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ForeverGuide

Protection vs Retribution Paladin

FreeBeta 1.60.1 data, 20 Sep

Two level 60 Paladin builds side by side: 30 talents differ and 3 are the same.

The two builds

Build A: Protection Paladin

Our pick — opinionProtection leveling build

0/38/13

Level
60
Points
51 of 51

16-point milestones

  • Swift Judgement

Build B: Retribution Paladin

Our pick — opinionRetribution leveling build

17/0/34

Level
60
Points
51 of 51

16-point milestones

  • Sacred Arbiter

Use this comparison

https://foreverguide.app/b/1p7fiyt1l5znml00000001e/vs/1p99r9i6yo0i00000000000lcjjaq

Both builds are our leveling picks: opinion, not confirmed by Blizzard. Why we picked them: Paladin leveling guide

Differences: 30 talents

Holy6 differences · 0 points in A, 17 in B

Talent Rank RankWhat the extra ranks give
Improved Holy Strike. Only build B takes it.Build A: not takenBuild B: 2/2Build B, rank 2: Reduces the cooldown of your Holy Strike ability by 2 sec.
Divine Strength. Only build B takes it.Build A: not takenBuild B: 5/5Build B, rank 5: Increases your Strength by 10%.
Improved Seals. Only build B takes it.Build A: not takenBuild B: 3/3Build B, rank 3: Increases the damage done by your Seals and Judgements by 15%.
Unyielding Faith. Only build B takes it.Build A: not takenBuild B: 2/2Build B, rank 2: Reduces the duration of Fear and Disorient effects on you by 30%.
Reverence. Only build B takes it.Build A: not takenBuild B: 3/3Build B, rank 3: Allows 30% of your Mana regeneration to continue while casting.
Purifying Power. Only build B takes it.Build A: not takenBuild B: 2/2Build B, rank 2: Reduces the mana cost of your Cleanse and Purify spells by 20% and reduces the cooldown of your Exorcism and Holy Wrath spells by 34%.

Protection13 differences · 38 points in A, 0 in B

Talent Rank RankWhat the extra ranks give
Toughness. Only build A takes it.Build A: 5/5Build B: not takenBuild A, rank 5: Increases your armor value from items by 10%.
Redoubt. Only build A takes it.Build A: 5/5Build B: not takenBuild A, rank 5: Increases your chance to block attacks with your shield by 30% after being the victim of a critical strike. Lasts 10 sec or 5 blocks.
Precision. Only build A takes it.Build A: 3/3Build B: not takenBuild A, rank 3: Increases your chance to hit with all spells and attacks by 3%.
Improved Seal of Fury. Only build A takes it.Build A: 1/1Build B: not takenBuild A, rank 1: When Seal of Fury's shield is fully absorbed, restore 38 Mana, increased by 15% per level the attacker is above you, up to 45%.
Improved Righteous Fury. Only build A takes it.Build A: 3/3Build B: not takenBuild A, rank 3: While Righteous Fury is active, all damage taken is reduced by 6%.
Shield Specialization. Only build A takes it.Build A: 3/3Build B: not takenBuild A, rank 3: Increases the amount of damage absorbed by your shield by 30%, and gives your blocks a 100% chance to restore 6% of your maximum Mana. May only occur once every 3 sec.
Sacred Duty. Only build A takes it.Build A: 2/2Build B: not takenBuild A, rank 2: Increases your total Stamina by 4% and reduces the cooldown of your Divine Shield, Divine Protection, and Templar's Bulwark spells by 60 sec.
Swift Judgement16-point milestone. Only build A takes it.Build A: 1/1Build B: not takenBuild A, rank 1: Finishes the remaining cooldown on your Judgement ability and reduces the Mana cost of your next Judgement by 100%.
One-Handed Weapon Specialization. Only build A takes it.Build A: 3/3Build B: not takenBuild A, rank 3: Increases the damage you deal with one-handed melee weapons by 9%.
Templar's Bulwark. Only build A takes it.Build A: 1/1Build B: not takenBuild A, rank 1: When activated, this ability grants you an absorb shield equal to 100% of your maximum health for 8 sec. Applies Forbearance for 1 min. Cannot be cast while Forbearance is active.
Reckoning. Only build A takes it.Build A: 5/5Build B: not takenBuild A, rank 5: Gives you a 40% chance to gain an extra attack after Blocking a melee attack and a 100% chance to gain an extra attack after being the victim of a non-periodic critical strike.
Iron Creed. Only build A takes it.Build A: 5/5Build B: not takenBuild A, rank 5: Increases the threat generated by your Holy Strike ability 25%. While Righteous Fury is active, Holy Strike also reduces your damage taken by 10% for 6 sec.
Holy Shield. Only build A takes it.Build A: 1/1Build B: not takenBuild A, rank 1: Increases chance to block by 20% for 10 sec, and deals 110 Holy damage for each attack blocked while active. Damage caused by Holy Shield causes 20% additional threat. Each block expends a charge. 4 charges.

Retribution11 differences · 13 points in A, 34 in B

Talent Rank RankWhat the extra ranks give
Holy Conduit. Both take it, at different ranks.Build A: 1/2Build B: 2/2Build A, rank 1: Reduces the mana cost of your Consecration, Holy Wrath, Exorcism, and Hammer of Wrath spells by 20%. Build B, rank 2: Reduces the mana cost of your Consecration, Holy Wrath, Exorcism, and Hammer of Wrath spells by 40%.
Sanctified Judgement. Only build B takes it.Build A: not takenBuild B: 3/3Build B, rank 3: Gives your Judgement ability a 100% chance to return 60% of the Mana cost of the judged seal.
Seal of Command. Only build B takes it.Build A: not takenBuild B: 1/1Build B, rank 1: Gives the Paladin a chance to deal additional Holy damage equal to 70% of normal weapon damage. Only one Seal can be active on the Paladin at any one time. Lasts 30 sec. Unleashing this Seal's energy will judge an enemy, instantly causing 68 to 73 Holy damage, 137 to 146 if the target is stunned or incapacitated.
Pursuit of Justice. Only build B takes it.Build A: not takenBuild B: 2/2Build B, rank 2: Increases movement and mounted movement speed by 8%. This does not stack with other movement speed increasing effects.
Sacred Arbiter16-point milestone. Only build B takes it.Build A: not takenBuild B: 1/1Build B, rank 1: Increases the damage of your Holy Strike ability by 10% and causes it to refresh all Judgement effects on the target.
Crusade. Only build B takes it.Build A: not takenBuild B: 2/2Build B, rank 2: Increases all damage dealt by 2%. Increased by an additional 2% against Demon and Undead targets.
Two-Handed Weapon Specialization. Only build B takes it.Build A: not takenBuild B: 3/3Build B, rank 3: Increases the damage you deal with two-handed melee weapons by 9%.
Vengeance. Only build B takes it.Build A: not takenBuild B: 3/3Build B, rank 3: Gives you a 9% bonus to Physical and Holy damage you deal for 8 sec after dealing a critical strike from a weapon swing, spell, or ability.
Repentance. Only build B takes it.Build A: not takenBuild B: 1/1Build B, rank 1: Puts the enemy target in a state of meditation, incapacitating them for up to 6 sec. Any damage caused will awaken the target. Only works against Humanoids.
Champion of the Light. Only build B takes it.Build A: not takenBuild B: 3/3Build B, rank 3: Increases your spell damage and healing by up to 99% of your Intellect.
Twist of Light. Only build B takes it.Build A: not takenBuild B: 1/1Build B, rank 1: When you replace your Seal of Command, Seal of Righteousness, Seal of Fury, or Seal of Justice with a different Seal, gain an Echo. Your next melee attack applies the replaced Seal's effects, consuming the Echo.

3 talents are the same in both builds, at the same rank. The full comparison lists them and draws both trees.

Talent data: public community datasets, Forever beta build 1.60.1.69893. Numbers can change in any later build or patch. Icon credits