Protection Paladin
Shield up. Threat on everything.
The paladin tank: Righteous Fury, Seal of Fury, Holy Shield and Consecration to hold whole packs, with new tools in WoW Forever like Shieldsworn and Templar's Bulwark.
Three things to remember
Righteous Fury on
Without it you will not hold threat. Turn it on before every pull; it lasts 30 minutes.
Seal of Fury
Extra Holy damage on every swing and, with a shield, a small absorb shield. A fast weapon suits it.
Judge to taunt
Judging Seal of Fury taunts the target for 3 seconds: your taunt.
What changed for you
Judgement keeps your seal
Judgement does not use up your seal in WoW Forever. Keep a seal up and Judge every time it is ready.
Holy Strike at level 6
An instant strike for half your weapon damage plus Holy damage. Every paladin uses it, and talents change it for each spec.
Seal of Fury at level 10
A new seal: extra Holy damage on every swing, and with a shield, each hit also gives you a small absorb shield. Judging it taunts for 3 seconds.
Shieldsworn
Holy Strike strikes with your shield: it triggers Holy Shield without using a charge, comes back 4 sec sooner, and lets you block spells for 6 sec.
Templar's Bulwark
A shield that absorbs damage equal to 100% of your maximum health for 8 sec. Your big emergency button.
Iron Creed
More threat from Holy Strike, and while Righteous Fury is on, Holy Strike cuts your damage taken.
Low-level tips and what to press as you level
- Turn on Righteous Fury as soon as you have it when you tank dungeons.
- Use a one-handed weapon and a shield. Devotion Aura for armor.
- Judge, then Holy Strike (level 6). From level 20, Consecration holds whole packs.
- Swap to Seal of Fury at level 10 and Judge it to pull mobs off healers.
- Start the Protection tree: Toughness and Redoubt.
- Lay on Hands (10) saves a run once in a while.
- Take Improved Righteous Fury (up to 9% less damage taken).
- Learn Holy Shield (talent, 30) and keep it up whenever you are being hit.
- Precision (+3% hit) helps your threat land.
- Take Shieldsworn, Iron Creed and Shield Specialization.
- Save Templar's Bulwark for big hits; it puts Forbearance on you for a minute.
- Consecration on every pack, then Holy Strike and Judgement on the target you care about.
What to press at level 60
The order the WoW Forever simulator uses for a Protection tank. Righteous Fury and your aura go on before the pull.
- Judgement whenever it is ready (it keeps your seal). Judging Seal of Fury taunts for 3 sec.
- Swift Judgement if you took the talent: a second Judgement on its own 60 sec cooldown.
- Seal of Fury whenever it has run out.
- Consecration on every pack, and on a single target too.
- Holy Shield whenever it is down and you are being hit.
- Holy Strike on cooldown. With Shieldsworn it also triggers Holy Shield and lets you block spells.
- Exorcism against Undead and Demons, when nothing above is ready.
Talents that matter
| Talent | Tree | Why take it |
|---|---|---|
| Toughness | Protection | Up to +10% armor from items. |
| Redoubt | Protection | More blocks after you are hit. |
| Improved Righteous Fury | Protection | Up to 9% less damage taken while Righteous Fury is on. |
| Holy Shield | Protection | +30% block for 10 sec and Holy damage on every block. |
| Shield Specialization | Protection | Bigger blocks, and blocks give mana back. |
| Sacred Duty | Protection | Shorter cooldowns on Divine Shield, Divine Protection and Templar's Bulwark. |
| Iron Creed | Protection | More Holy Strike threat and less damage taken. |
| Shieldsworn | Protection | Holy Strike with your shield; spell blocking for 6 sec. |
| Reckoning | Protection | Extra attacks after blocks and crits taken. |
| Precision | Protection | +3% hit so your threat lands. |
Best race for this spec
Stoneform cuts physical damage taken by 10% for 8 sec, an extra cooldown for big hits, and +1% hit keeps your threat steady.
The only Horde paladin. Will of the Forsaken breaks fears that would make you drop the boss.
| Race | Side | Racials |
|---|---|---|
| Human | Alliance | Ruthless: +1% crit. The Human Spirit: +10% Spirit. Will to Survive: break out of a stun. Perception: spot stealthed players. |
| Dwarf | Alliance | Artisan's Precision: +1% hit with attacks and spells. Stoneform: removes bleeds, poisons and diseases and cuts physical damage taken by 10% for 8 sec. Big Game Hunter: +5% damage to Beasts. |
| Undead | Horde | Touch of the Grave: your hits can drain health from the target (30% chance for casters, 20% for Paladins, Rogues and Warriors; once every 15 sec). Will of the Forsaken: break fear, charm and sleep. Cannibalize: eat a corpse to heal. |
These are small edges, about 1 to 2 percent. Play the race you enjoy and the side your friends are on. Skyborne needs the paid Skyborne Heroic Pack.
Play it better
Fast weapon, Seal of Fury
Seal of Fury adds the same damage to every swing, so faster swings mean more threat and more absorb shields.
Mana comes from blocks
Shield Specialization gives mana back on blocks, so keep Holy Shield up even on easy pulls.
Bulwark, then Forbearance
Templar's Bulwark puts Forbearance on you for a minute, which also blocks Divine Shield. Plan which one you need.
Judge the runner
A mob going for your healer? Judge Seal of Fury on it for a 3-second taunt.
When something seems off
| What you see | What to do |
|---|---|
| Losing threat at the start | Is Righteous Fury on? Open with Judgement, Consecration and Holy Strike before the DPS start. |
| Running out of mana | Keep Holy Shield up for Shield Specialization mana, and ask for Judgement of Wisdom. |
| Templar's Bulwark will not cast | Forbearance is on you, from Bulwark, Divine Shield or a Blessing of Protection. Wait it out. |
| No absorb shield from Seal of Fury | You need a shield equipped for the absorb part. |
Let Bonkr Compass+ call your buttons
Compass+ lists your next button, follows your seal and Holy Shield from your casts, and shows your defensive cooldowns. Type /cplus why to see why it picked a spell.