Retribution Paladin DPS Spell Summary — Battle for Azeroth (BfA) 8.1

1. Introduction

If you are new to Retribution, this is a great place to start to get an understanding of how the spec works. On this page we will discuss what abilities you have, what they are used for within the specialisation, how they interact with each other and also with important cooldowns. If you already have experience with Retribution and are comfortable with it in Legion, it is recommended you skip this section and move on to the rest of the guide.

2. Main Resource of Retribution Paladins

Retribution Paladins rely on Holy Power as their primary resource. You can have up to 5 Holy Power at one time, with several of your abilities generating Holy Power. Some abilities cost Holy Power to use (your Holy Power spenders), usually costing 3 Holy Power (with one costing 5). Holy Power does not decay during combat.

The general gameplay of Retribution Paladins revolves around generating and spending Holy Power efficiently. The Mastery: Hand of Light increases all Holy damage done by your abilities. Note that this does not affect Racial Traits and Trinket effects.

3. Basic Abilities for Retribution Paladins

These are your core skills that are available regardless of talents, and form the core gameplay of the specialization.

Judgment deals Holy damage to the target and causes them to take 25% increased damage from your next Holy Power spender. The cooldown of Judgment is reduced by your Haste.

Crusader Strike deals Physical damage to the target and generates 1 Holy Power. This ability has 2 charges, and its recharge time is reduced by your Haste.

Blade of Justice deals Physical damage to the target and generates 2 Holy Power. The cooldown of Blade of Justice is reduced by your Haste.

Templar's Verdict is your main Holy Power spender. It deals Holy damage to the target, and costs 3 Holy Power to use.

Divine Storm deals Holy damage to all nearby enemies, and also costs 3 Holy Power.

Art of War is a passive, which causes your auto attacks to have a chance to reset the cooldown of Blade of Justice.

Retribution is a passive, when any party or raid member within 40 yards dies, you gain 20% increased damage done and 30% reduced damage taken for 10 seconds.

3.1. Utility for Retribution Paladins

Divine Shield makes you immune to all damage and loss of control effects for 8 seconds, and is an excellent way for you to survive dangerous mechanics.

Shield of Vengeance grants you a 15-second damage absorption shield (which absorbs up 30% of your maximum Health), which explodes when it is consumed by damage, or when it expires. It deals all absorbed damage as Holy damage divided between all enemies within 8 yards.

Lay on Hands heals a friendly target for an amount equal to your maximum Health. It has a 10-minute cooldown.

Blessing of Protection protects the targeted ally from all Physical damage and loss of control effects for 10 seconds, and it has a 5-minute cooldown. It can be used to clear harmful Physical damage debuffs and bleeds from the target. Bosses will not attack targets affected by Blessing of Protection.

Blessing of Freedom removes movement-impairing effects from the targeted ally, also granting them immunity to such effects for 8 seconds.

Greater Blessing of Kings buffs an ally to grant them a damage absorption shield every 6 seconds (which refreshes but does not stack, if not consumed). It can only be active on one player at a time.

Greater Blessing of Wisdom buffs an ally to grant them 1% maximum Mana per 10 seconds. It can only be active on one player at a time.

Cleanse Toxins removes all Poison and Disease effects from a friendly target.

4. Cooldowns for Retribution Paladins

Avenging Wrath increases all damage, healing, and Critical Strike chance by 20% for 20 seconds, on a 2-minute cooldown.

5. Changelog