Paladin Items

Class-specific items are much like other items. They have a variety of stats and types, can be found magical, Rare, Unique, and sometimes in Sets as well. The real difference is that these items can only be used by one character class, and they can have random bonuses to individual skills, much like the ones you see on wands/staves/scepters in Diablo II. This is in contrast with magic items possessing class-specific Skill Level and Paladin Skill Tree prefixes, which may be used by classes other than the Paladin without benefiting from the skill modifiers, and Scepters, which can possess inherent bonuses of +1-3 skill points to up to three Paladin skills from any of his skill trees.

Paladins get special shields for their class-specific items in the Expansion. These shields can have inherent bonuses to individual Paladin skills, just like scepters, and can also have +to skill trees or all Pal skills. In addition, paladin shields often have +to all resistances as an inherent property. This bonus can range from 5-45% resist all, and you can get resistance affixes and even socket diamonds on top of that.

• List of Unique Paladin Shields.

Blocking Basics

Main article: Blocking

Blocking % in Classic: Characters block at the % listed on the shield (when equipped) + any other bonuses. Total blocking is capped at 75%. A character can get more than this with a good shield + Twitchthroe, or a Paladin can use his Holy Shield skill, but no matter how high the display is, 75% is all that can be blocked. This is while standing still, running, walking, fighting, casting spells, etc.

Blocking % in the Expansion: The way blocking works is changed in the expansion. The new formula for blocking is:

Total Blocking % = [Blocking x (Dexterity – 15)] / (Character Level x 2)

This formula basically means that if you have less than half of your stat points into Dexterity, you will have a lower block rating than your shield displays, but if more than half of your stat points are in Dex, then you will have a higher blocking %. Blocking is capped at 5% minimum and 75% maximum and displays if you hover on your Defense in the Character window. Sorcs and Necros who do not devote considerable resources to raising their dexterity will find their blocking at a very low level above Clvl 50, so should pick shields based on their magical bonuses, not for the blocking percent.

• Blocking is reduced to 33% of this value when running, but uses regular values when walking, standing still, or melee attacking.

Notes

• All Paladin-only shields can have +1-3 points in up to 3 individual skills from all three of his skill trees.
• The hue and color of base items in Diablo II can vary greatly, depending on the item's modifiers.
• Item Level: Chests and monsters must be at least this level to drop the item. Ilvl is used in gambling, sales and other calculations as well.
• Clvl Req: Your character must be this level or higher to equip the item.
• Listed Blocking: All shields vary in blocking percent by character. The Paladin's is always 5% higher than an Amazon/Assassin/Barbarian, and 10% higher than a Druid/Sorceress/Necromancer.
• Weight: All shields are light, medium, or heavy. Light shields have no negative effects, medium have a -5% speed and -5% stamina regen rate, and heavy have -10% speed and -10% stamina regen.
• Speed: A penalty governed by weight; 0 is no penalty, 5 is slightly slower running and stamina regen (but rounds to 0 anyway) and 10 is a bigger running speed and stamina regen penalty. % Faster Block Rate can lower this number to below zero.
• Smite Damage: Only Paladins have the Smite skill, so only they see this damage. It's only of importance to other characters when considering a trade.

Normal

Each Paladin shield will have one of the following bonuses. The percent chance of getting each one is based on the monster dropping the shield being of a high enough level to generate any of the mods.

Item

Inherent Bonuses

Targe Rondache Heraldic Shield Aerin Shield Crown Shield

19.0% - Shimmering (+5-10% Resist All) - Ilvl 1, Clvl 3. 16.7% - Rainbow (+8-15% Resist All) - Ilvl 18, Clvl 13. 14.3% - Scintillating, (+16-30% Resist All) - Ilvl 28, Clvl 21. 12.0% - Prismatic, (+25-35% Resist All) - Ilvl 39, Clvl 31. 9.5% - Chromatic, (+35-45% Resist All) - Ilvl 50, Clvl 42. (magic-only) 7.1% - Sharp (+15-30AR, +10-20% Dmg) - Ilvl 10, Clvl 5. 7.1% - Fine (+31-60 AR, +21-30% Dmg) - Ilvl 18, Clvl 13. 4.8% - Warrior's (+61-80AR, +31-40% Dmg) - Ilvl 30, Clvl 23. 4.8% - Soldier's (+81-100AR, +41-50% Dmg) - Ilvl 42, Clvl 34. 4.8% - Knight's (+101-121AR, +51-65% Dmg) - Ilvl 50, Clvl 42.

Item	Name	Properties	Misc Stats
	Targe	Defense 8-12 Durability: 20 Str Required: 16 Smite Dmg: 2-6 Item Level: 4 Clvl Req: 3	Sockets: 1-4 Block: 40% Speed: 0 Weight: Light Inv Size: 2x2
	Rondache	Defense 10-18 Durability: 30 Str Required: 26 Smite Dmg: 2-8 Item Level: 8 Clvl Req: 6	Sockets: 1-4 Block: 45% Speed: 0 Weight: Light Inv Size: 2x2
	Heraldic Shield	Defense 16-26 Durability: 40 Str Required: 40 Smite Dmg: 3-9 Item Level: 16 Clvl Req: 12	Sockets: 1-4 Block: 50% Speed: 0 Weight: Light Inv Size: 2x4
	Aerin Shield	Defense 26-36 Durability: 50 Str Required: 50 Smite Dmg: 4-10 Item Level: 20 Clvl Req: 15	Sockets: 1-4 Block: 52% Speed: 0 Weight: Light Inv Size: 2x4
	Crown Shield	Defense 30-40 Durability: 60 Str Required: 65 Smite Dmg: 4-12 Item Level: 24 Clvl Req: 18	Sockets: 1-4 Block: 55% Speed: 0 Weight: Light Inv Size: 2x2

Exceptional

Exceptional shields can be found in Acts 4-5 Normal, and then all through Nightmare and Hell.

Each Paladin shield will have one of the following bonuses. The percent chance of getting each one is based on the monster dropping the shield being of a high enough level to generate any of the mods.

Item

Inherent Bonuses

Akaran Targe Akaran Rondache Protector Shield Gilded Shield Royal Shield

19.0% - Shimmering (+5-10% Resist All) - Ilvl 1, Clvl 3. 16.7% - Rainbow (+8-15% Resist All) - Ilvl 18, Clvl 13. 14.3% - Scintillating, (+16-30% Resist All) - Ilvl 28, Clvl 21. 12.0% - Prismatic, (+25-35% Resist All) - Ilvl 39, Clvl 31. 9.5% - Chromatic, (+35-45% Resist All) - Ilvl 50, Clvl 42. (magic-only) 7.1% - Sharp (+15-30AR, +10-20% Dmg) - Ilvl 10, Clvl 5. 7.1% - Fine (+31-60 AR, +21-30% Dmg) - Ilvl 18, Clvl 13. 4.8% - Warrior's (+61-80AR, +31-40% Dmg) - Ilvl 30, Clvl 23. 4.8% - Soldier's (+81-100AR, +41-50% Dmg) - Ilvl 42, Clvl 34. 4.8% - Knight's (+101-121AR, +51-65% Dmg) - Ilvl 50, Clvl 42.

Item	Name	Properties	Misc Stats
	Akaran Targe	Defense 101-125 Durability: 20 Str Required: 44 Smite Dmg: 12-16 Item Level: 35 Clvl Req: 26	Sockets: 1-4 Block: 40% Speed: 0 Weight: Light Inv Size: 2x2
	Akaran Rondache	Defense: 113-137 Durability: 30 Str Required: 59 Smite Dmg: 15-20 Item Level: 40 Clvl Req: 30	Sockets: 1-4 Block: 45% Speed: 0 Weight: Light Inv Size: 2x2
	Protector Shield	Defense: 129-153 Durability: 40 Str Required: 69 Smite Dmg: 18-24 Item Level: 46 Clvl Req: 34	Sockets: 1-4 Block: 50% Speed: 0 Weight: Light Inv Size: 2x4
	Gilded Shield	Defense:144-168 Durability: 50 Str Required: 89 Smite Dmg: 20-28 Item Level: 51 Clvl Req: 38	Sockets: 1-4 Block: 52% Speed: 0 Weight: Light Inv Size: 2x4
	Royal Shield	Defense 156-181 Durability: 60 Str Required: 114 Smite Dmg: 24-32 Item Level: 55 Clvl Req: 41	Sockets: 1-4 Block: 55% Speed: 0 Weight: Light Inv Size: 2x2

Elite

Elite Paladin shields can be found in Acts 3-5 Nightmare, and then all through Nightmare and Hell.

Each Paladin shield will have one of the following bonuses. The percent chance of getting each one is based on the monster dropping the shield being of a high enough level to generate any of the mods.

Item

Inherent Bonuses

Sacred Targe Sacred Rondache Kurast Shield Zakarum Shield Vortex Shield

19.0% - Shimmering (+5-10% Resist All) - Ilvl 1, Clvl 3. 16.7% - Rainbow (+8-15% Resist All) - Ilvl 18, Clvl 13. 14.3% - Scintillating, (+16-30% Resist All) - Ilvl 28, Clvl 21. 12.0% - Prismatic, (+25-35% Resist All) - Ilvl 39, Clvl 31. 9.5% - Chromatic, (+35-45% Resist All) - Ilvl 50, Clvl 42. (magic-only) 7.1% - Sharp (+15-30AR, +10-20% Dmg) - Ilvl 10, Clvl 5. 7.1% - Fine (+31-60 AR, +21-30% Dmg) - Ilvl 18, Clvl 13. 4.8% - Warrior's (+61-80AR, +31-40% Dmg) - Ilvl 30, Clvl 23. 4.8% - Soldier's (+81-100AR, +41-50% Dmg) - Ilvl 42, Clvl 34. 4.8% - Knight's (+101-121AR, +51-65% Dmg) - Ilvl 50, Clvl 42.

Item	Properties	Name	Misc Stats
	Sacred Targe	Defense: 126-158 Durability: 45 Str Required: 86 Smite Dmg: 22-70* Item Level: 63 Clvl Req: 47	Sockets: 1-4 Block: 60% Speed: 0 Weight: Light Inv Size: 2x2
	Sacred Rondache	Defense: 138-164 Durability: 68 Str Required: 109 Smite Dmg: 35-58* Item Level: 70 Clvl Req: 52	Sockets: 1-4 Block: 58% Speed: 0 Weight: Light Inv Size: 2x2
	Kurast Shield	Defense: 154-172 Durability: 55 Str Required: 124 Smite Dmg: 10-82* Item Level: 74 Clvl Req: 55	Sockets: 1-4 Block: 55% Speed: 0 Weight: Light Inv Size: 2x4
	Zakarum Shield	Defense: 169-193 Durability: 65 Str Req: 142 Smite Dmg: 46-46* Item Level: 73 Clvl Req: 65	Sockets: 1-4 Block: 52% Speed: 0 Weight: Light Inv Size: 2x4
	Vortex Shield	Defense: 182-225 Durability: 90 Str Required: 148 Smite Dmg: 5-87* Item Level: 75 Clvl Req: 67	Sockets: 1-4 Block: 49% Speed: 0 Weight: Light Inv Size: 2x2

• Note the average Smite damage is 46, 46.5, 46, 46, and 46. So pick your Smite shield based on the other properties.

Set Items

Item	Item Name	Attributes	Special Properties
	Griswold's Honor Vortex Shield (Elite Crown Shield)	290-333 Defense 90 Durability 148 Str Required 69% Chance To Block 5-87 Smite Damage Weight: Light Socketed (3) Clvl Req: 68 Item Level: 44	+108 Defense +65% Faster Blocking +45% Resistance To All +20% Increased Chance of Blocking