Class preview: Paladin

Blizzard has published the in-depth class deep dive for the Paladin. The focus is on Seals and Judgements, plus more options for Holy, Protection and Retribution. Everything can still change before launch.

Baseline abilities

• New at level 6: Holy Strike, instant Holy damage (50% weapon damage plus a bonus per rank)
• Judgement no longer consumes the active Seal
• New at level 10: Seal of Fury – extra Holy damage on every melee hit (worth it with fast weapons) and a shield for half of that damage; its Judgement taunts the target within 10 yd
• All Paladins get Consecration at level 20; it is no longer a Holy talent
• Lay on Hands: 20-minute cooldown instead of 1 hour
• The resistance auras affect the entire raid within 30 yd
• Seal twisting is no longer a baseline technique but the Retribution talent Twist of Light

Holy

• Holy Shock already at 21 points, 10 s cooldown (was 30 s)
• New 31-point talent Light's Vigil: works on allies or enemies; your next Holy Shock on that target triggers no cooldown
• More new talents: Reverence (mana regeneration while casting), Infusion of Light (faster Holy Light after critical strikes), Voice of Truth (6 s immunity to silence and interrupts)

Protection

• New: Templar's Bulwark (21 points) – a shield equal to your maximum health for 8 s, 5-minute cooldown
• New: Swift Judgement (16 points) – instantly resets the cooldown of Judgement
• Redoubt no longer requires a critical hit, up to 20% block chance
• Reckoning can now also trigger after blocks (40%), at most once every 1.5 s
• Blessing of Kings becomes a baseline ability, Blessing of Sanctuary is removed

Retribution

• New: Sacred Arbiter (16 points) – Holy Strike +20% and refreshes all Judgements on the target, including those of other Paladins
• Vengeance stacks up to three times, 3% each, for 30 s
• Repentance already at 21 points, Pursuit of Justice up to 15% speed
• Sanctity Aura and Improved Retribution Aura are removed

⚠️ What this means for you: With a taunt, a shield and Templar's Bulwark, Protection gets a complete tanking toolkit. Retribution plays around Holy Strike and switching Seals.