Legacy & Inspiration of the Paladin
The Paladin has one of the longest and most complex histories of any class in the Diablo series. Across multiple games, the class has represented faith made physical: belief expressed through action, authority, and discipline rather than words alone.
This page explores how that identity formed, how it fractured, and how those ideas shaped Diablo IV's Paladin.
Origins of the Paladin
The earliest Paladins emerged from the Church of Zakarum, following the teachings of the prophet Akarat. As the Church sought to spread its doctrine westward, it initially sent priests to convert the population. These efforts failed.
To ensure their survival, the Church trained holy warriors to accompany the missionaries. These warriors became known as the Protectors of the Word. In practice, their deeds proved far more persuasive than sermons. Martial prowess, visible conviction, and decisive action carried more weight than spoken doctrine.
From the beginning, Paladins were defined not as preachers, but as enforcers and exemplars of belief. Faith was something to be demonstrated openly and decisively, not debated.
Zealotry and the Zakarum Inquisition
As the Zakarum faith expanded, conviction hardened into absolutism.
During the Time of Troubles, the Church initiated the Zakarum Inquisition. Those who resisted conversion were no longer viewed as misguided, but as irredeemably corrupt. Leading this campaign was a new generation of Paladins known as the Hand of Zakarum, who pursued heresy with unyielding force.
This period established a recurring theme in the Paladin’s identity: the danger of unexamined faith. Paladins were capable of immense good, but also immense cruelty when belief was allowed to override conscience. The idea of false light entered Paladin mythology here, reflecting the ease with which divine authority could be corrupted.
Rebellion and Moral Agency
Not all Paladins accepted the methods of the Inquisition.
A rebellion formed within the ranks, condemning the Church’s actions and rejecting blind obedience. These Paladins argued that corruption did not lie with the unconverted, but with the Church itself. They abandoned their orders and set out independently to confront the true source of corruption: the Prime Evils.
This break established a critical through-line for the class. Paladins were no longer defined solely by institutional authority, but by individual conviction. The Paladin as a player character descends directly from this tradition: a warrior guided by belief, but not bound unquestioningly to any hierarchy.
The Paladin in Diablo II
In Diablo II, the Paladin’s mechanics reinforced this identity.
Skills such as Zeal, Smite, and Charge emphasised committed melee combat and shield-based discipline. Blessed Hammer and Holy Bolt represented faith expressed as conjured force rather than physical strength alone. Auras allowed the Paladin to project influence outward, reinforcing the idea of leadership through belief.
These abilities did not simply define how the class played. They established the Paladin as a figure who shaped combat through conviction, endurance, and authority rather than speed or evasion.
The Crusader Shift in Diablo III
Diablo III reinterpreted the Paladin as the Crusader, shifting emphasis toward physical resilience and martial endurance.
While many elements remained, such as heavy armour and shield-focused combat, the Crusader leaned more heavily into physical presence than spiritual doctrine. Faith remained important, but it was less central to mechanical identity. This shift preserved the Paladin’s weight and defensive focus while downplaying the internal conflict and doctrinal tension that defined earlier portrayals.
Synthesis in Diablo IV
Diablo IV returns the Paladin closer to its original roots while retaining lessons from later iterations.
Holy power is once again explicit rather than implied. Faith is treated as an active force rather than a narrative justification. Systems such as the Oath system formalise personal doctrine, allowing Paladins to commit to distinct interpretations of belief rather than following a single institutional path.
The introduction of Arbiter Form represents the most literal expression yet of the Paladin as a conduit for divine power. Rather than symbolising authority, the Paladin now visibly channels it. This version of the class reflects a synthesis of earlier ideas: conviction, discipline, authority, and the persistent risk of zealotry.
What Endures, What Changes
Across every incarnation, certain ideas persist. Paladins are defined by belief expressed through action. They wield faith as both tool and weapon. They stand between virtue and fanaticism, discipline and dogma.
What changes is how that belief is framed. Sometimes it is institutional. Sometimes it is personal. Sometimes it is unquestioned, and sometimes it is challenged. In every case, the Paladin remains a class shaped not just by strength, but by conviction, and by the consequences of acting upon it.
Related Pages
- Paladin Overview - introduction to the Paladin class
- Paladin Skill Tree - complete list of Paladin skills
- Paladin Oath System - detailed mechanics and interactions
- Arbiter Form - how Arbiter form works and how it changes gameplay
- Paladin Legacy and Inspiration - historical influences and class lineage