Maxed out rank 1 in all transformation skills is assumed, except for control of darkness which is not looked at since it can't be compared.
Health
Paladin will get 650 HP.
Dark Knight will get randomly between 650 and 1300.
Mana
Paladin will get 300 MP.
Dark Knight will get randomly between 300 and 600.
Stamina
Paladin will get 1200 STM.
Dark Knight will get randomly between 250 and 725.
Strength
Paladin will get 250 STR.
Dark Knight will get either 360, 200, or 120.
Dexterity
Paladin will get 250 DEX.
Dark Knight will get either 360, 200 or 120.
Intelligence
Paladin does not get INT from transformation.
Dark Knight will get either 360, 200 or 120.
Will
Paladin will get 50 WILL.
Dark Knight does not get any.
Luck
Neither transformation gets LUCK.
Damage: Ranged
- 2.5 Dex adds +1 to maximum damage; 3.5 Dex adds +1 to minimum damage
Paladin also has a bonus of +34 min and max from sword of order.
Paladin will get total of: 134 max damage, 105 min damage.
Dark Knight on a 180% DEX roll: 144 max, 102 min.
Dark Knight on a 100% DEX roll: 80 max, 57 min.
Dark Knight on a 60% DEX roll: 48 max, 34 min.
Damage: Melee
- 2.5 Str adds +1 to maximum damage; 3 Str adds +1 to minimum damage
Paladin also has a bonus of +34 min and max from sword of order.
Paladin will get a total of: 134 max damage, 117 min damage.
Dark Knight on a 180% STR roll: 144 max, 120 min.
Dark Knight on a 100% STR roll: 80 max, 66 min.
Dark Knight on a 60% STR roll: 48 max, 40 min.
Damage: Magic
- As of G9: (Base Magic Damage + Int Damage Bonus) * 1.1 = Magic Damage
Not really possible to go into numbers using my methods since the characters skill ranks, and therefore base magic damage is non-existent. However since paladin does not get INT, it's safe to say Dark Knights get a better boost regardless of INT roll %. Also nice for blaze
Critical
Paladin gains 5% crit from the 50 WILL gained via Power of Order.
Dark Knight gains 12, 20 or 36% critical, based on the roll.**
**This is assuming Critical is affected by the rolls, as is claimed by the wiki.
Injury Rate
Paladin will have total (Dex, Will, sword of order) 103 max injury, 83 min.
Dark Knight at 180% DEX: 157 max injury, 104 min. **
Dark Knight at 100% DEX: 88 max, 58 min. **
Dark Knight at 60% DEX: 52 max, 34 min. **
**This is assuming Inury bonus is affected by the rolls, as is claimed by the wiki.
Balance
Paladin will have 72 total balance.
Dark Knight's balance will depends on the combined values of DEX balance gained from Hand of Chaos, and the bonus from Body of Chaos, which varries from 6, 10 or 18**.
**This is assuming Balance bonus is affected by the rolls, as is claimed by the wiki.
Base Defense
Paladins get +15 defense and +6 protection from Spirit of Order.
Dark Knights to do not get any base defense or protection.
Passive Defense
Dark Knight passive defenses always activate for all 3.
See: HS, NS, MD
- The damage reduction for all 3 is 20%.
- Heavy stander has auto-defense of 20%.
- Natural shield has delay reduction of 60% and 40% knockdown recovery.
- Mana deflector has delay reduction of 60% and 40% knockdown recovery.
Paladin passive defenses do not always activate all 3 at once. They each have a random chance of activating which is boosted by ranking the skills themselves along with spirit of order.
See: HS, NS, MD
- The damage reduction for all 3 is 20%.
- Heavy stander has auto-defense of 30%.
- Natural shield has delay reduction of 30% and 40% knockdown recovery.
- Mana deflector has delay reduction of 30% and 40% knockdown recovery.
Transformation Time
Both transformations last for the same duration of time, if two identical base characters use the transformation skill. However Dark Knight will not transform back into a human until HP is drained, meaning one could potentially remain Dark Knight for as long as a constant supply of HP is provided. See wiki for details.
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As for which one is better, that's not part of this guide. Do use the information to form your opinions and arguments for your favorite though.
Full details for paladin and dark knight can be found on the wiki, as well as damage formulas.