Retribution/Spec
From EFWiki
Path: Paladin
Contents |
Basic DPS
The core dps spec [(5/5/54)] contains all the talents that increase dps for the paladin. It can and should be tweaked based on overlapping raid buffs. It leaves 7 points to use for utility. I consider the increased movement speed as a dps increase, since it is useful on fights with movement.
Raid Utility
[(5/11/55)] is a common PVE raiding spec that adds [Divine Sacrifice] and shorter cooldown on [Hand of Protection]. Divine Sacrifice can be very helpful on encounters with massive raid wide damage, especially during learning phases. The talent was considered mandatory for hard modes in 3.1. Unfortunately, [Vindication] cannot be maxed out, but other classes provide similar debuffs. However, Vindication is probably the most useful place to spend the point for groups/raids that lack any kind of AP debuff. Divinity is a useful filler since it affects all the healing done by and to the paladin, including [Judgement of Light]. However, since 3.2 it increase Judgement of Light from 2% of max health to either 2.1% (2.2% on self) for 5 talents point, so it is not a great difference.
PVP
I find PVP specs more a matter of personal style than PVE specs. It also depends a lot on if your focus is casual (BGs) or hardcore (Arena). My current spec [(9/10/52)] is more focused on solo/BG pvp, i.e. self-sustainability and "high" damage. In order to make it more suitable for arena/group pvp, one should probably at least include Divine Sacrifice, and perhaps sacrifice some damage for control and spec deeper into prot for short cooldown on [Hammer of Justice].
For now, any PVP spec of mine will include Seals of the pure and not Seal of command since Seal of Righteousness beats Command in almost every way. If this changes, the PVP spec will also towards more points in Prot.
Glyphs
The minor glyphs are mostly useless for dps or utility so pick the ones you like best. [Glyph of Judgement] and [Glyph of Consecration] are more or less mandatory for PVE dps. The Judgement one should be obvious, and Consecration is used to reduce clashes in the rotation and mana usage. For the third major glyph the options are [Glyph of Exorcism] and [Glyph of Seal of Vengeance]. Use the latter if you aren't expertise capped. The rule is that if at least half the value of if applies, it will be better dps than Glyph of Exorcism. However, it's not recommended to use Glyph of Seal of Vengeance over gearing for expertise, since Seal of Righteousness is still used quite a lot during a raid. [This] is my current PVE glyph setup.
For PVP there are more options in terms of major glyphs (the minor are as bad as for pve, and I use the same setup for both). Popular options are: [Glyph of Seal of Command], [Glyph of Seal of Righteousness], [Glyph of Salvation], [Glyph of Hammer of Justice], and [Glyph of Turn Evil]. Glyph of Seal of Command would be mandatory is Seal of Command was ever used in PVP, but since it is worse than Seal of Righteousness, the glyph is not recommended. I glyph for damage and survivability, so I use Seal of Righteousness, Judgement and Salvation. Before 3.2 I used Salvation, Turn Evil and Hammer of Justice, but since the change to damage output I prefer to increase damage output.
Overlap with other classes/Options
The following buffs/debuffs can be covered by other specs/classes. If your main focus is 25man raids, you should check with the raid leaders and see which of them are generally covered by other classes. For example, any retribution paladin will always provide replenishment. The same might be true for other classes/specs, and in turn render the retribution talent a waste of points.
[Heart of the Crusader] is a mandatory debuff. It is low enough in Retribution for both Holy and Protection to pick up, but Protection has many other options. It is also covered by Elemental Shamans.
[Vindication] is the pala demo shout. It is a passive (on attack) debuff, which makes it nice compared to demo shout. It is however not as effective on AoE situations. Protection paladins will most likely pick it up. If the raid lacks protection paladins, check with the other tanks.
[Swift Retribution] is shared with Moonkin druids and provide no additional benefit if one is present in the raids. The Moonkin talent provides additional (mandatory?) benefits for the druid, so they are likely to pick it up.
