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Paladin spec guide

Retribution Paladin

Everything for Retribution Paladin on one page: role, talent order by level, Retribution abilities and recommended gear for each level range. Talent and gear picks are calculated from the tooltip values in official game data plus the assumptions Forever Tool states below.
All Paladin abilitiesOpen the level 60 build in the calculator
Gear focus
Strength melee DPS
Talent calculation
Retribution (two-handed)
Level 60 build
10/8/33
Estimated DPS
+42.4%

Retribution Paladin at a glance

Summarized from Blizzard's class deep-dive articles. They were published during the beta, so live numbers and talents may differ.

Paladin as the developers describe it

The unique Seal and Judgement system stays. Holy gains healing and support tools, Protection gets stronger threat, mana and survival options, and Retribution gets ways to sustain Judgements plus a more approachable form of Seal Twisting.[1]

Paladins are very strong against Undead and Demons, but they have limited range, no interrupt and no way to slow enemies. The goal is highly effective tanks, competitive damage dealers and the strongest single-target healers in the game.

Retribution talents in Forever

  • Sacred Arbiter (16-point gold medal): Holy Strike deals 20% more damage and refreshes every Judgement on the target, even those from other Paladins.
  • Repentance is now the 21-point gold medal instead of the 31-point one.
  • Twist of Light (31-point gold medal): Seals cost 20% less mana. When you replace a damage-dealing Seal, your next melee attack also gets the old Seal's effect.
  • Vengeance has been redesigned. It now lasts 30 seconds and increases damage by up to 3% per stack, up to 9%.

Retribution talent build

One point per level from level 10, 51 points at level 60. The Retribution tree is filled to 31 points first, and the remaining points go where they raise estimated DPS the most in the other trees.

The level 60 build uses the same method as the calculator's "Recommended build" (estimated DPS from tooltip values + judgment weights for talents the math can't capture, such as rage, energy and mana talents), with the extra rule "Retribution tree to 31 points first". The order picks, one point at a time, the talent that raises the score the most on the way to that build. Estimated DPS is a rough "compared with no talents" figure and leaves out the damage of newly learned abilities. Talent point rules (starting at level 10) follow classic, since nothing has been announced officially.

Builds by level

LevelPointsTree splitEst. DPSCalculator
Level 2011 points0/0/11+4.3%Open
Level 3021 points0/0/21+17.9%Open
Level 4031 points0/0/31+28.1%Open
Level 5041 points10/0/31+38.8%Open
Level 6051 points10/8/33+42.4%Open

Talent order by level

Consecutive levels spent on the same talent are grouped on one line.

  1. Levels 10–14Benediction1→5/5
  2. Levels 15–17Conviction1→3/3
  3. Levels 18–19Improved Judgement1→2/2
  4. Level 20Seal of Command1/1
  5. Levels 21–23Sanctified Judgement1→3/3
  6. Level 24Vindication1/3
  7. Level 25Sacred Arbiter1/1
  8. Levels 26–28Two-Handed Weapon Specialization1→3/3
  9. Level 29Vindication2/3
  10. Levels 30–32Vengeance1→3/3
  11. Level 33Repentance1/1
  12. Level 34Vindication3/3
  13. Levels 35–39Champion of the Light1→5/5
  14. Level 40Unsealed Wrath1/1
  15. Levels 41–45Divine StrengthHoly1→5/5
  16. Levels 46–50Improved SealsHoly1→5/5
  17. Levels 51–52Turn Evil1→2/2
  18. Levels 53–57RedoubtProtection1→5/5
  19. Levels 58–60PrecisionProtection1→3/3

Key talents of the level 60 build

Talents with a large share of estimated DPS, plus talents that grant abilities or handle resources. Descriptions are the tooltip at the rank taken.

  • Divine Strength5/5 · Holy

    Est. DPS +3.5%

    Increases your Strength by 10%.

  • Improved Seals5/5 · Holy

    Est. DPS +4.7%

    Increases the damage done by your Seals and Judgements by 15%.

  • Precision3/3 · Protection

    Est. DPS +2.6%

    Improves your chance to hit by 3%.

  • Conviction3/3 · Retribution

    Est. DPS +4.4%

    Improves your chance to get a critical strike with all spells and attacks by 6%.

  • Seal of Command1/1 · Retribution

    Ability

    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 110 to 114 Holy damage, 218 to 227 if the target is stunned or incapacitated.

  • Sacred Arbiter1/1 · Retribution

    Est. DPS +1.9%

    Increases the damage of your Holy Strike ability by 20% and causes it to refresh all Judgement effects on the target.

  • Two-Handed Weapon Specialization3/3 · Retribution

    Est. DPS +6.0%

    Increases the Physical and Holy damage you deal by 6%, and reduces all threat you generate by 20% while a two-handed melee weapon is equipped.

  • Repentance1/1 · Retribution

    Ability

    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.

  • Vengeance3/3 · Retribution

    Est. DPS +13.5%

    Increases your Physical and Holy damage dealt by 3% for 30 sec after landing a non-periodic critical strike. Stacks up to 5 times.

  • Unsealed Wrath1/1 · Retribution

    Resource / utility

    Your melee attacks store a copy of your active Seal for 15 sec, stacking up to 3 times. Landing an attack with a different Seal consumes all stacks, giving the stored Seal its normal chance to activate once per stack.

Retribution abilities

Retribution abilities in the order you first learn them. The numbers are the levels at which each rank is learned; the description is rank 1 without gear or stats.

Retribution Paladin gear by level

The 3 highest-scoring items for each slot in every level range. Only items whose required level falls inside the range are compared.

How were these picked?
  • The score is the sum of the item's tooltip lines from official game data (Strength, Stamina, Spell Power, damage per second and so on) multiplied by the weights below. There is no official formula, so the weights are Forever Tool's rough estimates (assumptions). Compare scores only within the same slot.
  • Equip, use and chance-on-hit effects, set bonuses and resistances are not scored. Items without fixed stats (only armor in the tooltip) are left out.
  • Only Uncommon and Rare items, plus craftable Epic items, of item level 65 or lower are included (no raid loot). Items that require a profession to use and crafts that need raid materials are left out.
  • Items without a required level count as item level minus 5. Only armor types a Paladin wears are included, with mail and plate counted from level 40 (classic rules, since nothing has been announced).
  • Sources list only crafting (professions) and quest rewards. Dungeon drops are being collected from player reports; check the item page.

Retribution weights (assumed)

StatScore per point
Main hand / two-hand damage per second8
Strength1
Hit0.9
Critical Strike0.7
Agility0.6
Expertise0.6
Attack Power0.5
Haste0.5
Stamina0.3
Mana Regeneration per 5 sec0.3
Intellect0.2
Bonus Armor0.02
Armor0.01

Levels 1–20

Hall of Thanes 13–18Ruins of Lordaeron 15–20Level 1–10 quest zonesLevel 11–20 quest zones

Feet

  1. Veteran's BootsScore 10.2

    Req. 17 · Strength +5 · Agility +4 · Stamina +5

    Crafted: Blacksmithing

  2. Guard's BootsScore 7.8

    Req. 17 · Strength +5 · Stamina +5

    Crafted: Blacksmithing

  3. Crusader's BootsScore 6.8

    Req. 17 · Strength +4 · Stamina +5

    Crafted: Blacksmithing

Levels 21–40

Excavation Site 24–29City of Dalaran 28–33The Drowned City 35–40Krol'dok Stronghold 40–45Level 21–30 quest zonesLevel 31–40 quest zones

Hands

  1. Truesilver GauntletsScore 21.1

    Req. 40 · Strength +16 · Stamina +7

    Crafted: Blacksmithing

  2. Officer's GauntletScore 18.5

    Req. 35 · Strength +10 · Agility +7 · Stamina +9

    Crafted: Blacksmithing

  3. Dragonscale GauntletsScore 17.2

    Req. 40 · Critical Strike +14 · Agility +6 · Stamina +7

    Crafted: Leatherworking

Waist

  1. Highlander's Plate GirdleScore 19.2

    Req. 40 · Strength +15 · Stamina +6

    Reputation required

    Same stats: Defiler's Plate Girdle

  2. Highlander's Lamellar GirdleScore 17.4

    Req. 40 · Strength +12 · Stamina +6 · Intellect +6

    Reputation required

    Same stats: Defiler's Lamellar Girdle

  3. Highlander's Chain GirdleScore 17.1

    Req. 40 · Critical Strike +14 · Attack Power +8 · Stamina +6

    Reputation required

    Same stats: Defiler's Chain Girdle

Levels 41–50

Krol'dok Stronghold 40–45Alcaz Prison 48–53Level 41–50 quest zones

Waist

  1. Cliff Walker's CinchScore 27.7

    Item level 55 · Strength +17 · Agility +8 · Stamina +9

  2. Officer's WaistguardScore 27.1

    Req. 50 · Strength +14 · Agility +10 · Stamina +13

    Crafted: Blacksmithing

  3. Highlander's Lamellar GirdleScore 26.7

    Req. 48 · Strength +11 · Critical Strike +14 · Intellect +8 · Stamina +4

    Reputation required

    Same stats: Defiler's Lamellar Girdle

Feet

  1. Officer's SabatonsScore 25.8

    Req. 47 · Strength +13 · Agility +9 · Stamina +12

    Crafted: Blacksmithing

  2. Highlander's Lamellar GreavesScore 24.1

    Req. 48 · Strength +11 · Agility +10 · Stamina +7 · Intellect +6

    Reputation required

    Same stats: Defiler's Lamellar Greaves

  3. Highlander's Plate GreavesScore 23.8

    Req. 48 · Strength +11 · Agility +10 · Stamina +10

    Reputation required

    Same stats: Defiler's Plate Greaves

Two-hand

  1. Thorium GreatmaceScore 400.2

    Req. 50 · Damage per second 47.4 · Strength +21

    Crafted: Blacksmithing

  2. Bleakwood HewScore 384.5

    Req. 49 · Damage per second 46.5 · Strength +11 · Stamina +5

    Crafted: Blacksmithing

  3. Dark Iron PulverizerScore 379.2

    Req. 50 · Damage per second 47.4

    Crafted: Blacksmithing

Levels 51–60

Alcaz Prison 48–53Blackmaw Hold 55–60Shaper's Terrace 58–60Level 51–60 quest zones

Head

  1. Lionheart HelmScore 61.3

    Req. 56 · Critical Strike +28 · Strength +18 · Hit +20

    Crafted: Blacksmithing

  2. Stalwart HelmScore 35.7

    Req. 56 · Hit +20 · Strength +12

    Crafted: Blacksmithing

  3. Black Dragonscale HelmScore 33.2

    Req. 56 · Agility +21 · Critical Strike +14 · Intellect +38

    Crafted: Leatherworking

Waist

  1. Highlander's Plate GirdleScore 33.5

    Req. 58 · Strength +17 · Critical Strike +14 · Stamina +10

    Reputation required

    Same stats: Defiler's Plate Girdle

  2. Highlander's Lamellar GirdleScore 32.3

    Req. 58 · Strength +15 · Critical Strike +14 · Intellect +10 · Stamina +6

    Reputation required

    Same stats: Defiler's Lamellar Girdle

  3. Highlander's Chain GirdleScore 31.9

    Req. 58 · Attack Power +34 · Critical Strike +14 · Stamina +10

    Reputation required

    Same stats: Defiler's Chain Girdle

More

Other Paladin specs

Holy Paladin GuideProtection Paladin Guide

Other class guides

WarriorHunterRoguePriestShamanMageWarlockDruid

Sources

  1. [1]World of Warcraft: Forever Class Deep Dives — PaladinBlizzard Entertainment · Oct 15, 2026 · checked Nov 5, 2026
  2. [2]World of Warcraft: Forever Class Deep Dives — Priest and WarriorBlizzard Entertainment · Sep 30, 2026 · checked Nov 5, 2026
  3. [3]World of Warcraft: Forever Class Deep Dives — Hunter and DruidBlizzard Entertainment · Sep 30, 2026 · checked Nov 5, 2026
  4. [4]World of Warcraft: Forever Class Deep Dives — Mage and ShamanBlizzard Entertainment · Oct 7, 2026 · checked Nov 5, 2026
  5. [5]World of Warcraft: Forever Class Deep Dives — Rogue and WarlockBlizzard Entertainment · Oct 7, 2026 · checked Nov 5, 2026