Protection Paladin Tank Pre-Raid Best in Slot (BiS) - TBC Classic

By Jurdi Updated: 2026/08/10

Pre-Raid Best In Slot Gear for Protection Paladin Tank in Phase 3quickest PvP gear is not a requirement (it kind of is though)Important Note Before You Scroll: your sets are fluidMagtheridonLeotheras the Blindthere is not "one" bis set for tanks.When working on your tanking build, some good goals are:

Boss Critical strike immunity: -5.6% chance to be crit, can be reached using resilience or 490 defense, or a combination thereof.

Crush immunity/Avoidance Cap: (+102.4% Miss/Dodge/Parry/Block when Holy Shield is active.

Enough health and/or effective hit points (EHP) to survive your given encounter.

After all these benchmarks are completed, we can then focus on Threat.

fastFaceguard of DeterminationSha'tari Vindicator's WaistguardStrength of the UntamedElementium Band of the SentryAldor vs. Scryer for Protection Paladin Tank in Phase 3 Pre-RaidGreater Inscription of the KnightGreater Inscription of WardingScryer's BloodgemSeer's SignetThalodien's CharmPre-Raid Best in Slot Head Armor for Protection Paladin Tank in TBC Classic Phase 3Tankatronic GogglesFaceguard of DeterminationIllidan StormrageMerciless Gladiator's Lamellar HelmHelm of the Righteous

Rank

Item

Source

Best - Survivability

Tankatronic Goggles

Profession: Engineering (BoP)

Best - Avoidance

Faceguard of Determination

Vendor: G'eras (50 Badges of Justice)

Best - PvP
Threat

Merciless Gladiator's Lamellar Helm

Arena Points - Arena Vendor

Great - Threat

Oathkeeper's Helm

Profession: Blacksmithing

Rank

Item

Source

Great

Helm of the Righteous

Drop: Pathaleon the Calculator {The Mechanar)

Good

Helm of the Stalwart Defender

Profession: Blacksmithing

Good

Felsteel Helm

Profession: Blacksmithing

Good

Myrmidon's Headdress

Quest The Warlord's Hideout

Pre-Raid Best in Slot Shoulder Armor for Protection Paladin Tank in TBC Classic Phase 3Merciless Gladiator's Lamellar ShouldersFanblade PauldronsSpaulders of the Righteous

Rank

Item

Source

Best - PvP
Threat

Merciless Gladiator's Lamellar Shoulders

Arena Points - Arena Vendor

Best - Avoidance

Fanblade Pauldrons

Drop: Shirrak the Dead Watcher (Heroic Auchenai Crypts)

Best - Balanced

Spaulders of the Righteous

Drop: Laj (The Botanica)

Good

Shoulderguards of the Bold

Drop: Murmur (Shadow Labyrinth)

Nexus-Guard's PauldronsShoulderguards of the Bold

Rank

Item

Source

Okay

Warchief's Mantle

Quest:Return to Andormu

Okay

Nexus-Guard's Pauldrons

Quest:Success!

Pre-Raid Best in Slot Back Armor for Protection Paladin Tank in TBC Classic Phase 3Devilshark Capeare

Rank

Item

Source

Best

Devilshark Cape

Drop: Warlord Kalithresh (The Steamvault)

Great

Cloak of Eternity

Profession: Tailoring

Great

Burnoose of Shifting Ages

Chrono Lord Deja (The Black Morass)

Good

Ironscale War Cloak

Rokmar the Crackler (Heroic The Slave Pens)

Rating

Rank

Item

Source

Good

Bogstrok Scale Cloak

Rokmar the Crackler (The Slave Pens)

Good

Cloak of the Valiant Defender

Quest: Ar'kelos the Guardian

Viable

Farstrider Defender's Cloak

Vendor: G'eras (25 Badges of Justice)

Pre-Raid Best in Slot Chest Armor for Protection Paladin Tank in TBC Classic Phase 3Breastplate of the RighteousMerciless Gladiator's Lamellar Chestpiece

Rank

Item

Source

Best

Breastplate of the Righteous

Drop: Warlord Kalithresh (The Steamvault)

Best - Avoidance

Jade-Skull Breastplate

Drop: Nethermancer Sepethrea (The Mechanar)

Best- PvP
Threat

Merciless Gladiator's Lamellar Chestpiece

Arena Points - Arena Vendor

Aldor Only
Great- Avoidance

Vindicator's Hauberk

Vendor: Quartermaster Endarin - Revered with The Aldor

Rank

Item

Source

Good

Breastplate of the Warbringer

Quest: Forge Camp: Annihilated

Okay

Adamantite Breastplate

Profession: Blacksmithing

Pre-Raid Best in Slot Wrist Armor for Protection Paladin in TBC Classic Phase 3Bracers of DignityBracers of the Green Fortress

Rank

Item

Source

Best - Overall

Bracers of Dignity

Drop: Harbinger Skyriss (Heroic The Arcatraz)

Best - Avoidance

Bracers of the Green Fortress

Profession: Blacksmithing

Best - Threat

Vindicator's Lamellar Bracers

Honor Points - Honor Vendor

Viable

Amber Bands of the Aggressor

Drop: Warlord Kalithresh (Heroic The Steamvault)

Rank

Item

Source

Option

Sha'tari Wrought Armguards

Quest: The Soul Devices

Option

Vambraces of Daring

Vazruden the Herald (Heroic Hellfire Ramparts)

Option

Thadell's Bracers

Quest: When the Cows Come Home

Pre-Raid Best in Slot Hand Armor for Protection Paladin in TBC Classic Phase 3Topaz-Studded BattlegripsGauntlets of the Iron TowerGauntlets of the Righteous

Rank

Item

Source

Best (Unrealistic)

Topaz-Studded Battlegrips

Drop: Doom Lord Kazzak (Hellfire Peninsula World Boss)

Best (Realistic)

Gauntlets of the Righteous

Drop: Warchief Kargath Bladefist (The Shattered Halls)

Best - PvP
Threat

Merciless Gladiator's Lamellar Gauntlets

Arena Points - Arena Vendor

Great

Gauntlets of Dissension

Drop: Warp Splinter (Heroic The Botanica)

Rank

Item

Source

Great

Gauntlets of the Iron Tower

Profession: - Blacksmithing

Great

Felsteel Gloves

Profession: Blacksmithing

Great - Avoidance

Dauntless Handguards

Quest: Fel Embers

Great

Thatia's Self-Correcting Gauntlets

Drop: Dalliah the Doomsayer (The Arcatraz

Good

Gauntlets of the Chosen

Vendor: Quartermaster Enuril - Revered with The Scryers

Pre-Raid Best in Slot Waist Armor for Protection Paladin in TBC Classic Phase 3Belt of the GuardianGirdle of Valorous Deeds

Rank

Item

Source

Best - Crafted

Belt of the Guardian

Drop: Aeonus - (Heroic The Black Morass)

Best

Girdle of Valorous Deeds

Drop: Aeonus - (Heroic The Black Morass)

Great - Easy To Obtain

Sha'tari Vindicator's Waistguard

Quest: How to Break Into the Arcatraz

Great - PvP

Vindicator's Lamellar Belt

Honor Points - Honor Vendor

Girdle of the ImmovableSha'tari Vindicator's Waistguard

Rank

Item

Source

Great

Girdle of the Immovable

Drop: Quagmirran (Heroic The Slave Pens)

Good

Lion's Heart Girdle

Drop: Vazruden the Herald (Heroic Hellfire Ramparts)

Good

Lightwarden's Girdle

Quest:Deathblow to the Legion

Good

Starcaller's Plated Belt

Quest:Arconus the Insatiable

Pre-Raid Best in Slot Leg Armor for Protection Paladin in TBC Classic Phase 3Timewarden's Leggings

Rank

Item

Source

Best

Timewarden's Leggings

Vendor: Alurmi - Revered with The Keepers of Time

Great

Legplates of the Righteous

Drop: Aeonus (The Black Morass)

Great

Felsteel Leggings

Profession: Blacksmithing

Great

Legguards of the Resolute Defender

Quest:Destroy Naberius!

Kirin'Var Defender's Chausses

Rank

Item

Source

Good

Greaves of the Shatterer

Warchief Kargath Bladefist (The Shattered Halls)

Good

Kirin'Var Defender's Chausses

Quest: The Sigil of Krasus

Pre-Raid Best in Slot Feet Armor for Protection Paladin in TBC Classic Phase 3Boots of the Righteous Path

Rank

Item

Source

Best - Overall

Boots of the Righteous Path

Drop: Warchief Kargath Bladefist (Heroic The Shattered Halls)

Best - PvP

Vindicator's Lamellar Greaves

Honor Points - Honor Vendor

Great

Eaglecrest Warboots

Drop: Keli'dan the Breaker (Heroic The Blood Furnace)

Great

Boots of the Colossus

Drop: Pandemonius (Heroic Mana-Tombs)

Flesh Beast's Metal Greaves

Rank

Item

Source

Good

Starcaller's Plated Stompers

Quest: Escape from the Staging Grounds

Good

Ascendant's Boots

Quest: A Job Unfinished...

Good - Avoidance

Flesh Beast's Metal Greaves

Quest: Someone Else's Hard Work Pays Off

Good

Bloodguard's Greaves

Quest: Information Gathering

Pre-Raid Best in Slot Neck Jewelry for Protection Paladin Tank in Phase 3Maladaar's Blessed ChapletMark of the RavenguardVindicator's Pendant of Dominance

Rank

Item

Source

Best - Balanced

Vindicator's Pendant of Dominance

Honor Points - Honor Vendor

Best - Avoidance

Maladaar's Blessed Chaplet

Drop: Exarch Maladaar (Heroic Auchenai Crypts)

Best - Stamina

Mark of the Ravenguard

Quest: Brother Against Brother

Best - Block Value

Thalodien's Charm

Quest: Shutting Down Manaforge Ara

Necklace of the JuggernautChain of the Twilight Owl

Rank

Item

Source

Great

Necklace of the Juggernaut

Vendor: G'eras (25 Badges of Justice)

Great

Natasha's Battle Chain

Quest: The Hound-Master

Great - Avoidance

Strength of the Untamed

Vendor: Fedryen Swiftspear - Revered with Cenarion Expedition

Great - Party Buff

Chain of the Twilight Owl

Profession: Jewelcrafting

Good

Steam-Hinge Chain of Valor

Drop: Mekgineer Steamrigger (The Steamvault]

Good

Enchanted Thorium Torque

Drop: High Botanist Freywinn (The Botanica)

Horde Option

Maimfist's Choker

Quest:The Will of the Warchief

Alliance Option

Medallion of the Valiant Guardian

Quest:Turning the Tide

Pre-Raid Best in Slot Ring Jewelry for Protection Paladin Tank in Phase 3Elementium Band of the SentryAshyen's GiftAndormu's TearDath'Remar's Ring of Defense

Rank

Item

Source

Best - Mitigation

Elementium Band of the Sentry

Drop: Harbinger Skyriss (The Arcatraz)

Best - Threat

Ashyen's Gift

Vendor: Fedryen Swiftspear - Exalted with Cenarion Expedition

Best - Balanced

Seal of the Exorcist

Vendor: Spirit Sage Zran / Spirit Sage Gartok - 50 Spirit Shard

Best - Avoidance

Andormu's Tear

Quest: The Opening of the Dark Portal

Rank

Item

Source

Good

Seer's Signet

Vendor: Quartermaster Enuril - Exalted with The Scryers

Best - Block

Dath'Remar's Ring of Defense

Drop: Pathaleon the Calculator (The Mechanar)

Great - Stamina

Band of Impenetrable Defenses

World Drop

Great

Crystal Band of Valor

Drop: Tavarok (Heroic Mana-Tombs)

Great

Lieutenant's Signet of Lordaeron

Drop: Lieutenant Drake (Heroic Old Hillsbrad Foothills)

Great

Ring of Unyielding Force

Vendor: G'eras (25 Badges of Justice)

Great

Yor's Revenge

Drop: Yor (Heroic Mana-Tombs)

Good - Block Value

Protector's Mark of the Redemption

Quest: Dissension Amongst the Ranks...

Good

Iron Band of the Unbreakable

Drop: Lieutenant Drake (Old Hillsbrad Foothills)

Good

Delicate Eternium Ring

Profession: Jewelcrafting

Pre-Raid Best in Slot Trinkets for Protection Paladin Tank in Phase 3Figurine of the ColossusIcon of the Silver CrescentScryer's BloodgemIcon of the Silver CrescentBrooch of the Immortal KingFigurine of the Colossus

Rank

Item

Source

Best - Uncrushability

Figurine of the Colossus

Drop: Warchief Kargath Bladefist (The Shattered Halls)

Gobling Rocket LauncherBrightbrew CharmBalebrew Charm

Rank

Item

Source

Best + Snap Threat

Goblin Rocket Launcher

Profession: Goblin Engineering

Best

Gnomish Poultryizer

Profession: Goblin Engineering

Best - Seasonal

Brightbrew Charm

Drop: Coren Direbrew (Blackrock Depths - Brewfest)

Best - Seasonal

Balebrew Charm

Drop: Coren Direbrew (Blackrock Depths - Brewfest)

Icon of the Silver CrescentDark Iron Smoking Pipe

Rank

Item

Source

Best

Icon of the Silver Crescent

Vendor: G'eras (41 Badges of Justice)

Best - Seasonal

Dark Iron Smoking Pipe

Drop: Coren Direbrew (Blackrock Depths - Brewfest)

Rank

Item

Source

Best - Defense + Mitigation

Adamantine Figurine

Drop: Blackheart the Inciter (Shadow Labyrinth)

Best - Defense + HP

Brooch of the Immortal King

Drop: Terokk (Terokkar Forest)

Viable - Defense

Dabiri's Enigma

Quest: Dimensius the All-Devouring

Viable - Defense

Styleen's Impeding Scarab

Drop: Flamegor (Blackwing Lair)

Viable - Avoidance Utility
Jewelcrafters

Figurine - Dawnstone Crab

Profession: Jewelcrafting

Viable - Defense + HP

Regal Protectorate

Quest: Overlord/Cruel's Intentions

Viable - Mitigation

Glyph of Deflection

Drop: Sapphiron (Naxxramas)

Viable - Mitigation

Gnomeregan Auto-Blocker 600

Vendor: G'eras (41 Badges of Justice)

Rank

Item

Source

Viable

Commander's Badge

Quest:Hail, Commander! - Revered with Netherwing

Viable

Argussian Compass

Drop: The Black Stalker (Heroic The Underbog)

Viable - Threat
Jewelcrafter

Figurine - Living Ruby Serpent

Profession: Jewelcrafting

Viable
Alchemists

Alchemist's Stone

Profession: Alchemy

Rank

Item

Source

Good

Scryer's Bloodgem

Vendor: Quartermaster Enuril - Revered with The Scryers

Viable
Jewelcrafters

Figurine - Living Ruby Serpent

Profession: Jewelcrafting

Viable

The Restrained Essence of Sapphiron

*** MARK OF THE CHAMPION ***

Viable - Demons/Undead Only

Mark of the Champion

Quest: The Fall of Kel'Thuzad (Naaxxramas)

Viable (Threat)

Talisman of Ephemeral Power

Drop: Shared Bosses in Molten Core

Viable

Zandalarian Hero Charm

Quest: Zandalarian Hero Charm

Pre-Raid Best in Slot Weapons for Protection Paladin Tank in Phase 3Merciless Gladiator's GavelVengeful Gladiator's GavelGavel of Unearthed SecretsBlade of the ArchmageStormcaller

Rank

Item

Source

Best - PvP

Merciless Gladiator's Gavel

Arena Vendors - Requires Season 1 Gladiator PvP Rank, Shattrath City

Best - PvE

Gavel of Unearthed Secrets

Vendor: Nakodu - Exaltedwith Lower City

Best (Alliance Only)

Blade of the Archmage

Vendor: Quartermaster Urgronn - Exalted with Honor Hold

Best (Horde Only)

Stormcaller

Vendor: Logistics Officer Ulrike - Exalted with Thrallmar

Rank

Item

Source

Great

Continuum Blade

Vendor: Alurmi - Revered with Keepers of Time

Great

Mana Wrath

Drop: Pathaleon the Calculator (The Mechanar)

Great

Greatsword of Horrid Dreams

Drop: Murmur (Shadow Labyrinth)

Pre-Raid Best in Slot Shields for Protection Paladin Tank in Phase 3Crest of the Sha'tarAzure-Shield of ColdarraMerciless Gladiator's Shield Wall

Rank

Item

Source

Best - Survivability

Crest of the Sha'tar

Vendor: Almaador - Exalted with The Sha'tar

Best - Defense

Azure-Shield of Coldarra

Vendors: G'eras (33 Badges of Justice)

Viable- PvP

Merciless Gladiator's Shield Wall

Arena Vendors - Requires Season 1 Gladiator PvP Rank, Shattrath City

Rank

Item

Source

Viable - Black Temple

The Fel Barrier

Drop: Nexus-Prince Shaffar (Heroic Mana-Tombs)

Good

Aegis of the Sunbird

Drop: High Botanist Freywinn (The Botanica)]

Good

Blood Knight Defender

Drop: Watchkeeper Gargolmar (Heroic Hellfire Ramparts)

Option

Platinum Shield of the Valorous

Drop: Ambassador Hellmaw (Shadow Labyrinth)

Pre-Raid Best in Slot Librams for Protection Paladin Tank in Phase 3Libram of RepentanceHoly Shieldmust-have

Rank

Item

Source

Best

Libram of Repentance

Vendor: G'eras (15 Badges of Justice)

Viable - Threat

Libram of the Eternal Rest

Drop: Darkweaver Syth (Sethekk Halls)

Slot/ColorItemRedRuned Living RubySubtle Living RubyFlashing Living RubyBlueSolid Star of EluneYellowThick DawnstoneRigid DawnstoneGreat DawnstonePurpleGlowing NightseyeRegal NightseyeGreenEnduring ChrysopraseEnduring TalasiteSteady TalasiteOrangeStalwart Fire OpalGlimmering Fire OpalVeiled Noble TopazMetaEternal Earthstorm DiamondPowerful Earthstorm DiamondTenacious Earthstorm Diamond

Comments

Comment by Timespent

This guide's "best" options should be taken with a grain of salt. While Defense cap is important and is your number 1 priority, you should also be trying to get more dodge, parry, and block rating from the options to make sure you can hit the uncrushable breakpoint at 102.4% combined miss rate, dodge, block, and parry. Your miss rate is 5% + the amount of miss you get from your def rating stat. Things in this list like Figurine of the Colossus are often better than the plain def trinket as you can hit def cap without wearing 2 def trinkets. My point is, if you go straight def cap you will do fine tanking normal dungeons. Once you get to heroics and Kara you really are going to want to be uncrushable which means not just stacking your Defense rating beyond the 285ish needed to hit 490 def.

Comment by nodoze

This list needs to prioritize mitigation to reach unchrushable via dodge, parry, and block RATING (NOT block value) so that items that contribute to that and/or have flexible gem slots (especially red) which allow you to reach the target 102.4% are toward the top of the list per slot... Defense >490 is more important but so easy to achieve relatively speaking. The following is an example of an Protection Paladin Pre-Raid gear plan (that needs no Heroic Drops nor Exalted Rep) that is, UNBUFFED, Uncrushable, uncritable, not 1-2 shotable, & Good Threat for Bosses (490+ Defense, 102.4%+ boss avoidance, 11K+ health, & 200+ Spell Damage):
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1-ZAFHoUxb9oP8SRZEPa-wh7eJB-E-P_1Mo6ftbpCeOQ/edit#gid=570079838

Comment by Bobert99

I thought resilience only applied to other players and not NPCs.

Comment by Bobert99

Libram of Saints Departed should never be on any list ever. It's a useless amount of healing that doesn't scale with +damage and healing. It's a useless libram and the worst one in the game. It's terrible even at level 60. It would still be mostly useless at level 40.

Comment by PinkHair2

Just do every quest in NS then do Heroics and Kara. Make sure at 68 to start attune chain. If you don't have a key mount up on your flying mount outside instance dismount and spirit run into instance. Reason to do NS is tank gear arc Keychain quest as the gold earned here will easily pay for your flying which is mandatory here due to blizz saying lock cannot summon you up. The gear in Heroics and Kara will easily get you ready for Gruul and Mag.

Comment by Darrak30

DISCLAIMER: After some discussion, I would like to state that this post reflects only my personal opinion that is based on my experience in the original TBC and on beta. In this post I am only voicing this opinion - that is "gearing for survival should take precedent, only after you need more threat and you have no problem surviving, you should gear for it at the expense of defensive stats". So take my hard stances with a grain of salt.

As others mentioned, reaching uncrushability should be your goal before going for anything else (apart from 490 def).

For gems the rule of thumb is always socket pure stamina, cases where def/stam or spelldmg/stam gems are better are very few (only if the socket bonus is worth it). Pure spelldmg gems should never be used unless you're building a pure threat gear/gear piece. They have no place in regular gear.

Helm - your choices are technically the best but I would add a disclaimer that they might not be worth the price.
Shoulders - Fanblade Pauldrons are superior, Spaulders of the Righteous are very good though. Spell dmg gem is a fail, purple dmg/stam gem can be considered here as the socket bonuses are reasonable
Back - all hail the Devilshark Cape
Chest - Jade-Skull Breastplate is the best choice to reach uncrush., Breastplate of the Righteous is the second best choice but the gems have to be 3x 12stamina, socket bonus is worth absolutely nothing.
Wrists - Bracers of the Green Fortress are bis until Void Reaver bracers (T5), Bracers of Dignity can be considered a threat option but nothing more
Hands - considering the price - Felsteel Gloves beat the Iron Tower hands down (resilience is useless after reaching def cap), Gauntlets of Dissension could be viewed as bis if in need of the extra avoidance for uncrush. I would start with Felsteel Gloves and if I get my hands on Gauntlets of Dissension I would take them, but I would probably not farm them. I would list both Gauntlets of Dissension and Felsteel as bis.
Belt - Girdle of the Immovable is bis due to the stamina difference, I wouldn't mind the Girdle of Valorous Deeds listed as second or at shared 1st place since the trade-off for some spelldmg is not that big and you get to save on gems. My personal feeling is, use whichever one you get first.
Legs - all hail the Timewarden's Leggings, but the gems gotta be 3x 12stam. As I stated above, you never gem +9 spelldmg.
Boots - Boots of the Righteous Path are the best threat piece, Boots of the Colossus are the best stamina piece, Flesh Beast's Metal Greaves and Eaglecrest Warboots are the best uncrush pieces. They all have their uses, choose what you need in your gear but as a true prebis I would go with Boots of the Colossus with 2 stamina gems (1green if you lack defense)
Neck - Necklace of the Juggernaut is the best by a small margin ahead of Strength of the Untamed and Maladaar's Blessed Chaplet, the rest are significantly worse - the list should reflect that. In my view getting Strength of the Untamed and saving badges for something else (libram should always be first) is recommended.
Rings - Elementium Band of the Sentry and Band of Impenetrable Defenses are technically the best but chances are you gotta use Andormu's Tear to reach uncrush, list should reflect that. Andormu's Tear is always the first choice while starting at lvl 70, you replace it when you're able to without losing uncrush.
Trinkets - Maybe the trinket section could be split into more tables? Stamina / Threat / Def-uncrush.
Darkmoon Cards were added in 2.1, list should reflect that for now.
Best trinket for both def and uncrush cap is Styleen's (hard to get especialy for horde paladins) but I would mention it. Brooch of the Immortal King came with 2.1.
Figurine of the Colossus is best when struggling to reach uncrush, after that it's mostly farm trinket and can be usefull in big trash pulls (farming normals for rep?).

As stamina trinket go, you won't be able to reach uncrush with them early so they are more of a T4 bis things. Darkmoon Card: Vengeance is probably the best in game trinket for paladin but added in 2.1. Early options for paladin include engi trinket for engineers, Figurine - Living Ruby Serpent for JWCs and Argussian Compass for others. Commander's Badge also came with 2.1.

If I had to list two prebis trinket, it would be: Styleen's Impeding Scarab (Adamantine Figurine) + Figurine of the Colossus.
Goblin Rocket Launcher for stamina and Icon of Silver Crescent for threat.

Weapons - Gavel of Unearthed Secrets is crap, it's too slow. Continuum Blade is your prebis weapon - no discussion here. If you want more threat then get Stormcaller but getting exalted ain't easy.

Shields - Here you pretty much can't go wrong. First I would get Shield of the Wayward Footman, then Platinum Shield of the Valorous (easily farmable). Sha'tar and badge shields are pretty much equal in my eyes so I would get the badge one unless I'm farming exalted for a healer friend.

Librams - all hail Libram of Repentance, your first 15 badges go here, get asap.

How to spend badges?
Libram of Repentance -> Azure-Shield of Coldarra (if you don't have Shat'ar exalted) -> Icon of Silver Crescent -> Necklace of the Juggernaut (maybe don't even waste badges on this - too small of an upgrade)

If you want some more information and numbers you can check my personal spreadsheet, there might still be some errors in there, the comments are not complete or very well thought out and it doesn't include wowhead links yet, but it gives a very nice picture of all the individual gear pieces so you can make your own decision.

Just remember, get your 490 defense first, then get 102.4 combined avoidance+block+miss, then go for stamina, then avoidance, then comes the block value and extra block rating (mostly for aoe tanking). You can focus on threat (spell dmg, rest of the stats are pretty much worthless in comparison) once you have no trouble surviving. Also, spell dmg flask and oil go a long way, it's better than compromising your gear with threat pieces early on.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/15gYxdQwSnWCKjoQi7yv3UA6QDfHnK-KAd_VB2Efmk2g/edit?usp=sharing

Comment by Faschitis

When the first item is wrong...

Resilience is useless at 490 defense...

Please ask a real prot paladin like Lightray, Greysfordays, DrKael, or Lightcider how a BiS headset will be.

Is the T4 guide this bad?

Comment by Strykie

In what world is Heroic loot pre-raid? lmao
Heroics are harder than Kara

Comment by Ashreon

Guys, gals and those in-between.. This is the worst BiS list I have ever seen in my entire life on Wowhead.

It fails spectacularly at:
Only gett 490 defense (it goes to 510)
It does not hit uncrushable (68,4% avoidance + 34% from Holy Shield and Libram of Repentance)
It does not have sufficient stamina.

Do no use this BiS list. Use something like wowtbc.gg

Comment by Holyfury

Why there is no Gladiator's Gavel in this list?

Comment by Proton

Gavel of Unearthed Secrets is better than Blade of the Archmage/Stormcaller for Prot paladins regardless of race.

The difference is 11 more stamina and 5 more intellect, 6 less spell crit rating, and a weapon speed difference of 0.9 seconds/swing.

Here are some conversions:
1 Stamina = 10 hp
11 Stamina = 110 hp
With talents Combat Expertise and Sacred Duty there's a 1.16 multiplier added to stamina
11 Stamina * 1.16 = 12.76 Stamina = 127.6 hp

1 Intellect = 15 total mana
5 Intellect = 75 total mana
With talent Divine Intellect there's a 1.10 multiplier added to intellect
5 Intellect = 5.5 Intellect = 82.5 total mana
This isn't a typical talent to take for prot paladins, but worth mentioning just for due diligence.

Paladins receive 1% spell critical strike chance for every 79.4 points of intellect in TBC
5 Intellect = +0.062% spell crit chance
(With talents) 5.5 Intellect = +0.069% spell crit chance
(Notice that's in percent)

At level 70, 22.1 Spell Critical Strike Rating increases your chance to land a Critical Strike with a Spell by 1%
6 spell crit rating = +0.271% chance to crit with spells

So, overall Gavel of Unearthed Secrets will give 127.6 extra hp, 75 total mana, and -0.209% spell crit chance.

Here's my math on that:
11 Stamina * 1.16 = 12.76 Stamina = 127.6 hp (with both talents Combat Expertise and Sacred Duty fully utilized)
5 Intellect = 75 total mana (since most prot paladins will not spec into Divine Intellect for the multiplier)
5 Intellect = +0.062% spell crit chance
6 spell crit rating = +0.271%
0.062 - 0.271= -0.209 spell crit chance

There will likely be contention over the weapon speed (2.7 vs 1.8) being a massive difference (0.9 second difference). The math on TPS gets variable when factoring in Seal of Righteousness or Seal of Vengeance proc frequency with swings because it also depends on individual paladin stats, but here's food for thought:

In dungeons, trash and even boss encounters are very brief. For a 3 minute encounter, which is comparative more to raid boss fight length, 180 seconds is 180/2.7=66.66 swings or 180/1.8=100 swings which is in line with the difference of exactly 1/3 difference in speed. But this is not what prot paladins struggle with. Prot paladins are great at established threat, but struggle with snap threat in short encounters.

There are many other sources of threat like Consecration, Holy Shield, Retribution Aura, and even Felsteel Shield Spikes that are more reliable than relying on melee swings and Seal of Righteousness or Seal of Vengeance procs to establish threat. Especially when combined with Avenging Wrath and/or trinkets.

Gavel of Unearthed Secrets is better in P1 for survivability, which should be the priority in P1, but just marginally worse for threat.

Comment by orionshock

For people that use AtlasLoot - Favorites, here are the importable lists for each set in this guide -- as of 6/22

Fresh 70 Starter Set
i:28180,i:29173,i:29316,i:29777,i:30296,i:30225,i:29959,i:29185,i:31200,i:29388,i:30300,i:31078,i:29323,i:29325,i:29184,i:31460,i:28042

Pre-Raid Tanking Build - (No Heroics)
i:28180,i:29173,i:27739,i:27804,i:28262,i:28167,i:29134,i:30832,i:28316,i:29388,i:27891,i:27529,i:28407,i:29323,i:29325,i:29184,i:31460

Pre-Raid Tanking Build w/ Heroics - High SP
i:32083,i:27871,i:27739,i:27804,i:28262,i:29463,i:23517,i:30832,i:29176,i:29388,i:27529,i:23836,i:28407,i:29172,i:29254,i:29184,i:29253

Comment by Braknarhar

I noticed the talent build attached to the example gear sets is different from the talent builds in the talent section of the guide, is this the current build you are using and if so how much of a survivability loss is one less point into shield specialization in a dungeon setting?

Comment by Iroared

Why are Ascendant's Boots on the list? It's not available until phase 3.

Comment by SanRider

Why isn't Mogor's Anointing Club in the weapon list? According to the stat, it is even better than the last club from the list.
And you can get it from the quest The Ring of Blood: The Final Challenge

Comment by ItsMattBruh

It's PvP set now? I'm looking for PvE

Comment by Wakko89

Only 565 Badges required for the P5 Pre-Raid Balanced set?
... Easy.

Another 211 Badges for the threat pieces, for a total of 776?
... No sweat.

I think it's fair to say that no one will ever obtain this full set before stepping foot inside a raid, especially since you'd need the badges from raids to even get these items at a reasonable pace.
Many slots don't have any non-badge alternatives either, so how should we prioritize these badge items?

If I were to make a guess, it would look something like this:

Libram (BiS) > Boots (BiS) > Cloak (Pre-SWP BiS) > Ring1 (BiS miti, alts) > Head (alts) > Chest (BiS threat, PvP alt) > Legs1 (T6 par, PvP alt)
> Belt (BiS threat, alt) > Gloves (alts) > Neck (BoE & PvP alt) > Trinket (alts) > Ring2 (BiS Threat, alts) > Wrist (PvP alt) > Legs2 (good for trash?)

These boots are amazing, but they don't provide any crit reduction, so they may be difficult to fit in your set early on.
This head may be a bit outdated and have alternatives, but I thought it important to get early for the sheer amount of avoidance on it, helping you reach uncrushability.
While this chest is amazing, even better than T6; you may not enter SWP for the new T6 pieces yet and should aim for 4pc T6 from BT/MH, I'm assuming. It also has S3/S4 PvP Chest as an alternative.

Comment by JonasOst

slatesteel breastplate of the knight is not on the list and probably should be

Slatesteel Breastplate

Comment by JonasOst

dosent this neck with "of the knight" deserv a spot on the list?

Ethereum Torque

Protection Paladin Tank Pre-Raid Best in Slot (BiS) - TBC Classic

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