Paladins are versatile characters—they can be thought of as warriors who have spell-casting abilities. As such, paladins can be spec'd for melee DPS, tanking, and healing roles.

Only Dwarves, Humans, Draenei, and Blood Elves may be paladins. Thus, if you favor the Horde over the Alliance, your options for customizing a paladin's race are limited.

Customizing your paladin

While you may create effective builds for paladins that mix investments among the three skill trees, the most effective hybrids will still focus on playing a single role. However, it is suggested that the overall effectiveness of each of the three skill trees is smaller for paladins than for other classes, emphasizing the need for creative mixing between talents.

• Holy talents improve your paladin's ability to heal. If your paladin isn't a tank, then this skill tree will allow you to take care of the character who is.
• Protection specs paladins who tank. Since paladins are the only class other than warriors that can eventually wear plate armor, they make very effective tanks who are able to take a beating and precisely control enemy targeting.
• Retribution skills are especially good as supplemental mixers with the other two skill trees. They mostly benefit the damage-dealing ability of your paladin. Recent patches have increased the viability of paladins as DPS characters; this is the tree to invest most thoroughly in if you're interested in creating a damage-centric holy warrior.

Try mixing talent points among at least two of the three skill trees to find the optimal configuration for your paladin to do one thing really effectively (deal damage, tank, or heal).

Auras/Blessings/Seals

Paladins have several ongoing stat benefits that they can cast (or that are passively activated by skill-tree investment). This makes them especially effective in groups, since many of these benefits are shared among party members. Castable buffs require continuous attention to make sure they're refreshed when they expire.

Summoned mounts

At higher levels, most classes are able to purchase the riding skill, as well as a mount on which to ride. Paladins can summon their mounts on their own (after a certain level), making them unique with respect to travel.

More paladin resources

To learn more about various aspects of paladin characters, check out the following links.

• WoW Wiki Paladin Guide
• Tips and Advice for Paladins
• The Light and How to Swing It (a paladin blog)