Levelling with a Paladin?

[Aneirin 0]

So a friend rolled Paladin, and we're going to be levelling together (me as Druid) on a PVP server. He hasn't played since Vanilla, nor I since TBC, and playing Horde back then we didn't know much about Pallys. He doesn't really do forums either, so I'm trying to learn a bit about builds and playstyles to help smooth the way.

We’re not racing to 60, just looking to enjoy the quests and the PVP along the way. Having a read of various threads, I took this as a bit of a baseline build: http://db.vanillagaming.org/?talent#sxxzZVuZxfotrcqo

 

A few pre-60 questions though:

1. I figure with dungeons it'll often end up with me tanking and him healing. Is healing fine without talents? [the above 11 points in Holy don’t look like much help]
2. Does retribution rely on any particular synergies / rotations that might need pointing out?
3. Are there any skills best left off the action bar altogether?
4. In retribution PVP, is much mana used offensively? Or is it a bit of buff/debuff and then just heals as needed?
5. Anticipating plenty of PVP while levelling, is there anything I should know about fighting alongside Paladins? I know they can't disengage as easily as druids, guessing they're more vulnerable to kiting. Anything else like that?

 

Any advice appreciated!

[Lindow 3]

I'm also a newb Pally, but I'll try to give my two cents based on my leveling experience:

1. I went for Divine Intellect and Holy Power just in case, cause I knew I was going to heal a lot in dungeons while leveling (they're also useful for solo leveling anyway). But I'm pretty sure he'll be fine without those, specially with a druid tanking (which I've found easier to heal within levels 40 and below). If he goes OOM more often than not, then he might want to spend some points there.

2. Ret pally rotation is often branded as 'boring'. I judge Seal of the Crusader, then switch to Seal of Command and judge it on CD, then back to Seal of Command and repeat (also Hammer of Justice + Judge Command for a bit more dmg if the target is stunnable, which the majority of bosses in 5-mans are). 

3. Once I got Seal of Command, I pretty much put it on the Seal of Righteousness slot. Maybe it's a noob move, but I did not see a reason to spend an extra key bind. As soon as I re-spec holy, Righteousness is going back to that bind. You do get some track demons and track undead kind of shit, which I also left off the bars. Everything else could come in handy any time really, can't think of anything else I'd leave off the bars.

4. Now I've never been too good in PvP, to be honest. I've definitely had trouble with mana management. I think I may judge too much, trying to burst too early. So, from my own experience, yeah, I'd say just sit on Command and save mana for cleansing and heals, then burst at 40% health or below.

5. We have Blessing of Freedom pretty much every 10 seconds (20 sec CD - 10 sec duration), and then there's the 8% speed bonus from Pursuit of Justice. We can be kited, just as any melee class, but we don't have it as bad as warriors. To be honest, I don't think you're gonna be attacked much being a Druid-Pally duo. I'd definitely hesitate against two classes that can heal and are not easily CCable.

[JCarrill0 17]

12 hours ago, Aneirin said:

A few pre-60 questions though:

1. I figure with dungeons it'll often end up with me tanking and him healing. Is healing fine without talents? [the above 11 points in Holy don’t look like much help]
2. Does retribution rely on any particular synergies / rotations that might need pointing out?
3. Are there any skills best left off the action bar altogether?
4. In retribution PVP, is much mana used offensively? Or is it a bit of buff/debuff and then just heals as needed?
5. Anticipating plenty of PVP while levelling, is there anything I should know about fighting alongside Paladins? I know they can't disengage as easily as druids, guessing they're more vulnerable to kiting. Anything else like that?

 

Any advice appreciated!

1. It would work best this way however you can both go as doe if you like.

2. Ret I would recommend using a 2 handed, starting with SotC judging it for the debuff and then using SoC. Sancity Aura will help later on once you get it.

3. Leaving purify off once you have cleanse, divine shield replaces divine protection.

4. Ret is an offensive build, however a paladin is a support class, so blessing, clesning, and spot heal is for any spec you decide.

5. If your going to PvP as ret, be sure to have eye for an eye. It helps.

http://db.vanillagaming.org/?talent#sE0zZVuZVfztrcqo

Saves a bit more on mana, don't forget while you can be blessed with imp might be other Paladins.

Edited February 5, 2017 by JCarrill0

[Aneirin 0]

Hey, just wanted to thank you both for your input. There were a few things you mentioned that I didn't quite understand, but I rolled a paladin on the side and it makes a lot more sense now. I've been able to pass along a few things from here that have definitely made a difference already.

We did our first Deadmines run and he got to go DPS so that was good, but a question for later regarding healing: now that he has Flash Heal as well, is that just for situations where there might not be time for Holy Light, and for topping up? Is Holy Light more efficient for tank healing?

[JCarrill0 17]

Flash of light for topping off, holy light when the hp drops to fast

[simppi 3]

On 2017-02-05 at 6:23 AM, Aneirin said:

A few pre-60 questions though:

1. I figure with dungeons it'll often end up with me tanking and him healing. Is healing fine without talents? [the above 11 points in Holy don’t look like much help]
2. Does retribution rely on any particular synergies / rotations that might need pointing out?
3. Are there any skills best left off the action bar altogether?
4. In retribution PVP, is much mana used offensively? Or is it a bit of buff/debuff and then just heals as needed?
5. Anticipating plenty of PVP while levelling, is there anything I should know about fighting alongside Paladins? I know they can't disengage as easily as druids, guessing they're more vulnerable to kiting. Anything else like that?

 

Any advice appreciated!

1. With healing gear he should be able to heal any instance up to brd, later bosses in brd is prob going to be more of a challenge.

2. Use as slow of a 2hander as possible, because SoC proc chanse is dependant on that. Use JotC first and then SoC for dps.

3. Ofc not lol.

4. I'd say I use 60% for healing and 40% for dps/buff/debuff.

5. In pvp, retri excells at staying on target and bursting, but dont have alot of mana to spend on healing, unless you have pvp gear, which u ofc won't while lvling ;P

[JCarrill0 17]

I don't have purify on my action bar once I have cleanse, nor do I use sense undead enough at 60 to have it on them.

i do keep divine protection to remove debuffs however...