1.0 - The Retribution Paladin
Retribution paladins are a throwback to the days when people thought paladins were warriors of light. Before they realized that, at least for a time, paladins were only good as healbots and even then somewhat weak.
Now however, not only are paladins viable healers, but also the age of retribution has returned with actual viability in raid settings, not a whole group of them - but at least one or two slots are open.
See this article for more discussion on the Retribution
Paladin.
This guide is simply intended to provide
a general overview of the Retribution Paladin. For a more
in-depth and highly detailed resource on Paladins, check out the
Killer Guides' Paladin Guide, here.

2.0 - Talent Builds
0/56/5 Retribution Build
2.1 - Attack Rotation
Opener:
Judgement of the Crusader - Crusader Strike - Seal of Blood/Command
Throughout Fight:
Crusader Strike - Judgement of Blood/Command - Refresh Seal - Consecration
Seal of Blood will be used by blood elves, seal of command for Alliance Paladins - Additionally, only use consecration on shorter fights, whereupon rank 6 is a possibility as well, rank1 is for 3+ minute fights and beyond four or five minutes it might be better to skip it entirely.
2.2 - Leveling Retribution Build
0/20/51
Retribution Build
- 51 points in Retribution
- 5 points in Benediction - Better mana efficiency
- 2 in Improved Judgement - You will be Judging a lot.
- 3 in Heart of the Crusader - More damage
- 2 in Improved Blessing of Might - More damage
- 5 in Conviction - Nice, and the crits drive other talents.
- Seal of Command - Your "bread and butter" seal
- 3 in Sanctity of Battle - More crits and more damage
- 3 in Crusade - More damage
- 3 in Two-Handed Weapon Specialization - Paladin Smash!
- Sanctified Retribution - More aura damage, also for team.
- 3 in Vengeance - This is why you want a high crit rating.
- 2 in The Art of War - More damage, crits make Flash of Light instant.
- Repentance - Sleeps one target. Sleep one, kill the other, then kill
the 1st.
- 3 in Judgements of the Wise - Mana regen
- 3 in Fanaticism - More crits
- 3 in Swift Retribution - Slight speed increase. Better for raids
than leveling.
- Crusader Strike - Whack!
- 3 in Sheath of Light - More powerful spells, chance for Heal
over Time (HoT) effect.
- 3 in Righteous Vengeance - Adds a chance for a bleed effect
- Divine Storm - Area effect attack.
- 20 in Protection
- 5 in Divinity - Improves healing
- 5 in Divine Strength - More Strength = More damage
- 2 in Stoicism - Better for PvP (are you on a PvP server?), but only
sometimes useful for leveling.
- 2 in Guardian's Favor - More frequent Hand of Protection
- Divine Sacrifice - You take the team's damage
- 2 in Divine Guardian - Soak even more damage
- 3 in Improved Devotion Aura - More armor and more effective heals.
Level 80 Glyphs:
- Major: Judgement, Exorcism, Consecration or Seal of Command
- Minor: Blessing of Kings, Blessing Wisdom, Blessing of Might
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3.0 - Retribution PvP Build
2x2 Arena Retribution Build 5/12/54
- Holy
- 5/5 Seals of the pure
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- Protection
- 1/5 Divinity
- 5/5 Divine Strength
- 3/3 Stoicism
- 2/2 Guardian's Favor
- Divine Sacrifice
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- Retribution
- 5/5 Benediction
- 2/2 Improved Judgement
- 3/3 Heart of the Crusader
- 2/2 Improved Blessing of Might
- 5/5 Conviction
- Seal of Command
- 2/2 Pursuit of Justice
- Sanctity of Battle
- 3/3 Crusade
- 3/3 Two handed weapon specialization
- Sanctified Retribution
- 3/3 Vengence
- 2/2 Divine Purpose
- 2/2 The Art of War
- Repentence
- 3/3 Judgements of the Wise
- 3/3 Fanaticism
- 2/2 Sanctified Wrath
- Crusader Strike
- 3/3 Sheath of Light
- 3/3 Rightous Vengence
- Divine Storm
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5/0/56 Retribution Burst Damage PvP
0/18/43 Retribution Survivability PvP

4.0 - Gear, Stats, Numbers
Number Crunching
- Agility - 25 = 1% Chance to Crit
- Strength - 1 = 1
Attack Power
- Attack Power- 14 = 1.0 DPS
- Critical Rating - 22.1 = 1% Critical
- Hit Rating - 15.8 = 1% Hit
- Haste - 15.7 = 1% Haste
- Weapon Expertise - 1 = 0.25% lower chance
for enemy to dodge/parry
4.1 - Hit Rating, Crit, etc.
Defacto Priority:
Hit Rating - Strength - Attack Power - Critical Rating
What to shoot for when entering Karazhan & Heroics:
Hit Rating: 7% W/ Presicsion(+3%)
Attack Power: 1300+
Critical Rating: 20%
What to shoot for when heading into 25-Raids:
Health: 8,000+
Hit Rating: 9%
Attack Power: 1600
Critical Rating: 25%
4.2 - Gems Uncommon:
Bright Blood Garnet - +6 Strength
Rigid Golden Draenite - +6 Hit Rating
Bright Blood Garnet - +12 Attack Power
Superior:
Bold Living Ruby -
+8 Strength
Bright Living Ruby - +16 Attack Power
Rigid Dawnstone - +8 Hit Rating
Relentless Earthstorm Diamond -
+12 Agility & 3% Critical Damage
4.3 Enchantments
Head: Glyph of Ferocity +16
Hit & +34 Attack Power
Alternative Head: Glyph of the Outcast
- +17 Strength & +16 Intellect
Shoulders: Aldor/Scryer Inscription
- +15 Critical & +20 Attack Power OR +10 Critical & +30 Attack
Power
Back: Greater Agility - +12 Agility
Chest: Exceptional Stats - +6 all stats
Wrist: Brawn - +12 Strength
Hands: Greater Strength - +15 Strength
Alternative Hands: Superior Agility - +15 Agility
Legs: Cobrahide Leg Armor -
+10 Critical & +40 Attack Power
Alternative Legs: Nethercobra Leg Armor -
+50 Attack Power & +12 Critical Rating
Feet: Dexterity - +12 Agility
Weapon: Savagery - +70 Attack Power
Alternative Weapon: Executioner Chance to Ignore 840 armor on hit
4.4 - Consumables
Superior Healing Potion - Heals 1500 - 2500 Health
Haste Potion - +400 Haste for 15 seconds
Super Mana Potion - Restores 1800 - 3000 Mana
Elixir of Relentless Assault - +120 Attack Power
Food:
Roasted Clefthoof - +20 Strength and Spirit
Spicy Hot Talbuk - +20 Hit Rating & Spirit
Weapon Stones(Only used if without windfury/shaman totems):
Adamantite Sharpening Stone - +12 Sharp Weapon Damage & +14 Critical Rating
Adamantite Weightstone - +12 Blunt Weapon Damage & +14 Critical Rating
5.0 - PvE Gear Guide
Note: As this is a PvE gear guide I'll only list the PvP rewards capable of being obtained via Honor, arena rewards are however viable alternatives to many pieces of gear.
Head:
[Mayhem Projection Goggles] - Crafted
[Furious Gizmatic Goggles] - Crafted
[Gladiator's Scaled Helm] - PvP Reward
Neck:
[Choker of Vile Intent]- (25) Badges of Justice
[Vindicator's Pendant of Triumph] - PvP Reward
[Necklace of Trophies] - World Drop BoE
[Brooch of Deftness] - (35) Badges of Justice
Shoulders:
[Pauldrons of Gruesome Fate]- (60) Badges of Justice
[Ragesteel Shoulders] - Crafted BoE
[Gladiator's Scaled Shoulders] - PvP Reward
[Spaulders of Slaughter] - Heroic Shattered Halls
Back:
[Cloak of Darkness] - Crafted BoE
[Dory's Embrace] - (60) Badges of Justice
[Vengeance Wrap] - Crafted BoE
[Cloak of the Coming Night] - Normal Magister's Terrace
[Cloak of the Craft] - World Drop BoE
Chest:
[Netherforce Chestplate] - Heroic Magister's Terrace
[Breastplate of Ire] - (100) Badges of Justice
[Gladiator's Scaled Chestpiece] - PvP Reward
[Blackened Chestplate] - Quest Reward
Wrist:
[Vindicator's Plate Bracers] -PvP Reward
[Eternium Rage-shackles] - (35) Badges of Justice
[Black Felsteel Bracers] - Crafted BoE
[Bracers of Slaughter] - Normal Magister's Terrace
Hands:
[Furious Deathgrips] - (60) Badges of justice
[Ragesteel Gloves] - Crafted BoE
[Gauntlets of the Skullsplitter] - World Drop BoE
[Gladiator's Scaled Gauntlets] - PvP Reward
Belt:
[Red Belt of Battle] - Crafted BoE
[Chain of Unleashed Rage] - (60) Badges of Justice
[Vindicator's Plate Belt] - PvP Reward
Legs:
[Legplates of Unending Fury] - (100) Badges of Justice
[Legguards of the Shattered Hand] - World Drop BoE
[Vanquisher's Legplates] - Heroic Mechanar
[Doomplate Legguards] - Heroic Auchenai Crypts
Boots:
[Vindicator's Plate Greaves] - PvP Reward
[Sunstrider Warboots] - Normal Magister's Terrace
[Sha'tari Wrought Greaves] - Quest Reward
[Obsidian Clodstompers] - Botanica
Rings:
[Angelista's Revenge] - (60) Badges of Justice
[Shaffar's Band of Brutality] - Heroic Mana Tombs
[Vindicator's Band of Triumph]- PvP Reward
[Ravenclaw Band] - Sethekk Halls
[Kaylaan's Signet] - Reputation Reward
[Slayer's Mark of the Redemption] - Quest Reward
Trinkets:
[Darkmoon Card: Crusade] - Darkmoon Card Deck
[Shard of Contempt] - Heroic Magister's Terrace
[Bloodlust Brooch] - Vendor(41 Badges of Justice)
[Abacus of Violent Odds] - Drop(Mechanar)
[Hourglass of the Unraveller] - Drop(Black Morass)
[Core of Ar'kelos] - Quest Reward
Weapon:
[The Blade of Harbingers] - (150) Badges of Justice
[Gladiator's Decapitator] - PvP Reward
[Gladiator's Bonegrinder] - PvP Reward
[Gladiator's Greatsword] - PvP Reward
[Trident of the Outcast Tribe] - Reputation Reward
Libram:
[Libram of Divine Judgement] - (20) Badges of Justice
[Libram of Avengement] - Heroic Blood Furnace
[Libram of Righteous Power] - Quest Reward
6.0 -- 1-80 Paladin Leveling Guide
Once you have your Paladin Plan the fastest way to get leveled is with
an automated 1-80 Paladin leveling guide. Zygor's
Guide is just that and is much like having a skilled partner helping
you out every step of the way.
Check
it out (and grab your copy) here, or read our Zygor
review first.
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