The buff Paladins need

Let me preface this thread by stating that the buff I think Paladins need are geared towards the content more-so than the class itself.

As it currently stands, Paladins output a raw single target dummy dpm that is by far superior to our fellow warriors and other melee single target attackers. As a class that’s designed around our single target, single hit skill, blast, the raw dummy DPM numbers support us in being the number 1 melee single target attacker. In terms of single target ability, we only fall short against ranged characters. Given the ease of washing a paladin relative to ranged classes, this, in my opinion, is perfectly fine.

The Paladin’s high single target damage is balanced out by their relatively weak cleave potential compared to Heroes/DKs.

As such I argue a core identity of the Paladin is that it is the melee class which outputs the most single target damage out of all melee attackers. And this forms the basis of what I am going to focus on below.

The problem lies in that Paladins are unable to output anywhere near their projected DPM in relevant content in this game, and are hence unable to fulfill their role as the most solid melee single target attacker in the game. I define relevance here as content that is highly in demand by the majority of the populace, and is also the most lucrative content in the game. As it stands in the current climate this extends to: Pink Bean, Horntail, CwkPQ.

Horntail and CWKPQ aside, I want to make the focus of this thread the Paladin’s performance in Pink Bean. The reason for this is due to the lucrative nature of pink bean (MW30, facestompers, timeless weapons), it’ll arguably one of the most, if not the most, relevant content in the near future. As such I want to set straight the Paladin’s position in the bean.

For those who are unaware, the pink bean boss fight can be separated into two major phases: 1) statues phase (within which there are 5 different sub-phases), and 2) the actual pink bean fight.

The paladin’s performance during the statues phase is limited by particular periods of downtime as a result of leaving ranged dps to focus bird statues down. A Paladin has to get up close and personal to deal damage, and could hence thereby trigger bird aggro and lead to damage reflections or mass sed’s, as such when ranged is focusing birds, the paladin normally stays far away until the ranged finishes their job. However this particular downside extends to most melee attackers as well and as such this is a problem that melee attackers in general face, rather than just the Paladin.

The Paladin’s performance during the pink bean fight, however, is a different story. DPM analysis places the paladin’s single target damage above all other melee attackers and below ranged dps whilst under either Holy Charge or Fire charge. Unfortunately pink bean is resistant to both holy and fire charge, and the only element Paladins are able to use which isn’t resisted by the bean is Lightning charge. In terms of single target damage we output less than Heroes brandishing while using lightning charge.

As mentioned above, a core identity of the Paladin is to output the highest single target damage out of all melee attackers, however since we’re resorted to using lightning charge this is no longer the case.

The buff I am therefore proposing is to remove holy resistance from pink bean. This would allow paladins to use holy charge on pink bean and not suffer from having to use an inferior charge for no particular reason.

Thinking about it deeply, for what reason does pink bean actually need holy resistance. Archmages suffer no downside from pink bean as it is not resistant to either lightning or poison which is their main single target dps element. Every physical attacker, including paladins, are hit by physical resistance. However Paladins get knocked further by holy resistance and are left to use a subpar charge. Holy resistance also has a further effect by rendering bishops into res mules as they aren’t even able to angel ray.

As such the balance Paladins need to increase their relevance in crucial content both now and in the future is to remove holy resistance from pink bean rather than any changes to the underlying skills at the Paladin’s disposal. This would increase the paladin’s relevance in what is arguably the most relevant content in the near future, and also elevate bishops from being mere res mules.


TL;DR - Remove holy resistance from pink bean.