Protection Paladin
PvE guide, updated for Patch 12.1.5
Tank Rotation & Cooldowns
How to play Protection Paladin in each rotation style: the full rotation SimulationCraft sims play by default, and the game’s Assisted Highlight and One Button rotations beside it.
Rotation style comparison
How Protection Paladin’s DPS compares when using the game’s assisted modes instead of the full rotation, based on Single Target simulations.
- Full rotationBaseline
- Assisted Highlight-18.2%
- One Button-23.5%
The full rotation is the one SimulationCraft’s sims play by default. Its priority list is SimC’s own for the spec, read here for one build and one kind of fight.
Rotation
Beta14 abilities- 1Ardent DefenderWhen ready
- 2Holy Bulwark
- 3Racial abilityWhen ready
- 4Avenging WrathWhen ready
- 5Divine Toll
- 6Hammer of Light
- 7Shield of the Righteous
- 8Hammer of WrathWhen ready
- 9JudgmentWhen ready
- 10Avenger's ShieldWhen ready
- 11ConsecrationWhen ready
- 12Blessed HammerWhen ready
- 13Hammer of the RighteousWhen ready
- 14Word of Glory
Every step also needs the ability off cooldown and affordable. Range checks are left out. A blank Targets cell means any number of targets.
Before the pull
Things to do before entering combat.
- 1Rite of SanctificationWhen ready
- 2Rite of AdjurationWhen ready
- 3Devotion AuraWhen ready
- 4ConsecrationWhen ready
- 5Holy BulwarkSimC next_armament=holy_bulwark
Cooldowns
When each cooldown was used across the sample fight, so you can see how often each comes back and which ones line up.
Sample opener
One simulated fight from the start, played by this list on the profile in the Gear section with that profile’s own talents, whichever build the list above is read for. Procs and timing change the order from fight to fight, so use it to get a feel for the start rather than as a script.
The full priority list
simc@ff0d07fEverything above is read from this SimulationCraft list, including the steps the page hides (the potion and on-use items) and the branches your build and fight leave out.
# This default action priority list is automatically created based on your character. # It is a attempt to provide you with a action list that is both simple and practicable, # while resulting in a meaningful and good simulation. It may not result in the absolutely highest possible dps. # Feel free to edit, adapt and improve it to your own needs. # SimulationCraft is always looking for updates and improvements to the default action lists. # Executed before combat begins. Accepts non-harmful actions only. actions.precombat=rite_of_sanctification actions.precombat+=/rite_of_adjuration actions.precombat+=/snapshot_stats actions.precombat+=/devotion_aura actions.precombat+=/variable,name=trinket_1_buffs,value=trinket.1.has_use_buff actions.precombat+=/variable,name=trinket_2_buffs,value=trinket.2.has_use_buff actions.precombat+=/variable,name=trinket_1_duration,op=setif,value=0,value_else=trinket.1.proc.any_dps.duration,condition=0 actions.precombat+=/variable,name=trinket_2_duration,op=setif,value=0,value_else=trinket.2.proc.any_dps.duration,condition=0 actions.precombat+=/variable,name=trinket_1_high_value,op=setif,value=3,value_else=1,condition=trinket.1.is.voracious_heart_of_ulatek actions.precombat+=/variable,name=trinket_2_high_value,op=setif,value=3,value_else=1,condition=trinket.2.is.voracious_heart_of_ulatek actions.precombat+=/variable,name=trinket_1_sync,op=setif,value=1,value_else=0.5,condition=variable.trinket_1_buffs&trinket.1.cooldown.duration%%cooldown.avenging_wrath.duration=0 actions.precombat+=/variable,name=trinket_2_sync,op=setif,value=1,value_else=0.5,condition=variable.trinket_2_buffs&trinket.2.cooldown.duration%%cooldown.avenging_wrath.duration=0 actions.precombat+=/variable,name=trinket_priority,op=setif,value=2,value_else=1,condition=!variable.trinket_1_buffs&variable.trinket_2_buffs&(trinket.2.has_cooldown|!trinket.1.has_cooldown)|variable.trinket_2_buffs&((trinket.2.cooldown.duration%variable.trinket_2_duration)*(1.5+trinket.2.has_buff.strength)*(variable.trinket_2_sync)*(variable.trinket_2_high_value)*(1+((trinket.2.ilvl-trinket.1.ilvl)%100)))>((trinket.1.cooldown.duration%variable.trinket_1_duration)*(1.5+trinket.1.has_buff.strength)*(variable.trinket_1_sync)*(variable.trinket_1_high_value)*(1+((trinket.1.ilvl-trinket.2.ilvl)%100))) actions.precombat+=/variable,name=damage_trinket_priority,op=setif,value=2,value_else=1,condition=!variable.trinket_1_buffs&!variable.trinket_2_buffs&trinket.2.ilvl>=trinket.1.ilvl actions.precombat+=/potion,pre_pot_time=8,if=potion.liquid_luster actions.precombat+=/consecration actions.precombat+=/holy_armaments,if=next_armament=holy_bulwark # Executed every time the actor is available. actions=auto_attack actions+=/call_action_list,name=trinkets actions+=/potion,if=potion.liquid_luster&cooldown.avenging_wrath.remains<8 actions+=/potion,if=!potion.liquid_luster&(buff.avenging_wrath.up|cooldown.avenging_wrath.up) actions+=/ardent_defender,if=talent.eye_for_an_eye actions+=/variable,use_off_gcd=1,name=wants_to_hammer,value=buff.hammer_of_light_ready.up&debuff.judgment.up&(buff.undisputed_ruling.remains<=1.8|buff.hammer_of_light_ready.remains<5) actions+=/holy_armaments,if=cooldown.avenging_wrath.remains<=gcd|time_to_die<30|charges=2 actions+=/fireblood,if=buff.avenging_wrath.up actions+=/avenging_wrath actions+=/divine_toll,if=buff.avenging_wrath.up|!apex.3 actions+=/hammer_of_light,if=variable.wants_to_hammer actions+=/shield_of_the_righteous,if=(!talent.instrument_of_the_divine&buff.divine_guidance.stack<5|holy_power=5|!buff.valor.up&!buff.divine_purpose.up)&(!variable.wants_to_hammer|prev_gcd.1.divine_toll) actions+=/hammer_of_wrath,if=full_recharge_time<=gcd|buff.hammer_of_light_ready.up&!debuff.judgment.up actions+=/judgment,if=full_recharge_time<=gcd|buff.hammer_of_light_ready.up&!debuff.judgment.up actions+=/avengers_shield,if=buff.vanguard.up|(buff.avenging_wrath.up&apex.3) actions+=/consecration,if=buff.divine_guidance.stack>=5|!consecration.up actions+=/hammer_of_wrath actions+=/judgment actions+=/avengers_shield actions+=/blessed_hammer actions+=/hammer_of_the_righteous actions+=/arcane_torrent actions+=/word_of_glory,if=buff.shining_light_free.up&!buff.divine_purpose.up actions+=/consecration # Trinkets actions.trinkets=variable,name=cds_active,value=buff.avenging_wrath.up&buff.avenging_wrath.remains>5 actions.trinkets+=/use_item,slot=trinket1,if=variable.trinket_1_buffs&(variable.trinket_priority=1|!variable.trinket_2_buffs|!trinket.2.has_cooldown|variable.trinket_2_buffs&trinket.2.cooldown.remains)&(trinket.1.cast_time>0&trinket.1.cast_time>cooldown.avenging_wrath.remains|trinket.1.cast_time=0&variable.cds_active) actions.trinkets+=/use_item,slot=trinket2,if=variable.trinket_2_buffs&(variable.trinket_priority=2|!variable.trinket_1_buffs|!trinket.1.has_cooldown|variable.trinket_1_buffs&trinket.1.cooldown.remains)&(trinket.2.cast_time>0&trinket.2.cast_time>cooldown.avenging_wrath.remains|trinket.2.cast_time=0&variable.cds_active) actions.trinkets+=/use_item,slot=trinket1,if=!variable.trinket_1_buffs&(!trinket.2.has_cooldown|trinket.2.cooldown.remains|!variable.trinket_2_buffs)&(variable.damage_trinket_priority=1|trinket.2.cooldown.remains) actions.trinkets+=/use_item,slot=trinket2,if=!variable.trinket_2_buffs&(!trinket.1.has_cooldown|trinket.1.cooldown.remains|!variable.trinket_1_buffs)&(variable.damage_trinket_priority=2|trinket.1.cooldown.remains)
Is this rotation built for your talents?
The rotation follows your talent build. Sim your highest-DPS build on your own gear, for the mode and rotation style you play.