Zealot (build)

From Diablo Wiki

A Zealot is a Paladin build that uses, as the name suggests, Zeal as main attack. This is usually accompanied by Fanaticism, which at level 20 boosts damage a whole lot and gives 46% faster attack speed. Zealots are very good at Player vs Monster gameplay, but a little shabby at Player vs Player fighting.

Contents 1 Skills: 1.1 Main skills: 1.2 Secondary skills: 2 Equipment: 2.1 Weapon: 2.1.1 1-handed: 2.1.2 2-handed: 2.1.3 Shield: 2.2 Helm: 2.3 Armor: 2.4 Belt: 2.5 Gloves: 2.6 Boots: 2.7 Amulet and Ring: 3 Mercenary: 4 Playing in a team:

[edit] Skills:

[edit] Main skills:

• Zeal - 20

• Fanaticism - 20

• Sacrifice - 20

• Holy Shield - 20

Zeal is the Zealot's main attack, and Fanaticism is the most common aura used in combination. Zeal receives a 12% damage bonus from each level spent in Sacrifice. Holy Shield is used mainly because Zeal is best with fast one-hand weapons, which makes it natural to use a shield in combination. With Holy Shield the paladin's block rating is boosted considerably. The conclusion is: Zeal's recommended equipment makes the character good for tanking as well.

Zeal can be used with the faster 2-handed weapons as well, but this is not recommended. In this case Holy Shield is nearly useless of course and the build becomes wholly offensive. Though it is slightly 'suicidal'(the Paladin will take a lot of damage) and the only gain of this version is a higher damage output, the two-handed Zealot can survive because Zeal cannot be interrupted, and even a fairly low amount of Life Steal will be sufficient to restore the paladin's hitpoints.

[edit] Secondary skills:

• Defiance - 20

• Smite - 20

Both of the skills are meant for shield wearing Paladins. Defiance is a synergy for Holy Shield and Smite can be used as well, thanks to the points spent in Holy Shield and Fanaticism. Although a real Smiter needs very different equipment and a slightly different build, Smite can provide the edge in some really tough situations with it's stun effect.

[edit] Equipment:

[edit] Weapon:

[edit] 1-handed:

A Grief Phase Blade is great due to its very high damage, and can also be used for secondary smiting.

Ethereal Breath of the Dying Runeword Berserker Axe is a good choice due to it's superior damage.

Schaefer's Hammer Legendary Mallet is the best in PvM combat due to it's Static Field.

[edit] 2-handed:

The Grandfather Colossus Blade and Doombringer Champion Sword

Ethereal Edge Silver-Edged Axe, Hellslayer Decapitator and Messerschmidt's Reaver Champion Axe

The Cranium Basher Thunder Maul

Ethereal Breath of the Dying Great Poleaxe / Colossal Sword / Champion Axe

Ethereal Death Colossal Sword / Cryptic Axe

[edit] Shield:

Herald of Zakarum Gilded Shield

Exile Rune Word Ethreal Vortex Shield

[edit] Helm:

Guillaumme's Face Winged Helm (great for Deadly Strike and Crushing Blow)

Crown of Ages Corona Socketed with 2xBer

Veil of Steel Spired Helm Socketed with Ber

Andariel's Visage Demonhead Socketed with Ber

[edit] Armor:

Tyrael's Might Sacred Armor Socketed with Ber

Leviathan Kraken Shell Socketed with Cham

Arkaine's Valor Balrog Skin Socketed with Cham

Upped Shaftstop Boneweave Socketed with Cham

Fortitude Runeword Archon Plate

Chains of Honor Runeword Archon Plate

[edit] Belt:

Verdungo's Hearty Cord Milthril Coil

Nosferatu's Coil Vampirefang Belt

String of Ears Demonhide Sash

[edit] Gloves:

Dracul's Grasp Vampirebone Gloves

[edit] Boots:

Upped Gore Rider Myrmidon Boots

[edit] Amulet and Ring:

Highlord's Wrath Amulet

The Cat's Eye Amulet

Metalgrid Amulet

Mara's Kaleidoscope Amulet

The Eye of Etlich Amulet

2x Bul-Kathos' Wedding Band ring for more lifesteal, life and skills.

or
Raven Frost Ring and a dual leech (mana drain and life drain) ring if you do not have mana drain on any other piece of equipment. only very little mana drain is needed, as most attacks require only 2 mana points to use, so do not use this if you already have mana drain on your equipment.

or

Raven Frost Ring and Dwarf Star Ring for some Cold and Fire absorb with some life and mana. Ravenfrost has the Cannot Be Frozen mod so if you use Raven Frost, you shouldn't socket the Cham Rune in your armor. It's better to socket Ber runes in the empty armor sockets (up to 50% psyhical resistance).

(It is considered impolite to wear two items with the same amount of absorption in PvP)

Notes: Do NOT use Angelic Wings and Angelic Halo! These give virtually nothing but attack rating. Fanaticism and Zeal will yield enough attack rating, making these items utterly useless.

Of course this is not the full list of possible equipment but merely a selection of the best available.

[edit] Mercenary:

There are multiple options, but the best choice is one of the Nightmare Act II mercenaries. It's best to use Might with an Ethereal Pride Runeword Cryptic Axe. You can get a Holy Freeze mercenary and give him Pride Cryptic Axe for a higher level in Holy Freeze and Concentration (16-20). Another but lesser option is to give Ethereal Doom Runeword Cryptic Axe for a weaker Holy Freeze and Might Aura. Finally you can use a Doom Berserker Axe (not Ethereal) on your character to get the same aura. It isn't that powerful, but it's not much weaker then Breath of the Dying and it gives you the safety of Holy Freeze without sacrificing the Concentration or the Might of your mercenary.

For those who like a more defensive gameplay there's an option of using the Normal Act II mercenary with Defiance and get Holy Freeze from Doom Runeword (your Berserker axe or the Mercenary's Ethereal Cryptic Axe) in addition. This isn't recommended because a relatively high level Defiance can be acquired from Exile Elite Paladin Shield. The Sacred Targe is recommended for better blocking, but Vortex Shield can be used as well as it has more defense.

If you're using an Act I mercenary it's best to use Ice Ward Bow. Other items are not that important, neither is the type of Act I mercenary.

Act V mercenaries are another mediocre option. They can use swords like Ethereal Last Wish Colossal Sword with it's Might aura, Fade, Life Tap and Crushing Blow. Lawbringer sword is also a nice option for boosting resistances.

Finally there's the Act III mercenary. They can use the Lawbringer sword in addition to a shield. Spirit Monarch and Splendor Shields are options here. Cold is the recommended damage type.

[edit] Playing in a team:

The Zealot is one of the most preferred subclasses in a group. Most of the Summoning Necromancers, Barbarians, Amazons, Shape-shifting and Summoning Druids, and Martial Arts Assassins will benefit from your Fanaticism aura.

Popular Paladin builds
Auradin • Charger • Cleric • FoHer • Hammerdin • Liberator • Mage • Ranger • Smiter • Zealot