How much a profession helps this spec fight other players at 60, in the open world and in battlegrounds together. Leveling is the PvE list's.
The subjects are all twelve professions: six crafting, three gathering and three secondary.
Each entry names its best partner: the primary profession that does the most for this spec beside it.
A forecast. Forever's item stats aren't public yet, so gear scores rest on what each item binds to and on Classic's values; raid gear counts from 9 Dec, when raids open.
Forever moved the healing potions from 
Alchemy to 
First Aid, and its camp items' buffs don't stack with the matching class buffs: both change the Classic answer for many specs.
Each criterion is scored against fixed anchors, then rescaled within this spec's twelve so the best scores 5 and the worst 1. A criterion whose twelve scores span one point or less keeps them as scored.
The rubric: each criterion scored 1 to 5| Criterion | Weight | What it measures |
|---|
| Combat tools | 45 | Measured against these anchors, then rescaled so the best of the twelve scores 5 and the worst 1. Items used in a fight that change its outcome and that only this profession can use or make, or that fill a gap in this spec's kit (a stun, a root breaker, a ranged snare): 5. Fight items that help this spec but that it could buy, or that only cover what its own kit already does: 3. Nothing used in a fight: 1. |
|---|
| Self gear | 25 | Measured against these anchors, then rescaled so the best of the twelve scores 5 and the worst 1. PvP gear this spec wears that it can make and can't otherwise get, or that is best in slot for PvP: 5. Gear it could buy, or a modest upgrade: 3. Nothing this spec wears: 1. |
|---|
| Consumable supply | 20 | Measured against these anchors, then rescaled so the best of the twelve scores 5 and the worst 1. Makes the consumables this spec burns through in PvP at volume, so it never runs short: potions, bandages, food, grenades: 5. Some of them, or at low volume: 3. None: 1. |
|---|
| Gold | 10 | Not scored here: the profession's score on the Professions for Gold: Settled list, rounded half up, then rescaled with the other criteria. It is the same on every spec's list. |
|---|
An entry’s tier comes from its weighted score. A tier set by hand instead says why in its write-up. Within a tier,
the best score comes first.
- S 4.25 or more
- The best choice for this purpose. Strong on the criteria that count most, with no real weakness.
- A 3.75 or more
- Very strong. A little behind S, or one clear weakness.
- B 3.25 or more
- Good. Does the job well without special effort.
- C 2.75 or more
- Workable. About average on the rubric; nothing stands out either way.
- D 2.25 or more
- Weak. It works, but you will feel the gap; pick it for other reasons.
- F below 2.25
- Poor for this purpose. Avoid it unless something else decides for you.
- The game rules of the stated build, including what battlegrounds allow.
- A level-60 character with the profession at 300.
- No Legacy perks.
- Gathering, crafting, the auction house and vendors only.
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.
Choose a profession on the chart to see why it sits where it does.
Net-o-Matic root, mortar stun and bombs fill Protection 
Paladin's missing ranged weapon, interrupt and slow.
Best partner: Blacksmithing
Scores for 
Engineering| Criterion | Weight | Score |
|---|
| Combat tools | 45 | ●●●●● 5 |
|---|
| Self gear | 25 | ●●●●● 5 |
|---|
| Consumable supply | 20 | ●●●●○ 4 |
|---|
| Gold | 10 | ●○○○○ 1 |
|---|
Weighted score 4.40, which is S tier.
Combat tools, 5 of 5: Paladin has no ranged weapon, interrupt or slow; Net-o-Matic root, Mortar stun and 3 s-stun bombs fill that gap (shared 1-minute cooldown; no satchels).
Self gear, 5 of 5: Dented Goggles BoP plate headgear; Satchels unusable by Paladins.
Consumable supply, 4 of 5: Grenades and dynamite in volume, but one 1-minute shared cooldown limits how many are burned.
Gold, 1 of 5: 1.95 on the Professions for Gold: Settled list.
Why 
Blacksmithing beside it: Blacksmithing adds PvP plate and weapons to the gadgets.
Strengths
- Combat tools, 5 of 5
- Self gear, 5 of 5
- Consumable supply, 4 of 5
What would move it: Its gold score follows the Professions for Gold: Settled list; a better reading there would lift it.
Rated on assumptions:
- That Engineering's bombs, nets and trinkets need Engineering to use, and that battlegrounds allow them; neither is confirmed for Forever yet.
Read the Engineering guide · Back to the chart
Potions anyone can buy; Alchemy adds modest fight help for Protection Paladin and wears nothing.
Best partner: Engineering
Scores for Alchemy| Criterion | Weight | Score |
|---|
| Combat tools | 45 | ●●●○○ 3 |
|---|
| Self gear | 25 | ●○○○○ 1 |
|---|
| Consumable supply | 20 | ●●●●○ 4 |
|---|
| Gold | 10 | ●●●●● 5 |
|---|
Weighted score 2.90, which is C tier.
Combat tools, 3 of 5: Free Action/Living Action, Greater Protection and Swiftness help fights but are potions anyone can buy; healing potions left Alchemy.
Self gear, 1 of 5: Alchemy makes nothing a Paladin wears; Alchemist's Stone is not a plate piece.
Consumable supply, 4 of 5: Free Action, protection and 
Troll's Blood potions at volume, but healing potions are First Aid's.
Gold, 5 of 5: 4.15 on the Professions for Gold: Settled list.
Why Engineering beside it: Engineering adds the stuns, roots and bombs potions can't.
It is not B: it scores 1 of 5 on self gear, and its 2.90 is 0.35 short of B.
Strengths
- Consumable supply, 4 of 5
- Gold, 5 of 5
What would move it: Better self gear for this spec, from a patch or from item stats once Forever publishes them, would lift it; relative scores also move when another profession's evidence changes.
Read the Alchemy guide · Back to the chart
Constantly burned bandages and healing potions come only from First Aid, but they are no unique fight item.
Best partner: Engineering
Scores for First Aid| Criterion | Weight | Score |
|---|
| Combat tools | 45 | ●●●○○ 3 |
|---|
| Self gear | 25 | ●○○○○ 1 |
|---|
| Consumable supply | 20 | ●●●●● 5 |
|---|
| Gold | 10 | ●●●○○ 3 |
|---|
Weighted score 2.90, which is C tier.
Combat tools, 3 of 5: Healing potions and Anti-Venom work in combat but are open to any character; not unique.
Self gear, 1 of 5: Wears nothing.
Consumable supply, 5 of 5: Healing potions and bandages burned constantly and only First Aid makes them; Paladin self-heals trim the need slightly.
Gold, 3 of 5: 2.65 on the Professions for Gold: Settled list.
Why Engineering beside it: Engineering is the fight-item profession it pairs with.
It is not B: it scores 1 of 5 on self gear, and its 2.90 is 0.35 short of B.
Strengths
- Consumable supply, 5 of 5
What would move it: Better self gear for this spec, from a patch or from item stats once Forever publishes them, would lift it; relative scores also move when another profession's evidence changes.
Read the First Aid guide · Back to the chart
Shields and plate are BoE and buyable, so Blacksmithing is only modest for Protection Paladin.
Best partner: Engineering
Scores for Blacksmithing| Criterion | Weight | Score |
|---|
| Combat tools | 45 | ●●○○○ 2 |
|---|
| Self gear | 25 | ●●●●● 5 |
|---|
| Consumable supply | 20 | ●●○○○ 2 |
|---|
| Gold | 10 | ●○○○○ 1 |
|---|
Weighted score 2.65, which is D tier.
Combat tools, 2 of 5: Stones and spikes add damage but do not change a fight for Protection Paladin.
Self gear, 5 of 5: Shields (Evergreen, Jagged Obsidian) and plate are BoE, so buyable; modest for PvP.
Consumable supply, 2 of 5: Sharpening stones only, low volume.
Gold, 1 of 5: 2.05 on the Professions for Gold: Settled list.
Why Engineering beside it: Engineering adds Dented Goggles and fight items to BS plate and weapons.
It is not C: it scores 2 of 5 on combat tools, and its 2.65 is 0.10 short of C.
Weaknesses
- Combat tools, 2 of 5
- Consumable supply, 2 of 5
- Gold, 1 of 5
What would move it: Better combat tools for this spec, from a patch or from item stats once Forever publishes them, would lift it; relative scores also move when another profession's evidence changes.
Read the Blacksmithing guide · Back to the chart
Enchants are buyable services, so 
Enchanting offers Protection Paladin no fight item or consumable.
Best partner: Blacksmithing
Scores for Enchanting| Criterion | Weight | Score |
|---|
| Combat tools | 45 | ●●○○○ 2 |
|---|
| Self gear | 25 | ●●●●● 5 |
|---|
| Consumable supply | 20 | ●○○○○ 1 |
|---|
| Gold | 10 | ●●●○○ 3 |
|---|
Weighted score 2.65, which is D tier.
Combat tools, 2 of 5: Weapon procs (Crusader, Fiery) are enchants, not fight items.
Self gear, 5 of 5: Enchants improve gear but are buyable services; no BoP plate gear.
Consumable supply, 1 of 5: Makes no consumables for Protection Paladin.
Gold, 3 of 5: 2.55 on the Professions for Gold: Settled list.
Why Blacksmithing beside it: Blacksmithing makes the plate and weapons its enchants go on.
It is not C: it scores 2 of 5 on combat tools, and its 2.65 is 0.10 short of C.
Weaknesses
- Combat tools, 2 of 5
- Consumable supply, 1 of 5
What would move it: Better combat tools for this spec, from a patch or from item stats once Forever publishes them, would lift it; relative scores also move when another profession's evidence changes.
Read the Enchanting guide · Back to the chart
No fight use and nothing worn; 
Cooking brings only cheap stat food for battlegrounds.
Best partner: Engineering
Scores for Cooking| Criterion | Weight | Score |
|---|
| Combat tools | 45 | ●○○○○ 1 |
|---|
| Self gear | 25 | ●○○○○ 1 |
|---|
| Consumable supply | 20 | ●●●●○ 4 |
|---|
| Gold | 10 | ●○○○○ 1 |
|---|
Weighted score 1.60, which is F tier.
Combat tools, 1 of 5: Food is not used mid-fight.
Self gear, 1 of 5: Wears nothing.
Consumable supply, 4 of 5: Stat food for every battleground, cheap in volume.
Gold, 1 of 5: 1.80 on the Professions for Gold: Settled list.
Why Engineering beside it: Engineering is the fight-item profession it pairs with.
It is not D: it scores 1 of 5 on combat tools, and its 1.60 is 0.65 short of D.
Strengths
- Consumable supply, 4 of 5
Weaknesses
- Combat tools, 1 of 5
- Self gear, 1 of 5
- Gold, 1 of 5
What would move it: Better combat tools for this spec, from a patch or from item stats once Forever publishes them, would lift it; relative scores also move when another profession's evidence changes.
Read the Cooking guide · Back to the chart
Herbs make no consumable themselves and nothing Protection Paladin wears or uses in a fight.
Best partner: Alchemy
Scores for 
Herbalism| Criterion | Weight | Score |
|---|
| Combat tools | 45 | ●○○○○ 1 |
|---|
| Self gear | 25 | ●○○○○ 1 |
|---|
| Consumable supply | 20 | ●●○○○ 2 |
|---|
| Gold | 10 | ●●●●● 5 |
|---|
Weighted score 1.60, which is F tier.
Combat tools, 1 of 5: Nothing used in a fight.
Self gear, 1 of 5: Wears nothing.
Consumable supply, 2 of 5: Herbs only feed potions and First Aid; no consumable itself.
Gold, 5 of 5: 4.00 on the Professions for Gold: Settled list.
Why Alchemy beside it: Alchemy turns herbs into the potions.
It is not D: it scores 1 of 5 on combat tools, and its 1.60 is 0.65 short of D.
Weaknesses
- Combat tools, 1 of 5
- Self gear, 1 of 5
- Consumable supply, 2 of 5
What would move it: Better combat tools for this spec, from a patch or from item stats once Forever publishes them, would lift it; relative scores also move when another profession's evidence changes.
Read the Herbalism guide · Back to the chart
Mining smelts ore with no consumables, and Protection Paladin wears nothing it makes.
Best partner: Engineering
Scores for Mining| Criterion | Weight | Score |
|---|
| Combat tools | 45 | ●○○○○ 1 |
|---|
| Self gear | 25 | ●○○○○ 1 |
|---|
| Consumable supply | 20 | ●○○○○ 1 |
|---|
| Gold | 10 | ●●●●● 5 |
|---|
Weighted score 1.40, which is F tier.
Combat tools, 1 of 5: Nothing used in a fight; Lodestone is a camp buff.
Self gear, 1 of 5: Wears nothing.
Consumable supply, 1 of 5: Smelts ore; no consumables.
Gold, 5 of 5: 3.75 on the Professions for Gold: Settled list.
Why Engineering beside it: Engineering turns ore into bombs and gadgets.
It is not D: it scores 1 of 5 on combat tools, and its 1.40 is 0.85 short of D.
Weaknesses
- Combat tools, 1 of 5
- Self gear, 1 of 5
- Consumable supply, 1 of 5
What would move it: Better combat tools for this spec, from a patch or from item stats once Forever publishes them, would lift it; relative scores also move when another profession's evidence changes.
Read the Mining guide · Back to the chart
Fishing gives Protection Paladin nothing to use in a fight or wear.
Best partner: Engineering
Scores for Fishing| Criterion | Weight | Score |
|---|
| Combat tools | 45 | ●○○○○ 1 |
|---|
| Self gear | 25 | ●○○○○ 1 |
|---|
| Consumable supply | 20 | ●●○○○ 2 |
|---|
| Gold | 10 | ●○○○○ 1 |
|---|
Weighted score 1.20, which is F tier.
Combat tools, 1 of 5: Nothing used in a fight.
Self gear, 1 of 5: Wears nothing.
Consumable supply, 2 of 5: Fish only feed Cooking; Fish Bowl is a buff, not a consumable.
Gold, 1 of 5: 2.25 on the Professions for Gold: Settled list.
Why Engineering beside it: Engineering is the fight-item profession it pairs with.
It is not D: it scores 1 of 5 on combat tools, and its 1.20 is 1.05 short of D.
Weaknesses
- Combat tools, 1 of 5
- Self gear, 1 of 5
- Consumable supply, 2 of 5
- Gold, 1 of 5
What would move it: Better combat tools for this spec, from a patch or from item stats once Forever publishes them, would lift it; relative scores also move when another profession's evidence changes.
Read the Fishing guide · Back to the chart
Armor kits are not fight items, and leather and mail are downgrades from Protection Paladin's plate.
Best partner: Blacksmithing
Scores for 
Leatherworking| Criterion | Weight | Score |
|---|
| Combat tools | 45 | ●○○○○ 1 |
|---|
| Self gear | 25 | ●○○○○ 1 |
|---|
| Consumable supply | 20 | ●●○○○ 2 |
|---|
| Gold | 10 | ●○○○○ 1 |
|---|
Weighted score 1.20, which is F tier.
Combat tools, 1 of 5: Armor kits are not fight items.
Self gear, 1 of 5: Armor kits only; leather and mail are downgrades for plate.
Consumable supply, 2 of 5: Armor kits at low volume.
Gold, 1 of 5: 1.65 on the Professions for Gold: Settled list.
Why Blacksmithing beside it: Blacksmithing is the gear profession it pairs with.
It is not D: it scores 1 of 5 on combat tools, and its 1.20 is 1.05 short of D.
Weaknesses
- Combat tools, 1 of 5
- Self gear, 1 of 5
- Consumable supply, 2 of 5
- Gold, 1 of 5
What would move it: Better combat tools for this spec, from a patch or from item stats once Forever publishes them, would lift it; relative scores also move when another profession's evidence changes.
Read the Leatherworking guide · Back to the chart
Leather only: no consumables, no gear, and the Camp Chair is not a fight item.
Best partner: Engineering
Scores for 
Skinning| Criterion | Weight | Score |
|---|
| Combat tools | 45 | ●○○○○ 1 |
|---|
| Self gear | 25 | ●○○○○ 1 |
|---|
| Consumable supply | 20 | ●○○○○ 1 |
|---|
| Gold | 10 | ●○○○○ 1 |
|---|
Weighted score 1.00, which is F tier.
Combat tools, 1 of 5: Camp Chair is not a fight item.
Self gear, 1 of 5: Wears nothing.
Consumable supply, 1 of 5: Leather only; no consumables.
Gold, 1 of 5: 2.05 on the Professions for Gold: Settled list.
Why Engineering beside it: Engineering is the fight-item profession it pairs with.
It is not D: it scores 1 of 5 on combat tools, and its 1.00 is 1.25 short of D.
Weaknesses
- Combat tools, 1 of 5
- Self gear, 1 of 5
- Consumable supply, 1 of 5
- Gold, 1 of 5
What would move it: Better combat tools for this spec, from a patch or from item stats once Forever publishes them, would lift it; relative scores also move when another profession's evidence changes.
Read the Skinning guide · Back to the chart
Plate means cloth is no use to Protection Paladin; 
Tailoring gives bags only.
Best partner: Engineering
Scores for Tailoring| Criterion | Weight | Score |
|---|
| Combat tools | 45 | ●○○○○ 1 |
|---|
| Self gear | 25 | ●○○○○ 1 |
|---|
| Consumable supply | 20 | ●○○○○ 1 |
|---|
| Gold | 10 | ●○○○○ 1 |
|---|
Weighted score 1.00, which is F tier.
Combat tools, 1 of 5: No fight item.
Self gear, 1 of 5: Plate wearer; cloth is no use.
Consumable supply, 1 of 5: Bags only; bandages are First Aid's.
Gold, 1 of 5: 1.85 on the Professions for Gold: Settled list.
Why Engineering beside it: Engineering is the fight-item profession it pairs with.
It is not D: it scores 1 of 5 on combat tools, and its 1.00 is 1.25 short of D.
Weaknesses
- Combat tools, 1 of 5
- Self gear, 1 of 5
- Consumable supply, 1 of 5
- Gold, 1 of 5
What would move it: Better combat tools for this spec, from a patch or from item stats once Forever publishes them, would lift it; relative scores also move when another profession's evidence changes.
Read the Tailoring guide · Back to the chart