Paladin

The  Paladin is one of the ten classes in Hearthstone, represented by Uther Lightbringer, Lady Liadrin, Prince Arthas, and Sir Annoy-O.

Heroes

Background

Main article: Paladin

This is the call of the paladin: to protect the weak, to bring justice to the unjust, and to vanquish evil from the darkest corners of the world. These holy warriors are equipped with plate armor so they can confront the toughest of foes, and the blessing of the Light allows them to heal wounds and, in some cases, even restore life to the dead. Ready to serve, paladins can defend their allies with sword and shield, or they can wield massive two-handed weapons against their enemies. The Light grants paladins additional power against the undead and demons, ensuring that these profane beings corrupt the world no longer.

Paladins are not only zealots, but also guardians of the righteous, and they bestow blessings on those the Light would shine upon. The Light radiates from paladins, and worthy allies who stand near them are emboldened by its power.

Hero Power

Hero Powers are unique abilities, specific to each class. Hero Powers cost 2 mana, and can be used once per turn.

The paladin Hero Power is Reinforce, which summons a 1/1 Silver Hand Recruit. This provides a cheap and unending supply of weak minions, which can be improved using spells like Blessing of Kings, or simply used to bolster the player's forces.

Replacement Hero Powers

Justicar Trueheart Battlecry and Baku the Mooneater Start of Game effect will replace Reinforce with The Silver Hand.

Vilefin Inquisitor Battlecry will replace the current Hero Power with The Tidal Hand.

Uther of the Ebon Blade Battlecry will replace the current Hero Power with The Four Horsemen, as well as replacing the hero.

Making Mummies will replace the current Hero Power with Emperor Wraps once the Quest is completed.

Strategy and gameplay

The paladin is a well-rounded class which focuses on strong minions and limiting your opponent's ability to use their own. Paladins have access to an array of cards that buff their minions with increased stats. Blessing of Kings, Seal of Champions, Spikeridged Steed, and Dinosize are just one of many cards that can power up their minions, and cards like Grimestreet Pawnbroker, Val'anyr, and Glowstone Technician buffs minions on their hand so that they enter the battlefield powered up. There are even cards that reward buffing your own minions like The Last Kaleidosaur and Lynessa Sunsorrow. Paladins also have cards that overrides a minion's stats, which can be just as effective on enemies. An Aldor Peacekeeper, Shrink Ray, or Sunkeeper Tarim can turn even the mightiest of minions into much more manageable threats.

The paladin's Hero Power, Reinforce, summons a 1/1 minion. This can be used together with cards that work well with more minions on the field like Raid Leader and Frostwolf Warlord, and cards that directly buff Silver Hand Recruits like Quartermaster and Level Up! can turn a mass of puny 1/1s into a swarm of bulky threats.

Many paladin decks contain multiple minions and spells that use the Divine Shield mechanic to summon minions which can't be killed without at least two instances of damage. Their Divine Shields coupled with Taunt can create hard-to-remove minions that protect your hero and other minions, such as Coghammer and Righteous Protector. They also have cards that directly benefit from and to minions with Divine Shield, such as Rallying Blade and Bolvar, Fireblood.

Paladins also have strong burst healing abilities which allow them to survive powerful blows dealt to their hero like Forbidden Healing, Ragnaros, Lightlord, and Nozari. Cards like Lesser Pearl Spellstone, The Glass Knight, Crystalsmith Kangor, and High Priest Thekal can further drive up the value off of their healing.

Consecration is a powerful, board-wide spell which damages all the opponent's minions and their hero. It can be played after an Equality to completely wipe the enemy field. A riskier strategy involves playing Equality while controlling a Wild Pyromancer, which will clear all minions on both sides. Paladins can use their most expensive, potent spells like Lay on Hands, Kangor's Endless Army, and Libram of Hope to gain a second wind and turn the battle around.

Paladins are one of few classes that can use Secrets. Paladin Secrets are fairly weak on their own, but by stacking several of them the Paladin keeps their minions protected through a web of Secrets that are difficult for the opponent to weave through. Cards like Mysterious Challenger, Bellringer Sentry, and Desperate Measures allows them to stack up Secrets quickly, while empowering cards that benefit from them like Mysterious Blade and Commander Rhyssa.

Paladins also have an affinity with murlocs, which goes well with their ability to quickly build a board and buff weak minions. Cards like Vilefin Inquisitor, Murgur Murgurgle and Grimscale Chum gave paladins an explosive early start. On the other hand Anyfin Can Happen contrastingly required finesse of playing a few murlocs, creating an army of Bluegill Warriors and Murloc Warleaders to deliver a lethal push late game.

Paladins received an odd range of synergy cards within their lifespan, such as mech cards that summon a swarm of smaller mechs than can be magnetized with other mechs to combine into an unstoppable killing machine, a range of cards that require Paladins to stay pure to their class, and Libram cards that permanently discount some very high-powered spells.

Counters

Clearing the board

Many archetypes of the paladin class are reliant on minions that stay on the board for more than one turn. With spells such as Blessing of Kings or Hand of Protection paladins can take advantage of the board with favourable trades. Silver Hand Recruits can specifically be buffed by minions such as Quartermaster, making them a formidable threat. This can be prevented by keeping the enemy's board clear. Depending on the class you are playing you can use AoE-spells such as Fan of Knives or Holy Nova.

Removing Divine Shields

A common mechanic of the paladin class is Divine Shield. Minions with Divine Shield can be tough to remove since the first damage taken is ignored. Hero powers that can deal 1 damage such as Fireblast or cheap spells such as Arcane Missiles can be used to get rid of enemy Divine Shields without damaging friendly minions. Blood Knight is also a very effective tool against minions with Divine Shield, while also potentially providing a big threat.

Transform / Silence effects

There are many buffing spells like Blessing of Kings in the Paladins arsenal. Removing the enchantment by silencing or transforming the minion can be devastating for the opponent's game plan. Against minions with strong abilities such as Tirion Fordring transforming spells like Hex or Polymorph are very effective by removing the card text and reducing the attack and health.

Tech cards

Depending on the paladin archetype there are cards that can be especially disruptive for the opponent's game plan. Minions such as Acidic Swamp Ooze or Harrison Jones can destroy weapons that are crucial for the paladin's tempo. Several Murlocs such as Murloc Knight or Hydrologist have been added to the paladin card pool. Hungry Crab is a cheap and effective tool against those cards and can provide a big tempo swing.

Spells

For Wild format listings, see Paladin/Wild format

See Spell. For a list of paladin Secrets, see Secret#Paladin.

Name / Desc	Rarity	School	Class	Cost	Description
First Day of School	Common		Paladin	0	Add 2 random 1-Cost minions to your hand.
Avenge	Common	Holy	Paladin	1	Secret: When one of your minions dies, give a random friendly minion +3/+2.
Conviction (Rank 1)	Epic	Holy	Paladin	1	Give a random friendly minion +3 Attack. (Upgrades when you have 5 Mana.)
Galloping Savior	Common	General	Paladin	1	Secret: After your opponent plays three cards in a turn, summon a 3/4 Steed with Taunt.
Hand of Protection	Free	General	Paladin	1	Give a minion Divine Shield.
Humility	Free		Paladin	1	Change a minion's Attack to 1.
Noble Sacrifice	Common		Paladin	1	Secret: When an enemy attacks, summon a 2/1 Defender as the new target.
Noble Sacrifice	Common		Paladin	1	Secret: When an enemy attacks, summon a 2/1 Defender as the new target.
Oh My Yogg!	Epic	General	Paladin	1	Secret: When your opponent casts a spell, they instead cast a random one of the same Cost.
Reckoning	Epic	Holy	Paladin	1	Secret: After an enemy minion deals 3 or more damage, destroy it.
Redemption	Common	Holy	Paladin	1	Secret: When a friendly minion dies, return it to life with 1 Health.
Shield of Honor	Common	Holy		1	Give a damaged minion +3 Attack and Divine Shield.
Wave of Apathy	Common			1	Set the Attack of all enemy minions to 1 until your next turn.
Hand of A'dal	Common	Holy	Paladin	2	Give a minion +2/+2. Draw a card.
Holy Light	Rare	Holy	Paladin	2	Restore 8 Health to your hero.
Libram of Wisdom	Rare	Holy	Paladin	2	Give a minion +1/+1 and "Deathrattle: Add a 'Libram of Wisdom' spell to your hand."
Pursuit of Justice	Epic	Holy	Paladin	2	Give +1 Attack to Silver Hand Recruits you summon this game.
Snack Run	Rare		Paladin	2	Discover a spell. Restore Health to your hero equal to its Cost.
Day at the Faire	Common		Paladin	3	Summon 3 Silver Hand Recruits. Corrupt: Summon 5.
Day at the Faire	Common		Paladin	3	Corrupted Summon 5 Silver Hand Recruits.
Equality	Rare	Holy	Paladin	3	Change the Health of ALL minions to 1.
Gift of Luminance	Rare	Holy		3	Give a minion Divine Shield, then summon a 1/1 copy of it.
Barricade	Common			4	Summon a 2/4 Guard with Taunt. If It's your only minion, summon another.
Blessing of Kings	Common	Holy	Paladin	4	Give a minion +4/+4. (+4 Attack/+4 Health)
Consecration	Common	Holy	Paladin	4	Deal 2 damage to all enemies.
Invigorating Sermon	Common	Holy	Paladin	4	Give +1/+1 to all minions in your hand, deck, and battlefield.
Rally!	Rare	Holy		4	Resurrect a friendly 1-Cost, 2-Cost, and 3-Cost minion.
Blessing of Authority	Rare	Holy	Paladin	5	Give a minion +8/+8. It can't attack heroes this turn.
Holy Wrath	Rare		Paladin	5	Draw a card and deal damage equal to its cost.
Libram of Justice	Common	Holy	Paladin	5	Equip a 1/4 weapon. Change the Health of all enemy minions to 1.
Commencement	Rare			7	Summon a minion from your deck. Give it Taunt and Divine Shield.
Libram of Hope	Epic	Holy	Paladin	9	Restore 8 Health. Summon an 8/8 Guardian with Taunt and Divine Shield.
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Uncollectible

For Wild format listings, see Paladin/Wild format

The following spells are generated by other paladin cards or effects, and are uncollectible.

Name / Desc	Rarity	School	Class	Cost	Description
Day at the Faire	Common		Paladin	3	Corrupted Summon 5 Silver Hand Recruits.
Showing the only card

Minions

For Wild format listings, see Paladin/Wild format

All classes can also use neutral minions. See Minion.

Name / Desc	Rarity	Subtype	Class	Cost	Atk	HP	Description
Aldor Attendant	Common	General	Paladin	1	1	3	Battlecry: Reduce the Cost of your Librams by (1) this game.
Imprisoned Sungill	Rare	Murloc	Paladin	1	2	1	Dormant for 2 turns. When this awakens, summon two 1/1 Murlocs.
Argent Braggart	Epic	General	Paladin	2	1	1	Battlecry: Gain Attack and Health to match the highest in the battlefield.
Argent Protector	Common	General	Paladin	2	2	2	Battlecry: Give a friendly minion Divine Shield.
Murgur Murgurgle	Legendary	Murloc	Paladin	2	2	1	Divine Shield Deathrattle: Shuffle 'Murgurgle Prime' into your deck.
Redscale Dragontamer	Common	Murloc	Paladin	2	2	3	Deathrattle: Draw a Dragon.
Soldier's Caravan	Rare	General	Paladin	2	1	3	At the start of your turn, summon two 1/1 Silver Hand Recruits.
Aldor Peacekeeper	Rare	General	Paladin	3	3	3	Battlecry: Change an enemy minion's Attack to 1.
Carnival Barker	Rare	General	Paladin	3	3	2	Whenever you summon a 1-Health minion, give it +1/+2.
Goody Two-Shields	Rare	General	Paladin	3	4	2	Divine Shield Spellburst: Gain Divine Shield.
Imprisoned Celestial	Rare	General	Paladin	3	4	5	Dormant for 2 turns. Spellburst: Give your minions Divine Shield.
Lord Barov	Legendary	General		3	3	2	Battlecry: Set the Health of all other minions to 1. Deathrattle: Deal 1 damage to all minions.
Northwatch Commander	Rare	General	Paladin	3	3	4	Battlecry: If you control a Secret, draw a minion.
Balloon Merchant	Rare	General	Paladin	4	3	5	Battlecry: Give your Silver Hand Recruits +1 Attack and Divine Shield.
Cariel Roame	Legendary	General	Paladin	4	4	3	Rush, Divine Shield Whenever this attacks, reduce the Cost of Holy spells in your hand by (1).
Aldor Truthseeker	Rare	General	Paladin	5	4	6	Taunt. Battlecry: Reduce the Cost of your Librams by (2) this game.
Cannonmaster Smythe	Legendary	General	Paladin	5	4	4	Battlecry: Transform your Secrets into 3/3 Soldiers. They transform back when they die.
Carousel Gryphon	Common	Mech	Paladin	5	5	5	Divine Shield Corrupt: Gain +3/+3 and Taunt.
High Abbess Alura	Legendary	General		5	3	6	Spellburst: Cast a spell from your deck (targets this if possible).
Lothraxion the Redeemed	Legendary	Demon	Paladin	5	5	5	Battlecry: For the rest of the game, after you summon a Silver Hand Recruit, give it Divine Shield.
Devout Pupil	Epic	General		6	4	5	Divine Shield, Taunt Costs (1) less for each spell you've cast on friendly characters this game.
Judicious Junior	Common	General	Paladin	6	4	9	Lifesteal
Guardian of Kings	Free	General	Paladin	7	5	6	Battlecry: Restore 6 Health to your hero.
Lady Liadrin	Legendary	General	Paladin	7	4	6	Battlecry: Add a copy of each spell you cast on friendly characters this game to your hand.
High Exarch Yrel	Legendary	General	Paladin	8	7	5	Battlecry: If your deck has no Neutral cards, gain Rush, Lifesteal, Taunt, and Divine Shield.
Tirion Fordring	Legendary	General	Paladin	8	6	6	Divine Shield. Taunt. Deathrattle: Equip a 5/3 Ashbringer.
Turalyon, the Tenured	Legendary	General	Paladin	8	3	12	Rush. Whenever this attacks a minion, set the defender's Attack and Health to 3.
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Uncollectible

For Wild format listings, see Paladin/Wild format

The following minions are generated by other paladin cards or effects, and are uncollectible.

Name / Desc	Rarity	Subtype	Class	Cost	Atk	HP	Description
Defender	None	General	Paladin	1	2	1
Honor Student	None	General		1	1	1	Taunt
Silver Hand Recruit	Free	General	Paladin	1	1	1
Sungill Streamrunner	None	Murloc	Paladin	1	1	1
Holy Steed	None	Beast	Paladin	3	3	4	Taunt
Northwatch Soldier	None	General	Paladin	3	3	3	Deathrattle: Transform back into a Secret.
Race Guard	None	General		3	2	4	Taunt
Carousel Gryphon	Common	Mech	Paladin	5	8	8	Corrupted Divine Shield, Taunt
Holy Elemental	None	Elemental	Paladin	6	6	6	Taunt
Ancient Guardian	None	General	Paladin	8	8	8	Taunt Divine Shield
Murgurgle Prime	None	Murloc	Paladin	8	6	3	Divine Shield Battlecry: Summon 4 random Murlocs. Give them Divine Shield.
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Weapons

For Wild format listings, see Paladin/Wild format

See Weapon.

Name / Desc	Rarity	Class	Cost	Atk	HP	Description
Light's Justice	Free	Paladin	1	1	4
Sword of the Fallen	Weapon	Paladin	2	1	3	After your hero attacks, cast a Secret from your deck.
Ceremonial Maul	Epic		3	2	2	Spellburst: Summon a Student with Taunt and stats equal to the spell's Cost.
Sword of Justice	Epic	Paladin	3	1	5	After you summon a minion, give it +1/+1 and this loses 1 Durability.
Underlight Angling Rod	Epic	Paladin	3	3	2	After your Hero attacks, add a random Murloc to your hand.
Truesilver Champion	Free	Paladin	4	4	2	Whenever your hero attacks, restore 2 Health to it.
Hammer of the Naaru	Epic	Paladin	6	3	3	Battlecry: Summon a 6/6 Holy Elemental with Taunt.
Libram of Judgment	Common	Paladin	7	5	3	Corrupt: Gain Lifesteal.
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Uncollectible

For Wild format listings, see Paladin/Wild format

The following weapons are generated by other paladin cards or effects, and are uncollectible.

Name / Desc	Rarity	Class	Cost	Atk	HP	Description
Overdue Justice	None	Paladin	1	1	4
Ashbringer	None	Paladin	5	5	3
Libram of Judgment	Common	Paladin	7	5	3	Corrupted Lifesteal
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Hero cards

For Wild format listings, see Paladin/Wild format

See Hero card.

Forged in the Barrens

The below cards are planned for release with Forged in the Barrens, coming March 30th, 2021.

Name / Desc	Rarity	Type	Subtype	Class	Cost	Atk	HP	Description
Knight of Anointment	Common	Minion	General	Paladin	1	1	1	Battlecry: Draw a Holy spell.
Righteous Protector	Common	Minion	General	Paladin	1	1	1	Taunt Divine Shield
Argent Protector	Common	Minion	General	Paladin	2	3	2	Battlecry: Give a friendly minion Divine Shield.
Aldor Peacekeeper	Rare	Minion	General	Paladin	3	3	3	Battlecry: Change an enemy minion's Attack to 1.
Warhorse Trainer	Common	Minion	General	Paladin	3	3	4	Your Silver Hand Recruits have +1 Attack.
Truesilver Champion	Common	Weapon		Paladin	4	4	2	Whenever your hero attacks, restore 2 Health to it.
Veteran Warmedic	Epic	Minion	General	Paladin	4	3	5	After you cast a Holy spell, summon a 2/2 Medic with Lifesteal.
Stand Against Darkness	Common	Spell	General	Paladin	5			Summon five 1/1 Silver Hand Recruits.
Guardian of Kings	Rare	Minion	General	Paladin	7	5	7	Taunt Battlecry: Restore 6 Health to your hero.
Tirion Fordring	Legendary	Minion	General	Paladin	8	6	6	Divine Shield. Taunt. Deathrattle: Equip a 5/3 Ashbringer.
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Leveling rewards

As a hero reaches various levels they are awarded new cards, with each class having its own rewards. All cards awarded by gaining levels are uncraftable, and cannot be crafted or disenchanted.

Levels up to 10 award new basic class cards, while levels after this award only golden versions of existing cards.

Starting cards

All paladins start with the following class cards.

Level 2-10

Up to level 10, reaching each even-numbered level will award the player two copies of a new Basic class card. These cards are not obtainable through any other means.

Level 2

Level 4

Level 6

Level 8

Level 10

Level 11-60

Above level 10, reaching certain levels will award golden versions of existing Basic cards. As they are uncraftable, it is not possible to disenchant these cards, making the reward purely cosmetic. Reaching each required level will award one golden card. Levels after 10 award golden Basic class cards, whereas levels after 50 award golden Basic neutral minion cards.

Level 15/20

Level 23/26

Level 28/30

Level 32/34

Level 36/38

Level 40/42

Level 43/44

Level 45/46

Level 47/48

Level 49/50

Level 51/52

Level 53/54

Level 55/56

Level 57/58

Level 59/60

Trivia

• During the game's early development, the paladin hero was Tirion Fordring. The hero can be seen in screenshots from that period.
• As of the Year of the Dragon, Paladin is tied with Shaman for the most amount of heroes at 4, with Mage, Warlock, Priest, and Druid coming in second at 3. Paladin is also the only class to have two free promotional heroes.

References

Classes
Demon Hunter Druid Hunter Mage Paladin Priest Rogue Shaman Warlock Warrior Neutral Death Knight