Protection Paladin Tank PVE Guide – WotLK

Welcome to the PVE Protection Paladin Tank Guide for World of Warcraft Wrath of the Lich King!

In this guide, you’ll learn how to play a Protection Paladin tank in a raid. It covers talents, glyphs, gems, enchantments, rotation, and gameplay tips.

This is a core build for a Protection Paladin main tank. You have two remaining talent points. It’s recommend to allocate them to Pursuit of Justice, Judgements of the Just or Vindication.

Major Glyphs

• Glyph of Divine Plea
• Glyph of Hammer of the Righteous
• Glyph of Seal of Vengeance

Minor Glyphs

• Glyph of Sense Undead
• Glyph of Blessing of Kings
• Glyph of Lay on Hands

Gems are situational and depend on the build and equipment. They are used to reach the required stat caps.

• Meta – Austere Earthsiege Diamond
• Red – Shifting Dreadstone x1, Regal Dreadstone x1, or Sovereign Dreadstone x1
• Yellow – Enduring Eye of Zul
• Blue – Solid Majestic Zircon

• Head – Arcanum of the Stalwart Protector
• Shoulder – Greater Inscription of the Gladiator or Greater Inscription of the Pinnacle
• Cloak – Enchant Cloak – Mighty Armor, Enchant Cloak – Major Agility, or Enchant Cloak – Titanweave
• Chest – Enchant Chest – Super Health or Enchant Chest – Greater Defense
• Bracers – Enchant Bracers – Major Stamina
• Gloves – Enchant Gloves – Armsman or Heavy Borean Armor Kit
• Waist – Eternal Belt Buckle
• Legs – Frosthide Leg Armor
• Boots – Enchant Boots – Tuskarr’s Vitality or Enchant Boots – Greater Fortitude
• Weapon – Enchant Weapon – Blade Ward or Enchant Weapon Mongoose
• Shield – Enchant Shield – Major Stamina or Enchant Shield – Defense

In simple terms, the Protection Paladin primarily follows one rotation known as the 969 rotation. This rotation utilizes five skills: two with a 6-second cooldown and three with a 9-second cooldown. The sequence is to use a skill with a 9-second cooldown, followed by a skill with a 6-second cooldown, then another 9-second skill, and another 6-second skill, and so on.

1. Maintain Sacred Shield
2. Use Avenger’s Shield and/or Exorcism (see notes)
3. Use Holy Shield
4. Use Hammer of the Righteous
5. Use Judgement of Light / Judgement of Wisdom
6. Use Shield of Righteousness
7. Use Consecration

1. Use Avenger’s Shield and/or Exorcism (see notes)
2. Use Holy Shield
3. Use Hammer of the Righteous
4. Use Consecration
5. Use Shield of Righteousness
6. Use Judgement of Light / Judgement of Wisdom
7. Use Hammer of the Righteous
8. Use Holy Shield

• Use Seal of Vengeance for Single Target or Seal of Command for AoE (multiple targets).
• Use Exorcism to pull only while not being attacked due to cast time, cast Avenger’s Shield immediately afterwards.
• Use Holy Wrath before Hammer of the Righteous in the AoE rotation when fighting Undead or Demons.

Stat Priority

1. Defense
2. Stamina
3. Armor
4. Expertise & Hit Rating
5. Strength
6. Parry, Dodge
7. Block

Defense rating over 540 is mandatory to be the main tank, as it makes you uncrittable. Hit cap for raids is 8% (263 rating) or at least 5% (164 rating) against level 80 mobs if you’re just starting. Expertise cap is 26, which can be easily acquired through Combat Expertise, Glyph of Seal of Vengeance, racial weapon passives, and gear.

Stamina & Armor are self-explanatory – the more the merrier. Strength isn’t a priority for a tank. Parry, Dodge, and Block are left out for last because Defense already increases all of them. It’s worth mentioning that Block is last on the list because it only reduces the damage, not mitigates it completely.

• Helm – Sanctified Lightsworn Faceguard
• Necklace – Marrowgar’s Scratching Choker or Noose of Malachite
• Shoulder – Sanctified Lightsworn Shoulderguards
• Cloak – Royal Crimson Cloak
• Chest – Sanctified Lightsworn Chestguard
• Bracers – Bracers of Dark Reckoning
• Gloves – Sanctified Lightsworn Handguards
• Waist – Belt of Broken Bones
• Legs – Legguards of Lost Hope
• Feet – Treads of Impending Resurrection
• Rings
  • Juggernaut Band
  • Ashen Band of Endless Courage
• Trinkets – Corroded Skeleton Key, Sindragosa’s Flawless Fang, or Satrina’s Impeding Scarab
• Weapons
  • Main Hand – Mithrios, Bronzebeard’s Legacy
  • Shield – Icecrown Glacial Wall