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World of Warcraft: Forever · class guide

Holy Paladin: Races

Every race Holy Paladin can be, ranked against each other: best first, with how much the choice matters.

Best races for Holy Paladin

Best races for Holy Paladin in PvE

Race matters a lot

Mana decides Holy Paladin. Undead Cannibalize returns 35% of mana every 2 minutes, which beats Human Ruthless (about 1% more healing) and Dwarf Earth Fury (0.1 to 0.4%); the healing spread is about 1 to 2%. Human is the best Alliance pick. Undead is the best Horde pick.

  • Best Alliance pick: Human C tier
  • Best Horde pick: Undead S tier

  1. Undead S tier

    Cannibalize gives Undead the strongest leveling here, which makes it the best pick for Holy Paladin.

    Why S, and its scores

    Cannibalize restores 35% of health and mana per 2 minutes, which is large for healer mana, but it is blocked under Divine Shield. Touch of the Grave adds almost nothing to healing. Will of the Forsaken removes Charm, Fear and Sleep every 2 minutes, and Cannibalize heals 35% of health between pulls. Cannibalize is blocked under Divine Shield and Blessing of Protection. Safety scores 4 of 5 for Holy Paladin. Cannibalize restores 35% of health and mana near a corpse every 2 minutes, which cuts drinking and eating time. Leveling scores 5 of 5.

    It has no race ahead of it. The next race, Human, trails by 1.40 and sits in tier C. It falls short on leveling (The Human Spirit against Cannibalize, 2 of 5 to 5), healing (Ruthless against Cannibalize, 3 of 5 to 4) and safety (Will to Survive against Will of the Forsaken, 3 of 5 to 4).

    Scores for Undead for Holy Paladin
    CriterionWeightScore
    The spec's job55 4
    Survival and utility25 4
    Leveling and downtime20 5

    Weighted score 4.20, the best for this spec, which is S tier.

    What would move it: It would lose first place if testing showed Ruthless on Human worth more than the estimate for Holy Paladin now, or if Cannibalize were cut in a patch.

    The Undead race page

  2. Human C tier

    The Human Spirit trails Undead's Cannibalize on leveling.

    Why C, and its scores

    Ruthless adds 2% crit, about 1% on crit heals, and Illumination refunds 50% of base cost on crits. The Human Spirit adds 5% Spirit, which helps regen. Will to Survive removes all stuns on a 3 minute cooldown, and Perception detects stealth for 20 seconds. Safety scores 3 of 5 for Holy Paladin. The Human Spirit adds 5% Spirit, which helps regen a little. Leveling scores 2 of 5.

    Ahead of it: Undead. The best, Undead, is 1.40 ahead because it is stronger on leveling (Cannibalize, 5 of 5 against 2), healing (Cannibalize, 4 of 5 against 3) and safety (Will of the Forsaken, 4 of 5 against 3). Tier C covers up to 1.50 behind; tier B needs 1.17 or less.

    Scores for Human for Holy Paladin
    CriterionWeightScore
    The spec's job55 3
    Survival and utility25 3
    Leveling and downtime20 2

    Weighted score 2.80, 1.40 behind the best race for this spec, which is C tier.

    What would move it: Closing about 0.23 of weighted score, through a higher tested value for Ruthless or a change to Cannibalize on Undead, would lift it to tier B.

    The Human race page

  3. Dwarf F tier

    Dwarf's Earth Fury trails Undead's Cannibalize on healing.

    Why F, and its scores

    Earth Fury adds 2% to the crit bonus of healing, about 0.1 to 0.4% more healing. Stoneform is a self-cleanse, not throughput. Stoneform removes bleed, poison and disease, grants immunity to them and cuts physical damage taken 10% for 8 seconds, every 3 minutes. Safety scores 3 of 5 for Holy Paladin. Big Game Hunter helps only against Beasts, and Stoneform handles poison. Leveling scores 2 of 5.

    Ahead of it: Undead and Human. The best, Undead, is 2.50 ahead because it is stronger on healing (Cannibalize, 4 of 5 against 1), leveling (Cannibalize, 5 of 5 against 2) and safety (Will of the Forsaken, 4 of 5 against 3). That is beyond 1.83 behind the best, which is tier F.

    Scores for Dwarf for Holy Paladin
    CriterionWeightScore
    The spec's job55 1
    Survival and utility25 3
    Leveling and downtime20 2

    Weighted score 1.70, 2.50 behind the best race for this spec, which is F tier.

    What would move it: Closing about 0.67 of weighted score, through a higher tested value for Earth Fury or a change to Cannibalize on Undead, would lift it to tier D.

    The Dwarf race page

How these are ranked

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.

For each of the 28 specs, every race that can play it, ranked against each other for that spec: what the race's racials give it in PvE, leveling 1 to 60 and then in dungeons and raids at 60. It answers one question per spec: which race should I pick for it?

A tier says how far a race trails the best race for the same spec, never how it compares with another spec's races: an S Dwarf Protection Warrior and an S Undead Fire Mage are each the best for their own spec. The best race of every spec is S. Each spec also says how much the choice matters: on some specs the best and worst races are a few percent apart, on others one racial decides it.

The scores are the racials' worth on fixed anchors (1 to 5). The tier comes from the weighted score's gap to the spec's best: 5 minus 1.5 times the gap, against the thresholds, so S is within 0.50 of the best and F more than 1.83 behind.

The racials are rated from their tooltips and the client's numbers; none has been measured in play. The percentages are estimates, and no racial is worth more than about 3% of a spec's output, so a damage spec's races are often close and its pick is a matter of a few percent.

Where a racial answers something a spec cannot do without, the gap is larger: Stoneform for a tank, a mana return for a healer, a fear break for a melee spec. Those specs say race matters a lot.

The rubric: each criterion scored 1 to 5
CriterionWeightWhat it measures
The spec's job55What the racials add to what the spec is for at 60: damage for a damage spec, healing and mana for a healer, survival and threat for a tank. 5: about 3% or more of the spec's output, or one racial the role leans on most fights (a tank's Stoneform, a healer's large mana return). 3: about 1 to 1.5%, or a role racial that helps on some fights. 1: nothing that adds to the spec's job.
Survival and utility25Racials that keep this spec alive or help its group, beyond its main job: removing or ignoring a common danger (fear, poison, disease, curse, stun), a damage cut, a threat drop, an interrupt or stun the spec lacks. 5: helps on most fights. 3: one racial that helps on some fights. 1: nothing.
Leveling and downtime20Makes leveling this spec quicker or easier: less eating and drinking, more health, speed, a strong solo cooldown. 5: a large help throughout. 3: helps a little, or helps some of the levels. 1: nothing.
S 0.50 or less behind the best
The best race for this spec, or as good as makes no difference.
A 0.83 or less behind the best
A little behind the best; a fine pick if you prefer it.
B 1.17 or less behind the best
Behind the best, but nothing you will notice most nights.
C 1.50 or less behind the best
Clearly behind the best on what this spec needs.
D 1.83 or less behind the best
Well behind the best; pick it for other reasons.
F more than 1.83 behind
The furthest behind for this spec.

What the ratings assume:

  • Racials as of the stated build: the client's tooltips, cooldowns and numbers, after the 15–16 Oct racial rework.
  • The spec played as its class guide sets it out, in its usual group role at 60, and leveled as that spec.
  • Gear: leveling gear, then pre-raid blues at 60.
  • No Legacy perks and no world buffs.
  • Faction is not rated. Both factions' races sit on one scale; each spec names the best pick on each side.
  • The game rules of the stated build. A patch that changes a racial makes a new version.

Best races for Holy Paladin in PvP

Race matters some

Holy Paladin has the best sustain in the game and dies to stuns, which Hammer of Justice gives it no way to answer on its own. Only three races are legal, so the question is whether a stun break, a fear answer or a 10% physical cut serves a healer best. The spread is 1.10, so the choice matters some. Human is the best Alliance pick. Undead is the best Horde pick.

  • Best Alliance pick: Human S tier
  • Best Horde pick: Undead S tier

  1. Human S tier

    Human leads Holy Paladin: Will to Survive gives it the best breaks.

    Why S, and its scores

    Breaks scores 5 of 5: Will to Survive frees you from all stuns on a 3 minute cooldown. Will to Survive is the stun answer, and Voice of Truth covers silence only. Burst scores 1 of 5: Ruthless adds 2% crit. Defensives scores 2 of 5: Human has no defensive racial. The extra Spirit helps regeneration a little. Mobility scores 2 of 5: Perception is a 20 second stealth detection on a 3 minute cooldown, and Spirit is 5% higher.

    No race is ahead of it. The next race, Undead, is 0.25 behind and sits in tier S. It falls short on breaks (Will to Survive, 5 of 5, against Will of the Forsaken, 4) and mobility (Perception, 2 of 5, against 1 here).

    Scores for Human for Holy Paladin
    CriterionWeightScore
    Breaks and escapes30 5
    Burst25 1
    Defensives25 2
    Mobility and detection20 2

    Weighted score 2.65, the best for this spec, which is S tier.

    What would move it: It would lose first place if testing how often stuns chain on Forever (diminishing returns there are undocumented) went against it, or if its Will to Survive were cut in a patch. Undead is 0.25 behind, so a small change could close it.

    The Human race page

  2. Undead S tier

    Undead stays close to Human for Holy Paladin: Will of the Forsaken keeps it in tier S, short on breaks and mobility.

    Why S, and its scores

    Breaks scores 4 of 5: Will of the Forsaken removes Charm, Fear and Sleep on a 2 minute cooldown. Will of the Forsaken is the Paladin's only fear answer, and it also covers charm. Burst scores 2 of 5: Touch of the Grave has a 20% or 30% proc chance and drains up to 5% of your health on a 25 second internal cooldown, worth about 1 to 2% damage as an untested estimate. The heal from Touch of the Grave matters more to a healer than the damage. Defensives scores 2 of 5: Touch of the Grave heals a little, and Cannibalize restores 7% health and mana every 2 seconds for 10 seconds but only after a kill near a corpse. Mobility scores 1 of 5: Undead has nothing here.

    It is 0.25 behind Human, the best race for this spec, and sits in tier S. The gap comes from breaks (Will to Survive, 5 of 5, against Will of the Forsaken, 4) and mobility (Perception, 2 of 5, against 1 here). It does lead on burst (2 of 5 against 1).

    Scores for Undead for Holy Paladin
    CriterionWeightScore
    Breaks and escapes30 4
    Burst25 2
    Defensives25 2
    Mobility and detection20 1

    Weighted score 2.40, 0.25 behind the best race for this spec, which is S tier.

    What would move it: Settling how large Touch of the Grave is in practice (untested) could close the 0.25 gap to Human: one more point on burst is worth 0.25.

    The Undead race page

  3. Dwarf B tier

    Dwarf trails Human for Holy Paladin on breaks and mobility, and Stoneform does not make up the difference.

    Why B, and its scores

    Breaks scores 2 of 5: Stoneform cleanses Bleed, Poison and Disease, a narrow family. Cleanse already clears poison and disease, so Stoneform adds little. Burst scores 1 of 5: Earth Fury adds a tiny 2% crit bonus. Defensives scores 2 of 5: Stoneform cuts Physical damage 10% for 8 seconds. Stoneform fits beside Divine Protection and Lay on Hands. Mobility scores 1 of 5: Dwarf has nothing here.

    It is 1.10 behind Human, the best race for this spec, and sits in tier B. The gap comes from breaks (Will to Survive, 5 of 5, against Stoneform, 2) and mobility (Perception, 2 of 5, against Chastise, 1).

    Scores for Dwarf for Holy Paladin
    CriterionWeightScore
    Breaks and escapes30 2
    Burst25 1
    Defensives25 2
    Mobility and detection20 1

    Weighted score 1.55, 1.10 behind the best race for this spec, which is B tier.

    What would move it: Reaching Human means making up 1.10. One more point on defensives is worth 0.25, so settling the real size of Stoneform's 10% Physical cut would not be enough by itself. It would take a patch to its racials.

    The Dwarf race page

How these are ranked

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.

For each of the 28 specs, every race that can play it, ranked against each other for that spec in PvP: what the race's racials give it at level 60 in open-world fights and battlegrounds, against players of similar level and gear. It answers one question per spec: which race should I pick for it in PvP?

A tier says how far a race trails the best race for the same spec, never how it compares with another spec's races. The best race of every spec is S. Each spec also says how much the choice matters.

The scores are the racials' worth on fixed anchors (1 to 5). The tier comes from the weighted score's gap to the spec's best: 5 minus 1.5 times the gap, against the thresholds, so S is within 0.50 of the best and F more than 1.83 behind.

The racials are rated from their tooltips and the client's numbers; none has been measured in play, and diminishing returns on control in this build are not yet confirmed.

A break from the control a spec suffers most weighs most: a stun break for a melee spec that must stay on its target, a fear break for a spec that can't answer fear itself. Where a spec already has its own answer, the racial is worth less to it.

The rubric: each criterion scored 1 to 5
CriterionWeightWhat it measures
Breaks and escapes30Racials that free this spec from the control it suffers most. 5: an on-use break from a whole family of control (all stuns, or all fears and charms) on a cooldown of 2 to 3 minutes, or an always-on cut to control that works every fight. 3: a break for a narrower family (roots and slows, or one effect type such as curses or poisons), or one that only partly fits how this spec is controlled. 1: nothing.
Burst25Racials that raise this spec's damage (or a healer's healing) against players in its burst window. 5: about 10% or more, lined up with its own cooldowns, or an always-on gain the spec uses fully. 3: a smaller gain, or one the spec only partly uses (a physical bonus on a mostly spell spec). 1: nothing.
Defensives25Racials that keep this spec alive against players. 5: one that turns a losing fight: a large damage cut or immunity on use, more health, or healing in combat that a player can't stop. 3: a small or narrow one: a few % cut against one school, a small health or dodge gain, a heal that damage interrupts. 1: nothing.
Mobility and detection20Tools that win fights outside the numbers. 5: an area stun or interrupt the spec lacks, stealth or stealth detection that changes its fights, a lasting speed boost that works in combat. 3: one such tool, or several small ones (a short sprint, a safe fall). 1: nothing.
S 0.50 or less behind the best
The best race for this spec, or as good as makes no difference.
A 0.83 or less behind the best
A little behind the best; a fine pick if you prefer it.
B 1.17 or less behind the best
Behind the best, but nothing you will notice most nights.
C 1.50 or less behind the best
Clearly behind the best on what this spec needs.
D 1.83 or less behind the best
Well behind the best; pick it for other reasons.
F more than 1.83 behind
The furthest behind for this spec.

What the ratings assume:

  • Racials as of the stated build: the client's tooltips, cooldowns and numbers, after the 15–16 Oct racial rework.
  • The spec in a PvP-minded build, as its class's open-world PvP research sets it out.
  • Gear: pre-raid blues. No honor gear yet.
  • Opponents of any class and race, so a racial is worth what it does against the whole field, not one matchup.
  • Faction is not rated: population, queue times and which faction's classes are stronger are not part of the score. Each spec names the best pick on each side.
  • The game rules of the stated build. A patch that changes a racial makes a new version.