Big Hit Box

Cross posted at Caer Morrighan on 24 November 2009

Ret paladin info doesn't have to be long and complex.  Welcome to the Crib Sheet.  Much shorter than my other guides, and the EJ guide.  But packed full of information.

Specs and Glyphs

• Without DSac 5/9/57
• With DSac 5/11/55
• Use Major Glyph of Judgment and Major Glyph of Consecration.
• Use Minor Glyph of Sense Undead, Minor Glyph of Lay on Hands, Minor Glyph of Blessing of Might.
• For your last Major slot use Glyph of Seal of Vengeance if you are NOT expertise capped from gear.  If you ARE expertise capped from gear use Glyph of Exorcism.

Abilities: DPS

• Your ‘rotation is FCFS or First Come First Served.  Hit the best of the abilities that is available to you at any given time.
• Priority order without 2P t9 set bonus from best to worst: HoW, CS, Judgment, DS, Cons., Exorcism, Holy Wrath.
• Priority order with 2P t9 set bonus from best to worst: Judgment, HoW, CS, DS, Cons., Exorcism, Holy Wrath.
• Only use Exorcism with a 2 point Art of War proc.
• Only use Holy Wrath on Undead only.
• You can only use Hammer of Wrath after the mob is below 20%.
• Always stand behind the mob if possible.  This means it cannot parry you.  But only if standing behind the mob won’t cause you or your tank to die horribly.

Abilities: Utility

• You can dispel magic, disease and poison and you should.
• Spare CDs and Art of War procs can be used for Flash Heal.  So can non-spare ones.  You can’t dps if you die.
• Use your Sacred Shield to reduce the damage you take.
• Lay on hands is good.  So are bubbles, Hand of Salvation, Hand of Sacrifice, Repentance, etc.  Learn how to use all your utility in a fight.

Gear

• Your hit cap is 8% hit (263 or 230 for Drenai).  You should ensure you are always capped.
• Your expertise cap is 26 or 214 rating (lower for Humans and Dwarves with certain weapons).  You should strive for this.
• After those stack strength, followed by crit.  Haste and  Armor Pen are meh - don't stack them but don't avoid them.  The same is true of Agility and Attack Power.  Spellpower and Intellect are bad.
• To see how your item rates against possible drops check out the Retribution Paladin Gear List.

Gems and Enhancements

• Use the Relentless Earthsiege Diamond meta gem.
• Use one Nightmare Tear +10 stats gem to activate it (this gem is prismatic and so counts as 1 red, yellow and blue).
• Use any hit/expertise gems to help you reach the cap.
• Use Bold Cardinal Ruby +20 strength gems in all slots, unless you have a yellow gem slot that will give you a +6 strength socket bonus or more.  Then use an Inscribed Ametrine +10 strength/+10 crit.
• Unless you have a profession that provides a better enchant, or are enchanting for caps, enchants and enhancements are:
  • Head: Arcanum of Torment (Knights of the Ebon Blade - Revered)
  • Shoulder: Greater Inscription of the Axe (Sons of Hodir - Exalted)
  • Chest: Enchant Chest - Powerful Stats (+10 stats)
  • Wrist: Enchant Bracer - Greater Assault (+50 AP)
  • Hands: Enchant Gloves - Crusher (+44 AP)
  • Waist: Eternal Belt Buckle (Made by BS, BoE)
  • Legs: Icescale Leg Armor (Made by LW, BoE)
  • Feet: Enchant Boots - Greater Assualt (+32 AP)
  • Weapon: Enchant Weapon - Beserking