura goes first. You want to get the most out of your Fanaticism Aura when it’s triggered, so get that out of the first and foremost in battle.

You need the following abilities on your hotbar

• Blessed Hammer
• Condemn
• Defiance Aura
• Fanaticism Aura
• Purify
• Fortress

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Ideal talents and Oath for a zDPS Support Paladin in Diablo 4

While you do pick up a few combat abilities as a zDPS Support Paladin in Diablo 4, we aren’t putting lots of skill points there. Instead, those points go to Defiance Aura and Fanaticism Aura, to get the most out of these as possible. We’ll also put five points into our ultimate, Fortress. You can see the spread below.

Honestly, none of the Oaths are really great for this build, unless you’re partnered with a Judgement Paladin, in which case, you’d use Judicator Oath to trigger their Judgements. It also increases their Spear of the Heaven procs. Other than that, go with Disciple, for the movement power of Arbiter Form.

That partnership also requires quite a few other changes, such as Purify (Absolution), and Spear of the Heavens (Pronouncement of Heaven). All together, that’s a completely different build with a different strategy.

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Who is the best Mercenary for a zDPS Support Paladin in Diablo 4?

Unlike other builds, you don’t need a particular primary Mercenary. As this is not a build you will ever solo with, your main Mercenary doesn’t matter. However, you do want Raheir + Bastion (Blessed Hammer) as your backup.

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Ideal equipment, Legendary Aspects, and Tempers

As you build up your equipment for a zDPS Support Paladin in Diablo 4, you’re going to want at least a few Uniques. Sundered Night and Wreath of the Auric Laurel are required, and I also highly recommend Temerity. Towards the late game, you want Harlequin Crest for your helmet, as well.

Important stats to note are 55% CDR, 150% Attack Speed (while buffed), 150% Aura Potency with Sundered Night, and 30% Fanaticism Aura Potency. Having more than 4 ranks of En Garde is also going to be a serious blessing.

When looking for Rune Combos as a Diablo 4 zDPS Support Paladin, the first one I suggest is Igni+Ohm (Stores Offering to trigger Barbarian’s War Cry when using a non-Basic Skill). I also want to have Cir+Vex (Use 5 Skills then become Exhausted to gain +1 to all Skills for 10s).

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Complete Paragon Board for a zDPS Paladin in Diablo 4

The zDPS Paragon Board is one of the more interesting ones in Diablo 4, for any build. You’re stacking your own defenses, and thus, you aren’t as focused on stacking a bunch of powerful level 46 Runes. Simply having the necessary ones at 15 is fine, but more can’t hurt. Below is the setup you’re going to want to run, with the correct number of board rotations.

• Starting Board (Law Glyph)
• North to Preacher (Resplendence Glyph): One Rotation
• West to Sentencing (Turf Glyph): Zero Rotations
• North from Preacher to Endure (Diminish Glyph): Two Rotations
• West from Endure to Shield Bearer (Undaunted Glyph): Zero Rotations

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Check out our other Diablo 4 guides and features

• Diablo 4 Season 11: Hadriel’s Divine Missive walkthrough
• Diablo 4 Season 11: Call of the Paladin walkthrough (Path of the Paladin)
• Diablo 4 devs walk back major Masterworking change ahead of Season 11
• Diablo 4: Lord of Hatred DLC: Release date, known features, and more
• Diablo 4: What to do with Unique Purified Essences?

Edited by Jason Parker