Paladin Job Guide for FFXIV — Endwalker 6.5
Paladin is a tank job in Final Fantasy XIV that seek to protect their party members with their sword and shield, channelling the holy power bestowed upon them to smite down their foes. Paladin can only be played at Level 30 or higher, after receiving their job stone as a Gladiator.
What is Paladin's Playstyle?
Paladin is a tank job that uses a sword and shield and has strong burst damage as well as many ranged attacks. It also offers a powerful set of targeted and raid-wide mitigation tools for a raid and trial setting.
Paladin's rotation revolves around its powerful buff, Fight or Flight,
using it to buff big hits like
Goring Blade and
Confiteor.
On the defensive side, Paladin has access to powerful raid mitigation and
single-target mitigation tools, able to significantly lighten the load on
healers in raids and trials, as well as fill the gaps in your co-tank's defenses.
It also has access to unique run-saving tools in Clemency
and
Cover.
Paladin Strengths and Weaknesses
Powerful raid mitigation from
Divine Veil and
Passage of Arms.
Unique, powerful tools for raid progression with
Clemency and
Cover.
Several ranged attacks, allowing Paladin to keep uptime on prolonged melee disengagements, even during burst.
Little sustain at lower levels, while
Clemency is a significant damage loss.
Hallowed Ground has a significantly longer cooldown than other tank invulnerabilities
How do you Unlock Paladin?
Paladin upgrades from one of the starting classes, Gladiator, at level 30. To unlock Gladiator if it was not your starting class, visit the Gladiator's Guild at Ul'dah - Steps of Thal (x9.2, y11.7) and speak to Lulutsu.
Upon reaching level 30 on Gladiator and completing all of the class quests, speak to Lulutsu in the Gladiator's Guild at Ul'dah - Steps of Thal (X:9.2, Y:11.7) once more to accept the quest Paladin's Pledge. Upon completion, you will obtain the Paladin job stone and unlock the first of many Paladin abilities.
The Oath Gauge

The Oath Gauge indicates when you have your tank stance,
Iron Will, toggled on. After unlocking
Sheltron, it will also show your accumulated Oath.
You gain Oath by landing auto-attacks, which happen automatically in combat
approximately every 2.3 seconds.
At level cap, Oath can be spent on three defensive cooldowns, Holy Sheltron,
Intervention, and
Cover, each costing 50
Oath.
Paladin Video Resources
If you would prefer to watch a video that provides an overview of Paladin, feel free to give the video below a watch. The video was provided by Julia Care, a member of the community on The Balance Discord server.
Paladin Actions
Action Name |
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Effect |
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Delivers an attack with a potency of 200. |
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Increases damage dealt by 25%. Duration: 20s |
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Delivers an attack with a potency of 140. Combo Action: Fast Blade Combo Potency: 300 Combo Bonus: Restores MP |
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Delivers an attack with a potency of 100 to all nearby enemies. |
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Significantly increases enmity generation. Effect ends upon reuse. |
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Cancels the effect of Iron Will. |
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Delivers an attack with a potency of 100. Additional Effect: Stun Duration: 6s |
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Delivers a ranged attack with a potency of 100. Additional Effect: Increased enmity |
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Delivers an attack with a potency of 100. Combo Action: Riot Blade Combo Potency: 330 |
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Delivers an attack with a potency of 270. Additional Effect: Restores MP |
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Reduces damage taken by 15%. Duration: 6s Oath Gauge Cost: 50 |
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Reduces damage taken by 30%. Duration: 15s |
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Delivers an attack with a potency of 100 to all nearby enemies. Combo Action: Total Eclipse Combo Potency: 170 Combo Bonus: Restores MP Combo Bonus: Grants Divine Might Divine Might Effect: Allows next Holy Spirit or Holy Circle to be cast immediately with increased potency Duration: 30s |
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Take all damage intended for another party member as long as said member remains within 10 yalms. Does not activate with certain attacks. Duration: 12s Oath Gauge Cost: 50 |
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Delivers an attack with a potency of 120 to all nearby enemies. Additional Effect: Damage over time Potency: 30 Duration: 15s |
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Renders you impervious to most attacks. Duration: 10s |
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Block incoming attacks. Duration: 10s |
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Delivers an attack with a potency of 700. This weaponskill does not share a recast timer with any other actions. |
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Creates a barrier around self and all party members near you that absorbs damage equivalent to 10% of your maximum HP. Duration: 30s Additional Effect: Restores target's HP Cure Potency: 400 |
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MP Cost: 4000.0 Restores target's HP. Cure Potency: 1,000 Additional Effect: Restores to self 50% of HP restored to target if target is a party member |
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Delivers an attack with a potency of 140. Combo Action: Riot Blade Combo Potency: 400 Combo Bonus: Grants 3 stacks of Sword Oath Duration: 30s Combo Bonus: Grants Divine Might Divine Might Effect: Allows next Holy Spirit or Holy Circle to be cast immediately with increased potency Duration: 30s |
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Reduces target party member's damage taken by 10%. Duration: 8s Additional Effect: Increases damage reduction by an additional 10% if Rampart or Sentinel are active Additional Effect: Grants Knight's Resolve to target Knight's Resolve Effect: Reduces damage taken by 10% Duration: 4s Additional Effect: Grants Knight's Benediction to target Knight's Benediction Effect: Gradually restores HP Cure Potency: 250 Duration: 12s Oath Gauge Cost: 50 |
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MP Cost: 2000.0 Deals unaspected damage with a potency of 350. Divine Might Potency: 450 Requiescat Potency: 650 The effect of Divine Might will be prioritized over Requiescat when under the effect of both. Additional Effect: Restores own HP Cure Potency: 400 |
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Deals unaspected damage with a potency of 300. Additional Effect: Grants 4 stacks of Requiescat Requiescat Effect: Increases the potency of Holy Spirit, Holy Circle, and all Confiteor combo actions and spells will require no cast time Additional Effect: Grants Confiteor Ready Duration: 30s |
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Increases block rate to 100% and creates a designated area in a cone behind you in which party members will only suffer 85% of all damage inflicted. Duration: 18s Effect ends upon using another action or moving (including facing a different direction). Cancels auto-attack upon execution. |
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MP Cost: 2000.0 Deals unaspected damage with a potency of 100 to all nearby enemies. Divine Might Potency: 200 Requiescat Potency: 300 The effect of Divine Might will be prioritized over Requiescat when under the effect of both. Additional Effect: Restores own HP Cure Potency: 400 |
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Rushes target and delivers an attack with a potency of 150. Maximum Charges: 2 Cannot be executed while bound. |
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Delivers an attack with a potency of 400. Additional Effect: Restores MP Can only be executed while under the effect of Sword Oath. |
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MP Cost: 2000.0 Deals unaspected damage to target and all enemies nearby it with a potency of 400 for the first enemy, and 50% less for all remaining enemies. Requiescat Potency: 900 Additional Effect: Restores own HP Cure Potency: 400 Can only be executed while under the effect of Confiteor Ready. Effect fades upon execution. |
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Reduces damage taken by 15%. Duration: 8s Additional Effect: Grants Knight's Resolve Knight's Resolve Effect: Reduces damage taken by 15% Duration: 4s Additional Effect: Grants Knight's Benediction Knight's Benediction Effect: Gradually restores HP Cure Potency: 250 Duration: 12s Oath Gauge Cost: 50 |
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Delivers an attack to target and all enemies nearby it with a potency of 450 for the first enemy, and 60% less for all remaining enemies. Additional Effect: Restores MP |
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MP Cost: 2000.0 Deals unaspected damage to target and all enemies nearby it with a potency of 200 for the first enemy, and 50% less for all remaining enemies. Requiescat Potency: 700 Combo Action: Confiteor Additional Effect: Restores own HP Cure Potency: 400 ※This action cannot be assigned to a hotbar. |
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MP Cost: 2000.0 Deals unaspected damage to target and all enemies nearby it with a potency of 300 for the first enemy, and 50% less for all remaining enemies. Requiescat Potency: 800 Combo Action: Blade of Faith Additional Effect: Restores own HP Cure Potency: 400 ※This action cannot be assigned to a hotbar. |
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MP Cost: 2000.0 Deals unaspected damage to target and all enemies nearby it with a potency of 400 for the first enemy, and 50% less for all remaining enemies. Requiescat Potency: 900 Combo Action: Blade of Truth Additional Effect: Restores own HP Cure Potency: 400 ※This action cannot be assigned to a hotbar. |
Role Actions
Action Name |
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Effect |
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Reduces damage taken by 20%. Duration: 20s |
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Stuns target. Duration: 5s |
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Gesture threateningly, placing yourself at the top of a target's enmity list while gaining additional enmity. |
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Interrupts the use of a target's action. |
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Reduces damage dealt by nearby enemies by 10%. Duration: 10s |
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Creates a barrier nullifying most knockback and draw-in effects. Duration: 6s Additional Effect: Slow +20% when barrier is struck Duration: 15s |
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Diverts 25% of enmity to target party member. |
Paladin Traits
Action Name | Acquired | Effect |
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Lv. 1 |
Reduces damage taken by 20%. Furthermore, grants a bonus to maximum HP based on your vitality attribute, and a bonus to damage dealt based on your strength attribute. |
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Lv. 35 |
Increases Oath Gauge by 5 each time an auto-attack lands. |
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Lv. 58 |
Restores MP when using Riot Blade or Spirits Within. |
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Lv. 60 |
Upgrades Rage of Halone to Royal Authority. |
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Lv. 64 |
Halves MP cost for all spells while preventing casting interruptions via damage taken. Grants the following effects after successfully completing a combo with Royal Authority: Combo Bonus: Grants Divine Might Divine Might Effect: Allows next Holy Spirit or Holy Circle to be cast immediately with increased potency Duration: 30s |
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Lv. 72 |
Grants the following effects after successfully completing a combo with Prominence: Combo Bonus: Restores MP Combo Bonus: Grants Divine Might Divine Might Effect: Allows next Holy Spirit or Holy Circle to be cast immediately with increased potency Duration: 30s |
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Lv. 74 |
Extends the duration of Sheltron to 6 seconds. |
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Lv. 76 |
Grants three stacks of Sword Oath after successfully completing a combo with Royal Authority. Duration: 30s |
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Lv. 80 |
Grants the effect of Confiteor Ready upon landing Requiescat. Duration: 30s |
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Lv. 82 |
Upgrades Sheltron to Holy Sheltron. |
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Lv. 82 |
Extends the duration of Intervention to 8 seconds. Grants Knight's Resolve to target, reducing damage taken by 10%. Duration: 4s Grants Knight's Benediction to target, gradually restoring HP over time. Cure Potency: 250 Duration: 12s |
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Lv. 84 |
Adds a healing effect to Holy Spirit, Holy Circle, and Confiteor. Cure Potency: 400 |
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Lv. 84 |
Increases the potency of Fast Blade to 200, Riot Blade to 140, Royal Authority to 140, Holy Spirit to 350, and Atonement to 400. |
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Lv. 86 |
Upgrades Spirits Within to Expiacion. |
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Lv. 88 |
Adds a healing effect to Divine Veil. Cure Potency: 400 |
Paladin Lore
For centuries, the elite of the Sultansworn have served as personal bodyguards to the royal family of Ul'dah. Known as paladins, these men and women marry exquisite swordplay with stalwart shieldwork to create a style of combat uncompromising in its defense. Clad in brilliant silver armor, they charge fearlessly into battle, ever ready to lay down their lives for their liege.
To be a paladin is to protect, and those who choose to walk this path will become the iron foundation upon which the party's defense is built.
Changelog
- 17 Oct. 2023 (how to improve page): Updated for Patch 6.5.
- 17 Oct. 2023 (FAQ page): Updated for Patch 6.5.
- 17 Oct. 2023 (rotation page): Updated for Patch 6.5.
- 17 Oct. 2023 (Leveling page): Updated for Patch 6.5.
- 17 Oct. 2023 (gear page): Updated for Patch 6.5.
- 17 Oct. 2023 (melding page): Updated for Patch 6.5.
- 17 Oct. 2023 (this page): Updated for Patch 6.5.
- 13 Jul. 2023 (gear page): Added sets for old ultimates.
- 24 May 2023 (how to improve page): Updated for Patch 6.4.
- 24 May 2023 (FAQ page): Updated for Patch 6.4.
- 24 May 2023 (rotation page): Updated for Patch 6.4.
- 24 May 2023 (Leveling page): Updated for Patch 6.4.
- 24 May 2023 (gear page): Updated for Patch 6.4.
- 24 May 2023 (melding page): Updated for Patch 6.4.
- 24 May 2023 (this page): Updated for Patch 6.4.
- 22 Jan. 2023 (how to improve page): Updated for Patch 6.3.
- 22 Jan. 2023 (FAQ page): Updated for Patch 6.3.
- 22 Jan. 2023 (rotation page): Updated for Patch 6.3.
- 22 Jan. 2023 (Leveling page): Updated for Patch 6.3.
- 22 Jan. 2023 (gear page): Updated for Patch 6.3.
- 22 Jan. 2023 (melding page): Updated for Patch 6.3.
- 22 Jan. 2023 (this page): Updated for Patch 6.3.
- 20 Sep. 2022 (how to improve page): Updated for Patch 6.2.
- 20 Sep. 2022 (FAQ page): Updated for Patch 6.2.
- 20 Sep. 2022 (rotation page): Updated for Patch 6.2.
- 20 Sep. 2022 (melding page): Updated for Patch 6.2.
- 20 Sep. 2022 (this page): Updated for Patch 6.2.
- 08 Sep. 2022 (gear page): Updated for Patch 6.2.
- 20 Apr. 2022 (Asphodelos page): Updated for Patch 6.1
- 20 Apr. 2022 (how to improve page): Updated for Patch 6.1.
- 20 Apr. 2022 (FAQ page): Updated for Patch 6.1.
- 20 Apr. 2022 (rotation page): Updated for Patch 6.1.
- 20 Apr. 2022 (gear page): Updated for Patch 6.1.
- 20 Apr. 2022 (melding page): Updated for Patch 6.1.
- 20 Apr. 2022 (this page): Updated for Patch 6.1.
- 30 Mar. 2022 (Asphodelos page): Guide added.
- 30 Mar. 2022 (Leveling page): Guide added.
- 15 Feb. 2022 (gear page): Guide added.
- 14 Jan. 2022 (how to improve page): Guide added.
- 14 Jan. 2022 (FAQ page): Guide added.
- 14 Jan. 2022 (rotation page): Guide added.
- 14 Jan. 2022 (melding page): Guide added.
- 14 Jan. 2022 (this page): Guide added.
Guides from Other Classes
Nikroulah has been a Paladin player since he started the game in early Shadowbringers. Quickly diving into high-end raiding and theorycrafting, he is now a mentor and senior moderator on the Balance. He is always happy to teach and help people improve, and holds a large breadth of knowledge about the game as well as respectable parses in multiple savage tiers and in all three Ultimate raids. You can often find him lurking in Paladin channels on the Balance discord.
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