World of Warcraft: Forever · class guide

Protection Paladin: Talents

Client build 1.60.1.70425 · updated 2026-10-16

Every Protection build and leveling order, on all three Paladin trees from the Forever beta client (build 1.60.1.70425). Pick a build and move the level slider to see where its points are at that level.

You get one talent point per level from 10. A tier opens after 5 points in the tiers above it in the same tree, and a talent joined by a line to one above it needs that one maxed first.

Build Your level60 Talented perk (+5 points)

51 points spent

Shown: Protection leveling order at level 60.

Holy 0

0/5
Divine StrengthRank 0/5
Holy talent, tier 1, level 10+
0/5
Divine IntellectRank 0/5
Holy talent, tier 1, level 10+
0/3
Healing LightRank 0/3
Requires 5 points in Holy Talents
Holy talent, tier 2, level 15+
Changed Moved from tier 3 to tier 2, and it now also boosts Holy Shock. Holy Light, Flash of Light and Holy Shock heal 4–12% more (12% at 3/3), so both Holy builds take all three ranks.
0/2
Spiritual FocusRank 0/2
Requires 5 points in Holy Talents
Holy talent, tier 2, level 15+
Changed Cut from 5 ranks to 2. You get a 35–70% chance (70% at 2/2) not to lose cast time when hit, and it now covers Light's Vigil. Both Holy builds take both ranks, as it is the way to keep healing under pressure.
0/3
Improved SealsRank 0/3
Requires 5 points in Holy Talents
Holy talent, tier 2, level 15+
Changed New in Forever, replacing Improved Seal of Righteousness and cut to 3 ranks. Seals and Judgements do 5–15% more damage (15% at 3/3). Ret, Prot and Shockadin builds all take it for the free damage.
0/2
Unyielding FaithRank 0/2
Requires 5 points in Holy Talents
Holy talent, tier 2, level 15+
Changed Moved from tier 3 to tier 2, and it now cuts Fear and Disorient durations by 15–30% (30% at 2/2) instead of giving resistance. Holy and Shockadin put one point in it on the way to deeper talents.
0/1
Voice of TruthRank 0/1
Instant3 min cooldown
Requires 10 points in Holy Talents
Grants you immunity to Silence and Interrupt effects for 6 sec.
Holy talent, tier 3, level 20+
New New in Forever. Makes you immune to Silence and Interrupt effects for 6 sec. The level-60 Holy build takes it for casting through enemy interrupts.
0/3
ReverenceRank 0/3
Requires 10 points in Holy Talents
Holy talent, tier 3, level 20+
New New in Forever. Lets 10–30% of your mana regeneration continue while casting (30% at 3/3). It is the Paladin's in-combat regen, so Holy and Shockadin builds take all three ranks.
0/2
Purifying PowerRank 0/2
Requires 10 points in Holy Talents
Holy talent, tier 3, level 20+
New New in Forever. Cleanse and Purify cost 10–20% less mana, and Exorcism and Holy Wrath cooldowns are 33% shorter at 2/2. Holy builds take it for the cheaper dispels; Shockadin also gains the shorter cooldowns.
0/2
Infusion of LightRank 0/2
Requires 15 points in Holy Talents
Holy talent, tier 4, level 25+
New New in Forever. A Holy Shock or Flash of Light crit cuts your next Holy Light cast time within 15 sec by 0.5 sec per rank, 1.0 sec at 2/2. Both Holy builds take it to turn crits into faster big heals.
0/5
IlluminationRank 0/5
Requires 15 points in Holy Talents
Requires 3 points in Reverence
Holy talent, tier 4, level 25+
Changed Now requires Reverence. After a crit heal you have a 20–100% chance (100% at 5/5) to regain 50% of the spell's base mana cost, and Light's Vigil now counts. The level-60 Holy build takes all five; level 30 takes two.
0/1
Divine FavorRank 0/1
4% of base mana
Instant2 min cooldown
Requires 15 points in Holy Talents
When activated, gives your next Flash of Light, Holy Light, or Holy Shock spell a 100% critical effect chance.
Holy talent, tier 4, level 25+
Changed Moved up from tier 5 to tier 4, and it no longer requires Illumination. Your next Flash of Light, Holy Light or Holy Shock gets a 100% crit chance. All Holy-leaning builds take it, since it is now cheap to reach.
0/3
Divine PrecisionRank 0/3
Requires 20 points in Holy Talents
Requires 1 point in Holy Shock
Holy talent, tier 5, level 30+
New
0/1
Holy ShockRank 0/1
325 Mana20 yd range
Instant10 sec cooldown
Requires 20 points in Holy Talents
Blasts the target with Holy energy, causing 334 to 362 Holy damage to an enemy, or 307 to 333 healing to an ally.
Holy talent, tier 5, level 30+
Changed Moved up from tier 7 to tier 5, and it no longer requires Divine Favor. It does 129 to 139 Holy damage to an enemy or heals an ally for 110 to 118. Every Holy and Shockadin build takes it.
0/2
Consecrated GroundRank 0/2
Requires 20 points in Holy Talents
Holy talent, tier 5, level 30+
New New in Forever. Your Holy spells deal 5–10% more damage (10% at 2/2) to the first four enemies that enter your Consecration. Only the Shockadin build takes it, to boost Holy Shock damage in packs.
0/5
Holy PowerRank 0/5
Requires 25 points in Holy Talents
Holy talent, tier 6, level 35+
Changed The tooltip was reworded to add Holy Strike. Holy Shock and Holy Strike crit chance rises 15% at 5/5, and all other spells 5%. Level-60 Holy takes all five.
0/1
Light's VigilRank 0/1
1340 Mana20 yd range
1.5 sec cast6 sec cooldown
Requires 30 points in Holy Talents
Requires 1 point in Holy Shock
Applies Light's Vigil to the target for 30 sec. Your next Holy Shock cast on them triggers no cooldown and causes enemy targets to suffer 380 to 410 Holy damage and refund 75% of Light's Vigil's Mana cost, or allied targets to heal their party for 684 to 724. You may only have one Light's Vigil active per party.
Holy talent, tier 7, level 40+
New New in Forever, the Holy capstone. It marks a target for 30 sec; your next Holy Shock on them has no cooldown. It damages an enemy for 175 to 189 or heals their party for 326 to 344 on an ally. One per party. 1.5-second cast, 6-second cooldown (Blizzard).

Protection 23

0/5
ToughnessRank 0/5
Protection talent, tier 1, level 10+
Moved Moved from tier 2 to tier 1; the effect is unchanged at +2–10% armor from items (10% at 5/5). The level-60 Holy and Ret builds take it.
5/5
RedoubtRank 5/5
Protection talent, tier 1, level 10+
Changed Cut from 6–30% to 4–20% block. Until Holy Shield at 40, that is a net loss of block chance, and with it fewer Shield Specialization mana returns and Reckoning procs.
3/3
PrecisionRank 3/3
Requires 5 points in Protection Talents
Protection talent, tier 2, level 15+
Changed Reworded in the client: it improves your chance to hit by 3% at 3/3, and the effect is as in Classic. Prot builds and level-60 Ret take it to cut misses.
0/2
Guardian's FavorRank 0/2
Requires 5 points in Protection Talents
Protection talent, tier 2, level 15+
Changed Now cuts Blessing of Protection's cooldown by 1–2 min (2 min at 2/2) and extends Blessing of Freedom by 3–6 sec. The level-60 Holy build takes both ranks.
2/5
AnticipationRank 2/5
Requires 5 points in Protection Talents
Protection talent, tier 2, level 15+
Changed Moved from tier 3 to tier 2, and doubled to +4–20 Defense (20 at 5/5). The Protection builds spend 2–3 points on it as cheap early Defense.
1/1
Improved Seal of FuryRank 1/1
Requires 10 points in Protection Talents
When Seal of Fury's shield is fully absorbed, restore 60 Mana, increased by 15% per level the attacker is above you, up to 45%.
Protection talent, tier 3, level 20+
New Seal of Fury no longer returns mana without this talent, and the mana it restores no longer generates threat. The client tooltip reads "restore 0 Mana", which looks like a tooltip bug. The spell data gives 1 Mana per character level (30 at the level-30 cap, 60 at 60) per fully absorbed shield, +15% per level the attacker is above you, up to 45%.
3/3
Improved Righteous FuryRank 3/3
Requires 10 points in Protection Talents
Protection talent, tier 3, level 20+
Changed The tooltip was reworded: while Righteous Fury is active, all damage taken drops by 6% at 3/3. Both Protection builds take all three ranks as free mitigation for tanking.
3/3
Shield SpecializationRank 3/3
Requires 10 points in Protection Talents
Requires 5 points in Redoubt
Protection talent, tier 3, level 20+
Changed Now adds 10–30% to your shield's absorbed damage (30% at 3/3), plus a 33–100% chance on block to restore 4% of max mana, once per 3 sec. At max that is a reliable mana return for tanking; the Prot builds take all three. The mana it restores no longer generates threat.
2/2
Sacred DutyRank 2/2
Requires 10 points in Protection Talents
Protection talent, tier 3, level 20+
New New in Forever. +2–4% Stamina, and Divine Shield, Divine Protection and Templar's Bulwark cooldowns drop by 30 to 60 sec. Both Protection builds take both ranks for the shorter emergency cooldowns.
1/1
Swift JudgementRank 1/1
Instant1 min cooldown
Requires 15 points in Protection Talents
Requires 1 point in Improved Seal of Fury
Finishes the remaining cooldown on your Judgement ability and reduces the Mana cost of your next Judgement by 100%.
Protection talent, tier 4, level 25+
New New in Forever. Finishes Judgement's remaining cooldown and makes your next Judgement cost nothing. Protection takes it, since Judgement is the tank's taunt and threat button.
0/3
One-Handed Weapon SpecializationRank 0/3
Requires 15 points in Protection Talents
Protection talent, tier 4, level 25+
Changed Cut to 3 ranks (Classic: 5) and moved from tier 6 to tier 4. One-handed weapons now do 3–10% more damage (10% at 3/3). The level-60 Prot build takes all three for threat.
0/3
Improved Hammer of JusticeRank 0/3
Requires 15 points in Protection Talents
Protection talent, tier 4, level 25+
Moved
1/1
Templar's BulwarkRank 1/1
110 Mana
Instant5 min cooldown
Requires 20 points in Protection Talents
When activated, this ability grants you an absorb shield equal to 100% of your maximum health for 8 sec. Applies Forbearance for 1 min. Cannot be cast while Forbearance is active.
Protection talent, tier 5, level 30+
New New in Forever. An absorb shield equal to 100% of your max health for 8 sec; it applies Forbearance for 1 min. Both Protection builds take it, and Holy Shield requires it.
2/5
ReckoningRank 2/5
Requires 20 points in Protection Talents
Protection talent, tier 5, level 30+
Changed The tooltip was reworded. You get an extra attack after a block (8–40% chance, 40% at 5/5) or after a non-periodic crit against you (20–100% chance, 100% at 5/5). Level-60 Prot takes all five for threat. The extra attack can trigger at most once every 1.5 seconds (tooltip: "Cannot occur more often than once every 1.5 sec."). Each trigger adds a charge (up to 4), and your next melee swing fires them all, so instant attacks no longer reset your swing timer.
0/5
Iron CreedRank 0/5
Requires 25 points in Protection Talents
Protection talent, tier 6, level 35+
New New in Forever. Holy Strike generates 25% more threat at 5/5, and while Righteous Fury is active it also cuts your damage taken by 10% for 6 sec. Level-60 Prot takes all five ranks as its row-6 pick. Blizzard's deep dive gives the threat as "up to 15%"; the client says 25%. Check the tooltip in game.
0/1
Holy ShieldRank 0/1
240 Mana
Instant10 sec cooldown
Requires 30 points in Protection Talents
Requires 1 point in Templar's Bulwark
Requires Shields
Increases chance to block by 30% for 10 sec, and deals 221 Holy damage for each attack blocked while active. Damage caused by Holy Shield causes 20% additional threat.
Protection talent, tier 7, level 40+
Changed 30% block. Needs Templar's Bulwark and 30 points in Protection.

Retribution 28

5/5
DeflectionRank 5/5
Retribution talent, tier 1, level 10+
Moved Moved from tier 2 to tier 1; the effect is unchanged at +1–5% Parry (5% at 5/5). The level-60 Prot build takes all five and the levelling order takes it.
5/5
BenedictionRank 5/5
Retribution talent, tier 1, level 10+
Changed Now cuts the mana cost of all instant spells and abilities by 2–10%, not just Seals (the tooltip text is reworded; the 10% at 5/5 is the max). Every Retribution, Holy and Shockadin build takes it, since Judgement, Holy Shock and Consecration-style instants all benefit.
2/2
Improved JudgementRank 2/2
Requires 5 points in Retribution Talents
Retribution talent, tier 2, level 15+
Changed Cuts Judgement's cooldown by 1 sec per rank, 2 sec at 2/2, and sits in a new place in the tree. Judgement is your main damage and seal-refresh button, so almost every build takes it.
2/2
Holy ConduitRank 2/2
Requires 5 points in Retribution Talents
Retribution talent, tier 2, level 15+
New New in Forever. Consecration, Holy Wrath, Exorcism and Hammer of Wrath cost 20% less mana per rank, 40% at 2/2. Retribution and Holy builds take it to keep those spells affordable. Blizzard's deep dive leaves Hammer of Wrath out of the list; the client includes it.
1/5
ConvictionRank 1/5
Requires 5 points in Retribution Talents
Retribution talent, tier 2, level 15+
Changed Same +1% melee crit per rank, 5% at 5/5, but it moved up from tier 3 to tier 2. That makes it cheaper to reach; Ret builds max it, while Holy takes one point as a stepping stone.
0/3
VindicationRank 0/3
Requires 10 points in Retribution Talents
Retribution talent, tier 3, level 20+
Changed The tooltip was reworded. Your damaging melee attacks have a chance to cut the target's Attack Power by 200 and raise yours by 3% for 30 sec. The effect is as in Classic; level-60 Ret takes all three ranks.
3/3
Sanctified JudgementRank 3/3
Requires 10 points in Retribution Talents
Retribution talent, tier 3, level 20+
New New in Forever (its mana return no longer generates threat). Judgement has a 33–100% chance (100% at 3/3) to return 20–60% of the judged Seal's mana cost, 60% at max. It is the Retribution answer to Seal mana drain, so every Ret build and the levelling order take all three ranks.
0/1
Seal of CommandRank 0/1
210 Mana
Instant
Requires 10 points in Retribution Talents
Gives the Paladin a chance to deal additional Holy damage equal to 70% of normal weapon damage. Only one Seal can be active on the Paladin at any one time. Lasts 30 sec.

Unleashing this Seal's energy will judge an enemy, instantly causing 178 Holy damage, 339 to 373 if the target is stunned or incapacitated.
Retribution talent, tier 3, level 20+
Changed The tooltip was reworded for Forever: 70% of weapon damage as extra Holy damage, and unleashing the Seal judges for 69 to 73 Holy damage (138 to 146 on a stunned or incapacitated target). It is the Ret damage Seal, taken at 1/1.
2/2
Pursuit of JusticeRank 2/2
Requires 10 points in Retribution Talents
Retribution talent, tier 3, level 20+
Changed Now gives 8–15% movement and mounted speed (15% at 2/2), and it does not stack with other movement speed effects. Every build takes it for the free speed.
0/2
Eye for an EyeRank 0/2
Requires 15 points in Retribution Talents
Retribution talent, tier 4, level 25+
Changed
1/1
Sacred ArbiterRank 1/1
Requires 15 points in Retribution Talents
Increases the damage of your Holy Strike ability by 20% and causes it to refresh all Judgement effects on the target.
Retribution talent, tier 4, level 25+
New Set at 20%. One Retribution Paladin can keep every Paladin's Judgements up.
0/3
Two-Handed Weapon SpecializationRank 0/3
Requires 20 points in Retribution Talents
Retribution talent, tier 5, level 30+
Gives 2/4/6%.
3/3
VengeanceRank 3/3
Requires 20 points in Retribution Talents
Requires 3 points in Sanctified Judgement
Retribution talent, tier 5, level 30+
Changed Limited to 3 stacks, and only non-periodic crits start it.
1/1
RepentanceRank 1/1
60 Mana20 yd range
Instant1 min cooldown
Requires 20 points in Retribution Talents
Puts the enemy target in a state of meditation, incapacitating them for up to 6 sec. Any damage caused will awaken the target. Only works against Humanoids.
Retribution talent, tier 5, level 30+
Moved Moved from tier 7 to tier 5, so you reach it far earlier. It incapacitates a Humanoid for up to 6 sec and breaks on damage. The level-30 Ret build and the levelling order take it as an early crowd control.
3/3
Champion of the LightRank 3/3
Requires 25 points in Retribution Talents
Retribution talent, tier 6, level 35+
New 10/20/30% of your Intellect. It never increased healing, so it is no longer a Holy pick.
0/2
Instrument of LawRank 0/2
Requires 25 points in Retribution Talents
Retribution talent, tier 6, level 35+
New New in Forever. Hammer of Wrath cast time is shorter by 0.5 sec per rank (1.0 sec at 2/2), and your threat is cut by 10–20% while Righteous Fury is off. Level-60 Ret takes it to make Hammer of Wrath usable and keep threat low in groups. Blizzard's deep dive names Holy Wrath instead ("making it instant"); the client says Hammer of Wrath. Check the tooltip in game.
0/1
Twist of LightRank 0/1
Requires 30 points in Retribution Talents
Reduces the Mana cost of your Seal spells by 20%, and when you replace your Seal of Command, Seal of Righteousness, Seal of Fury, or Seal of Justice with a different Seal, you gain an Echo of that Seal. Your next melee attack applies the replaced Seal's effects, consuming the Echo.
Retribution talent, tier 7, level 40+
New One Seal swap per swing, by design (Blizzard). Needs level 40.

Protection builds and leveling order

Protection leveling order 0/23/28 Guide's pick, untested

Protection: Redoubt 5, Precision 3, Anticipation 2, Improved Seal of Fury 1, Improved Righteous Fury 3, Shield Specialization 3, Sacred Duty 2, Swift Judgement 1, Templar's Bulwark 1, Reckoning 2

Retribution: Deflection 5, Benediction 5, Improved Judgement 2, Holy Conduit 2, Conviction 1, Sanctified Judgement 3, Pursuit of Justice 2, Sacred Arbiter 1, Vengeance 3, Repentance 1, Champion of the Light 3

Levelling order for Protection. With the Talented legacy perk every step comes up to five levels sooner.

Protection, level 30 0/21/0 Tested in beta

Protection: Redoubt 5, Precision 3, Anticipation 2, Improved Seal of Fury 1, Improved Righteous Fury 3, Shield Specialization 3, Sacred Duty 2, Swift Judgement 1, Templar's Bulwark 1

Level-30 build: straight to Templar's Bulwark, with Swift Judgement for a second taunt. Alternatively, go 0/14/7, skipping Bulwark for Ret's Holy Conduit so Consecration costs less. Order: the Protection levelling order, keeping this build's talents.

Protection, level 60 (projected) 8/36/7 Guide's pick, untested

Holy: Divine Strength 5, Improved Seals 3

Protection: Redoubt 5, Precision 3, Anticipation 3, Improved Seal of Fury 1, Improved Righteous Fury 3, Shield Specialization 3, Sacred Duty 2, Swift Judgement 1, One-Handed Weapon Specialization 3, Templar's Bulwark 1, Reckoning 5, Iron Creed 5, Holy Shield 1

Retribution: Deflection 5, Improved Judgement 2

"Standard" 8/36/7 tank build. Improved Seals, weapon specialisation and Reckoning need simulations, and 2/2 Holy Conduit is an option if mana runs short. Beta theorycraft. Order: the Protection levelling order, keeping this build's talents; Divine Strength, Improved Seals, Anticipation, One-Handed Weapon Specialization, Reckoning, Iron Creed and Holy Shield, which that order skips, go in where the tree allows.

How the trees work

Tier 1: 0 points in the tree, level 10
Tier 2: 5 points in the tree, level 15
Tier 3: 10 points in the tree, level 20
Tier 4: 15 points in the tree, level 25
Tier 5: 20 points in the tree, level 30
Tier 6: 25 points in the tree, level 35
Tier 7: 30 points in the tree, level 40