Holy Paladin 3.1 (and 3.2) PvP Talent Specs
In my earlier post, I went over the PvE Holy specs. My 2nd spec is Holy PvP. Notice that a lot of these specs aren’t really Holy, but they are all healing specs and you still wear Spell Power gear with every spec, so I’ll call them Holy anyway.
There are very few talents in any tree that are useless for PvP, so there are a huge number of viable specs. Which spec and talents are best for you depends on what format you’re doing (battlegrounds, 2v2, 3v3, 5v5), who your partners are, who you’re fighting against, and how you play. Certain talents will always be better in different situations or for different people. With that in mind, let’s look at some of the most popular specs and the pros and cons of each.
Common Holy Talents
Almost every PvP Holy build put at least 31 points into the Holy Tree to get Holy Shock. Most builds will look something like 31/0/0. From there, you can go either deep Holy, deep Prot, or deep Ret.
Deep Holy
Deep Holy specs could go as far down as Beacon of Light, or could stop at Holy Guidance, depending on how many points you want to put into Prot or Ret. The advantage of deep Holy is the ranged judgements, 15% haste and instant Flash of Lights. You will be a powerful healer, but your CC, defensive abilities and offensive abilities will be more limited compared to the other specs. This may not be a problem if you’re going to focus completely on healing. Here are some possible combinations of talents:
52/19/0 - a very strong healer with some very nice defensive abilities.
49/2/20 - focus on the synergy between Holy Shock and Flash of Light with tons of crit and improved running speed.
Deep Retribution
Going deep retribution is still a very popular build, even after Infusion of Light being moved out of range in 3.1. The key talent here is Repentance, giving you two different stun abilities, with some builds going as far down as Fanaticism. Ret builds are more offensive oriented and improve your team’s burst ability and CC, at the sacrifice of less powerful heals and no ranged judgements.
 32/0/39 - This build gives you instant flash of lights when your judgements crit, which should be very frequently. You also get practically infinite mana with Judgements of the Wise.
Deep Prot
33/38/0 - Deep Prot will give you and your group a huge amount of survivability and stamina, which is obviously very important in PvP.
What about all three?
33/18/20 - This is an interesting build that I’m not sure anyone has ever actually used. You get all of the shallow talents for lots of crit, stronger heals, and some good survivability. You miss out on all the deep talents though and the synergy they bring.
Summary
Honestly, all of these specs are very tempting to me. However, I really love the synergy between Holy Shock, Flash of Light and the Retribution tree. So, right now I’m going with a 49/2/20 build (taking Purifying Power instead of Pure of Heart). They’re all good specs though, so let me know what you plan on going with!
Related Links
- Best Holy Paladin 3v3 PvP Spec/Build?
- Arena Healing Tips for Holy Paladins
- Holy Paladin PvP Gear - Patch 3.2
thanks for the help on the specs im loving them probs will go deep ret for the infinite mana also judgements have more crit than holy shock so more fol. One thing i might add is that the new tier bonus: Your Holy Shock critical heals now also place a periodic healing effect on the target, healing for 15% of the Holy Shock’s heal amount over 9 sec. so 2 tier 7.5 and 2 tier 8 stacked with stam and res might be a gd idea…. So the mod ret spec might be better than repent and jow… Something to think about anyway..
For “PvP” I am mostly thinking of 2 and 3 man arena teams. I formerly used the shallow ret build, but with free kings imp might is wasted points. I’m trying out the following build when the new season starts:
http://talent.mmo-champion.com/?paladin=503521503002130501005152215032013122000000000000000000000000000000000000000000&glyph=000000000000&version=9742#
My main observation about this spec is that most teams take one of two approaches to healers:
1. “Stun and Gun”-use as many stuns as possible on the healer and then kill someone else. For this I have literally every stun/interrupt/fear/disorient protection possible. I also have very high burst heals, with divinity, imp dev aura, and glyph of seal of light.
2. “Kill the healer”-kill the healer. For this I have imp righteous fury, sacred life, toughness, and guardian’s favor, which with the new forbearance is basically a second bubble. A 40sec stun cd is always good. Also, nothing hurts this like an 8k self shock.
My primary worry about this spec is mana; however, the number of arena battles where a pally has run out of mana is so low as to seem irrelevant.
Personally, I find that I spend most of my time either healing or kiting like a frightened squirrel, so adding dps abilities seems unnecessary.
The problem with the shallow ret build is that it basically wastes 5 points in heart of the crusader and either imp might or improved judgments. Deeper ret forgoes both survivability and sp, but the “dpser who can also kinda heal” could be workable, its just not my style. Deep prot is tempting to me. I may try it at some point if only to horribly frustrate my opponents with my invincibility.
As far as individual talents, BoL seems completely worthless, as any decent team will usually combo on one player at a time. BoL-HoS combo just takes too much mana. Sacred cleansing just seems necessary. The reason pallys are such good pvp healers is cleanse, and this makes it even better. Benediction is tempting, as is divine sacrifice/divine guardian. I really don’t know what to make of aura mastery. Purifying power also needs a look at, but theres only so many points.
Those are all great comments, M. I am thinking about switching to Holy/Prot instead of Holy/Ret. The only thing is that it looks like you linked to the wrong spec. You talk about a lot of things that aren’t in the build you linked.
Many thanks for your excellent posts regarding Holy Paladin Specs, I’m currently using 51/2/18 for PVE and Deep Prot 33/38/0 for playing in battlegrounds. I decided to take this spec because my PVP gear isn’t a full set yet and I love feeling invincible when something tries to beat me up.
Righteous Fury
Blessing of kings
Imp Concentration Aura
Sacred Shield
It takes a lot of work to get me down.
Lofz
The Lion Rampant
EU Hellscream
The spec I had intended to link was
http://talent.mmo-champion.com/?paladin=503520503002130501335002005032003502300000000000000000000000000000000000000000&glyph=000000000000&version=9742
The only new thought I’ve had is that with the deep prot build and the level 70 pvp gear set bonus, you can get a 6 second stun with a 10 second cooldown. Sure the gears gimps you a little, but you have a 6 second stun with a 10 second cooldown.
I took your 32/0/39 and tried to turn it into a Holy Paladin soloing spec that wouldn’t required me to carry around extra gear. This is what I came up with:
31/0/40
I used it to solo Sirana Iceshriek yesterday. It took a while (mainly because she never gets within melee range) but I just kept healing through all her attacks and I don’t think my mana ever dropped below 90%.
The link is wrong - it should be 31/0/40
really nice pvp spec there M. But may i ask what setup u got in 2v2?
hi, sorry for my english i am french
i dont choose 49/2/20 but 49/0/22.
http://talent.mmo-champion.com/?paladin=503520503002130501005052200000000000000000000000000005230250203000000000000000&glyph=161112000000&version=9742
Thanks for the help on the builds.
I am interested in both Deep Prot and Deep Ret, but I would like to know how to gear for them.
Holy is int based, Ret and Prot are str/stam based.
Do those builds require a healthy balance of int/str?
Or is it better to focus on str? int? stam?
All of these builds are still healing builds using the same Spell Power gear as a full Holy. You wouldn’t use strength with any of these builds unless you’re planning on going full Ret or Prot and doing more damage than healing.
Thanks for the 49/2/20 gonna try it any hints on rotations and glyths ? This is my first pvp build, just starting any hints ? I have the savage set to start.
Glyph of Holy Shock is a given I think. I also use Glyph of Seal of Light for some extra healing. My third glyph is Glyph of Flash of Light. Those are all pretty good glyphs for strengthening your Holy Shocks and Flash of Lights. There’s quite a few other good PvP Glyphs though if you want to improve your utility, like Glyph of Hammer of Justice and Glyph of Turn Evil.
There’s not really any rotations when it comes to PvP healing. Just use Holy Shock and Flash of Light often, use your stuns and bubbles and judgements and Hands often and run around like mad.
2v2 specs should be different to 3v3 specs, and more points in reducing stuns and curses. 3v3, needs a 51/20/0 and 2v2 needs more in ret. this is straight from a guildie who has a 2200 rating. in both.
please if anyone wants to discuss 3v3, i only do 3v3. hit me up. quedie@hotmail.com
choadbringer (nagrand)
I’m thinking along the lines of utility healing in 2v2 and/or 3v3 concentrating more on using hands as well as heals to get both me and my partners out of everything.
I’ve only played around with this a little being new to holy pvp and have only just started using this in BGs but I’m happy so far. I’ll see how it does in arena next week.
http://talent.mmo-champion.com/?paladin=503521503000130501000000005032000000000000000000000005230250203300020000000000&glyph=191104010405&version=9742
I use the glyph of salvation for dmg reduction either for myself or partner, BoP on a shorter cd, and Freedom removing stuns as well as movement impairing effects.
In addition Unyielding Faith, Stoicism, and Aura Mastery make it difficult to CC me.
If nothing else… should annoy people.
for prot/holy, you should go deep prot. You can do 8k+ crits with avenger’s shield, and make sure to ALWAYS get the talent that gives 30% of your stamina, into spell power too. So that you can just stack stamina and call it a day. Hence, most geared prot/holy pallys have 2400+ spell power. flash of lights the usual healing spell anyway, unless you’re deep holy with holy shock. I’d say prot/holy is one of the better right now, survivability, is key.
Here is my 2 cents:
http://www.wowhead.com/?talent#sxAbxh0sVzZxGzAruMhcc:Tjicmz
I will just explain the prot tree here, holy is kinda self explainatory.
Ardent Defender, the heal it provides doesnt proc if you only have the standard 400defense, but 20% reduction on attacks that takes you below 35% hp is awesome. If you take a 8k hit, it reduce it to 6.4k
Blessing of Sanctuary, because its 3% dmg reduction AND 10% stm now.
Improved Devotion Aura to up my healing by 6%
Combat Expertise and Sacred Duty for 14% more stamina.
Divine Guardian for +20% absorbed by Sacred Shield, and double the duration.
Glyphs:
Salvation: 20%dmg reduction trick
Seal of Light: +5% healing
So.. total within the protection tree, it gives me 16% extra healing, 14% extra stamina, 9% reduced dmg taken, 10% more dmg done, 6% more crit chance.
I tried to swap to holy/ret spec, but I kept dying too fast. So I recommend this spec for survivability
ps, to the comment above me(”annoyme”), its nerfed now, it now gives 60% of your strength as spellpower instead.
I was on the way to being something like the 33/18/20 build, didn’t know much about the game when i started and just built as i saw need to. i kept dying and so i went into holy, quest armor etc was all strength and stamina and crit because i needed to kill mobs faster before they could kill me. What i saw from this toon, before i began gearing and specing more to the normal convention, was high survivability and good damage, i even tanked sunken temple at the correct level.
Im new to healing and my toon just hit 50 last nite. I do 90% battlegrounds now that they give xp. My problem is survivability so I was looking at the 51/20/0 build to up my life. My question is at what lvls should i put points where?
My current build is all holy and i out heal eveyone in bg’s. any help would be great.
While you’re leveling up, you can really put points wherever you want. Its a great time to experiment. If you want to be a healer in battlegrounds, 51/20/0 is a great spec to go for. I would probably go down the Holy tree first for better healing but its really up to you. The prot tree will give you some more utility and survivability.
Thanks that is what I thought. I have been trying to put more in holy than prot as I go. Hoping to hit beacon first then finish prot tree. Thanks again for all the advice. And feel free to look me up in the armory “Yasminha” on windrunner.
Hey,
With the 49/2/20 talent tree…do you use a shield and a main hand, or a two hander?
Thanks BrYcE
If you’re planning on healing, you should definitely use a main hand and a shield.
Btw, my PvP spec is completely different now. I believe its 51/20/0.
Im just shootin things around.. but i made a build (on talent tree, havnt tried it)..I have a 39/0/32 tree goin..
Level 80 Paladin (39/0/32)
Holy (39 Points)
Seals of the Pure - Rank 5/5
Increases the damage done by your Seal of Righteousness, Seal of Vengeance and Seal of Corruption and their Judgement effects by 15%.
Healing Light - Rank 3/3
Increases the amount healed by your Holy Light, Flash of Light and the effectiveness of Holy Shock spells by 12%.
Divine Intellect - Rank 5/5
Increases your total Intellect by 10%.
Unyielding Faith - Rank 2/2
Reduces the duration of all Fear and Disorient effects by 30%.
Illumination - Rank 5/5
After getting a critical effect from your Flash of Light, Holy Light, or Holy Shock heal spell you have a 100% chance to gain mana equal to 30% of the base cost of the spell.
Pure of Heart - Rank 2/2
Reduces the duration of Curse, Disease and Poison effects by 30%.
Divine Favor - Rank 1/1
When activated, gives your next Flash of Light, Holy Light, or Holy Shock spell a 100% critical effect chance.
Sanctified Light - Rank 3/3
Increases the critical effect chance of your Holy Light and Holy Shock spells by 6%.
Holy Power - Rank 5/5
Increases the critical effect chance of your Holy spells by 5%.
Holy Shock - Rank 1/1
Blasts the target with Holy energy, causing 1296 to 1402 Holy damage to an enemy, or 2401 to 2599 healing to an ally.
Blessed Life - Rank 3/3
All attacks against you have a 10% chance to cause half damage.
Holy Guidance - Rank 4/5
Increases your spell power by 16% of your total Intellect.
Protection (0 Points)
None
Retribution (32 Points)
Benediction - Rank 5/5
Reduces the mana cost of all instant cast spells by 10%.
Improved Judgements - Rank 2/2
Decreases the cooldown of your Judgement spells by 2 sec.
Heart of the Crusader - Rank 3/3
In addition to the normal effect, your Judgement spells will also increase the critical strike chance of all attacks made against that target by an additional 3%.
Vindication - Rank 2/2
Gives the Paladin’s damaging attacks a chance to reduce the target’s attack power by 46 for 10 sec.
Conviction - Rank 5/5
Increases your chance to get a critical strike with all spells and attacks by 5%.
Pursuit of Justice - Rank 2/2
Reduces the duration of all Disarm effects by 50% and increases movement and mounted movement speed by 15%. This does not stack with other movement speed increasing effects.
Sanctity of Battle - Rank 3/3
Increases your chance to critically hit with all spells and attacks by 3% and increases the damage caused by Exorcism and Crusader Strike by 15%.
Crusade - Rank 3/3
Increases all damage caused by 3% and all damage caused against Humanoids, Demons, Undead and Elementals by an additional 3%.
Vengeance - Rank 3/3
Gives you a 3% bonus to Physical and Holy damage you deal for 30 sec after dealing a critical strike from a weapon swing, spell, or ability. This effect stacks up to 3 times.
Divine Purpose - Rank 2/2
Reduces your chance to be hit by spells and ranged attacks by 4% and gives your Hand of Freedom spell a 100% chance to remove any Stun effects on the target.
The Art of War - Rank 2/2
Increases the damage of your Judgement, Crusader Strike and Divine Storm abilities by 10% and when your melee attacks critically hit your next Flash of Light or Exorcism spell becomes instant cast.
Glyphs
Glyph of Holy Shock (Major Glyph)
Reduces the cooldown of Holy Shock by 1 sec.
Glyph of Judgement (Major Glyph)
Your Judgements deal 10% more damage.
Glyph of Seal of Righteousness (Major Glyph)
Increases the damage done by Seal of Righteousness by 10%.
Glyph of Lay on Hands (Minor Glyph)
Reduces the cooldown of your Lay on Hands spell by 5 min.
Glyph of Blessing of Kings (Minor Glyph)
Reduces the mana cost of your Blessing of Kings and Greater Blessing of Kings spells by 50%.
Glyph of Blessing of Might (Minor Glyph)
Increases the duration of your Blessing of Might spell by 20 min when cast on yourself.
What do you all think about this?
I kinda threw it together in like.. 5 mins so idk if its really that viable.. but idk.. looks good to me
Ive tried 2 of theese spec , the deep holy and the shockadin build. And wow the shockadin build gave some great burst damage for my team. All we had to do was stun the healer and burst him down . I recommend this spec if u have the gear for it otherwise i would go deep prot for surv. Thanks for the great tips ! / Zhame
Forgot to mention that i got 2730 sp and 31 CC , wich makes it a lot easier to be a shockadin
This is the Holy spec I use for BGing. These talents combined with my Alchemy, make me damn near impossible to kill or slow down. This build has Blessing of Freedom, cleanse gives the chance to resist debuffs, uninterruptible heals, 30% fear or daze reduction, 10% silence reduction. All that plus trinket/human racial and alchemy pots means I can 4-5 targets focused on me, and I can heal/debuff all they got for quite awhile.
Also (with the Holy Shock glyph) you have 5 second HS, 10 second Exorcism, and with decent gear 30% crit rating. That can be some decent damage they won’t expect from a healer.
Anyway, it might be worth a try for BG Holy for some of you.
http://www.wowarmory.com/character-talents.xml?r=Hakkar&cn=Kaickul&group=1
Edit: 20% silence reduction, big difference, as well as -5% damage from Blessed Life Also, if you never OOM in a BG, you could drop Imp BOW, get that extra 10% silence reduction plus have 2 points left. However I have seen with this build you are alive a long time and casting damn near non-stop. My gems and enchants are a balance of +Stamn, Int, Crit, Resilience, and SP, so my passive mana regen sucks w/o BoW, even using Divine Illumination on cooldown and Divine Plea in the few moments I’m not healing someone.
Sacred Cleanse is a total waste of points ’cause it proc 30% of a 30% for 10 seconds, also Blessed life is not good ’cause of 10% procs. I disagree other talents ’cause they are too much hybrid between a holy/ret pve and a shockadin build…
[...] alguns pontos em protection para aumentar a sobrevivência dela é o melhor caso. Achei no site: http://www.holypaladin.net/index.php/holy-paladin-31-pvp-talents essa spec que gostei [...]
Hengie!
Sacred cleanse is a total waste of points? What?!!!!
Man that has to be one of the most amazing things a PVP healer can spec into. As a PVP healer with cleanse you are going to be using it a LOT!!! and getting a bonus buff that increases resistance by 30% is too good to miss, just to save 3 points.
Blessed Life is a chance thing, but i have specced into it and trust me, its amazing because it’s all attacks that may proc it… Even magical attacks…
Also how come no one is talking about the cool abilities in prot and deep holy? I have 40% crit and 2900 SP on my PVP + PVE gear and i don’t need the crappy ret talents to boost that.
I am happy providing decent utility with a stun, racial silence, 30% dispel resistance on my helpful spells and a arena raidwall every 2 mins.
Also did i mention the improved Hand of Freedom with longer duration? All in all its a very solid spec. Shockadin is dead and burried.
Seriously, 5K/7K holy shock crits is the most i have been able to squeeze out of Shockadin build, whilst sacrificing a HOT on Sacred Shield, Beacon, JOTP, Enlightened Judgements, Illumination (Which is a life saver if you get mana burnt).
Deep holy offers so much that a shockadin will never bring to a team. But this is just my opinion.
I am planning on doing 5v5 with my guild, could someone recommend a solid build for 5v5? I have full relentless gear and libram + PVE sword/shield and trinkets ofc.
Any help would be highly appreciated.
How do you have 40% crit with a Holy/Prot spec and only weapons+trinkets from PVE? Fake
I use 52/19 in PVP and never said that retri is better, but different.
I just said the proc o SC is indecent and i personally don’ t need it. I just prefer PoH, that helps me against locks and sometimes when i need to overheal and have no time to dispel.
Also no one skilled pala take BL ’cause pally is not the main focus on a decent arena, and when you’ re focused you have to kit not waitin’ the proc of BL.
[...] tips should apply to a variety of group compositions and talent specs.  Check out my post on PvP talents for other good PvP specs. Feel free to add your own tips in the comments [...]