Diablo 4: Best Zeal Paladin build guide

Diablo 4’s newest class, the Paladin has quite a few ways to play, but arguably one of the best is the Zeal Paladin (Zealadin). You can level with this, and transition easily into an endgame build, since it truly only requires one specific Unique. Having a couple of Mythics makes it easier, but you don’t need them to get started.

On top of it being easy to set up, it’s also easy to play! Without too much effort, you can climb into the Torment difficulties, whether alone or in a group, and use Zeal to obliterate enemies before they ever get to you. Here’s what you need to know about a Zeal Paladin in Diablo 4 in Season 11.

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How does Zealot Paladin work in Diablo 4?

Zeal Paladin in Diablo 4 uses the power of Zeal to rapidly strike melee range/near melee range enemies with a ton of damage, and is combined with the Red Sermon Unique weapon. Red Sermon gives you access to the Death and Glory talent for free, so you can use a second Zealot talent, in this case, Cull the Wicked.

The Zeal Paladin fears nothing (Image via Blizzard Entertainment)

Death and Glory removes the Faith cost and uses your health instead. With just a few talents and pieces of gear, you can freely spam Zeal without any stress or effort. We run that, combined with a few Auras (Fantacism, Defiance), Fortress to become unkillable, and Consecration for healing, damage, and the all-important Weakness debuff. To get around faster, we use Falling Star.

Ideal Rotation

• Spam Zeal in battle.
• Use Both of your Auras on cooldown.
• When dealing with powerful bosses and elites, pop Fortress and Consecration.

This also works thanks to Zealot Oath and the Path of the Penitent Key Passive, which reward you for spamming your Zealot skills (Zeal, Fanaticism Aura). As for your hotbar, though we said it above, here’s what you want.

Your hotbar should have the following abilities

• Zeal
• Fortress
• Fanaticism Aura
• Defiance Aura
• Consecration
• Falling Star

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Ideal talents and Oath for Zeal Paladin in Diablo 4

You can play this build until you get a Red Sermon, but there are some minor changes. Instead of Falling Star, I ran Rally for resources to continue spamming Zeal, and perhaps Holy Bolt. Instead of Cull the Wicked, I ran Zealot’s Legacy, to have a bit more range and extra hits. As soon as I farmed up a Red Sermon though, it was all according to the talent list below.

When it comes to your Paladin Oath, there’s only one choice, and that’s Zealot Oath. It grants you Fervor for 2 seconds when you use a Zealot skill, and Critically striking with those skills echoes the attack for more damage, for each stack of Fervor you have. You also get fortified while you have maximum Fervor.

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

Varaya is easily the best Mercenary for a Zealot Paladin in Diablo, that’s for sure. Her damage and ability to offer you some health back is going to pay dividends. Paladin is one of the few classes that doesn’t really need Raheir at all. Instead, we’re going to use Aldkin, since he has a great slow/damage reduction ability.

Varaya talents

• Cleave
• Recklessness
• Whirlwind
• Taste of Flesh

Aldkin pick

• Field of Languish connected to any skill in combat

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Ideal equipment, Legendary Aspects, and Tempers

I did just fine without Red Sermon at lower difficulties, but the build really comes online with this sword (Image via Blizzard Entertainment)

You only need one Unique for a Zealot Paladin in Diablo 4, and that’s Red Sermon. It drops from Lord Zir, but you can get it in other places. Mine dropped from a seasonal cache, so that’s something to keep in mind.

Having a Godslayer Crown in the early going is nice, but you can replace it with a GA helmet if you’d rather. In the late game, you want both Heir of Perdition and Shroud of False Death, but they aren’t necessary for early Torment. Below we’ll go over ideal Tempers, Legendary Aspects, and stats you’d want to see critically hit on your Masterworking.

You have a few great options for Runewords in Diablo 4 as a Zealot Paladin, as well. Personally, I go with Igni+Que Stores offering to trigger Druid’s Earthen Bulwark), and Cir+Mot (Cast 5 abilities then become exhausted to trigger Rogue’s Dark Shroud), just to be as defensive as possible.

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Paragon Boards for Zeal Paladin in Diablo 4

Here are the Paragon Boards we used for this build (Image via Blizzard Entertainment/D4 Builds)

Below are the ideal Paragon Board setups and placements for a Zeal Paladin in Diablo 4. We’ve left room for more points, as this doesn’t use the full 300. That way it’s flexible, and allows you to put some extra points in where you might need them.

Paragon Boards/Glyphs used

• Starting Board (Feverous Glyph)
• North to Castle (Undaunted Glyph): Two Rotations
• East to Fervent (Chip Glyph): One Rotation
• South to Preacher (Outmatch Glyph): Three Rotations
• South to Relentless (Spirit Glyph): Two 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