Gladiators specialize in the handling of all manner of one-handed blades, from daggers to longswords, be they single- or double-edged, straight or curved. Tracing their roots to the Coliseum, where the roar of the crowd reigns supreme, these melee combatants have learned to seamlessly flow between attack and defense in a dance that delights the eye. Making use of their skill with the shield, gladiators can also draw the attention and attacks of an enemy upon themselves, thereby protecting their comrades from harm.
Gladiators are Disciples of War who become paladins when they reach level 30. Wielding a one-handed sword and a shield, gladiators and paladins are what most people think of when they think of a traditional tanking and protection type class. Paladins do have a single healing spell they can use in an emergency but are no replacement for a dedicated healer.
Starting City: Ul’dah
Guild Leader: Mylla
Primary Weapon: One-handed Sword/Shield
Armor Type: Of Fending
Paladins rely frequently on their ability to mitigate incoming damage and their ability to escape it altogether by not standing in the fire. They can also provide some small shielding and healing boosts for groups when a large wave of damage is expected to hit. They also rely on their ability to keep the enemy focused on them to ensure that their allies survive the encounter. When working with other tanks, paladins will need to make use of their ability to Shirk to their partner tanks in order to drop threat. They can also use the Provoke ability when it is necessary to take the enemy’s attention off their partner and onto themselves.
Stat priorities for Paladins are Critical Hit, Skill Speed, Direct Hit/Determination.