Tiny Mighty Smitey (Paladin 40)

[Twilight Semner]

Introduction:

This two-handed rapier wit smiter Paladin is designed to optimize both smiting and melee damage, while retaining critical hit immunity, great AB, and acceptable AC. Unfortunately due to the demanding nature of this build, I have determined that it would be unwise to begin a new character from creation using the following build. Rather, it would be best to go with a larger sized Paladin with a shield (Cambion or Hound Archon would be best for this, if you're going to go this route - I'm sure there are such builds posted on this forum), then reincarnate the character after double-demigod status so that it can be built as follows.

Overview:
   
This build has the following stats to offer at level 80: 

• Attack Progression of: +112/+107/+102/+97/+112
• Critical Range: 11-20/x3
• Saving Throws: +96F/+89R/+89W
• Armor Class: 135 AC
• 128d20 (Divine/Magic/Positive/Fire) and 32d20 (Sacred) Smite Damage
• Inherent immunity to Disease, Fear, and Poison
  
• Very high immunity to both Divine and Positive damage
• Self-buffs
• Bonus physical damage from Divine Might (1680 rounds/day of 48 bonus damage)
  
• Shield AC and divine KB damage shield from Divine Shield (1680 rounds/day of 16 Shield AC and 48+1d6 divine KB)
• Atrociously high damage per second with two-handed rapier
  
• Critical Hit Immunity

Final Ability Scores:

    Strength: 58 (+24)
    Dexterity: 32 (+11)
    Constitution: 34 (+12)
    Intelligence: 32 (+11)
    Wisdom: 33 (+11)
    Charisma: 74 (+32)

NB: These scores include demigod bonuses, CON artifact, +16 items, and level 80. This is intended to represent the final, completed version of this build.

The Build:

Race: Gnome (Small Size, Spell Focus (Illusion), +2 Skill/level)
Subrace: Half-Eladrin (+7 STR, +5 CHA, Divine Shield, Great Charisma I-II)
    
Alignment: Lawful Good

Ability Scores:

• Strength: 15/22
  
• Dexterity: 10
• Constitution: 10
• Intelligence: 12
• Wisdom: 11
• Charisma: 15/22
  
• Ability Score: Creation/Subrace

Feats:

Pre-Epic Feats (in order):

• Blooded
• Weapon Focus (Rapier)
• Rapier Wit
• Power Attack
• Cleave
• Great Cleave
• Divine Might

Epic Feats (in order):

• Improved Critical (Rapier)
• Epic Weapon Focus (Rapier)
• Epic Prowess
• Great Smiting IV
• Great Smiting VI
• Great Smiting VIII
• Great Smiting X

Paladin Epic Bonus Feats (in order):

• Great Smiting I
• Great Smiting II
• Great Smiting III
  
• Great Smiting V
  
• Great Smiting VII
  
• Great Smiting IX

Legendary Feats (in order):

• Legendary Skill Affinity (Tumble)
• Legendary Weapon Focus (Rapier)
• Overwhelming Critical (Rapier)
• Devastating Critical (Rapier)
• Armor Skin
• Extra Smiting
• Great Charisma III
  
  

Paragon Feats (in order):

• Paragon Balance
• Great Charisma IV
• Great Charisma V
• Great Charisma VI
• Great Charisma VII
• Great Charisma VIII

Skills:

• Concentration (+20)
• Craft Armor (+63)
• Craft Weapon (+63)
• Discipline (+54)
• Listen (+31 - CC)
  
• Taunt (+54)
• Tumble (+60)

Level Progression:

Level	Feats	Base Saves	Skills	Stat
1 Paladin	Blooded	+2F/+0R/+0W	Craft Armor +4 Craft Weapon +4 Discipline +4	-
2 Paladin	-	+3F/+0R/+0W	Craft Armor +1 Craft Weapon +1 Discipline +1	-
3 Paladin	Weapon Focus (Rapier)	+3F/+1R/+1W	Craft Armor +1 Craft Weapon +1 Discipline +1	-
4 Paladin	-	+4F/+1R/+1W	Craft Armor +1 Craft Weapon +1 Discipline +1	+1 CHA
5 Paladin	-	+4F/+1R/+1W	Craft Armor +1 Craft Weapon +1 Discipline +1	-
6 Paladin	Rapier Wit	+5F/+2R/+2W	Craft Armor +1 Craft Weapon +1 Discipline +1	-
7 Paladin	-	+5F/+2R/+2W	Craft Armor +1 Craft Weapon +1 Discipline +1	-
8 Paladin	-	+6F/+2R/+2W	Craft Armor +1 Craft Weapon +1 Discipline +1	+1 CHA
9 Paladin	Power Attack	+6F/+3R/+3W	Craft Armor +1 Craft Weapon +1 Discipline +1	-
10 Paladin	-	+7F/+3R/+3W	Craft Armor +1 Craft Weapon +1 Discipline +1	-
11 Paladin	-	+7F/+3R/+3W	Craft Armor +1 Craft Weapon +1 Discipline +1	-
12 Paladin	Cleave	+8F/+4R/+4W	Craft Armor +1 Craft Weapon +1 Discipline +1	+1 CHA
13 Paladin	-	+8F/+4R/+4W	Craft Armor +1 Craft Weapon +1 Discipline +1	-
14 Paladin	-	+9F/+4R/+4W	Craft Armor +1 Craft Weapon +1 Discipline +1	-
15 Paladin	Great Cleave	+9F/+5R/+5W	Craft Armor +1 Craft Weapon +1 Discipline +1	-
16 Paladin	-	+10F/+5R/+5W	Craft Armor +1 Craft Weapon +1 Discipline +1	+1 CHA
17 Paladin	-	+10F/+5R/+5W	Craft Armor +1 Craft Weapon +1 Discipline +1	-
18 Paladin	Divine Might	+11F/+6R/+6W	Craft Armor +1 Craft Weapon +1 Discipline +1	-
19 Paladin	-	+11F/+6R/+6W	Craft Armor +1 Craft Weapon +1 Discipline +1	-
20 Paladin	-	+12F/+6R/+6W	Craft Armor +1 Craft Weapon +1 Discipline +1	+1 CHA
21 Paladin	Improved Critical (Rapier)	+12F/+6R/+6W	Craft Armor +1 Craft Weapon +1 Discipline +1	-
22 Paladin	-	+13F/+7R/+7W	Craft Armor +1 Craft Weapon +1 Discipline +1	-
23 Paladin	Great Smiting I	+13F/+7R/+7W	Craft Armor +1 Craft Weapon +1 Discipline +1	-
24 Paladin	Epic Weapon Focus (Rapier)	+14F/+8R/+8W	Craft Armor +1 Craft Weapon +1 Discipline +1	+1 CHA
25 Paladin	-	+14F/+8R/+8W	Craft Armor +1 Craft Weapon +1 Discipline +1	-
26 Paladin	Great Smiting II	+15F/+9R/+9W	Craft Armor +1 Craft Weapon +1 Discipline +1	-
27 Paladin	Epic Prowess	+15F/+9R/+9W	Craft Armor +1 Craft Weapon +1 Discipline +1	-
28 Paladin	-	+16F/+10R/+10W	Craft Armor +1 Craft Weapon +1 Discipline +1	+1 CHA
29 Paladin	Great Smiting III	+16F/+10R/+10W	Craft Armor +1 Craft Weapon +1 Discipline +1	-
30 Paladin	Great Smiting IV	+17F/+11R/+11W	Craft Armor +1 Craft Weapon +1 Discipline +1	-
31 Paladin	-	+17F/+11R/+11W	Craft Armor +1 Craft Weapon +1 Discipline +1	-
32 Paladin	Great Smiting V	+18F/+12R/+12W	Craft Armor +1 Craft Weapon +1 Discipline +1	+1 CHA
33 Paladin	Great Smiting VI	+18F/+12R/+12W	Craft Armor +1 Craft Weapon +1 Discipline +1	-
34 Paladin	-	+19F/+13R/+13W	Craft Armor +1 Craft Weapon +1 Discipline +1	-
35 Paladin	Great Smiting VII	+19F/+13R/+13W	Craft Armor +1 Craft Weapon +1 Discipline +1	-
36 Paladin	Great Smiting VIII	+20F/+14R/+14W	Craft Armor +1 Craft Weapon +1 Discipline +1	+1 CHA
37 Paladin	-	+20F/+14R/+14W	Craft Armor +1 Craft Weapon +1 Discipline +1	-
38 Paladin	Great Smiting IX	+21F/+15R/+15W	Craft Armor +1 Craft Weapon +1 Discipline +1	-
39 Paladin	Great Smiting X	+21F/+15R/+15W	Craft Armor +1 Craft Weapon +1 Discipline +1	-
40 Paladin	-	+22F/+16R/+16W	Craft Armor +1 Craft Weapon +1 Discipline +1	+1 CHA
41 Paladin	-	+22F/+16R/+16W	Craft Armor +1  Craft Weapon +1  Discipline +1 Listen +22	-
42 Paladin	Legendary Skill Affinity (Tumble)	+22F/+16R/+16W	Craft Armor +1  Craft Weapon +1  Discipline +1	+1 CHA
43 Paladin	-	+22F/+16R/+16W	Craft Armor +1  Craft Weapon +1  Discipline +1 Tumble +45	-
44 Paladin	-	+23F/+17R/+17W	Craft Armor +1  Craft Weapon +1  Discipline +1 Listen +1	+1 CHA
45 Paladin	Legendary Weapon Focus (Rapier)	+23F/+17R/+17W	Craft Armor +1 Craft Weapon +1 Discipline +1	+1 STR/+1 CHA
46 Paladin	-	+23F/+17R/+17W	Craft Armor +1 Craft Weapon +1 Discipline +1	+1 CHA
47 Paladin	-	+23F/+17R/+17W	Craft Armor +1 Craft Weapon +1 Discipline +1 Tumble +5	-
48 Paladin	Overwhleming Critical (Rapier)	+24F/+18R/+18W	Craft Armor +1 Craft Weapon +1 Listen +1	+1 CHA
49 Paladin	-	+24F/+18R/+18W	Concentration +1 Craft Armor +1 Craft Weapon +1 Listen +1	-
50 Paladin	-	+24F/+18R/+18W	Concentration +1 Craft Armor +1 Craft Weapon +1 Listen +1	+1 CHA +1 STR/+1 CHA
51 Paladin	Devastating Critical (Rapier)	+24F/+18R/+18W	Concentration +1 Craft Armor +1 Craft Weapon +1 Listen +1	-
52 Paladin	-	+25F/+19R/+19W	Craft Armor +1 Craft Weapon +1 Tumble +5	+1 CHA
53 Paladin	-	+25F/+19R/+19W	Concentration +1 Craft Armor +1 Craft Weapon +1 Listen +1	-
54 Paladin	Armor Skin	+25F/+19R/+19W	Concentration +1 Craft Armor +1 Craft Weapon +1	+1 CHA
55 Paladin	(Use CON Arti) (Reclaim Demigod Bonuses)	+25F/+19R/+19W	Concentration +1 Craft Armor +1 Craft Weapon +1 Listen +1	+1 STR/+1 CHA
56 Paladin	-	+26F/+20R/+20W	Concentration +1 Craft Armor +1 Craft Weapon +1	+1 CHA
57 Paladin	Extra Smiting	+26F/+20R/+20W	Concentration +1 Craft Armor +1 Craft Weapon +1 Listen +1 Tumble +5	-
58 Paladin	-	+26F/+20R/+20W	Concentration +1 Craft Armor +1 Craft Weapon +1	+1 CHA
59 Paladin	-	+26F/+20R/+20W	Concentration +1 Craft Armor +1 Craft Weapon +1 Listen +1	-
60 Paladin	Great Charisma III	+27F/+21R/+21W	Concentration +10	+1 CHA +1 STR/+1 CHA
61 Paladin	-	+27F/+21R/+21W	Craft Armor +1 Craft Weapon +1 Discipline +1	-
62 Paladin	-	+27F/+21R/+21W	Discipline +3	+1 CHA
63 Paladin	Paragon Balance	+27F/+21R/+21W	Taunt +3	-
64 Paladin	-	+28F/+22R/+22W	Taunt +3	+1 STR
65 Paladin	-	+28F/+22R/+22W	Taunt +3	+1 DEX
66 Paladin	Great Charisma IV	+28F/+22R/+22W	Taunt +3	-
67 Paladin	-	+28F/+22R/+22W	Taunt +3	+1 CON
68 Paladin	-	+29F/+23R/+23W	Taunt +3	+1 INT
69 Paladin	Great Charisma V	+29F/+23R/+23W	Taunt +3	-
70 Paladin	-	+29F/+23R/+23W	Taunt +3	-
71 Paladin	-	+29F/+23R/+23W	Taunt +3	+1 WIS
72 Paladin	Great Charisma VI	+30F/+24R/+24W	Taunt +3	-
73 Paladin	-	+30F/+24R/+24W	Taunt +3	+1 CHA
74 Paladin	-	+30F/+24R/+24W	Taunt +3	+1 STR
75 Paladin	Great Charisma VII	+30F/+24R/+24W	Taunt +3	-
76 Paladin	-	+31F/+25R/+25W	Taunt +3	+1 DEX
77 Paladin	-	+31F/+25R/+25W	Taunt +3	+1 CON
78 Paladin	Great Charisma VIII	+31F/+25R/+25W	Taunt +3	-
79 Paladin	-	+31F/+25R/+25W	Taunt +3	+1 INT
80 Paladin	-	+32F/+26R/+26W	Taunt +3	+1 WIS

Build Notes:

Should be pretty straight-forward as it's a pretty feat/ability/skill-tight build. Cross-class listen is taken because there's no room for Blind Fight. Paragon Balance is taken in early Paragon Levels to help as soon as possible with DEX checks.

Explanation of Subrace Choice:

Half-Eladrin is the only acceptable race for being able to be both two-handed and make use of Rapier Wit.

Let's Talk DPS:

Something in the range of 900 DPS fully buffed at level 80, not including Greater Smite (average 1680 AoE damage per smite) or Smite Evil (1000+ on a non-critical, 3000+ on a critical).

Advice on Your Role in the Party:

Smite. Hit things. Repeat.


Mea Maxima Culpa:

I hope you'll forgive me posting so many builds lately. This one is of great interest to me, and although there's plenty of 40 Paladin builds on this forum, I was unable to find a two-handed rapier wit smiter. So here's my contribution. Enjoy.

[simpetar]

Jan 16, 2014 22:35:57 GMT Twilight Semner said:

Let's Talk DPS:

Something in the range of 900 DPS fully buffed at level 80, not including Greater Smite (average 1680 AoE damage per smite) or Smite Evil (1000+ on a non-critical, 3000+ on a critical).

Assuming that you hit something, which is not going to be happening a lot With only CC listen and such low wisdom you will be crying every time you encounter something concealed. Unless you manage to get (and maintain) gear with full +50 listen on it, I suggest to free one feat for BF. Possibly extend taking CC listen into PLs, so that you reach 41 instead of 31, dropping Taunt. You have tier 1 AB progression all the way with heavy investments into your AB stat: your AB ought to be very good even without taunt.

As for low dex: if you can live with it, your choice

You might want to mention that with 11 starting wisdom this build will not be able to cast a lot of spells until late (PLs, demi bonuses). But you did discourage people from starting this from a scratch, so no big deal.

edit: I see no PWF, only lot of great charisma feats in PLs. Note that PWF is worth 4 points of charisma AB-wise. My suggestion is to drop 1 great cha in PLs and get PWF instead and another 1 in LLs and get BF (or ESF: Listen if you insist on getting it CC). This will increase your damage output considerably.

[Hercules]

As for Epic Skill Focus(ESF):Listen, this can be obtained by using the Visor of Vigilance as an option.
You will have to "lock" helmet spot, but you can get away with it on a tank.
Anyhow, just a suggestion. in the end, it's all up to taste and what you wanna do. Just putting it up there.

You can also use the Pandect:Blindfight from min, unless you used another pandect, or had one in mind)






Herc

[Twilight Semner]

First, you'll note that I already explained that this particular build is intended to be a 2x demigod reincarnation, which you've already noticed. The choice of CC Listen gives essentially the same conceal drop as Blind Fight, effectively making it a pseudo-feat you get by way of skill points (60 Listen, which this build can easily achieve is the same conceal drop as Blind Fight, per the documentations summaries). As far as I know, it would be pointless to CC Listen and the Blind Fight feat. There's no stacking there.

The choice to drop PWF was well-reasoned and here's why. CHA is about 3x more useful than a Weapon Focus feat. Two more CHA, which I would lose if I took PWF, gives 1 more shield AC, 4d20 more Great Smite damage, increased Divine Shield and Divine Might durations, an extra saving throw (which isn't at all necessary), and 2.8 more points of damage per hit with divine might. And you only lose 1 AB vs. PWF. Now, another option would be to drop CHA by four (2 from feats, 2 at creation), then increasing base DEX and picking up PWF and perhaps ESF: Listen. But I think it's more a matter of preference. This build is intended to be a maximized smiter, and I would prefer not to sacrifice what he's designed to do.

Now, as far as going on with CC Listen in PLs, probably a good idea. I took Taunt because I figured it would be useful for helping other party members hit problem enemies, but more Listen is never a bad thing. So well-noted there.

[Yojimbo]

With your AC reach 135 I think you can safely lose 1 point of AC so I think only dropping 2 CHA is fine and pick up ESF Listen @ L60 and PWF @ L63 though Herc does give some valid alternatives and AB isn't really the issue it is conceal. The best option might be to pick up a VoV max Listen to 41 CC in PLs and read the Blind Fighting Pandect to maximize potential to cut into enemy concealment as well pick up a defensive bonus from Blind Fighting.

[Torin]

There is an antiexploit that prevents that stat points from demi-bonus qualify for for the use of spells in a reincernation. At least this is the case for Staffmasters and INT. For this build it should be the same for WIS (and if not Funky should put it on a list to do). That is what I read somewhere in the forum so ages ago.

[Twilight Semner]

I believe what you're referring to isn't so much an anti-exploit as a game engine mechanic. Wizards need to have adequate base Intelligence to learn new spells at level-up, same with Sorcerers. The only classes I can think of that this might be an issue on reincarnation are Staffmasters, Gnomish Inventors, BFM tanks, and perhaps a handful of others (such as Heralds, Theurges, etc.). For divine spell-casting, where the character already has access to all spells for that level without having to learn them, I believe access to those spell levels applies retroactively as Wisdom increases.

Also, regards to the CC Listen/Blind Fight discussion I'll repeat it again: 60+ Listen and Blind Fight don't stack for conceal drop. VoV, listen from items, and CC Listen into paragon levels is more than adequate to give you significantly more conceal drop that Blind Fight.

[Yojimbo]

Torin does bring up an anti-exploit in the reincarnation process that flags a reincarnation as illegal when it gets to the point to reclaim Demi bonus if you do not have a sufficient caster stat for spells. If you reincarnate a Staffmaster and try to Drop INT to 14 to wait to unlock L5 to L8 spells with Demi x2 +4 INT bonus you will be unable to reclaim your Demi bonus and unable to complete the reincarnation. While Blind Fight and Listen do not stack your listen score can be lowered to below 60 through penalties, curses, and deafness while Blind Fight is a static reduction keeping you at a minimum conceal reduction equal to 60 Listen as well provides defensive bonus while blinded. I don't know what Pandect you suggest and can't really think of a great one for it but the Blind Fight is reasonable investment.

[Twilight Semner]

Well, I guess I'll have to see how that goes with the anti-exploit. If that's the case, I'll update the build accordingly when the time comes.

In regards to Listen, etc. the Paladin spell Life's Grace grants immunity to blindness/deafness, so provided you use the correct Breach/Mord immunity that's not an issue. With 41 CC Listen points, an 11 WIS mod, VoV, and Pre-LL accomplishment bonuses, you're already at 77 Listen, which is better than Blind Fight. The highest possible Hell penalty to skills is 26. Bard song typically gives around 20 to skills. 77+20-26=71. I'd rather save my Pandect for something more useful like Disarm or KD. Or hey, if ya really want to, don't take any Listen at all, use Blind Fight pandect, and max an additional skill. I personally prefer it my way.

[Li'l Rose]

I am curious how you are able to get 135 ac with this build. I have been playing pretty much the same build, and at level 46, I have only 110 ac when buffed. I know I do not have demi bonuses, arties, or maxed gear yet, but I do not see how I will ever get 25 more ac. I just did loca run with her, and was not pretty. Greater smite did not work at all the whole run. Maybe is just me I guess, lol.

The damage is pretty nice though, when I'm not dead, lol.

[Twilight Semner]

Hi Rose, what you're experiencing is how abysmally low this build's AC before you hit level 60. It's frightening. All I can really say is that it gets a LOT better. I should say though that this is build I posted was designed to be a higher level, post double demi reincarnation for the purposes of getting crit immune. You don't, strictly speaking, NEED crit immune. In fact, my own Tiny Mighty Smitey is still pre-reinc and using my original build, in which I said to heck with strength and maxed charisma all the way. If that's something that interests you, you could reinc as follows:

STR: 7 (1 point)
DEX: 14 (6 points)
CON: 10 (0 points)
INT: 14 (6 points)
WIS: 14 (6 points)
CHA: 17 (13 points)

Build would be basically the same otherwise. Also, I hope you didn't use the build above exactly without any modifications. Because with only 11 base Wis you wouldn't have any spells . If you did do that, I'd recommend reincarnating to the above stat spread as soon as possible.

[Li'l Rose]

Hmmm, your points add up to 32. I did not see your build before I made mine, but it is pretty similar in stats and feats. I do not recall my actual starting stats, but I did have wisdom at 14. I think I used 8 points each in strength and charisma, 6 in wisdom, 6 in con, and 2 in int. I think just taking skills in disc, tumble, and the 2 craft feats. My build is reincarnated from a level 40 non-immo cot build. She is an immo paladin now, but not sure if the wait is 1 month or 3 months.

[Twilight Semner]

Whoops, sorry, shoulda been 12 intelligence.