Retribution Paladin Best Covenants, Soulbinds, and Conduits — Shadowlands 9.0.2

This page assumes that you are already familiar with Covenants, Soulbinds, and Conduits. If that is not the case, we have a number of pages that can help you get up to speed:

• Covenants Guide, which explains what Covenants are, what perks they bring, and how you can join one;
• Paladin Covenant Abilities, which lists all the abilities that Paladins gain by joining each Covenant;
• How To Change Covenant?, which tells you how you can switch Covenant (rejoining a former Covenant will require you to perform a number of tasks to regain their trusts);
• General Soulbind Guide, which explains what Soulbinds are and how you can pledge yourself to them to open up their Soulbind tree;
• Paladin Conduits, which lists all of the Conduits available to Paladins.

Many Covenants and Soulbinds combinations are very close in performance, therefore we list multiple BiS recommendations for in the table below. For more in-depth information about Soulbinds and Covenants as Retribution Paladin, please continue to the Covenant section below.

Focus	Covenant	Soulbind	Advised Tree
Raiding	Venthyr	Theotar the Mad Duke	Theotar Raiding tree
Raiding	Kyrian	Pelagos	Pelagos Raiding tree
Raiding	Night Fae	Niya	Niya Raiding tree
Mythic+ Torghast	Kyrian	Pelagos	Pelagos Mythic+ and Torghast tree
Mythic+ Torghast	Night Fae	Korayn	Korayn Mythic+ and Torghast tree
Mythic+ Torghast	Venthyr	Nadjia the Mistblade	Nadjia Mythic+ and Torghast tree

This section only covers which Conduits you should pick. For detailed explanations on what all of the Paladin Conduits do, check out our Paladin Conduits Page below.

The Potency Conduits are split into tiers, if they are universally strong, they are A-Tier, if they are universally useless, they are D-Tier. B-Tier means they are good for the current comparison list, C-Tier means they are underperforming for the current comparison list. Within the same Tier, they are sorted by performance from top to bottom. Always pick from the A-Tier and then B-Tier Conduits as first and second Potency Conduit in your Soulbind Tree and avoid C-Tier and D-Tier Conduits.

A-Tier

1. Ringing Clarity (Kyrian)
2. Expurgation (with Blade of Wrath talented)
3. Virtuous Command
4. Templar's Vindication

B-Tier

1. Expurgation (without Blade of Wrath talented)

C-Tier

1. Hallowed Discernment (Venthyr)

D-Tier

1. Truth's Wake
2. The Long Summer (Night Fae)
3. Righteous Might (Necrolord)

A-Tier

1. Ringing Clarity (Kyrian)
2. Expurgation
3. Virtuous Command

B-Tier

1. Truth's Wake

C-Tier

1. Hallowed Discernment (Venthyr)

D-Tier

1. The Long Summer (Night Fae)
2. Righteous Might (Necrolord)

• Divine Call (Raid)
• Shielding Words (Mythic+ / Torghast)

• Light's Barding (Mobility)
• Echoing Blessings (Utility)

Before going more in depth about Covenants it is important to understand that any of the 4 Covenants can be played as Retribution Paladin. There will definitely be better and worse options but the choice will not be hindering your daily activities.

While all of the Covenants have their place, some simply perform better on a day to day basis than others.

For Raiding Kyrian and Venthyr are top choices, with Night Fae slightly behind. The Necrolord Covenant is underperforming.

For Mythic+, Kyrian and Night Fae are top choices, with Venthyr slightly behind. The Necrolord Covenant is underperforming.

1. Kyrian — Excellent single-target and cleave burst with a short cooldown but high variance. Strong pick for Raiding and Mythic+. Kyrian performs admirably regardless of combat duration. Best Covenant to pick when considering PvE, PvP, and off-speccing altogether.
2. Venthyr — Excellent single-target and cleave burst with a long cooldown and low variance. They also bring some group heal and comes with a teleport. Strong pick for Raiding and for Mythic+ during Tyrannical weeks. Good pick for Mythic+ during Fortified weeks. Heavily dependant on favorable combat durations and timings for Ashen Hallow to perform well.
3. Night Fae — Strong utility for group members and comes with a blink. Good pick for Raiding and strong pick for Mythic+ when utilized properly. The Night Fae Covenant will prioritize group performance over personal performance when utilized correctly, so be prepared to give the Night Fae blessings to other players.
4. Necrolord — Currently slightly undertuned and does not bring anything that the others do not already offer.

The Venthyr Covenant offers extremely high burst.

Ashen Hallow, when used within 30 yards, creates a large bloody circle on your targeted location. This circle will last for 30 seconds and all enemies are periodically damaged, while allies get healed. The damage and healing are reduced per target if more than 5 enemies or allies are within. Staying inside the Ashen Hallow circle allows you to cast Hammer of Wrath with 100% increased damage. The 4-minute cooldown certainly seems awkward, but the throughput is well worth the long cooldown if used at the right timing.

Door of Shadows is a targeted teleport with a 1.5-second channeling duration. The targeted area needs to be within line of sight. It can be used to travel long distances, travel up or downwards, or to skip a trash pack.

You can check out the Rotation page for more detailed information on how to use Ashen Hallow properly.

We recommend to use either Theotar or Nadjia for Raiding, and Nadjia for Mythic+.

Theotar the Mad Duke provides Soothing Shade, which can randomly spawn a Parasol. Standing inside its shade will grant you a Mastery buff. Wasteland Propriety provides you and the group with a Versatility buff when Ashen Hallow is used. Refined Palate increases the duration of your combat potion by at least 100%, up to a maximum of 200%. Leisurely Gait provides you with a second charge of the teleport.

Theotar Raiding Soulbind

Theotar Mythic+ Soulbind

Nadjia the Mistblade provides a haste buff in form of Thrill Seeker and Exacting Preparation can increase the effectiveness of consumables. With Agent of Chaos, you can use your teleport as AoE disorient, which can also work as AoE interrupt.

Nadjia Raiding Soulbind

Nadjia Mythic+ Soulbind

General Draven provides you with Service In Stone, basically you explode after dying with a 3-second delay. Superior Tactics provides you with a 10% Critical Strike chance buff for 10 seconds after successfully interrupting an enemy, or dispelling an ally. This buff can only occur ever 30 seconds. Built for War provides you with 1% Strength per stack, every 3 seconds, for up to 4 stacks total. This buff falls to 0 Stacks once you fall below 50% Health.

Draven Raiding Soulbind

Draven Mythic+ Soulbind

The Kyrian Covenant offers strong and consistent cleave burst.

Divine Toll fires up to 5 Judgment on nearby enemies (1 per enemy). Each Judgment generates 1 Holy Power and does 100% extra damage.

Summon Steward summons an owlkin steward. You can speak with your steward and he will offer you a range of services, the most important of which are Phial of Serenity. This potion restores 20% of your Health and more importantly removes all diseases, poisons, curses and bleeds on you. Being able to remove any of these is a huge benefit of being a Kyrian, as it means that you can use Divine Shield and Blessing of Protection elsewhere.

You can check out the Rotation page for more detailed information on how to use Divine Toll properly.

We recommend to use Pelagos at all times, because the Mastery buff Combat Meditation greatly enhances your follow up burst after casting Divine Toll.

Pelagos provides you with Combat Meditation, which gives you a Mastery buff after using Divine Toll. Let Go of the Past provides you with up to 3% magic damage reduction, as long as you do not press the same ability twice in a row.

Pelagos Raiding Soulbind

Pelagos Mythic+ Soulbind

Kleia provides you with Valiant Strikes, which heals allies by up to 20%, when they drop below 50% Health. Mentorship increases your nearby party members maximum Health by 5%, as long as you stay above 90% Health. Pointed Courage increases your Critical Strike chance by 1% per nearby enemy or ally, up to a maximum of 5%.

Kleia Raiding Soulbind

Kleia Mythic+ Soulbind

Forgelite Prime Mikanikos provides you with Bron's Call to Action, which after using 90 damaging or healing abilities, will summon Bron, who will knock enemies back enemies on his arrival. He then will attack enemies and heal allies for 30 seconds. Hammer of Genesis provides you with with 3% Haste for each new enemy you attack. This buff stacks 5 times, up to 15%, and the buff lasts 10 seconds. Sparkling Driftglobe Core stuns nearby enemies for 3 seconds when your Health drops below 35%. It has a 45-second cooldown.

Mikanikos Raiding Soulbind

Mikanikos Mythic+ Soulbind

The Night Fae Covenant offers unique group utility.

Blessing of the Seasons provides you with a new Blessing spell which rotates through 4 individual spells, each lasting 30 seconds. They always rotate in the following order:

1. Blessing of Summer — Adds a chance to deal Holy damage.
2. Blessing of Autumn — Increases cooldown recovery by 30%.
3. Blessing of Winter — Adds a chance to deal Frost damage and reduce the target's attack and movespeed.
4. Blessing of Spring — Increases healing done by 10% and healing recieved by 20%.

These Blessings are best used on other players rather than yourself as the benefit to the group will be greater on them rather than yourself. You can use, and therefore rotate to the next Blessing every 45 seconds.

Soulshape allows you to blink short distances multiple times in a row by pressing Soulshape multiple times until the soul form runs out of time. Pressing most abilities will break this soul form early.

You can check out the Rotation page for more detailed information on how to use Blessing of Summer, Blessing of Autumn, Blessing of Winter, and Blessing of Spring properly.

Korayn is the best Soulbind for Night Fae for both Raiding and Mythic+. Use Dreamweaver until you unlock Korayn.

Dreamweaver provides you with Podtender, which acts as cheat death ability once every 10 minutes. Field of Blossoms spawns flowers on the ground when casting Blessing of Summer, Blessing of Autumn, Blessing of Winter, or Blessing of Spring. Those flowers grant Haste while standing on top of them.

Dreamweaver Raiding Soulbind

Dreamweaver Mythic+ Soulbind

Korayn provides you with Wild Hunt Tactics, which increases your damage against enemies above 75% Health by 15%. First Strike grants 25% Criticial Strike chance for 5 seconds after attacking an enemy before he damaged you. Face Your Foes grants you 3% damage reduction for 2 seconds when attacking your target while facing him.

Korayn Raiding Soulbind

Korayn Mythic+ Soulbind

Niya provides you with Grove Invigoration, which grants you a chance to gain a stack of Redirected Anima for 30 seconds. Each stack provides increased maximum Health and Mastery. This effect stacks. Using Blessing of the Seasons immediately grants 8 additional stacks. Niya's Tools: Poison allows your successful interrupts to apply a damage over time effect. Swift Patrol grants 20% increased movement speed for 2 minutes after defeating an enemy. This effect ends once you enter combat.

Niya Raiding Soulbind

Niya Mythic+ Soulbind

Necrolord is our lowest performing Covenant. When compared against the other Covenants, it does not show a clear strength.

Vanquisher's Hammer is a decent single-target damaging ability with extra passive cleave. When cast, it makes your next Templar's Verdict trigger Divine Storm. It has a 30-second cooldown, and 30 yards range.

Fleshcraft looks appealing at first: a shield that is up to 50% health every 2 minutes. This ability comes with some downsides however. You are not able to dodge/parry during the 4-second channel. This channel can be interrupted. You are also rooted in place while channelling.

You can check out the Rotation page for more detailed information on how to use Vanquisher's Hammer properly.

Bonesmith Heirmir is the best Soulbind for Necrolord for both Raiding and Mythic+. Use Emeni until you unlock Heirmir.

Plague Deviser Marileth provides you with some interesting effects. Volatile Solvent makes your Fleshcraft stronger based on what type of corpse was consumed with it. You gain 120 Mastery for consuming humanoids corpses, 2% primary stats when consuming beasts corpses, 5% Stamina when consuming demon corpses, and a 5% heal when consuming undead corpses. Ooz's Frictionless Coating provides you with a absorb shield for 15% of your maximum Health once you fall below 50% Health. It can trigger once every 30 seconds. Plaguey's Preemptive Strike grants you 10% increased damage for 10 seconds after attacking an enemy for the first time. Ultimate Form makes you immune to crowd control while channeling Fleshcraft and you regenerate 2% Health per second. If you finish the channel, you will gain another 4 second buff of this effect.

Marileth Raiding Soulbind

Marileth Mythic+ Soulbind

Emeni provides you with Lead by Example, which grants you 5% Strength, and your allies gain a 2% primary stat buff after you casted Vanquisher's Hammer. Each affected ally also grants you additional 2% Strength for 10 seconds, up to a maximum of 8%. Gristled Toes grants you a 3% movement speed for each nearby enemy, up to a maximum of 15%.

Emeni Raiding Soulbind

Emeni Mythic+ Soulbind

Bonesmith Heirmir provides you with Forgeborne Reveries, which grants 1% Strength per enchant equipped, up to a maximum of 3%. Additionally, if you die, you can continue fighting for 10 seconds with 0 Health. During this time, your damage, and healing done is reduced by 50%, and you cannot receive healing. Heirmir's Arsenal: Marrowed Gemstone grants you a 18% Critical Strike buff for 10 seconds after landing 10 Critical Strikes. This effect has a 60-second cooldown. Heirmir's Arsenal: Gorestompers grants you a 35% movement speed buff for 5 seconds (buff starts once you start moving if you stand still) after damaging or healing a target below 35%. This effect has a 60-second cooldown.

Heirmir Raiding Soulbind

Heirmir Mythic+ Soulbind