Last Epoch Paladin Builds Guide: The Fire Judgment Paladin
Last Epoch is a rapidly growing action RPG that combines deep character customization with exciting combat mechanics and a rich skill system. Among the many classes, the Paladin stands out as a versatile and durable melee warrior with strong defensive capabilities and holy power. One of the most popular and powerful Paladin builds is the Fire Judgment Paladin - a build that focuses on unleashing fiery divine wrath combined with solid survivability and crowd control.
This guide will cover everything you need to know to create a successful Fire Judgment Paladin in Last Epoch, including skill choices, passive trees, gear priorities, gameplay tips, and endgame viability.
Overview: What is the Fire Judgment Paladin?
The Fire Judgment Paladin is a build centered around the skill Judgment - a powerful melee and ranged attack that summons fiery swords to damage enemies. By specializing Judgment with fire damage and enhancing its effects through passives and gear, you transform your Paladin into a blazing force on the battlefield.
This build excels in dealing both single-target and area damage, while maintaining the Paladin's hallmark toughness and defensive buffs. You'll be able to stand toe-to-toe with powerful bosses and survive waves of mobs through a combination of fire damage, healing, and damage mitigation.
Why Choose Fire Judgment?
High Fire Damage Output: Judgment can be specialized to deal massive fire damage over a wide area, making it ideal for both clearing groups and boss fights.
Good Survivability: The Paladin's natural defenses combined with the build's utility skills allow for strong sustain.
Versatile Combat Style: You can fight both melee and at range by throwing the Judgment swords, giving tactical flexibility.
Synergy with Fire Damage Passives and Gear: The Last Epoch skill tree and itemization offer great support for fire builds, maximizing damage output.
Endgame Viability: With the right gear and passives, Fire Judgment can handle high-level content and challenging bosses.
Core Skills for the Fire Judgment Paladin Build
1. Judgment
Judgment is the centerpiece skill of this build. It summons flaming swords that fly through enemies, dealing fire damage on impact and burning foes over time.
Key Skill Points:
Invest heavily in the Fire and Damage nodes in the Judgment skill tree.
Unlock passives that increase the number of swords summoned and their burn duration.
Focus on nodes that increase fire damage, ignite chance, and burn effectiveness.
2. Holy Aura
Holy Aura buffs your survivability and damage. It grants increased armor, health regeneration, and elemental resistance - all crucial for staying alive in tough fights.
Key Skill Points:
Maximize defensive bonuses.
Choose passives that increase health regen and resistance.
Consider nodes that provide offensive buffs, such as increased fire damage or attack speed.
3. Shield Throw
Shield Throw is an excellent complementary skill for ranged damage and crowd control. It synergizes well with fire damage if you invest in fire nodes and helps to keep enemies at bay.
Key Skill Points:
Invest in nodes that add fire damage and increase damage over time.
Focus on cooldown reduction and shield block bonuses.
4. Smite
Smite is a melee attack that deals lightning damage and can be used to quickly clear mobs or deal burst damage. It pairs well with Judgment for versatility.
Key Skill Points:
Upgrade nodes that add elemental damage or increase attack speed.
Use Smite as a secondary attack to keep pressure on enemies.
5. Lunge
Lunge is your mobility skill, allowing quick repositioning to dodge attacks or close gaps.
Key Skill Points:
Invest in cooldown reduction and defensive nodes.
Use Lunge to escape dangerous situations or engage targets.
Passive Trees and Specializations
Paladin Passive Tree
Your passive skill tree should focus on the following:
Fire Damage Increases: Boost fire damage, ignite chance, and burn duration.
Defense: Increase armor, block chance, health, and resistances.
Judgment Enhancements: Passives that increase skill effectiveness, reduce mana costs, and improve damage output.
Health and Sustain: Health regeneration and ward (shield) improvements.
Sentinel Class Passive
Since Paladin is a specialization of the Sentinel base class, allocate points to:
Melee damage and attack speed to improve overall damage output.
Block chance and block effectiveness to improve survivability.
Health and ward regeneration for sustain.
Gear Priorities for Fire Judgment Paladin
Weapons
Swords or Maces: Prefer weapons with increased fire damage, increased melee damage, or added elemental damage.
Unique Items: Look for uniques that boost fire skills or provide ignite bonuses.
Shield
A high block chance shield with elemental resistances is key.
Shields that boost mana regeneration or cooldown reduction can be helpful.
Armor
Focus on armor pieces that provide:
Increased fire damage or elemental damage.
Resistances (fire, elemental, physical).
Increased health and ward.
Cooldown reduction.
Accessories
Rings and amulets with fire damage, ignite chance, or increased skill effectiveness.
Consider gear that boosts mana or mana regeneration.
Gameplay Tips and Strategy
Combos
Open fights by casting Holy Aura to buff defenses.
Use Lunge to engage or reposition.
Cast Judgment to deal massive fire damage from range.
Use Shield Throw to interrupt enemy attacks and deal AoE damage.
Follow up with Smite for melee burst damage.
Positioning
Stay mobile using Lunge to avoid heavy hits.
Use ranged Judgment swords to hit multiple enemies.
Block incoming damage with your shield to reduce damage taken.
Survivability
Keep Holy Aura active for constant regeneration and resistances.
Maintain your block uptime by using shield-based passives and gear.
Use health potions or ward regeneration items when necessary.
Endgame Viability
The Fire Judgment Paladin is highly viable for endgame content including:
Monolith of Fate: Consistent clear speed and survivability.
Arena: Sustain through waves of enemies.
Boss Fights: High single-target damage with Judgment combined with Paladin defenses.
Make sure to adapt your gear and passives as you progress, focusing on survivability while maximizing your fire damage output.
Conclusion
The Fire Judgment Paladin build in Last Epoch offers a perfect balance between devastating fire damage and the Paladin's natural toughness. By specializing Judgment with fire enhancements, leveraging strong defensive buffs from Holy Aura, and complementing your offense with Shield Throw and Smite, you can create a powerful and versatile character capable of taking on the toughest challenges Last Epoch has to offer. Follow MMOexp.com, get the cheapest Last Epoch Gold and help you.
With the right skill investments, passive choices, and gear, the Fire Judgment Paladin will blaze through enemies and stand resilient against the harshest encounters. Whether you're a newcomer or a seasoned veteran, this build is a fantastic way to experience the depth and excitement of Last Epoch's Paladin class.
MMOexp Last Epoch Team