Paladin FAQ: Now 148% prettier! (and 20% more accurate)

Postado por blademeld

Edits Credit to Neutroniminiminiminimity.

DISCLAIMER: I haven't played WoW since December, as my computer cannot handle it, and I've yet to do any theorycrafting on Cataclysm.

If you can't find your answers in here, look here instead.

Introductions links and index

Introductions
I find it annoying that people don't bother reading the forums and ask the same questions, so here it is: The paladin forums FAQ.

Now the opinions that I am posting in this thread is what I find to be the general consensus, not everyone's opinions. I don't want people posting replies to complain about any mistakes I have made unless they are dire mistakes.

WHOOSH

Actual theorycrafting will come Soon.

Example of a "minor" mistake:
Level until 35-45 as retribution
No, I am not going to change that, it's a generalized range, I'm not going to change it to level 42 because you want me to or because it's more efficient.

>.>

Introductions, Links and Index.
How to ask. & Glyphs.
Holy Power & What things can a paladin do?
What profession is the best for me?
What specialization is best for leveling?
What weapon is the best for me?
What stats should I be looking for?
Is cloth okay to wear?

Postado por blademeld

If you can't find your answers in here, look here instead.

How to ask.

Is this build good for ____?
No, it's absolutely horrible:
You haven't mentioned what you want to do with it.
____? is not sufficient, tell us where, when and how you want to play your build.
PvP, PvE? Instance, heroics, raids? Battleground, arena?
The more specific you ask a question, the better we can answer it.
HELP ME PLZ
If you are seriously asking a question, don't use slang or internet language, don't use spell caps and don't demand anything.
Use correct grammar and spelling, it will make you more appealing.
I can't find _____! or What's the best item for me?
Don't ask if you haven't searched for it, this is wowhead, an online database.
If you have searched for it, state that and maybe link your search case, it helps you look more polite and mature.

Glyphs.

Holy
Protection
Retribution

Prime Glyphs

Major Glyphs

Glifo Calcinado - very weak now
Glifo Calcinado
Glifo Calcinado situational
Glifo Calcinado AoE heavy fights
Glifo Calcinado if Cleansing and Light of Dawn doesn't apply

Glifo Calcinado for single target
Glifo Calcinado ...if you ever use consecration
Glifo Calcinado situational
Glifo Calcinado situational
Glifo Calcinado if nothing else

Glifo Calcinado
Glifo Calcinado
Glifo Calcinado situational
Glifo Calcinado if you find yourself creating too much front up burst threat

Glifo Calcinado - applies to all three specs but is rather weak.

Minor Glyphs Well, if you got this far, these should be a no-brainer.

Glifo de Vingança Alada

Glifo do Corcel Luzente - AoE

Glifo Calcinado
Glifo de Fogo dos Céus - PvP

Glifo Calcinado or Glifo Calcinado
(##RESPBREAK##)652##DELIM##Neutronimity##DELIM##

Postado por blademeld

If you can't find your answers in here, look here instead.

Poder Sagrado
Though I assume most people know what Poder Sagrado is, I'll go over it.

Poder Sagrado is our new resource, you generate them through abilities and make other spells more powerful.
Poder Sagrado stacks up to 3, however, if you generate a fourth Poder Sagrado and spend the three with an ability immediately, the fourth can be redeemed.
Poder Sagrado is meant to be used at 3 stack in most cases, Palavra de Glória and Inquisição are exceptions.

You generate Poder Sagrado through:
Holy: Choque Sagrado, Item - Paladin Pvp Set Retribution 4P Bonus and . (Maybe Golpe do Cruzado)
Protection: Golpe do Cruzado and Martelo do Íntegro, Escudo do Templário, Grande Cruzado.
Retribution: Golpe do Cruzado, Tempestade Divina, Busca de Justiça,

You spend Holy Power on:
Palavra de Glória
Escudo do Íntegro
Inquisição
Veredito do Templário

will also act as additional Holy Power (Retribution only).

What things can a paladin do?

Healing: Holy paladins and off-specialization healing.
Holy paladins are the most efficient single target healer.
Protection or retribution paladins can still heal, they just need experience and good gear: This will occur in regular 5-man instances when the group leader decides that you are in need of a healer and raids where a healer needs support. With new spells such as Palavra de Glória and corresponding talents, I assume that we will see a bit more of this.

Tanking: Protection paladin, off-specialization tanking, off-tanking and trash tanking.
Protection paladins are the multi-target tanks.
Holy or retribution paladins can still tank, they just need experience and good gear: This will occur in regular 5-man instances when the group leader decides that you are in need of a tank.

Off-tanking is the description of a high stamina character in melee range in second place on the threat meter. The off-tank is there to absorb damage from the special attacks.
Trash tanking happens in raids where random adds pop up, a holy or retribution paladin can easily tank these with righteous fury.

Damage: Retribution paladins.
Retribution paladins are a damage build, so no explanation is needed there.

Specs:
Protection
Holy
Retribution

Seals:
Holy:
Protection, Retribution (single target that lasts longer than 15 seconds):
Retribution (everything else):

Key Spells:
Protection:
Single Target - Escudo Sagrado/Escudo do Íntegro at 3 Poder Sagrado, Escudo do Vingador, Golpe do Cruzado - Shares a cooldown with Martelo do Íntegro, Julgamento, Consagração, Condenar

AoE - Escudo Sagrado/Inquisição, Escudo do Vingador, Martelo do Íntegro - Shares a cooldown with Golpe do Cruzado, , Condenar, Julgamento

Retribution:
Single Target - Inquisição, Martelo da Ira, Veredito do Templário at 3 Poder Sagrado or with active, proc'ed , Golpe do Cruzado, Julgamento

AoE - Inquisição, Tempestade Divina, Consagração, Veredito do Templário at 3 Poder Sagrado or with active, proc'ed , Julgamento, Condenar

Gemming:
With the improved socket bonuses in Cataclysm, in most cases it's good to match socket colours.

Holy: Diamante Terracerco Sagaz - WotLK favourite or Diamante Umbraspírito Revitalizante for Meta, Rubi Infernal Brilhante for Red.
Hybrid: Olho-de-demônio Purificado for Blue and Topázio Incandescente Temerário for Yellow.

Protection: Diamante Umbraspírito Eterno or Diamante Umbraspírito Austero for Meta, Safira Oceânica Maciça for Blue.
Hybrid: Esmeralda Onírica Pujante for Yellow and Olho-de-demônio do Defensor for Red.
Alternate: Esmeralda Onírica Pujante for Blue and Topázio Incandescente de Qualidade for Red.

Retribution: Diamante Umbraspírito Reverberante - New Meta! Rubi Infernal Vistoso for Red.
Hybrid: Olho-de-demônio Cinzelado for Blue and Topázio Incandescente Habilidoso for Yellow.

Caps:

Expertise soft cap (Level 85): 26 Expertise skill or 781 rating.
Beyond the soft cap, expertise offers nothing for retribution paladins, 10 expertise skill from Glifo Calcinado is equal to 300 expertise rating. Human weapon expertise for maces and swords of 3 skill are equal to 90 expertise rating, dwarf mace expertise of 3 skill is equal to 90 expertise rating..

Hit (Level 85): 8% or 961 rating.
Draenei racial self buff with 1% hit is worth 120 hit rating.

Postado por blademeld

If you can't find your answers in here, look here instead.

What profession is the best for me?

With the removal of attack power and spell power, the professions have received a nice change.

5/5 - Alchemy: Mixologia. Flask of Enhancement for soloing.

4/5 - Blacksmithing: and , most costly (Highest Tier Gems) but is useful for all specs. -1 for price ;)

5/5 - Enchanting: , , .

3/5 - Engineering: Various toys.

3/5 - Herbalism: useful for soloing or PvP and in rare cases PvE. It has received Haste Rating with the changes in Cataclysm. Useful for both Holy and Retribution.

4/5 - Inscription: Inscrição do Príncipe da Terra, Inscrição de Juba de Leão, Inscrição de Fogovil.
Critical strike rating instead of mastery and haste rating instead of critical strike rating, slightly less flexible compared to others.

5/5 - Jewelcrafting: As with WotLK, this will continue to be one of the strongest professions .

5/5 - Leatherworking: , , .

2/5 - Mining: , tanking only, directly subpar to both Leatherworking and Jewelcrafting.

1/5 - Skinning: , a subpar stat for all three specs.

1/5 - Tailoring: , and all have been upgraded, but still proves to be a weak profession.

Postado por blademeld

If you can't find your answers in here, look here instead.

What specialization is best for leveling?

Whatever style is fine, but take into account that protection and holy don't really have abilities that use Holy Power until later. Protection AoE grinding will be harder than it has been as you will only block 30% of the damage instead of most damage.

What build for ___ specialization?
Details coming later.

Holy
- PvP

Protection
General
- PvP

Retribution
General
- PvP

Weight scales - use at your own risk.

Rough (rounded to the nearest 5) and aimed for the pre-raid level, balanced for me and my preference.

Holy
Protection
Retribution

Postado por blademeld

If you can't find your answers in here, look here instead.

What weapon is the best for me?

For paladins, since they have no talents that determine the effectiveness of a weapon, the weapon type is a moot point unless effected by external sources such as racial bonuses, what is important is:

Retribution specialization prefers a slow, top-end damage, two handed weapon for burst damage effects in PvP.

Holy specialization prefers a two hander before access to spell damage between the levels 1-60 for soloing, and an one-handed weapon and shield for grouping (personal preference), but once tBC equipment becomes accessable, a high spell power one handed weapon and shield combination is prefered.

Protection specialization prefers a warrior weapon and a damage reflective shield and grind multiple monsters at the same time. Since all of the protection spells are uneffected/normalized by weapon damage, there is no strong preference for weapon speeds.

Paladins have access to:
One and two handed axes.
One and two handed maces.
One and two handed swords.
Polearms.

Postado por blademeld

If you can't find your answers in here, look here instead.

What stats should I be looking for?
These itemization are based on grouped play. If you are solitary play or PvP oriented, add stamina to the list.

pre-BC itemization (aka before ratings et al.)

Holy: Intellect, Spirit and Stamina.
For mana pool and survivability.

Protection: Stamina and Strength.
For damage intake and threat generation.

Retribution: Strength and Stamina.
For damage output and survival.

tBC/WotLK itemization

Holy: Intellect, spell power (on weapons), critical strike rating, spirit, haste rating.
With Infusão de Luz and critical strike rating will still prove to be useful in our arsenal.

Protection: Stamina, strength, expertise/hit, defense and other avoidance.
26 expertise (13 with Glyph of Seal of Truth) and 8% hit for threat.

Retribution: Strength, critical strike rating, hit rating, expertise rating, haste rating.
You want to cap or near cap hit, 8% or 7% (Draenei) hit rating for raid bosses, and ~5% for heroics, then expertise. Expertise acts similar to hit as it reduces the chance your attacks will be dodged/parried. The soft cap is 26 expertise (you will have 10 expertise from Glifo Calcinado) and applies to only when attacking from behind the target. Haste is finally useful to us, with it will lower the cooldown of our staple ability.

Postado por blademeld

If you can't find your answers in here, look here instead.

Is cloth okay to wear?

It used to be okay to wear cloth, leather or mail as Holy or Retribution. With the changes in Cataclysm and the armour specialization bonuses, it is no longer ideal.

Cloth is about 1/8th of plate armor value.
Leather is about 1/4th of plate armor value.
Mail is about 1/2 of plate armor value.

As a paladin, you should be looking at 10000+ armor at level 70.

You have around 1000 armor value per piece of your armor.

That means mail is around 500, hence 500 armor reduction per piece of armor, and hence around 1% physical damage reduction loss.
Leather is around 250, hence you lose around 2% physical damage reduction loss.
Cloth is around 125, hence, around 3% physical damage reduction loss.

This is not a significant loss for holy or retribution paladins; however, armor scales, and the damage taken scales rapidly with loss of armor.

This being said, if you are holy or retribution, you should not worry too much on the fact that you have armor below cloth. In PvE, and even in most PvP, you won't be the one taking the focus fire.
However, a protection paladin should never sacrifice even one peice of armor if possible.

Effective Health is used for protection paladins, it is the measure of how much damage a tank can take before dying.

Effective Health = % damage mitigated through armor and talents multiplied by total health.

Postado por 106288

This post was from a user who has deleted their account.

Postado por Torgani

I really don't think that all pallies agree that prot AOE farming is the best way to level at 45+.

I've played every pally spec, and personally, I think Ret is the best for leveling. The ability to kill multiple things at the same time over long periods of time is neat, but the ability to two-shot clothie mobs is a lot better.

Plus, just going to areas where there are mobs you can aoe grind is boring and takes a long time, and if you're going to be questing, you'll have to fight some caster mobs, which prot is terrible at grinding.

Overall, I say stick with ret up until you're grouping a lot, then go either tank or healer, whichever your group needs and you enjoy.

Postado por 24656

This post was from a user who has deleted their account.

Postado por 109484

This post was from a user who has deleted their account.

Postado por 109484

This post was from a user who has deleted their account.

Postado por noki

Blademeld, thank you for your explanation on the different spec's of paladins. I am so tired of folks using me just to heal. I explain I also can tank, please use me as such but I am told Paladins cannot tank. Period. I am so tired of fighting this reputation I am tempted just to switch to Holy spec just to get them to leave me alone but my husband tell me not to give into them. I wish people would read your guides before they try to argue with me! Thanks again for all you do :D

Noki

Postado por Kahlner

People who think that Paladins cannot tank really do not know anything about the class. Agreed that paladins have a harder time catching up in aggro compared to warriors or druids, but try running Shattered Halls with a druid or warrior, it's very very interesting, and usually pretty costly.

Postado por frmorrison

You said "What specialization is best for leveling?"

With the buff to quest xp in patch 2.3, Ret is the best to just do the quest rather than AoE grind.

The best way to level is have some AoE a whole instance for you, but that is not an option for many.

Postado por Bladeangel

Just my opinion, because I've always ran with a pally tank (^ blademeld's main), i prefer them over warriors, not in raids, and especially over druid tanks. Not saying druid tanks are bad, but just had negative experiences with them.

Postado por ikongzki

i have a better talent distribution of a shockadin than this. and its sooooooo efective

Paladin FAQ: Now 148% prettier! (and 20% more accurate)

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