!A fantasy human paladin wielding a glowing two-handed sword

WoW Forever Beta Retribution Paladin DPS Guide

Retribution Paladin is the melee DPS spec for Paladins in WoW Forever beta. With AoE consecration, Blessings, and 2H weapon DPS, Ret is solid. This guide covers talent build, rotation, gear, and best races.

For broader Paladin info, see our Paladin Guide, Holy Paladin, Protection Paladin, and Best Race for Each Class articles.

Quick summary: Best Retribution Paladin race: Human (+Sword Spec + Spirit) or Undead (Will of the Forsaken). Talent priority: Improved Seal of the Crusader → Vengeance → Two-Handed Weapon Spec. Rotation: Seal of Command + Judgement + Consecration. Stat priority: Strength > Hit > Crit > Agility.

Why Retribution Paladin is strong

Strengths

• Blessings for party (Kings, Might, Wisdom)
• Auras for party (Devotion Aura)
• Consecration (AoE threat + damage)
• Holy Shield (block buff)
• Lay on Hands (free full heal)
• Divine Shield (Bubble, immunity)
• Avenger’s Shield (ranged pull)
• Seal of Command (instant proc)

Weaknesses

• Slow sustained DPS vs dedicated melee
• Mana-dependent for Judgement and seals
• Plate wear but lower damage than Rogue/Warrior
• Limited mobility during casts

Best races for Retribution Paladin

S tier

Race	Faction	Why
Human	Alliance	+Sword Spec + Spirit scaling
Undead	Horde	Will of the Forsaken (PvP)

A tier

Race	Faction	Why
Skyborne	Both	Wind Blessed + Elemental Insight
Dwarf	Alliance	Stoneform + Mace Spec

B tier

Race	Faction	Why
Tauren	Horde	Endurance + War Stomp
Orc	Horde	Blood Fury + Axe Spec

Verdict: Human for Sword Spec + Spirit scaling, Undead for PvP (Will of the Forsaken).

Talent build (level 10-30)

Tier 1: Core Retribution talents

1. Improved Seal of the Crusader (3/3) — +Seal of the Crusader bonus
2. Vengeance (5/5) — +5% crit chance
3. Conviction (5/5) — +1% hit with melee

Tier 2: Damage boosts

1. Improved Seal of Command (2/2) — +proc rate
2. Improved Judgement (2/2) — +judgement damage
3. Eye for an Eye (3/3) — return damage on attacker
4. Improved Retribution Aura (2/2) — +damage on hit

Tier 3: Advanced talents

1. Vindication (3/3) — reduce target attack power
2. Repentance (1/1) — long stun (PvP)
3. Improved Seal of Righteousness (5/5) — +damage
4. Two-Handed Weapon Specialization (5/5) — +damage with 2H

Endgame (level 30+)

1. Sanctified Seal (3/3) — +Seal damage
2. Vengeance (already in tree)
3. Avenging Wrath (1/1) — major cooldown
4. Improved Sanctity Aura (3/3) — +Holy damage
5. Fanaticism (3/3) — +crit on Judgement
6. Crusade (3/3) — +damage on consecration
7. Sanctified Retribution (1/1) — +party damage (level 30+)

Rotation (level 20)

Single-target rotation

1. Blessing of Might (party buff)
2. Blessing of Kings (party buff)
3. Devotion Aura (always active)
4. Seal of Command (active seal)
5. Judgement on cooldown
6. Consecration on cooldown (AoE + damage)
7. Auto attacks (main damage source)

AoE rotation

1. Consecration (AoE damage)
2. Avenger’s Shield (ranged pull + silence)
3. Hammer of Justice (stun for CC)
4. Holy Shield (block + threat)
5. Exorcism (extra damage on undead)
6. Auto attacks with seal procs

Pre-pull setup

1. Blessing of Might (party)
2. Devotion Aura (active)
3. Seal of Command (active seal)
4. Avenger’s Shield (ranged pull, optional)

Stat priority

Raid DPS

1. Strength (primary, attack power)
2. Hit (until 9% cap)
3. Crit (25%+ ideal)
4. Agility (crit + armor)
5. Stamina (survivability)

PvP

1. Stamina (survivability)
2. Strength (damage)
3. Crit (burst)
4. Hit (9% cap)
5. Resilience (when available)

Pre-bis gear checklist (level 20)

Slot	Best in slot	Source
Head	Lionheart Helm	Blackrock Depths (40+)
Shoulders	Slamshot Shoulders	Quest reward
Chest	Ironforge Breastplate	Ironforge Honored
Legs	Dark Iron Leggings	BRD (40+)
Boots	Mithril Boots	BS crafting
Weapon (2H)	Tharsh Blade	Hall of Thanes
Trinket	Excavator’s Trowel	Brogdul rare drop

PvP strategy

Defense

• Divine Shield (Bubble, 5 min CD)
• Blessing of Protection (BoP, 5 min CD)
• Lay on Hands (free full heal)
• Forbearance (debuff after BoP, 30 sec)
• Forbearance (avoid Divine Shield + BoP overlap)

Damage

• Seal of Command (instant proc)
• Judgement on cooldown
• Consecration for AoE
• Holy Shock (instant damage + heal)
• Exorcism (extra damage on undead)

Crowd control

• Hammer of Justice (3 sec stun)
• Avenger’s Shield (silence)
• Repentance (level 30+, long stun)
• Blessing of Freedom (free ally from CC)

Common Retribution Paladin questions

Is Retribution Paladin viable at level 20?

Yes — solid DPS, decent utility.

Which race is best for Retribution Paladin?

Human (Sword Spec) or Undead (PvP).

When does Avenging Wrath unlock?

Level 30 (Phase 2).

Is Retribution Paladin good for leveling?

Yes — Blessings help solo, Consecration is good AoE.

How much Strength at level 20?

~150 Strength is competitive.

Common Retribution Paladin mistakes

Mistake	Cost	Fix
Forgetting Blessing of Might	Lost party buff	Maintain before combat
Not judging on cooldown	Lost damage	Use every 10 sec
Wasting Divine Shield	Death without CD	Save for emergency
Standing in melee range	Death	Use range Judgement

Phase 2 Retribution Paladin preview

At level 30, Avenging Wrath unlocks (major burst CD). Crusade talent ranks up. Sanctified Retribution adds party damage. Consecration cooldown reduces.

Final verdict

Best Retribution Paladin race: Human (Sword Spec) or Undead (PvP)

Best Retribution Paladin talents:

• Improved Seal of Command + Vengeance + Two-Handed Weapon Spec
• Avenging Wrath + Fanaticism + Crusade

Best rotation: Seal of Command + Judgement + Consecration + auto attacks

Whatever your race, Retribution Paladin is a solid DPS in WoW Forever with unique utility (Blessings + Auras + Lay on Hands).

For more Paladin info, see our Paladin Guide, Holy Paladin, Protection Paladin, and Best Race for Each Class articles.