Paladin

Quick Facts

• Role: Tank
• Weapons: Sword and Shield
• Armor Type: Fending (Plate Mail, Shields)
• Base Class: Gladiator (Level 1-30)
• Job Stone Unlock: Level 30 Gladiator, quest "Paladin's Pledge"
• Primary Attributes: Strength, Vitality
• Expansion Introduced: A Realm Reborn (Base Game)

Overview

The Paladin is a tank Job in Final Fantasy XIV, representing the archetypal holy knight. Wielding a sword and shield, Paladins are the bastions of any party, specializing in damage mitigation, self-sustaining magic, and protecting allies. Evolving from the Gladiator class, the Paladin's identity is deeply rooted in the lore and traditions of Ul'dah's Sultansworn—an elite knightly order sworn to protect the royal line. In gameplay, they are distinguished by a versatile rotation that alternates between physical sword combos and a magical phase, allowing them to adapt to a wide array of combat situations while upholding their oath to defend others at all costs.

History and Lore

The Sultansworn of Ul'dah

The Paladin's tradition originates with the Sultansworn, an ancient and revered order of knights in the Sultanate of Ul'dah. In a city-state dominated by mercantile interests, rampant monetarism, and political intrigue, the Sultansworn stand as a bastion of unwavering duty and sacrifice. Their primary oath is to protect the Sultana and the royal bloodline, a duty that supersedes personal wealth, ambition, or safety. This ethos makes them a unique and often respected institution within Ul'dah's complex social fabric, contrasting sharply with the self-serving nature of the Syndicate or the monetarist elite.

The order's history is one of quiet vigilance and occasional turmoil. While their public role is ceremonial, the Sultansworn have often been the last line of defense against assassinations, coups, and magical threats targeting the throne. Their training is rigorous, combining masterful sword-and-board techniques passed down through generations with secretive arts of defensive magic. This magic is not derived from the elementals like Conjury, nor is it scholarly like Thaumaturgy; it is a manifestation of pure willpower, conviction, and the knight's oath, often visualized as a brilliant, protective light.

The Path of the Paladin

An individual becomes a Paladin not merely through martial skill, but through a profound internalization of the Sultansworn's ideals. The iconic Job Stone, received upon swearing the Paladin's pledge, is a catalyst that focuses the knight's resolve, allowing them to channel their protective aether into tangible magical effects. While the Sultansworn are based in Ul'dah, the techniques and ethos of the Paladin have spread across Eorzea. Adventurers who follow this path learn that the true strength of a Paladin lies not in the might to defeat foes, but in the resilience to stand before them and shield the vulnerable.

Throughout the Eorzean saga, Paladins are often portrayed as paragons of integrity. They are the shield against despair, embodying the light that holds the line against darkness. This thematic role is reflected in key story moments, such as the defense of the Steps of Faith or standing firm against the apocalyptic threats of the later expansions. The Job's narrative consistently emphasizes that its power is drawn from a commitment to others—a theme that resonates with the Warrior of Light's own journey.

Gameplay

Playstyle and Rotation

The Paladin is a versatile tank whose gameplay is built around a clear two-phase rotation: a physical melee phase and a magical casting phase. This structure provides a dynamic rhythm to their damage output and resource management.

• The Physical Phase (Melee Combos): Using their sword, Paladins execute a primary combo that builds mana and generates an Oath Gauge. This gauge is a core resource used for powerful defensive and offensive abilities. The physical phase focuses on maintaining threat (enmity) and setting up for the magical burst.
• The Magical Phase (Holy Spellcasting): Upon accumulating enough mana, Paladins can enter their "Requiescat" state, which empowers their light-aspected spells. They then cast a series of instant magical attacks (like "Holy Spirit" and "Holy Circle") for significant ranged or area-of-effect damage. This phase exemplifies the Paladin's unique blend of martial and magical arts.
• The Confiteor Finisher: The magical phase culminates in the "Confiteor" combo, a series of powerful holy sword techniques that transition the Paladin back to their physical rotation.

Defensive and Utility Toolkit

True to their lore, Paladins possess one of the most comprehensive defensive kits in the game, focused on personal mitigation, party-wide protection, and utility.

• Personal Mitigation: Abilities like Sentinel (massive damage reduction) and Hallowed Ground (a brief period of complete invulnerability) allow Paladins to survive the most devastating enemy attacks.
• Party Protection: The Paladin's signature is protecting others. Cover allows them to physically intercept a single-target attack meant for an ally. Divine Veil creates a damage-absorbing barrier on the party after the Paladin is healed, and Passage of Arms has the Paladin plant their shield to create a massive cone behind them that drastically reduces damage taken by allies.
• Healing and Support: Paladins have more self-sustaining tools than other tanks. Clemency is a powerful, mana-costing spell that heals a target, invaluable for emergency recovery. Intervention is a targeted damage reduction ability that can be used on another tank or a vulnerable party member.

Job Gauge: The Oath Gauge

The Oath Gauge fills as the Paladin performs their combat rotation. It is primarily used for two key abilities:

• Sheltron: Expends 50 Oath Gauge to block the next incoming attack. This is a fundamental, frequently used tool for mitigating predictable damage.
• Intervention: Expends 50 Oath Gauge to apply a strong damage reduction effect to a targeted ally.

Trivia

• The Paladin's original Limit Break, "Last Bastion," visually references the iconic cover art of Final Fantasy IV, which features the Paladin Cecil.
• While the Job is deeply tied to Ul'dah, notable Paladins in the story include Jenlyns, the captain of the Sultansworn, and Solkzagyl, a former captain who aids in the Job's questline.
• The magical sword techniques in the Confiteor combo (Confiteor, Blades of Truth, Blades of Faith, Blades of Valor) are named for theological concepts related to confession and virtue, fitting the "holy knight" theme.
• In early iterations of A Realm Reborn, the Paladin had a more complex "stance" system, swapping between a damage mode ("Sword Oath") and a defense mode ("Shield Oath").

Related Articles

• Gladiator
• Tank (Role)
• Sultansworn
• Ul'dah
• Warrior (Job)