Paladin BiS lists for WoW Forever
Plate from level 40, mail before ·
Paladins are a healing class first. In Classic almost every raid paladin was Holy, and that is where the class's gear choices were best understood. Protection and Retribution were real specs with real followings, but niche ones, and their best-in-slot lists were built by a smaller community.
Forever adds Undead as a paladin race, so paladins are no longer an Alliance-only class. The specs share plate, but they want almost nothing in common: Holy wants healing and mana, Retribution wants strength and crit, Protection wants spell damage as much as defense.
Pick your spec
- HolyHealerEfficient single-target healing that runs on crit and intellect.Stacks: Healing power › Intellect › Spell critical strikeHoly BiS
- ProtectionTankA spell-damage tank: threat comes from Holy damage, not from weapon swings.Stacks: Defense › Stamina › Spell damageProtection BiS
- RetributionMelee DPSTwo-hander melee with seals: big weapon, strength and crit.Stacks: Weapon damage › Hit (to the cap) › StrengthRetribution BiS
When the lists fill in
Pre-raidMid-November 2026
Level 55–60 dungeon loot, crafted pieces, quest rewards and reputation. The dungeon half can be built once the level 60 tables are datamined after launch on 4 November.
The Barrow Deeps9 December 2026
Ten players, eight bosses. Loot tables have not been published.
Hyjal Summit9 December 2026
Twenty players, thirteen bosses. Loot tables have not been published.
Onyxia's Lair9 December 2026
Forty players, one boss. Returning from Classic, but Forever has not said whether its loot table is the same.
Questions
Can Horde play paladins in WoW Forever?
Yes. Forever adds Undead paladins as one of six new class and race combinations, which makes paladins available to the Horde.
Is Retribution or Protection viable for raiding?
Unknown until Forever publishes talents and raid tuning. In Classic both were niche, and most raid paladins healed.
Is there a Paladin BiS list for WoW Forever yet?
No. Raid loot is published with the raids on 9 December 2026 and the level 55–60 dungeon tables are not in the beta. Each spec page carries its stat priority now and gains its item list as each phase is datamined.
What armour and weapons can a Paladin use?
Plate from level 40, mail before. One- and two-handed maces, swords and axes, polearms, shields; no ranged weapon.
