Paladin equipment

Equipping a Paladin can be a challenge. The typical Paladin will want to wear +Stat items for Strength, Dexterity, Constitution, Charisma, and sometimes Wisdom. All this in addition to the usual array of Poison Immunity, Striding, and Heavy Fortification. One benefit for the Paladin is that most primarily-Paladin builds have sufficient saves so that a Resistance Item is not as needed; potentially freeing a valuable item slot.

Weapons
A Paladin is proficient in Simple & Martial weaponry, as well as shields. This being the case, you could choose any damage type to be your primary weapon set. Most paladins use weapons with extraordinary critical range/multiplayer for synergy with smiting (often khopesh, falchion, scimitar).

If your starting race has a particular weapon proficiency, this would be a preferred choice to make. Picking one damage type & fighting style and sticking with it will increase the attack and damage done by your smite attack. Though that doesn't mean you can't carry others for particular enemies (an example being Bludgeoning for Undead or Oozes).

Don't forget that as a Paladin, you have access to Axiomatic & Holy weapons, and will suffer negative levels wielding Anarchic & Evil Weapons.

Also, Paladins have access to Faith based enhancements which allow bonuses to-hit for particular weapons. Unique weapon choices for these proficiencies are listed below:


 * Follower of the Lord of Blades (Greatsword - Warforged)
 * Atonement
 * Terror
 * Whirlwind


 * Follower of the Silver Flame (Longbow)
 * Bow of the Elements (Air)
 * Bow of the Elements (Ice)
 * Thornlord
 * Tortured Livewood Bow
 * Unwavering Ardency


 * Follower of the Sovereign Host (Longsword)
 * Dragon Sword of Acid
 * Enduring Conviction


 * Follower of the Undying Court (Scimitar - Elf or Half-Elf)
 * Mirage
 * Kron'zek's Cruelty
 * Royal Scimitar


 * Follower of the Vulkoor (Shortsword - Drow)
 * Sting
 * Zephyr

Armor
Paladins are proficient with all armor types, so your armor choice is endless. A Mithral armor that provides Command or Sacred is always a good choice. And don't forget that you will suffer negative levels wearing anything Evil & Unholy.

Shields
Paladins are proficient with shields. Also a Paladin may choose the Tower Shield proficiency and takes the Defender of Siberys prestige class to make their shields much more powerful and increase their AC.


 * Unique Shields for Paladins:
 * Shield of the Scorpion
 * Carved Bone Shield
 * Shield of Reflecting
 * Adherence
 * Arrondi
 * Bijio
 * Death's Door
 * Fanion
 * Sorrel
 * Aegis of Flame
 * Blood's Bellows
 * Levik's Defender
 * Lorikk's Champion
 * Madstone Shield
 * Light and Darkness

Healing Equipment
Paladins have limited spell pool and usually don't use spells for healing. Instead, they often use wands (Cure Light-Serious Wounds). Lay on Hands ability depends on charisma, therefore, items increasing charisma are a good option.

Paladins with high UMD scores can carry some wands & scrolls for Raise Dead, Heal, and anything else you might be able to cast.

Spellcasting Equipment
As a Paladin your spellset is quite limited (possessing no offensive spells) and your spell points are equally few.

An item of Power or Wizardry to boost the number of available spell points would be appreciated.

Most of the spells you possess will be to augment yourself (Bonuses to attack, DMG, AC, DR), protect or cure your allies, or for healing. Keeping a Potency or other Focus specific item around to augment these would be ok.

Paladins will be able to use any wand that is specific to their class, plus if your UMD is high enough, you might be able to carry a wand for some distance attacks, to lure monsters to you.

Example Equipment
This is an example equipment list for an Paladin. It should give an idea for what stats and abilities are going into each equipment slot, and lower level equivalents of most items should be available.
 * Armor: +5 Full Plate / +5 Mithral Full Plate / +5 Mithral Breastplate (Evasion) / Full Plate of the Ringleader / Gleaming Adamantine Plate
 * Shield: +5 Mithral Heavy Shield / +5 Adamantine Heavy Shield / Sorrel / Fanion / Bulwark of the Storm's Fist
 * Goggles: Spectacular Optics / Sandstorm Glasses / Mentau Goggles
 * Helm: +WIS / Minos Legens / Tradusor
 * Necklace: +WIS / +CON / Nightforge Gorget / +Protection / Golden Cartouche (UMD Build)
 * Trinket: Mummified Bat / Bloodstone / Pearl / Magi / Kardin's Eye / Pouch of Jerky / Head of Good Fortune
 * Cloak: +CHA / Greater Resistance Item / +Protection / Wretched Twilight
 * Belt: +CON / +STR / Heavy Fortification / Greater False Life / Electric Haze / Belt of Brute Strength
 * Gloves: +DEX / +STR / Rabbit Gloves / Seven Fingered Gloves (UMD Build)
 * Boots: Feather Fall / +DEX / +Striding / Boots of the Innocent
 * Bracers: Chaosgarde / Ethereal Bracers / +STR
 * Rings: Stat / Ring of the Silver Concord / Ring of the Ancestors / Greater False Life / Feather Falling / Chattering Ring / Seal of the Earth