How Do I Play Ret Paladin 11.2 for Max DPS? WoW 11.2: From Beginner to Boss Killer

 

The 11.2 Ret Paladin Guide: Maximize DPS, Survive, and Shine in Raids and Dungeons

Playing Retribution Paladin in World of Warcraft can be an exhilarating experience, especially if you're aiming to be a high-DPS powerhouse in both Mythic Plus dungeons and raids. In patch 11.2, Ret Paladin continues to shine as a spec capable of both explosive AoE (Area of Effect) damage and impressive single-target burst. If you’re wondering, “How do I play Ret Paladin 11.2 for max DPS?”—you’re in the right place! Whether you’re just starting to experiment with the spec or you’re already familiar with Paladin mechanics but need to fine-tune your performance, this guide will cover everything you need to know to maximize your DPS.

By the end of this guide, you’ll know which talent builds to use, the priority rotation for both AoE and single-target scenarios, and how to fully utilize Ret Paladin’s toolkit to blast your way through bosses and trash mobs alike.

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Understanding the Ret Paladin 11.2 Playstyle

To answer the burning question—how do I play Ret Paladin 11.2 for max DPS?—it’s essential to understand the core mechanics of Retribution Paladins in this patch.

At its heart, Retribution Paladin revolves around the Holy Power resource. This resource is generated through abilities like Blade of Justice, Judgment, and Hammer of Wrath, and it’s spent to cast your most powerful abilities, like Final Verdict and Divine Storm. The key to maximizing your DPS is understanding when and how to generate Holy Power efficiently, and then spending it wisely.

The Templar hero talent, in particular, plays a pivotal role in increasing your damage output in both single-target and AoE situations. With the right talent choices and ability rotation, you’ll be able to optimize your damage and handle both raid bosses and Mythic Plus trash mobs like a pro.

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Talents for Max DPS in WoW 11.2

So, let’s dive into the talent builds that will help you maximize your DPS output as a Ret Paladin in patch 11.2. Whether you’re tackling Mythic Plus dungeons or joining your guild in a raid, the right talents will allow you to adjust to different types of encounters.

Mythic Plus Talent Build for AoE Damage

In Mythic Plus dungeons, AoE damage is king. While boss encounters are still a priority, trash mobs can sometimes pose a threat, and you’ll want to be prepared to handle groups of enemies efficiently.

For max DPS in Mythic Plus dungeons, your talent build should focus on Divine Storm and Execution Sentence. Here's how the talent build breaks down:

• Divine Storm will allow you to hit multiple enemies at once, and this should be used regularly during AoE phases.

• Execution Sentence adds a solid burst of single-target damage, making it an invaluable tool when focusing on bosses or tougher enemies during the dungeon run.

Additionally, talents like Templar’s Vindication and Righteous Verdict will help enhance your boss damage while allowing you to generate Holy Power more efficiently.

Raid Talent Build for Single-Target Boss Damage

In raids, single-target DPS becomes your primary focus. With this in mind, you’ll want to opt for a build that leans heavily into your single-target abilities, while maintaining some level of AoE damage in case trash mobs need to be handled.

For max DPS in raid settings, focus on talents that give you more haste and crit for stronger single-target abilities like Final Verdict and Execution Sentence. The Templar hero talent fits perfectly into this, as it increases the damage of Templar’s Verdict and Final Verdict, which are the cornerstones of Ret Paladin’s single-target damage.

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The Ret Paladin Rotation for Max DPS

When it comes to DPS, the Ret Paladin rotation revolves around generating and spending Holy Power as efficiently as possible. Here’s the step-by-step breakdown for both single-target and AoE rotations:

Single-Target Rotation

In a single-target encounter, your primary goal is to ensure that your Holy Power generation and spending are always aligned with your cooldowns. This means you should follow this priority order:

1. Blade of Justice: Start with this to apply the Expurgation dot on your target. This is your first Holy Power generator.

2. Divine Toll: This is your ultimate Holy Power generator. It fires Judgments at multiple targets and generates up to two Holy Power per Judgment.

3. Execution Sentence: Always keep this on cooldown. This ability does massive damage to a single target and should be lined up with Wake of Ashes for maximum efficiency.

4. Wake of Ashes: This ability not only generates three Holy Power but also activates your Avenging Wrath, making your abilities hit harder.

5. Hammer of Light: If it’s available, use Hammer of Light to deal a significant amount of damage to your target.

6. Final Verdict: When you have five Holy Power, always spend it on Final Verdict.

7. Judgment and Blade of Justice: These abilities should be used to build Holy Power and keep up the Expurgation dot.

The key to keeping your DPS high is making sure that you’re always spending your Holy Power on abilities like Final Verdict and Divine Storm, while also managing your cooldowns like Wake of Ashes and Divine Toll.

AoE Rotation

In AoE situations, your goal is to maximize the damage output of your Divine Storm, while still keeping up Expurgation and Execution Sentence on priority targets.

Start the fight in AoE with the following sequence:

1. Blade of Justice: Apply the Expurgation dot on the mobs.

2. Judgment and Divine Hammer: These abilities help generate Holy Power.

3. Execution Sentence: If the group has a priority target, apply Execution Sentence to it for massive damage.

4. Wake of Ashes: Use this ability to generate Holy Power and activate your Avenging Wrath.

5. Hammer of Light: Cast this as soon as it's available.

6. Divine Toll: This is your go-to for generating massive Holy Power. It’s particularly valuable in AoE scenarios as it will apply Judgment to multiple targets.

7. Divine Storm: Use Divine Storm when you have Empyrean Hammer procs.

8. Final Verdict: Always use Final Verdict when you reach five Holy Power.

9. Hammer of Wrath: Use this when it’s available.

In AoE, crit is extremely important as you’ll be able to get more **value out of Divine Storm and other abilities. As mentioned, Divine Storm becomes your main AoE damage tool, while Wake of Ashes and Divine Toll help to build Holy Power quickly.

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Key Ret Paladin Abilities You Shouldn’t Forget

Aside from your core abilities for maximizing DPS, don’t forget the utility skills that make Ret Paladins invaluable in any group content:

• Blessing of Freedom: Use this on any group member who is slowed or rooted. This will help break crowd control effects and let them stay in the fight.

• Blessing of Sacrifice: A lifesaver for your DPS and healers. Use this on a friendly target to absorb a portion of their damage. It’s especially useful for non-tank roles, as you’re more tanky than most DPS.

• Cleanse: If someone is affected by poison or disease, it’s your job to remove it. It’s an easy way to help your healer conserve mana.

• Lay on Hands: When things get tough, Lay on Hands will save lives. Use it wisely to bring a player back from the brink.

• Divine Shield: One of the best defensive abilities in the game. Use it to avoid deadly mechanics or to survive when things go south.

These abilities won’t necessarily help with your DPS, but they’ll make you an irreplaceable member of any group or raid.

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Conclusion: How to Master Ret Paladin 11.2 for Max DPS

Now that you know how to play Ret Paladin 11.2 for max DPS, it's time to put everything into practice. Whether you’re running Mythic Plus dungeons or raiding in WoW, the key to maximizing your damage is efficient Holy Power generation and spending, as well as leveraging your cooldowns and utility abilities effectively.

By following the talent builds, rotations, and tips mentioned here, you’ll be able to harness the full power of the Retribution Paladin spec and take your DPS to new heights.

FAQ

1. What is the best talent build for Ret Paladin in WoW 11.2?
For Mythic Plus, focus on AoE damage with Divine Storm and Execution Sentence. In raids, prioritize single-target damage with Final Verdict and Execution Sentence.

2. How do I generate Holy Power as a Ret Paladin?
Holy Power is generated through abilities like Blade of Justice, Judgment, and Hammer of Wrath. Key cooldowns like Divine Toll and Wake of Ashes also generate Holy Power.

3. What is the Ret Paladin rotation for max DPS in single-target?
Start with Blade of Justice, followed by Divine Toll, Execution Sentence, Wake of Ashes, and then use Final Verdict and Hammer of Light based on Holy Power availability.

4. What’s the priority for AoE damage as a Ret Paladin?
In AoE, focus on using Divine Storm with Empyrean Hammer procs, along with Divine Toll, Execution Sentence, and Wake of Ashes to maximize damage.

5. Should I focus on Crit, Haste, or Mastery as a Ret Paladin?
For Mythic Plus, Crit is more important for AoE. In raids, Mastery and Haste will provide better single-target performance. Always prioritize item level first.

6. How do I use Ret Paladin’s utility abilities?
Use Blessing of Freedom to break crowd control, Blessing of Sacrifice to absorb damage, and Cleanse to remove poisons or diseases. Don't forget Lay on Hands for emergencies.

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