Yo, fellow Tarnished! 😎 Ever since I first stepped into the Lands Between, I've been absolutely obsessed with the fantasy of becoming that unshakable holy knight, the beacon of light in a world gone mad. You know the one—the Paladin. Heavy armor gleaming in the Erdtree's light, a massive sword crackling with holy energy in one hand, and the power to heal and buff your allies in the other. It's the ultimate power fantasy in Elden Ring, and with the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC now fully integrated into the experience, there are more tools than ever to perfect this iconic build. Forget being a squishy mage hiding in the back; we're going to be the frontline tank that also smites heretics with divine light! Let's dive deep and forge the ultimate Strength-Faith Paladin.

First things first, fashion is the true endgame, right? 🛡️ A Paladin's look is everything. We're not just warriors; we're holy knights, so our armor needs to reflect that divine purpose. Luckily, Elden Ring and its DLC are packed with sets that scream "chosen champion."

The Solitude Set from the DLC is an instant classic. It's got that grim, Berserk-inspired vibe that makes you look like an unstoppable force of nature. It might not be shiny gold, but it fits any knight fantasy perfectly and offers solid protection.

Now, if you're going for that classic holy aesthetic, gold is the color of the gods. The Haligtree Knight Set is a top-tier choice. That golden embroidery of Miquella's Haligtree on the chest is just chef's kiss. Plus, the helm gives you a free +2 to Faith! Its close cousin, the Leyndell Knight Set, is even more radiant, drenched in the golden light of the capital. It's the uniform of the Erdtree's defenders, and you'll look the part.

For the ultimate statement, you can't beat the Tree Sentinel Set. You fight these golden giants from the very start of the game, and getting to wear their armor feels like a massive achievement. It's got high poise and looks absolutely majestic when you're casting Erdtree incantations. Other fantastic options include the Crucible Axe/Tree Sets for a more ancient, primordial holy warrior look, or the mysterious Blackflame Monk Set for a darker, more enigmatic Paladin vibe (good luck farming it though!).

Alright, looking cool is one thing, but we need a weapon that can back up the look! ⚔️ Our bread and butter is the Strength-Faith scaling, meaning we want weapons that hit like a truck and channel holy power.

Let's talk holy blades. The Miquellan Knight's Sword (straight sword) and the Inseparable Sword (greatsword) are both fantastic thematic choices. They share the Sacred Blade Ash of War, which fires a holy projectile and buffs your weapon. If you want that skill on your favorite non-unique weapon, you can find the Ash of War in Limgrave!

For pure, unadulterated style points, the Golden Order Greatsword is unmatched. Forged by Radagon himself, it's the literal symbol of the Golden Order. It looks unbelievably cool, though its unique skill is a bit... underwhelming. A damage-focused powerhouse is Ordovis's Greatsword. Its skill, Ordovis's Vortex, is one of the strongest in the game for our build. It scales beautifully with Strength and gets a nice boost from Faith too.

And let's not forget the DLC's gift: Euporia. This twinblade is a monster. Its Euporia Vortex skill is like a holy version of Comet Azur—a massive beam of golden light that melts bosses. It's a late-DLC weapon, but it's worth the journey to become a true holy terror.

Don't forget your Sacred Seal! This is what lets us cast our incantations. The Clawmark Seal is best if you've invested more in Strength, while the Erdtree Seal is the king if your Faith stat is super high. Pick based on your stat spread.

Now for the fun part: SPELLS! 🔥✨ Being a hybrid build means we get the best of both worlds: melee dominance and supportive/offensive magic.

Our spellbook is non-negotiable. Golden Vow (25 Faith) is arguably the best buff in the game. It boosts your damage and damage negation. Flame, Grant Me Strength (only 15 Faith!) is insane for any physical-attack build, giving a 20% boost to physical and fire damage. Stack these two together, and you become a walking powerhouse.

What's a Paladin without heals? Blessing's Boon (24 Faith) is a great, efficient heal-over-time spell. Use it to save your Crimson Flasks while exploring. For bigger heals, aim for Blessing of the Erdtree or Erdtree Heal later on. And for offense? Don't sleep on incantations like Discus of Light for a cheap, spammable holy projectile or Catch Flame for quick, close-range bursts.

Our power needs the right talismans to amplify it. Here's my recommended loadout:

• Sacred Scorpion Charm: A must. +12% Holy damage (with a -10% negation trade-off). Get it early from Anastasia in Caelid.

• Shard of Alexander: +15% skill damage. Our weapon skills hit hard, so this is a huge boost. Do Alexander's quest!

• Two-Handed Sword Talisman (DLC): If you're two-handing your weapon (which you often will), this gives a sweet 15% attack increase. If you use a shield and love guard counters, swap this for the Curved Sword Talisman.

• Flex Slot: This is for utility. Erdtree's Favor +2 is always good for HP, Stamina, and Equip Load. If you're wearing super heavy armor like the Tree Sentinel set, Great-Jar's Arsenal is a lifesaver to keep you at a medium roll.

Finally, the foundation: Stats and Class. 🧠 For a Paladin, your core stats are Vigor (don't be a glass cannon), Endurance (to wear that heavy armor and swing that big sword), Strength, and Faith.

The Confessor is arguably the perfect starting class. It begins with a sword, a shield, and a seal, and its stats are beautifully aligned for our needs. Prophet is also a strong choice if you want to lean a bit more into Faith early.

Here’s a solid level 125 template to aim for, starting as a Confessor:

Stat	Level	Why?
Vigor	40	Survive those boss combos!
Mind	14	Enough FP for buffs and a few heals.
Endurance	30	Carry your gear and keep swinging.
Strength	60	Our main damage stat. Soft cap goodness.
Dexterity	12 (base)	Just enough for weapon requirements.
Intelligence	9 (base)	Ignore this.
Faith	30	Unlocks all our key incantations and boosts holy damage.
Arcane	9 (base)	Ignore this too.

Beyond 125, pump more into Vigor (up to 60) or Faith (up to 50-80) for even more incantation power and weapon scaling. The beauty of this build is its flexibility. You can adjust the Strength/Faith balance based on your favorite weapon. Love Ordovis's Greatsword? Go 80 Strength, 25 Faith. Want to spam powerful incantations? Try 50 Strength, 60 Faith.

So there you have it, Tarnished! The ultimate Paladin guide for 2026. This build is incredibly rewarding, letting you experience Elden Ring as a versatile, tanky, and holy warrior. You can solo bosses, support in co-op, and look absolutely legendary doing it. Now go forth, claim your greatsword, don your golden armor, and let the light of the Erdtree guide your blade! 💀🙏✨