WoW Forever Retribution Paladin Guide
DamageMelee
Damage
Melee6 new, 4 changed and 4 removed talents since Classic; the 31-point talent is new: Twist of Light.
Increases your Parry chance by 1%.
Increases your Parry chance by 5%.
Reduces the Mana cost of all instant cast spells and abilities by 2%.
Reduces the Mana cost of all instant cast spells and abilities by 10%.
Decreases the cooldown of your Judgement ability by 1 sec.
Decreases the cooldown of your Judgement ability by 2 sec.
Reduces the mana cost of your Consecration, Holy Wrath, Exorcism, and Hammer of Wrath spells by 20%.
Reduces the mana cost of your Consecration, Holy Wrath, Exorcism, and Hammer of Wrath spells by 40%.
Improves your chance to get a critical strike with melee attacks by 1%.
Improves your chance to get a critical strike with melee attacks by 5%.
Gives your damaging melee attacks a chance to reduce the target's Attack Power by 68, and increase your Attack Power by 1% for 30 sec. level 60 reference
Gives your damaging melee attacks a chance to reduce the target's Attack Power by 204, and increase your Attack Power by 3% for 30 sec. level 60 reference
Gives your Judgement ability a 33% chance to return 20% of the Mana cost of the judged seal.
Gives your Judgement ability a 100% chance to return 60% of the Mana cost of the judged seal.
Gives the Paladin a chance to deal additional Holy damage equal to 70% of normal weapon damage. Only one Seal can be active on the Paladin at any one time. Lasts 30 sec. Unleashing this Seal's energy will judge an enemy, instantly causing 68 to 74 Holy damage, 136 to 148 if the target is stunned or incapacitated. level 60 reference
Increases movement speed and mounted movement speed by 8%. This does not stack with other movement speed increasing effects.
Increases movement speed and mounted movement speed by 15%. This does not stack with other movement speed increasing effects.
All critical strikes against you cause 5% of the damage taken to the attacker as well. The damage caused by Eye for an Eye will not exceed 50% of the Paladin's total health.
All critical strikes against you cause 10% of the damage taken to the attacker as well. The damage caused by Eye for an Eye will not exceed 50% of the Paladin's total health.
Increases the damage of your Holy Strike ability by 20% and causes it to refresh all Judgement effects on the target.
Increases the damage you deal with two-handed melee weapons by 2%.
Increases the damage you deal with two-handed melee weapons by 6%.
Increases your Physical and Holy damage dealt by 1% for 30 sec after landing a non-periodic critical strike. Stacks up to 3 times.
Increases your Physical and Holy damage dealt by 3% for 30 sec after landing a non-periodic critical strike. Stacks up to 3 times.
Puts the enemy target in a state of meditation, incapacitating them for up to 6 sec. Any damage caused will awaken the target. Only works against Humanoids.
Increases your spell damage and healing by up to 33% of your Intellect.
Increases your spell damage and healing by up to 100% of your Intellect.
Reduces the cast time of your Hammer of Wrath by 0.5 sec, and reduces all threat you generate by 10% while Righteous Fury is not active.
Reduces the cast time of your Hammer of Wrath by 1 sec, and reduces all threat you generate by 20% while Righteous Fury is not active.
Reduces the Mana cost of your Seal spells by 20%, and when you replace your Seal of Command, Seal of Righteousness, Seal of Fury, or Seal of Justice with a different Seal, gain an Echo of that Seal. Your next melee attack applies the replaced Seal's effects, consuming the Echo.
“Retribution Paladin” means most of your 51 talent points go into Retribution. Forever keeps Classic’s three open trees, so you can mix them.
Community build
No Retribution Paladin build yet
No community source we follow has posted a build with most points in Retribution for the beta, so none is shown. The tree marks what Forever added (★) and changed (◆).
Builds for other Paladin trees:
31-point talent · level 40
Twist of LightReduces the Mana cost of your Seal spells by 20%, and when you replace your Seal of Command, Seal of Righteousness, Seal of Fury, or Seal of Justice with a different Seal, gain an Echo of that Seal. Your next melee attack applies the replaced Seal's effects, consuming the Echo.
Key abilities
- Seal of RighteousnessRank 1 · level 1Cost 20 ManaCast time instant
Fills the Paladin with holy spirit for 30 sec, granting each melee attack an additional 1.24 to 4.32 Holy damage. Slower weapons cause more Holy damage per swing. Only one Seal can be active on the Paladin at any one time.
1 - JudgementLevel 4Cost 6% of base manaCast time instantCooldown 10 sec
Unleash the energy of a Seal spell upon an enemy. Does not consume the Seal. Refer to individual Seals for Judgement effect.
4 - Holy StrikeRank 1 · level 6Cost 5 ManaCast time instantCooldown 10 sec
An instant strike that causes 25% weapon damage plus an additional 11 to 14 as Holy damage.
6 - ExorcismRank 1 · level 20Cost 85 ManaCast time instantCooldown 15 sec
Causes 74 to 84 Holy damage to an Undead or Demon target.
20 - Hammer of WrathRank 1 · level 44Cost 295 ManaCast time 1 secCooldown 6 sec
Hurls a hammer that strikes an enemy for 274 to 302 Holy damage. Only usable on enemies that have 20% or less health.
44
Builds are transcribed point by point from their public posts and checked against the beta client’s trees.
Leveling a Retribution Paladin: 1 to 60
When each tier opens with every point in Retribution, when the build takes its talents and when the trainer teaches the key abilities.
Levels 1–9
- 1Seal of RighteousnessSeal of RighteousnessRank 1 · level 1Cost 20 ManaCast time instant
Fills the Paladin with holy spirit for 30 sec, granting each melee attack an additional 1.24 to 4.32 Holy damage. Slower weapons cause more Holy damage per swing. Only one Seal can be active on the Paladin at any one time.
- 4JudgementJudgementLevel 4Cost 6% of base manaCast time instantCooldown 10 sec
Unleash the energy of a Seal spell upon an enemy. Does not consume the Seal. Refer to individual Seals for Judgement effect.
- 6Holy StrikeHoly StrikeRank 1 · level 6Cost 5 ManaCast time instantCooldown 10 sec
An instant strike that causes 25% weapon damage plus an additional 11 to 14 as Holy damage.
- 1
Levels 10–19
- 10First talent point
- 15Tier 2 opens
- 10
Levels 20–29
- 20Tier 3 opensExorcismExorcismRank 1 · level 20Cost 85 ManaCast time instantCooldown 15 sec
Causes 74 to 84 Holy damage to an Undead or Demon target.
- 25Tier 4 opens
- 20
Levels 30–39
- 30Tier 5 opens
- 35Tier 6 opens
- 30
Levels 40–49
- 4031-point talentTwist of LightTwist of LightRetribution · tier 7 · max rank 1★ New in Forever
Reduces the Mana cost of your Seal spells by 20%, and when you replace your Seal of Command, Seal of Righteousness, Seal of Fury, or Seal of Justice with a different Seal, gain an Echo of that Seal. Your next melee attack applies the replaced Seal's effects, consuming the Echo.
- 44Hammer of WrathHammer of WrathRank 1 · level 44Cost 295 ManaCast time 1 secCooldown 6 sec
Hurls a hammer that strikes an enemy for 274 to 302 Holy damage. Only usable on enemies that have 20% or less health.
- 40
Levels 50–60
- 60All 51 points spent
- 60
Key Retribution Paladin abilities
Trainer abilities a Retribution Paladin leans on, with the level they’re taught and what the beta client changed.
- Seal of RighteousnessSeal of RighteousnessRank 1 · level 1Cost 20 ManaCast time instant
Fills the Paladin with holy spirit for 30 sec, granting each melee attack an additional 1.24 to 4.32 Holy damage. Slower weapons cause more Holy damage per swing. Only one Seal can be active on the Paladin at any one time.
- JudgementJudgementLevel 4Cost 6% of base manaCast time instantCooldown 10 sec
Unleash the energy of a Seal spell upon an enemy. Does not consume the Seal. Refer to individual Seals for Judgement effect.
- Holy StrikeHoly StrikeRank 1 · level 6Cost 5 ManaCast time instantCooldown 10 sec
An instant strike that causes 25% weapon damage plus an additional 11 to 14 as Holy damage.
- ExorcismExorcismRank 1 · level 20Cost 85 ManaCast time instantCooldown 15 sec
Causes 74 to 84 Holy damage to an Undead or Demon target.
- Hammer of WrathHammer of WrathRank 1 · level 44Cost 295 ManaCast time 1 secCooldown 6 sec
Hurls a hammer that strikes an enemy for 274 to 302 Holy damage. Only usable on enemies that have 20% or less health.
Retribution Paladin weapons by level
The top Two-hand pick in each band of ten levels, from quests, dungeons, vendors and crafting.
Levels 1–10
- ClaymoreVendor Stormwind City · +7ClaymoreItem Level 15Two-HandSword23 - 35 DamageSpeed 3.20(9.1 damage per second)Requires Level 10
- Claymore
Levels 11–20
- Verigan's FistVerigan's FistItem Level 31Binds when picked upTwo-HandMace65 - 99 DamageSpeed 3.20(25.6 damage per second)+7 Stamina+6 Intellect+12 SpiritClasses: PaladinQuest The Test of Righteousness · Ironforge · lv 22
The client gives no required level: this is the level its quest can be taken at.
- Verigan's Fist
Levels 21–30
- Manual Crowd PummelerManual Crowd PummelerItem Level 34Binds when picked upTwo-HandMace46 - 70 DamageSpeed 2.00(29.0 damage per second)Requires Level 29Use: Increases your attack speed by 50% for 30 sec. (3 Min Cooldown)Dungeon Gnomeregan · Crowd Pummeler 9-60 · 40%
The beta client has no stats for this item yet: these are the Classic Era client’s.
- Manual Crowd Pummeler
Levels 31–40
- Mograine's MightMograine's MightItem Level 44Binds when picked upTwo-HandMace87 - 131 DamageSpeed 2.80(38.9 damage per second)Requires Level 39Dungeon Scarlet Monastery · Scarlet Commander Mograine · 23%
The beta client has no stats for this item yet: these are the Classic Era client’s.
- Mograine's Might
Levels 41–50
- Thorium GreatmaceCrafted BlacksmithingThorium GreatmaceItem Level 55Binds when picked upTwo-HandMace136 - 205 DamageSpeed 3.60(47.4 damage per second)+21 Strength+23 Spell PowerRequires Level 50
- Thorium Greatmace
Levels 51–60
- Might of MenethilMight of MenethilItem Level 89Binds when picked upTwo-HandMace289 - 435 DamageSpeed 3.80(95.3 damage per second)Requires Level 60Equip: Improves your chance to get a critical strike with melee attacks by 2%.Raid Naxxramas · Kel'Thuzad · 17%
The beta client has no stats for this item yet: these are the Classic Era client’s.
- Might of Menethil
Races for a Retribution Paladin
Racials that work with Retribution talents, and why.
- HumanAllianceHumanAlliance
Will to Survive breaks stuns; with a sword, Sword Specialization crit applies to spells too.
- Sword SpecializationSword Specialization
+2% critical strike chance with all spells and abilities while a sword is equipped
Works with VengeanceVengeanceRetribution · tier 5 · max rank 3Increases your Physical and Holy damage dealt by 1% for 30 sec after landing a non-periodic critical strike. Stacks up to 3 times.
Increases your Physical and Holy damage dealt by 3% for 30 sec after landing a non-periodic critical strike. Stacks up to 3 times.
the racial crit counts for heals and Holy spells too: it returns Mana through Illumination on Holy and stacks Vengeance’s damage bonus on Retribution.
- Sword Specialization
- DwarfAllianceDwarfAlliance
Stoneform; with a mace, Mace Specialization crit applies to spells too.
- Mace SpecializationMace Specialization
+1% critical strike chance with all spells and abilities while a mace is equipped
Works with VengeanceVengeanceRetribution · tier 5 · max rank 3Increases your Physical and Holy damage dealt by 1% for 30 sec after landing a non-periodic critical strike. Stacks up to 3 times.
Increases your Physical and Holy damage dealt by 3% for 30 sec after landing a non-periodic critical strike. Stacks up to 3 times.
the racial crit counts for heals and Holy spells too: it returns Mana through Illumination on Holy and stacks Vengeance’s damage bonus on Retribution.
- Mace Specialization
Retribution in Forever vs Classic
17 talents in Forever, 15 in Classic.
New 6
- Holy ConduitHoly ConduitRetribution · tier 2 · max rank 2★ New in Forever
Reduces the mana cost of your Consecration, Holy Wrath, Exorcism, and Hammer of Wrath spells by 20%.
Reduces the mana cost of your Consecration, Holy Wrath, Exorcism, and Hammer of Wrath spells by 40%.
- Sanctified JudgementSanctified JudgementRetribution · tier 3 · max rank 3★ New in Forever
Gives your Judgement ability a 33% chance to return 20% of the Mana cost of the judged seal.
Gives your Judgement ability a 100% chance to return 60% of the Mana cost of the judged seal.
- Sacred ArbiterSacred ArbiterRetribution · tier 4 · max rank 1★ New in Forever
Increases the damage of your Holy Strike ability by 20% and causes it to refresh all Judgement effects on the target.
- Champion of the LightChampion of the LightRetribution · tier 6 · max rank 3★ New in Forever
Increases your spell damage and healing by up to 33% of your Intellect.
Increases your spell damage and healing by up to 100% of your Intellect.
- Instrument of LawInstrument of LawRetribution · tier 6 · max rank 2★ New in Forever
Reduces the cast time of your Hammer of Wrath by 0.5 sec, and reduces all threat you generate by 10% while Righteous Fury is not active.
Reduces the cast time of your Hammer of Wrath by 1 sec, and reduces all threat you generate by 20% while Righteous Fury is not active.
- Twist of LightTwist of LightRetribution · tier 7 · max rank 1★ New in Forever
Reduces the Mana cost of your Seal spells by 20%, and when you replace your Seal of Command, Seal of Righteousness, Seal of Fury, or Seal of Justice with a different Seal, gain an Echo of that Seal. Your next melee attack applies the replaced Seal's effects, consuming the Echo.
Changed 4
- DeflectionDeflectionRetribution · tier 1 · max rank 5
Increases your Parry chance by 1%.
Increases your Parry chance by 5%.
Moved from tier 2 - ConvictionConvictionRetribution · tier 2 · max rank 5
Improves your chance to get a critical strike with melee attacks by 1%.
Improves your chance to get a critical strike with melee attacks by 5%.
Moved from tier 3 - VengeanceVengeanceRetribution · tier 5 · max rank 3
Increases your Physical and Holy damage dealt by 1% for 30 sec after landing a non-periodic critical strike. Stacks up to 3 times.
Increases your Physical and Holy damage dealt by 3% for 30 sec after landing a non-periodic critical strike. Stacks up to 3 times.
Moved from tier 6; Max rank 5 → 3 - RepentanceRepentanceRetribution · tier 5 · max rank 1
Puts the enemy target in a state of meditation, incapacitating them for up to 6 sec. Any damage caused will awaken the target. Only works against Humanoids.
Moved from tier 7
Removed 4
- Improved Blessing of MightImproved Blessing of MightClassic tier 1 · max rank 5
Not a talent in the Forever beta client.
Classic tier 1 · max rank 5 - Improved Retribution AuraImproved Retribution AuraClassic tier 4 · max rank 2
Not a talent in the Forever beta client.
Classic tier 4 · max rank 2 - Sanctity AuraSanctity AuraClassic tier 5 · max rank 1
Not a talent in the Forever beta client.
Classic tier 5 · max rank 1 - Improved Seal of the CrusaderImproved Seal of the CrusaderClassic tier 2 · max rank 3
Not a talent in the Forever beta client.
Classic tier 2 · max rank 3
Still unconfirmed
- Talents, trainer levels and weapons are read from the Forever beta client and can change before launch.
- The community builds so far are for level 20; none covers level 60 yet.