Paladins®

Overview

Paladins stands as one of the most versatile hero shooters in the competitive gaming landscape, offering players an extensive roster of over 50 unique Champions across four distinct classes. Developed by Evil Mojo Games and published by Hi-Rez Studios, this free-to-play team-based shooter combines elements of fantasy, strategy, and fast-paced action. What truly distinguishes Paladins from its genre counterparts is its deep customization system, allowing players to tailor Champions to their preferred playstyle through loadout cards, talents, and in-match item purchases.

Set in a vibrant fantasy world known as the Realm, teams of five compete across various objective-based modes, from escorting payloads to capturing and holding strategic points. Each match becomes a chess-like battle of strategy and skill, where team composition, map awareness, and individual mechanical prowess all play crucial roles in securing victory. With its accessible entry point and remarkable depth, Paladins continues to maintain a dedicated player base years after its 2018 full release.

Champion Diversity & Class System

What makes Paladins' roster of Champions stand out in the crowded hero shooter genre?

The game's 50+ Champions are divided into four distinct classes, each fulfilling specific tactical roles within a team composition:

• Damage Champions excel at consistent damage output
• Flanks specialize in mobility and surprise attacks
• Frontlines create space and protect teammates
• Supports provide healing and utility buffs

This class structure creates natural synergies within teams while allowing for creative composition strategies. Unlike many class-based shooters, Paladins doesn't strictly lock Champions into rigid roles. A Support Champion equipped with damage-focused cards can transform into a formidable offensive threat, while a properly built Flank might emphasize survivability over pure burst damage.

Each Champion brings their own unique weapon, set of abilities, and ultimate skill to the battlefield. From Viktor's straightforward assault rifle gameplay to Io's celestial fox companion that can both heal allies and stun enemies, the gameplay variety ensures players of all preferences find Champions that resonate with their playstyle. The diverse roster includes everything from traditional fantasy archetypes like elven archers to more unexpected concepts like a sentient bomb king or a time-traveling scientist.

Customization & Progression Systems

The heart of Paladins' strategic depth lies in its multi-layered customization systems. Before each match, players select a Talent that fundamentally alters how a Champion's abilities function. These Talents can transform a healing ability into a damaging one, enhance mobility options, or completely change a Champion's strategic role.

Beyond Talents, the loadout card system lets players create personalized builds by selecting five cards from a Champion-specific pool and allocating points to determine their strength. These cards modify ability cooldowns, provide health regeneration, enhance damage output, or add entirely new effects to abilities. Players can save multiple loadouts for each Champion, allowing quick adaptation to different team compositions or map requirements.

In-match progression adds another layer of strategic depth. Players earn credits by performing well and completing objectives, spending these resources on items that counter enemy strategies or enhance their own strengths. Need to deal with a healing-heavy enemy team? Purchase Cauterize to reduce healing effectiveness. Facing multiple shields? Wrecker increases damage against them. This reactive itemization creates dynamic mid-match adaptation rarely seen in other hero shooters.

How Does Paladins' Monetization Work?

As a free-to-play title, Paladins offers all gameplay elements—Champions, maps, and modes—without requiring purchases. New players start with a limited Champion rotation that expands through gameplay progression or optional purchases. The monetization primarily focuses on cosmetic items, including character skins that often completely transform a Champion's appearance and voice lines.

The game offers multiple paths for acquiring content:

• Direct purchase of Champions or cosmetics
• Battle Passes with progressive rewards
• Event passes tied to seasonal content
• Daily login rewards and quests

While premium currency (Crystals) can be purchased with real money, the game regularly provides free Crystals through login bonuses and special events. Additionally, the in-game Gold currency earned through matches allows players to unlock Champions without spending real money, creating a fair balance between free progression and premium shortcuts.

Game Modes & Competitive Play

Paladins' core gameplay revolves around objective-based team competition. Siege, the primary mode, combines point capture and payload escort mechanics into a strategic tug-of-war. Onslaught focuses on controlling a central area while maintaining team deathmatch elements, and Team Deathmatch emphasizes pure combat prowess. Rotating limited-time modes regularly appear, offering experimental rulesets and unique challenges.

The ranked competitive mode implements a draft pick system where teams take turns selecting and banning Champions, adding a strategic pre-game layer where counter-picking and team composition become crucial. This competitive environment features a tiered ranking system from Bronze to Master, with seasonal rewards for those who climb the ladder.

Conclusion

Paladins continues to carve its distinct niche in the competitive hero shooter landscape through its unmatched customization depth and accessible gameplay. The massive Champion roster ensures fresh experiences for players of all skill levels, while the card and item systems provide strategic options rarely matched by genre competitors. Whether you're drawn to team-based objective gameplay, character mastery through loadout experimentation, or competitive ranked play, Paladins delivers a polished free-to-play experience that rewards both mechanical skill and tactical thinking. With its fantasy setting, diverse Champion designs, and commitment to regular content updates, this team-based shooter remains a compelling option for players seeking depth beyond basic hero selection.