The Smite Hammer Paladin leveling build in Last Epoch is a fresh and powerful take on the classic Hammerdin archetype popularized in Diablo 2. This build combines the Paladin’s tanky defenses with a flashy offensive style centered around Hammer Throw and Smite, making it both effective and enjoyable for leveling and endgame content Last Epoch Gold.

Core Concept and Playstyle
The build revolves around using Hammer Throw to launch orbiting hammers that hit enemies and proc Smite, which calls down lightning bolts from the sky. This synergy creates massive area damage and crowd control, allowing you to clear packs of enemies quickly while maintaining strong single-target damage. The build emphasizes spamming Hammer Throw to keep a constant flow of hammers orbiting you, with Smite triggered automatically on hit thanks to specific idols that grant a chance to cast Smite on throwing attacks. 

Leveling Progression
Early leveling starts with Warpath for mobility and defense, transitioning to Hammer Throw once you acquire at least one Smite idol to enable the Smite procs. Skill points are gradually invested into Hammer Throw and Smite specializations, as well as defensive passives in the Sentinel and Paladin trees to boost survivability. Resistances, especially physical and void, are prioritized in gear to handle incoming damage. By level 35, the build incorporates Holy Aura and further invests in Paladin passives like Conviction and Defiance to enhance both offense and defense.

Gear and Stat Priorities
The build does not require unique items to function but benefits greatly from crafting and optimizing gear with the Last Epoch crafting system. Key stats to aim for include:
- Capped resistances to all damage types
- 100% reduced bonus damage from critical hits
- High endurance and health (3000-4000+)
- Strong armor mitigation (60-70% pre-buffs)
- High block chance (50-100%) and block effectiveness (2500+)
- 100% Smite critical chance
- 60%+ throwing attack speed
- 500+ mana pool to sustain skills
Adorned Rahyeh Idols are essential for proccing Smite on Hammer Throw hits, with up to four *** allowing a 36% chance to cast Smite. The build also uses the Face of the Mountain for defense and the Devotion amulet for damage scaling.

Strengths and Weaknesses
Pros of this build include excellent clear speed, strong single-target damage, and robust innate defenses from the Paladin class. The visual effects of raining lightning and orbiting hammers add to the appeal. It is easy to play with a straightforward rotation but requires some attention to positioning and buff management for optimal damage Last Epoch Gold for sale. The build scales well into endgame content and can handle all types of challenges in Last Epoch.