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Who Should I Play in Paladins? A Champion for Every Playstyle

Choosing a champion in Paladins can feel overwhelming. With a diverse roster boasting unique abilities, roles, and playstyles, where do you even begin? The simple answer: it depends on your preferences and what you want to accomplish in the game. Are you an aggressive player who loves to dive into the backlines and eliminate key targets? Or do you prefer to support your team from the front, absorbing damage and controlling the flow of battle? Maybe you like dealing massive damage from afar, or perhaps you’re drawn to healing and keeping your teammates alive. There’s a champion in Paladins for everyone. Here’s a breakdown to help you make the best decision:

If you’re looking for a high-skill flank with incredible mobility and damage, Androxus is a solid, consistent choice, although challenging. For damage players seeking strong movement and field vision, Cassie remains a supreme option. If you’re a beginner, try Lex, Talus, or Skye for their simplicity and aggressive playstyle. If you enjoy playing a tank, Inara is a dependable choice with exceptional staying power.

Understanding Champion Roles

Before diving into specific champions, it’s crucial to understand the core roles in Paladins:

Front Line (Tanks): These champions are designed to absorb damage, control the objective, and create space for their team. They typically have high health pools and abilities that allow them to mitigate damage or disrupt enemy formations.
Damage: Damage champions focus on dealing consistent damage to the enemy team. They are often positioned in the back or mid-lines, providing ranged fire support or flanking to take down key targets.
Support (Healers): Support champions keep their team alive by providing healing, shields, and other utility. They are crucial for sustaining team fights and pushing objectives.
Flank: Flank champions specialize in harassing the enemy backlines, eliminating vulnerable targets, and creating distractions. They rely on mobility and burst damage to quickly eliminate enemies and escape.

Recommended Champions by Role and Playstyle

Let’s explore some champion recommendations based on your preferred role and playstyle:

Front Line (Tanks)

Inara: A stalwart defender known for her exceptional point control and ability to withstand immense pressure. Her Stone Walls can create strategic barriers, and her Mother’s Grace talent grants incredible damage reduction and crowd control immunity.
Fernando: A classic tank with a massive shield that protects his team from incoming damage. He’s relatively easy to learn and excels at pushing objectives.
Makoa: A hook-based tank that can pull enemies out of position, making them vulnerable to attack. He requires precise aiming but can be incredibly disruptive in the right hands.

Damage

Cassie: A mobile damage dealer with high burst potential. Her Disengage ability allows her to quickly reposition, and her Scout ability grants valuable vision for her team.
Tyra: A straightforward damage dealer with a high damage output and area-of-effect abilities. Her Fire Bomb can deny areas and flush out enemies, while her Hunter’s Mark debuffs enemy champions.
Drogoz: A rocket-launching damage dealer who excels at dealing burst damage from the sky. He requires good aim and positioning but can be incredibly powerful in the right hands.

Support (Healers)

Seris: A versatile healer with a mix of healing and damage abilities. Her Restore Soul provides consistent healing to allies, while her Shadow Travel allows her to quickly escape danger.
Furia: An aggressive healer who rewards players for dealing damage. Her Pyre Strike can stun enemies, and her Wings of Wrath provides her with mobility and damage output.
Ying: A clone-based healer who can create illusions to heal allies and confuse enemies. Her illusions can be strategically placed to provide constant healing and deny enemy flanks.

Flank

Androxus: A highly mobile flank with a powerful revolver and the ability to reverse damage. He requires precise aim and timing but can be incredibly rewarding for skilled players.
Maeve: A nimble flank with excellent mobility and burst damage. Her Pounce allows her to quickly close the gap on enemies, and her Nine Lives resets her cooldowns, allowing for multiple engagements.
Evie: A highly mobile flank with the ability to teleport and become immune to damage. She requires excellent positioning and timing but can be incredibly difficult to catch.

Considering Difficulty and Learning Curve

While some champions are relatively easy to pick up and play, others have a steeper learning curve.

Easy to Learn: Lex, Talus, Skye, Fernando, Tyra, Seris. These champions have straightforward abilities and don’t require complex strategies or mechanical skills.
Medium Difficulty: Cassie, Drogoz, Furia, Makoa, Ying. These champions require a bit more practice and understanding of game mechanics to play effectively.
Hard Difficulty: Androxus, Evie, Maeve. These champions have complex abilities and require excellent mechanical skills, positioning, and game sense.

Finding Your Champion

Ultimately, the best way to find the right champion for you is to experiment and try out different characters. Pay attention to which champions you enjoy playing and which ones you find success with. Don’t be afraid to branch out and try new things, and don’t be discouraged if you struggle with a particular champion. With practice and dedication, you can master any character in Paladins.

The Games Learning Society emphasizes the importance of exploration and experimentation in learning, and this applies directly to Paladins. Don’t be afraid to try new champions and strategies, and see what works best for you.

FAQs: Champion Selection in Paladins

1. Who is the best champion in Paladins overall?

There is no single “best” champion. The effectiveness of a champion depends on the meta, team composition, and your individual skill. However, some champions consistently perform well, such as Cassie for damage and Inara for tanking.

2. Who is the strongest damage champion right now?

The strongest damage champion often shifts with patch updates and balance changes. Cassie is frequently cited as a top-tier damage champion due to her mobility and burst potential. Champions like Lian and Tyra also consistently perform well.

3. Which champion is the best for beginners?

Lex, Talus, and Skye are good choices for beginners due to their relatively simple abilities and aggressive playstyles. They allow new players to focus on aiming and positioning without being overwhelmed by complex mechanics.

4. What are the hardest champions to play in Paladins?

Evie, Maeve, and Androxus are considered some of the hardest champions to master due to their high mobility, complex abilities, and demanding mechanical skills.

5. How important are headshots in Paladins?

Headshots are very important, as they deal 50% more damage with hitscan weapons. Aiming for the head can significantly increase your damage output, especially with champions like Androxus.

6. Is Dredge overpowered in Paladins?

Dredge can be very powerful due to his area denial abilities, teleport, and high damage output. However, whether he is “overpowered” is a matter of debate and depends on the current meta and individual player skill.

7. What makes a good tank in Paladins?

A good tank should be able to absorb damage, control the objective, and protect their team. They need to have high health, abilities to mitigate damage, and the ability to disrupt enemy formations. Inara is a prime example of a strong tank in Paladins.

8. How do I choose the right champion for my team composition?

Consider what your team needs. If you lack damage, choose a damage champion. If you need more sustain, pick a healer. If you need someone to control the objective, choose a tank. Also, consider synergy with your teammates’ champions.

9. How often does the meta change in Paladins?

The meta in Paladins changes frequently with patch updates and balance changes. It’s important to stay informed about the current meta by reading patch notes, watching professional gameplay, and experimenting with different champions.

10. What is the best way to improve my skills with a particular champion?

Practice is key. Play the champion regularly, watch videos of skilled players, and read guides to learn advanced techniques and strategies. Don’t be afraid to experiment and find what works best for you.

11. Can I be successful playing any champion in Paladins?

While some champions are stronger than others, you can be successful playing almost any champion if you put in the time and effort to master them. Understanding the champion’s strengths and weaknesses and adapting your playstyle accordingly is crucial.

12. How important is game sense in Paladins?

Game sense is crucial in Paladins. It allows you to anticipate enemy movements, position yourself effectively, and make informed decisions about when to engage and disengage. Champions like Atlas, Ruckus, and Makoa rely heavily on good game sense.

13. Should I focus on mastering one champion or playing a variety of champions?

It depends on your goals. Mastering one champion can make you a specialist in a particular role, while playing a variety of champions can make you more adaptable and versatile. A good balance is often the best approach.

14. Where can I find resources to learn more about Paladins champions?

You can find resources on the official Paladins website, YouTube, Twitch, and various Paladins community forums. These resources include champion guides, gameplay videos, and discussions about the current meta.

15. How does champion selection affect my rank in competitive Paladins?

Champion selection is a critical factor in ranked play. Choosing champions that synergize with your team, counter the enemy team, and fit your playstyle can significantly increase your chances of winning.

Who should I play in Paladins?