Retribution Paladin BiS Gear
Every slot, enchant and gem for the Retribution Paladin at the Phase 4 ceiling: Icecrown Citadel 25 and Ruby Sanctum. Hover any item for the full Wowhead tooltip.
About this gear set
Details & alternatives
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HD preview · Miorey / Wowhead
Stat Priorities
- Hit
- Expertise
- Strength
Caps & Requirements
Ret does not chase the 17% spell-hit cap in PvE despite having spell-based abilities.
Combat Expertise talent + Glyph of Seal of Vengeance (~10 expertise) both reduce the actual gear requirement well below 214.
Not a primary Ret stat — prioritize Hit → Expertise → Strength rather than stacking ArP.
Best Races
The only Horde option. Arcane Torrent returns mana for Holy and doubles as an AoE silence / interrupt for Retribution and Protection.
Retribution wants the Sword / Mace expertise; Holy and Protection lean on The Human Spirit and Every Man for Himself. Draenei (Gift of the Naaru, party +1% hit) and Dwarf (Stoneform clears bleeds, poisons and disease — a strong Prot cooldown) are both viable.
Notes
Strength after hit/expertise requirements; use Etched only as needed for melee hit.
The Retribution Paladin list in short
This is the Best in Slot list for the Retribution Paladin in WotLK 3.3.5a Phase 4: the strongest realistic gear from Icecrown Citadel 25, Ruby Sanctum and Trial of the Grand Crusader. It covers 16 equipment slots with the enchant, the gems and the close alternatives for every piece, in 2 builds (Current Horde Eng JC and Current Alliance Draenei Eng JC).
In short: the Current Horde Eng JC build uses the Shadowmourne as the main weapon and the Libram of Valiance in the libram slot; its trinkets are Sharpened Twilight Scale and Tiny Abomination in a Jar; the head slot is Sanctified Lightsworn Helmet and the chest is Sanctified Lightsworn Battleplate.
Stat priority: Hit, then Expertise, then Strength. The caps and the best races for this spec are in the panels above the notes.
2 builds for the Retribution Paladin
Current Horde Eng JC shown on the sheet
high confidenceCurrent Icecrown-style Ret: Aldriana + Frostbrood + Signet configuration; Horde hit is polished with four Etched Ametrines.
Current Alliance Draenei Eng JC
high confidenceSame modern Ret gear, assuming Draenei Heroic Presence; fewer Str/Hit hybrids are needed than Horde.
All slots of this build
- Head Sanctified Lightsworn Helmet
- Neck Penumbra Pendant Alt: Ahn'kahar Onyx Neckguard
- Shoulders Sanctified Lightsworn Shoulderplates
- Back Shadowvault Slayer's Cloak Alt: Winding Sheet
- Chest Sanctified Lightsworn Battleplate
- Wrist Umbrage Armbands Alt: Polar Bear Claw Bracers
- Hands Aldriana's Gloves of Secrecy Alt: Anub'ar Stalker's Gloves, Fleshrending Gauntlets
- Waist Astrylian's Sutured Cinch Alt: Nerub'ar Stalker's Cord
- Legs Sanctified Lightsworn Legplates
- Feet Apocalypse's Advance Alt: Blood-Soaked Saronite Stompers
- Ring Frostbrood Sapphire Ring Alt: Ashen Band of Endless Vengeance
- Ring Signet of Twilight Alt: Ashen Band of Endless Vengeance
- Trinket Tiny Abomination in a Jar Alt: Deathbringer's Will (BiS rets are allowed to roll for it), Death's Choice
- Trinket Sharpened Twilight Scale
- Main hand Shadowmourne Alt: Oathbinder, Charge of the Ranger-General, Glorenzelg, High-Blade of the Silver Hand
- Libram Libram of Valiance Alt: Libram of Three Truths
Common questions
QWhat is the best weapon for a Retribution Paladin?
In the Current Horde Eng JC build the pick is the Shadowmourne as the main weapon and the Libram of Valiance in the libram slot.
QWhich stats should a Retribution Paladin stack?
The priority for this spec is Hit, then Expertise, then Strength. The caps to plan around are hit: 8% (263 rating), 230 with Draenei; expertise: 26 expertise (214 rating base); armor penetration: 1400 rating (theoretical cap).
QWhich race is best for a Retribution Paladin?
For the Paladin the best races are Horde: Blood Elf and Alliance: Human. The reason for each is in the Best Races panel on this page.
QWhat does this Retribution Paladin list assume?
The Current Horde Eng JC build assumes: Horde; Engineering + Jewelcrafting; 8% melee hit target; 26 expertise target. Confidence in this gear set is high.