Updated Nov 4, 2026

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%
Compare in rankings

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
Beta. This view is new. Some specs’ steps still read as long chains of conditions, and we’re working on making them simpler to follow.
  1. 1Ardent DefenderWhen ready
  2. 2Holy Bulwark
  3. 3Racial abilityWhen ready
  4. 4Avenging WrathWhen ready
  5. 5Divine Toll
  6. 6Hammer of Light
  7. 7Shield of the Righteous
  8. 8Hammer of WrathWhen ready
  9. 9JudgmentWhen ready
  10. 10Avenger's ShieldWhen ready
  11. 11ConsecrationWhen ready
  12. 12Blessed HammerWhen ready
  13. 13Hammer of the RighteousWhen ready
  14. 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.

  1. 1Rite of SanctificationWhen ready
  2. 2Rite of AdjurationWhen ready
  3. 3Devotion AuraWhen ready
  4. 4ConsecrationWhen ready
  5. 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.

Time
Ability
New
Gone
Up
Pre-pull
0:00.000
0:00.000
Pull
0:00.000
0:00.836
0:00.836

The full priority list

simc@ff0d07f

Everything 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.

paladin_protection.simc, 57 lines

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.