Protection Paladin Tank PVE Guide

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Protection Paladin Tank PVE Guide

Malphaz

7 years ago

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Welcome to the PVE Protection Paladin Tank Guide for World of Warcraft Wrath of the Lich King! In this guide, you’ll learn how to play a Protection Paladin tank in a raid. It covers talents, glyphs, gems, enchantments, rotation, and gameplay tips.

Table of Contents

Talents
Glyphs
Gems
Enchants
Rotation
Stat Priority
Best-in-Slot (BiS)

Talents

This is a core build for a Protection Paladin main tank. You have two remaining talent points. It’s recommend to allocate them to Pursuit of Justice, Judgements of the Just or Vindication.

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: Protection Paladin Tank PVE Build Talents.png (672.95 KiB) Viewed 2490 times

Glyphs

Major Glyphs

Minor Glyphs

Gems

Gems are situational and depend on the build and equipment. They are used to reach the required stat caps.

Meta – Austere Earthsiege Diamond
Red – Shifting Dreadstone x1, Regal Dreadstone x1, or Sovereign Dreadstone x1
Yellow – Enduring Eye of Zul
Blue – Solid Majestic Zircon

Enchants

Head – Arcanum of the Stalwart Protector
Shoulder – Greater Inscription of the Gladiator or Greater Inscription of the Pinnacle
Cloak – Enchant Cloak - Mighty Armor, Enchant Cloak - Major Agility, or Enchant Cloak - Titanweave
Chest – Enchant Chest - Super Health or Enchant Chest - Greater Defense
Bracers – Enchant Bracers - Major Stamina
Gloves – Enchant Gloves - Armsman or Heavy Borean Armor Kit
Waist – Eternal Belt Buckle
Legs – Frosthide Leg Armor
Boots – Enchant Boots - Tuskarr's Vitality or Enchant Boots - Greater Fortitude
Weapon – Enchant Weapon - Blade Ward or Enchant Weapon - Mongoose
Shield – Enchant Shield - Major Stamina or Enchant Shield - Defense

Rotation & Gameplay

In simple terms, the Protection Paladin primarily follows one rotation known as the 969 rotation. This rotation utilizes five skills: two with a 6-second cooldown and three with a 9-second cooldown. The sequence is to use a skill with a 9-second cooldown, followed by a skill with a 6-second cooldown, then another 9-second skill, and another 6-second skill, and so on.

6 Second Abilities

9 Second Abilities

Single Target Rotation

Maintain Sacred Shield
Use Avenger's Shield and/or Exorcism (see notes)
Use Holy Shield
Use Hammer of the Righteous
Use Judgement of Light / Judgement of Wisdom
Use Shield of Righteousness
Use Consecration

AoE Priority

Use Avenger's Shield and/or Exorcism (see notes)
Use Holy Shield
Use Hammer of the Righteous
Use Consecration
Use Shield of Righteousness
Use Judgement of Light / Judgement of Wisdom
Use Hammer of the Righteous
Use Holy Shield

Spells & Abilities Notes

Use Seal of Vengeance for Single Target or Seal of Command for AoE (multiple targets).
Use Exorcism to pull only while not being attacked due to cast time, cast Avenger's Shield immediately afterwards.
Use Holy Wrath before Hammer of the Righteous in the AoE rotation when fighting Undead or Demons.

Stat Priority

Defense
Stamina
Armor
Expertise & Hit Rating
Strength
Parry, Dodge
Block

Defense rating over 540 is mandatory to be the main tank, as it makes you uncrittable. Hit cap for raids is 8% (263 rating) or at least 5% (164 rating) against level 80 mobs if you’re just starting. Expertise cap is 26, which can be easily acquired through Combat Expertise, Glyph of Seal of Vengeance, racial weapon passives, and gear.

Stamina & Armor are self-explanatory – the more the merrier. Strength isn’t a priority for a tank. Parry, Dodge, and Block are left out for last because Defense already increases all of them. It’s worth mentioning that Block is last on the list because it only reduces the damage, not mitigates it completely.

Best-in-Slot (BiS)