WotLK Classic Protection Paladin Rotation, Cooldowns, and Abilities

If you have not already, please read the Spell Summary page. Knowing how each spell and ability works in detail will greatly increase your understanding of the topics discussed on this page.

Protection Paladins are extremely powerful tanks but require you to be ready and know how to handle the various situations you will find yourself in as a tank in order to be able to maximize your threat and survivability. There is fairly little improvising as a Prot Paladin because of their main resource, Mana, being quite limited at times, so it is crucial you have a plan going into each and every fight.

This guide assumes you are using the talent build that can be found at Talents page and are playing a max level character. If you are looking for leveling based help please refer to Leveling page for a leveling-specific rotation.

Protection Paladins are known to have very strong AoE/multitarget threat, when properly utilizing all of your tools Prot Paladin is one of the best tanks for holding threat on 4+ targets. In Wrath of the Lich King gearing is much more straightforward and you will not have to sacrifice survivability for threat in most cases.

Similar to other Paladin specs, Protection largely follows an order of priorities as opposed to a rotation. Following such order will lead to your maximum possible single-target threat output.

1. Apply Seal of Vengeance to the target;
2. Apply Holy Shield before pulling;
3. Cast Exorcism and Avenger's Shield on pull if the boss fight does not start in melee:
   • DO NOT cast Exorcism if you risk being melee attacked during its cast;
   • Use Avenger's Shield only for snap threat if you are not able to cast Exorcism without being hit during its cast;
   • Hand of Reckoning can also be used for a bit of additional damage as it will cause a small amount of damage if you are not actively holding threat on the target;
4. Hammer of the Righteous;
5. Judgement of Wisdom;
6. Consecration;
7. Holy Shield.

Similar to single-target as a Protection Paladin, you will be using a list of priorities when AoEing as opposed to a rotation. The AoE rotation is extremely similar except with an emphasis on getting Consecration down.

1. Apply Seal of Command;
2. Cast Exorcism and Avenger's Shield on pull if the boss fight does not start in melee:
   • DO NOT cast Exorcism if you risk being melee attacked during its cast;
   • Use Avenger's Shield only for snap threat if you are not able to cast Exorcism without being hit during its cast;
   • Hand of Reckoning can also be used for a bit of additional damage as it will cause a small amount of damage if you are not actively holding threat on the target;
4. Holy Wrath should only used when you are fighting an Undead or Demon mob type.
5. Hammer of the Righteous;
6. Consecration;
7. Judgement of Wisdom;
8. Shield of Righteousness;
9. Holy Shield.

Protection Paladin has one of the strongest personal DPS cooldowns in the game in Avenging Wrath, but also some of the strongest group utility tools that can greatly help your group or possibly even avoid a wipe. In addition to their amazing threat output and utility Protection Paladin also has one of the strongest personal defensive cooldowns in the game in Divine Protection.

• Hand of Freedom — Makes the target immune to roots and other movement impairing effects for 10 seconds.
• Divine Protection — Reduces all incoming damage by 50% for 12 seconds but causes Forbearance.
• Hand of Protection — A shield that causes your target to be immune to all Physical attacks for 10 seconds, but they cannot attack during that time. This also procs a 1-minute debuff that makes you unable to cast your other immunities during that time.
• Divine Intervention — You sacrifice yourself to place a 2-minute shield on a target, making them invulnerable, but unable to move or use abilities while inside the shield. This is mainly used as a wipe recovery tool in raids to ensure someone will stay alive.
• Divine Sacrifice — A powerful raid cooldown that will redirect a percentage of the group's incoming damage to the Paladin. This effect will automatically cancel if the Paladin goes below 20% health, but it can kill you.
• Divine Shield — A shield that causes you to be immune to all attacks and spells for 12 seconds and slows your attack speed drastically while the shield is active. This also procs a 1-minute debuff that makes you unable to cast your other immunities during that time.
• Lay on Hands — Instantly heals your target for a massive amount and gives them some Mana, but drains all of your Mana.
• Hand of Sacrifice — A 30-second buff that transfers some of the damage taken by the target to you while active.
• Avenging Wrath — A 20-second buff that increases the damage dealt by the Paladin by 30% for 20 seconds. This also procs a 1-minute debuff that makes you unable to cast you other immunities during that time.