World of Warcraft: Forever · class guide
Protection Paladin: Races
Every race Protection Paladin can be, ranked against each other: best first, with how much the choice matters.
Best races for Protection Paladin in PvE
Race matters some
Survival decides Protection Paladin. 
Dwarf 
Stoneform takes 10% less physical damage for 8 seconds and gives a spare cleanse, since Paladin 
Cleanse cannot remove curses; damage and threat differ by only 1 to 2% between races. Dwarf is the best Alliance pick. 
Undead is the best Horde pick.
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Dwarf S tierStoneform gives Dwarf the strongest survival and threat here, which makes it the best pick for Protection Paladin.
Why S, and its scores
Stoneform takes 10% less physical damage for 8 seconds and grants immunity to bleed, poison and disease. Paladin Cleanse does not remove curses, so it works as a spare cleanse. 
Earth Fury adds 2% to the crit bonus. Stoneform removes bleed, poison and disease, grants immunity to them and cuts physical damage taken 10% for 8 seconds, every 3 minutes. Safety scores 5 of 5 for Protection Paladin. 
Big Game Hunter helps only against Beasts, and Stoneform handles poison. Leveling scores 2 of 5.It has no race ahead of it. The next race,
Undead, trails by 1.30 and sits in tier C. It falls short on survival and threat (
Touch of the Grave against Stoneform, 2 of 5 to 5) and safety (
Will of the Forsaken against Stoneform, 4 of 5 to 5).Scores for Dwarf for Protection PaladinCriterion Weight Score The spec's job 55 5 Survival and utility 25 5 Leveling and downtime 20 2 Weighted score 4.40, the best for this spec, which is S tier.
What would move it: It would lose first place if testing showed Touch of the Grave on Undead worth more than the estimate for Protection Paladin now, or if Stoneform were cut in a patch.
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Undead C tierUndead's Touch of the Grave trails Dwarf's Stoneform on survival and threat.
Why C, and its scores
Will of the Forsaken answers fear, and Touch of the Grave procs at 20% from damaging spells and attacks, about 1% (an estimate). 
Cannibalize is blocked while immune to physical damage. 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 Protection 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.Ahead of it:
Dwarf. The best, Dwarf, is 1.30 ahead because it is stronger on survival and threat (Stoneform, 5 of 5 against 2) and safety (Stoneform, 5 of 5 against 4). This race wins on leveling (Cannibalize) but not by enough. Tier C covers up to 1.50 behind; tier B needs 1.17 or less.Scores for Undead for Protection PaladinCriterion Weight Score The spec's job 55 2 Survival and utility 25 4 Leveling and downtime 20 5 Weighted score 3.10, 1.30 behind the best race for this spec, which is C tier.
What would move it: Closing about 0.13 of weighted score, through a higher tested value for Touch of the Grave or a change to Stoneform on Dwarf, would lift it to tier B.
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Human C tierHuman's 
Ruthless trails Dwarf's Stoneform on survival and threat.Why C, and its scores
Ruthless adds 2% crit, which adds threat on 
Holy Shield, 
Consecration and 
Judgement hits, and 
Will to Survive removes stuns. Will to Survive removes all stuns on a 3 minute cooldown, and 
Perception detects stealth for 20 seconds. Safety scores 4 of 5 for Protection Paladin. 
The Human Spirit adds 5% Spirit, which helps regen a little. Leveling scores 2 of 5.Ahead of it:
Dwarf and Undead. The best, Dwarf, is 1.35 ahead because it is stronger on survival and threat (Stoneform, 5 of 5 against 3) and safety (Stoneform, 5 of 5 against 4). Tier C covers up to 1.50 behind; tier B needs 1.17 or less.Scores for Human for Protection PaladinCriterion Weight Score The spec's job 55 3 Survival and utility 25 4 Leveling and downtime 20 2 Weighted score 3.05, 1.35 behind the best race for this spec, which is C tier.
What would move it: Closing about 0.18 of weighted score, through a higher tested value for Ruthless or a change to Stoneform on Dwarf, would lift it to tier B.
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.
| Criterion | Weight | What it measures |
|---|---|---|
| The spec's job | 55 | What 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 utility | 25 | Racials 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 downtime | 20 | Makes 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 Protection Paladin in PvP
Race barely matters
Protection Paladin holds ground with 
Templar's Bulwark and Divine Shield but cannot kill or escape, so stun and fear chains are its loss. Only three races are legal and the two best are close. The spread is 0.60, so the choice matters little. Human is the best Alliance pick. Undead is the best Horde pick.
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Human S tierHuman leads Protection 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. Burst scores 1 of 5: Ruthless adds 2% crit. Defensives scores 1 of 5: Human has no defensive racial. 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 Protection Paladin Criterion Weight Score Breaks and escapes 30 5 Burst 25 1 Defensives 25 1 Mobility and detection 20 2 Weighted score 2.40, 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.
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Undead S tierUndead stays close to Human for Protection 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. Burst scores 1 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. 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 defensives (2 of 5 against 1).Scores for Undead for Protection Paladin Criterion Weight Score Breaks and escapes 30 4 Burst 25 1 Defensives 25 2 Mobility and detection 20 1 Weighted score 2.15, 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.
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Dwarf A tierDwarf stays close to Human for Protection Paladin: Stoneform keeps it in tier A, short on breaks and mobility.
Why A, and its scores
Breaks scores 2 of 5:
Stoneform cleanses Bleed, Poison and Disease, a narrow family. Burst scores 1 of 5: Earth Fury adds a tiny 2% crit bonus. Defensives scores 3 of 5: Stoneform cuts Physical damage 10% for 8 seconds. Stoneform stacks with Templar's Bulwark and 
Righteous Fury windows, and the Physical cut helps in melee fights. Mobility scores 1 of 5: Dwarf has nothing here.It is 0.60 behind
Human, the best race for this spec, and sits in tier A. The gap comes from breaks (Will to Survive, 5 of 5, against Stoneform, 2) and mobility (Perception, 2 of 5, against 
Chastise, 1). It does lead on defensives (3 of 5 against 1).Scores for Dwarf for Protection Paladin Criterion Weight Score Breaks and escapes 30 2 Burst 25 1 Defensives 25 3 Mobility and detection 20 1 Weighted score 1.80, 0.60 behind the best race for this spec, which is A tier.
What would move it: Reaching Human means making up 0.60. 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.
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.
| Criterion | Weight | What it measures |
|---|---|---|
| Breaks and escapes | 30 | Racials 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. |
| Burst | 25 | Racials 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. |
| Defensives | 25 | Racials 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 detection | 20 | Tools 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.