What Paladins is
Paladins is a fantasy team-based shooter set in a colorful Realm, built around 5v5 matches. The roster holds over 50 Champions, described as the largest in the genre, drawn from all over the setting: sharpshooting mercenaries, magic-wielding scholars, supernatural entities, plus deities and monstrosities from the stars. Matches rotate through different modes and maps, including pushing a payload and contesting rotating objectives, so rounds play out differently depending on where you land.
Picking roles as a group
Every player in your five can cover a different job. The Damage class is versatile and lethal, the Flank class is aggressive and elusive, the Frontline class is sturdy and makes space for the team, and the Support class handles healing and managing buffs. With that many Champions spread across four archetypes, a group can split roles naturally instead of fighting over the same slot. Coordination matters here: a Frontline that holds ground, a Support keeping people alive, and Damage and Flank players pressing the advantage is the shape the classes are built around.
Customizing before and during a match
Champions can be customized and augmented outside of a match, and items can be bought in-game during play to adjust how you approach a round. The customization runs past abilities too: profile presentation, Champion skins that change how a character looks and sounds, and effects that play when you eliminate an opponent or fall in battle. Skins pull from themes across the Realm and beyond, so your version of a Champion can end up looking distinct from anyone else's.
Before you start
Paladins is free to play and includes in-app purchases for cosmetics and related items. It supports online PvP and cross-platform multiplayer, so you can team up with friends regardless of where they play. Full controller support is included, along with Steam Achievements and Steam Trading Cards, and Remote Play on phone and tablet is available if someone wants to join from a handheld screen. Family Sharing is supported as well.