The Paladin Guide: 1st-Level Encounter Attack Powers

• Charisma attack
• Implement power
• Ranged (short)
• Radiant damage
• Debuff (attack)

Dazzling flare is one of the few ranged encounter powers available to a paladin. As an attack roll debuff, it is numerically less effective than the equal-level fearsome smite for a paladin with a 16 or higher Wisdom, but it also affects enemies immune to fear. A paladin who wants to focus on ranged or implement attacks could find it a good choice.

• Strength attack
• Wisdom secondary
• Weapon power
• Weapon vs. non-AC defense (Fortitude)
• Forced movement (push)
• Mobility (self)

Divine pursuit is nearly always superior to the higher-level staggering smite, unless the target has a Fortitude defense higher than AC. It is also likely to be more accurate since it is a weapon power that targets a non-AC defense, even though Fortitude tends to be the highest of the non-AC defenses. A paladin who values accuracy, mobility, or the ability to control his opponents' position could find it a good choice.

• Charisma attack
• Wisdom secondary
• Weapon power
• Fear effect
• Debuff (attack)

Fearsome smite is a defensive power similar to the equal-level dazzling flare, guardian light and shielding smite in that it reduces the chance that an enemy's attack will hit. It is most effective at defending against a single enemy as it imposes a penalty on all of its attacks, regardless of the defense targeted or the party member attacked, provided the enemy is not immune to fear. A paladin who wants to focus on interfering with a single target or who has a bonus to fear attacks could find it a good choice.

• Strength or Charisma attack
• Wisdom secondary
• Weapon power
• Radiant damage
• Defense bonus (non-AC, self)

In a way, guardian light is one of the least selfless paladin powers as it provides a bonus to the non-AC defenses of the paladin instead of his allies. Perhaps because of this thematic dissonance, it deals less damage than other paladin encounter powers of the same level. Although it does not directly defend the paladin's allies, it can be used to good effect in conjunction with a power that marks multiple opponents such as the 2nd-level utility power call of challenge. A paladin who is less concerned about offense and wants to boost his non-AC defenses could find it a good choice.

• Strength attack
• Weapon power
• Sacrifice (all defenses)

Heedless fury can be considered the diametric opposite of the equal-level guardian light as it lowers the paladin's defenses but deals more damage than most other equal-level paladin encounter powers. This contributes to the paladin's ability to act as a defender and draw attacks from enemies by simultaneously causing him to appear as a serious threat and making him a more attractive target. Paladins who use highly damaging weapons get the most benefit from this power and could find it a good choice.

• Strength attack
• Wisdom secondary
• Weapon power
• Weapon vs. non-AC defense (Reflex)
• Mark (multi-target, basic)

Piercing smite is one of the most accurate of the equal-level paladin encounter powers as it is a weapon power that targets a non-AC defense. It also enhances the paladin's ability to defend his allies by allowing him to mark multiple adjacent enemies, albeit only with a basic mark. A paladin who values accuracy or the ability to mark multiple opponents could find it a good choice.

• Strength attack
• Wisdom secondary
• Weapon power
• Radiant damage

Radiant smite deals more damage than most other equal-level paladin encounter powers. Paladins who have a high Wisdom or who use less damaging weapons may find it superior to the equal-level high-damage paladin encounter power, heedless fury. A paladin who wants to focus on radiant damage or who is primarily focused on defense but still wants a damaging attack could find it a good choice.

• Charisma attack
• Wisdom secondary
• Weapon power
• Defense bonus (AC, ally)

Shielding smite is the most reliable of the equal-level defensive paladin encounter powers in that it provides a boost to an ally's AC as an effect; the paladin does not need to hit with the power first. A paladin who wants to focus on protecting a single ally could find it a good choice.

• Charisma attack
• Weapon power
• Mark (multi-target, divine sanction)

Valorous smite is another power that allows the paladin to mark multiple enemies. In comparison to the equal-level piercing smite, it is less accurate, but it can potentially affect more enemies and it imposes a better mark. A paladin who is focused on marking multiple opponents could find it a good choice.