WotLK Classic Retribution Paladin Guide (2024)

Last updated on Feb 11, 2024 at 13:42by Sellin10 comments

Welcome to our Retribution Paladin guide for WotLK Classic, tailoredfor PvE content. Here, you will learn how all you need to know to playRetribution Paladin proficiently. Click the links below to navigate the guideor read this page for a short introduction.

1.

Introduction

Paladins are capable of filling all three roles in Wrath and are competitive ateach, melee DPS healer, andtank. Eachspecialization will allow you to fill a specific niche because of the plentifulbuffs that no other class can offer.

In PvP, Retribution Paladinsare an extremely burst-dependent class that can oftentimes end fights extremelyquickly. Paladins are very versatile in that they have a button torespond to most any situation but these abilities usually have lengthy cooldownsand they are very susceptible to crowd controlling effects.Ret Paladins have powerful healing capabilities but are largely limited by a smallMana pool. Paladins are also one of the few classes that is able to Dispel Magicwhich is extremely useful in getting party members out of various forms of CC.

If you would like to see where Retribution Paladins fall in the overall rankingsamong DPS specs for both PvE and PvP in Wrath Classic, we have created pagesdedicated to explaining what classes and specializations are the best of the bestthrough multiple factors. However, ultimately, you should not let these listsdissuade you from playing what you enjoy.

PvE DPS RankingsPvP DPS Rankings

WotLK Classic Retribution Paladin Guide (1)Strengths

  • WotLK Classic Retribution Paladin Guide (2)Strong on-demand burst cooldown with WotLK Classic Retribution Paladin Guide (3)Avenging Wrath.
  • WotLK Classic Retribution Paladin Guide (4)Multiple CC options in WotLK Classic Retribution Paladin Guide (5)Hammer of Justice and WotLK Classic Retribution Paladin Guide (6)Repentance.
  • WotLK Classic Retribution Paladin Guide (7)Strong buffs and utility such as Blessings, Auras, and wipe protection in WotLK Classic Retribution Paladin Guide (8)Divine Intervention.
  • WotLK Classic Retribution Paladin Guide (9)Capable of off-healing in emergency situations.
  • WotLK Classic Retribution Paladin Guide (10)Spells are more potent against Undead/Demon mob types, which are very common in Wrath of the Lich King.

WotLK Classic Retribution Paladin Guide (11)Weaknesses

  • WotLK Classic Retribution Paladin Guide (12)Limited mobility makes closing gaps difficult.
  • WotLK Classic Retribution Paladin Guide (13)Major defensive CDs cannot be used in conjunction with WotLK Classic Retribution Paladin Guide (14)Avenging Wrath.
  • WotLK Classic Retribution Paladin Guide (15)Extremely vulnerable to incoming spell damage.

3.

Best Races for Retribution Paladin

In WotLK Classic, Paladins are able to be both Alliance and Horde.Blood Elf is the only Horde race that can be Paladin, while the Alliancecan choose between Draenei, Human, or Dwarf.

Blood Elf and Humanare the strongest races for Retribution Paladin PvE on each respective faction,with Blood Elves being due to the fact that they are the only choice as Horde. As Alliancethe decision is much harder to make and all races have considerable strengths,but the overall most balanced of the races would be Human thanks to their weaponbonuses and the usefulness of WotLK Classic Retribution Paladin Guide (16)Will to Survive.

3.1.

Blood Elf

Blood Elf is the default choice if you are playing Horde, as they are the onlyrace that is able to be Paladin. Their racials are still quite goodas Paladins are quite dependent on Mana, which WotLK Classic Retribution Paladin Guide (17)Arcane Torrenthelps with, as well as granting you additional magic resistances to bolsterPaladin's weakness against spellcasters.

3.2.

Dwarf

Dwarf is in a unique spot, as WotLK Classic Retribution Paladin Guide (18)Stoneform can be a powerful defensive cooldown ina situation where you are unable to cast WotLK Classic Retribution Paladin Guide (19)Cleanse or have a nasty bleed on youand are taking a lot of Physical damage. Unfortunately, WotLK Classic Retribution Paladin Guide (20)Find Treasureand WotLK Classic Retribution Paladin Guide (21)Gun Specialization are both completely useless for Paladins in any kind of combatsituation.

3.3.

Draenei

Draenei offer a very situationally useful heal in WotLK Classic Retribution Paladin Guide (22)Gift of the Naaru that,in an emergency, can save you or a party member. WotLK Classic Retribution Paladin Guide (23)Heroic Presence is the mostpowerful racial though, as it allows you and people in your party to itemizecompletely differently because of the added Hit rating.

3.4.

Human

WotLK Classic Retribution Paladin Guide (24)Perception is an extremely strong against any stealth class andcan net you a massive advantage in PvP. WotLK Classic Retribution Paladin Guide (25)The Human Spirit is not particularlyuseful in any combat situation. Both Mace and WotLK Classic Retribution Paladin Guide (26)Sword Specialization are quite strongearly on in lower gear levels and, even later on, might alter your gear choiceswhile maintaining Expertise.

4.

Best Professions for Retribution Paladin

Engineering is extremely important for Paladin both for thepersonal HPS increases added from the Cloak and Glove enchants, but especially theinsane amount of mobility that WotLK Classic Retribution Paladin Guide (27) Nitro Boosts affixed to your boots willallow you. Engineering ends up being a slightly lower gain in stats than othercrafting professions but the overall utility that the Profession has to offermakes it a must-have for almost every class, especially ones that strugglewith mobility like Paladin.

Jewelcrafting is the single largest increase of statsof any of the crafting professions especially before the addition of Epic gems to thegame. Strength is the single strongest stat for a Retribution Paladinand this is the largest possible gain of it.

Engineering and Jewelcrafting are both chosen based on their endgame benefitsand do not offer any particularly beneficial gold farms.

5.

Changelog

  • 15 Jun. 2023 (pre-raid gear page): Updated for Phase 3.
  • 08 May 2023 (gear page): Updated for Phase 3.
  • 18 Jan. 2023 (enchants page): Reviewed for Phase 2 release ahead of Ulduar raid release.
  • 18 Jan. 2023 (stats page): Reviewed for Phase 2 release ahead of Ulduar raid release.
  • 18 Jan. 2023 (rotation page): Reviewed for Phase 2 release ahead of Ulduar raid release.
  • 18 Jan. 2023 (talents page): Reviewed for Phase 2 release ahead of Ulduar raid release.
  • 18 Jan. 2023 (spells page): Reviewed for Phase 2 release ahead of Ulduar raid release.
  • 18 Jan. 2023 (this page): Reviewed for Phase 2 release ahead of Ulduar raid release.
  • 17 Jan. 2023 (pre-raid gear page): Updated for Phase 2.
  • 17 Jan. 2023 (gear page): Updated for Phase 2.
  • 01 Sep. 2022 (pre-raid gear page): Page added.
  • 01 Sep. 2022 (gear page): Page added.
  • 01 Sep. 2022 (enchants page): Page added.
  • 01 Sep. 2022 (stats page): Page added.
  • 01 Sep. 2022 (rotation page): Page added.
  • 01 Sep. 2022 (talents page): Page added.
  • 01 Sep. 2022 (spells page): Page added.
  • 01 Sep. 2022 (this page): Page added.

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WotLK Classic Retribution Paladin Guide (2024)

FAQs

How much hit does a ret Paladin need in WotLK? ›

Expertise and Hit ratings are your two highest stats. They are both approximately equal, but you want to cap both of them out. You need 263 hit rating to get the 8% hit required for hit cap, and 215 expertise rating for the 6.5 % dodge reduction.

Is retribution Paladin hard to play? ›

Retribution is a melee DPS specialization with a relatively easy-to-grasp playstyle. Retribution's greatest strength is its strong defensive capabilities, allowing it to survive damage that would ordinarily kill most other non-tank specs.

Is retribution Paladin good classic? ›

Due to their plate armor and strong defensive cooldowns, Paladins are incredibly durable in PvP. With Cleanse to dispel magic effects, strong healing, and other powerful cooldowns, Paladins are hard to bring down. This makes Ret Paladins extremely effective in the open world, either solo or in a group.

Is Paladin easy in WotLK? ›

Paladins in WotLK Classic are fantastic no matter what role they choose, being one of the best at all of the roles they have available. With the new changes and additions, Paladins in WotLK Classic are not only incredibly easy and fast to level, but they are also very fun as well.

What is the best profession for retribution Paladin? ›

There is no surprise that Engineering is the best profession when it comes to PvE, given all the cool gadgets you gain access to.

How good is Ret Paladin in WotLK PvP? ›

Battleground Viability for Retribution Paladin DPS in Wrath of the Lich King. Rets are gods in battle grounds, short and sweet. You are probably one of the strongest 1v1 players, having infinite sustain with your instant Flash of Light, Stuns, very high damage output, freedom, and the dreaded immunity in Divine Shield.

How many hours is 1 to 80 in WotLK Classic? ›

The journey from 1 to 80 takes an average of 150–200 hours to complete, with the primary challenge being 70-80 taking anywhere from 20 to 40 hours. We can often get sidetracked exploring all the new zones Northrend has to offer and get stuck in seemingly inescapable death cycles.

What stats should a ret Paladin have? ›

Strength > Versatility > Critical Strike ~= Haste > Mastery with Templar Strikes. There are no breakpoints worth aiming for specifically for any stat.

Is Paladin a good solo class? ›

Often considered a baseline spec, Ret Paladin excels in solo play not through summons and kiting but through tenacity. A combination of healing, defense spells, and moderate damage output enable this specialization to stay long enough in a fight to eventually overpower their opponent.

Is Paladin the most powerful class? ›

Updated January 16th, 2024 by Louis Kemner: The paladin is one of D&D 5e's most powerful classes. It can become even more powerful through making sensible choices while multiclassing. This list has been updated to match CBR's current formatting, as well.

Which Paladin spec is best? ›

Retribution is the best spec to level your paladin in Classic WoW. Retribution talents have a lot of synergy with each other, between Deflection, Conviction, Two-Handed Weapon Specialization, and Vengeance, simply auto attacking will get you through most of your leveling content.

What is the best Paladin spec in wrath? ›

The best Paladin specs to play PvP in WotLK classic are Retribution and Holy.

What is the best weapon type for a ret Paladin? ›

For Ret pallys 2-hnd swords and maces are the best. Once you reach endgame there are more ret pally specific maces than swords, but use whichever you want.

What is the best Paladin race in wrath? ›

Alliance. Draenei and Human are both exceptional choices for a Holy Paladin, and which one is better varies from fight to fight. Draenei will be stronger in shorter, less mana intensive fights. However, if you find yourself starved for mana and forced to auto attack, Human will likely be the better option.

What is the hardest class to play in WotLK Classic? ›

Feral Druid

Feral is definitely one of our hardest classes to play in Wrath of the Lich King. The reason is that Feral is constantly maintaining so many different things. You're keeping up Faerie Fire, Mangle, Rake, and Savage Roar as often as you can.

What is the easiest class to play in WotLK? ›

WotLK best class for beginners

If you have just started the incredible adventure throughout Azeroth and know nothing about the game and its mechanics, we would recommend trying one of the following classes: Druid or Paladin. The thing is, there are three roles in the game: Tanks, Healers, and Damage Dealers (DD).

How good is retribution Paladin? ›

It can use the wide array of utility options that Paladin is known for, including its sought-after Auras, along with some incredibly strong defensive abilities. Retribution is one of the most popular specs in the game due to its strong class fantasy and good all-round damage and utility toolkit.

What is the best profession for a Paladin in Wotlk? ›

Useful Professions
  • Blacksmithing. Blacksmiths can add 2 extra gem sockets to their gear — 1 on wrists, and 1 on hands. ...
  • Tailoring. As a Tailor, you gain access to the. ...
  • Inscription. ...
  • Enchanting. ...
  • Leatherworking. ...
  • Alchemy. ...
  • Skinning.
Sep 20, 2022

What role is retribution Paladin? ›

Retribution Paladins are holy crusaders, who use a two-handed weapon to turn the power of the light into powerful damaging abilities and bring justice and vengeance to their enemies. It's the damage specialization of Paladin and is a melee spec, although it has a few abilities that can be cast from range as well.

What is the best level spec for a Paladin in WotlK? ›

Retribution is by far the fastest leveling spec if you plan to play solo as a Paladin, as the extra damage that the talents in the Retribution tree grant will help you level considerably faster than anything you will gain by speccing Holy or Protection. 2.

What race is best for DPS Paladin? ›

The Best Paladin Races and Lineages in D&D 5e
  • Variant Human and Custom Lineage Provide Obscene Value. ...
  • Orcs Allow For Aggressive Mobility. ...
  • Aasimar Fit Mechanically and Aesthetically. ...
  • Shadar-Kai Are Grim, Mobile, and Hard to Kill. ...
  • Autognomes Fit Specific Paladin Builds Well. ...
  • Dhampir Opens Up A Very Unusual Paladin Build.
Feb 5, 2024

What is the hit cap for retribution Paladins? ›

Hit Rating

Retribution Paladins require 8% (referred to as the “soft cap”) increased hit chance in order to never miss with melee attacks, and 17% (referred to as the “hard cap”) increased hit chance in order to never miss with spells.

What is the hit rating for Paladin tanks in WotLK? ›

Hit Rating

Paladin: 32.79 Hit Rating = 1% increased chance to hit with melee swings & abilities. 26.23 Hit Rating = 1% increased chance to hit with spells.

What is the hit rating at 80 in WotLK? ›

At level 80, 26.232 hit rating is equivalent to 1% hit. At level 80, the highest level mob currently present is level 83 (e.g. all WotLK raid bosses), so a level 80 caster has an effective spell hit rating cap of 446. That assumes no other spell hit sources.

How much hit does a prot pally need? ›

You need 32.79 hit rating for 1% physical hit chance, and 26.232 hit rating for 1% spell hit chance. Heroic Presence buff which increases your hit chance by 1%, meaning you only need 7% bonus hit chance or 230 hit rating.

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