Which Build? (just a quick breakdown Q)Follow

Hey all,

My wife has been playing WoW for a while now, but never touched a paladin (she's a hunter to the core). She talked me into getting back into it (I played about a year ago) and I am fresh into the paladin territory. I'm about to hit lvl 10 and I realize I know NOTHING about the new/changed around mechanics. I understand there are multiple builds and specs and whatnot. But I'm in the true-newbie category that doesn't know what glyphs are and what stats are best. So, I'm trying to read up on the best way to go. However, I know my gameplay style - solo PVE. I'll do a battleground here or there, that's fun, but pvp isn't my sole desire. I want to eventually get to play a DK, so getting up the ladder is important to me, but I'll probably be doing it alone because of odd play hours. So, if someone would be so kind, with the upcoming Cata release (that I'll be buying) what is the best solo pve spec for paladins? The "Faceroll" retribution build? I've heard a lot for protection builds, too...

-R

Maulgak - I appreciate that input. Last night I said to heck with it and chose the Ret tree. Granted, I only have 3 points in it, but from what everyone IG said, that's what I chose. And you are right - leveling speed is important. I think I over-emphasized my desire for a DK. I want to play one because I never have, but whatever character I use to get there will still be my "main." Unfortunately, I have a lot of learning to do. I guess I'm as much of a true newbie as there can be. I have no idea about gear specialization or anything. So, specifically, leveling speed while solo is the most important. I understand that means that survivability is high on my list as well. Anyway, I appreciate the input and any second thoughts anyone has. I'm always looking for opinions.

-R.

Draenei Paladin, Bloodhoof.

I am currently leveling up a Paladin (71 now) and have done it all within a 4.0 timeline.

These days when you're leveling it is all or nothing in one tree, as it will not allow you to cross trees until 71. That does help focus the player on a certain type of play-style and cuts down on the number of potential leveling builds by A LOT. From that point, after picking a tree the only decisions left are whether to pick pure PVE talents or throw some PVP goodies in.

From my experience with 4.0, 10-39 Ret, 40+ Prot works. The reason for the big change to Prot durring your 40s is that you will notice a steep decline in Retribution's survivability, a shortcoming of viable talents available in Retribution, and a very nasty self-healing combination becoming available within Protection.

Up until 40, a good paladin with Divine Fury can tank as either Ret or Prot, as long as they have a decent amount of stamina. I do, in fact, suggest queuing as a Retribution Tank for groups until the 40's, when Maraudon Orange and ZF will start to expose some serious damage mitigation issues. Up until that point, however, Retribution works as a wonderful tank with more control than Protection and with some spectacular damage (not that Prot doesn't also have good damage.) Just use a big 2 hander preferably with some extra stamina on it, pull with Judgement, tab through targets hitting everything with Crusader Strike, and keeping threat on multiple targets with Holy Wrath and Divine Storm which you'll get at 29 (same level that you would get the Protection AoE Hammer of the Righteous.

During your last levels as Retribution, try to start picking up a good Shield (Aegis of the Scarlet Commander is a great bet) and a good 1 hand weapon to switch to as you move to protection. From there on out, it's just learning how to play your new tree, but an increase in survivability will allow you to pull 5+ monsters at a time and kill them at an alarming pace even when you're soloing which makes for a great quester, a spectacular grinder, and an even better dungeon tank!

If you got any questions about anything just let me know, I might still be able to help you while everything is fresh in my mind! Haha!

Late game gear choices are very very intricate, but low level stuff (basically anything below the max level) is pretty simple for a Paladin. As Retribution your main stat is strength. As Protection it is Stamina. Essentially just finding gear with these 2 stats on it (of the Bear) is a perfect fit. Other good stats are +Dodge and +Critical Strike and Agility, but they are not as important.

If you're going to be doing the Dungeons with a group, no matter what you're going to need the Stamina to give you enough HP to take a beating, so always be on the lookout for this. For now just make sure to practice on keeping all the monsters mad at you so that they don't go after cloth wearing rag dolls like Mages! =)

Traitor! Switching from a holy warrior to a cursed one!!! XD

Just a little word of advice, if you level Ret, which was and seems still to be, the best choice until 40, I'd recommend you keep in your bags the best prot gear you pick along the way all along anyhow. ie : That you keep an extra set of gear at all times, even at lower levels, if it fits more the other playstyle. With the new zones it might be a little different, but sometimes some items don't get replaced for a long while and you'd have to spend a wee bit of gold in getting those 2-3 items you'd want to change specc at a later moment.

I'll just throw my 2 cents in here as well. I wanted to see the new quests and zones when 4.0 hit, and rather than do them on one of my 80s, I rerolled a Paladin. I'm currently 55, and I'm actually enjoying it quite a bit. The old mechanics never really appealed to me, so I figured I'd give it a shot now that the class has gotten a pretty big overhaul. I've been pleasantly surprised at how much I've like it.

These are the specs that I'm using:
Prot
Ret

I initially chose the Ret tree, simply because at low levels, I found it had more abilities and higher DPS. Prot doesn't get a Holy Power dump (other than a heal) until Shield of the Righteous, which isn't until you're in your 30s. Like others have said, you can tank any of the low level instances fine as Ret with Righteous Fury on. You don't have a lot of options for multi-target threat though, so just make sure to inform the DPS to attack your target and you'll be fine.

Once you hit 30 though, there's no reason not to pick up the dual spec. For 10g, it's affordable to anyone, even if you don't have a high level character to borrow money from. You can use the same gear for Prot and Ret. In fact, there isn't any real "tank" gear until you get into the high 40s. Instancing is a great way to level now, with almost all quests obtained inside the instance, and the fact that tanks are in much higher demand than DPS, you'll be able to find runs much faster as a tank. On my server queueing as DPS takes 10-15 minutes to get in a group vs 10-15 seconds as a tank.

Overall, I've found both Ret and Prot fun to level. Prot is great for AoE grinding. You can easily round up 5-8 mobs your own level, kill them all, and still finish the fight at full health and mana. Ret has higher single target DPS. It basically just comes down to what role you like better. Tanking isn't for everyone. It's tough, but it's good experience. Even if you don't end up liking it, you'll get a better appreciation for those that do it and do it well.

Hope that helps.