Introduction
Welcome to our comprehensive guide on how to gear up your Retribution Paladin. In this guide, we will cover everything you need to know about choosing the right gear, including crafted items, enhancements, and trinkets. We understand that the sheer number of gear combinations can be overwhelming, so we will provide you with the tools and resources to make informed decisions.
Understanding Stats for Retribution
Before diving into the gear options, it’s important to have a solid understanding of how stats work for Retribution Paladins. If you need more information on this topic, our detailed Stats guide is a great resource to consult.
Raidbots: A Powerful Gearing Tool
Determining the best gear for your character can be a challenging task. That’s where Raidbots comes in. Utilizing this tool will give you a better understanding of how different items impact your performance. As you upgrade your gear, the values of various stats may fluctuate. Therefore, using an objective metric like Raidbots can be invaluable in making well-informed gearing decisions. If you’re new to Raidbots, don’t worry! We have a guide below that explains how to use it effectively.
The Power of Dragonflight Set Bonus
The Dragonflight Season 2 offers Retribution Paladins an enticing Tier Set bonus called “Heartfire Sentinel’s Authority.” This bonus enhances your abilities in the following ways:
- Paladin Retribution 10.1 Class Set 2pc — Increases damage and critical strike damage of Judgment and Hammer of Wrath by 10% and 15%, respectively. Hammer of Wrath also applies Greater Judgment to enemies.
- Paladin Retribution 10.1 Class Set 4pc — Enhances Greater Judgment’s effect, increasing the damage taken by the next Holy Power spender by 20% to 35%. Hammer of Wrath now hits 4 nearby targets for 20% of its damage.
These passive bonuses significantly boost the effectiveness of Judgment and Hammer of Wrath. It is highly recommended to aim for the full Tier Set to maximize your potential.
Gear Upgrades in Season 2
In Season 2, the Valor Upgrade system has been replaced by a new system that allows for item upgrades from a wider range of content. Two new currencies, Flightstones and Shadowflame Crests, have been introduced. These currencies can be obtained from various activities in the game and can be used to upgrade gear or create Crafted Gear up to iLvl 447, which is equivalent to late-Mythic Item Level. To learn more about the new Gear Upgrades system, refer to our dedicated page for detailed information.
Crafting Strategies for Retribution Paladins
Crafting plays a vital role in optimizing your gear. Here’s a step-by-step approach to follow:
Priority on Embellished Gear: Initially, focus on crafting embellished gear. This will provide a solid foundation for your character’s power. For more information on how to obtain and use embellished gear, refer to the section below.
Weapon: Once you have two embellished items, the next priority should be crafting a weapon. You may consider the Obsidian Seared Claymore, which costs 2 Spark of Shadowflame. Acquiring Sparks should not significantly restrict your ability to craft items.
Jewelry: After acquiring a weapon, consider crafting jewelry. Customizing the secondary stats based on your requirements is a significant advantage. Additionally, all crafted rings come with a socket, offering more versatility.
Non-Tier Slots: Fill out any low-item level non-tier slots, such as bracers, belt, and feet.
Additional Embellished Items: Finally, if desired, craft additional embellished items tailored to different content types.
When crafting gear, it’s recommended to use a missive to set the item’s secondary stats. Although simulating different options is advisable for optimal results, the Draconic Missive of the Aurora is a good default choice.
Choosing Embellishments for Different Content
The choice of embellishments depends on the type of content you primarily engage in. Here are some recommendations:
Raid: For raiding, you should consider either the Unstable Frostfire Belt, paired with an item containing the Shadowflame-Tempered Armor Patch, or two items equipped with the Shadowflame-Tempered Armor Patch. The difference between these options is minimal and may vary based on your gear.
Mythic+: In Mythic+ dungeons, several options are available. The Frostfire Legguards of Preparation are a strong choice, as the Haste effect procs on every new pack. This is especially useful since many bosses spawn additional enemies that can also trigger the effect. The Allied Wristguard of Companionship is a decent all-around embellishment, providing a significant damage increase for both single-target and AoE situations. Another option is the Unstable Frostfire Belt, which focuses more on single-target damage and can be advantageous during Tyrannical weeks.
Top Trinkets for Season 2
The Aberrus raid offers trinkets that outperform those from other sources in Season 2. Prioritize acquiring trinkets from raid content if possible. Here are the top trinkets for Retribution Paladins in Season 2:
Elementium Pocket Anvil: This trinket is one of the highest priority acquisitions. It excels in single-target situations and performs admirably in AoE scenarios. It features an on-use effect without sharing the usual shared trinket cooldown.
Beacon to the Beyond: With a massive damage output on activation, this trinket has a long cooldown. However, its effectiveness can vary due to the number of times it crits, which significantly impacts its overall damage contribution.
Ominous Chromatic Essence: A passive stat-stick with a modifiable secondary stat buff. When multiple raid members have this trinket set to different stats, they provide each other with additional small secondary stat buffs. It shines brightest when all buffs are available.
Neltharion’s Call to Chaos: This trinket occasionally procs a substantial Strength buff when using AoE abilities. It remains potent in single-target situations since Consecrated Blade and Empyrean Legacy can both trigger it passively. The uptime of the buff may vary, resulting in high variance.
Zaqali Chaos Grapnel: Another on-use damage trinket that performs consistently but lacks excitement. While not as powerful as the previous trinkets mentioned, it can serve as a suitable replacement until acquiring a top-tier option.
Conclusion
Mastering your gear is crucial for maximizing the potential of your Retribution Paladin. By following the guidelines in this guide and utilizing resources like Raidbots, you can make informed decisions and optimize your performance in any content you encounter. Remember, understanding the intricacies of your gear and its impact on your playstyle is the key to success. Happy gearing, and may the power of Dragonflight guide your crusade!
