Raid preparation
Retribution Paladin Pre-Raid BiS
The best gear for every slot before raids open on 9 December 2026, with two alternatives and where each item comes from.
Stat priority used
- Weapon damage: the slowest, highest-damage two-hander you can get
- Hit to 8%, the cap against raid bosses. Since 11 Nov Judgement uses ranged hit; hit on gear counts for both.
- Expertise up to about 6.5%, which removes dodges
- Strength (2 Attack Power per point) and Spell Power: Seal of Command, Judgement, Exorcism and Hammer of Wrath all scale with Spell Power, so the two are close
- Intellect (mana, and spell damage through Champion of the Light)
- Crit
- Agility only for crit and armor: paladins get no Attack Power from it
| Slot | Best | Alternatives |
|---|---|---|
| Head |  Stalwart HelmBlacksmithing (300) Fury VisorQuest: Voodoo Feathers | |
| Neck |  Mark of FordringQuest: In DreamsClassic data |  Beads of Ogre MightQuest: Falrin's Vendetta Medallion of the DawnQuest: Epic Armaments of Battle - Friend of the Dawn |
| Shoulders |  Highlander's Lamellar SpauldersExalted with The League of ArathorDefiler's Lamellar SpauldersExalted with The Defilers | |
| Back |  Cloak of the Honor GuardExalted with The League of Arathor Cape of the Black BaronBaron Rivendare, Stratholme | |
| Chest |  Cadaverous ArmorLady Illucia Barov, Scholomance Dawn ArmorLeatherworking (300) | |
| Wrists |  Deeprock BracersQuest: Stalwart's BattlegearClassic data |  Berserker BracersSold by Illiyana MoonblazeBerserker BracersSold by Illiyana Moonblaze |
| Hands |  Raider GauntletsExalted with Darkspear RaidersTheramore GauntletsExalted with Theramore Expeditionary Force | |
| Waist |  Belt of Preserved HeadsQuest: A Collection of HeadsClassic data |  Might of the TimbermawLeatherworking (265)Highlander's Plate GirdleHonored with The League of Arathor |
| Legs |  Sentinel's Lamellar LegguardsSold by Illiyana Moonblaze Outrider's Plate LegguardsSold by Kelm Hargunth | |
| Feet |  Boots of HeroismQuest: Anthion's Parting Words · AllianceQuest: Anthion's Parting Words · HordeClassic data |  Bloodmail BootsLady Illucia Barov, Scholomance Depleted Thorium SabatonsBlacksmithing (300) |
| Rings |  Band of Earthen MightQuest: Veteran's Battlegear Watcher's Signet of FerocityRevered with The Watchers | |
| Trinkets |  Blackhand's BreadthQuest: For The Horde! · HordeQuest: General Drakkisath's Demise · AllianceClassic data |  Hand of JusticeEmperor Dagran Thaurissan, Blackrock Depths Frozen Heart of the MountainEnchanting (265) |
| Two-hand |  Fist of CenariusQuest: Champion's Battlegear The Unstoppable ForceExalted with Stormpike Guard |
Lionheart Helm
Truestrike Shoulders
Timbermaw Tunic
Titanic Leggings
Don Julio's Band
Briarwood Reed
Forest Defender's AxeHow these lists are made
Items and stats are read from the WoW Forever game client. Each item is scored with weights built from the spec’s raid stat priority on its build page (hit up to the cap first, then the main stats).
The client holds no loot or quest tables, so drop chances, bosses, quests and vendors come from Classic 1.12 data (CMaNGOS) and are marked as Classic data until Forever’s own loot is known. Forever reworked dungeon loot, so some drops may have moved.
Raid drops, raid-linked quests, world drops and PvP rank rewards are left out, and so is crafted gear whose recipe or reagents only come from raids. Procs and on-use effects are not scored, so trinkets like Hand of Justice rank lower than they play.
Forever client 1.60.1.70790 · CMaNGOS classic-db (GPL-3) · Updated 13 November 2026
Questions
What is the best pre-raid gear for Retribution Paladin?
The top picks are Lionheart Helm, Timbermaw Tunic, Titanic Leggings, Forest Defender's Axe. The table lists the best item and two alternatives for every slot.
Which stats does Retribution Paladin want before raiding?
This list follows the raid stat priority: Weapon damage, Hit to 8%, the cap against raid bosses, Expertise up to about 6, Strength.
Which dungeons should Retribution Paladin farm?
Most of this list drops in Blackrock Spire.