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Diablo 4 Build

Shield Bash - Valkyrie - Levelling

Season 11

Paladin

Leveling

Imortilize

Creator

By imortilize

LIVE

Updated on Dec 28, 2025

Dec 28, 2025

Build Overview

This Holy Paladin Build focuses on optimising the Damage from the Shield Bash whilst staying tanky enough to easily get to Level 60.

Check the How It Works Section below to learn how the Holy Paladin zooms through Levelling.

If you've hit Level 60 check out the ENDGAME GUIDE which will take you to T4 and beyond or head to the TIER LIST for all other available endgame builds.

I will be live streaming most evenings (GMT) on Twitch, YouTube, Kick or X. This is a great time to come ask me questions directly!

Strengths and Weaknesses

Excellent Levelling Build
High Damage
High Defence

Resource Dependant
Cooldown Dependant

Build Variants

1 - 14

15 - 29

30 - 60

You get 1 Skill Point from the Season Journey at the very start.
This goes to 14 Skill Points at Level 14 (assuming no others from the Season Journey).

When you hit Level 15 move onto the 15 - 29 Variant where you can start speccing into your Oaths.

Assigned Skills

1 - 14

15 - 29

30 - 60

Primary

Secondary

Oaths

To unlock Oaths you will need to have reached Level 15+ at least once in your accounts lifetime on whichever realm you are playing (Softcore or Hardcore).

Equipment

1 - 14

15 - 29

30 - 60

HelmAspect of Disobedience

Chest armorAspect of the Indomitable

GlovesVirtuous Aspect

PantsAspect of Loyalty

BootsAspect of Swift Spirit

AmuletVanguard's Aspect

Ring 1Aspect of the Juggernaut's Covenant

Ring 2Aspect of Accursed Touch

WeaponAspect of Utmost Glory

OffhandAspect of Elemental Fate

Aspects

You can acquire the following Aspects from World Map Dungeons and Drops Only:

Kehjistan

Aspect of Disobedience -> Halls of the Damned

Drops Only

Vanguard's Aspect
Aspect of the Juggernaut's Covenant
Aspect of Utmost Glory
Virtuous Aspect
Aspect of Accursed Touch
Aspect of Elemental Fate
Aspect of the Indomitable
Aspect of Loyalty
Aspect of Swift Spirit

Unique Items

If you happen to come across any of the following Unique Items whilst levelling they will greatly boost the build:

Griswold's Opus

- Boss Drops: Andariel + Harbinger of Hatred
- Big Critical Damage
- Helps Solve Critical Chance

Bastion of Sir Matthias

- Boss Drops: The Beast In The Ice
- Grants Double Damage with Shield Bash
- Damage Reduction
- 15% Chance to Hit Twice with Shield Bash

Mantle of the Grey

- Boss Drops: Grigoire
- Huge Resolve Damage Stacking
- Increases Size of Juggernaut Skills by 25%

Tibault's Will

- Boss Drops: Andariel + Harbinger of Hatred
- Offensive Option
- Helps max Attack Speed and Critical Chance
- Grants Resource when becoming Unstoppable

Temerity

- Boss Drops: Lord Zir
- Defensive Alternative to Tibault's Will
- Allows Barrier Overheal
- Armour

Runes

If you happen to come across any of the following Rune Pairs whilst levelling they will greatly boost the build:

Moni + Lum

- Activates Every 2 Attacks
- Solves Shield Bash Resource Issues

Cir + Qua

- Solves Movement Speed along with Aspect of Haste

Note: If you do not have a Moni then you will NEED to have Resource Cost Reduction and Faith per Second on your Equipment and Tempers to try counter Resource Cost of Shield Bash.

The Moni solves this problem for you.

Elixirs and Incenses

1 - 14

15 - 29

30 - 60

ElixirElixir of Resourcefulness

Core IncenseAncient Times

Defensive IncenseSong of the Mountain

Resistance IncenseSoothing Spices

Skill Tree

1 - 14

15 - 29

30 - 60

Available

Spent14

Leveling Path

Clash

- Basic Skill to generate Resource when low

Shield Bash

- Main Damage Skill
- Activates Block Skills on Hit via Enhanced Shield Bash
- Generates Resolve for each Enemy Hit via Lay Siege Shield Bash
- 50% increased Impact Size via Lay Siege Shield Bash

Holy Light Aura

- Crazy Auto-Farm in the early levels

Defiance Aura

- Increases Armour and Resistances
- 10% Increased Maximum Life via Enhanced Defiance Aura
- 10%[x] Damage on Gaining Resolve via Rite of Might Defiance Aura

Fanaticism Aura

- Grants Attack Speed and Critical Chance
- 10% Increased Resource via Enhanced Fanaticism Aura

Rally

- Increased Movement Speed
- Grants Resource on use

Divine Gifts

1 - 14

15 - 29

30 - 60

Andariel

CorruptedEmpty

PurifiedEssence of Anguish

Azmodan

CorruptedEmpty

PurifiedEssence of Sin

Belial

CorruptedEmpty

PurifiedEssence of Lies

Duriel

CorruptedEmpty

PurifiedEssence of Pain

Divine Gifts

Purified

The best in slot Divine Perks for most Spiritborn Builds as follows:

Essence of Anguish

- +30% Movement Speed
- Double Chance for an Extra Obols in the Undercity

Essence of Sin

- 20% Increased Armour
- Double Chance for Activity Keys from World Bosses

Essence of Lies

- Fortify for 1% of your Maximum Life per Second
- Double Chance for an Extra Upgrade in the Pit

Essence of Pain

- Briefly Gain Maximum Barrier after becoming Injured, every 20 Seconds.
- Double Chance for an Extra Socketables in the Helltide

Mercenary

1 - 14

15 - 29

30 - 60

Varyana (Primary)

We take Varyana as our Primary for the Attack Speed and Movement Speed she grants which are both mandatory and exceptional for this build whilst levelling.

Raheir (Secondary)

We take Raheir as our Secondary as a get out of Jail Free Card if he activates in time when you Become Injured.

How it Plays

The following steps are the recommended Build Rotation for skill usage:

Let Fanaticism Aura, Defiance Aura and Holy Light Aura passively do their thing
Cast Consecration for Healing and to apply Weakened to enemies
Cast Fortress for Immunity and Extra Damage
Cast Rally for Extra Movement Speed and Resource Generation
Cast Shield Bash liberally around the other skills.

Repeat each step as necessary

How it Works

This Holy Paladin Build focuses on optimising the Damage from the [Insert Skill] whilst staying tanky enough to easily get to Level 60.

Build Overview

This Holy Paladin Build focuses on optimising the Damage from the Shield Bash whilst staying tanky enough to easily get to Level 60. It does this through the following:

The Juggernaut Oath
Juggernaut Damage Scalers
Rally for Movement Speed and Resource Generation.
Consecration for Sustain and Damage Reduction on enemies.
Immunity and Extra Damage from Fortress
100% Block from Shield and Passives.
Unstoppable from Defiance Aura.
As much Attack Speed as possible through Equipment, Skills and Passives.
As much Cooldown Reduction as possible through Equipment, Skills and Passives.

Check out the In-Depth Explanations below for further details on the build.

Start Tips

Equip a Pet
Equip Mercenary
Claim Season Journey Skill Points
Start Seasonal Questline
Unlock Seasonal Reputation Board
Start Levelling Strategy

Levelling Strategies

All of these levelling strategies will get you from Level 1 - 60 in a matter of Hours. Below are the levelling strategies you can use in order of Fastest to Slowest:

Vessel of Hatred Campaign + Strongholds

Fastest Strategy Historically
Run Vessel of Hatred Campaign until Level 48 - 50
Once you hit Level 48 - 50
- Run Strongholds until Level 60

Helltides + Strongholds

Fastest Non-Campaign Strategy
Run Helltides until Level 48 - 50
Hand in Whispers along the way
Once you hit Level 48 - 50
- Run Strongholds until Level 60

Note: The Strongholds grant the same reward XP in all Difficulties so run them in a difficulty where you can blast through them at a good speed.

Nightmare Dungeons

Requires Nightmare Dungeon Sigils (Experience Mote Affix)
Not the fastest
Provides other materials

FAQ

If you have any questions about this guide feel free to reach out to me whilst live on Twitch, YouTube, Kick or X or contact me offline via my Discord.