To sit in the command throne of a Paladin is to feel the weight of centuries of Amarr tradition fused with cutting-edge warfare technology. This vessel isn’t merely a warship; it’s a floating cathedral of destruction, a testament to the Amarr Empire‘s unwavering faith in divine righteousness and overwhelming firepower. As you power up its systems, the hum of massive energy turrets charging resonates through the hull like a choir of angels preparing for battle. The Paladin represents the pinnacle of Amarr engineering—a Marauder-class battleship that combines devastating long-range firepower with incredible resilience, capable of projecting authority across any battlefield in New Eden.
The Paladin‘s design, derived from the Apocalypse-class battleship, is specialized for a singular, brutal purpose: precision annihilation. Its bonus structure makes it a god-king of long-range gunnery. The Amarr Battleship Bonus provides a 5% bonus to Large Energy Turret optimal range per level and a 10% reduction in their activation cost, a 7.5% bonus to Armor Repairer amount, and a 100% bonus to Large Energy Turret damage per level.
This is crowned by a massive 100% role bonus to Large Energy Turret damage, effectively making your four turrets hit with the power of eight. This ship doesn’t just clear PvE Content; it purges it, making it one of the most reliable and powerful platforms for Level 4 Missions, incursions, and even wormhole combat sites.
Essential Skills for Paladin Pilot
To command such a vessel, a capsuleer must be both skilled and disciplined. The Paladin is a significant investment, and unlocking its true potential requires a firm foundation in core competencies.
Required Skills To Fly it
| Skill Name | Target Level | Training Time |
|---|---|---|
| Amarr Battleship | Level V | 47d 9h 46m |
| Spaceship Command | Level IV | 1d 1h 8m |
| Amarr Battlecruiser | Level III | 1d 2h 40m |
| Spaceship Command | Level III | 4h 26m |
| Amarr Cruiser | Level III | 22h 13m |
| Spaceship Command | Level II | 47m |
| Amarr Destroyer | Level III | 8h 53m |
| Amarr Frigate | Level III | 8h 53m |
| Spaceship Command | Level I | 8m |
| Marauders | Level I | 1h 23m |
| Energy Grid Upgrades | Level V | 11d 20h 26m |
| Power Grid Management | Level II | 47m |
| Science | Level I | 8m |
| Advanced Weapon Upgrades | Level V | 35d 13h 20m |
| Weapon Upgrades | Level V | 11d 20h 26m |
| Gunnery | Level II | 47m |
| Spaceship Command | Level V | 5d 22h 13m |
| TOTAL QUEUE TIME | — | 115d 11h 59m 20s |
Recommended Skills Level for Efficiency
- Advanced Weapon Upgrades (V) & Energy Grid Upgrades (V): These are essential for fitting the Bastion Module and managing the significant powergrid and CPU demands of a fully-equipped Paladin.
- Large Blaster Specialization or Large Beam Laser Specialization: Required for using T2 ammunition, which is critical for maximizing your damage and range potential.
- Drone Interfacing (IV): Although the Paladin only fields light drones, skill here improves their damage against smaller, faster targets that can sometimes challenge your turret tracking.
- Repair Systems (V): Directly improves the effectiveness of your armor repairers, which are supercharged by both your ship bonus and the Bastion Module.
- Trajectory Analysis (IV/V): 5% bonus per skill level to weapon turret accuracy falloff.
- Capacitor Systems Operation & Capacitor Management (IV/V): Ensures stable operation for your lasers and repairer, allowing for sustained engagements.
- Micro Jump Drive Operation: Essential for the hit-and-run sniper playstyle, allowing you to reposition across the battlefield instantly.
Three Builds for PvE
The Paladin’s slot layout (8 high, 4 mid, 7 low) provides incredible flexibility, but its fittings must always serve a cohesive tactical doctrine. Your choices will define whether you are a distant storm or an immovable bastion of fire.
Bastion & Micro Jump Drive Build
This fit is the pinnacle of safe and methodical PvE. It leverages a Micro Jump Drive to control range, engaging enemies from over 100km away where most NPCs cannot effectively retaliate. It is perfect for solo pilots in dangerous space or those who prefer a strategic, controlled engagement.
| Slot | Module | Specific Recommendation & Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| High (8) | Energy Turrets | 4x  Tachyon Beam Laser II /  Mega Pulse Laser II |
| Core Module | 1x  Bastion Module I | |
| Utility Highs | 1-2x  Small Tractor Beam II, 1x  Salvager II | |
| Mid (4) | Propulsion | 1x  Large Micro Jump Drive |
| Application | 2x  Tracking Computer II (Optimal Range Scripts) | |
| Capacitor | 1x  Cap Recharger II | |
| Low (7) | Tank | 1x  Large Armor Repairer II |
| Resistance | 1x  Multispectrum Energized Membrane II, 2x  Armor Hardener II (mission-specific) | |
| Damage | 2x  Heat Sink II | |
| Core | 1x  Damage Control II | |
| Rigs (2) | Tank | 1x  Large Trimark Armor Pump II |
| Capacitor | 1x  Large Capacitor Control Circuit II | |
| Drones | Defense | 5x  Light Combat Drones (e.g., Hobgoblin II) |
Active Brawler Build
For pilots who want to feel the heat of battle and maximize clear speed in scenarios where close-range engagement is unavoidable, this fit delivers explosive damage, relying on a powerful active armor tank to outlast the incoming damage. This is a common and effective fit for incursion running, particularly in Vanguard sites.
| Slot | Module | Specific Recommendation & Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| High (8) | Energy Turrets | 4x Mega Pulse Laser II |
| Core Module | 1x Bastion Module I | |
| Utility Highs | 2x  Large Remote Armor Repairer II, 1x  Imperial Navy Large Remote Capacitor Transmitter | |
| Mid (4) | Application | 2x Tracking Computer II (Tracking Speed Scripts) |
| Targeting | 2x  Sensor Booster II (Scan Resolution Scripts for incursions) | |
| Low (7) | Tank | 1x  Corpus X-Type Large Armor Repairer |
| Buffer | 1x  Imperial Navy 1600mm Steel Plates | |
| Resistance | 2x  Imperial Navy Multispectrum Energized Membrane | |
| Damage | 2x  Imperial Navy Heat Sink | |
| Core | 1x Damage Control II | |
| Rigs (2) | Damage | 2x  Large Energy Burst Aerator II |
| Drones | Defense | 5x  Imperial Navy Acolyte |
C5 Sleeper Build
For the ultimate challenge and reward, the Paladin can be configured to take on the deadly Sleeper NPCs of C5 wormhole space. This requires a bling fit and expert piloting, as the Sleeper AI is ruthless and the damage output is immense.
| Slot | Module | Specific Recommendation & Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| High (8) | Energy Turrets | 4x Mega Pulse Laser II |
| Core Module | 1x Bastion Module I | |
| Utility Highs | 1x  Corpus B-Type Heavy Energy Nosferatu, 1x  True Sansha Large EMP Smartbomb | |
| Mid (4) | Capacitor | 3x  Imperial Navy Cap Recharger |
| Application | 1x Tracking Computer II | |
| Low (7) | Tank | 2x Corpus B-Type Large Armor Repairer |
| Resistance | 2x Multispectrum Energized Membrane II | |
| Damage | 3x Imperial Navy Heat Sink | |
| Rigs (2) | Capacitor | 2x Large Capacitor Control Circuit II |
Final Thoughts
The Paladin, named for the holy knights of ancient lore, is a fitting namesake for a ship of such singular purpose . It is a vessel that achieves perfection not through versatility, but through the absolute mastery of a single domain. It teaches that true power in EVE Online often comes not from the ability to engage at all ranges, but from the wisdom to choose the perfect range and dominate it completely.
Flying a Paladin is an embrace of a playstyle that is both cerebral and visceral. You are the master of range, the unbreakable fortress, and a living testament to the Amarr Empire’s faith in power and purity.