Holy Paladin new patch

[Crowned]

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Has anyone figured out how Solar Flare is supposed to work, yet?
What happens when I use it:

- Sometimes I do get the dragon "morph" from using Solar Flare, sometimes I don't - there's no indicator how long that "morph" is supposed to last. Is the form an indicator for an "active" solar flare, with which you can cast your other skills?

- I can spam Solar Flare as long I want, it has no cooldown but doesn't seem to do damage most of the time. First I thought there can only be 1 active solar flare at a time, but even if I use it once every 5 seconds, sometimes it doesnt do damage.

- I don't know how to use Drakemaw after Solar Flare, since that skill has never been available to cast.

- I also receive lifesteal for no reason, I don't have Incarnation yet.

I had about the same issues before the patch with the old dragon form. I never got around to understand the skills nor the tree.

Since the previous answer has already been answered and I could have just asked that in short questions rather than making a new thread - what gear/build choices can bring me through the early game and challenges?
I have been using Retaliate(1),VoR(max),Solar Flare(1) and the 4th talent of the new tree for lifesteal and it seems pretty strong right now.
Got a

Catechumen

Catechumen
Aerin Shield (4)
Defense: (188 - 198) to (368 - 389)
Chance to Block: 2%
(Paladin Only)
Required Level: 7
Required Strength: 25
Item Level: 10
5% Chance to cast level 6 Flamefront on Melee Attack
Adds (4 to 7)-(8 to 13) Damage
+(19 to 30)% Damage to Undead
+(61 to 70)% Enhanced Defense
Fire Resist +(11 to 20)%
Lightning Resist +(11 to 20)%
Cold Resist +(11 to 20)%
Poison Resist +(11 to 20)%
+20 Life on Melee Attack
2% Reanimate as: Random Monster
Socketed (2)
Defense: (573 - 600) to (1027 - 1076)
Chance to Block: 2%
(Paladin Only)
Required Level: 25
Required Strength: 50
Item Level: 31
9% Chance to cast level 18 Flamefront on Melee Attack
Adds (9 to 12)-(18 to 23) Damage
+(43 to 54)% Damage to Undead
+(91 to 100)% Enhanced Defense
Fire Resist +(21 to 30)%
Lightning Resist +(21 to 30)%
Cold Resist +(21 to 30)%
Poison Resist +(21 to 30)%
+40 Life on Melee Attack
3% Reanimate as: Random Monster
Socketed (2)
Defense: (1341 - 1396) to (2362 - 2458)
Chance to Block: 2%
(Paladin Only)
Required Level: 42
Required Strength: 175
Item Level: 51
13% Chance to cast level 30 Flamefront on Melee Attack
Adds (14 to 17)-(28 to 33) Damage
+(67 to 78)% Damage to Undead
+(121 to 130)% Enhanced Defense
Fire Resist +(31 to 40)%
Lightning Resist +(31 to 40)%
Cold Resist +(31 to 40)%
Poison Resist +(31 to 40)%
+60 Life on Melee Attack
4% Reanimate as: Random Monster
Socketed (3)
Defense: (1985 - 2060) to (3489 - 3620)
Chance to Block: 2%
(Paladin Only)
Required Level: 51
Required Strength: 350
Item Level: 77
15% Chance to cast level 36 Flamefront on Melee Attack
Adds (17 to 19)-(33 to 38) Damage
+(79 to 90)% Damage to Undead
+(141 to 150)% Enhanced Defense
Fire Resist +(41 to 50)%
Lightning Resist +(41 to 50)%
Cold Resist +(41 to 50)%
Poison Resist +(41 to 50)%
+80 Life on Melee Attack
5% Reanimate as: Random Monster
Socketed (4)

and

Dies Metus

Dies Metus
Goedendag (4)
One-Hand Damage: (8 - 9) to (13 - 19)
(Paladin Only)
Required Level: 6
Required Strength: 46
Item Level: 10
Strength Damage Bonus: (0.14 per Strength)%
4% Chance to cast level 1 Ice Elementals on Death Blow
5% Attack Speed
+(3 to 7) to Maximum Damage
Stun Attack
+(4 to 6)% to Spell Damage
+(18 to 40)% Enhanced Damage
Slow Target (3 to 5)%
+(11 to 20)% to Summoned Minion Life
+10% to Summoned Minion Resistances
Socketed (1)
One-Hand Damage: (22 - 26) to (42 - 49)
(Paladin Only)
Required Level: 24
Required Strength: 81
Item Level: 36
Strength Damage Bonus: (0.14 per Strength)%
5% Chance to cast level 5 Ice Elementals on Death Blow
15% Attack Speed
+(11 to 14) to Maximum Damage
Stun Attack
+(7 to 9)% to Spell Damage
+(64 to 86)% Enhanced Damage
Slow Target (9 to 11)%
+(21 to 30)% to Summoned Minion Life
+15% to Summoned Minion Resistances
Socketed (2)
One-Hand Damage: (50 - 55) to (84 - 96)
(Paladin Only)
Required Level: 43
Required Strength: 169
Item Level: 51
Strength Damage Bonus: (0.14 per Strength)%
6% Chance to cast level 10 Ice Elementals on Death Blow
25% Attack Speed
+(18 to 22) to Maximum Damage
Stun Attack
+(10 to 12)% to Spell Damage
+(109 to 132)% Enhanced Damage
Slow Target (15 to 17)%
+(31 to 40)% to Summoned Minion Life
+20% to Summoned Minion Resistances
Socketed (3)
One-Hand Damage: (67 - 73) to (112 - 124)
(Paladin Only)
Required Level: 52
Required Strength: 339
Item Level: 77
Strength Damage Bonus: (0.14 per Strength)%
8% Chance to cast level 16 Ice Elementals on Death Blow
30% Attack Speed
+(22 to 25) to Maximum Damage
Stun Attack
+(13 to 15)% to Spell Damage
+(132 to 154)% Enhanced Damage
Slow Target (18 to 20)%
+(41 to 50)% to Summoned Minion Life
+30% to Summoned Minion Resistances
Socketed (3)

and started bombing away. I guess TU 1h Hammer might be a good shard investment.

[kiki22vu]

dont use patch on the realm.

[TomKatz03]

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