WoW Class: Paladin

The paladin class is a cross between a priest and a warrior. So basically, a melee class that can heal as well as fight. This makes the Paladin class unique in the way that a player can carry on a fight, heal himself or others, and continue fighting all the same.

Paladins are generally useful all around and it's hard to imagine the game without them. Technically, you could call them an oddball class, but they seem to have settled into their niche a bit nicer. Either way, a player who knows how to play a paladin is an extremely powerful adversary.

While a paladin isn't quite the big healer that a priest can be, don't underestimate what a Holy specced paladin can do for a group. These guys can heal, do a bit of off-DPS, then go back and heal the group again.

Holy paladins have been used as surrogate healers since the game began and they are the next best thing to a priest in just about every case. Alas, there aren't too many holy paladins around, but if you make one, plan on doing group work because that is where you will shine.

Protection paladins are generally the most popular of the talents specs. They are extremely hard to kill and if you leverage it right, your opponent will do damage the himself when he hits you.

That's right, protection paladins can take the abuse cause they dish back very neatly. This means they are great tanks in groups, PvP like nobody's business, and can grind like a mage. Great overall spec if you know what you're doing.

Retribution paladins are about damage. These guys pump it out in wave after wave of power attacks, seals, and whatever else they can throw at an opponent. Usually a big sword can do the trick.

Most likely to be used as either a tank or off-DPS in a group, this spec is also great for short burst of PvP, where major damage can be a deciding factor in a team situation. As far as grinding, they can be killed, but that's only if what they are attacking can kill them first, and that's a pretty big if.

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