TBC Classic Protection Paladin Pre-Raid Gear

This is a collection of gear that is considered to be the best before actually entering into a raid like Karazhan, Gruul's Lair, or Magtheridon's Lair, which will be available on launch of TBC Classic.

The list below is following the stat priority of Defense (490) > Avoidance > Stamina > Spell Damage > Hit/Expertise and will include items available exclusively from TBC dungeons, professions, and reputation rewards.

If your character is ready to jump into Phase 5 / Tier 6 content, then see our current best in slot list. If you wish to go through the content of Tiers 4 or 5 instead, then please see their respective lists below.

Slot	Item	Source
Helm	Helm of the Righteous	Pathaleon the Calculator — The Mechanar
Neck	Strength of the Untamed	Cenarion Expedition — Revered
Shoulders	Spaulders of the Righteous	Laj — The Botanica
Back	Devilshark Cape	Warlord Kalithresh — Steamvault
Chest	Breastplate of the Righteous	Warlord Kalithresh — Steamvault
Wrists	Bracers of Dignity	Harbinger Skyriss — heroic The Arcatraz
Hands	Felsteel Gloves	Blacksmithing
Waist	Girdle of Valorous Deeds	Aeonus — Heroic Black Morass
Legs	Timewarden's Leggings	Keepers of Time — Revered
Feet	Boots of the Righteous Path	Warchief Kargath Bladefist — Heroic Shattered Halls
Rings	Elementium Band of the Sentry Andormu's Tear	Harbinger Skyriss — The Arcatraz Hero of the Brood — Tanaris
Trinkets	Icon of the Silver Crescent Adamantine Figurine	Justice Vendor (41 Badge of Justice) Blackheart the Inciter — Shadow Labyrinth
Weapons	Gavel of Unearthed Secrets	Lower City — Exalted
Shield	Azure-Shield of Coldarra	Justice Vendor (33 Badge of Justice)
Libram	Libram of Repentance	Justice Vendor (15 Badge of Justice)

While the list above contains the absolute best gear set up it can be extremely difficult, expensive or generally unrealistic to obtain it in a timely manner, below are alternatives that are also very strong.

Slot	Item	Source
Helm	Gladiator's Lamellar Helm Myrmidon's Headdress Tankatronic Goggles	PvP Vendor The Warlord's Hideout — Steamvault Engineering
Neck	Thalodien's Charm Necklace of the Juggernaut Natasha's Battle Chain	Shutting Down Manaforge Ara — Netherstorm Justice Vendor (25 Badge of Justice) The Hound-Master — Blades Edge Mountains
Shoulders	Gladiator's Lamellar Shoulders Fanblade Pauldrons Warchief's Mantle	PvP Vendor Shirrak the Dead Watcher — Heroic Auchenai Crypts Return to Andormu — Caverns of Time
Back	Cloak of Eternity Farstrider Defender's Cloak Burnoose of Shifting Ages	Tailoring Justice Vendor (25 Badge of Justice) Chrono Lord Deja — Black Morass
Chest	Gladiator's Lamellar Chestpiece Jade-Skull Breastplate Adamantite Breastplate	PvP Vendor Nethermancer Sepethrea — The Mechanar Blacksmithing
Wrists	General's Plate Bracers Bracers of Dignity Sha'tari Wrought Armguards	PvP Vendor Harbinger Skyriss — Heroic The Arcatraz The Soul Devices — Auchindoun
Hands	Gladiator's Lamellar Gauntlets Thatia's Self-Correcting Gauntlets Felsteel Gloves	PvP Vendor Dalliah the Doomsayer — The Arcatraz Blacksmithing
Waist	Lightwarden's Girdle Sha'tari Vindicator's Waistguard	Deathblow to the Legion — Netherstorm How to Break Into the Arcatraz — The Arcatraz
Legs	Felsteel Leggings Greaves of the Shatterer Gladiator's Lamellar Legguards	Blacksmithing Warchief Kargath Bladefist — Shattered Halls PvP Vendor
Feet	Boots of the Colossus Ascendant's Boots Obsidian Clodstompers	Pandemonius — Heroic Mana Tombs A Job Unfinished... — Shadowmoon Valley High Botanist Freywinn — The Botanica
Rings	Band of Impenetrable Defenses Crystal Band of Valor Ring of Unyielding Force	World Drop Tavarok — Heroic Mana Tombs Justice Vendor (25 Badge of Justice)
Trinkets	Gnomeregan Auto-Blocker 600 Figurine of the Colossus	Justice Vendor (41 Badge of Justice) Warchief Kargath Bladefist — Shattered Halls
Weapons	Warbringer/ Honor's Call Gladiator's Gavel Continuum Blade	Thrallmar/Honor Hold — Exalted PvP Vendor Keepers of Time — Revered
Shields	Crest of the Sha'tar Gladiator's Shield Wall The Fel Barrier	The Sha'tar — Exalted PvP Vendor Nexus-Prince Shaffar — Heroic Mana Tombs

If you have further questions about gemming and enchanting these items, our Protection Paladin Enchants and Gems page below provides more information.