The mechanics of Paragon describe the inner workings of the game. These are elements that are not required to play or even play well, but will improve a player's understanding of the game and provide them with more streamlined play. This article and the articles it links to describe more intricate elements of Paragon and are written for new and experienced players alike.
Engine
Paragon is running on Unreal Engine 4.
Paragon supports a matchmaking system and allows for large numbers of spectators at any given game.
Heroes
Heroes are unique units within Paragon that the player controls. At the start of each game, players are split into two teams of up to 5 versus 5 and then select a single hero from the hero pool. Every player controls his or her own hero.
Heroes will gain experience when enemy units are killed nearby. They start the game at level one after start-up and will eventually level up as they earn experience. Gaining a level will increase a hero's base stats and allow him to spend a skill point on learning new abilities or providing additional statistics, with the possibility of additional effects. For most heroes, at level 5, an ultimate ability is unlocked.
Abilities
Heroes gain abilities providing various effects. They range from simple passive bonuses to powerful, devastating explosions. All heroes have four or more abilities, with one of those abilities being their ultimate. Every time a hero levels up, they earn a point that they can place into leveling up available abilities.
When an active ability is used, it usually consumes mana and is placed on cooldown. An active ability cannot be used if a hero does not have enough mana to cast it, is still on cooldown, or if the hero is under the effect of an appropriate disabling effect. Not all abilities, however, consume mana or possess a cooldown timer. Mana will regenerate over time, and its rate of regeneration can be increased with Mana Regen or some cards. While a spell is on cooldown, it cannot be used for a given duration. Cooldown can be reduced with Cooldown Reduction.
Passive abilities, on the other hand, do not require activation to use: they will be used automatically. Most do not have a cooldown or a mana cost, but operate constantly in the background.
Experience
In order to level up, heroes must earn experience. When a unit dies in Paragon, it grants an amount of experience based on its level to all hostile heroes in a radius. Experience is split among all heroes in range and the killing hero.
Card Experience
Heroes must also earn Card Experience in order to buy cards. It is earned in the form of Amber, which is dropped by dead units and Harvesters. CXP is split among all heroes differently than XP.
Armor
Armor is an attribute shared by all units. It reduces the amount of basic or ability damage taken by a unit. Armor is increased with each level and by certain abilities and cards.
Basic and Ability Damage
The type of damage that an attack uses depends on the form of attack. All normal attacks will be dealt as Basic Damage, while abilities and status effects, such as burning and poison, will be in the form of Ability Damage, When receiving damage from an enemy, an indicator will pop up on the HUD that's either red for Basic Damage, or Purple for Ability Damage.
Having a variety of Damage sources on a team can greatly improve its damage output. Since Armor is always either Basic or Ability, it will always only mitigate one type of damage. In order for a unit to be highly resistant to both types of damage, one must build armor for both types, which can be a time-consuming and expensive process.
Attack Speed
Attack speed is the rate at which a unit attacks, and is determined by its base attack time and increased attack speed.
Last hitting
Last-hitting is a technique where you (or a unit under your control) get the 'last hit' on a neutral minion, enemy lane minion, or enemy hero. The hero that dealt the killing blow will gain an increased amount of CXP, which is also shared among other friendly units.
For the exact amount awarded to the last-hitter and assist-gold refer to Amber.
Structures
Buildings are special units in the game. There are several types of buildings.
The Spawn Pad
The Spawn Pad is where both teams spawn, Unlike other structures The Spawn Pad can not be destroyed. While on the spawn pad you will be able to spend amber to buy cards, whilst recovering mana and health. Recalling will always bring you back to the spawn pad.
The Core
The Cores are powerful structures. The goal of each game is to destroy the enemy's Core. Every few seconds, they emit a powerful shockwave around them that deals damage to all units near the Core.
The Core spreads its damge over all enemies, meaning the less units in its range the more damage it will deal to anyone unfortunate enough to be caught in its blast.
Towers
Towers are stationary, defensive structures that guard the lanes and subsequent main bases of each team. They fire high damage projectiles at nearby enemies and possess significant levels of health and armour, but provide large amounts of CXP when destroyed by the opposing team. Both factions have 2 tiers of towers in each lane, with increasing amounts of armour. To attack towers further in the lane, the outermost ones must be destroyed first. Both must be destroyed before damage can be done to the Inhibitor. Towers have a shield that surrounds there cores, Minions will drop this shield when they are near the tower (do not have to be in range of the tower itself).
Damage done to a tower is permanent.
Inhibitors
Inhibitors are structures inside each team's base, acting similar to Towers. When an Inhibitor is destroyed, the opposing team will start creating Super Minions, that have more health, damage and grant less xp/cxp when killed. This means the destruction of the opposing inhibitor will ensure that your minions will continue to push a lane without the intervention of heroes.
Unlike towers, Inhibitors will recover if they haven't been damaged for sometime.
Harvesters
Harvesters are structures scattered all around Agora. When placed by a teammate, they will start generating CXP for the entire team. When the tank is full, a teammate can collect it. The harvesters can be destroyed by the opposing team.
Since updating to the new map (Monolith) harvesters have since been removed for the game.