Best FOH Paladin Build for D2R 2.4 - Diablo 2 Ladder Fist of the Heavens Paladin

Let’s dive through a new D2R 2.4 FOH Paladin Build with stats, skills, mercenary and gear sets including some budget gear options, as well as tips and suggestions for playing the Fist of the Heavens Paladin in Diablo 2 Ladder Season. 

Best FOH Paladin Build for D2R 2.4 - Diablo 2 Ladder Fist of the Heavens Paladin 

Why should you consider playing as a Fist of the Heavens Paladin in Diablo 2 Resurrected 2.4 Ladder? It kind of wrecks the entire screen of mobs with one spell cast, with a Patch 2.4 out, the FOH skill not only damages your undead foes but also demons. In addition, when playing FOH, you can cast from a long range, making it a solid safe choice, and definitely hardcore viable. Another advantage of FOH Paladin is the low gear requirement to start farming some best locations. Below is the breakdown of a FOH Paladin D2R 2.4 Build by TopSecret, covering attribute stats, skill trees, standard & budget gear and mercenary equipment. 

Stats

For stats, you want enough strength for the gear that you have to equip on the FOH Paladin, dexterity for max block using the Holy Shield, and the rest of your wonderful stat points should be put on vitality for enhancing the quality of your life. 

- Strength: 177

- Dexterity: 159

- Vitality: 462

- Energy: 51

Skill Tree

In Combat Skill, max both Fist of the Heavens and Holy Bolt, and dump the rest of the points into Holy Shield, but only do that after getting the essential things. For Offensive Auras, this version is more of a pure FOH build, max out lightning damage synergy Holy Shock while spending just one point of each of the other skills. Then for the Defensive Auras, spend 20 points to Resist Fire, that sacrifice is made so that the mercenary can feel safe while we farm. One point is put into Vigor to gain movement speed, and you can use it with Charge to move faster, we also have one point wonders into Redemption, Salvation, Prayer, Defiance, and Cleansing. 

- Defensive Auras (26 points): Resist Fire - 20, Prayer - 1, Defiance - 1, Cleansing - 1, Vigor - 1, Redemption - 1, Salvation - 1

- Offensive Auras (29 points): Holy Shock - 20, Might - 1, Blessed Aim - 1, Holy Fire - 1, Thorns - 1, Concentration - 1, Holy Freeze - 1, Fanaticism - 1, Sanctuary - 1, Conviction - 1

- Combat Skills (50 points): Fist of the Heavens - 20, Holy Bolt - 20, Sacrifice - 1, Zeal - 1, Vengeance - 1, Conversion - 1, Smite - 1, Charge - 1, Blessed Hammer - 1, Holy Shield - 3 

Standard Build Gear

For the gear and mercenary equipment of this D2R FOH Paladin, here we got standard and budget versions to fit different requirements. The standard build equips a lot of powerful Diablo 2 weapons, runewords, and unique items as below. 

- Weapon: Heart of the Oak (Flail), Call to Arms (Crystal Sword)

- Helm: Harlequin Crest (Shako)

- Amulet: Mara's Kaleidoscope

- Shield: Herald of Zakarum (Zekarum Shield), Spirit (Sacred Rondache)

- Armor: Enigma (Dusk Shroud)

- Boots: War Traveler (Battle Boots)

- Rings: Bul-Kathos’ Wedding Band

- Belt: Arachnid Mesh (Spiderweb Sash)

- Charms: Annihilus (Small Charm), Gheed’s Fortune (Grand Charm), Hellfire Torch (Large Charm), Small Charm of Good Luck, Small Charm of Vita, Ruby Small Charm of Vita, Coral Small Charm of Good Luck, Stout Small Charm of Good Luck

Standard Mercenary Gear

- Mercenary: Act 2 Vikhyat (Level 94 Desert Merc)

- Weapon: Insight (Cryptic Axe)

- Armor: Treachery (Balrog Skin)

- Helm: Andariel's Visage (Demonhead)

Budget Build Gear

The budget version gear for this build is cheap and easy to obtain. 

- Weapon: Spirit (Phase Blade)

- Helm: Lore (Bone Helm)

- Shield: Rhyme (Kite Shield)

- Armor: Stealth (Light Plate)

- The rest of the gear is just random

Budget Mercenary Gear

- Mercenary: Act 1 Sharyn (Level 85 Rogue)

- Weapon: Insight (Hydra Bow)

- Armor: Duriel's Shell (Cuirass)

- Helm: Rockstopper (Sallet)