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TBC Classic Protection Paladin Guide (Phase 3)
by FourenUpdated 8 minutes read views
About the Class
Protection Paladin is a plate tank with a shield. In TBC the specialization became much stronger than in the classic version: new talents and a taunt were added, and 
Consecration became available to every paladin. A paladin is rarely made the main tank, but they hold bosses reliably, and in holding threat on multiple targets they surpass every other tank. The specialization's resource is mana, so threat generation doesn't depend on whether enemies are hitting you.
Strengths
- Threat comes from spells, so items like the Twilight Blade and the Annihilator work.
- The best multi-target threat in the game.
- The resource is mana, not rage: threat doesn't depend on whether enemies are hitting you.
- Strong buffs and utility: blessings, auras, and
Divine Intervention. - In a critical situation it can top off the raid.
- Its spells hit harder against undead and demons.
Weaknesses
- In weak gear it takes the most damage of all, especially from casters.
- It has only one taunt, and in some situations it's hard to apply.
- On long fights mana holds up only thanks to the healing you receive.
Stat Priority
Paladin Protection Stats Priority
- 1Defense Rating
- 2Dodge, parry, and block totaling up to 102.4%
- 3Stamina
- 4Spell Power
- 5Hit Rating
- 6Expertise Rating
Talents
Talents
Ability Priority
Abilities Priority
Seal of Righteousness — the main seal on bosses: it gives the most threat both from autoattacks and from judgement
Seal of the Crusader — only to keep the Judgement of the Crusader debuff up if there's no Retribution paladin in the raid
Holy Shield — keep it up at all times: it greatly increases block and deals damage on each block- Consecration — the main source of threat; place it so the target stands in it for its full duration
Judgement — a sharp spike of threat and a refresh of the seal's debuff
Avenger's Shield — a burst of damage and threat, but during the cast you don't block, dodge, or parry
Greater Blessing of Kings — a filler when everything else is on cooldown: the cast itself generates noticeable threat
Important Abilities
Important Abilities
+30% damage for 20 seconds, but it applies Forbearance and blocks 
Divine Shield, 
Divine Protection, and 
Blessing of Protection on yourself
Divine Shield, Divine Protection, and Blessing of Protection on yourself
heals for your entire health pool and gives the target 900 mana, but drains all of your mana
immunity to physical damage for 10 seconds, but the target can't attack
transfers part of an ally's damage to you
removes slow and immobilization effects for 10 seconds
this is a talent, not an active ability: the more you're healed, the more mana you gain. On bosses mana is almost always sufficient
Best in Slot (BiS)
Best in Slot (BiS)Slot
Recommended Gear
Source
Head
Helm of Uther's Resolve
Kil'jaeden — Sunwell Plateau
Neck
Collar of the Pit Lord
Brutallus — Black Temple
Shoulders
Lightbringer Shoulderguards
Mother Shahraz — Black Temple
Back
Crimson Paragon's Cover
Lady Sacrolash and Grand Warlock Alythess — Sunwell Plateau
Chest
Heroic Judicator's Chestguard
M'uru — Sunwell Plateau
Wrists
Lightbringer Wristguards
Kalecgos — Sunwell Plateau
Hands
Lightbringer Handguards
Azgalor — Hyjal Summit
Waist
Lightbringer Waistguard
Brutallus — Sunwell Plateau
Legs
Judicator's Legguards
Kalecgos — Sunwell Plateau
Feet
Blue's Greaves of the Righteous Guardian
75 Badge of Justice
Ring 1
Fused Nethergon Band
60 Badge of Justice
Ring 2
Ashyen's Gift
Cenarion Expedition, Exalted
Trinket 1
Hex Shrunken Head
Hex Lord Malacrass — Zul'Aman
Trinket 2
Commendation of Kael'thas
Priestess Delrissa — Magisters' Terrace
Weapon
Tempest of Chaos
Archimonde — Hyjal Summit
Off Hand
Sword Breaker's Bulwark
Sathrovarr the Corruptor — Sunwell Plateau
Libram
Tome of the Lightbringer
Mother Shahraz — Black Temple
Tier 6 Set — Lightbringer Armor
Tier 6 Set — Lightbringer ArmorSlot
Recommended Gear
Drops From
Head
Lightbringer Faceguard
Archimonde — Hyjal Summit
Shoulders
Lightbringer Shoulderguards
Mother Shahraz — Black Temple
Chest
Lightbringer Chestguard
Illidan Stormrage — Black Temple
Hands
Lightbringer Handguards
Azgalor — Hyjal Summit
Legs
Lightbringer Legguards
Illidari Council — Black Temple
Wrists
Lightbringer Wristguards
Kalecgos — Sunwell Plateau (traded via Sunmote)
Waist
Lightbringer Waistguard
Brutallus — Sunwell Plateau (traded via Sunmote)
Feet
Lightbringer Stompers
Sathrovarr the Corruptor — Sunwell Plateau (traded via Sunmote)
Enchants, Gems, Consumables
EnchantsHead
Arcanum of the Defender
Shoulders
Greater Inscription of the Knight
or
Greater Inscription of Warding
Back
Enchant Cloak - Dodge
Chest
Enchant Chest - Exceptional Health
Wrists
Enchant Bracer - Fortitude
Hands
Enchant Gloves - Major Spellpower
Legs
Nethercleft Leg Armor
Feet
Enchant Boots - Fortitude
Shield
Enchant Shield - Major Stamina
Weapon
Enchant Weapon - Major Spellpower
GemsMeta gem
Powerful Earthstorm Diamond
In every other socket
Solid Star of Elune
Immunity to critical and crushing blows is reached from gear, so gems go purely into stamina.
ConsumablesFood
Fisherman's Feast
or
Spicy Crawdad
Food (for threat)
Crunchy Serpent
or
Poached Bluefish
or
Blackened Basilisk
Flask
Flask of Fortification
or
Flask of Blinding Light
Potion
Super Mana Potion
Rune
Demonic Rune
or
Dark Rune
Weapon Oil
Superior Wizard Oil
Runes give a double benefit. They restore mana directly, and the healing received returns even more mana through the Spiritual Attunement talent. But they consume health, so use them carefully while tanking.
Races
Human
Increases spirit by 10%.
Sharply increases stealth detection for 20 seconds. 3-minute cooldown.
Increases reputation gained by 10%.
Increases expertise rating with one-handed and two-handed swords by 5.
Increases expertise rating with one-handed and two-handed maces by 5.
Dwarf
Removes and prevents bleeds, poisons, and diseases for 8 seconds and increases armor by 10%. 3-minute cooldown.
Marks nearby chests on the minimap.
Increases frost resistance by 10.
Draenei
Increases the hit chance of the whole party within 30 yards by 1%.
Heals the target over 15 seconds.
Increases shadow resistance by 10.
Increases jewelcrafting skill by 5.
Blood Elf
Steals mana from the target and applies an effect that stacks up to 3 times.
Silences enemies within 8 yards and consumes 
Mana Tap stacks, returning mana.
Mana Tap stacks, returning mana.
Increases all resistances by 5.
Increases enchanting skill by 10.
Best Professions
Leatherworking
Provides 
Drums of Battle and Greater Drums of Battle — the most valuable raid contribution of any profession. You always need at least one leatherworker in the group.
Engineering
Very strong early on. The 
Goblin Rocket Launcher gives a lot of stamina and slots straight into both trinket slots, and good trinkets are the hardest thing for a tank to obtain. 
Dense Dynamite helps gather area threat.
Author
Fouren
Fouren has been playing World of Warcraft for over 15 years. He is an active player with 12 Cutting Edge achievements under his belt, and has reached the top 1% and 0.1% multiple times on various classes. His main classes are healers, particularly Holy Paladin.
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