Paladin themed build

dialamx

So a Paladin is basically a Holy Knight, wielding sword and shield with some healing and protective magic. Would it be possible to make a tank roled character that uses SB attacks mixed with some healing and protective abilities from Celestial? I know it wouldn't be an ideal Tank, you wouldn't be main tanking cosmics with it, but something good for solo play and maybe alerts.

flowcyto

Well, Paladins don't have to use a sword & board, but sure, we'll go w/ SB for the basic attacks (even though it's an agile/MA set in CO, where most of it's powers are more suited to something like a samurai). There's many ways you could make a paladin-like character in CO. Here's one example that leans on the more supportive side:

(Unnamed Build) - Freeform (Tank)
v3.44:37

Super Stats
Level 6: Constitution (Primary)
Level 10: Presence (Secondary)
Level 15: Intelligence (Secondary)

Talents
Level 1: Divinity (Con: 12, Pre: 12)
Level 6: Lasting Impression (Pre: 5, Rec: 5)
Level 9: Negotiator (Int: 5, Rec: 5)
Level 12: Quick Recovery (Con: 5, Rec: 5)
Level 15: Diplomatic (Int: 5, Pre: 5)
Level 18: Shrug It Off (Con: 5, Pre: 5)
Level 21: Healthy Mind (Con: 5, Int: 5)

Powers
Level 1: Power Bolts
Level 1: Slash (Rank 2, Serrated Blade, Challenge!)
Level 6: Invulnerability (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 8: Compassion
Level 11: Pillar of Poz (Rank 2, Challenge!)
Level 14: Molecular Self-Assembly
Level 17: Scything Blade (Rank 2, Swallowtail Cut)
Level 20: Conviction (Rank 2, Reverence)
Level 23: Reaper's Embrace (Rank 2, No Mercy)
Level 26: Illumination (Rank 2)
Level 29: Resurgence (Rank 2)
Level 32: Energy Shield (Rank 2)
Level 35: Palliate (Rank 2)
Level 38: Ascension (Judgment)
Adv. Points: 34/36

Travel Powers
Level 6:
Level 35:

Specializations
Constitution: Unyielding (1/2)
Constitution: Fuel My Fire (3/3)
Constitution: Resilient (2/2)
Constitution: Adrenaline Rush (2/2)
Constitution: Armored (2/2)
Sentinel: Eternal Spring (1/2)
Sentinel: Caregiver (3/3)
Sentinel: Sentinel Aura (3/3)
Sentinel: Moment of Need (3/3)
Warden: Fortified Gear (3/3)
Warden: Ruthless (2/2)
Warden: Elusive (2/2)
Warden: The Best Defense (3/3)
Mastery: Constitution Mastery (1/1)

Illumination can be used to buff/heal allies and to debuff enemies. For the attacks, it just has basic SB stuff (Slash to build bleeds, REmbrace to rupture them; Scything for pbAoE and the Swallowtail bleed on trash). I also went w/ Slash cause it's not as MA-styled as RCaress in its animation. Palliate can be a sort of Lay on Hands ability, with wings (Ascension) being a sort of thematic 'ult' (and it's adv will interact w/ Illumination), or you could get Celestial's actual ult (if you have it). Pillar of Poz, Illumination, and/or Conviction can all help proc Compassion and MSA. There's many different spec options here too, depending on what you want to prioritize. I put Challenge on Pillar, assuming you'll be using it often, but it could go on Scything Blade or Illumination. Pillar could also be Expulse instead, though Expulse has a charge time to consider. Gears mostly for Con, w/ some Pres and Int, and you can use the Hybrid role when solo for a bit more personal dps.

If you want a more 'selfish' build that focuses more on personal dps overall, then you could go w/ FotS as the toggle/form, change Pres SS to Dex SS (and change the talents accordingly), and maybe swap Sentinel for a different spec (prob Vindicator). Steadfast could also work as the EU, and STR/Dex/Con or DEX/Con/Rec_Str are other potentially good SS options then.