# Paladin leveling guide 1–60: talents and class quests

> Level as Retribution (quickest solo, with a two-hander and Seal of Command) or Protection (safe group pulls, dungeon-tank ready). Holy suits raids; it can level through its melee build, more slowly, if you want to heal dungeons on the way.

Page: https://polestar.guide/guides/class/paladin

Polestar is a free, open-source (GPL-3.0) leveling guide addon for World of Warcraft: Forever. Every guide here ships inside the addon: in game, `/polestar guides` opens the guide menu, and the guide window shows the steps with a waypoint arrow.

## Who can be a Paladin

- Human (Alliance): starts with [Elwynn Forest](https://polestar.guide/guides/alliance/human/01-elwynn-forest.md) (levels 1–13), 26 guides to level 60
- Dwarf (Alliance): starts with [Dun Morogh](https://polestar.guide/guides/alliance/dwarf-gnome/01-dun-morogh.md) (levels 1–13), 26 guides to level 60
- Undead (Horde): starts with [Tirisfal Glades](https://polestar.guide/guides/horde/undead/01-tirisfal-glades.md) (levels 1–13), 24 guides to level 60

## Leveling talent plans

Polestar marks the next pick on the talent frame (`/polestar talents`; Options, Questing, Talents) and never spends a point for you. Adapted from a community talent site's leveling builds; the notes are written for Polestar. Checked on game build 1.60.1.70450.

### Holy (31/0/20, 51 picks, levels 10–60)

| Levels | Talent | Ranks | Tree | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10–14 | Divine Intellect | 1–5 | Holy | Start with Divine Intellect: more mana means you can melee and still cover your own (or a group's) healing. |
| 15–17 | Improved Seals | 1–3 | Holy | Improved Seals raises every seal and Judgement here, which is where Holy's leveling damage comes from. |
| 18–19 | Healing Light | 1–2 | Holy |  |
| 20–22 | Reverence | 1–3 | Holy | Reverence keeps a trickle of regen going while casting; three ranks unlock Illumination. |
| 23 | Healing Light | 3 | Holy |  |
| 24–25 | Spiritual Focus | 1–2 | Holy |  |
| 26–30 | Illumination | 1–5 | Holy | Illumination refunds mana on critical heals and is the heart of Holy's staying power. |
| 31 | Divine Favor | 1 | Holy |  |
| 32 | Holy Shock | 1 | Holy | Holy Shock is a talent on Forever: an instant heal or Holy hit, handy for emergencies and for pulling. |
| 33–34 | Infusion of Light | 1–2 | Holy |  |
| 35–39 | Holy Power | 1–5 | Holy | Holy Power raises Holy Shock's crit chance, feeding Illumination and Infusion of Light. |
| 40 | Light's Vigil | 1 | Holy | Light's Vigil turns Holy Shock into a group-heal burst; this is the signature Forever Holy talent. |
| 41–45 | Benediction | 1–5 | Retribution | The remaining 20 points go to Retribution: cheaper spells and more melee crit while questing, ending in Seal of Command. |
| 46–47 | Improved Judgement | 1–2 | Retribution |  |
| 48–52 | Conviction | 1–5 | Retribution |  |
| 53 | Seal of Command | 1 | Retribution |  |
| 54–56 | Sanctified Judgement | 1–3 | Retribution |  |
| 57–58 | Holy Conduit | 1–2 | Retribution |  |
| 59–60 | Pursuit of Justice | 1–2 | Retribution |  |

### Protection (10/41/0, 51 picks, levels 10–60)

| Levels | Talent | Ranks | Tree | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10–14 | Redoubt | 1–5 | Protection | Open with Redoubt: blocking pays off at once, and Shield Specialization needs all five ranks. |
| 15–17 | Precision | 1–3 | Protection | Precision and Anticipation help you land hits and dodge them while questing with a shield. |
| 18–19 | Anticipation | 1–2 | Protection |  |
| 20 | Improved Seal of Fury | 1 | Protection | Improved Seal of Fury and Improved Righteous Fury begin the mana and mitigation cycle Forever tanking is built on. |
| 21–23 | Improved Righteous Fury | 1–3 | Protection |  |
| 24–26 | Shield Specialization | 1–3 | Protection |  |
| 27–28 | Sacred Duty | 1–2 | Protection |  |
| 29 | Swift Judgement | 1 | Protection | Around 20 points in, you match the usual dungeon-tank setup: Shield Specialization, Sacred Duty and Swift Judgement are complete. |
| 30–32 | Anticipation | 3–5 | Protection |  |
| 33 | Templar's Bulwark | 1 | Protection | Templar's Bulwark is an absorb cooldown that scales with your health, and Holy Shield later in the plan requires it. |
| 34–36 | One-Handed Weapon Specialization | 1–3 | Protection |  |
| 37–41 | Iron Creed | 1–5 | Protection | Iron Creed adds threat and damage reduction to Holy Strike while Righteous Fury is active. |
| 42 | Holy Shield | 1 | Protection | Holy Shield is the capstone: more block uptime, with Holy damage each time you block. Ideal for pulling packs. |
| 43–47 | Toughness | 1–5 | Protection | Leftover points buy armor, a quicker Hammer of Justice, and Holy Strength and seal damage for leveling. |
| 48–50 | Improved Hammer of Justice | 1–3 | Protection |  |
| 51–55 | Divine Strength | 1–5 | Holy |  |
| 56–58 | Improved Seals | 1–3 | Holy |  |
| 59–60 | Healing Light | 1–2 | Holy |  |

### Retribution (10/0/41, 51 picks, levels 10–60)

| Levels | Talent | Ranks | Tree | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10–14 | Benediction | 1–5 | Retribution | Benediction lowers the mana cost of Judgement, Holy Strike and seals, so you rest less between fights. |
| 15–16 | Improved Judgement | 1–2 | Retribution |  |
| 17–19 | Conviction | 1–3 | Retribution |  |
| 20 | Seal of Command | 1 | Retribution | Seal of Command is the main two-hander seal for leveling; take it as soon as it opens. |
| 21–23 | Sanctified Judgement | 1–3 | Retribution | Sanctified Judgement gives mana back and is the prerequisite arrow for Vengeance. |
| 24–25 | Conviction | 4–5 | Retribution |  |
| 26–28 | Vindication | 1–3 | Retribution |  |
| 29 | Sacred Arbiter | 1 | Retribution | Sacred Arbiter strengthens Holy Strike and keeps Judgements rolling, and completes the 20 points row 5 asks for. |
| 30–32 | Vengeance | 1–3 | Retribution | Vengeance, then Two-Handed Weapon Specialization: the crit-driven damage core of the two-hander plan. |
| 33–35 | Two-Handed Weapon Specialization | 1–3 | Retribution |  |
| 36–37 | Pursuit of Justice | 1–2 | Retribution | Pursuit of Justice adds run speed. Champion of the Light is left out while the Retribution Aura spell-power bug keeps spell damage low. |
| 38–39 | Holy Conduit | 1–2 | Retribution |  |
| 40 | Twist of Light | 1 | Retribution | Twist of Light makes swapping seals cheaper and adds seal echoes; it is Forever's seal-twisting talent. |
| 41–42 | Instrument of Law | 1–2 | Retribution |  |
| 43–47 | Divine Strength | 1–5 | Holy | Spare points go to Divine Strength and Holy's Improved Seals for damage, then Deflection for survival. |
| 48–50 | Improved Seals | 1–3 | Holy |  |
| 51–52 | Healing Light | 1–2 | Holy |  |
| 53–57 | Deflection | 1–5 | Retribution |  |
| 58 | Repentance | 1 | Retribution |  |
| 59–60 | Eye for an Eye | 1–2 | Retribution |  |

## Paladin class quests

- [Tyr's Watch and Redemption](https://polestar.guide/guides/class/paladin/tyrs-watch.md) (levels 9–13): Horde, Undead, Paladin; reward: Redemption, Skullthumper, Driftwood Smasher, Salvaged Wooden Tower Shield
- [Rescuing Lumina Windsinger](https://polestar.guide/guides/class/paladin/lumina-windsinger.md) (levels 18–24): Horde, Undead, Paladin; reward: Undercity and Earthen Ring reputation
- [Verigan's Fist](https://polestar.guide/guides/class/paladin/verigans-fist.md) (levels 20–30): Alliance, Paladin; reward: Verigan's Fist, Bastion of Stormwind
- [Cloak of the Divine Storm](https://polestar.guide/guides/class/paladin/cloak-of-the-divine-storm.md) (levels 22–30): Alliance, Paladin; reward: Cloak of the Divine Storm
- [Paladin Warhorse](https://polestar.guide/guides/collectibles/mounts/alliance/paladin-warhorse.md) (levels 40–60): Alliance, Paladin; reward: Summon Warhorse
- [Holy Mightstone](https://polestar.guide/guides/class/paladin/holy-mightstone.md) (levels 50–56): Alliance, Paladin; reward: Holy Mightstone
- [Paladin Charger](https://polestar.guide/guides/collectibles/mounts/alliance/paladin-charger.md) (levels 60): Alliance, Paladin; reward: Summon Charger

## Paladin steps on the leveling routes

### Alliance

- [Dun Morogh](https://polestar.guide/guides/alliance/dwarf-gnome/01-dun-morogh.md) (levels 1–13): quests Consecrated Rune, Tome of Divinity, The Tome of Divinity, Honor Students, Ride to Ironforge, Gryth Thurden
- [Elwynn Forest](https://polestar.guide/guides/alliance/human/01-elwynn-forest.md) (levels 1–13): quests Consecrated Letter, Tome of Divinity, The Tome of Divinity
- [Stranglethorn Vale, Dustwallow Marsh & Swamp of Sorrows](https://polestar.guide/guides/alliance/40-50/01-stranglethorn-vale.md) (levels 40–43): quests The Tome of Nobility

### Horde

- [Tirisfal Glades](https://polestar.guide/guides/horde/undead/01-tirisfal-glades.md) (levels 1–13): quests A Difficult Path, Rediscovering the Light, Coming to Terms, Continue Your Training, As Above, So Below, The One That Got Away
- [Silverpine Forest & Orgrimmar](https://polestar.guide/guides/horde/03-silverpine-forest.md) (levels 16–20): 2 trainer visits
- [The Barrens](https://polestar.guide/guides/horde/04-the-barrens.md) (levels 19–24): 1 trainer visit
- [Desolace & Hillsbrad Foothills](https://polestar.guide/guides/horde/30-40/01-desolace.md) (levels 30–33): 2 trainer visits
- [Arathi Highlands, Badlands & The Barrens](https://polestar.guide/guides/horde/30-40/03-arathi-highlands.md) (levels 37–40): 1 trainer visit
- [Feralas & Tanaris](https://polestar.guide/guides/horde/40-50/02-feralas.md) (levels 42–44): 1 trainer visit
- [Feralas, Dustwallow Marsh & Swamp of Sorrows](https://polestar.guide/guides/horde/40-50/03-feralas.md) (levels 44–46): 1 trainer visit
- [Azshara, Feralas & Stranglethorn Vale](https://polestar.guide/guides/horde/40-50/06-azshara.md) (levels 49–51): 1 trainer visit
- [Winterspring & Feralas](https://polestar.guide/guides/horde/50-60/03-winterspring.md) (levels 54–56): 1 trainer visit
- [Eastern Plaguelands, Winterspring & Tanaris](https://polestar.guide/guides/horde/50-60/05-eastern-plaguelands.md) (levels 56–58): 1 trainer visit
- [Felwood, Moonglade & Winterspring](https://polestar.guide/guides/horde/50-60/07-felwood.md) (levels 58–60): 1 trainer visit

## Paladin gear

What Polestar's gear advice counts as a Paladin's. Before any talent points are spent it uses Retribution.

- Armor: Mail, Plate from level 40
- Off hand: Shields; Librams (relic slot)
- Weapons: One-handed axes, Two-handed axes, One-handed maces, Two-handed maces, Polearms, One-handed swords, Two-handed swords

Stat weights per point while leveling, against 1 for the spec's main stat:

| Spec | Stats | Own weights |
|---|---|---|
| Holy (healer) | Intellect 1, Spirit 0.5, Stamina 0.45, Strength 0.15 | Every level |
| Protection (tank) | Stamina 1, Strength 0.5, Agility 0.5, Intellect 0.4 | To level 59 |
| Retribution | Strength 1, Agility 0.55, Stamina 0.5, Intellect 0.35, Spirit 0.15 | Every level |

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Index for language models: https://polestar.guide/llms.txt