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Paladin

🔵 Alliance onlyHealerTankMelee DPS
Resource
Mana
Armor
Cloth → Plate (lvl 40) · Shields
Talent trees
Holy · Protection · Retribution

Overview

Paladins are Alliance-only holy warriors who blend plate armor and melee with powerful support magic. They cast blessings and auras that buff the whole group, off-heal or main-heal, and can survive almost anything with bubbles. In vanilla they are valued most as raid healers and buff-bots, though they can off-tank and melee.

Specializations

HolyHealer

Efficient single-target healing with Holy Light and Flash of Light, boosted by Illumination (mana refunds on crit). The main raid-healing build.

ProtectionTank / Support

Survivability and threat tools for off-tanking and 5-mans, plus strong PvP support.

RetributionMelee DPS

Seal/Judgement melee damage with Seal of Command. Fun to level, but the weakest raid-DPS spec at 60.

Signature abilities

BlessingsMight (attack power), Wisdom (mana regen), Kings (+stats) and Salvation (−threat).
AurasDevotion, Retribution, Concentration and more - buff the whole party at once.
Lay on HandsHeal a target for your entire health pool; a lifesaver on a long cooldown.
Divine ShieldTotal immunity "bubble" for a few seconds.
Hammer of JusticeRanged stun.
ConsecrationGround AoE holy damage - great for tagging and threat.
RedemptionResurrect a dead player (out of combat).
Blessing of Protection / FreedomPowerful protective utility cast on allies.

Playable races

🔵 Alliance

HumanDwarf
  • Human (Alliance) - The Human Spirit (+spirit) and Sword/Mace spec; a solid all-rounder.
  • Dwarf (Alliance) - Stoneform and Gun Specialization; a great defensive racial for PvP and tanking.

Armor & weapons

ArmorCloth → Plate (lvl 40) · Shields
Weapons1H/2H maces, 1H/2H swords, 1H/2H axes and polearms - plus shields. No ranged weapons or daggers.

Strengths & weaknesses

✅ Strengths

  • Amazing group utility - blessings & auras
  • Extremely hard to kill (Divine Shield, Lay on Hands)
  • Plate armor and flexible roles
  • Reliable, mana-efficient healer

⚠️ Weaknesses

  • Alliance only
  • Retribution is weak raid DPS in vanilla
  • Limited threat - not a main tank in raids
  • Healing is mostly single-target

Tips for Paladins

  • Level as Retribution with a big two-hander and Seal of Command.
  • Judge Seal of the Crusader, then swap to a damage seal for extra hits.
  • Keep the right Blessing on each ally - you are the group's buff engine.
  • Save Divine Shield + bandage to reset a losing fight.