Paladin in WoW TBC
A plate-wearing champion of the Light with tank, healer and melee paths.
The Paladin toolkit uses mana and plate equipment. Its talent choice, equipment and group assignment determine how it feels in practice. Compare a leveling plan separately from the build you intend to use in raids or arena.
Protection suits prepared multi-target tanking, Holy focused healing, and Retribution melee support with optional timing-intensive seal twisting. All share Paladin utility, but that does not make their solo speed or raid assignment interchangeable. Try the job you expect to do most often.
Paladin specializations
Holy Paladin
Keep a priority target stable and plan movement before the cast.
Read the Holy Paladin guide →Protection Paladin
Build controlled multi-target pulls, with mana and positioning in mind.
Read the Protection Paladin guide →Retribution Paladin
Choose a melee support role with timing-sensitive seal play.
Read the Retribution Paladin guide →Which specialization fits your plans?
Protection suits prepared multi-target tanking, Holy focused healing, and Retribution melee support with optional timing-intensive seal twisting. All share Paladin utility, but that does not make their solo speed or raid assignment interchangeable. Try the job you expect to do most often.
Holy Paladin
Holy is often assigned to tank or focused healing. Compare Priest for broader group recovery and Druid for mobile healing. In arena, positioning and partner composition matter because opponents can punish cast dependence and restricted mobility.
Protection Paladin
Raid assignments depend on roster and encounter. Compare Warrior for active single-target tools and emergency cooldowns, or Feral for bear-to-cat flexibility. In PvP, durability does not substitute for a coordinated damage or healing role.
Retribution Paladin
A raid may want a Retribution utility slot while limiting additional melee positions. Arena success depends on partners, burst coordination and handling control. Compare Enhancement for a different support-melee rhythm and Arms for healing-reduction pressure.