GrendelsBane

update Check out the new Paladin 3.1 changes and check out the new 3.0.9 Ret Guide

The question on many minds, including mine is why does everyone seem to hate the retribution paladin so much? Everything I’ve read seems to give the same basic reasons: The talent tree sucks, when I re-specked to retribution I sucked, I ran with a retribution paladin once and he sucked, and so on. Yep, the retribution paladin does have a pretty bad reputation. Hopefully I can clear some of this up.

Unlike using a protection or holy build, retribution requires you to play and play well, it has a style of it’s own. Until you know how to play a retribution paladin you will not play the build right. That’s why when you re-specked to retribution you sucked, and why most retribution paladins you’ve played with have sucked. They are playing the class wrong. This is one of the biggest reasons why people hate retribution paladins so much.

Retribution Gear

Like all classes, paladin is very gear dependent even more so than other classes. As a retribution paladin you need the right gear to increase your DPS. It’s common knowledge that there is no real gear for a retribution build until you reach T6+, Blizzard acknowledges this and is working to fix it. Until you reach T6 it’s best to focus on gear with plus to AP, critical strike, strength and stamina. However, you also don’t want to neglect you mana pool, so you still need some intellect. In short, try for a well rounded arsenal play with your gear configuration till you find the best combination.

Playing Style

As a retribution paladin you cannot heal, so don’t try, you would only waste your mana, and once you run out of mana, you’re useless. You cannot tank, so don’t try, you will die very fast and cause your healer to focus on you instead of the tank creating a dangerous situation.

That’s why most people choose to go with a holy or protection build. The gear is easier to find, and dungeon raids want the buffs you can offer (mainly Blessing of Kings that comes with the protection spec) or your healing or tanking services, no one will think of asking you to join for extra DPS. Holy paladins make quite good healers. A paladin’s heals also cause less threat that all other classes do, so there is no need to worry about the healer pulling mobs from the tank. Protection paladins tank well, and are good at it to. Paladins cause most of their threat from holy damage so it takes a hit or 2 to start generating threat.

How To Play

When I was researching my new build I read that a holy paladin needs to play like a priest: stand back, heal, don’t draw threat or take damage. A protection paladin needs to play like a tank: run in hold aggro, take damage. But a retribution paladin should play like a rogue: wait for the tank to get aggro then head in for the damage, a few good crits will pull the mob off your tank so watch your threat meter and back off when necessary.

What I think

Even with all that said, I am enjoying my retribution spec. But it has taken me a while to get used to it. The play style is very different. I was using a rounded build so I still mostly have tanking/off healing gear. But now I do as much or more damage than our warrior (specked arms/protection) in her damage gear. She used to out damage me easily, when she tried. Every new piece of gear I get just increases the damage I do.

Any paladin spec you choose I definitely recommend reading the
Paladin’s Guide by Ararria. She does an excellent job explaining how every spell and talent works. Also check out wowwiki for some other great information about the paladin build.

New 2.3 Patch

I am pleased to announce some major changes to the paladin’s talent tree, ever since BC was launched the retribution talent tree has felt a little unbalanced, lacking. Looks like Blizzard is finally changing this. They are planning some good changes to the retribution talent tree. I might have to respec again when the new 2.3 patch goes live. Some of the highlights are listed in the Paladin’s WoW Forums