Every Paladin run opens with 
Blessed Hammer. He has only 5 evolutions but 20 passives, nearly all of them auras, and his damage comes from stacking an aura or two on top of one main skill. His skills' own damage numbers look low for that reason: the auras multiply them.
Holy auras, combat skills and the Blessed Hammer.
- Life
- 110
- Starting weapon
- One-handed sword
Where the damage is
His strongest evolutions at max level, for a new hero without gear: 
Passion, Zakarum's Hand, 
Fist of the Heavens.
| Name | Skill tree | Evolves from | Evolves with | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Rusthandle | Combat Skills | 24 | 900 |  Vengeance | — | |
Passion | Combat Skills | 18 | 432 | Zeal | — | |
Zakarum's Hand | Combat Skills | 24 | 291 | Blessed Hammer | — | |
Alma Negra | Combat Skills | 6 | 271 |  Smite | — | |
Fist of the Heavens | Combat Skills | 30 | 220 |  Holy Bolt | — | |
Herald of Zakarum | Combat Skills | 18 | 150 |  Charge | — | |
Bloodrise | Combat Skills | 6 | 132 |  Sacrifice | — | |
Exile | Combat Skills | 30 | 12 |  Holy Shield | — |
Planning a build
- Hammerdin: Blessed Hammer with
Concentration evolves into Zakarum's Hand at 24. Concentration raises his attacks and Blessed Hammer only. - Zealot: Zeal with
Might becomes Passion at 18; 
Fanaticism adds physical damage and faster recharge on top. - Holy Bolt with
Holy Shock becomes Fist of the Heavens at 30. - Elemental auras feed attacks:
Holy Fire, 
Holy Freeze and Holy Shock add several times their own damage to his blows, and 
Conviction lowers monsters' fire, cold and lightning resistance.
Evolution lines
Each line takes the skill to its max level, holds the passive, and reaches the hero level; the next chest evolves it. A level marked with a passive is later than the evolved skill's own, because the passive opens later.
- Blessed Hammer with Concentration → Zakarum's Hand (level 24)
- Holy Bolt with Holy Shock → Fist of the Heavens (level 30)
- Charge with
Vigor → Herald of Zakarum (level 18) - Zeal with Might → Passion (level 18)
- Holy Shield with
Defiance → Exile (level 30)
Staying alive
His resist auras (
Resist Fire, 
Resist Cold, 
Resist Lightning, 
Salvation) raise resistance and its maximum, by the levels you learned only (not +skills from gear). 
Prayer heals, Defiance adds Defense and Vigor adds speed.
Attributes
AUTO STATS sends a hammer build's points to Energy; zeal and smite builds want Strength.
Passives
| Name | Skill tree | At max level | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Might | Offensive Auras | 1 | Aura: +115% physical damage (Zeal, Smite, Charge) | |
Prayer | Defensive Auras | 1 | Aura: heal 25 life a second, up to 25 | |
Resist Fire | Defensive Auras | 1 | Aura: +131% fire resistance, and +4% to its maximum (75%) a level learned | |
Defiance | Defensive Auras | 6 | Aura: more Defense, less damage from physical hits | |
Holy Fire | Offensive Auras | 6 | Aura: burns monsters around you each second, and adds 6× that to your attacks | |
Resist Cold | Defensive Auras | 6 | Aura: +131% cold resistance, and +4% to its maximum (75%) a level learned; chill wears off 100% faster | |
Thorns | Offensive Auras | 6 | Aura: monsters that strike you in melee take back 220% of the blow | |
Blessed Aim | Offensive Auras | 12 | Aura: +29% chance of a critical strike (double damage) with Zeal, Smite, Charge and Sacrifice | |
Cleansing | Defensive Auras | 12 | Aura: poison and chill wear off 150% faster | |
Resist Lightning | Defensive Auras | 12 | Aura: +131% lightning resistance, and +4% to its maximum (75%) a level learned | |
Concentration | Offensive Auras | 18 | Aura: +173% damage to your attacks and Blessed Hammer | |
Holy Freeze | Offensive Auras | 18 | Aura: monsters around you are slowed by half and chilled; 5× its cold on your attacks | |
Vigor | Defensive Auras | 18 | Aura: +43% movement speed, up to +43%; Charge reaches further | |
Holy Shock | Offensive Auras | 24 | Aura: jolts monsters around you each second, and adds 6× that to your attacks | |
Meditation | Defensive Auras | 24 | Aura: +775% mana regeneration, as Faster Cast Rate: skills recharge 32% faster | |
Sanctuary | Offensive Auras | 24 | Aura: the undead close to you are hurt and thrown out, 20 damage twice a second | |
Conviction | Offensive Auras | 30 | Aura: monsters around you resist fire, cold and lightning 125% less (a fifth of it if immune) | |
Fanaticism | Offensive Auras | 30 | Aura: skills recharge 26% faster, +187% physical damage | |
Redemption | Defensive Auras | 30 | Aura: monsters slain near you heal you 3 life, 100% of the time | |
Salvation | Defensive Auras | 30 | Aura: +108% fire, cold and lightning resistance; chill wears off 50% faster |
