Retribution Paladins in WoW: Ultimate Guide to Playing Like a Pro
Ret Paladins are known for their ability to channel the power of Light to vanquish foes and aid allies in World of Warcraft. Not only have they been a staple tank class, but they have also excelled in healing and DPS roles. While Ret Paladins were once dominant in previous expansions, the balance brought about by The War Within expansion has put this spec on a more level playing field. In this comprehensive Ret Paladin guide, we will delve into how you can effectively wield this class and become a vital asset to your raid team.
Retribution Paladin General Gameplay
The retribution spec focuses on dealing Holy damage to enemies and maximizing the class’ DPS potential to compete in damage charts. With their heavy armor and access to damage abilities, Ret Paladins excel in off-tank roles, providing a solid backup option in emergencies. The gameplay for Ret Paladins is straightforward, with a priority list of damage skills to follow. Their unique resource, Holy Power, is generated through low-cooldown damage skills and spent on high-impact abilities, alongside off-global cooldown damage skills for optimal DPS uptime.
Although Ret Paladins are relatively easy to play, they suffer from lower DPS peaks compared to other classes due to their simple rotation. Additionally, the lack of mobility options can pose challenges in PvP scenarios and against bosses with knockbacks. To compensate for these weaknesses, the Retribution spec offers potent raid buffs like Devotion Aura, Blessing of Protection, and Blessing of Freedom, along with mitigation skills such as Divine Shield, Divine Protection, and Shield of Vengeance.
Retribution Paladin Talent Build
When selecting talents for your Ret Paladin, consider the following:
- Lay on Hands
- Blessing of Freedom
- Hammer of Wrath
- Cleanse Toxins
- Crusader Aura
- Divine Steed
- … (continue with the list of talents)
For the Retribution talent tree, focus on abilities like Blade of Justice, Final Verdict, and Shield of Vengeance to enhance your damage output and survivability in combat.
Basic Damage Rotation
For beginner Ret Paladins, the damage rotation is straightforward. Prioritize using powerful abilities as soon as possible, ensuring effective resource management and not capping Holy Power. Follow a sequence of skills like Avenging Wrath, Execution Sentence, and Final Verdict to maximize your damage potential.
- Cast Avenging Wrath with at least 3 Holy Power
- Cast Execution Sentence on cooldown
- … (continue with the list of basic damage rotation)
Single-Target / AoE Damage Rotation
While Ret Paladins excel in single-target damage, their skills also lend themselves well to AoE situations due to their cleave abilities. Use a rotation that combines single-target and AoE skills for optimal damage output.
- Cast Execution Sentence
- Cast Final Verdict with 5 Holy Power (for single-target)
- … (continue with the list of single-target / AoE damage rotation)
Tips on Improving as Retribution Paladin
- Focus on effective resource management to enhance your DPS performance and meet damage requirements.
- Optimize skill usage by delaying spender skills to maximize Holy Power generation from auto attacks.
- Utilize short-cooldown skills efficiently, avoiding unnecessary delays in using them to maximize damage output.
- Consider simulating your character in various raid scenarios to determine the optimal gear for different encounters.