Paladin

Rotations & Guide · PvE guide · PvP guide · Talent builds · Abilities · Talent Calculator · Macros · Changes vs Classic

Other classes: Warrior, Hunter, Rogue, Priest, Shaman, Mage, Warlock, Druid

Paladins are plate hybrids that heal, tank and fight in melee with Seals and Judgement. Forever overhauls them heavily: Holy Shock is a level 30 Holy talent and the new Light's Vigil (a level 40 talent) turns it into group healing, every Paladin gains Holy Strike at level 6, Protection gets Seal of Fury, Judgement of Fury, Swift Judgement and Templar's Bulwark, and Retribution gains Sacred Arbiter and the level 40 Unsealed Wrath talent, which rewards swapping seals mid-fight. Consecration and Blessing of Kings are trainer abilities at level 20.

Holy (Healer)

Holy is a strong efficient single-target healer that now also has real group healing through Light's Vigil plus Holy Shock. Holy Light is the big heal and, at base values, also the most Mana-efficient one, Flash of Light is the fast cheap heal, and Illumination refunds mana on crits. Divine Favor guarantees a crit for emergencies.

Protection (Tank)

Forever turns Protection into a real tank: Seal of Fury adds holy damage and, with a shield, absorb shields to every swing, while Judgement unleashes Judgement of Fury to damage and taunt. Holy Strike (from level 6) adds holy threat between Judgements, Consecration (trained at 20) handles packs, and Holy Shield rounds out threat. Mana comes back through Shield Specialization blocks (4% of your maximum Mana per block at 2/2, at most once every 3 sec). Swift Judgement adds a second taunt and Templar's Bulwark an emergency absorb shield.

Retribution (Melee DPS)

Retribution wields a slow two-hander and relies on Seal of Command, crits and Vengeance. Forever gives every Paladin Holy Strike, an instant 10 sec cooldown attack, Sacred Arbiter to make it hit harder and refresh your Judgements, and Unsealed Wrath, the level 40 talent at the bottom of the section, which rewards swapping seals: your swings store copies of your active seal, and the first hit with a different seal gives each stored copy its normal chance to activate. Judgement and Exorcism fill the gaps.

Tips & tricks: what ForeverDB learned

Holy

Updated 13 November 2026 for build 1.60.1.70938 · From the game client

Learning from players: Healing + absorbs/s (EHPS). Collecting comparable fights before publishing observed cast patterns.

Observed cast patterns, not a proven optimal rotation. Gear, buffs, healing assignments and incoming damage can explain performance differences. HPS is effective healing; overhealing does not increase it. HPS counts effective healing, APS counts recorded shield absorption, and EHPS is their combined rate. Shield application sizes and overhealing do not increase EHPS. Healing assignments and incoming damage still limit healer comparisons. Build groups use the version reported by the log; some logs omit the hotfix build number.

Forever client: There is no simulation for this spec yet. The order shown is from the site's rotation card for level 60, with cooldowns and costs from the Forever client. (level 60)
Forever client: Divine Favor has a 2 min cooldown at level 60 (client data). You can use it about once every second or third pull. (level 60)
Forever client: Blessing of Protection has a 5 min cooldown at level 60 (client data). Plan to use it once per dungeon wing, not every pull. (level 60)
Forever client: Lay on Hands has a 20 min cooldown at level 60 (client data). Plan to use it once per dungeon wing, not every pull. (level 60)
Forever client: Divine Shield has a 5 min cooldown and costs 110 Mana at level 60 (client data). Plan to use it once per dungeon wing, not every pull. (level 60)
Forever client: There is no simulation for this spec yet. The order shown is from the site's rotation card for levels 20-29, with cooldowns and costs from the Forever client. (levels 20–29)
Forever client: Blessing of Protection has a 5 min cooldown and costs 25 Mana at levels 20-29 (client data). Plan to use it once per dungeon wing, not every pull. (levels 20–29)
Forever client: Lay on Hands has a 20 min cooldown at levels 20-29 (client data). Plan to use it once per dungeon wing, not every pull. (levels 20–29)
Forever client: Divine Protection has a 5 min cooldown and costs 35 Mana at levels 20-29 (client data). Plan to use it once per dungeon wing, not every pull. (levels 20–29)
Forever client: There is no simulation for this spec yet. The order shown is from the site's rotation card for levels 30-39, with cooldowns and costs from the Forever client. (levels 30–39)
Forever client: Divine Favor has a 2 min cooldown at levels 30-39 (client data). You can use it about once every second or third pull. (levels 30–39)
Forever client: Blessing of Protection has a 5 min cooldown and costs 45 Mana at levels 30-39 (client data). Plan to use it once per dungeon wing, not every pull. (levels 30–39)
Forever client: Lay on Hands has a 20 min cooldown at levels 30-39 (client data). Plan to use it once per dungeon wing, not every pull. (levels 30–39)
Forever client: Voice of Truth has a 3 min cooldown at levels 30-39 (client data). You can use it about once every second or third pull. (levels 30–39)
Forever client: There is no simulation for this spec yet. The order shown is from the site's rotation card for levels 40-49, with cooldowns and costs from the Forever client. (levels 40–49)
Forever client: Divine Favor has a 2 min cooldown at levels 40-49 (client data). You can use it about once every second or third pull. (levels 40–49)
Forever client: Blessing of Protection has a 5 min cooldown at levels 40-49 (client data). Plan to use it once per dungeon wing, not every pull. (levels 40–49)
Forever client: Lay on Hands has a 20 min cooldown at levels 40-49 (client data). Plan to use it once per dungeon wing, not every pull. (levels 40–49)
Forever client: Divine Shield has a 5 min cooldown and costs 75 Mana at levels 40-49 (client data). Plan to use it once per dungeon wing, not every pull. (levels 40–49)
Forever client: There is no simulation for this spec yet. The order shown is from the site's rotation card for levels 50-59, with cooldowns and costs from the Forever client. (levels 50–59)
Forever client: Divine Favor has a 2 min cooldown at levels 50-59 (client data). You can use it about once every second or third pull. (levels 50–59)
Forever client: Blessing of Protection has a 5 min cooldown at levels 50-59 (client data). Plan to use it once per dungeon wing, not every pull. (levels 50–59)
Forever client: Lay on Hands has a 20 min cooldown at levels 50-59 (client data). Plan to use it once per dungeon wing, not every pull. (levels 50–59)
Forever client: Divine Shield has a 5 min cooldown and costs 110 Mana at levels 50-59 (client data). Plan to use it once per dungeon wing, not every pull. (levels 50–59)

How to play it at level 60: priority, procs and cooldowns

What to press, in order. Cast the first one that is ready and whose condition holds.

Holy Light: Whenever it's ready: Rank 9 at 60 heals 1495 to 1665 and rank 8 at 54 heals 1151 to 1283; pick the rank that fits the damage. (ForeverDB guide, Forever client)
Holy Shock: Whenever it's ready: Rank 4 at 56 heals 307 to 333 with no cast time. (ForeverDB guide, Forever client)
Light's Vigil: Whenever it's ready: Rank 3 at 60: the next Holy Shock on the marked ally heals their party for 684 to 724. (ForeverDB guide, Forever client)
Flash of Light: Whenever it's ready: Rank 6 at 58 heals 286 to 320. (ForeverDB guide, Forever client)
Cleanse: Whenever it's ready: Remove poisons, diseases and magic. (ForeverDB guide, Forever client)

Cooldowns:

Divine Favor: as needed (ForeverDB guide, Forever client)
Blessing of Protection: as needed (ForeverDB guide, Forever client)
Lay on Hands: as needed (ForeverDB guide, Forever client)
Divine Shield: On the pull (ForeverDB guide, Forever client)

Latest changes:

13 November 2026: client build 1.60.1.70888 -> 1.60.1.70938; new Blizzard post (new client build 1.60.1.70938)
11 November 2026: client build 1.60.1.70862 -> 1.60.1.70888; new Blizzard post (new client build 1.60.1.70888)
7 November 2026: client build 1.60.1.70790 -> 1.60.1.70862 (new client build 1.60.1.70862)

Protection

Updated 13 November 2026 for build 1.60.1.70938 · From the game client

Learning from players: DPS. Collecting comparable fights before publishing observed cast patterns.

Forever client: There is no simulation for this spec yet. The order shown is from the site's rotation card for level 60, with cooldowns and costs from the Forever client. (level 60)
Forever client: Templar's Bulwark has a 5 min cooldown and costs 110 Mana at level 60 (client data). Plan to use it once per dungeon wing, not every pull. (level 60)
Forever client: There is no simulation for this spec yet. The order shown is from the site's rotation card for levels 20-29, with cooldowns and costs from the Forever client. (levels 20–29)
Forever client: There is no simulation for this spec yet. The order shown is from the site's rotation card for levels 30-39, with cooldowns and costs from the Forever client. (levels 30–39)
Forever client: Templar's Bulwark has a 5 min cooldown and costs 110 Mana at levels 30-39 (client data). Plan to use it once per dungeon wing, not every pull. (levels 30–39)
Forever client: There is no simulation for this spec yet. The order shown is from the site's rotation card for levels 40-49, with cooldowns and costs from the Forever client. (levels 40–49)
Forever client: Templar's Bulwark has a 5 min cooldown and costs 110 Mana at levels 40-49 (client data). Plan to use it once per dungeon wing, not every pull. (levels 40–49)
Forever client: There is no simulation for this spec yet. The order shown is from the site's rotation card for levels 50-59, with cooldowns and costs from the Forever client. (levels 50–59)
Forever client: Templar's Bulwark has a 5 min cooldown and costs 110 Mana at levels 50-59 (client data). Plan to use it once per dungeon wing, not every pull. (levels 50–59)

How to play it at level 60: priority, procs and cooldowns

What to press, in order. Cast the first one that is ready and whose condition holds.

Righteous Fury: When it's missing from you: Before the pull, when you tank. (ForeverDB guide, Forever client)
Seal of Fury: When it's missing from you: Rank 7 at 58 adds 35 Holy damage per swing. (ForeverDB guide, Forever client)
Holy Shield: When it's missing from you: Rank 3 at 60 deals 221 Holy damage per block. (ForeverDB guide, Forever client)
Judgement: Whenever it's ready: On cooldown for damage and a taunt. (ForeverDB guide, Forever client)
Hammer of the Righteous: Whenever it's ready: On cooldown. (ForeverDB guide, Forever client)
Holy Strike: Whenever it's ready: On cooldown; rank 8 arrives at 60. (ForeverDB guide, Forever client)
Hammer of Wrath: When the target is under 20% health: On an enemy at 20% health or less. (ForeverDB guide, Forever client)

React to:

Under 20% health: Hammer of Wrath: Hammer of Wrath works once the target is under 20% health (Forever client)

Keep up:

Seal of Fury on you, at least 0% of the time (ForeverDB guide, Forever client)
Holy Shield on you, at least 0% of the time (ForeverDB guide, Forever client)

Cooldowns:

Swift Judgement: as needed (ForeverDB guide, Forever client)
Hammer of Justice: as needed (ForeverDB guide, Forever client)
Templar's Bulwark: as needed (ForeverDB guide, Forever client)

Before the pull:

Righteous Fury (ForeverDB guide, Forever client)

Latest changes:

13 November 2026: client build 1.60.1.70888 -> 1.60.1.70938; new Blizzard post (new client build 1.60.1.70938)
11 November 2026: client build 1.60.1.70862 -> 1.60.1.70888; new Blizzard post (new client build 1.60.1.70888)
7 November 2026: client build 1.60.1.70790 -> 1.60.1.70862 (new client build 1.60.1.70862)

Retribution

Updated 13 November 2026 for build 1.60.1.70938 · From the DPS simulator, the game client

Learning from players: DPS. Collecting comparable fights before publishing observed cast patterns.

Speculation: The class guide's rotation card uses Seal of the Crusader here and the simulator disagrees: check it in game before trusting either: Leave Seal of the Crusader out of single-target fights at level 60: the simulator's 180 s fight did 1.2% more damage without it. The class guide disagrees, so treat this as a lead to test. (level 60)
Simulator: Best consumable at level 60: Elixir of Greater Strength (+2.5% DPS in the simulator); then Bear Bruscitti (+2%). (level 60)
Simulator: Where your damage comes from at level 60: auto attacks 50%, Seal of Command 27%, Holy Strike 18% (simulator: recommended build, best gear for the level, 180 s single-target fight). (level 60)
Simulator: Judgement is worth 37.1% of your DPS at level 60: the simulator's fight without it did that much less damage. (level 60)
Speculation: The simulator uses Classic's rule here (Seal of Command: 70% of weapon damage as Holy, 7 times a minute (Speculation: Classic's rate; the client has none)); the Forever client doesn't give the number: Seal of Command is worth 33.4% of your DPS at level 60: the simulator's fight without it did that much less damage. (level 60)
Simulator: Stat values at level 60 (simulator, 1 attack power = 1): Strength 2.4, crit rating 1.97, haste rating 1.6. (level 60)
Simulator: The best consumable at levels 20-29 is Elixir of Greater Strength (+1.9% DPS in the simulator), followed by Bear Bruscitti (+1.2%). (levels 20–29)
Simulator: The party buff that helps you most at levels 20-29 is Blessing of Kings from a Paladin: +2.9% DPS in the simulator. (levels 20–29)
Simulator: At levels 20-29 your damage splits as auto attacks 51%, Seal of Command 22% and Holy Strike 16% (simulator: recommended build, best gear, 60 s single-target fight). (levels 20–29)
Simulator: Judgement is worth 45.2% of your DPS at levels 20-29. Without it, the simulator's fight does that much less damage. (levels 20–29)
Speculation: The simulator uses Classic's rule here (Seal of Command: 70% of weapon damage as Holy, 7 times a minute (Speculation: Classic's rate; the client has none)); the Forever client doesn't give the number: Seal of Command is worth 32.8% of your DPS at levels 20-29. Without it, the simulator's fight does that much less damage. (levels 20–29)
Simulator: Best consumable at levels 30-39: Bear Bruscitti (+1.6% DPS in the simulator); then Scroll of Strength IV (+1.4%). (levels 30–39)
Simulator: The party buff that helps you most at levels 30-39 is Blessing of Kings from a Paladin: +3% DPS in the simulator. (levels 30–39)
Simulator: Where your damage comes from at levels 30-39: auto attacks 46%, Seal of Command 19%, Holy Strike 19% (simulator: recommended build, best gear for the level, 60 s single-target fight). (levels 30–39)
Simulator: Judgement is worth 48.5% of your DPS at levels 30-39: the simulator's fight without it did that much less damage. (levels 30–39)
Speculation: The simulator uses Classic's rule here (Seal of Command: 70% of weapon damage as Holy, 7 times a minute (Speculation: Classic's rate; the client has none)); the Forever client doesn't give the number: Seal of Command is worth 35.1% of your DPS at levels 30-39: the simulator's fight without it did that much less damage. (levels 30–39)
Simulator: Best consumable at levels 40-49: Elixir of Greater Agility (+1.9% DPS in the simulator); then Bear Bruscitti (+1.6%). (levels 40–49)
Simulator: The party buff that helps you most at levels 40-49 is Battle Shout from a Warrior: +3% DPS in the simulator. (levels 40–49)
Simulator: Where your damage comes from at levels 40-49: auto attacks 34%, Seal of Command 28%, Holy Strike 18% (simulator: recommended build, best gear for the level, 60 s single-target fight). (levels 40–49)
Simulator: Judgement is worth 59.9% of your DPS at levels 40-49: the simulator's fight without it did that much less damage. (levels 40–49)
Speculation: The simulator uses Classic's rule here (Seal of Command: 70% of weapon damage as Holy, 7 times a minute (Speculation: Classic's rate; the client has none)); the Forever client doesn't give the number: Seal of Command is worth 48.5% of your DPS at levels 40-49: the simulator's fight without it did that much less damage. (levels 40–49)
Speculation: The class guide's rotation card uses Seal of the Crusader here and the simulator disagrees: check it in game before trusting either: Leave Seal of the Crusader out of single-target fights at levels 50-59: the simulator's 60 s fight did 2.2% more damage without it. The class guide disagrees, so treat this as a lead to test. (levels 50–59)
Simulator: Best consumable at levels 50-59: Elixir of Greater Strength (+3.1% DPS in the simulator); then Bear Bruscitti (+2.5%). (levels 50–59)
Simulator: The party buff that helps you most at levels 50-59 is Battle Shout from a Warrior: +4.8% DPS in the simulator. (levels 50–59)
Simulator: Where your damage comes from at levels 50-59: auto attacks 48%, Seal of Command 26%, Holy Strike 19% (simulator: recommended build, best gear for the level, 60 s single-target fight). (levels 50–59)
Simulator: Judgement is worth 43.2% of your DPS at levels 50-59: the simulator's fight without it did that much less damage. (levels 50–59)
Speculation: The simulator uses Classic's rule here (Seal of Command: 70% of weapon damage as Holy, 7 times a minute (Speculation: Classic's rate; the client has none)); the Forever client doesn't give the number: Seal of Command is worth 33.6% of your DPS at levels 50-59: the simulator's fight without it did that much less damage. (levels 50–59)

How to play it at level 60: priority, procs and cooldowns

What to press, in order. Cast the first one that is ready and whose condition holds.

Judgement: Whenever it's ready: Cast it when it's ready (10 s cooldown); worth 37.1% of your DPS (Simulator, Forever client, ForeverDB guide)
Seal of Command: When it's missing from you: Keep it up: 75% of the sim's fight; worth 33.4% of your DPS (Simulator, Forever client, ForeverDB guide)
Holy Strike: Whenever it's ready: Cast it when it's ready (10 s cooldown); worth 18.6% of your DPS (Simulator, Forever client, ForeverDB guide)
Seal of Righteousness: When it's missing from you: Keep it up: 24% of the sim's fight; worth 11.5% of your DPS (Simulator, Forever client)

Keep up:

Seal of Command on you, at least 75% of the time (Simulator, Forever client)
Seal of Righteousness on you, at least 20% of the time (Simulator, Forever client)

Before the pull:

Elixir of Greater Strength (Simulator, Forever client)
Bear Bruscitti (Simulator, Forever client)
Scroll of Strength IV (Simulator, Forever client)
Elixir of Greater Agility (Simulator, Forever client)

Avoid:

Leave Seal of the Crusader out of single-target fights at level 60: the simulator's 180 s fight did 1.2% more damage without it. (Simulator)

Latest changes:

13 November 2026: client build 1.60.1.70888 -> 1.60.1.70938; 40-49: added Seal of Righteousness; 40-49: Seal of the Crusader worth 18.9% -> 22.5%; 40-49: Judgement worth 51.5% -> 59.9%; 40-49: Seal of Command worth 38.6% -> 48.5%; 40-49: Holy Strike worth 20.6% -> 17.7% (new client build 1.60.1.70938)
11 November 2026: client build 1.60.1.70862 -> 1.60.1.70888; new Blizzard post (new client build 1.60.1.70888)
8 November 2026: tip wording or values (client build or hotfix rebuild)

Every spec's latest changes. Re-studied every week and after each new game build.

Best in slot gear at any level: Holy, Protection, Retribution

Best professions for Paladins: Blacksmithing + Mining.

Paladin abilities

Improved Flash of Light
Improved Seal of Fury
Sense Undead
Devotion Aura (level 1)
Holy Light (level 1)
Judgement of Righteousness (level 1)
Seal of Righteousness (level 1)
Blessing of Might (level 4)
Judgement (level 4)
Divine Protection (level 6)
Holy Strike (level 6)
Seal of the Crusader (level 6)
Hammer of Justice (level 8)
Purify (level 8)
Blessing of Protection (level 10)
Lay on Hands (level 10)
Righteous Fury (level 10)
Seal of Fury (level 10)
Judgement of the Crusader (level 12)
Redemption (level 12, from the Classic class quest The Tome of Divinity (rank 1))
Blessing of Wisdom (level 14)
Retribution Aura (level 16)
Blessing of Freedom (level 18)
Blessing of Kings (level 20)
Consecration (level 20)
Exorcism (level 20)
Flash of Light (level 20)
Judgement of Command (level 20)
Voice of Truth (level 20)
Concentration Aura (level 22)
Judgement of Justice (level 22)
Seal of Justice (level 22)
Turn Undead (level 24)
Judgement of Fury (level 25)
Shadow Resistance Aura (level 28)
Divine Intervention (level 30)
Judgement of Light (level 30)
Seal of Light (level 30)
Frost Resistance Aura (level 32)
Divine Shield (level 34)
Fire Resistance Aura (level 36)
Judgement of Wisdom (level 38)
Seal of Wisdom (level 38)
Hammer of the Righteous (level 40)
Cleanse (level 42)
Hammer of Wrath (level 44)
Blessing of Sacrifice (level 46)
Holy Wrath (level 50)
Greater Blessing of Might (level 52)
Greater Blessing of Wisdom (level 54)
Greater Blessing of Kings (level 60)

No longer trainer abilities in the live client

Data from the WoW Forever client, build 1.60.1.70938, extracted 2026-11-13.