World of Warcraft: Forever · class guide
Holy Paladin: PvP
How Holy Paladin fights other players in the open world: where it ranks on the PvP tier lists, and why.
Forecast. Rated from the client data and our research, before anyone has played it at this level on this build. Where the data stops, the write-up says what it assumed. Rated as of , build 1.60.1.70450.
Battlegrounds are not rated yet; builds, matchups and battleground roles are being written for this spec. Honor, ranks, gear and the battlegrounds themselves are on PvP in World of Warcraft: Forever.
Verdict
- At 60
- Ranked 20 of 28 on Open-World PvP
Holy Shock at range, the best healing in the class and the immunities, but it cannot kill or catch anyone. - While leveling
- Ranked 23 of 28 on Open-World PvP Leveling
Strong heals from the start, but no damage until
Holy Shock at 30, which is also its first ranged opener. - Battlegrounds
- Not rated yet.
Profile
The rubric the lists score on, 1 to 5 on each line, with the weight each line carries. The class’s other specs are shown at 60 for comparison.
| Criterion | Weight | At 60 | While leveling | Protection | Retribution |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Burst and kill pressure | 25 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| Survival and escapes | 20 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 4 |
| Control | 15 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 |
| Fighting outnumbered | 15 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 2 |
| Choosing the fight | 10 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Sustain between fights | 10 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 |
| Group fights | 5 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 3 |
| Weighted score | 2.90 | 2.40 | 2.70 | 3.20 |
Strengths and weaknesses
At 60
| Strengths | Weaknesses |
|---|---|
| Holy Shock instant at 20 yd | Low damage per minute |
Immunities and  Lay on Hands | One stun on 60 s |
 Voice of Truth | No gap closer, slow or interrupt |
| Best sustain in the class | Cannot kill a player |
 Cleanse for allies | Speed only from the mount |
Why it ranks where it does on Open-World PvP
Holy Shock is the only instant ranged damage in the class: rank 4 at 56 hits for 334 to 362 at 20 yd on a 10 s cooldown. 
Holy Power adds 15% crit, 
Light's Vigil removes the cooldown on a Holy Shock, and 
Divine Favor guarantees a crit. Damage per minute is low but reliable. 
Hammer of Justice on a 60 s cooldown is its only control, with no 
Repentance and no Bulwark.
Divine Shield, 
Divine Protection and Lay on Hands are joined by Voice of Truth, which gives 6 s of immunity to 
Silence and Interrupt, and by 
Unyielding Faith and Healing Light. These let it outlast two players but not kill them. Holy Shock opens at 20 yd, and Charger is the only speed, so it cannot close on or leave a fight. 
Illumination, 
Reverence and 
Infusion of Light give the best sustain in the class, and Cleanse helps allies in a group fight.
It is not B because Hammer of Justice is its only control, its damage is too low to finish a player, and it has no gap closer. 2.90 is 0.35 short of B.
While leveling
| Strengths | Weaknesses |
|---|---|
| Strong heals from the start | No burst until 30 |
| Divine Protection and Lay on Hands | Hammer of Justice is the only control |
| Voice of Truth at 20 | Poor against two before 30 |
| Healing Light and Reverence sustain | No engage until Holy Shock |
| Holy Shock at 30 | Nothing for a group beyond the class |
Why it ranks where it does on Open-World PvP Leveling
Holy has no burst until Holy Shock arrives at 30, with the 21st talent point. Holy Shock does 129 to 139 damage at rank 1, rank 2 at 40 and rank 3 at 48, and Light's Vigil comes at 40. Hammer of Justice at 8 is its only control.
Strong heals from the start, Divine Protection at 6 and 18, Lay on Hands at 10, Unyielding Faith at 15, Voice of Truth at 20, and Divine Favor and Illumination at 25 keep it alive. It is poor against two attackers before 30, and has no engage until Holy Shock. Healing Light and Reverence in its first 10 points give it the best sustain. It offers nothing to a group beyond the class kit.
It is not C because it has no burst before 30, one control tool and no engage, and it cannot kill. 2.40 is 0.35 short of C.
Leveling timeline
The level each of Holy’s PvP tools arrives. A talent shows at the earliest level a point can reach it; the Talented Legacy perk brings talents 5 levels sooner.
- Level 6 Divine Protection
- Level 8 Hammer of Justice,
Purify - Level 10
Blessing of Protection, Lay on Hands - Level 18
Blessing of Freedom - Level 20
Consecration - Level 22
Seal of Justice - Level 25 Divine Favor (talent)
- Level 30 Holy Shock (talent)
- Level 34 Divine Shield
- Level 42 Cleanse
- Level 46
Blessing of Sacrifice
Races
The Paladin’s races as Races PvP ranks them, best first.
Alliance
Human: 
Will to Survive is the only full stun break in the game, and 
Ruthless and 
Perception add steady crit and stealth detection.
Dwarf: 
Stoneform is the strongest defensive racial of any race, and the widest class choice helps, but burst and mobility are the weakest.
Horde
Undead: 
Will of the Forsaken breaks fear and charm and 
Touch of the Grave drains in combat, but it has the weakest burst and no mobility.
What we don’t know yet
At 60
Rated on assumptions:
- The level-60 build, including Holy Shock rank 4 at 56 and Light's Vigil, is projected from client data. Nothing past the beta cap of 30 has been played.
- Voice of Truth's 3 minute cooldown and 6 s immunity are from the client tooltip; how it plays against players is untested.
- Diminishing returns on Forever stuns, incapacitates and fears are not documented.
What would move it: Measured Holy Shock damage at 60, or a second control tool being added.
While leveling
Rated on assumptions:
- Holy Shock rank 2 at 40 and rank 3 at 48, and Light's Vigil at 40, are projected from client data. Levels 31 to 60 are projected; nobody has played past the beta cap of 30.
- Voice of Truth's 3 minute cooldown and 6 s immunity are from the client tooltip; how it plays against players is untested.
What would move it: Play past 30 showing Holy Shock ranks and Light's Vigil giving it a kill, or a gap closer.