Last Epoch: Best Paladin Build (2024)

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 is a Fire Damage build that combines Smite and Warpath with a plethora of on-hit and indirect casting effects, strong personal buffs, and unlimited healing to create an unkillable whirlwind of steel. It's easy to use and not too complicated to set up, making it one of the best Sentinel builds in Last Epoch for all stages of the game.

Smite Warpath Paladin Build - Core Skills

This build uses two damaging skills: Smite for Single-Target, and Warpath for AoE. Technically, you can exclusively use the latter for all your clearing needs, but Smite deals better DPS and provides superior healing when fighting bosses. It can comfortably clear level 58 Echoes in the Monolith with a level 49 character with unoptimized gear, though expect things to get harder once you reach Last Epoch's Empowered Monoliths. There are a lot of working parts to this, especially on Warpath's side, so we're going to break these down one at a time.

Warpath

Spinning isn't the only thing you'll be doing when using Warpath. There are plenty of passives in Last Epoch that let you supplement your whirlwind damage with additional effects. Following this build results in Warpath doing the following:

• Throw axes
• Launch Divine Bolts
• Cast Smite
• Heal (via life leech and Smite)
• Inflict Ailments like Burning and Blind
• Makes burning targets explode

Smite

Like Warpath, Smite is loaded with effects that trigger when it's cast. The passives you take here will apply to Smite casts triggered by Warpath unless otherwise specified. Some will proc, and others won't, so keep that in mind. With this setup, expect Smite to:

• 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

Healing Hands

This skill is what gives Smite the brunt of its damage. It will trigger every time Smite is cast directly, dealing significant damage in melee range while also restoring large portions of your health.

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.

Other Abilities

For the third and fourth ability slots, you can use whatever skills you like. Lunge is great as a general mobility and traversal skill, and Sigils of Hope can bolster your DPS even further at the expense of mana. Replace the latter with either Rebuke for more survivability or Judgement for more burst damage.

Core Passive Nodes

These passives provide general increases in DPS and survivability. You can shift point allocations around based on your own needs and still get an effective Last Epoch Paladin build. What's worth mentioning here are the Dedication and Defiance passives — put more points as necessary here to increase your Attunement for more maximum mana and improve Smite's damage. As you gain more skill points, get Light of Rahyeh in the Paladin tree for even more damage and movement speed.

Gear and Stat Priorities

The best weapon type in Last Epoch for this build is 2H Swords; use these to gain extra base critical hit chance from Warpath's Cyclone of War passive. The unique flamberge Volcanus is the best weapon you can use for this build as it grants Fire Damage, Fire Damage Leech, and a chance to cast Magma Shards on melee hit. If you don't have this, use any 2H sword that's appropriate for your level and equipped with the priority stats listed above.

Vortex Pennant is a strong Relic for Warpath builds. It gives you another source of Throwing Axes apart from the Axe Thrower passive, and it gives you additional stats to make Warpath even stronger (including one extra specialization point). Use this until you get a Relic with better affixes that match the build's needs.

Last Epoch

Platform(s)

PC

Released

February 21, 2024

Developer(s)

Eleventh Hour Games

Genre(s)

Action RPG