WoW Forever beta Paladin build for level 20: Retribution, the class everyone calls overtuned

Overview

Levels 10–20 · Retribution Paladin, solo questing and grinding.

If you want the easiest leveling in the beta, this is it. Testers keep saying the same thing: “you can just level with your eyes closed”. The build is simple. Benediction makes your Seals and Judgement cheap, so you rarely stop for mana. Conviction adds 5% melee crit. With 10 points in Retribution, Seal of Command arrives at 20 for big Holy damage procs. Enjoy it while it lasts, because a class this far ahead is the first candidate for tuning. Written for the first beta phase: level cap 20, client build 1.60.1.69913. Talents and tuning will change before the level 30 phase and again before launch on November 4.

Why this build

• Very little downtime. Cheaper Seals and Judgement, plus self-heals, mean you almost never rest.
• Strong from level 10. Conviction’s crit shows immediately, and Seal of Command gives a big jump at 20.
• Hard to kill. Plate, a shield option, Lay on Hands and heals make bad pulls survivable.

Weak spots

• Likely to be tuned down. Players single out Paladin as overtuned, so expect changes, possibly before level 30 opens.
• The Retribution capstone is contested. A 191-reply thread criticises Twist of Light, so the tree’s deeper design may change too.
• No ranged pull. You walk to every mob, which is slower on runners and casters.

Talent order by level

One point per level from level 10 to 20. The talent tree above shows the finished level 20 build; use the level slider to see it at any level.

• Levels 10–14 · Benediction 5/5 — Reduces the mana cost of Judgement and your Seals by 15%. Paladin leveling is all Seals and Judgement, so this keeps you fighting.
• Levels 15–19 · Conviction 5/5 — +5% melee crit at 5 points.
• Level 20 · Seal of Command 1/1 — A chance on hit for extra Holy damage equal to 70% of weapon damage. Needs 10 points in Retribution, which you have at 20.

Key levels

• Level 10 · First point into Benediction: cheaper Seals and Judgement from the start.
• Level 15 · Start Conviction for melee crit.
• Level 20 · Seal of Command, the build’s big damage boost.

How to pull and kill

1. Keep a Seal up and Judge it on every fight, then reapply the Seal.
2. Heal between pulls with a short Holy Light instead of eating, as long as your mana is above half.
3. Two or three mobs are fine. Your healing and armor carry you through pulls other classes avoid.
4. Save Lay on Hands for a pull that goes wrong.

Leveling tips

• Use a slow two-hander once Seal of Command is in: its procs scale with weapon damage.
• Blessing of Might on yourself unless you need Wisdom for mana.
• Play it as a strong baseline, not a final verdict. If Blizzard tunes Paladin down, this is still a solid leveling build.
• Help your group. Paladins can now group with Shamans on both factions, and a Paladin makes any dungeon group easier.

After level 20

After 20, the Retribution Paladin leveling guide takes you to 60. Check the beta class report for balance changes.

Sources

The talent path and leveling advice adapt these Classic guides to the WoW Forever talent trees; talents that are new or changed in Forever are chosen from this site’s talent data.

• WoW Forever Builds: beta class report (level 20)
• Official forums: Leveling is far too easy
• Official forums: Major Design Concerns for Paladin