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Paladin

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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, Protection gets Seal of Fury, Judgement of Fury, Swift Judgement, Templar's Bulwark and trainer-taught Hammer of the Righteous, and Retribution gains Holy Strike, Sacred Arbiter and the level 40 Twist of Light talent, whose seal echoes make seal twisting official. 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. Consecration (trained at 20) and Hammer of the Righteous handle packs, and Holy Shield rounds out threat. Mana comes back through Shield Specialization blocks (6% of max Mana at rank 3) and Improved Seal of Fury, whose base amount the client leaves blank. 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 adds Holy Strike as an instant 10 sec cooldown attack, Sacred Arbiter to make it hit harder and refresh your Judgements, and Twist of Light, the level 40 talent at the bottom of the section, which rewards seal twisting: replacing a seal leaves an Echo that applies its effect on your next swing. Judgement and Exorcism fill the gaps.

Tips & tricks: what ForeverDB learned

Holy

Updated 8 October 2026 for build 1.60.1.70205 · From the game client

How to play it at level 30: priority, procs and cooldowns

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

  1. Holy Light: Whenever it's ready: Rank 5 heals 425 to 479. Cast a lower rank for steady damage to save Mana. (ForeverDB guide, Forever client)
  2. Holy Shock: Whenever it's ready: Instant, 10 sec cooldown, 20 yd range: rank 1 heals 110 to 118. Use it when a heal must land now or while you move. (ForeverDB guide, Forever client)
  3. Flash of Light: Whenever it's ready: Rank 2 heals 62 to 70. Use it only for quick top-ups. (ForeverDB guide, Forever client)
  4. Purify: Whenever it's ready: Remove poisons and diseases. Purifying Power makes it cheaper. (ForeverDB guide, Forever client)

Cooldowns:

Latest changes:

Protection

Updated 8 October 2026 for build 1.60.1.70205 · From the game client

How to play it at level 30: priority, procs and cooldowns

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

  1. Righteous Fury: When it's missing from you: Before the pull, when you tank: 60% more threat from your Holy attacks for 30 min, and Improved Righteous Fury's damage reduction on top. (ForeverDB guide, Forever client)
  2. Seal of Fury: When it's missing from you: Rank 3 at 25 adds 14 Holy damage per swing. Keep a shield on for the absorbs. (ForeverDB guide, Forever client)
  3. Judgement: Whenever it's ready: On cooldown for Holy damage and a 4 sec taunt. (ForeverDB guide, Forever client)
  4. Holy Strike: Whenever it's ready: On cooldown. Rank 4 arrives at 28. (ForeverDB guide, Forever client)
  5. Exorcism: Whenever it's ready: Undead and Demons only. Rank 2 arrives at 28. (ForeverDB guide, Forever client)

Keep up:

Cooldowns:

Before the pull:

Latest changes:

Retribution

Updated 8 October 2026 for build 1.60.1.70205 · From the DPS simulator, the game client

How to play it at level 30: priority, procs and cooldowns

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

  1. Seal of the Crusader: Whenever it's ready: Cast it when it's ready; worth 14.9% of your DPS (Simulator, Forever client, ForeverDB guide)
  2. Judgement: Whenever it's ready: Cast it when it's ready (10 s cooldown); worth 45.8% of your DPS (Simulator, Forever client, ForeverDB guide)
  3. Seal of Command: When it's missing from you: Keep it up: 96% of the sim's fight; worth 31.8% of your DPS (Simulator, Forever client, ForeverDB guide)
  4. Holy Strike: Fill the gaps with it: Your filler: cast it when nothing above is ready; worth 20.6% of your DPS (Simulator, Forever client, ForeverDB guide)

Keep up:

Before the pull:

Latest changes:

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

Paladin abilities

Data from the WoW Forever beta client, build 1.60.1.70205, extracted .