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Retribution Paladin · Melee DPS

Retribution Paladin guide

Complete guideData-drivenMediumPatch 12.1.0
1.5KUpdated

More Retribution Paladin guides

This guide is assembled by the site from match data and the game's own information — nobody wrote it by hand. Official and community guides appear alongside it when they exist.

Overview

Retribution Paladin is a melee dps specialization of the Paladin in World of Warcraft. It is S tier on our ladder: 24% presence in the top Mythic+ groups (average key +14.8) and 51.3% of Solo Shuffle rounds won. A righteous crusader who judges and punishes opponents with weapons and Holy magic. Preferred Weapon: Two-Handed Sword, Mace, Axe

Strengths

  • Very present in top keys: 24% of the top Mythic+ groups we read bring one, up to +22.
  • Wins 51.3% of its Solo Shuffle rounds across 10023 rated players.
  • Most played in Kings' Rest, where it shows up in 25% of the top runs.
  • Top players stack Mastery (36.3% of their secondary stats).

Build cheat sheet

Pick the build that fits what you want to do this game.

Builds

Retribution Paladin · Mythic+

BalancedMythic+
Open build

When to use it

What the 15 top Mythic+ players we read are using, with the Herald of the Sun hero tree (100%). Average item level 329. The talent code is the one 20% of them use exactly.

Mythic+ build

15 top profilesAverage item level 329Hero tree: Herald of the Sun (100%)

Talent code to import in-game (Talents → Import). Used exactly by 20% of the sample.

CYEAzbn3egSOtoSwvPw1U1vTLAAAAAwoZbbmZWGzYGAAAAAAzUmlZYmx2Y2GmZbGjxYYGLsBgZZ2mZmtGEAAwCgBAjZ2AmxMzGwMzwYGDG

Talent trees

Paladin talents

Unbreakable SpiritHoly AegisGreater JudgmentBlessing of SacrificeBlessing of DuskFist of JusticeSanctified Plates2/2Seal of Might2/2Shield of VengeanceRebukeDivine SteedDivine PurposeLay on HandsAuras of the ResoluteDivine TollBlessing of FreedomBlinding Light87Unbound Freedom93Healing HandsCavalierHammer of WrathDivine ResonanceInspired GuardVengeful Wrath2/2Light's Revocation93Consecrated Ground67Sacrifice of the Just80Empyreal WardBlessing of Protection93Lead the Charge47Guided PrayerHoly Ritual7Lightbearer80Obduracy2/2Light's CountenanceGolden PathSelfless HealerBlessed Calling13StoicismCleanse Toxins73A Just RewardHoly Reprieve13Righteous Protection53Blessing of DawnFaith's ArmorPunishment53Improved Blessing of ProtectionLightforged Blessing33Fear No EvilBrought to Light7Eye for an EyeDivine Reach7Wrench EvilStand Against EvilDivine SpursTurn Evil
Dawnlight

Herald of the Sun100%

LuminosityEndless GleamWalk Into LightSolar GraceSun SearEternal FlameBlessing of An'sheAuroraSun's AvatarSecond SunriseBorn in SunlightWill of the DawnGleaming Rays
Light's Guidance

Templar

HammerfallUndisputed RulingLight's JudicatorDivine HammerShake the HeavensHigher CallingSacrosanct CrusadeWrathful DescentBonds of FellowshipUnrelenting ChargerLight's DeliveranceZealous VindicationEndless WrathSanctificationDivine ExactionSeal of the Templar

Retribution talents

Seething FlamesExpurgationAvenging WrathFinal VerdictArt of WarJurisdictionRush of LightHoly FlamesImproved JudgmentHighlord's WrathBurning CrusadeBlades of Light2/2Wake of AshesDivine Wrath2/2Empyrean LegacyCrusadeZealot's Fervor2/2Divine StormBlade of JusticeCrusading StrikesBurn to AshHoly BladeBlessed Champion93Light of Justice80Judgment of JusticeRadiant GloryHeart of the Crusader7Blade of Vengeance93Execution SentenceTempest of the LightbringerJudge, Jury and ExecutionerSanctifyEmpyrean Power

Apex

Light Within
Most picked PvP talentsHallowed Ground47Blessing of Spellwarding47Luminescence40Blessing of Sanctuary40Ultimate Retribution33Searing Glare27Shining Revelation20Spellbreaker13

Gold means more than half of the top picks it; the number is the share that takes it when it isn't nearly everyone. Lines show which node unlocks which.

Secondary stat split

  1. 1. Mastery 36%
  2. 2. Critical Strike 36%
  3. 3. Haste 24%
  4. 4. Versatility 3%

Most socketed gems

  • 360%Flawless Masterful Peridot+16 Haste & +7 Mastery
  • 93%Indecipherable Eversong Diamond+32 Primary Stat
  • 33%Flawless Deadly Peridot+16 Haste & +7 Critical Strike

Gear by slot

  • Main hand

    • Maze-roa, Warlord's Furyilvl 335 · 60%
    • Caustic Keeper-Crusherilvl 334 · 27%
    • Malignant Toothed Edgeilvl 334 · 7%

    ✦ Rite of the Hash'ey (87%)

  • Trinket

    • Voracious Heart of Ula'tekilvl 331 · 100%
    • Zul'jin's Guillotine Techniqueilvl 335 · 87%
    • Keeper's Seething Coreilvl 323 · 13%

  • Head

    • Warhelm of the Consecrated Flameilvl 327 · 87%
    • Spellbreaker's Coverilvl 331 · 13%

    ✦ Enchant Helm - Empowered Rune of Avoidance (100%)

  • Neck

    • Aqirbane Reliquaryilvl 326 · 53%
    • Pendant of Malefic Furyilvl 321 · 20%
    • Graft of the Domanaarilvl 321 · 7%

  • Shoulders

    • Pauldrons of the Consecrated Flameilvl 329 · 80%
    • Pauldrons of the Forgotten Sacrificeilvl 334 · 13%
    • Spellbreaker's Mantleilvl 331 · 7%

    ✦ Enchant Shoulders - Amirdrassil's Grace (87%)

  • Back

    • Silken Voodoo Drapeilvl 328 · 53%
    • Speakeasy Shroudilvl 321 · 20%
    • Cloak of the Consecrated Flameilvl 326 · 13%

  • Chest

    • Bulwark of the Consecrated Flameilvl 333 · 93%
    • Spellbreaker's Shelterilvl 331 · 7%

    ✦ Enchant Chest - Mark of the Worldsoul (93%)

  • Wrists

    • Spellbreaker's Bracersilvl 331 · 73%
    • Shellbound Bracersilvl 328 · 13%
    • Shard-Tipped Vambracesilvl 321 · 7%

  • Hands

    • Gauntlets of the Consecrated Flameilvl 325 · 87%
    • Spellbreaker's Resolveilvl 331 · 13%

  • Waist

    • Girdle of Toxic Regretilvl 336 · 67%
    • Fanged Brute's Greatbeltilvl 333 · 27%
    • Girdle of Pestilent Purificationilvl 321 · 7%

  • Legs

    • Greaves of the Consecrated Flameilvl 327 · 87%
    • Chausses of Unbound Rancorilvl 323 · 13%

    ✦ +41 Agility/Strength & +115 Stamina (93%)

  • Feet

    • Scaled Fiend's Warbootsilvl 330 · 67%
    • Spellbreaker's Marchilvl 331 · 20%
    • Greatboots of the Consecrated Flameilvl 321 · 13%

    ✦ Enchant Boots - Lynx's Dexterity (100%)

  • Ring

    • Loa Worshiper's Bandilvl 331 · 93%
    • Sickening Signet of Atroxusilvl 321 · 47%
    • Vile Alchemist's Bandilvl 331 · 27%

    ✦ Enchant Ring - Eyes of the Eagle (200%)

Abilities

  • Blade of JusticePierce an enemy with a blade of light, dealing 68 Holy damage. Generates 1 Holy Power.Core ability of the specialization.
  • Divine Storm3 Holy Power mpUnleashes a whirl of divine energy, dealing 92 Holy damage to all nearby enemies. Deals reduced damage beyond 5 targets.3 Holy Power
  • Avenging Wrath2 min cooldownsCall upon the Light to become an avatar of retribution, increasing your damage, healing, and critical strike chance by 20% for 20 sec.Cooldown 2 min cooldown
  • Final Verdict3 Holy Power mpUnleashes a powerful weapon strike that deals 162 Holy damage to an enemy target, Has a 15% chance to reset the cooldown of Judgment.3 Holy Power
  • Wake of AshesLash out at your enemies, dealing 111 Radiant damage to all enemies within 14 yds in front of you, and applying Truth's Wake, burning the targets for an additional 67 damage over 9 sec. Demon and Undead enemies are also stunned for 5 sec. Generates 3 Holy Power.Core ability of the specialization.
  • Execution Sentence1 min cooldownsUnleash a heavenly blast around the target, dealing 176 Holy damage to all enemies within 10 yds, and call down a hammer that slowly falls from the sky upon the target. After 10 sec, they suffer 20% of the Holy damage you dealt to all targets affected by the initial blast during that time.Cooldown 1 min cooldown
  • ExpurgationPassiveYour Blade of Justice causes the target to burn for 27 Radiant damage over 9 sec. When reapplied, any remaining damage is added to the new effect.Core ability of the specialization.
  • Swift JusticePassiveReduces the cooldown of Judgment by 2 sec and Crusader Strike by 2 sec.Core ability of the specialization.

Strategy

1Your job in the group

As a melee dps, your job is to deal damage in close range while dodging frontals and cleaves and interrupting the casts in reach.

  • Open each pull with your area damage once the tank has the pack: pulling threat early is how melee die.
  • Keep your resource from capping and your uptime on the target high: melee damage is lost every time you walk away.
  • Line up your major cooldowns with the group's burst windows and with the pulls that matter most for the timer.

2Talents

The build below is the most common among the 15 top Mythic+ players we read. 100% of them pick the Herald of the Sun hero tree.

  • Unbound Freedom — 93.3% of the top players
  • Blessing of Protection — 93.3% of the top players
  • Light's Revocation — 93.3% of the top players
  • Blade of Vengeance — 93.3% of the top players
  • Blessed Champion — 93.3% of the top players
  • Blinding Light — 86.7% of the top players

3Stats and gear

Secondary stat split of the top players: Mastery 36.3% > Critical Strike 36% > Haste 24.5% > Versatility 3.2%.

  • Main hand: Maze-roa, Warlord's Fury (60%, item level 335) · Rite of the Hash'ey
  • Trinket: Voracious Heart of Ula'tek (100%, item level 331)
  • Head: Warhelm of the Consecrated Flame (86.7%, item level 327) · Enchant Helm - Empowered Rune of Avoidance
  • Neck: Aqirbane Reliquary (53.3%, item level 326)
  • Shoulders: Pauldrons of the Consecrated Flame (80%, item level 329) · Enchant Shoulders - Amirdrassil's Grace
  • Back: Silken Voodoo Drape (53.3%, item level 328)

4Where it is played

Share of the top runs of each Mythic+ dungeon this week that include Retribution Paladin.

  • Kings' Rest: in 25% of the top runs (4557 runs)
  • Den of Nalorakk: in 24.8% of the top runs (4471 runs)
  • The Blinding Vale: in 24.3% of the top runs (4372 runs)
  • Ruby Life Pools: in 24.1% of the top runs (4354 runs)
  • Altar of Fangs: in 23.6% of the top runs (4353 runs)
  • Voidscar Arena: in 23.6% of the top runs (4323 runs)
  • Murder Row: in 23.3% of the top runs (4310 runs)
  • Temple of Sethraliss: in 23.2% of the top runs (4215 runs)

5Common mistakes

  • Tunnelling the boss while ignoring adds: the journal marks which ones must die first.
  • Standing in avoidable damage: in high keys and raid bosses, avoidable damage is what wipes groups, not the healer.
  • Holding personal defensives until it is too late: use one the moment a big hit is announced.
  • Ignoring the interrupt rotation: every uninterrupted dangerous cast is damage your healer has to fix.

Tips

  • Face the pack away from the group only if you are the tank; otherwise stay behind it.
  • Learn your rotation on a training dummy before the key: your damage in the first seconds of each pull is most of your damage.
  • Import the talent code of this guide in-game (Talents → Import) and adjust only the rows the fight asks for.

Matchups

Works well with

Changelog

  1. Guide created for patch 12.1.0.

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