Paladin

This is the cleanest Paladin leveling route from the iRO guide because Shield Chain gives strong single-target ranged damage and can delete monsters in the Paladin leveling range with the right shield setup.

The core stats here are STR for damage, enough DEX to make HIT reliable, and a healthy VIT floor so you still feel like a frontliner. The build especially rewards shield weight and refine because those directly feed the skill's damage.

This route leans into Paladin's HP pool and melee durability. Sacrifice empowers your next five physical hits, but each boosted attack drains 9% of your max HP, so the build wants heavy VIT, high maximum HP, and enough sustain to survive its own burst cycle.

It fits players who want Paladin to stay aggressive in melee while still carrying the branch's defensive identity. In party play, this route pairs naturally with inherited tools like Devotion because you already plan around tank positioning and incoming damage.

The iRO page specifically points out that many INT Crusaders can continue into Paladin because the class gains real support and holy-damage options. This route uses Pressure for holy magic burst while reserving the skill points and SP economy needed to make Gospel meaningful in parties.

It is the most support-oriented Paladin route in the guide. High INT and DEX smooth out holy casting, while VIT keeps you durable enough to stand near the party and hold defensive responsibility. If you came up through INT or Grand Cross Crusader, AoY's Game Changes still matter here because inherited Grand Cross hits every monster standing on the same stacked cell. Live AoY item data also makes Rideword Hat more appealing for this route, since its AoY notice says the HP/SP absorb works on magical attacks as well.