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Retribution Paladin PvP Guide — The War Within (11.1.5)

Last updated on Apr 21, 2025 at 19:35 by Lvladen 29 comments
General Information

This guide will walk you through everything you need to know to play Retribution Paladin in a PvP environment. The guide will cover everything from talent choices, PvP talents, gameplay and rotation, and useful racial bonuses. It is most applicable to Arena content, but most talents and racial bonuses will work in Rated Battlegrounds and skirmishes.

If you were looking for TBC Classic content, please refer to our TBC Paladin PvP guide.

PvP Retribution Paladin Guides
Introduction Talents Gear & Stats Battleground Blitz Compositions Playstyle & Rotations Macros Races
TABLE OF CONTENTS OF THIS PAGE
1.

Retribution Paladins in the Current Meta

Retribution Paladin is currently a solid melee/ranged hybrid specialization that can excel in both Solo Shuffle and Battleground Blitz. It is in a unique place where both Hero talent specializations have seen significant play in each bracket. Retribution remains one of the worst DPS in 2v2 arena as it has no Mortal Wounds Icon Mortal Wounds and below average damage compared to other classes with Mortal Wounds Icon Mortal Wounds. Retribution has a few comps that are are fairly good in 3v3 arena.

2.

Retribution Paladin Strengths and Weaknesses

Strengths icon Strengths
  • +Strong burst damage
  • +Great consistent and cleave damage
  • +Multiple ways to support teammates via blessing spells
  • +Nearly the entire damage kit can be done from mid-range
Weaknesses icon Weaknesses
  • -Limited mobility
  • -Target of choice for most teams
  • -No Mortal Wounds Icon Mortal Wounds effect limits compositions
3.

Notable 11.1 Changes

  • 5% Overall damage increase.
  • 30% Nerf on Empyrean Hammer Icon Empyrean Hammer
  • Procs of Dawnlight Icon Dawnlight and Empyrean Hammer Icon Empyrean Hammer will now prioritize players over pets and minions.
  • Greater Judgment Icon Greater Judgment applied through Hammer of Light Icon Hammer of Light will now be consumed by Hammer of Light Icon Hammer of Light.
  • Divine Hammer Icon Divine Hammer slightly reworked into a 3 holy power spender.
  • 50% nerf on Seal of the Crusader Icon Seal of the Crusader and Healing Hands Icon Healing Hands no longer buffs Word of Glory Icon Word of Glory on other players.
  • Sun's Avatar Icon Sun's Avatar, Second Sunrise Icon Second Sunrise, and Final Reckoning Icon Final Reckoning are all receiving significant buffs.
  • Luminescence Icon Luminescence has been reworked and Aura of Reckoning Icon Aura of Reckoning has been removed.
4.

Changelog

  • 23 Apr. 2025 (gear): Updated for Patch 11.1.5 Meta
  • 23 Apr. 2025 (talents): Updated for Patch 11.1.5 Meta
  • 21 Apr. 2025 (races): Reviewed for Patch 11.1.5.
  • 21 Apr. 2025 (macros): Reviewed for Patch 11.1.5.
  • 21 Apr. 2025 (playstyle): Reviewed for Patch 11.1.5.
  • 21 Apr. 2025 (comps): Reviewed for Patch 11.1.5.
  • 21 Apr. 2025 (blitz): Reviewed for Patch 11.1.5.
  • 21 Apr. 2025 (gear): Reviewed for Patch 11.1.5.
  • 21 Apr. 2025 (talents): Reviewed for Patch 11.1.5.
  • 21 Apr. 2025 (this page): Reviewed for Patch 11.1.5.
  • 21 Apr. 2025 (this page): Reviewed for Patch 11.1.5.
  • 25 Feb. 2025 (talents): Updated for Patch 11.1
  • 24 Feb. 2025 (races): Reviewed for Patch 11.1
  • 24 Feb. 2025 (macros): Reviewed for Patch 11.1
  • 24 Feb. 2025 (playstyle): Reviewed for Patch 11.1
  • 24 Feb. 2025 (comps): Reviewed for Patch 11.1
  • 24 Feb. 2025 (blitz): Reviewed for 11.1
  • 24 Feb. 2025 (gear): Updated for the War Within 11.1
  • 24 Feb. 2025 (talents): Reviewed for Patch 11.1
  • 24 Feb. 2025 (this page): Updated for The War Within 11.1
  • 24 Feb. 2025 (this page): Updated for The War Within 11.1
  • 15 Dec. 2024 (races): Updated for Patch 11.0.7
  • 15 Dec. 2024 (macros): Reviewed for Patch 11.0.7
  • 15 Dec. 2024 (playstyle): Reviewed for Patch 11.0.7
  • 15 Dec. 2024 (comps): Reviewed for Patch 11.0.7
  • 15 Dec. 2024 (blitz): Reviewed for 11.0.7
  • 15 Dec. 2024 (gear): Reviewed for The War Within 11.0.7 + Added Circlet notes
  • 15 Dec. 2024 (talents): Reviewed for 11.0.7
  • 15 Dec. 2024 (this page): Updated for The War Within 11.0.7
  • 15 Dec. 2024 (this page): Updated for The War Within 11.0.7
  • 24 Oct. 2024 (blitz): Updated Talent Trees for Bug Fixes 11.0.5
  • 24 Oct. 2024 (talents): Updated for Bug Fixes TWW 11.0.5
  • 21 Oct. 2024 (races): Reviewed for Patch 11.0.5.
  • 21 Oct. 2024 (macros): Reviewed for Patch 11.0.5.
  • 21 Oct. 2024 (playstyle): Reviewed for Patch 11.0.5.
  • 21 Oct. 2024 (comps): Reviewed for Patch 11.0.5
  • 21 Oct. 2024 (blitz): Reviewed for Patch 11.0.5.
  • 21 Oct. 2024 (gear): Updated for The War Within 11.0.5
  • 21 Oct. 2024 (talents): Updated for The War Within 11.0.5
  • 21 Oct. 2024 (this page): Updated for The War Within 11.0.5
  • 21 Oct. 2024 (this page): Updated for The War Within 11.0.5
  • 11 Sep. 2024 (gear): Updated Embellishments The War Within Season 1
  • 09 Sep. 2024 (races): Reviewed for The War Within Season 1.
  • 09 Sep. 2024 (macros): Reviewed for The War Within Season 1.
  • 09 Sep. 2024 (playstyle): Updated for The War Within Season 1.
  • 09 Sep. 2024 (comps): Reviewed for The War Within Season 1.
  • 09 Sep. 2024 (blitz): Page added.
  • 09 Sep. 2024 (gear): Reviewed for The War Within Season 1.
  • 09 Sep. 2024 (talents): Revisions for Bug Fixes The War Within 11.0.2 Season 1
  • 09 Sep. 2024 (this page): Reviewed for The War Within Season 1.
  • 09 Sep. 2024 (this page): Reviewed for The War Within Season 1.
  • 31 Aug. 2024 (playstyle): Updated for Bug Fixes The War Within 11.0.2 Season 1
  • 31 Aug. 2024 (talents): Revisions for Bug Fixes The War Within 11.0.2 Season 1
  • 21 Aug. 2024 (races): Reviewed for The War Within.
  • 21 Aug. 2024 (macros): Reviewed for The War Within.
  • 21 Aug. 2024 (playstyle): Reviewed for The War Within.
  • 21 Aug. 2024 (comps): Reviewed for The War Within.
  • 21 Aug. 2024 (gear): Updated for The War Within 11.0.2 Season 1 Gear Changes
  • 21 Aug. 2024 (talents): Updated for The War Within 11.0.2 Season 1
  • 21 Aug. 2024 (this page): Reviewed for The War Within.
  • 21 Aug. 2024 (this page): Reviewed for The War Within.
  • 20 Aug. 2024 (gear): Updated for The War Within 11.0.2 Season 1
  • 23 Jul. 2024 (races): Reviewed for The War Within 11.0 Prepatch
  • 23 Jul. 2024 (macros): Reviewed for The War Within 11.0 Prepatch
  • 23 Jul. 2024 (playstyle): Updated for The War Within 11.0 Prepatch
  • 23 Jul. 2024 (comps): Updated for The War Within 11.0 Prepatch
  • 23 Jul. 2024 (gear): Updated for The War Within 11.0 Prepatch
  • 23 Jul. 2024 (talents): Updated for The War Within 11.0 Prepatch
  • 23 Jul. 2024 (this page): Updated for The War Within 11.0 Prepatch
  • 23 Jul. 2024 (this page): Updated for The War Within 11.0 Prepatch
  • 07 May 2024 (races): Reviewed for 10.2.7.
  • 07 May 2024 (macros): Reviewed for 10.2.7.
  • 07 May 2024 (playstyle): Reviewed for 10.2.7.
  • 07 May 2024 (comps): Reviewed for 10.2.7.
  • 07 May 2024 (gear): Reviewed for 10.2.7.
  • 07 May 2024 (talents): Reviewed for 10.2.7.
  • 07 May 2024 (this page): Reviewed for 10.2.7.
  • 07 May 2024 (this page): Reviewed for 10.2.7.
  • 25 Apr. 2024 (gear): Updated for Dragonflight 10.2.6 Season 4 Gear Updates
  • 22 Apr. 2024 (races): Reviewed for Season 4.
  • 22 Apr. 2024 (macros): Reviewed for Season 4.
  • 22 Apr. 2024 (playstyle): Reviewed for Season 4.
  • 22 Apr. 2024 (comps): Reviewed for Season 4.
  • 22 Apr. 2024 (gear): Updated for Dragonflight 10.2.6 Season 4
  • 22 Apr. 2024 (talents): Reviewed for Season 4.
  • 22 Apr. 2024 (this page): Updated for Dragonflight 10.2.6 Season 4
  • 22 Apr. 2024 (this page): Updated for Dragonflight 10.2.6 Season 4
  • 19 Mar. 2024 (races): Reviewed for Patch 10.2.6
  • 19 Mar. 2024 (macros): Reviewed for Patch 10.2.6
  • 19 Mar. 2024 (playstyle): Reviewed for Patch 10.2.6
  • 19 Mar. 2024 (comps): Reviewed for Patch 10.2.6
  • 19 Mar. 2024 (gear): Reviewed for Dragonflight 10.2.6
  • 19 Mar. 2024 (talents): Updated for Patch 10.2.6
  • 19 Mar. 2024 (this page): Updated for Dragonflight 10.2.6
  • 19 Mar. 2024 (this page): Updated for Dragonflight 10.2.6
  • 15 Jan. 2024 (races): Reviewed for Patch 10.2.5
  • 15 Jan. 2024 (macros): Reviewed for Patch 10.2.5
  • 15 Jan. 2024 (playstyle): Reviewed for Patch 10.2.5
  • 15 Jan. 2024 (comps): Reviewed for Patch 10.2.5
  • 15 Jan. 2024 (gear): Reviewed for Dragonflight 10.2.5
  • 15 Jan. 2024 (talents): Reviewed for Patch 10.2.5
  • 15 Jan. 2024 (this page): Updated for Dragonflight 10.2.5
  • 15 Jan. 2024 (this page): Updated for Dragonflight 10.2.5
  • 23 Nov. 2023 (gear): Updated for Dragonflight 10.2 Meta Changes
  • 06 Nov. 2023 (races): Reviewed for Patch 10.2
  • 06 Nov. 2023 (macros): Reviewed for Patch 10.2
  • 06 Nov. 2023 (playstyle): Updated for Patch 10.2
  • 06 Nov. 2023 (comps): Updated for Patch 10.2
  • 06 Nov. 2023 (gear): Updated for Dragonflight 10.2
  • 06 Nov. 2023 (talents): Updated for Patch 10.2
  • 06 Nov. 2023 (this page): Updated for Dragonflight Patch 10.2
  • 06 Nov. 2023 (this page): Updated for Dragonflight Patch 10.2
  • 04 Sep. 2023 (races): Reviewed for Patch 10.1.7
  • 04 Sep. 2023 (macros): Reviewed for Patch 10.1.7
  • 04 Sep. 2023 (playstyle): Reviewed for Patch 10.1.7
  • 04 Sep. 2023 (comps): Reviewed for Patch 10.1.7
  • 04 Sep. 2023 (gear): Reviewed for Dragonflight 10.1.7
  • 04 Sep. 2023 (talents): Reviewed for Patch 10.1.7
  • 04 Sep. 2023 (this page): Updated for Dragonflight Patch 10.1.7
  • 04 Sep. 2023 (this page): Updated for Dragonflight Patch 10.1.7
  • 10 Jul. 2023 (races): Reviewed for Patch 10.1.5
  • 10 Jul. 2023 (macros): Reviewed for Patch 10.1.5
  • 10 Jul. 2023 (playstyle): Reviewed for Patch 10.1.5
  • 10 Jul. 2023 (comps): Reviewed for Patch 10.1.5
  • 10 Jul. 2023 (gear): Updated for Dragonflight 10.1.5
  • 10 Jul. 2023 (talents): Reviewed for Patch 10.1.5
  • 10 Jul. 2023 (this page): Updated for Dragonflight Patch 10.1.5
  • 10 Jul. 2023 (this page): Updated for Dragonflight Patch 10.1.5
  • 01 Jun. 2023 (playstyle): Updated for Patch 10.1
  • 21 May 2023 (talents): Updated for Patch 10.1
  • 19 May 2023 (macros): Updated for Patch 10.1
  • 19 May 2023 (comps): Updated for Patch 10.1
  • 19 May 2023 (gear): Updated for Dragonflight 10.1
  • 18 May 2023 (talents): Reviewed for Patch 10.1
  • 18 May 2023 (this page): Updated for Dragonflight Patch 10.1
  • 18 May 2023 (this page): Updated for Dragonflight Patch 10.1
  • 09 May 2023 (this page): Updated for Dragonflight Patch 10.1.
  • 09 May 2023 (this page): Updated for Dragonflight Patch 10.1.
  • 30 Jan. 2023 (races): Reviewed for Patch 10.0.5.
  • 30 Jan. 2023 (macros): Reviewed for Patch 10.0.5.
  • 30 Jan. 2023 (playstyle): Reviewed for Patch 10.0.5.
  • 30 Jan. 2023 (comps): Reviewed for Patch 10.0.5.
  • 30 Jan. 2023 (gear): Reviewed for Patch 10.0.5.
  • 30 Jan. 2023 (talents): Reviewed for Patch 10.0.5.
  • 30 Jan. 2023 (this page): Reviewed for Patch 10.0.5.
  • 30 Jan. 2023 (this page): Reviewed for Patch 10.0.5.
  • 11 Dec. 2022 (races): Reviewed for Dragonflight Season 1.
  • 11 Dec. 2022 (macros): Reviewed for Dragonflight Season 1.
  • 11 Dec. 2022 (playstyle): Reviewed for Dragonflight Season 1.
  • 11 Dec. 2022 (comps): Reviewed for Dragonflight Season 1.
  • 11 Dec. 2022 (gear): Reviewed for Dragonflight Season 1.
  • 11 Dec. 2022 (talents): Reviewed for Dragonflight Season 1.
  • 11 Dec. 2022 (this page): Reviewed for Dragonflight Season 1.
  • 11 Dec. 2022 (this page): Reviewed for Dragonflight Season 1.
  • 22 Nov. 2022 (races): Updated for Dragonflight Pre-patch.
  • 22 Nov. 2022 (macros): Updated for Dragonflight Pre-patch.
  • 22 Nov. 2022 (playstyle): Updated for Dragonflight Pre-patch.
  • 22 Nov. 2022 (comps): Updated for Dragonflight Pre-patch.
  • 22 Nov. 2022 (gear): Updated for Dragonflight Pre-patch.
  • 22 Nov. 2022 (talents): Updated for Dragonflight Pre-patch.
  • 22 Nov. 2022 (this page): Updated for Dragonflight Pre-patch.
  • 22 Nov. 2022 (this page): Updated for Dragonflight Pre-patch.
  • 01 Aug. 2022 (races): Reviewed for Shadowlands Season 4.
  • 01 Aug. 2022 (macros): Reviewed for Shadowlands Season 4.
  • 01 Aug. 2022 (playstyle): Reviewed for Shadowlands Season 4.
  • 01 Aug. 2022 (comps): Reviewed for Shadowlands Season 4.
  • 01 Aug. 2022 (gear): Reviewed for Shadowlands Season 4.
  • 01 Aug. 2022 (talents): Reviewed for Shadowlands Season 4.
  • 01 Aug. 2022 (this page): Reviewed for Shadowlands Season 4.
  • 01 Aug. 2022 (this page): Reviewed for Shadowlands Season 4.
  • 31 May 2022 (races): Reviewed for Patch 9.2.5.
  • 31 May 2022 (macros): Reviewed for Patch 9.2.5.
  • 31 May 2022 (playstyle): Reviewed for Patch 9.2.5.
  • 31 May 2022 (comps): Reviewed for Patch 9.2.5.
  • 31 May 2022 (gear): Reviewed for Patch 9.2.5.
  • 31 May 2022 (talents): Reviewed for Patch 9.2.5.
  • 31 May 2022 (this page): Reviewed for Patch 9.2.5.
  • 31 May 2022 (this page): Reviewed for Patch 9.2.5.
  • 28 Feb. 2022 (races): Reviewed for Patch 9.2.
  • 28 Feb. 2022 (macros): Reviewed for Patch 9.2.
  • 28 Feb. 2022 (playstyle): Updated for Patch 9.2.
    • Updated all Damage Rotations.
  • 28 Feb. 2022 (comps): Updated for Patch 9.2.
    • Updated Best 3v3 Compositions.
  • 28 Feb. 2022 (gear): Updated for Patch 9.2.
    • Updated Recommended Gear.
    • Added Tier-Sets section.
    • Removed Shards of Domination section.
  • 28 Feb. 2022 (talents): Updated for Patch 9.2.
    • Updated Talent Table.
    • Updated Tier 7 Regular Talent.
  • 28 Feb. 2022 (this page): Updated for Patch 9.2.
    • Added Notable Changes section.
  • 28 Feb. 2022 (this page): Updated for Patch 9.2.
    • Added Notable Changes section.
  • 10 Nov. 2021 (races): Updated Best Races.
  • 10 Nov. 2021 (macros): Reviewed for Patch 9.1.5.
  • 10 Nov. 2021 (playstyle): Reviewed for Patch 9.1.5.
  • 10 Nov. 2021 (comps): Reviewed for Patch 9.1.5.
  • 10 Nov. 2021 (gear): Reviewed for Patch 9.1.5.
  • 10 Nov. 2021 (talents): Updated PvP Talents.
  • 10 Nov. 2021 (this page): Updated for Patch 9.1.5.
  • 10 Nov. 2021 (this page): Updated for Patch 9.1.5.
  • 02 Jul. 2021 (races): Reviewed for Patch 9.1.
  • 02 Jul. 2021 (macros): Reviewed for Patch 9.1.
  • 02 Jul. 2021 (playstyle): Reviewed for Patch 9.1.
  • 02 Jul. 2021 (comps): Updated Best 2v2 Compositions.
  • 02 Jul. 2021 (gear): Updated Recommended Gear.
    • Added Shards of Domination section.
  • 02 Jul. 2021 (talents): Updated PvP Talents.
  • 02 Jul. 2021 (this page): Updated for Patch 9.1.
  • 02 Jul. 2021 (this page): Updated for Patch 9.1.
  • 08 Mar. 2021 (races): Reviewed for Patch 9.0.5.
  • 08 Mar. 2021 (macros): Reviewed for Patch 9.0.5.
  • 08 Mar. 2021 (playstyle): Reviewed for Patch 9.0.5.
  • 08 Mar. 2021 (comps): Reviewed for Patch 9.0.5.
  • 08 Mar. 2021 (gear): Reviewed for Patch 9.0.5.
  • 08 Mar. 2021 (talents): Reviewed for Patch 9.0.5.
  • 08 Mar. 2021 (this page): Reviewed for Patch 9.0.5.
  • 08 Mar. 2021 (this page): Reviewed for Patch 9.0.5.
  • 17 Feb. 2021 (playstyle): Updated all rotations with new talent.
  • 17 Feb. 2021 (talents): Updated Tier 1 Regular Talents.
    • Updated PvP Talents.
  • 17 Dec. 2020 (playstyle): Removed old spells.
  • 06 Dec. 2020 (gear): Added BiS gear list for Shadowlands.
  • 05 Dec. 2020 (playstyle): Updated Damage Rotations to include Covenant Ability.
  • 30 Nov. 2020 (gear): Removed outdated Traits and Essences.
    • Removed outdated gear.
    • Added gems section.
  • 30 Nov. 2020 (this page): Added Covenant page, removed old Azerite mentions, and updated gear section.
  • 30 Nov. 2020 (this page): Added Covenant page, removed old Azerite mentions, and updated gear section.
  • 14 Oct. 2020 (races): Updated for Shadowlands pre-patch.
  • 14 Oct. 2020 (macros): Updated for Shadowlands pre-patch.
  • 14 Oct. 2020 (playstyle): Updated for Shadowlands pre-patch.
  • 14 Oct. 2020 (comps): Updated for Shadowlands pre-patch.
  • 14 Oct. 2020 (gear): Updated for Shadowlands pre-patch.
  • 14 Oct. 2020 (talents): Updated for Shadowlands pre-patch.
  • 14 Oct. 2020 (this page): Updated for Shadowlands pre-patch.
  • 14 Oct. 2020 (this page): Updated for Shadowlands pre-patch.
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