Retribution Paladin Mythic+ Guide (2024)

When to use this Spec

Use this spec in your Mythic+ keys, this should be your standard overall build for AoE. This build utilizes your Avenging Wrath 1-minute burst and allows you to spam Divine Storm, while your generators cleaves everything around you. For a detailed guide on playstyles and priority lists, check the deep dive section below to learn how to fully optimize this build!

Gameplay Altering Talents

Discover all talents that significantly alter your gameplay within the Spec and Class Talent trees. This section gives a concise overview of these talents and their applications but for a more detailed look check out the Rotation and Deep Dive sections below.

Spec Tree

• Avenging Wrath
  • Empowers your abilities and cooldowns.
• Execution Sentence
  • Strong single-target burst cooldown.
• Blessed Champion
  • Your Judgment and Crusader Strike now Cleaves to 4 additional targets.
• Blade of Vengeance
  • Blade of Justice now Cleaves to 5 nearby enemies and additionally debuffs them with Expurgation.
• Tempest of the Lightbringer
  • When you cast Divine Storm it now hits an additional time for 20% of the base damage and hits anyone up to 20 yards away.
• Final Verdict
  • Main single target spender.
• Boundless Judgment
  • Your Judgement generates an additional Holy Power.
    • Combining this with Swift Justice provides the most Holy Power.
• Improved Blade of Justice
  • 2 charges of Blade of Justice instead of 1.
• Crusading Strikes
  • Generates 1 Holy Power every 2nd auto attack, replaces your Crusader Strike.
  • Look below in Deep Dive to see how to play around this.
• Art of War
  • Your auto attacks have a 20% chance to reset Blade of Justice.
• Consecrated Blade
  • When you cast Blade of Justice it also casts Consecration below you every 10 seconds.

Class Tree

• Divine Toll
  • Casts Judgment on your target.
  • Mainly used for its Holy Power gain.
• Avenging Wrath
  • Your main cooldown, it empowers everything you do.
• Divine Steed
  • Move at 100% movement speed for 3 seconds.
    • Cavalier Grants you 2 charges instead of 1.
• Lay on Hands
  • Strong single target heal that can be used on a friendly target to save them.
• Blessing of Protection
  • Great way to avoid aggro or prevent Physical damage.
• Blessing of Sacrifice
  • Perfect to use on tanks or players dealing with certain spells during boss fights.
• Rebuke
  • A kick to interrupt any spell.
• Unbound Freedom
  • Allows you to use Blessing of Freedom on another player.

When to use this Spec

Play this build when you feel like you need more single target damage in your Mythic+ Key. This build focuses on Crusade combined with Radiant Glory. There is some variance with this build seeing as you need to rely on a Crusade proc that comes from your Holy Power spenders. Here it's really important you know when to use Wake of Ashes since it is what starts all of your burst damage. check the deep dive section below to learn how to fully optimize this build!

There is Currently a bug with Radiant Glory Read FAQ to learn more about it!

Talent Adjustments

Listing all the changes within the Class and Spec tree compared to the default build.

Spec Tree

• Added
  • Crusade
    • Gets stronger the more Holy Power you spend up to 10x stacks.
  • Radiant Glory
    • Automatically activates Crusade when you cast Wake of Ashes.
  • Vanguard's Momentum
    • Generates 2 Holy Power instead of 1 on enemies below 20%.
    • Now has 2 charges instead of 1.
  • Executioner's Will
    • Strong single-target burst cooldown.
      • Every time Wake of Ashes is ready make sure to combo this.
  • Rush of Light
    • Gain 5% haste when you Crit with your Single Target abilities.

• Removed
  • Avenging Wrath
    • this was replaced by Crusade.
  • Blessed Champion
    • 1 point removed.
  • Penitence
  • Burning Crusade
  • Searing Light

Class Tree

• Added
  • Vengeful Wrath

• Removed
  • Divine Purpose

To read more about Radiant Glory head down to the Deep Dive section!

Opener

Your main goal in your opener should be to get to 3 Holy Power by using Blade of Justice into Divine Toll before starting in your Execution Sentence window. There are also 2 different openers you can play with, if you find yourself at max Holy Power or unable to use Divine Toll instantly on the pull, follow the version below. The Crusading Strikes trait has an RNG factor that affects when you gain Holy Power. Specifically, Holy Power is gained on the 2nd auto attack, but this can vary due to the RNG factor. During your opener, be aware of this variability. If you don't gain Holy Power as expected, you may need to use a generator ability to fill in the gaps.

Standard Opener

Max Holy Power Opener

Priority List

This is a general priority you aim to maintain throughout the fight.

1. Cast Execution Sentence on cooldown.
2. Cast Templar's Verdict (close to 5 Holy Power).
3. Cast Wake of Ashes on cooldown to proc Radiant Glory ( 2 or less Holy Power).
4. Cast Blade of Justice (to keep up Expurgation).
5. Cast Divine Toll on cooldown.
6. Cast Hammer of Wrath (on any target below 20%).
7. Cast Judgment (if 3 Holy Power or below).
8. Cast Blade of Justice (if 3 Holy Power or below).

To read more about Avenging Wrath head down to the Deep Dive section!

Opener

Your main goal in your opener should be to get to 3 Holy Power by using Blade of Justice into Judgment, before starting in your Execution Sentence window.

Priority List

This is a general priority you aim to maintain throughout the fight.

1. Cast Execution Sentence on cooldown.
2. Cast Avenging Wrath on cooldown.
3. Cast Templar's Verdict When Close or at 5 Holy Power.
4. Cast Wake of Ashes on cooldown or delay so you use it at 2 Holy Power.
5. Cast Divine Toll on cooldown.
6. Cast Blade of Justice To keep Expurgation Up.
7. Cast Judgment on cooldown.
8. Cast Hammer of Wrath on cooldown.

To read more about Radiant Glory head down to the Deep Dive section!

Opener

1. Cast Blade of Justice
2. Cast Divine Toll
3. Cast Final Reckoning
4. Cast Divine Storm
5. Cast Wake of Ashes
6. Cast Divine Storm
7. Cast Hammer of Wrath

Multitarget / AoE Priority List

1. Cast Final Reckoning on cooldown.
2. Cast Divine Storm (When high on Holy Power).
3. Cast Wake of Ashes (when low on Holy Power).
4. Cast Blade of Justice ( To Keep up Expurgation).
5. Cast Divine Toll on cooldown.
6. Cast Judgment
7. Cast Divine Storm (When 3-4 Holy Power).
8. Cast Hammer of Wrath (on any target below 20% since Vanguard's Momentum).

To read more about Avenging Wrath head down to the Deep Dive section!

Opener

1. Cast Blade of Justice.
2. Cast Judgment.
3. Cast Avenging Wrath.
4. Cast Final Reckoning.
5. Cast Divine Storm.
6. Cast Wake of Ashes.
7. Cast Divine Storm.
8. Cast Blade of Justice.
9. Cast Divine Toll.
10. Cast Divine Storm.
11. Cast Judgment.

Multitarget / AoE Priority List

• Keep up Expurgation from Blade of Justice.
• Cast Judgment to Buff your Divine Storm.
• Cast Avenging Wrath on cooldown.
• Cast Final Reckoning on cooldown.
• Cast Divine Toll on cooldown pref when at 0 Holy Power but always after Final Reckoning.
• Cast Final Reckoning on cooldown.
• Cast Wake of Ashes on cooldown or save it for 2-3 seconds for a better lineup.
• Cast Divine Storm always be spamming this.

• When specced into Radiant Glory, you cannot use Avenging Wrath or Crusade directly. Instead, using Wake of Ashes triggers the cooldown you have chosen in your talents for a few seconds. Additionally, there is a small chance that any Holy Power spender can proc your chosen talent for an additional 5 seconds, this extends your Crusade or Avenging Wrath if it procs while the spell is active.
• Never sit on Wake of Ashes since Final Reckoning has a 1-minute cooldown and Execution Sentence has a 30-second cooldown. Delaying Wake of Ashes also delays all of your other cooldowns.

Execution Sentence

• When you have chosen Execution Sentence as your minor cooldown, it is optimal to use Wake of Ashes after Execution Sentence. This is because the gain from getting Avenging Wrath won't affect Execution Sentence, and you want the full uptime on wings during the Execution Sentence window. Try to have 3 Holy Power ready right before Execution Sentence goes off cooldown so you can use it instantly.

Final Reckoning

• The optimal Wake of Ashes usage, when you have chosen Final Reckoning, is to use Wake of Ashes after Final Reckoning. Try to have 3 Holy Power ready right before using Final Reckoning so you can instantly spend your Holy Power.

• Choose this talent when boss fights or dungeons allow you to never miss a cooldown window.
• When using trinkets, do not hold your Avenging Wrath, as it does not significantly buff the overall damage of trinkets but it increases their crit chance.
• Delaying Avenging Wrath also delays your other minor cooldowns.
• For trinkets with a 90-second cooldown, use them on cooldown unless you have a trinket that provides a massive mastery or strength buff. In that case, try to align it with Avenging Wrath.
• Never sit on Avenging Wrath for more than a few seconds, as most of your damage comes from combining it with other 1-minute cooldowns. As mentioned earlier, always use Avenging Wrath first unless you are using Execution Sentence, in which case follow the specific strategy explained below.

• The main reason to play this talent is if there is a boss where you can really utilize your strong 2-minute cooldown burst, or if you have heavy haste with Radiant Glory, which can grant you a decent amount of proc wings.
• Optimal usage is to make sure to instantly use Templar's Verdict to quickly build up your stacks. Aim to get to 7-10 stacks before using Execution Sentence or Final Reckoning for the most damage. However, be mindful of the fight or dungeon scenario. If holding these cooldowns for later in the Crusade window means losing a full usage overall, it is better to use them early to ensure you get an extra usage.

• The main idea of Execution Sentence is to fit as many spenders as possible within its duration. It's not strong outside of Avenging Wrath or Crusade due to its short burst window and lack of initial damage.
• To use it optimally, always cast Execution Sentence before Avenging Wrath. When you run out of Holy Power, immediately use Wake of Ashes, followed by another spender and then Divine Toll. The golden rule is to press Execution Sentence on cooldown to ensure it aligns with other cooldowns, even if there is no strong cooldown available.
• If you are playing Radiant Glory, make sure to use Execution Sentence before Wake of Ashes.

• Your big AoE cooldown Final Reckoning is a very straightforward spell. It is mainly used for AoE or on fights where getting good single target usage out of Execution Sentence is not possible.
• It works similarly but puts a 12-second debuff on the target, increasing your single-target Holy Power spenders by 30% and other spenders by 15%.
• Optimal usage of Final Reckoning is to combo it with your other 1-minute cooldowns such as Avenging Wrath, since they share the same cooldown.
• If playing Crusade, try to save Final Reckoning for when you are at 7-10 stacks before using it. This provides the most damage overall since Crusade lasts 30 seconds.
• If playing Radiant Glory, refer to the opener/prioritization list above for usage instructions.

Boss Tips

Hackclaw's War-Band

• Use your Shield of Vengeance just before Gashtooth casts its Bleed effect.
  • You can also use Blessing of Protection on a teamate to help them out.

Gutshot

• Cast Blessing of Freedom on players hit by Ensnaring Trap to free them from being rooted.

Treemouth

• Use Divine Steed when the boss starts dragging you towards him to quickly escape and let your tank handle it. Save Wake of Ashes for when the adds spawn for a big burst of damage, but don't hold onto it for too long since it's more beneficial to use it on cooldown.

Decatriarch Wratheye

• Make sure to have 3 Holy Power ready to use Templar's Verdict on each Rotburst Totem to kill it instantly.
• Rotate your defensives on Withered Eruption based on your available gear and key level.

Trash Tips

• This dungeon has heavy trash AoE damage, so be sure to rotate your Shield of Vengeance and Divine Protection effectively.
• Make sure to have Cleanse Toxins as it is extremely useful in this dungeon. Keep an eye on your party frames for anything that needs to be dispelled.

Pre Dungeon Start

• Paladins can't do much here other than pre-pot with Elemental Potion of Ultimate Power. When the dungeon starts, you'll have a few seconds of the potion's effect remaining.

Boss Tips

The Lost Dwarves

• Put Olaf on focus to quickly interrupt his Defensive Bulwark when he casts it.

Bromach

• When a Quaking Totem is killed, all enemies except the boss take 100% increased damage if they get stunned by the totem's death. If you ever need to use Wake of Ashes, this is the time to do it!

Talondras

• Use your defensives while affected by Earthen Shards, especially if Crushing Stomp is coming up.
• You can remove Inexorable with Hammer of Justice to stop Crushing Stomp early.

Emberon

• If you're about to be caught by the fire lines, quickly use Divine Shield to become immune and run through.

Deios

• Make sure to dispel Time Sink with your Blessing of Freedom. You can also use this on another player to quickly make them immune to the damage.
• Use Shield of Vengeance or Divine Protection on Wing Buffet.

Trash Tips

• Stunning a Refti Custodians apply a 100% damage increase to them. Make sure to utilize your Hammer of Justice for that purpose.

Pre Dungeon Start

• Paladins can't do much here other than pre-pot with Elemental Potion of Ultimate Power. When the dungeon starts, you'll have a few seconds of the potion's effect remaining.

Boss Tips

Granyth

• Make use of Shield of Vengeance or Divine Protection when Shards of Stone is being cast.

Raging Tempest

• Optimising Surge of Power stacks is crucial for an easier time since it not only buffs your damage but also your healing absorbs. Using Shield of Vengeance with many stacks guarantees you will survive with ease, especially if you time it correctly with the boss's Electrical Storm ability.

Teera & Maruuk

• Make sure to use Shield of Vengeance on each Gale Arrow. On higher keys you need to combo it with Divine Protection.
• You can use Blessing of Protection as the boss keeps shooting random players. Look out for anyone in danger of a random shot, as you could easily save them.

Balakar Khan

• Pre-use Divine Steed right before Static Spear goes off to avoid as much damage as possible.
• Use Shield of Vengeance or Divine Protection on Upheaval and Crackling Upheaval. You can cover both with correctly timed usage.

Trash Tips

• Make sure to stop Rally the Clan with Hammer of Justice or Blinding Light.

Pre Dungeon Start

• Paladins can't do much here other than pre-pot with Elemental Potion of Ultimate Power. When the dungeon starts, you'll have a few seconds of the potion's effect remaining.

Boss Tips

Overgrown Ancient

• Use Shield of Vengeance on every Burst Forth. This cast happens when the boss reaches 100 energy.
• Be very careful with aggro on this boss when adds are spawning. Keep your finger ready on Blessing of Protection or Divine Shield in case you pull aggro.

Crawth

• Be careful of Deafening Screech, which happens roughly every 23 seconds. Use Shield of Vengeance as the timing fits well. Keep an eye on Divine Protection for higher keys.

Vexamus

• On this boss, you use your defensives more reactively rather than pre-planning them. Generally, you want to use Divine Shield during the overlap of Mana Bomb and Arcane Fissure, which occurs around 2 minutes into the fight if no orbs go into the boss.

Echo of Doragosa

• Pre-use Divine Steed right before Power Vacuum to quickly run out. Alternatively, you can use Divine Shield to stay in safely.

Trash Tips

• Be very careful with aggro in this dungeon overall, as there are many small mobs that can easily one-shot you during cooldowns. Give your tank a few seconds when starting a big pack; this is more important in this dungeon than most, especially when approaching Overgrown Ancient.

Pre Dungeon Start

• Paladins can't do much here other than pre-pot with Elemental Potion of Ultimate Power. When the dungeon starts, you'll have a few seconds of the potion's effect remaining.

Boss Tips

Irideus

• Use Divine Steed to quickly run out with the Power Overload debuff.
• When the intermission starts, Irideus takes 99% reduced damage, so make sure your Execution Sentence lands beforehand.

Gulping Goliath

• Make sure to stun the Curious Swoglets with Hammer of Justice.

Khajin

• Use Divine Protection or Shield of Vengeance whenever your healer doesn't have healing CDs available. Since the rot damage remains consistent throughout the fight, any damage prevented is beneficial. If you ever get caught out of place or don't want to hide, you can use Divine Shield to stay on the boss.

Primal Tsunami

• Always use Shield of Vengeance for Tempest's Fury.
• You can use Hammer of Justice on one of the four Primalist Infusers to interrupt them.
• While running through the intermission phase, make sure to have Divine Steed ready.

Trash Tips

• You can help out your tank by using Blessing of Sacrifice on packs with stealthed Skulking Zealots, in case the tank gets Cheap Shoted.

Pre Dungeon Start

• Paladins can't do much here other than pre-pot with Elemental Potion of Ultimate Power. When the dungeon starts, you'll have a few seconds of the potion's effect remaining.

Boss Tips

Leymor

• Always use a defensive for Consuming Stomp.

Azureblade

• Use Rebuke on the Draconic Images.
• Make sure to follow your group in Phase 2.
• Azureblade has a large hitbox and Draconic Images have a very small hitbox.

Telash Greywing

• Make sure to rotate Shield of Vengeance and Divine Protection when targeted by Icy Devastator. Unfortunately, you can't cancel this cast unless you're a Night Elf with access to Shadowmeld.

Umbrelskul

• Your defensive abilities should be used during the Detonating Crystals phases.
• Try to hit as many crystals as you can with Wake of Ashes.

Trash Tips

• One of the important interrupts in this dungeon is Icy Bindings from the Rune Seal Keepers since it's usually paired with other adds that cast their ground effect spells, that you have to simply dodge. If any casts go through make sure to have your trigger finger ready on Blessing of Freedom since this breaks the root from Icy Bindings.

Pre Dungeon Start

• Paladins can't do much here other than pre-pot with Elemental Potion of Ultimate Power. When the dungeon starts, you'll have a few seconds of the potion's effect remaining.

Boss Tips

Magmatusk

• Use defensives for Volatile Mutation and Lava Spray depending on the situation.
• Don't Stand close to boss after a Charge as dodging the waves can be tricky.

Chargath, Bane of Scales

• If you're a Dwarf you can remove the bleed from Dragon Strike with Stoneform if necessary.
  • You can bait Dragon Strike on the furthest player from the target, meaning your tank should probably take most of them.
• Make sure to have defensives for Grounding Spear.
  • Grounding Spear is Physical so you can use Blessing of Protection to immune the damage.

Forgemaster Gorek

• Might of the Forge happening close to Blazing Aegis is very deadly thus you should use your defensives pre-emptively during Might of the Forge.
  • The initial hit of Might of the Forge does significantly more damage than the later ones.

Warlord Sargha

• Remember that you can pick up multiple Piles of Gold to stack up more than 1 usable item. Should only be done with a group that has access to a decurse.
• If you are having a hard time staying alive while using your extra action button on Magma Shield you can always use Divine Protection right before you start the cast timer.

Trash Tips

• Keep an eye out for Qalashi Bonesplitter's Dragonbone Axe ability and disrupt it with your available toolkit.

Pre Dungeon Start

• Paladins can't do much here other than pre-pot with Elemental Potion of Ultimate Power. When the dungeon starts, you'll have a few seconds of the potion's effect remaining.

Boss Tips

Melidrussa Chillworn

• You can utilize Divine Steed and if there is a warlock in the group look out for Demonic Gateway to quickly get out of the Chillstorm debuff.
• At 75% and 45% Melidrussa spawns a lot of Infused Whelps. It is tempting to cast Wake of Ashes on the Infused Whelps but priority should be put on breaking the absorb shield and to interrupt Frost Overload faster.
• Defensives should generally be used for Chillstorm.

Kokia Blazehoof

• Use defensives like Shield of Vengeance and Divine Protection for Inferno.

Erkhart Stormvein / Kyrakka

• Be careful of Winds of Change since it rotates counterclockwise from its starting point.
• Personals are generally not needed in Phase 1. Be careful in this phase when using Divine Shield so you don't drop pools at the wrong time.
• In Phase 2 on the other hand consider a personal every time you get hit by Flamespit.

Trash Tips

• Make sure to stop Tectonic Slam with abilities like Hammer of Justice.
• You can stop Primalist Flamedancer's Flame Dance with Hammer of Justice.

Pre Dungeon Start

• Paladins can't do much here other than pre-pot with Elemental Potion of Ultimate Power. When the dungeon starts, you'll have a few seconds of the potion's effect remaining.

Below you are presented with a good list of farmable alternatives that are obtainable outside of WoW’s weekly lockout system. While replaced in time as you progress, these offer immediate character power.

#showtooltip Final Reckoning/cast [@cursor] Final Reckoning

#showtooltip Rebuke/cast [@focus] Rebuke

#showtooltip Hammer of Justice/cast [@focus] Hammer of Justice