1.
Retribution Paladin Spell Glossary
If you are new to Retribution, this is a great place to start to get an
understanding of how the spec works. On this page we will discuss what
abilities you have, what they are used for within the specialization, how they
interact with each other and also with important cooldowns. If you already
have experience with Retribution and are comfortable with it in the current expansion, it is
recommended you skip this section and move on to the rest of the guide.
2.
Main Resources For Retribution Paladin
Retribution's main resources are Holy Power and time. Holy Power is generated and spent by various abilities,
with your spenders like Templar's Verdict and Divine Storm generally being some of your highest damage abilities.
Your generators are all restricted in some fashion by time, whether they have cooldowns or generate Holy Power automatically at specific intervals.
Optimizing your rotation will involve making sure that you waste as little Holy Power as possible by using your abilities wisely
in order to maximize Holy Power gain while also keeping your generators on cooldown as much as you can.
3.
Unlocking Abilities
Note that this page lists all abilities, assuming
you are at max level. If you are leveling, check out our dedicated Paladin
Leveling page that has detailed information on when you unlock all of these
abilities.
4.
Retribution Paladin Hero Talent Abilities
4.1.
Templar Abilities
Ability |
Description/Effect |
Light's Guidance
|
Gain the ability to cast Hammer of Light once after casting Wake of Ashes, which is a Holy Power spender
that does significant AoE damage and costs 5 Holy Power. |
Zealous Vindication
|
Hammer of Light also triggers extra Empyrean Hammers when it is cast. |
For Whom the Bell Tolls
|
Divine Toll increases the damage of your next 3 Judgments, but this bonus is reduced based on targets hit. |
Sacrosanct Crusade
|
Wake of Ashes and Hammer of Light have an extra absorb or healing effect added. |
Endless Wrath
|
Empyrean Hammers have a chance to reset the cooldown of Hammer of Wrath and allow it to be cast on any target. |
Sanctification
|
Judgment applies a buff that increases the damage of Empyrean Hammer. This buff's stacks are applied and expire independently. |
Shake the Heavens
|
Empyrean Hammers are triggered periodically after Hammer of Light is cast. |
Higher Calling
|
Most Holy Power generators extend the duration of Shake the Heavens. |
Hammerfall
|
Spending Holy Power triggers Empyrean Hammer, with an extra trigger if Shake the Heavens is active. |
Wrathful Descent
|
Critical hits from Empyrean Hammers also deal their damage to nearby enemies. |
Bonds of Fellowship
|
You take less transferred damage from Blessing of Sacrifice and gain extra movement speed when you do take damage from it. |
Unrelenting Charger
|
Divine Steed has a longer duration and has a faster speed initially. |
Undisputed Ruling
|
Hammer of Light applies a Greater Judgment debuff to enemies hit and also increases your Haste for a short duration. |
Light's Deliverance
|
Gain a stacking buff when a Empyrean Hammer triggers that lets you cast an extra Hammer of Light for free at 50 stacks. |
4.2.
Herald of the Sun Abilities
Ability |
Description/Effect |
Dawnlight
|
Wake of Ashes causes your next two Holy Power spenders to also apply an extra DoT to the target. This can also function as a HoT on allies. |
Morning Star
|
A periodically stacking buff that increases the damage of your next Dawnlight. |
Gleaming Rays
|
While a Dawnlight is active, the damage of your Holy Power spenders is increased. |
Illumine
|
Enemies with Dawnlight active are slowed, and allies with it have their movement speed increased. |
Will of the Dawn
|
Your movement speed is increased based on your Health. |
Aurora
|
Gain a free Divine Purpose buff when Wake of Ashes is cast. |
Eternal Flame
|
Replaces Word of Glory. Adds an extra HoT component to it in addition to its regular effect. |
Blessing of An'she
|
Periodic damage has a chance to increase the damage of your next Hammer of Wrath and allow it to be cast on any target. |
Lingering Radiance
|
Dawnlight applies a Greater Judgment debuff when it expires. |
Solar Grace
|
Your Haste is increased for each Dawnlight DoT or HoT active. |
Luminosity
|
Critical Strike chance of Hammer of Wrath and Divine Storm increased. |
Sun Sear
|
Critical hits from Hammer of Wrath and Divine Storm apply an additional DoT. |
Second Sunrise
|
When cast, Hammer of Wrath and Divine Storm have a chance to automatically be cast again at reduced damage. |
Sun's Avatar
|
Extra Dawnlights are applied when Avenging Wrath or Crusade is applied, and you now create damage beams between you
and any targets affected by your Dawnlights. |
5.
Retribution Paladin Baseline Abilities
Ability |
Abbreviation |
Description/Effect |
Crusader Strike
|
CS |
Deals Physical damage to your target and generates 1 Holy Power. |
Judgment
|
- |
Deals Holy Damage to your target and generates 1 Holy Power. |
Templar's Verdict
|
TV |
Your primary single-target Holy Power spender. It deals Holy damage to your target and costs 3 Holy Power. |
Consecration
|
Cons |
Places an AoE effect on the ground that does a small amount of damage over 12 seconds. It has a regular limit of 1. |
Consecrated Blade
|
CB |
Blade of Justice also automatically casts Consecration at your target's location and removes it as an active ability. It has a 10-second internal cooldown. |
Divine Shield
|
Bubble |
Makes you immune to all damage and harmful effects, including loss of control effects for 8 seconds. |
Divine Protection
|
DP |
Reduces all damage you take by 20% for 8 seconds. |
Hand of Reckoning
|
- |
Taunts an enemy, forcing them to attack you. |
Instrument of Retribution
|
- |
Grants 9 seconds of Avenging Wrath after a raid member dies within 40 yards. |
Sense Undead
|
- |
Shows the location of all nearby undead on your minimap until cancelled. |
Intercession
|
- |
Allows you to resurrect an ally during combat. |
Redemption
|
- |
Your out-of-combat resurrection ability. |
Flash of Light
|
FoL |
A healing spell with a short cast time. |
Hammer of Justice
|
HoJ |
Stuns the target for 6-seconds. |
Word of Glory
|
WoG |
Heals a friendly target for a considerable amount. Costs 3 Holy Power. |
Shield of the Righteous
|
SotR |
Deals Holy damage to all enemies in front of you and increases your Armor based on your Strength. It costs 3 Holy Power, but requires a shield equipped to be able to cast it. |
6.
Paladin Tree Talent List
6.1.
Rows 1-4
Ability |
Abbreviation |
Description/Effect |
Lay on Hands
|
LoH |
Heals a friendly target for 100% of your maximum Health. |
Auras of the Resolute
|
- |
Grants access to Devotion Aura, Crusader Aura, and Concentration Aura. Devotion Aura grants a 3% damage reduction to all party and raid
members within 40 yards. Crusader Aura Grants 20% increased mounted movement speed to all raid members within 40 yards, which also applies to Divine Steed.
Concentration Aura reduces the duration of silence and interrupt effects by 30% for all party and raid members within 40 yards. |
Hammer of Wrath
|
HoW |
Deals Holy damage to the target and generates 1 Holy Power. Useable against targets below 20% Health, or while Avenging Wrath is active. |
Cleanse Toxins
|
- |
Removes all Poison and Disease effects from a friendly target. |
Empyreal Ward
|
- |
Lay on Hands grants bonus armor to any ally targeted by it and is not affected by healing reduction effects. |
Fist of Justice
|
FoJ |
Reduces the cooldown of Hammer of Justice by 15 seconds. |
Repentance
|
Rep |
Incapacitates an enemy for up to 1 minute. Damage will break the effect. |
Blinding Light
|
BL |
Disorients enemies nearby you for up to 6 seconds. Any non-Holy damage will break the effect. |
Turn Evil
|
- |
Fears an Undead, Demon, or Aberration for up to 40 seconds. Damage will break the effect. |
A Just Reward
|
- |
Allies are healed when Cleanse Toxins removes a harmful effect from them. |
Afterimage
|
- |
Word of Glory also heals an additional nearby friendly player for 30% of the healing value after you spend 20 Holy Power. |
Healing Hands
|
HH |
Reduces the cooldown of Lay on Hands by up to 60%, based on the target's missing Health when cast. Additionally, Word of Glory's healing is increased by up to 100% based on the target's missing Health. |
Divine Steed
|
Steed |
Summons your Charger mount for 4 seconds, increasing your movement speed by 100%. You can use abilities as normal while mounted on it. |
Light's Countenance
|
- |
The cooldowns of Repentance and Blinding Light are reduced by 15 seconds. |
Greater Judgment
|
GJ |
Adds a consumable debuff to Judgment, which increases the damage your target takes from your next Holy Power spender by 20%. This debuff stacks. |
Wrench Evil
|
- |
The cast time of Turn Evil is removed. |
Stand Against Evil
|
- |
Up to 5 additional enemies are affected by Turn Evil. |
Holy Reprieve
|
- |
The duration of Forbearance is decreased by 10 seconds. |
Cavalier
|
Cav |
Adds a second charge to Divine Steed. |
Divine Spurs
|
- |
Divine Steed has both its cooldown and duration reduced. |
Steed of Liberty
|
- |
Using Divine Steed also applies Blessing of Freedom for a short duration. |
Blessing of Freedom
|
Freedom |
Removes movement-impairing effects from an ally and grants them immunity to these effects for 8 seconds. |
Rebuke
|
- |
Interrupts a cast and prevents spells in that school from being cast for 3 seconds. |
6.2.
Rows 5-7
Ability |
Abbreviation |
Description/Effect |
Obduracy
|
- |
Increases your Speed and Avoidance by 2%. |
Divine Toll
|
DT |
Casts Judgment on up to 5 nearby enemies. Each Judgment generates 1 Holy Power and deals 100% extra damage. |
Unbound Freedom
|
- |
Causes Blessing of Freedom to grant 30% increased movement speed and also be applied to yourself when you cast it on an ally. |
Sanctified Plates
|
- |
Grants 20% extra Armor, 6% reduced area of effect damage taken, and 10% extra Stamina. |
Punishment
|
- |
Casts an extra Crusader Strike after successfully interrupting a spell with Rebuke. |
Divine Reach
|
- |
The range of your Aura spells is increased by 20 yards. |
Blessing of Sacrifice
|
Sac |
Lasts 12 seconds, transferring 30% of the damage taken by the target to you. The effect is automatically canceled if the transferred damage causes you to fall below 20% health. |
Divine Resonance
|
DR |
Divine Toll now also casts Judgment every 5 seconds for 15 seconds after the initial cast. |
Quickened Invocations
|
- |
Reduces the cooldown of Divine Toll by 15 seconds. |
Blessing of Protection
|
BoP |
Protects the targeted ally from all Physical damage and harmful effects for 10 seconds, with a 5-minute cooldown. It can be used to clear harmful Physical damage debuffs
and bleeds from the target or prevent them from being applied to begin with. Enemies will not attack targets affected by Blessing of Protection. |
Consecrated Ground
|
- |
Increases the radius of Consecration by 15% and slows any enemies within it by 50%. |
Holy Aegis
|
- |
Increases your Armor and Critical Strike by 4%. |
Sacrifice of the Just
|
- |
Reduces the cooldown of Blessing of Sacrifice by 1-minute. |
Recompense
|
- |
When your Blessing of Sacrifice ends, Recompense adds 50% of the damage transferred to your next Judgment as bonus damage or to your next Word of Glory as bonus healing. |
Sacred Strength
|
- |
Increases the damage and healing of your Holy Power spenders by 2%. |
Divine Purpose
|
DP |
Gives your Holy Power spenders a 10% chance to make your next Holy Power spender free and deal 10% additional damage or healing. |
Improved Blessing of Protection
|
- |
Reduces the cooldown of Blessing of Protection by 1 minute. |
Unbreakable Spirit
|
US |
Reduces the cooldown of Divine Shield, Shield of Vengeance, Divine Protection, and Lay on Hands by 30%. |
6.3.
Rows 8-10
Ability |
Abbreviation |
Description/Effect |
Lightforged Blessing
|
- |
Divine Storm heals yourself and up to 4 allies for 2% of their maximum Health. |
Lead the Charge
|
- |
Movement speed increased by 3%. Casting Divine Steed reduces the cooldowns of nearby allies' movement abilities by 3 seconds. |
Worthy Sacrifice
|
- |
Blessing of Sacrifice is now automatically cast when a nearby ally falls below 35% health. |
Righteous Protection
|
- |
Blessing of Sacrifice removes Disease and Poison effects and prevents them from being applied. |
Holy Ritual
|
- |
Blessing spells will heal their target when they are either applied or expire. |
Blessed Calling
|
- |
Blessing spells also provide a 15% movement speed increase while they are active. |
Inspired Guard
|
- |
Divine Protection increases your healing received by 15%. |
Judgment of Light
|
JoL |
Judgment applies a debuff to the target, which makes the next 5 attacks to that target heal the attacker. Any raid member can consume this debuff to heal themselves. |
Faith's Armor
|
- |
Word of Glory grants 20% bonus Armor for 4.5 seconds. |
Stoicism
|
- |
The duration of Stun effects is reduced by 20%. |
Seal of Might
|
- |
Increases your Mastery and Strength by 4%. |
Seal of the Crusader
|
- |
Your auto attacks heal a nearby ally. |
Vengeful Wrath
|
VW |
Hammer of Wrath deals 60% extra damage to enemies below 35% health. |
Eye for an Eye
|
- |
Enemies attacking you while Divine Protection or Divine Shield is active take Holy damage. |
Golden Path
|
- |
Adds a passive healing effect to Consecration for yourself and up to 5 allies standing within your consecrated ground. |
Selfless Healer
|
- |
When you use Flash of Light on an ally its healing is increased and it heals you as well. |
Lightbearer
|
- |
10% of the healing you receive from external sources is also split among nearby allies. |
Light's Revocation
|
- |
Divine Shield can be used while Forbearance is active and it heals you if it removes harmful effects. |
Of Dusk and Dawn
|
DaD |
Blessing of Dawn triggers when you use 3 Holy Power generating abilities and buffs your next Holy Power spender by 30%.
Blessing of Dusk triggers when you consume Blessing of Dawn and grants a 4% damage reduction for 10 seconds. |
7.
Retribution Tree Talent List
7.1.
Rows 1-4
Ability |
Abbreviation |
Description/Effect |
Blade of Justice
|
BoJ |
Deals Holy damage to the target and generates 1 Holy Power. |
Divine Storm
|
DS |
Deals Holy damage to nearby enemies. Costs 3 Holy Power. Divine Storm deals reduced damage beyond 5 targets. |
Swift Justice
|
- |
Reduces the cooldowns of Judgment and Crusader Strike by 2 seconds. |
Light of Justice
|
- |
Reduces the cooldown of Blade of Justice by 2 seconds. |
Expurgation
|
Expurg |
Blade of Justice applies a debuff that deals additional Holy damage over 9 seconds. |
Judgment of Justice
|
- |
Judgment deals 10% additional damage and increases your movement speed by 10%. It also slows the target by 30% for 8 seconds if Greater Judgment is talented. |
Improved Blade of Justice
|
- |
Blade of Justice gains a second charge. |
Holy Blade
|
- |
Blade of Justice generates 2 Holy Power per cast. |
Final Verdict
|
FV |
Replaces Templar's Verdict. It does increased damage, has a 12-yard range, and has a 15% chance to reset the cooldown of
Hammer of Wrath and allow it to be cast on any target regardless of their Health. |
Justicar's Vengeance
|
JV |
Replaces Templar's Verdict. Heals you for 3% of your maximum Health per cast, and its damage is increased by 25% against stunned targets. |
Light's Celerity
|
- |
Removes the cast time of Flash of Light and buffs its healing by 20%, but it now has a 6 second cooldown. |
Guided Prayer
|
- |
Automatically casts a free Word of Glory at 60% strength if you drop below 25% Health, with a 1-minute internal cooldown. |
Righteous Cause
|
- |
Spending Holy Power has a 6% chance to reset the cooldown of Blade of Justice per Holy Power. |
Art of War
|
AoW |
Your auto attacks have a 20% chance to reset the cooldown of Blade of Justice. Critical strikes increase this chance by 10%. |
7.2.
Rows 5-7
Ability |
Abbreviation |
Description/Effect |
Jurisdiction
|
- |
The range of Final Verdict and Blade of Justice is increased to 20 yards, and their damage is increased by 10%. |
Inquisitor's Ire
|
- |
Provides a stacking buff that stacks once every 2 seconds, with a maximum of 10 stacks, that each increase the damage of Divine Storm by 5%. |
Tempest of the Lightbringer
|
ToL |
Divine Storm projects an additional wave in front of you that deals 20% of the Divine Storm's base damage. |
Avenging Wrath: Might
|
Might |
Combines with Avenging Wrath. In addition to the 20% damage and healing from Avenging Wrath, Avenging Wrath: Might also adds 20% critical strike chance. |
Crusade
|
Crus |
Replaces Avenging Wrath. It provides a stacking buff for 27 seconds, up to 10 stacks, which each provide 3% increased damage and Haste. You gain one stack for each Holy Power spent. |
Vanguard's Momentum
|
VM |
Hammer of Wrath gains a second charge. Additionally, it also generates an extra Holy Power when cast on enemies below 20% Health. |
Sanctify
|
- |
Enemies dealt damage by Divine Storm take 20% more damage from Consecration and Divine Hammer for 12 seconds. |
Zealot's Fervor
|
ZF |
Increases auto-attack speed by 40%. |
Rush of Light
|
RoL |
Critical hits by your single target Holy Power spenders grant 5% Haste for 10 seconds. |
Improved Judgment
|
- |
Judgment gains a second charge. |
Boundless Judgment
|
- |
Judgment generates 2 Holy Power per cast and is 50% more likely to trigger Mastery: Highlord's Judgment. |
Crusading Strikes
|
CSAA |
Replaces your auto-attacks with Crusader Strikes. Every second hit generates 1 Holy Power. |
Templar Strikes
|
TS |
Crusader Strike becomes a 2-part combo. After casting Templar Strikes, you have 4 seconds to use Templar Slash, which applies a DoT based on the damage done. |
Divine Wrath
|
DW |
Increases the duration of Avenging Wrath by 3 seconds. |
Divine Hammer
|
DH |
Replaces Consecration. Divine Hammer lasts for 12 seconds and deals Holy damage to enemies within 8 yards. Has a 20-second cooldown. |
Blade of Vengeance
|
BoV |
Blade of Justice now hits all nearby enemies but deals reduced damage to secondary targets. Its damage is further reduced beyond 5 targets. |
Holy Flames
|
HF |
Divine Storm deals 10% extra damage and spreads any active Expurgation DoT to additional enemies. Holy damage dealt to targets with Expurgation active
is also increased by 3%. |
Empyrean Legacy
|
EL |
Judgment empowers your next Templar's Verdict to also automatically cast Divine Storm with 25% increased damage. This effect can only occur once every 20 seconds. |
Heart of the Crusader
|
HotC |
Increases your Crusader Strike and auto-attack damage and Critical Strike damage by 20%. |
Highlord's Wrath
|
HJ |
Judgment applies an extra stack of Greater Judgment and the effectiveness of Mastery: Highlord's Judgment on Judgment and
Hammer of Wrath is increased by 50%. |
Wake of Ashes
|
WoA/Wake |
Deals Radiant damage to targets in a cone in front of you, slowing them by 50%, applying a DoT, and generating 3 Holy Power. Instead of slowing Demons and Undead, they are stunned for 5 seconds. |
Blessed Champion
|
BC |
Crusader Strike and Judgment hit up to 4 additional targets, with 50% reduced damage dealt to secondary targets. |
Empyrean Power
|
EP |
Crusader Strike has a 15% chance to make your next cast of Divine Storm free and deal 15% extra damage. This chance drops to 5% when using Crusading Strikes. |
Judge, Jury and Executioner
|
- |
Holy Power generators have a chance to cause your next single-target Holy Power spender to hit up to 3 additional targets at 80% effectiveness. |
7.3.
Rows 8-10
Ability |
Abbreviation |
Description/Effect |
Adjudication
|
- |
Increases Critical Strike damage by 5% for all abilities and lets Hammer of Wrath also proc the additional damage from Mastery: Highlord's Judgment. |
Aegis of Protection
|
- |
Divine Protection provides 20% additional damage reduction. |
Shield of Vengeance
|
SoV |
Grants you a 10-second damage absorption shield that absorbs up to 30% of your maximum Health. It explodes when it is consumed by damage or when it expires,
dealing the absorbed amount as Holy damage divided between all enemies within 8 yards. It has a 90-second cooldown and a 0.75-second global cooldown. |
Penitence
|
- |
Increases the damage of your periodic damage effects, e.g. Expurgation and Truth's Wake, by 10%. |
Blades of Light
|
BoL |
Crusader Strike, Judgment, Hammer of Wrath, and your single-target Holy Power spenders now deal Holystrike damage.
Your Holystrike abilities deal 5% increased damage. |
Final Reckoning
|
FR |
A targeted AoE damage effect with a 1-minute cooldown, 30-yard range, and an 8-yard radius. It does Holy damage to targets hit
and applies a debuff that increases damage taken by your single-target Holy Power spenders by 30% and other Holy Power spenders by 15% for 12 seconds. |
Execution Sentence
|
ES |
A 30-second cooldown that applies a debuff to the target for 8 seconds. When it expires, it deals an additional 20% of the damage your abilities did to the target during that 8-second window. |
Seething Flames
|
- |
Wake of Ashes hits 2 extra times but now deals reduced damage to secondary targets. |
Burning Crusade
|
BC |
Divine Storm, Divine Hammer, and Consecration now deal Radiant damage and damage dealt by Radiant damage abilities is increased by 5%. |
Divine Arbiter
|
DA |
Casting Holystrike abilities and procs from Mastery: Highlord's Judgment now generate stacks of Divine Arbiter,
which you can consume at 25 stacks by casting a single-target Holy Power spender for a large single-target damage proc with some additional cleave damage. |
Executioner's Will
|
EW |
Increases the duration of Final Reckoning and Execution Sentence's debuffs by 4 seconds. |
Divine Auxiliary
|
- |
You gain 3 Holy Power when you cast Final Reckoning or Execution Sentence. |
Radiant Glory
|
RG |
Avenging Wrath is removed as an active ability and is instead automatically applied for 8 seconds when Wake of Ashes is cast, and also
has a chance to be applied for 4 seconds when Holy Power is spent. |
Burn to Ash
|
- |
Truth's Wake critical hits extend its duration, and other periodic effects deal 30% more damage to enemies affected by it. |
Searing Light
|
SL |
Dealing Radiant damage and procs from Mastery: Highlord's Judgment have a chance to cause an additional explosion of Radiant damage at your target's location,
leaving behind a Consecration. |
8.
Changelog
- 15 Dec. 2024: Reviewed for Patch 11.0.7.
- 21 Oct. 2024: Updated for Patch 11.0.5.
- 09 Sep. 2024: Reviewed for The War Within Season 1.
- 21 Aug. 2024: Updated for The War Within.
- 23 Jul. 2024: Updated for The War Within pre-patch.
- 07 May 2024: Reviewed for 10.2.7.
- 22 Apr. 2024: Reviewed for Dragonflight Season 4.
- 19 Mar. 2024: Reviewed for Patch 10.2.6.
- 15 Jan. 2024: Reviewed for Patch 10.2.5.
- 06 Nov. 2023: Updated for Patch 10.2.
- 04 Sep. 2023: Updated formatting and ability descriptions for Patch 10.1.7.
- 10 Jul. 2023: Reviewed for Patch 10.1.5.
- 01 May 2023: Updated for Patch 10.1.
- 05 Apr. 2023: Updated various descriptions for latest hotfixes.
- 21 Mar. 2023: Updated for Patch 10.0.7.
- 24 Jan. 2023: Reviewed for Patch 10.0.5.
- 17 Jan. 2023: Shield of Vengeance now has a 90-second cooldown.
- 11 Dec. 2022: Seal of the Crusader no longer affects allies.
- 28 Nov. 2022: Updated for Dragonflight launch.
- 24 Oct. 2022: Updated for Dragonflight pre-patch.
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