Holy Paladin PvP Guide — The War Within (Season 1)
This guide will walk you through everything you need to know to play Holy Paladin in a PvP environment. The guide will cover everything from talent choices, PvP talents, gameplay and rotation, and useful racial bonuses. It is most applicable to Arena content, but most talents and racial bonuses will work in Rated Battlegrounds and skirmishes.
If you were looking for TBC Classic content, please refer to our TBC Paladin PvP guide.
Holy Paladins in the Current Meta
Holy Paladins are always a strong healing specialization. With powerful utility for teammates and the ability to deal large amounts of damage, they are considered one of the best healers. A strong understanding of cooldowns and when to use them is important to be good at this specialization.
Holy Paladin Strengths and Weaknesses
- Large amount of healing cooldowns
- Multiple defensive abilities
- Great burst healing
- Very little casting
- Weak spread healing
- Easy to swap to if overextended
- Limited mobility when out of Blessing of Freedoms
Notable 11.0.5 Changes to Holy Paladins
- Many New talents:
- Holy Ritual
- Worthy Sacrifice
- Steed of Liberty
- Eye for an Eye
- Stoicism
- Wrench Evil
- Righteous Protection
- Light's Countenance
- Divine Spurs
- A Just Reward
- Lightbearer
- Inspired Guard
- Holy Reprieve
- Lead the Charge
- Divine Reach
- The following talents have been removed:
- Avenging Wrath: Might
- Crusader Aura
- Fading Light
- Golden Path
- Incandescence
- Seal of Mercy
- Seal of Order
- Seasoned Warhorse
- Strength of Conviction
- Touch of Light
- Vanguard's Momentum
- New PvP Talent: Spellbreaker – Eye for an Eye can now also trigger at 100% effectiveness from Magic damage. Eye for an Eye’s damage is increased by 150% in PvP combat.
- Wrench Evil (PvP Talent) has been removed.
- New PvP Talent: Divine Plea – After casting Aura Mastery, you restore mana over 20 seconds, but your healing and damage is decreased by 30%.
Notable 11.0 Changes to Holy Paladins
- New & Changes Paladin Class Talents:
- Many talents have moved locations or have had their paths updated.
- Crusader's Reprieve has been removed.
- New Holy Paladin Talents:
- Bestow Light.
- Light of the Martyr has been redesigned — While above 80% health, Holy Shock’s healing is increased 20%, but creates a heal absorb on you for 30% of the amount healed that prevents Beacon of Light from healing you until it has dissipated.
- Blessing of Summer has been redesigned — Bless an ally for 30 seconds, causing 20% of all healing to be converted into damage onto a nearby enemy and 10% of all damage to be converted into healing onto an injured ally within 40 yards.
- Divine Favor has been redesigned — Now a passive that triggers automatically after you cast Holy Prism or Barrier of Faith.
- Extrication.
- Liberation.
- Truth Prevails.
- Glimmer of Light has been removed.
- Daybreak has been removed.
- Beacon of Light now transfers 15% of healing done (was 25%).
- Barrier of Faith now transfers 20% of healing into its absorb (was 25%).
- Word of Glory healing increased by 25%.
- Light of Dawn healing increased by 20%.
- Holy Shock healing increased by 20%.
- Tyr's Deliverance healing decreased by 15%.
- Blessing of Sacrifice now transfers 30% of damage taken (was 20%).
- Infusion of Light now increases the healing of Holy Light (was grants Holy Power).
- Inflorescence of the Sunwell now increases the additional healing from Infusion of Light for Holy Light (was grants Holy Power).
Changelog
- 13 Nov. 2024 (playstyle): Updated all Healing Rotations.
- Added Spending Holy Power section.
- Updated Sustained Healing rotation.
- Updated Burst Healing rotation.
- 13 Nov. 2024 (comps): Updated Team Compositions.
- Updated Best 2v2 Team Compositions.
- Updated Best 3v3 Team Compositions.
- 13 Nov. 2024 (blitz): Updated Talents.
- Updated Recommended Talents.
- Updated PvP Talents.
- 13 Nov. 2024 (gear): Updated Recommended Enchants.
- 13 Nov. 2024 (talents): Updated Talents.
- Updated Recommended Talents.
- Updated PvP Talents.
- 22 Oct. 2024 (blitz): Updated for Patch 11.0.5.
- Updated Recommended Talents.
- 22 Oct. 2024 (gear): Updated for Patch 11.0.5.
- Updated Recommended Gear.
- Updated Recommended Gems.
- 22 Oct. 2024 (talents): Updated for Patch 11.0.5.
- Updated Recommended Talents.
- 22 Oct. 2024 (this page): Updated for Patch 11.0.5.
- 22 Oct. 2024 (this page): Updated for Patch 11.0.5.
- 16 Sep. 2024 (gear): Updated Recommended Gear.
- Updated Recommended Embellishments.
- Updated Recommended Enchants.
- 12 Sep. 2024 (blitz): Updated Recommended Talents.
- 12 Sep. 2024 (talents): Updated Recommended Talents.
- 09 Sep. 2024 (races): Reviewed for The War Within Season 1.
- 09 Sep. 2024 (macros): Reviewed for The War Within Season 1.
- 09 Sep. 2024 (playstyle): Reviewed for The War Within Season 1.
- 09 Sep. 2024 (comps): Reviewed for The War Within Season 1.
- 09 Sep. 2024 (blitz): Updated for The War Within Season 1.
- 09 Sep. 2024 (gear): Reviewed for The War Within Season 1.
- 09 Sep. 2024 (talents): Reviewed for The War Within Season 1.
- 09 Sep. 2024 (this page): Reviewed for The War Within Season 1.
- 09 Sep. 2024 (this page): Reviewed for The War Within Season 1.
- 28 Aug. 2024 (blitz): Page added.
- 23 Aug. 2024 (talents): Updated Hero Talents.
- 21 Aug. 2024 (races): Updated for The War Within.
- 21 Aug. 2024 (macros): Reviewed for The War Within.
- 21 Aug. 2024 (playstyle): Reviewed for The War Within.
- 21 Aug. 2024 (comps): Reviewed for The War Within.
- 21 Aug. 2024 (gear): Updated for The War Within.
- 21 Aug. 2024 (talents): Updated for The War Within.
- 21 Aug. 2024 (this page): Reviewed for The War Within.
- 21 Aug. 2024 (this page): Reviewed for The War Within.
- 26 Jul. 2024 (talents): Updated Recommended Talents.
- 23 Jul. 2024 (races): Updated for The War Within Pre-Patch.
- 23 Jul. 2024 (macros): Updated for The War Within Pre-Patch.
- 23 Jul. 2024 (playstyle): Updated for The War Within Pre-Patch.
- 23 Jul. 2024 (comps): Updated for The War Within Pre-Patch.
- 23 Jul. 2024 (gear): Updated for The War Within Pre-Patch.
- 23 Jul. 2024 (talents): Updated for The War Within Pre-Patch.
- 23 Jul. 2024 (this page): Updated for The War Within Pre-Patch.
- 23 Jul. 2024 (this page): Updated for The War Within Pre-Patch.
- 07 May 2024 (races): Reviewed for 10.2.7.
- 07 May 2024 (macros): Reviewed for 10.2.7.
- 07 May 2024 (playstyle): Reviewed for 10.2.7.
- 07 May 2024 (comps): Reviewed for 10.2.7.
- 07 May 2024 (gear): Reviewed for 10.2.7.
- 07 May 2024 (talents): Reviewed for 10.2.7.
- 07 May 2024 (this page): Reviewed for 10.2.7.
- 07 May 2024 (this page): Reviewed for 10.2.7.
- 22 Apr. 2024 (races): Reviewed for Patch 10.2.6.
- 22 Apr. 2024 (macros): Reviewed for Patch 10.2.6.
- 22 Apr. 2024 (playstyle): Reviewed for Patch 10.2.6.
- 22 Apr. 2024 (comps): Reviewed for Patch 10.2.6.
- 22 Apr. 2024 (gear): Updated Recommended Gear for Patch 10.2.6.
- 22 Apr. 2024 (talents): Reviewed for Patch 10.2.6.
- 22 Apr. 2024 (this page): Reviewed for Patch 10.2.6.
- 22 Apr. 2024 (this page): Reviewed for Patch 10.2.6.
- 15 Jan. 2024 (races): Reviewed for Patch 10.2.5.
- 15 Jan. 2024 (macros): Reviewed for Patch 10.2.5.
- 15 Jan. 2024 (playstyle): Reviewed for Patch 10.2.5.
- 15 Jan. 2024 (comps): Reviewed for Patch 10.2.5.
- 15 Jan. 2024 (gear): Updated for Patch 10.2.5.
- Updated Recommended Gear.
- 15 Jan. 2024 (talents): Updated for Patch 10.2.5.
- Updated Recommended Talents.
- Updated Recommended PvP Talents.
- 15 Jan. 2024 (this page): Updated for Patch 10.2.5.
- 15 Jan. 2024 (this page): Updated for Patch 10.2.5.
- 06 Nov. 2023 (races): Updated for Patch 10.2.
- Updated Best Alliance Races.
- 06 Nov. 2023 (macros): Reviewed for Patch 10.2.
- 06 Nov. 2023 (playstyle): Reviewed for Patch 10.2.
- 06 Nov. 2023 (comps): Reviewed for Patch 10.2.
- 06 Nov. 2023 (gear): Updated for Patch 10.2.
- Updated Recommended Gear.
- Updated Tier Set bonus.
- 06 Nov. 2023 (talents): Updated for Patch 10.2.
- Updated Recommended Talents.
- 06 Nov. 2023 (this page): Updated for Patch 10.2.
- 06 Nov. 2023 (this page): Updated for Patch 10.2.
- 04 Sep. 2023 (races): Reviewed for Patch 10.1.7.
- 04 Sep. 2023 (macros): Reviewed for Patch 10.1.7.
- 04 Sep. 2023 (playstyle): Reviewed for Patch 10.1.7.
- 04 Sep. 2023 (comps): Reviewed for Patch 10.1.7.
- 04 Sep. 2023 (gear): Reviewed for Patch 10.1.7.
- 04 Sep. 2023 (talents): Reviewed for Patch 10.1.7.
- 04 Sep. 2023 (this page): Updated for Patch 10.1.7
- 04 Sep. 2023 (this page): Updated for Patch 10.1.7
- 12 Jul. 2023 (talents): Updated Recommended Talent.
- 10 Jul. 2023 (races): Updated for Patch 10.1.5.
- Updated Best Alliance and Horde races.
- 10 Jul. 2023 (macros): Reviewed for Patch 10.1.5.
- 10 Jul. 2023 (playstyle): Updated for Patch 10.1.5.
- Updated all Healing Rotations.
- 10 Jul. 2023 (comps): Updated for Patch 10.1.5.
- Updated Best 3v3 Team Compositions.
- 10 Jul. 2023 (gear): Updated for Patch 10.1.5.
- Updated Stat Priority.
- Updated Recommended Gear.
- Added Embellishment section.
- Updated Gems and Enchants.
- 10 Jul. 2023 (talents): Updated for Patch 10.1.5.
- Updated Recommended Talents.
- Updated PvP Talents.
- 10 Jul. 2023 (this page): Updated for Patch 10.1.5.
- 10 Jul. 2023 (this page): Updated for Patch 10.1.5.
- 07 May 2023 (races): Reviewed for Patch 10.1.
- 07 May 2023 (macros): Reviewed for Patch 10.1.
- 07 May 2023 (playstyle): Reviewed for Patch 10.1.
- 07 May 2023 (comps): Reviewed for Patch 10.1.
- 07 May 2023 (gear): Updated for Patch 10.1.
- Updated Recommended Gear section.
- Updated Tier-Set section.
- 07 May 2023 (talents): Updated for Patch 10.1.
- Updated PvP Talents.
- 07 May 2023 (this page): Updated for Patch 10.1.
- 07 May 2023 (this page): Updated for Patch 10.1.
- 21 Mar. 2023 (races): Reviewed for Patch 10.0.7.
- 21 Mar. 2023 (macros): Reviewed for Patch 10.0.7.
- 21 Mar. 2023 (playstyle): Reviewed for Patch 10.0.7.
- 21 Mar. 2023 (comps): Updated for Patch 10.0.7.
- Updated Best 2v2 and 3v3 Team Compositions.
- 21 Mar. 2023 (gear): Updated for Patch 10.0.7.
- Updated Recommended Gear.
- Added Trinkets to Recommended Gear.
- Added Tier-Set section.
- 21 Mar. 2023 (talents): Updated for Patch 10.0.7.
- Updated Talent Tree.
- Updated Talent Calculator.
- 21 Mar. 2023 (this page): Updated for Patch 10.0.7.
- 21 Mar. 2023 (this page): Updated for Patch 10.0.7.
- 30 Jan. 2023 (races): Reviewed for Patch 10.0.5.
- 30 Jan. 2023 (macros): Reviewed for Patch 10.0.5.
- 30 Jan. 2023 (playstyle): Reviewed for Patch 10.0.5.
- 30 Jan. 2023 (comps): Reviewed for Patch 10.0.5.
- 30 Jan. 2023 (gear): Reviewed for Patch 10.0.5.
- 30 Jan. 2023 (talents): Reviewed for Patch 10.0.5.
- 30 Jan. 2023 (this page): Reviewed for Patch 10.0.5.
- 30 Jan. 2023 (this page): Reviewed for Patch 10.0.5.
- 11 Dec. 2022 (races): Updated Best Races.
- 11 Dec. 2022 (macros): Reviewed for Dragonflight Season 1.
- 11 Dec. 2022 (playstyle): Updated Healing rotations.
- 11 Dec. 2022 (comps): Updated Best 3v3 team compositions.
- 11 Dec. 2022 (gear): Updated Recommended Gear.
- Updated Gems and Enchants.
- 11 Dec. 2022 (talents): Updated Best talent build.
- 11 Dec. 2022 (this page): Reviewed for Dragonflight Season 1.
- 11 Dec. 2022 (this page): Reviewed for Dragonflight Season 1.
- 22 Nov. 2022 (races): Updated for Dragonflight Pre-patch.
- 22 Nov. 2022 (macros): Updated for Dragonflight Pre-patch.
- 22 Nov. 2022 (playstyle): Updated for Dragonflight Pre-patch.
- 22 Nov. 2022 (comps): Updated for Dragonflight Pre-patch.
- 22 Nov. 2022 (gear): Updated for Dragonflight Pre-patch.
- 22 Nov. 2022 (talents): Updated for Dragonflight Pre-patch.
- 22 Nov. 2022 (this page): Updated for Dragonflight Pre-patch.
- 22 Nov. 2022 (this page): Updated for Dragonflight Pre-patch.
- 01 Aug. 2022 (races): Reviewed for Shadowlands Season 4.
- 01 Aug. 2022 (macros): Reviewed for Shadowlands Season 4.
- 01 Aug. 2022 (playstyle): Reviewed for Shadowlands Season 4.
- 01 Aug. 2022 (comps): Reviewed for Shadowlands Season 4.
- 01 Aug. 2022 (gear): Updated for Shadowlands Season 4.
- 01 Aug. 2022 (talents): Reviewed for Shadowlands Season 4.
- 01 Aug. 2022 (this page): Reviewed for Shadowlands Season 4.
- 01 Aug. 2022 (this page): Reviewed for Shadowlands Season 4.
- 31 May 2022 (races): Reviewed for Patch 9.2.5.
- 31 May 2022 (macros): Reviewed for Patch 9.2.5.
- 31 May 2022 (playstyle): Reviewed for Patch 9.2.5.
- 31 May 2022 (comps): Reviewed for Patch 9.2.5.
- 31 May 2022 (gear): Reviewed for Patch 9.2.5.
- 31 May 2022 (talents): Reviewed for Patch 9.2.5.
- 31 May 2022 (this page): Reviewed for Patch 9.2.5.
- 31 May 2022 (this page): Reviewed for Patch 9.2.5.
- 28 Feb. 2022 (races): Reviewed for Patch 9.2.
- 28 Feb. 2022 (macros): Reviewed for Patch 9.2.
- 28 Feb. 2022 (playstyle): Updated for Patch 9.2.
- Updated all Healing Rotations.
- 28 Feb. 2022 (comps): Reviewed for Patch 9.2.
- 28 Feb. 2022 (gear): Updated for Patch 9.2.
- Updated Recommended Gear.
- Added Tier-Set section.
- Removed Shards of Domination section.
- 28 Feb. 2022 (talents): Updated for Patch 9.2.
- Updated Best PvP Talents.
- 28 Feb. 2022 (this page): Updated for Patch 9.2.
- Added Notable Changes section.
- 28 Feb. 2022 (this page): Updated for Patch 9.2.
- Added Notable Changes section.
- 10 Nov. 2021 (races): Updated Best Horde Races.
- 10 Nov. 2021 (macros): Reviewed for Patch 9.1.5.
- 10 Nov. 2021 (playstyle): Reviewed for Patch 9.1.5.
- 10 Nov. 2021 (comps): Reviewed for Patch 9.1.5.
- 10 Nov. 2021 (gear): Reviewed for Patch 9.1.5.
- 10 Nov. 2021 (talents): Updated PvP Talents.
- 10 Nov. 2021 (this page): Updated for Patch 9.1.5
- 10 Nov. 2021 (this page): Updated for Patch 9.1.5
- 02 Jul. 2021 (races): Reviewed for Patch 9.1.
- 02 Jul. 2021 (macros): Reviewed for Patch 9.1.
- 02 Jul. 2021 (playstyle): Updated Basic Healing rotation.
- 02 Jul. 2021 (comps): Updated Best 2v2 Compositions.
- 02 Jul. 2021 (gear): Updated Recommended Gear.
- Added Shards of Domination section.
- 02 Jul. 2021 (talents): Updated PvP Talents.
- 02 Jul. 2021 (this page): Updated for Patch 9.1.
- 02 Jul. 2021 (this page): Updated for Patch 9.1.
- 08 Mar. 2021 (races): Reviewed for Patch 9.0.5.
- 08 Mar. 2021 (macros): Reviewed for Patch 9.0.5.
- 08 Mar. 2021 (playstyle): Reviewed for Patch 9.0.5.
- 08 Mar. 2021 (comps): Reviewed for Patch 9.0.5.
- 08 Mar. 2021 (gear): Reviewed for Patch 9.0.5.
- 08 Mar. 2021 (talents): Reviewed for Patch 9.0.5.
- 08 Mar. 2021 (this page): Reviewed for Patch 9.0.5.
- 08 Mar. 2021 (this page): Reviewed for Patch 9.0.5.
- 23 Dec. 2020 (playstyle): Updated Healing Rotations for Shadowlands.
- Added Covenant Abilities to healing rotations.
- 23 Dec. 2020 (comps): Updated Best Team Compositions
- 23 Dec. 2020 (gear): Updated Best Gear section.
- Updated Gems and Enchants section.
- 23 Dec. 2020 (talents): Updated Tiers 5 and 6 Regular Talents.
- Updated PvP Talents.
- 23 Dec. 2020 (this page): Updated for Shadowlands.
- 23 Dec. 2020 (this page): Updated for Shadowlands.
- 26 Oct. 2020 (talents): Updated Talent Table.
- 25 Oct. 2020 (talents): Updated Tier 2 Regular talent.
- 22 Oct. 2020 (gear): Removed unnecessary trinket.
- 15 Oct. 2020 (playstyle): Updated Basic and Sustained Healing rotations.
- 15 Oct. 2020 (talents): Updated Tier 3 Regular talent.
- 12 Oct. 2020 (races): Updated for Shadowlands pre-patch (Patch 9.0.1).
- 12 Oct. 2020 (macros): Updated for Shadowlands pre-patch (Patch 9.0.1).
- 12 Oct. 2020 (playstyle): Updated for Shadowlands pre-patch (Patch 9.0.1).
- 12 Oct. 2020 (comps): Updated for Shadowlands pre-patch (Patch 9.0.1).
- 12 Oct. 2020 (gear): Updated for Shadowlands pre-patch (Patch 9.0.1).
- 12 Oct. 2020 (talents): Updated for Shadowlands pre-patch (Patch 9.0.1).
- 12 Oct. 2020 (this page): Updated for Shadowlands pre-patch (Patch 9.0.1).
- 12 Oct. 2020 (this page): Updated for Shadowlands pre-patch (Patch 9.0.1).
Other PvP Guides
This guide has been written by Mysticall, a seasoned PvP player who has repeatedly achieved 3000 rating. You can watch his stream on Twitch, and you can also check out his YouTube channel.
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