How to Create a Hammer Paladin in Diablo 2

Diablo 2 is a role-playing game developed by Blizzard Entertainment and released in 2000 for Windows and Mac. Users control a character in the game associated with a certain class, which may include Paladins, Necromancers, Sorcerers and a few others. The Hammer Paladin, more commonly referred to within the game as a "Hammerdin," is among the best builds a Paladin can have due to the ability to deal very large amounts of magical damage with "Blessed Hammer."

Instructions

Create a Paladin

1. Create a new character in the Diablo 2 menu. Choose the Paladin class.

2. Level up the new Paladin to level 90 or above. This will ensure a quick transformation into a Hammer Paladin.

3. Accrue a reasonable amount of wealth in order to be able to buy stat increases the Hammer Paladin will need.

Distribute Points

1. Apply 50 points in Strength with gear equipped. Strength should read 75 with no gear equipped.

2. Apply enough Dexterity to achieve max block potential, which is 75 percent block chance. The formula for calculating block is: (Blocking * (Dexterity - 15)) / (Character Level * 2) where Blocking = (Blocking of your shield + Holy Shield bonus).

3. Apply every other remaining point to Vitality. Hammer Paladins need vitality, as they get hit often. Do not apply any points to the Energy stat column.

Skills

1. Apply one point each to the Defensive Auras Prayer, Cleansing, Defiance, Redemption and Salvation; and 20 points to Vigor.

2. Apply one point to Might in the Offensive Auras, and 20 points each to Blessed Aim and Concentration.

3. Apply one point each to the Combat Skills Holy Bolt, Smite and Charge; 12 points to Holy Shield and 20 to Blessed Hammer.

Equipment

1. Equip a 2/20/2 Paladin Circlet to Helm as the preferred choice, or Harlequin Crest,
   Tarnhelm, Peasant Crown or Lore.

2. Equip Enigma to Armor, preferably, or Chains of Honor or Skin of the Vipermagi.

3. Equip Magefist to Gloves, or Trang-Oul’s Claws (aka Trang Gloves).

4. Equip Arachnid Mesh to Belts.

5. Equip rare, crafted amulets with +2 skills and faster cast rate to Amulets; or Mara’s Kaleidoscope.
   Equip Stone of Jordan to Rings, or rare rings or Bul-Kathos’ Wedding-Band.

Weapons

1. Equip Heart of the Oak as the Main Weapon, preferably, or Wizardspike.

2. Equip the Call to Arms as Secondary Weapon.

3. Equip Herald of Zakarum or Spirit as Main Shield.

4. Equip Spirit to Secondary Shield.

5. Equip Annihilus Charm or Hellfire Torch as the preferred choices for Charms, or equip Small Charms.

References

• Diablo Guy: Diablo 2 Hammerdin Build
• Extreme Gamerz: Hammer Paladin