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Retribution Paladin PvP Guide — The War Within (11.0.5)

Last updated on Oct 21, 2024 at 21:00 by Lvladen 29 comments
General Information

This guide will walk you through everything you need to know to play Retribution 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.

PvP Retribution Paladin Guides
Introduction Talents Gear & Stats Battleground Blitz Compositions Playstyle & Rotations Macros Races
TABLE OF CONTENTS OF THIS PAGE
1.

Retribution Paladins in the Current Meta

Following the launch of 11.0 Retribution Paladins received a rather large spec talent rework and a small shuffle of some class-specific talents. Notable changes include the loss of Crusader's Reprieve Icon Crusader's Reprieve, large buffs to Templar Strikes Icon Templar Strikes, and a change to Ret's Mastery stat Hand of Light that causes Judgment Icon Judgment to have a chance to launch an additional strike of damage in addition to the current holy damage increase effect. As we get into the beginning of The War Within be sure to check back for more info!

2.

Retribution Paladin Strengths and Weaknesses

Strengths icon Strengths
  • +Strong burst damage
  • +Great consistent and cleave damage
  • +Multiple ways to support teammates via blessing spells
  • +Nearly the entire damage kit can be done from mid-range
Weaknesses icon Weaknesses
  • -Limited mobility
  • -Target of choice for most teams
  • -No Mortal Wounds Icon Mortal Wounds effect limits compositions
3.

Notable 11.0.5 Changes

  • Complete overhaul of the Paladin class talent tree which includes the addition of powerful new talents such as Light's Revocation Icon Light's Revocation and Empyreal Ward Icon Empyreal Ward
  • Removal of Seal of Alacrity Icon Seal of Alacrity and Seal of Order Icon Seal of Order
  • Minor updates to Ret Paladin PvP talents including the addition of Spellbreaker Icon Spellbreaker.
  • Flat 6% damage increase to all damage abilities and a 10% increase to Word of Glory Icon Word of Glory
4.

Changelog

  • 24 Oct. 2024 (blitz): Updated Talent Trees for Bug Fixes 11.0.5
  • 24 Oct. 2024 (talents): Updated for Bug Fixes TWW 11.0.5
  • 21 Oct. 2024 (races): Reviewed for Patch 11.0.5.
  • 21 Oct. 2024 (macros): Reviewed for Patch 11.0.5.
  • 21 Oct. 2024 (playstyle): Reviewed for Patch 11.0.5.
  • 21 Oct. 2024 (comps): Reviewed for Patch 11.0.5.
  • 21 Oct. 2024 (blitz): Reviewed for Patch 11.0.5.
  • 21 Oct. 2024 (gear): Updated for The War Within 11.0.5
  • 21 Oct. 2024 (talents): Updated for The War Within 11.0.5
  • 21 Oct. 2024 (this page): Updated for The War Within 11.0.5
  • 21 Oct. 2024 (this page): Updated for The War Within 11.0.5
  • 11 Sep. 2024 (gear): Updated Embellishments The War Within Season 1
  • 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): Updated for The War Within Season 1.
  • 09 Sep. 2024 (comps): Reviewed for The War Within Season 1.
  • 09 Sep. 2024 (blitz): Page added.
  • 09 Sep. 2024 (gear): Reviewed for The War Within Season 1.
  • 09 Sep. 2024 (talents): Revisions for Bug Fixes The War Within 11.0.2 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.
  • 31 Aug. 2024 (playstyle): Updated for Bug Fixes The War Within 11.0.2 Season 1
  • 31 Aug. 2024 (talents): Revisions for Bug Fixes The War Within 11.0.2 Season 1
  • 21 Aug. 2024 (races): Reviewed 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 11.0.2 Season 1 Gear Changes
  • 21 Aug. 2024 (talents): Updated for The War Within 11.0.2 Season 1
  • 21 Aug. 2024 (this page): Reviewed for The War Within.
  • 21 Aug. 2024 (this page): Reviewed for The War Within.
  • 20 Aug. 2024 (gear): Updated for The War Within 11.0.2 Season 1
  • 23 Jul. 2024 (races): Reviewed for The War Within 11.0 Prepatch
  • 23 Jul. 2024 (macros): Reviewed for The War Within 11.0 Prepatch
  • 23 Jul. 2024 (playstyle): Updated for The War Within 11.0 Prepatch
  • 23 Jul. 2024 (comps): Updated for The War Within 11.0 Prepatch
  • 23 Jul. 2024 (gear): Updated for The War Within 11.0 Prepatch
  • 23 Jul. 2024 (talents): Updated for The War Within 11.0 Prepatch
  • 23 Jul. 2024 (this page): Updated for The War Within 11.0 Prepatch
  • 23 Jul. 2024 (this page): Updated for The War Within 11.0 Prepatch
  • 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.
  • 25 Apr. 2024 (gear): Updated for Dragonflight 10.2.6 Season 4 Gear Updates
  • 22 Apr. 2024 (races): Reviewed for Season 4.
  • 22 Apr. 2024 (macros): Reviewed for Season 4.
  • 22 Apr. 2024 (playstyle): Reviewed for Season 4.
  • 22 Apr. 2024 (comps): Reviewed for Season 4.
  • 22 Apr. 2024 (gear): Updated for Dragonflight 10.2.6 Season 4
  • 22 Apr. 2024 (talents): Reviewed for Season 4.
  • 22 Apr. 2024 (this page): Updated for Dragonflight 10.2.6 Season 4
  • 22 Apr. 2024 (this page): Updated for Dragonflight 10.2.6 Season 4
  • 19 Mar. 2024 (races): Reviewed for Patch 10.2.6
  • 19 Mar. 2024 (macros): Reviewed for Patch 10.2.6
  • 19 Mar. 2024 (playstyle): Reviewed for Patch 10.2.6
  • 19 Mar. 2024 (comps): Reviewed for Patch 10.2.6
  • 19 Mar. 2024 (gear): Reviewed for Dragonflight 10.2.6
  • 19 Mar. 2024 (talents): Updated for Patch 10.2.6
  • 19 Mar. 2024 (this page): Updated for Dragonflight 10.2.6
  • 19 Mar. 2024 (this page): Updated for Dragonflight 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): Reviewed for Dragonflight 10.2.5
  • 15 Jan. 2024 (talents): Reviewed for Patch 10.2.5
  • 15 Jan. 2024 (this page): Updated for Dragonflight 10.2.5
  • 15 Jan. 2024 (this page): Updated for Dragonflight 10.2.5
  • 23 Nov. 2023 (gear): Updated for Dragonflight 10.2 Meta Changes
  • 06 Nov. 2023 (races): Reviewed for Patch 10.2
  • 06 Nov. 2023 (macros): Reviewed for Patch 10.2
  • 06 Nov. 2023 (playstyle): Updated for Patch 10.2
  • 06 Nov. 2023 (comps): Updated for Patch 10.2
  • 06 Nov. 2023 (gear): Updated for Dragonflight 10.2
  • 06 Nov. 2023 (talents): Updated for Patch 10.2
  • 06 Nov. 2023 (this page): Updated for Dragonflight Patch 10.2
  • 06 Nov. 2023 (this page): Updated for Dragonflight 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 Dragonflight 10.1.7
  • 04 Sep. 2023 (talents): Reviewed for Patch 10.1.7
  • 04 Sep. 2023 (this page): Updated for Dragonflight Patch 10.1.7
  • 04 Sep. 2023 (this page): Updated for Dragonflight Patch 10.1.7
  • 10 Jul. 2023 (races): Reviewed for Patch 10.1.5
  • 10 Jul. 2023 (macros): Reviewed for Patch 10.1.5
  • 10 Jul. 2023 (playstyle): Reviewed for Patch 10.1.5
  • 10 Jul. 2023 (comps): Reviewed for Patch 10.1.5
  • 10 Jul. 2023 (gear): Updated for Dragonflight 10.1.5
  • 10 Jul. 2023 (talents): Reviewed for Patch 10.1.5
  • 10 Jul. 2023 (this page): Updated for Dragonflight Patch 10.1.5
  • 10 Jul. 2023 (this page): Updated for Dragonflight Patch 10.1.5
  • 01 Jun. 2023 (playstyle): Updated for Patch 10.1
  • 21 May 2023 (talents): Updated for Patch 10.1
  • 19 May 2023 (macros): Updated for Patch 10.1
  • 19 May 2023 (comps): Updated for Patch 10.1
  • 19 May 2023 (gear): Updated for Dragonflight 10.1
  • 18 May 2023 (talents): Reviewed for Patch 10.1
  • 18 May 2023 (this page): Updated for Dragonflight Patch 10.1
  • 18 May 2023 (this page): Updated for Dragonflight Patch 10.1
  • 09 May 2023 (this page): Updated for Dragonflight Patch 10.1.
  • 09 May 2023 (this page): Updated for Dragonflight Patch 10.1.
  • 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): Reviewed for Dragonflight Season 1.
  • 11 Dec. 2022 (macros): Reviewed for Dragonflight Season 1.
  • 11 Dec. 2022 (playstyle): Reviewed for Dragonflight Season 1.
  • 11 Dec. 2022 (comps): Reviewed for Dragonflight Season 1.
  • 11 Dec. 2022 (gear): Reviewed for Dragonflight Season 1.
  • 11 Dec. 2022 (talents): Reviewed for Dragonflight Season 1.
  • 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): Reviewed 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 Damage Rotations.
  • 28 Feb. 2022 (comps): Updated for Patch 9.2.
    • Updated Best 3v3 Compositions.
  • 28 Feb. 2022 (gear): Updated for Patch 9.2.
    • Updated Recommended Gear.
    • Added Tier-Sets section.
    • Removed Shards of Domination section.
  • 28 Feb. 2022 (talents): Updated for Patch 9.2.
    • Updated Talent Table.
    • Updated Tier 7 Regular Talent.
  • 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 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): Reviewed for Patch 9.1.
  • 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.
  • 17 Feb. 2021 (playstyle): Updated all rotations with new talent.
  • 17 Feb. 2021 (talents): Updated Tier 1 Regular Talents.
    • Updated PvP Talents.
  • 17 Dec. 2020 (playstyle): Removed old spells.
  • 06 Dec. 2020 (gear): Added BiS gear list for Shadowlands.
  • 05 Dec. 2020 (playstyle): Updated Damage Rotations to include Covenant Ability.
  • 30 Nov. 2020 (gear): Removed outdated Traits and Essences.
    • Removed outdated gear.
    • Added gems section.
  • 30 Nov. 2020 (this page): Added Covenant page, removed old Azerite mentions, and updated gear section.
  • 30 Nov. 2020 (this page): Added Covenant page, removed old Azerite mentions, and updated gear section.
  • 14 Oct. 2020 (races): Updated for Shadowlands pre-patch.
  • 14 Oct. 2020 (macros): Updated for Shadowlands pre-patch.
  • 14 Oct. 2020 (playstyle): Updated for Shadowlands pre-patch.
  • 14 Oct. 2020 (comps): Updated for Shadowlands pre-patch.
  • 14 Oct. 2020 (gear): Updated for Shadowlands pre-patch.
  • 14 Oct. 2020 (talents): Updated for Shadowlands pre-patch.
  • 14 Oct. 2020 (this page): Updated for Shadowlands pre-patch.
  • 14 Oct. 2020 (this page): Updated for Shadowlands pre-patch.
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PvP Retribution Paladin Guides
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