Protection Paladin Tank Guide & Best Runes – Phase 4 Season of Discovery (SoD)

Welcome to the SoD Phase 4 Protection Paladin Tank Guide!

This guide focuses exclusively on the Protection specialization, exploring key components such as Runes, Talent Trees, Stat Priorities, Rotations & Abilities, Best Professions, BiS (Best in Slot) items, and Race Choices. The new Rune System introduced in the Season of Discovery has vastly improved Protection Paladin Tank’s performance, fixing issues such as Threat Generation and lack of Defensive Cooldowns. It also greatly increased the overall utility a Protection Paladin can provide.

Talents

• Vindication Build
• Consecration Build

In Phase 4, many of our abilities were heavily changed to have a better overall performance in direct relation to Block Value. With those changes, talents such as Redoubt and Shield Specialization become very important to us. Additionally, since Vindication was also enhanced as a result of the overhaul of the Vindicator rune, we will also want to spend talent points on it for that 15% Attack Power increase. Alternatively, we can forgo Vindication and max out Anticipation in case we face survivability issues.

This is another viable build that focuses on Consecration, being best suited for Cleave and AoE encounters. This build will be more useful for dungeons where large packs of mobs can be encountered.

Runes

• Helm: Improved Sanctuary
• Cloak: Shield of Righteousness
• Chest: Aegis
• Wrist: Hammer of the Righteous
• Hands: Hand of Reckoning
• Waist: Malleable Protection/Sheath of Light
• Legs: Hand of Sacrifice/Aura Mastery/Avenger’s Shield
• Feet: Guarded by the Light/The Art of War
• Ring: Defense Specialization
• Ring: Holy Specialization

Stat Priority

1. Stamina
2. Armor
3. Defense
4. Block Value
5. Resistance Gear (Fire Resistance/Shadow Resistance/Frost Resistance)
6. Strength
7. Attack Power
8. Critical Strike Chance
9. Agility
10. Intellect

Rotations & Abilities

Single-Target Rotation

1. Buff yourself with Blessing of Sanctuary
2. Cast Righteous Fury and maintain it
3. Prioritize Divine Protection for heavy Burst Damage if you choose the Malleable Protection rune
4. Cast Holy Shield on cooldown
   • Cast Holy Shield on cooldown and aim to upkeep it 100% of the time with the T1 6-item set bonus
5. Cast Seal of the Crusader
   • Cast Judgement while the Seal of the Crusader is active if there is no other paladin to apply it
6. Cast Seal of Martyrdom and upkeep it
   • Cast Judgement on cooldown while the Seal of Martyrdom is active
7. Alternate between Seal of Martyrdom and Seal of Righteousness
8. Cast Shield of Righteousness on cooldown
9. Cast Exorcism on cooldown
10. If you pick the Consecration Build
    • Cast Consecration on cooldown as long as you don’t run OoM

AoE Rotation

1. Buff yourself with Blessing of Sanctuary
2. Cast Righteous Fury and maintain it
3. Cast Holy Shield on cooldown
   • Cast Holy Shield on cooldown and aim to upkeep it 100% of the time with the T1 6-item set bonus
4. Cast Avenger’s Shield as an opener and on cooldown if you choose the Avenger’s Shield rune
5. Cast Hammer of the Righteous on cooldown
6. If you pick the Consecration Build
   • Cast Consecration on cooldown as long as you don’t run OoM
7. Cast Holy Wrath on cooldown if your target is Undead/Demon

Best Professions

Blacksmithing

Blacksmithing has always been one of the iconic professions for any plate-wearing Class, and that remains true in the Season of Discovery as well. Additionally, Blacksmithing provides access to the new epic items available in SoD besides the usual items.

Engineering

Engineering has long been seen as one of the best professions for PvE, bringing many gadgets, bombs, and specialized items. Furthermore, Engineering grants new special recipes in the Season of Discovery which can significantly enhance your overall performance.

Best Races

The Paladin Class can only be picked by the Alliance, with only Humans and Dwarves being able to select it. For Protection Paladin Tank, the best possible race is Dwarf since it has access to Stoneform. Additionally, with the arrival of the new ring runes, Human and Dwarf are on equal terms regarding their overall weapon racials, as Sword Specialization and Mace Specialization can now be used to grant Dwarf the same type of racial bonus which Human possesses.

Human

• The Human Spirit, Sword Specialization, Mace Specialization, Perception, Diplomacy

Dwarf

• Stoneform, Frost Resistance, Gun Specialization, Find Treasure