Retribution Paladin PvE Guide (WoW BfA 8.2) - Classes

A Retribution Paladin is a warrior of the Light, a priest in shining armor, a Melee master. Apart from brutal force, they use Light magic to protect their allies and for their own deeds.

Introduction

Basic information on the spec:

A Retribution Paladin utilizes 2 resources – Holy Power (hereinafter – HP) is the main resource for dealing damage; the mechanics here is quite similar to that of Combo Points regardless of the target (max 5 HP); and Mana is the secondary resource used by the majority of auxiliary abilities.

Let’s take a closer look at the weakest and the strongest aspects of this specialization:

Advantages:

Powerful continuous burst in any type of combat.
Great AoE.
A unique ability, during exploration, to slightly compensate for raid losses due to Retribution.
Multiple Blessings allowing to empower of protect your allies in various ways.

Disadvantages:

CD dependency.
Rather average DPS on a single target.
Average dps when not bursting.
Low mobility.

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Glossary

Show Glossary

(Area of Effect) is basically the area where this of that effect is actuated regardless of whether its damage or healing. This command is usually used to act in a team/raid on several targets. It is also used to describe any ability of a Boss with the aforementioned effect.

Buff stands for any positive effect. Always reflected to the left of the mini-map, by its upper edge.

Burst is an ability to do – in multiple ways – massive damage within a short period of time.

Gear is what it is.

GCD (Global Cooldown) is the overall ability recovery time.

Debuff stands for negative effect. By default, it’ reflected to the left of the mini-map by its lower edge.

DoT stands for Damage over Time.

DPS (Damage per Second) is a measure that reflects the damage done within one second.

Cleave is an ability to damage secondary targets through damaging the main one with no (or minor) loss in the damage done to the main target.

Cooldown (often CD) primarily refers to the ability recovery time. Can be often applied to bursts and various protective abilities.

Melee and Range. Melee is the close-range combat zone, also used in the titles of all the classes and specs that do effective damage in this zone. Range usually refers to a zone that is not a close-range one and is used, respectfully, in the titles of all classes and specs that do effective damage remotely.

Trait is a name for the ‘talents’ your azerite armor has.

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Main abilities

Offensive

All the attacking abilities work with HP – either generate it or spend. The only exception is Judgment. Let’s now take a closer look at each ability.

Crusader Strike is your main HP generator. The ability has 2 charges, deals medium physical damage to a single target and generates 1 HP. Base restoring time 6 secs.

Blade of Justice is your second HP generator. It has a longer CD but it generates 2 HP and deals a lot more physical damage than Crusader Strike.

Wake of Ashes is your artifact’s active ability with a 30-sec CD. It instantly deals all the enemies within the 12-m range serious Fire damage and slows them down by 50%. Due to the trait Ashes to Ashes, it deals about the same amount of Fire damage, and generates 5 HP over the next 6 secs. It also stuns Undead or Demons for 6 secs.

Templar’s Verdict spends 3 HP and deals major Light Magic damage on a single target. This is your key finishing move (finishing move is an HP consuming ability) on a single target.

Divine Storm also spends 3 HP and deals Holy damage to all the enemies within the 8-m radius. Due to the trait Divine Tempest, Divine Storm deals more damage to all the targets within the 20-m range in front of you with a short delay (animation issues).

Judgment is your only attacking ability with an action radius of 30 m and no influence on the HP count. Deals Holy damage to a selected target, after that, it jumps onto the closest enemy and deals Holy damage to them, too. The next spell that spends HP will deal 25% damage more.

Bursts, important CDs and passive effects

Avenging Wrath is Paladin’s only burst, with a 2-min CD. While active, increases the whole outgoing damage, chance of critical strike and healing are increased by 20%. After casting it 2 first Templar’s verdict and Divine storm will deal 100% critical damage.

Retribution is Paladin’s unique ability to get empowered due to the deaths of allies. It us not really humane to try and get them killed on purpose, but on exploring new Bosses when players die out quite often, this ability allows you to seriously increase the dealt damage and increase your survival for 10 secs. The dealt damage increases by 20%, the incoming one decreases by 30%.

Mastery: Hand of light – increases Holy damage by 12.8%

Deffensive abilities

Blessing of Protection can also quite often be referred to as BoP. It allows you to apply a complete immunity to physical attacks on your ally or yourself for 10 secs. Leaves after itself an effect of Forbearance on the target for 30 secs. This effect prevents application of strong spells like Blessing of Protection, Lay on Hands, and if the target is a Paladin, then also Divine Shield. Base CD is 5 min.

Divine Shield gives you immunity to any type of attack for 8 secs. It is impossible to use if you’re subject to Forbearance. Using the ability also causes this effect. Base CD 5 min.

Lay on Hands allows you to refill your ally’s Health by as much as your max Health stock. Impossible to use under the effect of Forbearance. Using the ability also causes this effect. CD 10 min.

Greater Blessing of Kings applies on your ally or yourself a 1-hour long effect hat absorbs minor damage. The shield is renewed every 6 secs. Only one ally at a time can be protected this way.

Flash of Light, for Mana, allows you to restore Health, yours or your allies, with a 1.5-sec active time.

Utility abilities

Blessing of Freedom can also be referred to as Hand of Freedom or just Freedom. So just don’t freak out if someone asks you to give them a Hand of Freedom or something like that. The effect of it allows you or your ally be immune to any movement impairing effects for 8 secs. It also cancels any effect of the kind when applied. CD 25 secs.

Divine Steed allows you to sit on your class’ battle steed for 3 secs which increases your running speed by 100%. This is basically a specially animated sprint, but, still, until you’re on the horse, the game perceives it as riding so, for example, if a Hunter tries to use a Misdirection on you, the game swears upon them and says that the spell cannot be used as the target is mounted. CD 45 secs.

Greater Blessing of Wisdom allows to apply on your ally a buff that restores 1% of their max Mana and Health once every 10 secs. The buff is applied for an hour. Only one effect of the kind can be active at a time.

Hand of Reckoning provokes your enemy and makes them attack you within the next 3 secs. This is a Paladin taunt. CD 8 secs.

Redemption is your out-of-combat resurrection.

Hammer of Justice stuns your target for 6 secs. CD 1 min.

Cleanse Toxins cancels any poison or disease effects from a friendly target. CD 8 secs.

Hand of Hindrance slows your enemy down by 70% for the next 10 secs. CD 30 secs.

Rebuke interrupts the casting of a spell by your enemy, and also keeps them from casting another spell of the same school for the next 4 secs.

Heart of the Crusader is a passive Aura that also increases your riding speed by 20%.

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Talents

General information. On achieving several new levels you’ll get access to new talent ‘Tiers’. Talents may have different effect on abilities: add new features, replace old ones, modify passively different effects and spells. Talents can be changed in Sanctuaries or any recreational zones. However, if you don’t have any of those places nearby you can use the Codex of the Tranquil Mind which allows you to switch channels within a minute. You can’t change talents in combat. You can’t change a talent if the talent you’ve picked in the last Tier is on Cooldown. You’ll have to wait until it’s restored first.

Tier 1. Lvl 15

Zeal. Judgment empowers you with holy zeal , causing your next 3 auto attacks to occur 30% faster and deal an additional holy damage. Not a bad talent for a single target but not the best one in the tier. Zeal is a standard choice for m+ because of Righteous verdict which can work only if the mobs do not move and that is rare in m+.
Righteous verdict. Templar’s verdict increases the damage of your next Templar’s verdict by 15% for 6 sec. Versatile choice.
Execution sentence. You call down the punishment on the target dealing holy damage and increasing the damage you deal on this target by 20% for 12 sec. Best choice for single target fight.

Tier 2. Lvl 30

The Fires of Justice. Reduces the CD of Crusader Strike by 1 sec; also casting Crusader Strike has a 15% chance of applying a similar effect lasting 15 secs, on you. This effect reduces the HP demand for the next finishing move by 1 HP.
Blade of wrath. Art of war resets Blade of justice 100% more often and deals increased by 25% damage.
Hammer of wrath. Hurls a divine hammer that strikes Holy damage. Only usable on enemies that have less than 20 % health, or while you are empowered with Avenging wrath. Generates one Holy power.

Tier 3. Lvl 45

Fist of Justice. Each Holy Power spent reduces the CD of Hammer of Justice by 2.5 secs.

Repentance. Paralyzes your enemy from a 30-m distance. This effect can be applied to a special share of enemies: only Demons, Dragons, Giants, Humanoids and the Undead. CD 15 secs.

Blinding Light. Disorients your enemies within the 10-m radius of you for 6 secs. Any damage – apart from Holy damage – cancels this effect. CD 1.5 min.

* All talents of this Tier are occasional. Your default choice should be Blinding Light as it allows you to interrupt castings in Mythic+ with enemy packs.

Tier 4. Lvl 60

Divine judgment. Each enemy hit by an ability that consumes Holy power increases the damage of your next Judgment by 20%, stacking up to 15 times. An average talent that is not used anywhere.
Consecration. Concentrates the land beneath you, causing Holy damage to enemies who enter the area. Has 12 sec cd. Generates 1 HP. This talent has a potential to be useful on AOE but currently it is not used anywhere.
Wake of ashes – Generates 5 Holy power and has 45 sec cd. Deals great Fire damage to all enemies in front you within 12 yards and reduces their movement speed by 50%. It is used almost everywhere because of a good damage and generates 5 HP. This is your choice for raids and m+

Tier 5. Lvl 75

Unbreakable spirit. Reduces the cooldown of Divine shield, Shield of Vengeance
Cavalier. Divine steed now has 2 charges.
Eye for an eye. Reduces Physical damage taken by 35% and deals Physical damage to any melee attackers for 10 sec. 1 min cd.—

*It is better to have Eye for an eye in the standard build. If you lack saves then take Unbreakable spirit, if you lack mobility then take Cavalier.

Tier 6. Lvl 90

Selfless healer. Your Holy power spending abilities to reduce the cast time of your next Flash light by 25% and increases healing done by 10%. Stacks up to 4 times.

Justicar’s Vengeance. Demands 5 HP, deals nice Holy damage and restores you Health equal to 100% of the damage dealt. If the talent was applied on a stunned target, the effect is 50% stronger.
Word of Glory. For 3 HP, it restores a nice share of Health to you as well as to up to 5 allies within a 15-m radius. Has 2 charges, CD 1 min.

*A situational tier. Choose what you like the most but Selfless healer is the optimal talent.

Tier 7. Lvl 100

Divine purpose. Your finishing moves have 15% to buff you with Divine purpose for 12 sec. It will make you cast your next finishing move for free and increase its damage by 20%. Best choice for heavy aoe encounters and mythic+

Crusade. Replaces Avenging wrath and has the same duration. Increases your damage done by 3% and haste. STacking up to 10 times. Can be helpful, but Inquisition is better at current state.

Inquisition. Consumes up 3 Holy power to increase your damage done and Haste by 7%. Lasts 15 sec per Holy power consumed. Maximum is 3 HP. Best choice for any type of encounter, especially with Expurgation trait.

So, we can boil it all down to the following build:

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Azerite traits

In BFA typical sets were removed and Azerite armor took their place. Now every chest/helmet/shoulders have a few rings for a trait.

Empyrean power. Your attacks have a chance to make the next Divine storm free and deal additional damage. It is especially useful for AOE. It is necessary to have 1 trait.
Light’s decree.Spending Holy power during Avenging wrath causes you to explode with Holy light dealing damage per Holy power spent to nearby enemies. Avenging wrath’s duration is increased by 5 sec. It is necessary to have 1 trait.
Avenger’s might. While Avenging wrath is active, your mastery is increased. It is simple. While your burst is active you gain additional mastery. Very strong trait, we recomend to have at least 1.
Expurgation – solid choice, also it has a good synergy with Inquisition talent.

*It is the list of the best traits only so we recommend to use raidbots.com to see other good traits/combinations.

( AzeritePowerWeights:1:"herodamage.com - Stacks_1T_T24":2:70: 396=10, 575=7.40, 522=6.63, 526=6.50, 187=6.44, 154=6.18, 82=6.11, 125=5.87, 562=5.87, 193=5.84, 196=5.40, 192=5.07, 479=4.87, 157=4.69, 501=4.61, 478=4.55, 488=4.50, 494=4.50, 485=4.18, 504=4.08, 505=4.05, 483=4.04, 480=3.94, 482=3.92, 195=3.90, 523=3.84, 486=3.84, 492=3.84, 235=3.83, 194=3.79, 521=3.77, 495=3.71, 489=3.71, 30=3.67, 481=3.61, 507=3.48, 561=3.33, 498=2.99, 576=2.71, 156=2.64, 500=2.52, 459=2.23, 31=2.16, 21=2.14, 20=2.14, 22=2.12, 560=2.11, 487=2.09, 493=2.09, 38=1.86, 499=1.72, 18=1.55, 462=1.43, 496=1.41, 490=1.41, 541=1.36, 491=1.33, 497=1.33, 461=1.29 )

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Essences

These ratings are based on simulations, statistics of WarcraftLogs and players experience.

MAJOR

Blood of the enemy (Source: Honor farm) – versatile choice for any type of the combat
Condensed Life-force (Source: Eternal Palace drop) – great option to increase you burst potential on single target. Becomes best against single target at level 3
Vision of Perfection (Source: “Operation: Mechagon” drop) – good choice, but a bit random. More useful in minor slot, but this is a strong choice for AoE encounters.

MINOR

Vision of Perfection (Source: “Operation: Mechagon” drop) – best choice in minor slot
Memory of Lucid Dreams (Source: Nazjatar questing) – good essence, increasing your HP amount spent
The Crucible of Flame (Source: Heart of Azeroth level) – nice extra damage during the fight

Rotation

Let’s first review the priorities on a single target.

The key point is to deal max damage with Templar’s Verdict. This means, you should never trigger your finishing moves unless you have the debuff of Judgment on your target. In the gaps between Judgments restock your HP.

Below, there is the priority list for utilizing abilities (with 2+ targets, simply replace Templar’s Verdict with Divine Storm):

Templar’s Verdict with 5 HP, if you’ve got the debuff of Judgment.
Templar’s Verdict with 3 HP, if your Crusade stacks are less than 10, and you have the debuff of Judgment.
Templar’s Verdict with 3 HP, if you have the debuff of Judgment and the buff of the Righteous verdict is going away in a second.
Wake of ashes at 0 HP or at 1 HP if Blade of Justice is on CD.
Blade of Justice with 3 or less HP
Crusader Strike with 2 charges and 4 or less HP.
Judgment with 5 HP, or if Crusader Strike and Blade of Justice are on CD.
Consecration, if you’ve got the talent.
Crusader Strike with 4 or less HP.
Templar’s Verdict with 3 or more HP, with the debuff of Judgment on the target.

This all may look kind of scary at a glance, but with a little bit of practice, pretty soon you’ll find yourself following all those rules without giving it a second thought. Some key notes:

Try to use finishers after Judgment. (exceptions: you had made a mistake before it, and used Judgment on a target that died really quickly, and your debuff didn’t have the time to leap over to the next target. In this case, there is no use in standing and staring at the target with 5 HP, and waiting for HP generators to cool down).

Opener:

Prepot with Battle potion of strength 1-2 seconds before the fight
Blade of justice
Crusade
Templar’s verdict
Wake of ashes
Templar’s verdict
Hammer of wrath
Follow the standard rotation using Judgment before finishing moves and Hammer of wrath when abilities on cd.

On AoE, some of the talents are replaced. Their use is described in the main priority list. For openers, just replace Templar’s Verdict with Divine Storm.

Burst.

Use it as often as possible, with minimal idling. Judgment during Crusade should aim at 100% presence on the talent which is not that difficult considering the increased Haste with this talent. It is also recommended that you use Crusade with various raid enhancements like Bloodlust/Heroism, or whenever your target receives increased damage

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Stats

The basic priority rating for the characteristics is as follows:

Strength > Haste => Crit = Versatility = Mastery

Mastery of this spec increases Holy damage.

Some info on the Haste rating:

Due to this stat interrelation, it’s obvious that the values of the latter are going to vary extremely within the group with the change of equipment. That’s why is recommended, once you receive new equipment, you use Simcraft or Raidbots.com. There is no way to get a more precise answer to which stat to focus on first, but through a simulation.

Based on the aforementioned characteristics and results of your character’s own simulation results, you can draw conclusions on Gems, Chants and Raid Chemicals.

Gems:

Leviathan’s Eye of Strength
Deadly Lava Lazuli 60 crit
Masterful Sea Currant 60 mastery
Quick Sand Spinel 60 haste
Versatile Dark Opal 60 vers
Follow your Simulation raitings

Chants:

Rings:Accord of Critical Strike
Accord of Haste
Accord of Mastery
Accord of Versatility
Follow your Simulation raitings
Weapon: Enchant Weapon – Deadly Navigation
Enchant Weapon – Quick Navigation
Enchant Weapon – Masterful Navigation
Enchant Weapon – Versatile Navigation
nchant Weapon – Force Multiplier
Follow your Simulation raitings

Food:

Raid feast orAbyssal-Fried Rissole Mastery
Baked Port Tato Haste
Bil’Tong Vers
Mech-Dowel’s “Big Mech” Crit

Flasks and Potions

Greater Flask of the Undertow 360 strength for 1 h
Potion of Unbridled Fury against 1 target
Superior Battle Potion of Strength 2-3 targets
Potion of Empowered Proximity 4+ targets

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Macros

Kick with a modifier, with the Shift key held, the ability is applied on a remembered target, without – on the current one.

/cast [mod:shift,@focus][] Rebuke

Blessing at the cursor’s position; it’s recommended you do something like this to every Blessing you have:

/stopcasting
/cast [@mouseover] Blessing of Protection

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What’s next?

Leveling. If your character has been inactive since the previous expansions, the best option to level up it is by Timewalking dungeons. You will gain a lot of experience, but there is one big disadvantage of leveling this way. Timewalks are available only for one week during a month, but Overgear is always here.
Equipment. At high level, the most important thing for you will become your gear. WoW is a multiplayer game, that’s why we recommend for you to play it with your friends, or to find a new friends for mythic+ runs. If you have any trouble with it – Overgear may help you to find not just friends for a run, but a complete well geared and experienced group that also will be glad to trade all the loot you need.
Raids. Raids are the top-tier PvE content in the game. That’s why the equipment’s base ilvl is higher than anywhere else. These dungeons require knowing all the tactics and have a good gear to kill the bosses. The possibilities of Overgear might let you skip those criteria.

Azerite. It is also not the best idea to forget about the Heart of Azeroth and not to feed it with more Azerite. Ignoring this won’t make your character stronger. The easiest way to do it – just complete all the world quests with Azerite rewards everyday. You can get extra azerite from Island Expeditions. Companions can be found at Overgear.

Retribution Paladin 8.2

Introduction

Glossary

Main abilities

Talents

Tier 1. Lvl 15

Tier 2. Lvl 30

Tier 3. Lvl 45

Tier 4. Lvl 60

Tier 5. Lvl 75

Tier 6. Lvl 90

Tier 7. Lvl 100

Azerite traits

Essences

MAJOR

MINOR

Rotation

Stats

Macros

What’s next?

World of Warcraft

WoW Classic

Legal

Sitemaps

Introduction

Glossary

Main abilities

Talents

Tier 1. Lvl 15

Tier 2. Lvl 30

Tier 3. Lvl 45

Tier 4. Lvl 60

Tier 5. Lvl 75

Tier 6. Lvl 90

Tier 7. Lvl 100

Azerite traits

Essences

MAJOR

MINOR

Rotation

Stats

Macros

What’s next?

Related items