Since the release of Diablo 4, fans have been demanding the Paladin as a new class, and so far they have been disappointed. Everything in the story indicates that the holy warriors must be part of the game. MeinMMO explains what the light warriors are all about.
When Blizzard announced that Diablo 4 would return “back to its roots,” many fans hoped for the return of old classes. And at first, it looked good: with the Druid and the Necromancer, two classes from Diablo 2 are represented – Barbarian, Rogue, and Sorceress are even older, originating from part 1 and the Hellfire expansion.
However, one class is notably missing for veterans: the Paladin as the hero with sword and shield, who would also fill the role of holy magic. Since the release of the game, the community has been demanding that Paladins finally come into the game.
Instead, Blizzard introduced the Vessel of Hatred, a brand new class that fills its own niche. The call for Paladins became even louder thereafter.
And that is understandable, as the entire story of Diablo 4 revolves around Lilith and Inarius. The faith of the light is constantly in focus – only without its most prominent representatives. Paladins play an important role in the game’s story.
Holy Warriors and the Military Arm of the Church of the Light
Who are Paladins actually? In short, the order consists of well-trained soldiers who can wield holy magic. They serve the Church of the Light, also known as the Zakarum faith, as a fighting department. Essentially the church’s army, whose main task is to destroy the Great Evils of Hell.
They receive their magic from the High Heavens, the place where the angels live and which is in eternal conflict with the Burning Hells. The ability to cast spells comes from their unwavering faith, which is why Paladins are also called “Knights of Faith.”
The faith itself traces back to Akarat, an ascetic from the north of Sanctuary. Akarat received a heavenly revelation, the concept of “Zakara”: Every person carries a part of the light within them. Through meditation, prayer, and morality, this light can be nurtured to dispel darkness.
Accordingly, Paladins lead an orderly life with many rules and virtues. They must not succumb to worldly temptations (often in the form of disguised demons). As a sign of their dedication, they also consecrate their weapons with their own blood.
However, the way of life, and especially the attitude of the church itself, has led to fanaticism arising from strict faith, and Paladins have split into various orders – not all of which are friendly.
Crusaders, Protectors, and Paladins of Hell
Originally, Paladins were supposed to accompany missionary protectors to the west of Sanctuary to spread the faith there. However, their miracles were better received by the wild population than their words, making them soon the “Protectors of the Word.” From here, Paladins evolved in different directions:
- The church later transformed its warriors into Inquisitors, the “Hand of Zakarum,” who no longer protect, but burn entire villages at the suspicion of heresy – along with all innocents.
- Those Paladins who disagreed with this path broke away and migrated west. Under Rakkas, they founded the Westmark and eventually the Knights of Westmark, more a protective army than warriors of faith.
- About the same time, under Akkhan in the east, the order of Crusaders formed, a secret organization that was supposed to “save” the church from within. Unlike the Paladins accustomed to structure and hierarchy, Crusaders are more like “one-man armies.”
By the way: Crusaders are essentially “immortal.” A Crusader has exactly one apprentice who takes on the armor, weapons, and name of the knight should the latter fall. Thus, the legend continues.
Templars, whom you may know from Diablo 3, are likely a successor order of the former Inquisitors, which is less brutal but equally fanatical. The Knights of Repenance from Diablo 4 are also “holy” warriors, but strictly speaking, they are not Paladins. They serve Inarius personally, not the Zakarum faith in general.
However, there are fallen Paladins who have succumbed to the temptations of hell. They still wield the same spells, only in an “evil” form – a sign that their conviction is responsible for their powers and not a higher power.
Paladins Today: An Order of Little Significance …?
The fact that you encounter few or no Paladins, Crusaders, etc. in Diablo 4 is due to their near extinction. Many orders have simply disappeared, or their members have scattered, becoming mercenaries or soldiers. There are primarily two reasons for this:
- The Church of the Light was infiltrated by Mephisto, leading to many events in history, including the schism of the church and the Paladin order or the corruption of Leoric and thus the story of Diablo 2 and 3.
- Malthael wiped out most of humanity, especially the Knights of Westmark, who primarily fought against the angel in a desperate final battle.
The Crusaders are the last order that still somewhat exists. However, they are already few in number by nature, and even further decimated by the events in Diablo 4 (thanks, Neyrelle). Throughout the story, you help the Crusaders – and here we are right in the narrative.
So far, Blizzard has not revealed which class will appear next. Fans have been wishing for the Paladin for years, and it would be the next logical expansion for the hero roster. Hints have already been made: The chief talks about the new class in Diablo 4, it sounds a bit like what everyone wants
