Core requirements
The advanced setup is A, and the budget setup is B.
- Targets
- Prioritize demon/undead packs
- Conviction
- Level 25 including gear
- Cast rate
- A125% · B110% ≥ 75%
- Block
- 75% after Holy Shield
Attributes
Total attributes with equipment · hard points shown separately
| Strength | A91 · B95Meet requirements, including bonuses |
|---|---|
| Dexterity | 75% blockAfter casting Holy Shield |
| Vitality | All remaining pointsAfter equipment and block requirements |
| Energy | 0 hard pointsInsight, potions and Redemption |
Attribute calculations and equipment changes
Strength
Meet only the specified bases' Strength requirements. Check attributes from Enigma, shield, Hellfire Torch and Annihilus; equip in an order that does not rely on an item's own bonus to meet its requirement.
Dexterity
With primary gear and Holy Shield active, raise the character-screen block chance to 75%. Recheck after leveling or changing shields. Running reduces block effectiveness; walk or stand still during close combat.
Vitality
A and B puts all remaining points into life. B has fewer gear bonuses and needs more hard Strength/Dexterity points; respeccing after switching to A can recover Vitality.
Energy
Spell builds use potions and Insight. Melee builds also need no hard Energy investment because mana costs are low. Keep potions for mana-burn enemies.
Skills
Level 90 · 101 hard points
Main skills and synergies
A / B · hard-point difference
Prerequisite · support 1 point each
Includes 12 quest points; equipment skill bonuses are excluded. Unlisted skills have 0 points.
Investment order
Early game 
Holy Fire·
Zeal for leveling, then after level 30 respec to 
Fist of the Heavens. Fist of the Heavens·
Holy Bolt and 
Conviction·
Holy Shield·
Redemption first.
- Fist of the Heavens20
- Holy Bolt20
- B Conviction18
Holy Shock20- Holy Shield6. A When gear is complete, Conviction8·Holy Shield16 exchanges 10 points.
Equipment skill bonuses and allocation notes
A adds +17 All Skills: Conviction 8+17=25; B adds +7: Conviction 18+7=25. A: when this gear is complete, respec and move 10 points from Conviction to Holy Shield. This level 25 uses permanent gear bonuses, excluding Call to Arms Battle Command's temporary +1.
Only All Paladin Skills and Offensive Auras raise Conviction. Combat Skills charms and individual Fist of the Heavens bonuses do not enter this calculation.
With different gear modifiers, check Conviction's final level 25 first, then exchange exact hard points between it and Holy Shield.
A · Conviction 8 / Holy Shield 16
Open this allocation in the simulator ↗
B · Conviction 18 / Holy Shield 6
Open this allocation in the simulator ↗
Equipment
A / B: compare modifiers and replacement requirements.
| Slot | Advanced A | Budget B | Conditions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weapon | A Runeword Heart of the Oak | B Runeword Spirit | B provides damage and enemy resistance reduction; make up resistances with the amulet and charms |
Weapon choice and replacement detailsA · Setup requirementsFlail with 4 sockets +3 to All Skills · 40% Faster Cast Rate · 30–40 all resistances B · Setup requirementsCrystal Sword with 4 sockets +2 to All Skills · at least 25% Faster Cast Rate | |||
| Shield | ARuneword Spirit | BRuneword Spirit | 86 Strength · runeword and base resistances stack · fire gets only base resistance |
Shield choice and replacement detailsA · Setup requirements4-socket Sacred Targe 35% FCR · at least 35 base All Resistances B · Setup requirements4-socket Sacred Targe At least 25% FCR · at least 35 base All Resistances | |||
| Helm | A Harlequin Crest | B Runeword Lore | B loses skills and survivability · make runewords in empty ordinary/superior bases |
Helm choice and replacement detailsA · Setup requirementsClass skills and survival modifiers · socket a rune for missing resistance B · Setup requirementsCap with 2 sockets +1 to All Skills · lightning resistance | |||
| Armor | A Runeword Enigma | B Skin of the Vipermagi | B travels on foot · replace the lost 30% Faster Cast Rate before switching to Enigma |
Armor choice and replacement detailsA · Setup requirementsMage Plate with 3 sockets Teleport · +2 to All Skills · Strength per level B · Setup requirements30% Faster Cast Rate · 20–35 all resistances | |||
| Gloves | A Magefist | BMagefist | Maintain the shared cast rate |
Glove choice and replacement detailsA · Setup requirements20% Faster Cast Rate · casting support B · Setup requirements20% Faster Cast Rate | |||
| Belt | A Arachnid Mesh | B Nightsmoke | B obtains 20% Faster Cast Rate from armor |
Belt choice and replacement detailsA · Setup requirements20% Faster Cast Rate · +1 to All Skills B · Setup requirements10 all resistances · mana | |||
| Boots | A Sandstorm Trek | B Aldur's Advance | B strengthens fire resistance · A needs fire resistance charms |
Boot choice and replacement detailsA · Setup requirements20% Faster Hit Recovery · 40–70 poison resistance B · Setup requirements40–50 fire resistance · 40% Faster Run/Walk | |||
| Amulet | A Mara's Kaleidoscope | BRare Paladin amulet | B needs +1 All Paladin Skills, not merely +1 Combat Skills |
Amulet choice and replacement detailsA · Setup requirements+2 to All Skills · 20–30 all resistances | |||
| Ring 1 | ARare caster ring | BRare caster ring | A 40+35+20+20+10=125% · B Minimum 110% |
| Ring 2 | A The Stone of Jordan | BRare resistance ring | If total Faster Cast Rate is short, B ring 2 should also be replaced with 10% Faster Cast Rate |
Ring 2: choice and replacement detailsA · Setup requirements+1 to All Skills · mana | |||
Mercenary and weapon swap
| Slot | Advanced A | Budget B | Conditions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mercenary | A Act 2 Prayer  Runeword InsightEthereal elite polearmRuneword Fortitude Andariel's Visage(Ral) | B Act 2 Prayer Runeword InsightRuneword Treachery Tal Rasha's Horadric Crest | Maintain aura range and mercenary survival |
Mercenary detailsDeveloping an Insight mercenaryUpgrade the Insight mercenary to an ethereal elite polearm to improve first-kill damage. Use Ral in Andariel's Visage to offset its -30 fire resistance; Tal Rasha's Horadric Crest can be equipped from level 66. A: when switching to another weapon, prioritize retaining its aura or enemy resistance reduction. | |||
| Weapon swap | A Runeword Call to ArmsCrystal SwordRuneword SpiritSacred Targe | B Staff with Teleport charges | A Shield requires 86 Strength · B Lower block/resistances while holding the staff |
Swap detailsCombat preparationCast Battle Command and Battle Orders, return to primary gear and activate Holy Shield. Save Teleport charges for repositioning. | |||
Upgrade order
- Obtain two Spirits, Insight and 75% FCR
- +7 All Paladin Skills and 18 hard Conviction points for final level 25
- Prepare 35% Spirit, Heart of the Oak, Arachnid Mesh and an FCR ring
- Enigma, Hellfire Torch and Annihilus: A respec after completing +17 All Skills
- Add Call to Arms, Combat Skills charms and resistances
Playstyle
- Preparing to farm
Activate warcries, Holy Shield and Conviction. Check final Conviction level 25 and keep Insight on the mercenary.
- Ordinary packs
Cast Fist of the Heavens on a central enemy in a dense demon/undead pack. Stand at an angle rather than directly in front so spreading bolts pass through multiple enemies.
- Bosses
Against demon bosses, cast Holy Bolt directly between Fist of the Heavens casts. If curses or damage endanger the mercenary, heal with bolts while keeping your distance.
- Animals and immunities
Spreading bolts do not damage animal-type enemies. Kill them individually with Conviction, Fist of the Heavens' single-target lightning and the mercenary; skip slow lightning-immunes. A lightning Sunder Charm alone does not remove the bolts' target restriction.
- B Farming areas
Prioritize demon/undead sections of the Hell Chaos Sanctuary and Pit. Exclude Cows and animal-heavy areas from farming targets; choose dense packs over scattered enemies.
- Transition requirements
Switch after level 30 in progression areas dominated by demons/undead. To cover every area comfortably with one build, improve the mercenary weapon and single-target lightning damage first.
Mechanics and notes
Two damage types, different targets
Fist of the Heavens' initial strike deals lightning damage; spreading Holy Bolts deal magic damage to demons/undead. Holy Shock strengthens the first lightning strike; hard Holy Bolt points strengthen the spreading bolts.
Cast rate and fixed delay
Fist of the Heavens retains a 0.4-second casting delay. 125% FCR speeds the animation, direct Holy Bolt and Teleport, but does not remove that fixed delay.
Why stop at Conviction 25
Conviction's elemental resistance reduction caps at level 25, -150%. For your A/B gear's skill bonuses, exchange hard points with Holy Shield to avoid waste. Conviction does not lower resistance to the bolts' magic damage.
Strengths, limitations and farming style
Strengths
Strong in the Chaos Sanctuary's dense demon/undead packs.
B also retains core area damage and shield-based survival.
Limitations
Slow in animal-heavy areas and against isolated enemies.
A/B Recalculate hard Conviction points after changing +skills.
Additional variants
Smite hybrid
Recover Holy Shock 20 and invest in Fanaticism 1, Blessed Aim 1, Concentration 1, plus 17 more Smite points (18 total), preserving 101 points. This separate hybrid gives up the Fist of the Heavens lightning synergy and adds Grief, Life Tap and melee resistance gear. Use Fanaticism for Smite and Conviction for lightning; the two auras are not active together.
Farming with Redemption active
If bolts alone suffice against demon/undead packs, keep Redemption active for resources and switch to Conviction for single animal-type targets. This does not activate both auras simultaneously.