Incarnation Paladin (Holy Caster) SSF-viable

Binding Treads for QoL, Wake of Destruction for breakpoints/damage

This build is so overpowered it is insane. Spent no effort gearing one and got to lab 10 easily. You basically just stay behind and never get hit, so doesn't matter much that you are fragile then. Nice guide!

Going from Melee WW barb to this was actually traumatic and laugh inducing at the same time, seeing how quickly Holy caster disposes of trash and bosses alike. The squishiness and sustain are okay.

What is the aimed at breakpoint here, just for ref. 550%, 600%?

Basically . bear stance shield is a must , til you get PR from your reward skill high enough. Do not foreget to use Solar flare, it boosts your spell bonus to hydra fireballs count. If you happen to level - use this TU item

Demoncall

Demoncall
Short Staff (4)
Two-Hand Damage: 4 to 5
Required Level: 1
Item Level: 1
Dexterity Damage Bonus: (0.15 per Dexterity)%
+(1 to 2) to All Skills
+(31 to 50) Spell Focus
15% Cast Speed
+50% Damage to Undead
Fire Resist +(11 to 15)%
Poison Resist +(11 to 15)%
Socketed (1)
Two-Hand Damage: 11 to 12
Required Level: 17
Required Dexterity: 8
Item Level: 31
Dexterity Damage Bonus: (0.15 per Dexterity)%
+(3 to 4) to All Skills
+(71 to 90) Spell Focus
30% Cast Speed
+50% Damage to Undead
Fire Resist +(21 to 25)%
Poison Resist +(21 to 25)%
Socketed (2)
Two-Hand Damage: 18 to 20
Required Level: 36
Required Dexterity: 25
Item Level: 51
Dexterity Damage Bonus: (0.15 per Dexterity)%
+(5 to 6) to All Skills
+(111 to 130) Spell Focus
45% Cast Speed
+50% Damage to Undead
Fire Resist +(31 to 35)%
Poison Resist +(31 to 35)%
Socketed (3)
Two-Hand Damage: 22 to 24
Required Level: 45
Required Dexterity: 52
Item Level: 77
Dexterity Damage Bonus: (0.15 per Dexterity)%
+(7 to 8) to All Skills
+(131 to 150) Spell Focus
60% Cast Speed
+50% Damage to Undead
Fire Resist +(36 to 40)%
Poison Resist +(36 to 40)%
Socketed (3)

and another unmentioned is

Binding Treads

Binding Treads
Light Plated Boots (Sacred)
Defense: (2224 - 2538) to (3909 - 4256)
Required Level: 100
Required Strength: 625
Item Level: 105
+100% Duration to Solar Flare
+(1 to 2) to Paladin Skill Levels
(20 to 50)% Movement Speed
25% Hit Recovery
5% Life stolen per Hit
+(8 to 20)% to Spell Damage
+(120 to 160)% Enhanced Defense
+(500 to 2000) Defense
+(75 to 150) to Mana
Socketed (4)

- sure, wake of destruction boots are better for MO space and all but Binding threads boots QOL from solar flare duration is actually worth of it. I'm sitting at 120 lvl atm.

Ruubel wrote: ... If you happen to level - use this TU item
Demoncall
Demoncall
Short Staff (4)
Two-Hand Damage: 4 to 5
Required Level: 1
Item Level: 1
Dexterity Damage Bonus: (0.15 per Dexterity)%
+(1 to 2) to All Skills
+(31 to 50) Spell Focus
15% Cast Speed
+50% Damage to Undead
Fire Resist +(11 to 15)%
Poison Resist +(11 to 15)%
Socketed (1)
Two-Hand Damage: 11 to 12
Required Level: 17
Required Dexterity: 8
Item Level: 31
Dexterity Damage Bonus: (0.15 per Dexterity)%
+(3 to 4) to All Skills
+(71 to 90) Spell Focus
30% Cast Speed
+50% Damage to Undead
Fire Resist +(21 to 25)%
Poison Resist +(21 to 25)%
Socketed (2)
Two-Hand Damage: 18 to 20
Required Level: 36
Required Dexterity: 25
Item Level: 51
Dexterity Damage Bonus: (0.15 per Dexterity)%
+(5 to 6) to All Skills
+(111 to 130) Spell Focus
45% Cast Speed
+50% Damage to Undead
Fire Resist +(31 to 35)%
Poison Resist +(31 to 35)%
Socketed (3)
Two-Hand Damage: 22 to 24
Required Level: 45
Required Dexterity: 52
Item Level: 77
Dexterity Damage Bonus: (0.15 per Dexterity)%
+(7 to 8) to All Skills
+(131 to 150) Spell Focus
60% Cast Speed
+50% Damage to Undead
Fire Resist +(36 to 40)%
Poison Resist +(36 to 40)%
Socketed (3)
...

In my opinion, Demoncall is not really a good option to lvl. basically you only get higher mana cost due to + skills (base damage gain above slvl 28 is pretty low on Incarnation spells) and you get plenty of speeds from Rapture. So the only really useful stat on there is actually the resistance. No attributes, no mana, no regen (

Voidstream

Voidstream
Grand Scepter (4)
One-Hand Damage: 8 to 9
Required Level: 4
Required Dexterity: 40
Item Level: 10
Dexterity Damage Bonus: (0.11 per Dexterity)%
+1 to Amazon Skill Levels
+1 to Paladin Skill Levels
5% Cast Speed
+50% Damage to Undead
+(6 to 8)% to Physical/Magic Spell Damage
+(6 to 8)% to Lightning Spell Damage
Slows Attacker by (3 to 5)%
Regenerate Mana +(21 to 25)%
Physical Damage Reduced by (3 to 5)
Socketed (1)
One-Hand Damage: 16 to 18
Required Level: 23
Required Dexterity: 67
Item Level: 31
Dexterity Damage Bonus: (0.11 per Dexterity)%
+2 to Amazon Skill Levels
+2 to Paladin Skill Levels
15% Cast Speed
+50% Damage to Undead
+(11 to 13)% to Physical/Magic Spell Damage
+(11 to 13)% to Lightning Spell Damage
Slows Attacker by (9 to 11)%
Regenerate Mana +(31 to 35)%
Physical Damage Reduced by (9 to 11)
Socketed (2)
One-Hand Damage: 20 to 30
Required Level: 41
Required Dexterity: 139
Item Level: 51
Dexterity Damage Bonus: (0.11 per Dexterity)%
+3 to Amazon Skill Levels
+3 to Paladin Skill Levels
25% Cast Speed
+50% Damage to Undead
+(16 to 18)% to Physical/Magic Spell Damage
+(16 to 18)% to Lightning Spell Damage
Slows Attacker by (15 to 17)%
Regenerate Mana +(41 to 45)%
Physical Damage Reduced by (15 to 17)
Socketed (3)
One-Hand Damage: 30 to 35
Required Level: 51
Required Dexterity: 279
Item Level: 77
Dexterity Damage Bonus: (0.11 per Dexterity)%
+4 to Amazon Skill Levels
+4 to Paladin Skill Levels
30% Cast Speed
+50% Damage to Undead
+(18 to 20)% to Physical/Magic Spell Damage
+(18 to 20)% to Lightning Spell Damage
Slows Attacker by (18 to 20)%
Regenerate Mana +(46 to 50)%
Physical Damage Reduced by (18 to 20)
Socketed (3)

really shines here for lvling purposes before regen MOs on jewlery)

I was theorycrafting gear on launch and thought that I was incredibly smart when it clicked to use full set Hadriels and 2 piece Yaerius, I guess not anymore. Great guide, agree with everything

so the endgame core item is fire hydra or?

it can drop @ scolsglen, right? (and not fauzt). im 116 right now with both sets and grinding my way through ubers and k3k.

It drops at Scols yes, likely Fautz as well.

Kerchaak wrote:Going from Melee WW barb to this was actually traumatic and laugh inducing at the same time, seeing how quickly Holy caster disposes of trash and bosses alike. The squishiness and sustain are okay.

What is the aimed at breakpoint here, just for ref. 550%, 600%?

600% is very doable in both the midgame and endgame gearing variants. 1000pmsd is doable with

Deckard Cain's Heirloom

Deckard Cain's Heirloom
Short Staff (Sacred)
Two-Hand Damage: 53 to 55
Required Level: 100
Required Dexterity: 188
Item Level: 120
Dexterity Damage Bonus: (0.15 per Dexterity)%
+2.5% Spell Damage per 1% Additional Experience Gain
+1 to All Skills
+50% Damage to Undead
-(20 to 25)% to Enemy Fire Resistance
-(20 to 25)% to Enemy Lightning Resistance
-(20 to 25)% to Enemy Cold Resistance
Maximum Fire Resist +2%
Maximum Lightning Resist +2%
Maximum Cold Resist +2%
2% Reanimate as: Random Monster
(21 to 60)% Magic Find
''Knowledge is Power''
Socketed (3)

.

I made a video of endgame geared HCP clearing Scosglen, check it out!

Yeah, i found out that im absolutely horrible at reading.
Scion makes a really big difference. I went a bit hard and got over 500% without Solar for a bit, then i chilled out to replace some jewels with Ists.
For now I'm trying to go with the most MF i can sacrificing some PMSD. I may reconsider Wake of Destruction over Binding Treads for more hydra damage.

I see you're skipping the trees. Any particular reason outside of just being tanky and poison being a pain, do they not give the better shot at the runes?
Since all of my meatshields keep dying in Scols, i rerolled with Specialization and poured the rest of my points in dragon's breath. Works pretty well for dedicated farmer.