Preliminary Mentions↑top

In this guide, we will offer you some quick and practical information for leveling up your Paladin from level 85 to level 90. We cover rotation, talents and glyphs. We do not, however, cover statistics, gear, or any information about the zones you should be questing in.

This guide requires a basic understanding of how the Paladin class works at level 85. This guide is not meant to reflect how you should play your character at level 90, or in a raid environment or dungeon.

While leveling up, you can complete 4 dungeons:

• Temple of the Jade Serpent;
• Stormstout Brewery;
• Shado-Pan Monastery;
• Mogu'shan Palace.

These dungeons have quests which reward you with vast amounts of experience.

In the next few weeks, we will extend this guide to cover the entire leveling journey, from level 1 to level 90.

In our opinion, you should level your Paladin up as Retribution, since this is much more efficient than leveling as the other two specs.

1. Retribution Leveling Guide: 85-90↑top

1.1. Level 85

1.1.1. Talents and Glyphs

Before setting out on your leveling journey, you should take these talents and glyphs, for maximum efficiency. Obviously, this is not set in stone, and you have a lot of liberty.

In the spaces where no glyphs are mentioned, you can use anything you like.

1.1.2. Rotation

You have to adapt your raiding rotation to work against against targets which, generally, will not live very long. As such, you will probably only have time for one or two cycles before the target is dead. This rotation is very similar (practically identical) to your normal raiding rotation. We will summarise this rotation below, but keep in mind that we do not go into cooldown usage, although you should try to use your DPS cooldowns (also listed in the rotation page linked above) as much as possible.

1. Apply Inquisition with 3 Holy Power (skip this step if the target will only live for a few seconds).
2. Cast Templar's Verdict when you have 5 Holy Power (the maximum amount).
3. Cast Judgment, Exorcism, and Crusader Strike in order to generate Holy Power.
4. Cast Hammer of Wrath when the target is below 20% health.

When facing more than one enemy, you should replace Templar's Verdict with Divine Storm (2+ enemies), and Crusader Strike with Hammer of the Righteous (4+ enemies).

Remember to use your many utility and survival abilities to more easily dispose of targets recover after combat.

• Survival
  • Flash of Light;
  • Word of Glory;
  • Lay on Hands;
  • Divine Protection;
  • Hand of Protection;
  • Divine Shield.
• Utility
  • Hammer of Justice (or Fist of Justice if you took the appropriate tier 2 talent);
  • Emancipate and Hand of Freedom.

You should be using Seal of Truth.

1.2. Level 86-90

A single change occurs as you level up, namely that at level 87 you gain Blinding Light. This is an AoE disorient, which can come in handy while leveling up, although you probably won't get to use it very much.