As wielders of the light, the paladins of World of Warcraft are a force to be reckoned with. These righteous light-wielding warriors are trained to uphold the values of compassion, holiness, retribution, justice, and protection.
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Many paladins have become synonymous with unyielding faith and selfless dedication. Yet, it is not always a paladin's goodness that gives them great power. As long as a paladin believes their cause is just, they can become formidable.
10 Lady Liadrin
Liadrin is known as the matriarch of the blood elf paladin order, the Blood Knights. She did not start out as a paladin, though. Once a priestess of the light, she lost faith after the light failed to protect her people from the undead as they invaded the blood elf homeland of Quel'Thalas.
She chose to train in martial combat in the Ghostlands, eventually becoming a seasoned warrior. When the elves captured a Naaru, Liadrin agreed to siphon its holy energies to become a light-empowered warrior, eventually founding the Blood Knights. Liadrin would subsequently regret using the light so viciously and used the power to reignite the Sunwell and support her people through their magic addiction.
9 Lothraxion
Lothraxion is one of the most unique paladins. He is a Nathrezim Dreadlord, once sworn to the Burning Legion. After being defeated by the void ethereal, Locus-Walker, he found a new purpose.
The Dreadlord was infused with the light and rose the ranks to become a High Commander of the Army of the Light. With thousands of years of experience and lending his aid to imprison Sargeras, he is certainly one of the most powerful paladins we know of.
8 Maraad
Maraad has been a servant of the light for thousands of years. He has fought against some of Azeroth's greatest enemies, including the Burning Legion and the orcs of Draenor. On Draenor, he failed to protect his people from the orcish horde. He chose to get vengeance above protecting refugees fleeing Shattrath.
After witnessing the horrors of war, Maraad vowed to do all that he could to prevent any more suffering. During the Warlords of Draenor expansion, Maraad died protecting Yrel and countless others during the alternate universe Draenor. Despite his past failures, he kept his vow to protect his people and gave his life serving the light.
7 Alexandros Morgraine
The original wielder of the famous undead-slaying sword, the Ashbringer. Alexandros is one of the most well-known alliance paladins, having served valiantly against the orcish invasions of Azeroth. He was one of the first paladins of the Order of the Silver Hand and successfully defended his homeland from the undead.
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He became such a problem that Kel'Thuzad sent Dreadlords to deal with him. They had to corrupt his son, Renault, and set a trap for Alexandros in Stratholme. He was surrounded by undead and still destroyed them single-handedly. He was only brought down by his son's betrayal when he stabbed him in the back with the Ashbringer.
6 Bolvar Fordragon
The will of a paladin is one of their greatest strengths, and Bolvar Fordragon is one of the best examples. As a paladin, he was a respected member of the alliance and became the leader of Stormwind during the king's absence. When the scourge was running rampant across Azeroth, he defended strongholds and led a campaign right to the gates of Icecrown Citadel.
Bolvar almost died at the Wrathgate when rogue Forsaken launched a surprise attack with a deadly plague. Bolvar was spared via the flames of the red dragonflight but was still captured by the Lich King. Bolvar was mercilessly tortured, yet his soul could not be broken. He would eventually become the new Lich King, sacrificing himself to remain atop the citadel and keep the scourge from destroying Azeroth.
5 Arthas Menethil
Arthas was once the Prince of Lordaeron, heir to his father's throne. He showed great promise as a paladin and was trained as an Order of the Silver Hand member. He was blessed by some of the greatest paladins of the order, including Tirion Fordring and Uther the Lightbringer. He was an excellent warrior and proved his skills against undead, trolls, and orcs.
However, despite his training, Arthas could not put aside his arrogance and lust for violence. When he chose to cull the city of Stratholme as he suspected the grain was infected, he lost all faith in himself and the light. This eventually led to his fall and resulting actions as a Death Knight. Despite his fate, Arthas was an excellent paladin for his age and may have become one of Azeroth's greatest leaders.
4 Yrel
You may recall first meeting her in Draenor, where she was a slave. Yrel, at first, didn't stand out. However, as the story of the Warlords of Draenor continued, she became more prominent. She gradually became noticed by the Prophet Velen for her healing abilities. Yrel fought orcs and ogres and bravely stood up against the fierce Blackhand. She lost her mentor, Maraad, during this altercation. Henceforth, she wielded his hammer in his memory.
Years later, Yrel essentially conquered Draenor and turned its inhabitants into servants of the light. The Lightbound spread their influence, and those that refused to serve the light had it forced upon them. To have risen from a slave to the leader of a planet is a testament to Yrel's will and leadership as one of the most powerful paladins.
3 Uther the Lightbringer
Uther was the first paladin to join the Order of the Silver Hand and has been an example to all paladins ever since. He fought against the orcish horde for many years, successfully displaying the power of the light and martial prowess combined. Uther became a beacon of hope to the alliance and became known as the Lightbringer. He secured an era of peace for the people of Lordaeron.
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After the scourge began to taint Azeroth, Uther fought to the death to protect the urn of the former king, Terenas Menethil, from his son Arthas. Until the very end, Uther died at the hands of his beloved student, yet still remains one of the most respected leaders of the alliance.
2 Tirion Fordring
Tirion was one of the five founding paladins of the Order of the Silver Hand. Tirion would eventually be appointed the ruler of Hearthglen. He ruled justly, forever valuing the peace his people now had. He had an encounter with an Orc, Eitrigg, who saved his life, and Tirion chose to let him live in peace. However, Eitrigg was captured, and Tirion defended him, resulting in a trial and his dismissal from Hearthglen and the Silver Hand.
Tirion lived in seclusion for a time before he purified the corrupted Ashbringer and assumed leadership of the Argent Crusade. He single-handedly defeated the Lich King when all hope was lost, shattering Frostmourne with the Ashbringer. Tirion would later be captured and tortured by the Legion and survived for a short time by his faith alone to appoint a new wielder of the Ashbringer. His dedication, compassion, and honour have cemented him as one of the greatest of paladins.
1 Turalyon
Turalyon was once a priest before he became a renowned paladin of the Order of the Silver Hand. He was one of the first five paladins chosen by Alonsus Faol. He was also selected as the Lieutenant to Sir Anduin Lothar. When Lothar fell in battle against the orcs, Turalyon took up Lothar's broken sword and led the alliance to victory. He captured the horde leader and drove the orcs back to the Dark Portal.
After the war, Turalyon led the Sons of Lothar in an expedition to Draenor to sever the link between it and Azeroth. During their journey, they were cut off from Azeroth when they destroyed the Dark Portal, and accepting their fate was worth saving their home world. Turalyon would travel through a rift during Draenor's destruction, where he would join the Army of the Light. He spent the next 500 years fighting demons, becoming empowered by a Naaru and made immortal.
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