TBC Classic Protection Paladin Stat Priority

1. Defense to cap (490);
2. Total Avoidance (102.4%);
3. Stamina;
4. Spell Damage;
5. Hit;
6. Expertise.

Defense rating prevents you from being hit with critical strikes and reaching defense cap (490 rating) is the single largest damage reduction gain you can attain as a tank, critical strikes deal 200% damage and are entirely unpredictable making things considerably more difficult to handle if you are not defense capped.

Total avoidance can be measured in the total of your Dodge, Parry, Miss and block chance. Reaching 102.4% total avoidance will make you uncrushable, similar to crits but less deadly, crushing blows deal 150% damage and are also widely unpredictable. Avoidances are all extremely strong but should be prioritized in the order of Block > Dodge > Miss > Parry. Avoidances lose some of their value and Stamina becomes king once you reach this 102.4% breakpoint.

Stamina increases your total health pool, Paladins are extremely susceptible to spell damage due to a lack of a shield wall like defensive cooldown so having as much health as possible allows for you to take larger hits without being in danger of dying.

Spell Damage increases the damage dealt by all of your spells, the vast majority of a Prot Paladins threat comes from spells so the harder they hit the more threat you will generate.

Hit Rating increases your chance to hit with both auto-attacks and spells, missing an ability deals zero damage and as a result you generate zero threat. As you become more comfortable with your survivability you can focus more on hit to ensure you are getting the most out of each spell cast.

Expertise lowers the chance that the mob you are attacking will dodge, as a Prot Paladin you often will not be able to be behind the mobs making expertise all the more important as mobs can parry and block when being attacked from the front.