Retribution Paladin DPS Leveling 1-80 and Best Leveling Talent Builds - WotLK Classic

By terryn Updated: 2022/10/02

Leveling Overview for Retribution Paladin DPS in Wrath of the Lich KingThe Art of WarJudgements of the WiseLeveling Viability for Retribution Paladin DPS in Wrath of the Lich KingSeal of CommandDivine StormDivine ProtectionHand of ProtectionDivine ShieldLeveling Tips for Retribution Paladin DPS in Wrath of the Lich King

Be sure to abuse Hand of Reckoning as soon as you get it at level 18. Not only is it a nice ranged pull / tag, its a nice chunk of bonus damage, regularly hitting for the initial 10-15% of the mob's hp.

Seal of Command is one of the best talents you have available while leveling, letting you deal great damage to multiple mobs at once early on. Abuse this

Blessing of Wisdom will be your go to blessing until around level 42 when you can get 3/3 in Judgements of the Wise. After this point you will want to swap to Blessing of Might .

Divine Protection is a spell you get very early on at level 6. This is a great thing to help drop damage taken by a lot when you pull multiple things, which you should definitely start doing around level 20 with Seal of Command.

As you level up you will gain access to stronger gear and stronger quest rewards. Don't stick around running a low level dungeon hunting for a specific drop, just move on with the leveling process and you are likely to find something else along the way.

Judgement of Light is at level 4, Judgement of Wisdom is at level 12, and Judgement of Justice is at level 28.

At levels1, 6, 14, 22, 30, 38, 46, 54, 62, 70, 75, and 80 you can train new ranks of Holy Light, This is your big heal for out of combat.

At levels 20, 26, 34, 42, 50, 58, 66, 74, and 79 you can train new ranks of Flash of Light.

At level 20 and 40 you get a free mount trained. This will include the riding skill required.

At levels 50, 60, 69, 72 and 78 you can gain new ranks of Holy Wrath which really accelerates your ability to fight multiple demons and undead at once.

At level 8, 24, 40 and 54 you can train Hammer of Justice, a powerful stun increasing its duration by one second per rank from 3 to 6 seconds.

At level 34 you get Divine Shield, which grants you immunity to all things for 12 seconds, letting you do an emergency heal on yourself. This can be cast while under control removing effects (Stuns, polymorph, etc) and removes all debuffs on yourself.

At level 44, 52, 60, 68, 74, and 80 you get Hammer of Wrath which is basically a ranged execute. In wrath this is now an instant cast ability and does NOT reset your swing timer.

Best Builds for Leveling as Retribution Paladin DPS in Wrath of the Lich KingBaseline Ret

Seal of CommandJudgements of the WiseThe Art of WarExorcismFlash of LightCrusader StrikeSheath of LightDivine StormCrusader Strike

61-65: Full 5 in Divine Strength

66 & 67: 2 in Guardian's Favor

68: last point in Improved Blessing of Might

69 & 70: 2 points in Sanctified Wrath

Sanctified WrathAvenging Wrath

71-73: Full 3 in Swift Retribution

74 & 75: 2 in Vindication

76-78: 3 in Stoicism

79 & 80: 2 points in Improved Righteous Fury

At level 80 go ahead and respec to your actual PVE spec as this build isn't what you're looking for with that for dungeons.

Swift RetributionVindicationRetribution Paladin DPS Leveling Glyphs

Glyph of Seal of Command for some excellent sustain.

Glyph of Holy Wrath is especially helpful on continuous undead packs to get extra stuns out.

Glyph of Judgement best overall damage increase

Glyph of Exorcism High burst damage increase

Glyph of Lay on Hands drops Lay on Hands from 20 to 15 minute cd.

Glyph of Sense Undead gives you 1% more damage against undead.

Glyph of Blessing of Might makes the duration of Blessing of Might the same as the greater blessing when cast on yourself.

Leveling Rotation for Retribution Paladin DPS in Wrath of the Lich KingRetribution Paladin DPS Leveling Single Target Rotation

Hammer of Wrath when available.

Either Judgement of Light or Judgement of Wisdom, depending on your situation.

Crusader StrikeJudgements of the WiseCrusader StrikeThe Art of WarExorcismFlash of LightConsecrationRetribution Paladin DPS Leveling AOE Rotation

Either Judgement of Light or Judgement of Wisdom, depending on your situation.

Consecration

Divine Storm

Holy Wrath if Undead or Demons

Hammer of Wrath when available.

Crusader Strike

Exorcism

ExorcismFlash of LightCooldowns for Retribution Paladin DPS in Wrath of the Lich KingAvenging WrathDivine ProtectionDivine ShieldLay on HandsHand of ProtectionAvenging WrathHand of FreedomHand of Sacrifice

Avenging WrathNew Abilities 71-80 to Train for Retribution Paladin DPS in Wrath of the Lich KingDivine PleaBlessing of WisdomGreater Blessing of WisdomDivine PleaRedemptionHoly WrathGreater Blessing of MightBlessing of MightExorcismFlash of LightHammer of WrathDevotion AuraConsecrationHoly LightShield of RighteousnessShield of RighteousnessShadow Resistance AuraRetribution AuraFrost Resistance AuraBlessing of WisdomGreater Blessing of WisdomFire Resistance AuraHoly WrathLay on HandsRedemptionBlessing of MightFlash of LightDevotion AuraGreater Blessing of MightExorcismHoly LightHammer of WrathShield of RighteousnessConsecrationSacred ShieldSacred ShieldBest Leveling Weapons and Gear for Retribution Paladin DPS in Wrath of the Lich King

Level

Item

Location

Duskbringer

Drops from random trash in Shadowfang Keep

Combatant Claymore

Random world drop.

X'caliboar

Drops from Ragglesnout in Razorfen Downs

40-45

Stoneslayer

Drops from Archaedas in Uldaman

Warmonger

Random world drop.

Lightforged Blade

Reward from Forging the Mightstone

Doombringer

Random world drop.

Blade of Misfortune

Random zone drop.

Shaarde the Greater

Drop from Tavarok in Mana-Tombs.

Endbringer

Drops from The Black Stalker in The Underbog heroic.

Merciless Gladiator's Greatsword

PVP reward 19125 from Sergeant Thunderhorn or Captain O'Neal.

Troll Butcherer

Drops from Trollgore in Drak'Tharon Keep

Dreadlord's Blade

Drops from Mal'Ganis in The Culling of Stratholme

Level

Item

Location

Prospector Axe

Random world drop.

20-25

Arced War Axe

Drops from Commander Springvale in Shadowfang Keep

Burning War Axe

Random world drop.

Obsidian Cleaver

Random drop inside of Uldaman

34-40

Bonebiter

Reward from In the Name of the Light

Darkmoon Executioner

Reward from Demons Deck requires Demons Deck made from Shadowy Tarot Inscription

40-45

Will of the Mountain Giant

Reward from Weapons of Spirit

51-55

Angerforge's Battle Axe

Drops from General Angerforge in Blackrock Depths

Arcanite Reaper

Crafted Arcanite Reaper with Blacksmithing

Warsong Howling Axe

Drops from Keli'dan the Breaker in The Blood Furnace

Honed Voidaxe

Reward from The Warlord's Hideout in The Steamvault

Crystalforged War Axe

Random World Drop

Merciless Gladiator's Decapitator

PVP reward 19125 from Sergeant Thunderhorn or Captain O'Neal.

Axe of Frozen Death

Reward from Last Rites
Reward from Hellscream's Champion

Honed Cobalt Cleaver

Crafted Honed Cobalt Cleaver

De-Raged Waraxe

Reward from The Champion of Anguish

Wyrmclaw Battleaxe

Drops from Ley-Guardian Eregos in The Oculus normal

Level

Item

Location

Rakzur Club

BoE World Drop

Smite's Mighty Hammer

Drops from Mr. Smite in The Deadmines

Dense Triangle Mace

BoE World Drop

Cobalt Crusher

BoE World Drop

Viscous Hammer

BoE World Drop

Thornstone Sledgehammer

BoE World Drop

Ragehammer

BoE in Vital Supplies

Blanchard's Stout

BOE World Drop.

Force of Magma

Drops from Bael'Gar in Blackrock Depths

Bonecrusher

Quest The Treasure of the Shen'dralar for Dire Maul

Hatebringer

Drops from Ghaz'an in The Underbog

The Oathkeeper

Random world drop.

Merciless Gladiator's Bonegrinder

PVP reward 19125 from Sergeant Thunderhorn or Captain O'Neal.

Petrified Ironwood Smasher

Random world drop.

Best Leveling Professions for Retribution Paladin DPS in Wrath of the Lich KingJewelcraftingEngineeringMiningJewelcraftingEngineeringBest Leveling Consumables for Retribution Paladin DPS in Wrath of the Lich KingJudgements of the WiseSuper Healing PotionJudgements of the WiseFlask of Relentless AssaultAdamantite Sharpening StoneAdamantite Weightstone

Comments

Comment by Sloxman

As for visiting a trainer above 70 as ret... you could probably do without until 80. 75 isn't bad but nothing beyond that point really matters, does it?

Comment by gefthi

Thanks for this guide. I have some questions! I am talking about solo leveling as ret.

1. Isn't parry more useful than benediction?

2. Why do we not take PoJ before Conviction? Do we not want faster speed as soon as possible?

3. The moment we get SoCom, do we ditch SoL even at single target till get SoV?

Comment by madmurdock

Doing elite stuff solo:

Pala is ridiculously overpowered for 3 man elite quests and sometimes even 5 man stuff. You basically have endless mana if its not a mob on the level of a 5 man dungeon boss. How you do it:

Activate Seal of Wisdom and keep Judgement of Light or Judgement of Wisdom on CD. Use Flash of Light when it proccs and if you get huge damage, use your big heal Holy Light . For mitigation or oh sh*t moments you have Divine Protection , Lay on Hands and Divine Shield . Besides the arena stuff every content should be soloable.

Later on you can use your def gear and it should even be easier. Another option would be to use your heal gear with shield and you cant ever go oom.

Comment by Moonpetal

Why are there spells in the listed rotations that require level 80?

Retribution Paladin DPS Leveling 1-80 and Best Leveling Talent Builds - WotLK Classic

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