TBC Classic

Retribution Paladin

PvE Talent Guide & Calculator

5/8/48 Raiding & Dungeons

Character Level

Level:

Talent Points: 61

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Holy

Protection

Retribution

Current Build

0/0/0

Why Retribution?

Retribution Paladins are a solid melee DPS spec in TBC Classic that bring exceptional raid utility. While your personal DPS may not top the meters, you provide powerful group buffs like Sanctity Aura, Judgement of the Crusader, and Blessing of Might. The 5/8/48 build goes deep Retribution for Crusader Strike and Fanaticism, with Divine Strength from Holy and Improved Devotion Aura plus Precision from Protection.

Key Talents

Crusader Strike

An instant strike that causes 110% weapon damage and refreshes all Judgements on the target. Your primary DPS ability on a 6-second cooldown.

Sanctity Aura

Increases Holy damage done by party members within 30 yards by 10%. A unique buff that boosts your Seal and Judgement damage significantly.

Vengeance

Gives you a 3% bonus to Physical and Holy damage for 30 sec after dealing a critical strike. Stacks up to 3 times for 9% total damage increase.

Fanaticism

Increases the critical strike chance of all Judgements by 15% and reduces threat caused by 30%. Essential for both damage and threat management.

Stat Priority

Hit Rating (until 9% / 142 rating)
Expertise (until 6.5% / 26 rating)
Strength
Critical Strike Rating
Attack Power
Haste Rating

Rotation / Ability Priority

Retribution Paladin DPS centers around keeping Seal of Blood (Horde) or Seal of the Martyr (Alliance) active, using Crusader Strike on cooldown, and filling globals with Judgement and Consecration. Mana management is key to sustained damage.

Seal of Blood / Seal of the Martyr — Keep active at all times. Your primary damage seal that procs on every melee swing for bonus Holy damage.
Crusader Strike — Use on cooldown (6-second CD). Your hardest-hitting ability that also refreshes all Judgements on the target.
Judgement — Use between Crusader Strike cooldowns. Judges your active Seal for burst damage.
Consecration — Use if mana allows. High mana cost, so skip on long fights or when mana is below 30%. Strong in AoE situations.
Avenging Wrath — Use for burst phases. 30% increased damage for 20 seconds. Pair with Haste Potion for maximum output.

Pre-Raid Best in Slot

Best gear obtainable from heroic dungeons, crafting, reputation, and quests before entering Karazhan. Focus on reaching the 9% hit cap, then stack expertise, strength, and crit.

Slot	Item	Source
Head	Justicar Crown	Heroic Shattered Halls — Warchief Kargath
Neck	Choker of Vile Intent	Heroic Shadow Labyrinth — Murmur
Shoulders	Spaulders of the Righteous	Heroic Botanica — Thorngrin the Tender
Back	Blood Knight War Cloak	Heroic Shattered Halls — Warchief Kargath
Chest	Ragesteel Breastplate	Blacksmithing (Crafted)
Wrists	Vambraces of Courage	Heroic Arcatraz — Harbinger Skyriss
Hands	Ragesteel Gloves	Blacksmithing (Crafted)
Waist	Girdle of the Deathdealer	Heroic Underbog — The Black Stalker
Legs	Legplates of the Righteous	Heroic Underbog — Quagmirran
Feet	Eaglecrest Warboots	Heroic Sethekk Halls — Talon King Ikiss
Ring 1	A'dal's Command	Sha'tar — Exalted
Ring 2	Ring of Umbral Doom	Heroic Shadow Labyrinth — Ambassador Hellmaw
Trinket 1	Abacus of Violent Odds	Heroic Mechanar — Pathaleon
Trinket 2	Bladefist's Breadth	Quest — Overlord (Hellfire Peninsula)
Weapon	Crystalforged War Axe	Heroic Mana-Tombs — Nexus-Prince Shaffar
Libram	Libram of Avengement	25 Badge of Justice

Raid Best in Slot (T5 / T6)

Best endgame gear from SSC, Tempest Keep, Hyjal, Black Temple, and Sunwell Plateau. Stat priority: Hit (9%) > Expertise > Strength > Crit > AP > Haste.

Slot	Item	Source
Head	Lightbringer War-Helm	Hyjal Summit — Archimonde (T6 token)
Neck	Choker of Serrated Blades	Zul'Aman — Nalorakk
Shoulders	Lightbringer Shoulderbraces	Black Temple — Mother Shahraz
Back	Thalassian Wildercloak	Sunwell Plateau — Trash Drop
Chest	Lightbringer Chestpiece	Black Temple — Illidan Stormrage
Wrists	Bracers of Eradication	Sunwell Plateau — Brutallus
Hands	Lightbringer Gauntlets	Black Temple — Azgalor (Hyjal T6 token)
Waist	Belt of One-Hundred Deaths	Sunwell Plateau — Brutallus
Legs	Lightbringer Greaves	Hyjal Summit — Azgalor (T6 token)
Feet	Boots of Utter Darkness	Black Temple — Teron Gorefiend
Ring 1	Hard Khorium Band	Jewelcrafting (Crafted)
Ring 2	Band of the Eternal Champion	Hyjal Summit — Exalted
Trinket 1	Madness of the Betrayer	Black Temple — Illidan Stormrage
Trinket 2	Berserker's Call	Zul'Aman — Timed Chest (4th boss)
Weapon	Cataclysm's Edge	Black Temple — Supremus
Libram	Libram of Divine Purpose	Sunwell Plateau — Eredar Twins

Macros & Keybinds

Essential Retribution Paladin macros for TBC Classic raiding.

Crusader Strike + Seal Twist

#showtooltip Crusader Strike
/cast Crusader Strike
/cast Seal of Command

Follows up Crusader Strike with a Seal twist for extra procs.

Judgement + Seal Refresh

#showtooltip Judgement
/cast Judgement
/cast Seal of Blood

Judges current seal and immediately re-applies Seal of Blood.

Divine Shield Cancel

#showtooltip Divine Shield
/cast Divine Shield
/cancelaura Divine Shield

Toggles Divine Shield. Use to drop threat then immediately cancel to resume DPS.

Mouseover Blessing

#showtooltip Blessing of Might
/cast [@mouseover,help,nodead][@target] Blessing of Might

Quickly buff raid members without losing your current target.

Quick Tips & Common Mistakes

+ Always keep Seal of Blood (Horde) or Seal of the Martyr (Alliance) active — it's your highest DPS seal.
+ Use Crusader Strike on cooldown — it's your highest priority ability.
- Don't forget to Judge before refreshing your seal — wasted Judgement is wasted DPS.
- Don't use Consecration in single-target unless you have abundant mana — it's very expensive.
i Seal twisting (switching seals between auto attacks) is an advanced technique that significantly increases DPS.
i Ret Paladins bring 3% raid-wide crit via Sanctified Aura — your utility goes beyond raw damage.

Gems & Enchants

Meta Gem

Relentless Earthstorm Diamond — +12 Agility, +3% Critical Strike Damage. Requires more red gems than blue.

Gem Priority

Use Bold Living Ruby (+8 Strength) in red sockets. Use Inscribed Noble Topaz (+4 Str / +4 Crit) in yellow sockets. Ignore blue sockets unless the bonus is +4 Strength or better — use Sovereign Nightseye (+4 Str / +6 Stamina) to activate meta requirement.