Paladin (Vindicator) — The Square Fireball

“What I need to control isn’t out there. It’s in here.”

Class Traits

Role: Striker. You are a paladin warrior who struggles to turn your own dark urges into tools of retribution.
Power Source: Divine.
Key Abilities: Strength, Charisma

Armor Proficiencies: Cloth, leather, hide, chainmail, scale, plate; heavy shields, light shields.
Weapon Proficiencies: Simple melee, military melee, simple ranged, military ranged.
Implement: Holy symbol
Bonus to Defence: +1 Fortitude, +1 Reflex, +1 Will.

Hit Points at 1st Level: 15+ Constitution Score.
Hit Points per Level Gained: 6
Healing Surges per Day: 10+ Constitution Modifier.

Trained Skills: From the class skills list below, choose 4 trained skills at 1st level.
Class Skills: Athletics (Str), Bluff (Cha), Diplomacy (Cha), Endurance (Con), History (Int), Insight (Wis), Intimidate (Cha), Religion (Int).

Class features: Channel Divinity, Inner Darkness, Grim Smite, Sinister Urge, Vigil’s Reward, Swift Vindication, Warding Warmth.

Holy warriors and pillars of the faith, Paladins are held up as paragons of mortal virtue. Even if their faith is sometimes tested, their outward appearance is often a shield of piety, leaving them seemingly without flaws.

Not so the vindicator. It isn’t the darkness surrounding you that you fear—it is the darkness within. Rage, cruelty, selfishness… whatever your nature, your vices are flaws of which you’re acutely aware. Perhaps you allowed them to overtake you, some time in your past. Perhaps you have, thus far, managed to resist. But in either case, your worst urges are terrifyingly real, and never far from your mind.

While you prefer to avoid fame and glory, your commitment to the path of righteousness is no less fervent than your peers. Your worst urges can never be escaped, but they can be controlled. Through discipline and devotion, you seek to harness your inner darkness, and turn it toward righteous ends.

However, the price of such control is eternal vigilance. Your watchful eye is still upon both friends and foes, but ultimately it is focused within; for you and you alone are the warden of your own worst self. The darkness will always be inside you; it’s up to you to make it your own.

Note: The Vindicator Paladin is intended as a more player-appropriate replacement for the Blackguard Paladin (presented in Heroes of Shadow). If you include the Vindicator in your game, we recommend you do not also include the Blackguard, and vice-versa.

Vindicator Class Features

Level 1

Grim Devotion

Divine but dreadful, your presence alone strikes fear into vulnerable enemies.

Benefit: Whenever you make a weapon attack against an enemy granting combat advantage to you, that enemy takes extra damage equal to your Charisma modifier.

Inner Darkness

Your inner demons make your path a treacherous one, but you have learned to make them into your strength.

Benefit: You gain a benefit associated with your inner darkness, chosen from the list below. Some attacks and other features also take on an element associated with your darkness.

Callous Soul

Something inside you stops you from understanding others’ pain. Without the burden of empathy, your attacks are undeniably effective – but it takes your constant commitment to keep them from becoming unreasonably cruel.

Associated Element: Cold

Benefit: While you have combat advantage against an enemy, you gain a +2 bonus to damage rolls. The bonus increases to +4 while you are bloodied or adjacent to a bloodied creature.

Wrathful Soul

No matter the situation, something inside you is always demanding that violence is the solution. This burning rage makes you a terrifying foe – but without you directing it, it would have you lay waste to the world.

Associated Element: Fire

Benefit: Once per round while you have temporary hit points, you can take a free action to deal damage to yourself right before making an attack roll against a target. The damage equals your Charisma modifier. You then gain a bonus to the damage roll against the target. The bonus equals the damage you took.

Channel Divinity

You gain the Channel Divinity feature as described in the Player’s Handbook, and the warded soul power detailed below.

Warded Soul	Paladin Feature
Your dedication to self-control is greater than most can imagine. In moments of duress, it can rise up to shield you with a dazzling holy light.
Encounter ✦ Channel Divinity, Divine
Minor Action ✦ Personal
Effect: You gain partial concealment until the end of your next turn. You also gain 5 temporary hit points.
Level 11: 10 temporary hit points.
Level 21: 15 temporary hit points.

This power is intended to replace the shroud of shadow paladin feature.

Grim Smite

You gain the grim smite power.

Grim Smite	Paladin Feature
As you bring the strength of your conviction to bear, your unleash the power of your inner darkness on a deserving foe.
Encounter ✦ Divine, Radiant
No Action ✦ Personal
Trigger: You target an enemy with an at-will weapon attack power.
Effect: The target takes radiant damage equal to 2 + your Charisma modifier. If the triggering attack hits, the target also takes ongoing 5 radiant damage (save ends).
Level 7: 4 + Charisma modifier radiant damage.
Level 17: 7 + Charisma modifier radiant damage, and ongoing 10 radiant damage (save ends).
Level 27: 10 + Charisma modifier radiant damage, and ongoing 15 radiant damage (save ends).
Special: In addition to radiant, all damage dealt by your grim smite is also of the type associated with your inner darkness.

This power is intended to replace the dread smite paladin feature.

At-will Attack Powers

You gain two level 1 at-will paladin attack powers. New powers designed for the vindicator are listed below, but you can choose freely from the paladin list. This is true for your utility and daily powers as well.

Wrathful Strike	Paladin Attack 1
You let your rage flow through your strike, as the beast within hungers for more.
At-will ✦ Divine, Weapon, Radiant, Fire
Standard Action ✦ Melee Weapon
Target: One creature
Attack: Strength vs. AC
Hit: 1[W] + Strength modifier fire and radiant damage. You gain temporary hit points equal to your Charisma modifier.
Level 21: 2[W] + Strength modifier fire and radiant damage.

This power is intended to replace the dominator’s strike paladin attack.

Callous Strike	Paladin Attack 1
You allow yourself to ignore your enemy’s pain, pressing the advantage with grim certainty.
At-will ✦ Divine, Weapon, Radiant, Cold
Standard Action ✦ Melee Weapon
Target: One creature
Attack: Strength vs. AC
Hit: 1[W] + Strength modifier cold and radiant damage. You gain combat advantage against the first enemy you attack before the end of your next turn.
*Level 21:* 2[W] + Strength modifier cold and radiant damage.

This power is intended to replace the ferocious strike paladin attack.

Level 2

Utility Power

You gain a paladin utility power of your level or lower.

Regimented Recovery	Paladin Utility 2
With a resolve born of eternal vigilance, you steel yourself for what is to come.
Encounter ✦ Divine
Minor Action ✦ Personal
Effect: You gain 5 temporary hit points, and you can make a saving throw. In addition, you gain a +2 power bonus to all defences until the end of your next turn.
Level 11: 10 temporary hit points.
Level 21: 15 temporary hit points.

This power is intended to replace the vice’s reward paladin utility.

Level 3

Extra Grim Smite

You gain one more use of grim smite per encounter, but you can still use it only once per turn.

Level 4

Utility Power

You gain a paladin utility power of your level or lower.

Level 5

Daily Attack Power

You gain a paladin daily attack power of your level or lower.

Reckless Pursuit	Paladin Attack 5
Your anger gets the better of you, lending weight to your strike, driving you after the fleeing foe, and blinding you to danger.
Encounter ✦ Divine, Weapon
Standard Action ✦ Melee Weapon
Target: One creature
Attack: Strength vs. AC
Hit: 4[W] + Strength modifier damage, and you push the target up to 2 squares. You then shift up to 3 squares to a square adjacent to the target.
Miss: Half damage.
Effect: You grant combat advantage until the start of your next turn.

This power is intended to replace the frenzying smite paladin attack.

Darkness Revealed	Paladin Attack 5
As you strike, your foe catches a momentary glimpse of the darkness within, inspiring unthinking panic.
Encounter ✦ Divine, Charm, Weapon, Psychic
Standard Action ✦ Melee Weapon
Target: One creature
Attack: Strength vs. Will
Hit: 2[W] + Strength modifier psychic damage, and you slide the target up to 2 squares. One enemy adjacent to the target at the end of the slide then takes 10 damage.
Miss: Half damage, and you can slide the target 1 square. One enemy adjacent to the target at the end of the slide then takes 5 damage.

This power is intended to replace the dark majesty paladin attack.

Level 6

Utility Power

You gain a paladin utility power of your level or lower.

Utter Callousness	Paladin Utility 6
As you dominate your foes, they seem less and less like feeling creatures.
Daily ✦ Divine
Minor Action ✦ Personal
Effect: Until the end of the encounter, when you hit any enemy with an at-will melee attack, you also push that target up to a number of squares equal to your Charisma modifier.

This power is intended to replace the aspect of domination paladin utility.

Unfettered Rage	Paladin Utility 6
As your foes begin to falter, the fury in your soul stirs.
Daily ✦ Divine
Minor Action ✦ Personal
Effect: Until the end of the encounter, your melee weapon attacks deal 1[W] extra damage when you are adjacent to at least one bloodied creature.

This power is intended to replace the aspect of ferocity paladin utility.

Level 9

Daily Power

You gain a paladin daily attack power of your level or lower.

Glimpse of Emptiness	Paladin Attack 9
The void within radiates out in a chilling wave, leaving your foes fleeing and cowering in fear.
Daily ✦ Divine, Fear, Teleportation, Weapon, Cold, Radiant
Standard Action ✦ Close blast 3
Target: Each creature in the blast
Attack: Strength vs. Will
Hit: 3[W] + Strength modifier cold and radiant damage. The target chooses either to take a free action to move up to its speed to a square as far as possible away from you, or to become dazed (save ends).
Miss: Half damage.
Effect: You can teleport to an unoccupied square in the blast.

This power is intended to replace the death angel paladin attack.

Glimpse of the Beast	Paladin Attack 9
You allow the beast within a moment of complete control, leaving foes shaken with terror.
Daily ✦ Divine, Weapon, Fire, Radiant
Standard Action ✦ Close burst 1
Target: Each creature in the burst
Attack: Strength vs. Fort
Hit: 2[W] + Strength modifier fire and radiant damage, and the target cannot shift or make opportunity attacks (save ends both).
Miss: Half damage.
Effect: After the attack, if the target has 10 hit points or fewer, it is stunned until the end of your next turn.

This power is intended to replace the spirit harrow paladin attack.

Level 10

Utility Power

You gain a paladin utility power of your level or lower.

Manifest Darkness	Paladin Utility 10
Your inner darkness surrounds you, nipping at your foes as they are struck.
Daily ✦ Divine
Minor Action ✦ Personal
Target: You and each ally in the burst
Effect: You activate an aura 1 that lasts until the end of the encounter. While you are bloodied, enemies in the aura take damage after they are hit by any attack. The damage equals your Charisma modifier and is of the type specified by your inner darkness.

This power is intended to replace the deathly aura paladin utility.

Inspire Discipline	Paladin Utility 10
Following your example, you companions can give of themselves to shake off an unwelcome influence.
Daily ✦ Divine
Minor Action ✦ Close burst 3
Target: You and each ally in the burst
Effect: Each target can take damage equal to one-half his or her level to make a saving throw with a +4 power bonus. The damage cannot be reduced in any way.

This power is intended to replace the turn the dark tide paladin utility.

Level 13

Extra Grim Smite

You gain one more use of grim smite per encounter, but you can still use it only once per turn.

Level 15

Optional Daily Power Replacement

You may replace any paladin daily attack power you know with a new daily attack power of your level or lower.

Avatar of Wrath	Paladin Attack 15
Faced with the vilest of foes, you finally let the beast within rise up.
Daily ✦ Divine, Weapon, Fire, Radiant
Standard Action ✦ Melee Weapon
Target: One creature
Attack: Strength vs. AC
Hit: 3[W] + Strength modifier fire and radiant damage.
Miss: Half damage.
Effect: You gain the following benefits until the end of the encounter.
• You gain a +4 power bonus to damage rolls.
• The first time you hit an enemy with an attack on each of your turns, a second enemy adjacent to you takes 10 fire damage.

This power is intended to replace the existing avatar of wrath paladin attack.

Avatar of Emptiness	Paladin Attack 15
You abandon your self-imposed empathy, fighting for a moment with unfeeling finality.
Daily ✦ Divine, Weapon, Cold, Radiant
Standard Action ✦ Melee Weapon
Target: One creature
Attack: Strength vs. AC
Hit: 3[W] + Strength modifier cold and radiant damage.
Miss: Half damage.
Effect: You gain the following benefits until the end of the encounter.
• You gain a +2 power bonus to attack rolls.
• You gain 5 temporary hit points at the start of each of your turns.
• Once per round as a minor action, you can choose one willing ally. That ally takes 5 damage but gains 10 temporary hit points.

This power is intended to replace the avatar of subjugation paladin attack.

Level 16

Utility Power

You gain a paladin utility power of your level or lower.

Grim Resolve	Paladin Utility 16
As your body flags, your stoic determination forces it back into the fight—but not without a price.
Daily ✦ Divine, Healing
Minor Action ✦ Personal
Effect: You regain hit points equal to your bloodied value and can make a saving throw. You cannot spend healing surges until the end of your next short rest.

This power is intended to replace the shadow healing paladin attack.

Grim Aversion	Paladin Utility 16
In a moment of dire need, you allow an ally to suffer the damage intended for you.
Daily ✦ Divine
Immediate Reaction ✦ Close burst 5
Trigger: An attack’s damage reduces you to 0 hit points or fewer.
Target: One ally in the burst.
Effect: You don’t take the damage. Instead, the target takes it and then gains 10 temporary hit points.

This power is intended to replace the pragmatic sacrifice paladin utility.

Level 17

Vigil’s Reward

Seeing your allies mend their wounds eases your concerns, letting you focus on controlling your own urges.

Benefit: When an ally spends a healing surge while adjacent to you, you gain temporary hit points equal to your Charisma modifier.

Level 19

Optional Daily Power Replacement

You may replace any paladin daily attack power you know with a new daily attack power of your level or lower.

Definitive Smite	Paladin Utility 19
Your blow connects with unexpected might, driving the foe to the ground.
Daily ✦ Divine
No Action ✦ Melee 1
Trigger: You hit an adjacent creature with an at-will weapon attack.
Target: The creature you hit
Effect: The target takes 25 damage and falls prone. It can’t stand up while you are adjacent to it (save ends). You grant combat advantage until the end of your next turn.

This power is intended to replace the ruinous smite paladin attack.

Consuming Smite	Paladin Utility 19
Tasting a moment of freedom, your dark urges thirst for more.
Daily ✦ Divine, Healing, Radiant
No Action ✦ Melee 1
Trigger: You hit an adjacent creature with an at-will weapon attack.
Target: The creature you hit
Effect: The target takes 10 radiant damage, and ongoing 10 radiant damage (save ends). The target takes a -2 penalty to saving throws against this ongoing damage. Each time the target takes the ongoing damage, you regain 10 hit points.

This power is intended to replace the plundering smite paladin attack.

Level 22

Utility Power

You gain a paladin utility power of your level or lower.

Righteous Defiance	Paladin Utility 22
In the face of many foes, your unfailing discipline buoys your strength and inspires your allies.
Daily ✦ Divine
Minor Action ✦ Personal
Effect: You activate an aura 2 that lasts until the end of the encounter. Creatures other than you in the aura grant combat advantage. You and each ally in the aura gain a power bonus to damage rolls equal to twice the number of enemies in the aura.

This power is intended to replace the rampaging bloodlust paladin attack.

Hungering Void	Paladin Utility 22
You shine with a soft golden light, inspiring allies at your side and drawing their life force to you.
Daily ✦ Divine, Healing
Minor Action ✦ Personal
Effect: You activate an aura 1 that lasts until the end of the encounter. Whenever you or an ally in the aura hits an enemy, he or she gains 5 temporary hit points. Whenever an ally in the aura spends a healing surge, he or she regains only half the hit points, and you regain the rest.

This power is intended to replace the dark grace paladin attack.

Level 22

Swift Vindication

While your conviction shines forth, you can ride its divine threads to meet your foe.

Benefit: After you use channel divinity, you can use a free action to teleport up to 5 squares toward an enemy.

Optional Daily Power Replacement

You may replace any paladin daily attack power you know with a new daily attack power of your level or lower.

Tower of Emptiness	Paladin Attack 25
The emptiness within is made manifest in an inescapable, soul-chilling void.
Daily ✦ Divine, Weapon, Cold, Radiant, Zone
Standard Action ✦ Close burst 3
Effect: You conjure a wall of frozen light that lasts until the end of your next turn. The wall’s squares are heavily obscured. and it can be up to 4 squares high. Any creature that enters the wall or ends its turn there takes 15 cold and radiant damage. When the wall appears, make the following attack.
Target: Each creature in the burst or adjacent to it
Attack: Strength vs. Fort
Hit: The target is immobilised until the end of its next turn. If the target is outside the zone, the target slides 1 square into it.
Sustain Minor: The zone persists until the end of your next turn, and you can repeat the attack.

This power is intended to replace the ravenous shadows paladin attack.

Pyre of Rage	Paladin Attack 25
The heat of your inner fury becomes manifest in the very blood of your foe.
Daily ✦ Divine, Weapon, Fire, Radiant
Standard Action ✦ Melee Weapon
Target: One creature
Attack: Strength vs. Fort
Hit: 2[W] + Strength modifier damage, and ongoing 20 fire and radiant damage (save ends).
Miss: Half damage, and ongoing 10 fire and radiant damage (save ends).
Effect: When the target first becomes bloodied or drops to 0 hit points, creatures in a close burst 1 from the target take 10 fire and radiant damage.

This power is intended to replace the venomous infection paladin attack.

Level 27

Warding Warmth

The strength of your conviction infuses your soul, mind and body. You no longer fear the touch of the grave or the icy cold of darkness.

Benefit: You gain resist 20 necrotic and resist 20 cold.

Optional Daily Power Replacement

You may replace any paladin daily attack power you know with a new daily attack power of your level or lower.

Avatar of the Beast	Paladin Attack 29
The darkness within you rages beyond control, transforming you into the monster you suppress.
Daily ✦ Divine, Weapon, Radiant
Standard Action ✦ Melee Weapon
Target: One creature
Attack: Strength vs. AC
Hit: 5[W] + Strength modifier radiant damage.
Miss: Half damage.
Effect: You gain the following benefits until the end of the encounter.
• Your attacks deal extra radiant damage equal to your Charisma modifier.
• Once per turn after you attack an enemy and hit, you gain 10 temporary hit points. If the attack already grants temporary hit points to you, you gain 5 additional temporary hit points.
• If you start your turn with no uses available of your grim smite power, roll a d6. On a 5 or 6, you regain one use of that power.
Special: In addition to radiant, all damage dealt by this power is also of the type associated with your inner darkness.

This power is intended to replace the avatar of vice paladin attack.