Paladin

Biodata

Feature	Value
Name	Paladin (圣骑士)
Species/Race	Humans, High Elves/Blood Elves, and Night Elves are documented practitioners.
Affiliation	Silver Hand; Dawnblade Legion; Argent Dawn
Occupation/Role	Holy Light–empowered frontline combatant, healer, and protector
Status	Active
First Appearance	Chapter 2 — Tyrel Sunstrider chooses the Paladin path.

Ranks and Training

Standing	Documented capabilities
Paladin recruit	Training is lengthy; many recruits can only bless their weapons with Holy Light rather than wield full Paladin abilities. 194 351
Trained Paladin	Uses developed combat skills such as Crusader Strike, Judgment, and Divine Storm. 12
High-ranking Paladin	Can baptize another person by infusing them with Holy Light Energy. 146
Lord Commander Paladin	Honorary title granted to the strongest Paladins; Uther Lightbringer, Tirion Fordring, Saidan Dathrohan, Gavinrad the Dire, and Alexandros Mograine held the rank. 3 5

History

Paladins combine the paths of Priest and Warrior, wielding Holy Light as an energy independent of arcane magic. Their creation gave physically frail former priests a means of fighting on the front lines, while their Holy Light strengthened the body as well as supporting healing and protection. 3 6

The Silver Hand developed Paladins after the Orc Wars. By the time Tyrel Sunstrider traveled to Lordaeron, its Paladins had accumulated more than two decades of battlefield experience and maintained a systematic body of combat skills. 4 11

Tyrel became a Paladin at Light's Hope Chapel under the baptism of Uther Lightbringer and the other Lord Commanders. He chose Tirion Fordring as his mentor because he believed Tirion would teach him without prejudice against Quel'Thalas. 5 Tyrel's rapid growth and his mastery of High Elf swordsmanship demonstrated that the path could address Quel'Thalas's shortage of effective melee fighters. 12 21

After confirming that Paladin Holy Light strengthened Tyrel's High Elf physique, Sun King Anasterian supported the path's introduction to Quel'Thalas. Tyrel became the first High Elf Paladin and used faith in An'she, the sun, rather than human Holy Light doctrine to baptize more than a thousand High Elf recruits into the newly founded Dawnblade Legion. 6 10 11

The Dawnblade Legion expanded to ten thousand Paladins and adopted a three-part combat doctrine of Protection, Retribution, and Holy specializations. Its plate armor, healing capacity, and defensive skills allowed it to fight Forest Troll forces with comparatively few losses. 24 37 38

The path later extended beyond High and Blood Elves when Tyrel baptized Night Elf High Priestess Drasia Moonfang into the Dawnblade Legion using Solar Holy Light. 146

Following the Blood Elves' acquisition of corrupted primordial Holy Light, Tyrel created the Blood Knights. Blood Knights use Blood-red Holy Light and are explicitly treated as a new profession rather than ordinary Paladins. 252

Abilities & Skills

Holy Light Empowerment

Paladins channel Holy Light through their bodies and weapons, allowing them to function as durable melee combatants rather than fragile ranged casters.

• Holy Light can strengthen a Paladin's body and potentially overcome the physical limitations that restricted High Elf Warriors. 6
• Paladins can heal injured allies, including those outside the Holy specialization. 37 42
• Consecration fills an area with Holy Light Flames and can be combined with other attacks for area damage. 37
• The Dawnblade Legion's Solar Holy Light is fueled by faith in An'she. 10 11

Martial Techniques

Paladins combine weapon training with Holy Light attacks rather than relying solely on spellcasting.

• Crusader Strike, Judgment, and Divine Storm are established Paladin combat skills. 12 47
• Blade of Holy Light channels Holy Light directly into a weapon to increase its cutting power. 47
• High Elf Paladins commonly favor technical swordsmanship and two-handed swords, while early human Paladins commonly used warhammers. 12 390
• Alexandros Mograine taught that Holy Light should reinforce every combat technique, not only dedicated Paladin skills. 21

Avenging Wrath

Avenging Wrath is a high-level technique created by combining a Warrior's rage with Holy Light Energy, manifesting as wings of Holy Light and sharply increasing combat power. 21 22

• It requires the integration of Warrior combat methods and Paladin Holy Light. 21
• Tyrel studied the technique under Alexandros Mograine after being identified as insufficiently integrated in his use of Holy Light and swordsmanship. 21 22

Defensive Skills

Paladins possess emergency defenses capable of negating otherwise lethal physical attacks.

• Hand of Protection grants another target immunity to a limited amount of physical damage, including fall damage. 38
• Divine Shield can negate damage to protect the caster from immediate death. 38
• Both abilities cause spiritual weakness and cannot be used freely. 38

Paladin Baptism

A high-ranking Paladin can initiate a new Paladin by infusing the recipient with Holy Light Energy. 146

• Uther Lightbringer and four Lord Commanders jointly baptized Tyrel Sunstrider and Arthas Menethil at Light's Hope Chapel. 5
• Tyrel later baptized High Elf recruits through faith in An'she and baptized Drasia Moonfang with Solar Holy Light. 11 146
• The process strengthens the recipient's physique in addition to granting access to Paladin power. 146

Combat Specializations

Specialization	Battlefield role	Typical equipment
Protection Paladin	Holds the front line and absorbs enemy attacks.	One-handed weapon and sturdy shield 37
Retribution Paladin	Follows the defensive line and delivers heavy melee damage.	Two-handed weapon 37
Holy Paladin	Heals wounded allies from the protected center of the formation.	Holy Light–focused equipment 37

Equipment

• Plate armor — Standard protective gear for frontline Paladins; Dawnblade Armor Sets were forged from enchanted materials and ranged from excellent quality to epic-grade sets for commanders. 24 37
• Two-handed swords — Favored by High Elf Paladins for technical swordsmanship and sustained warfare against Undead. 12 390
• Warhammers — Traditional weapons of former Silver Hand Paladins, particularly those trained to confront Orc Warriors. 390
• Shields — Used by Protection Paladins to anchor the formation against enemy charges. 37
• Bloodrazor Spears — Blood Elf Paladin weapons that channel Holy Light through the spearhead and proved effective against Scourge Undead. 170 204

Associated Figures and Orders

• Uther Lightbringer — Lord Commander of the Silver Hand who led Tyrel and Arthas's Paladin baptism. 5
• Tirion Fordring — Tyrel's Paladin mentor; his instruction emphasized Holy Light application and later helped form the Argent Dawn. 5 22 238
• Alexandros Mograine — Lord Commander who taught Tyrel to fuse Holy Light with Warrior techniques and demonstrated Avenging Wrath. 21 22
• Tyrel Sunstrider — First High Elf Paladin; founder and commander of the Dawnblade Legion. 11
• Countess Liadrin — Former High Priest who became a prominent Blood Elf Paladin and led other priests to convert to the path. 170
• Mylah Dawnblade — Founding Dawnblade Legion member and its most respected Paladin after Tyrel and Liadrin. 19 394
• Drasia Moonfang — Former Night Elf High Priestess baptized by Tyrel into a Night Elf Paladin of the Dawnblade Legion. 146
• Draenalus — First Blood Knight infused by Tyrel with Blood-red Holy Light; later recognized as Blood Knight Lord. 252 267

Notable Quotes

“With sword and shield, I shall protect the weak; with the Holy Light, I shall drive out evil.”
— Paladin's Oath 5

“In the name of sunlight!”
— Tyrel Sunstrider during Drasia Moonfang's baptism 146