WoW SoD Ret Paladin: Phase 5 BiS, Talents & Runes (2025)

WoW SoD Ret Paladin Talents & Runes

Choose the following talents and runes as a Ret Paladin for Phase 5 at level 60:

Loading...

With this talent build and runes, you can play your Ret Pala in both playstyles: Exodin and Seal Twisting. If you play the Seal Twisting style, use the rune Improved Hammer of Wrath instead of Purifying Power. Learn where to find each rune in our guide WoW SoD Paladin Runes.

SoD Phase 5 Retribution Paladin BiS List

The following Retribution Paladin BiS list contains the best items you can get in Phase 5 of Season of Discovery:

• Head (Syncretist's Sigil)
  Judgement Crown (Blackwing Lair)
• Neck
  Ada's Amulet (Blood of the Lightbringer from Blackwing Lair)
• Shoulders (Atal'ai Signet of Might)
  Judgement Spaulders (Blackwing Lair)
• Back (Enchant Cloak - Lesser Agility)
  Cloak of Draconic Might (Blackwing Lair)
• Chest (Enchant Chest - Greater Stats)
  Judgement Breastplate (Blackwing Lair)
• Wrist (Enchant Bracer - Superior Strength)
  Judgement Bindings (sold for 125 Tarnished Undermine Real by Pix Xizzix in Booty Bay, Stranglethorn Vale)
• Hands (Enchant Gloves - Minor Haste)
  Judgement Gauntlets ( Blackwing Lair)
  Sacrificial Gauntlets ( Zul'Gurub)
• Waist
  Judgement Belt (Prince Thunderaan)
• Legs (Arcanum of Rapidity)
  Judgement Legplates (Blackwing Lair)
• Feet (Enchant Boots - Greater Agility)
  Judgement Sabatons ( Blackwing Lair)
  Chromatic Boots ( Blackwing Lair)
• Rings
  Circle of Applied Force (Blackwing Lair)
  Quick Strike Ring (Molten Core)
• Trinkets
  Wrath of Wray (Prince Thunderaan)
  Hand of Justice (Blackrock Depths)
• Two-Handed Weapon (Enchant Weapon - Crusader)
  Truthbearer ( Blood of the Lightbringer from Blackwing Lair)
  The Untamed Blade ( Blackwing Lair)
• Libram
  Libram of Plenty (sold for 25 Tarnished Undermine Real by Pix Xizzix in Booty Bay, Stranglethorn Vale)

Legend: Items marked with are BiS for Exodin, while items marked with are BiS for seal-twisting.

If you’re playing the seal-twisting variant, use the following enchants: Enchant Gloves - Greater Strength, Zandalar Signet of Might, and replace Arcanum of Rapidity on your legs with Syncretist's Sigil.

SoD Phase 4 Ret Paladin BiS List

The following Retribution Paladin BiS list contains the best items you can get in Phase 4 of Season of Discovery to DPS in raids and dungeons:

• Head (Arcanum of Rapidity)
  Soulforge Greathelm (Saving the Best for Last) ¹
  Lawbringer Crown (Molten Core) ³
• Neck
  Eskhandar's Collar (Onyxia)
• Shoulders (Atal'ai Signet of Might)
  Soulforge Spaulders (Anthion's Parting Words) ²
  Lawbringer Spaulders (Molten Core) ³
• Back (Enchant Cloak - Lesser Agility)
  Majordomo's Drape (Molten Core)
• Chest (Enchant Chest - Greater Stats)
  Wailing Berserker's Chestplate (Sunken Temple)
  Lawbringer Breastplate (Molten Core) ³
• Wrist (Enchant Bracer - Superior Strength)
  Wristguards of Instability (Molten Core)
  Lawbringer Warbands (Molten Core) ³
• Hands (Enchant Gloves - Minor Haste)
  Flameguard Gauntlets (Molten Core)
• Waist
  Onslaught Girdle (Molten Core)
• Legs (Arcanum of Rapidity)
  Wailing Berserker's Legplates (Sunken Temple)
  Lawbringer Leggings (Molten Core) ³
• Feet (Enchant Boots - Greater Agility)
  Wailing Berserker's Battleboots (Sunken Temple)
  Lawbringer Battleboots (Molten Core) ³
• Rings
  Quick Strike Ring (Molten Core)
  Resin Loop (Demon Fall Canyon)
• Trinkets
  Hand of Justice (Blackrock Depths)
  Accursed Chalice (Demon Fall Canyon)
• Two-Handed Weapon (Enchant Weapon - Crusader)
  Sulfuras, Hand of Ragnaros (Molten Core)
• Libram
  Libram of the Consecrated (Demon Fall Canyon)

¹ This quest requires Lightforge Helm from Scholomance and Lightforge Breastplate from Upper Blackrock Spire to complete.
² This quest requires Lightforge Legplates from Stratholme, Lightforge Boots from Stratholme, and Lightforge Spaulders from Upper Blackrock Spire to complete.
³ The Lawbringer Radiance set pieces provide slightly less DPS than their alternatives. It is recommended to collect the Lawbringer Radiance set pieces nonetheless, in case Blizzard is nerfing the Sunken Temple set or buffing the Lawbringer Radiance in a future patch.

Fire Resistance for Heat Level 2 and Heat Level 3

To raid the more difficult heat levels in Molten Core you need to hit Fire Resistance thresholds. For Heat Level 2 you need at least 96 Fire Resistance and for Heat Level 3 you need at least 226 Fire Resistance. To increase your Fire Resistance you can equip gear, utilize enchantments, use consumables, and use buffs or activate your Fire Resistance Aura.

Use the following sources to increase your Fire Resistance to the required threshold:

• Mark of the Wild (up to 27 Fire Resistance if improved)
• Lesser Arcanum of Resilience (Head & Legs Enchants, Libram of Resilience)
• Blessed Flame Mantle of the Dawn (Argent Dawn – Exalted), Flame Mantle of the Dawn (Argent Dawn – Revered)
• Hydraxian Coronation (Hydraxian Waterlords – Honored)
• Juju Ember (Shardtooth E'ko at 61.8 38.2 in Winterspring)
• Magic Resistance Potion (does not stack with Mark of the Wild or Fire Resistance Aura)
• Miniaturized Fire Extinguisher (Demon Fall Canyon)
• Onyxia Tooth Pendant (Head of Onyxia)
• Shining Chromatic Gauntlets (Lokhtos Darkbargainer in Blackrock Depths)
• Devilcore Gauntlets & Devilcore Leggings (Leatherworking)
• Ocean's Breeze (A Hero's Reward)
• Blazefury Medallion (Lord Kazzak in Blasted Lands)
• Pyremail Wristguards of Power (Blackrock Depths)
• Wildfire Cape (Upper Blackrock Spire)
• Drakefire Amulet (Blackrock Spire)
• Fire Resistance Aura (does not stack with Mark of the Wild. Try to avoid using this aura if possible)

Using Fire Resistance items often results in a DPS loss in comparison to your BiS list. After you’ve acquired new raid items recalculate your Fire Resistance and re-optimize your gear loadout.

🔥 Since the boss Garr from Molten Core can dispel magic effects, you should make sure your Paladin is hitting the Fire Resistance threshold without Mark of the Wild for that specific fight. This might require you to have some off-pieces for that boss fight.

SoD Ret Paladin Pre-Raid BiS List

The following Retribution Paladin BiS list contains the best items you can get in Phase 4 of Season of Discovery before entering the endgame raids at level 60.

• Head (Arcanum of Rapidity)
  Soulforge Greathelm (Saving the Best for Last) ¹
  Tempered Interference-Negating Helmet (Blacksmithing)
  Eye of Rend (Upper Blackrock Spire)
  Greathelm of the Nightmare (Sunken Temple)
• Neck
  Mark of Fordring (In Dreams from Highlord Taelan Fordring in the northern part of Western Plaguelands)
  Amulet of the Darkmoon (Darkmoon Faire)
• Shoulders (Atal'ai Signet of Might)
  Soulforge Spaulders (Anthion's Parting Words) ²
  Defiler's Plate Spaulders (Arathi Basin – Exalted)
  Spaulders of Fanaticism (Sunken Temple)
• Back (Enchant Cloak - Lesser Agility)
  Cloak of the Honor Guard (Arathi Basin – Honored)
  Cape of the Black Baron (Stratholme Undead)
  Shroud of Domination (Upper Blackrock Spire)
• Chest (Enchant Chest - Greater Stats)
  Wailing Berserker's Chestplate (Sunken Temple) ⁴
  Savage Gladiator Chain (Blackrock Depths)
  Cadaverous Armor (Scholomance)
  Soulforge Breastplate (Saving the Best for Last) ¹
• Wrist (Enchant Bracer - Superior Strength)
  Berserker Bracers (Warsong Gulch – Exalted)
  Soulforge Bracers (An Earnest Proposition)
• Hands (Enchant Gloves - Minor Haste)
  Soulforge Gauntlets (Just Compensation) ³
  Fiery Plate Gauntlets of the Hidden Technique (Blacksmithing)
  Gauntlets of Valor (Stratholme)
  Disease-Ridden Plate Fists (Sunken Temple)
• Waist
  Brigam Girdle (Upper Blackrock Spire)
  Soulforge Waistguard (Just Compensation) ³
• Legs (Arcanum of Rapidity)
  Wailing Berserker's Legplates (Sunken Temple) ⁴
  Cloudkeeper Legplates (World Drop)
• Feet (Enchant Boots - Greater Agility)
  Wailing Berserker's Battleboots (Sunken Temple) ⁴
  Soulforge Warboots (Anthion's Parting Words) ²
  Boots of Valor (Scholomance)
  Bloodmail Boots (Scholomance)
• Rings
  Resin Loop (Demon Fall Canyon)
  Don Julio's Band (Alterac Valley – Exalted)
  Protector's Band (Warsong Gulch – Honored)
  Painweaver Band (Upper Blackrock Spire)
• Trinkets
  Hand of Justice (Blackrock Depths)
  Accursed Chalice (Demon Fall Canyon)
  Darkmoon Card: Sandstorm (Darkmoon Faire)
  Blackhand's Breadth (Upper Blackrock Spire)
• Two-Handed Weapon (Enchant Weapon - Crusader)
  Impervious Giant (Blackrock Depths)
  Sul'thraze the Lasher (Zul'Farrak)
  Barovian Family Sword (Scholomance)
  Angerforge's Battle Axe (Blackrock Depths)
• Libram
  Libram of the Consecrated (Demon Fall Canyon)

¹ This quest requires Lightforge Helm from Scholomance and Lightforge Breastplate from Upper Blackrock Spire to complete.
² This quest requires Lightforge Legplates from Stratholme, Lightforge Boots from Stratholme, and Lightforge Spaulders from Upper Blackrock Spire to complete.
³ This quest requires Lightforge Belt and Lightforge Gauntlets to complete. Both items drop in Stratholme.
⁴ Use this item only if you have all three pieces of the set.
⁵ This quest requires Lightforge Bracers from Scholomance to complete. Additionally, you need 15 Winterspring Blood Sample from Frostsabers like Frostsaber Cub and Frostsaber Stalker in the northern corner of Winterspring.

If you are not Seal Twisting, you want to use fast weapons like those shown above. If you’re Seal Twisting, you want to use slow weapons like The Unstoppable Force (Alterac Valley – Exalted) or Blackblade of Shahram (Upper Blackrock Spire).

Ret Paladin Rotation

The rotation as a Ret Paladin in WoW SoD consists of the following priority list:

1. Keep Seal of Martyrdom up.
2. Cast Hammer of Wrath if it’s available (execute phase).
3. Cast Exorcism whenever it’s available.
4. Cast Crusader Strike whenever it’s available.
5. Cast Consecration when it’s available.
6. Cast Judgement whenever it’s available. Recast Seal of Martyrdom after Judgement.
7. Cast Divine Storm when it’s available.

Currently, most of your rotation is just casting Exorcism whenever it’s available. The other spells are filler for times when Exorcism isn’t ready. If you’re using a slow two-handed weapon, like Sulfuras, Hand of Ragnaros, swap Divine Storm with Exorcism in this priority list.

Ret Paladin Consumables in SoD

The following list of consumables can be used by Ret Paladins in endgame raids at level 60:

• Flask of Supreme Power
• Juju Power / Elixir of Giants
• Elixir of the Mongoose / Elixir of Greater Agility
• Juju Might / Winterfall Firewater
• Blessed Sunfruit
• Elemental Sharpening Stone / Shadow Oil
• Dragonbreath Chili
• Greater Arcane Elixir / Arcane Elixir
• Major Mana Potion

Don’t use Elemental Sharpening Stone or Shadow Oil on your weapon, if you have Wild Strikes in your party.

SoD Phase 3 BiS List for Ret Paladins

The following Ret Paladin best-in-slot list contains the best items you can get in Phase 3 of Season of Discovery. You need to get loot from the 20-man raid Sunken Temple and do PvP to get the best items in the game.

• Head (Lesser Arcanum of Voracity)
  Tempered Interference-Negating Helmet (Blacksmithing)
  Greathelm of the Nightmare (Sunken Temple)
• Neck
  Bloodstained Charm of Valor (Sunken Temple)
• Shoulders (Atal'ai Signet of Might)
  Shoulderplates of Dread (Blacksmithing)
  Spaulders of Fanaticism (Sunken Temple)
• Back (Enchant Cloak - Lesser Agility)
  Panther Fur Cloak (Sunken Temple)
• Chest (Enchant Chest - Stats)
  Wailing Berserker's Chestplate (Sunken Temple)
• Wrist (Enchant Bracer - Superior Strength)
  Void-Powered Slayer's Vambraces (Engineering)
  Berserker Bracers (Warsong Gulch – Exalted)
• Hands (Enchant Gloves - Greater Strength)
  Disease-Ridden Plate Fists (Sunken Temple)
• Waist
  Atal'alarion's Tusk Band (Sunken Temple)
• Legs (Lesser Arcanum of Voracity)
  Wailing Berserker's Legplates (Sunken Temple)
• Feet (Enchant Boots - Greater Agility)
  Wailing Berserker's Battleboots (Sunken Temple)
• Rings
  Drakeclaw Band of the Berserker (Sunken Temple)
  Band of the Wilds (12 Wild Offering)
• Trinkets
  Darkmoon Card: Sandstorm (Darkmoon Faire)
  Breadth of the Beast (12 Wild Offering)
  Gyromatic Experiment 420b (Gnomeregan)
• Weapons (Weapon Counterweight)
  Manual Crowd Pummeler (Gnomeregan, BiS if on-use effect available)
  Sul'thraze the Lasher (Zul'Farrak)
• Libram
  Libram of Draconic Destruction (Stranglethorn Vale PvP event)
  Libram of Benediction (Gnomeregan)

Use our Epic Crafting Guide for Phase 3 to learn how to craft Tempered Interference-Negating Helmet and Shoulderplates of Dread.

Ret Paladin Stat Priority

As a Ret Paladin you want to prioritize gear with the following stats:

1. Up to 9% Hit Chance against level 60 raid bosses.
2. Crit Chance
3. Strength
4. Agility
5. Attack Power

Due to your finger runes, you only need to get 6% Hit Chance to reach the hit cap. After reaching the hit cap, more Hit Chance has no value for melee attacks.

Paladin Macros in WoW Classic

You can write very useful macros for a Paladin in WoW Classic to improve your gameplay. Find the most important macros in our guide “WoW Classic Paladin Macros“. You’ll learn how to write macros yourself by reading through the examples, too.

More Builds for Paladins in Season of Discovery

The Paladin is a hybrid in WoW Classic. Depending on the role you take on in a group, your Paladin will need a different build. The following builds are for your other roles: