Pally Tanking

Here are a few pointers for playing a Protection Paladin.

NOTE: everyone’s play style is different; my action bars are arranged in a way that makes my rotation comfortable. I can push a button without thinking in response to certain situations. What works for me probably won’t work for you so you need to establish your own technique.

NOTE: Also keep in mind that some of this will likely change once we are raiding in Shadowlands. I don’t know yet how the covenant stuff is going to fit into my rotation. I can update this as soon as I have a better idea of how that’s going to work into my technique.

Suggested Addons:

These addons have specific features that provide some utility but you don’t necessarily HAVE to use these (such as ElvUI).

• Exorsus Raid Tools – to see all available cooldowns (i.e. Lay on Hands, Rebirth, Guardian Spirit, etc)
• Hekili – more as a reminder of when things are off cooldown (more on this in a bit)
• ElvUI – added a new threat bar which is helpful to keep an eye on anyone encroaching on your threat

Click to enlarge this image to see some of the places where these addons are used (and my action bar setup).

Important tips:

I added the WoWHead links to the spells so you can see the tooltip which might help you familiarize yourself with their name and what they do.

• Always have Consecration down; but don’t always cast when its off cooldown, wait until there are only a couple of seconds left. I use a weakaura to tell me how long I have left until consecration is gone.
• A lot of tanking is anticipating the bosses next ability and being ready to react, such as using Shield of the Righteous when a big hit is coming. This is why you don’t always cast what Hekili suggests. I keep it up to remind me when some things are off cooldown because I’m not always looking at my action bars. Which leads me to my next point.
• Awareness is key! There are a lot of things you have to watch. Such as the Active Tanks Debuff Stacks so you know when its time to taunt. I use a combination of BigWigs (or DBM) screen alerts and Target of Target unit frame so I can see the debuffs. You also need to be aware of other things going on besides the boss, especially if you are the only tank. Pally’s are great AOE tanks but you have to be aware of adds that may appear to pick them up before they get to your healer(s).
• You also need to be aware of your distance to your healers and line of sight with your healer(s). They have to respond to what is going on around them too. Try not to get out of their range. I’m not going to lie, that is very tricky depending on the encounter.
• Don’t Use Hand of Reckoning (HoR) to pull. You should use Judgement or Avenger’s Shield for the pull. You only use HoR if you need to taunt off the active tank or to taunt a mob off someone that isn’t a tank.
• Use Avenger’s Shield cautiously. It does hit multiple targets which can result in pulling more than you want to. It’s also one of your interrupts so if you know a cast is coming that you need to interrupt, don’t use it so it’s available when the time comes. Sometimes Hammer of the Righteous will proc Avenger’s Shield to come off cooldown, but don’t assume it will proc when you need it to. Rebuke is your backup interrupt, it just doesn’t have the range that Avenger’s Shield has.
• Always use Avenging Wrath when it comes off cooldown, but its your only big cooldown (for now). So if there is a point in the boss fight when you need to save your cooldowns, then don’t use it until that time but not at the expense of losing threat. Always start the fight with it active to help build and maintain threat.
• Always, Always, Always point the mob away from the group! This should be habit for any tank. The only time you don’t do this is if there is a specific boss mechanic that suggests otherwise (like an ability that needs to spread the damage out).
• Lay on Hands is your “oh shit” key. Only use it if you’re certain the next hit will kill you.

Here are the talents I’m using (you can click to enlarge this too). These are for raiding. Icy-Veins may suggest a different set of talents for Mythic+ tanking. I rarely change because I don’t like doing the talent swap dance. I will likely forget to change my talents when I enter a raid. If you’re going to primarily tank Mythic+ dungeons then I suggest you check out the suggested talents at Icy-Veins (link is below).

Honestly, the best thing to do is tank often. As I said earlier, what I do probably doesn’t work for everyone so you need to find your own way of doing it. Level as a tank so you can become more comfortable with your rotation and your setup. If you use the Looking for Group tool, steel yourself because PUG groups are not very forgiving toward newer tanks.

Other Resources:

These are, currently, the only resources I use frequently; but that doesn’t mean there aren’t other resources. You can also do some google searches to find other places that might provide some additional tips and tricks. If you find one you like, share it.

• Icy-Veins – you should check here frequently, especially between patches, tiers and expansions.
• Hammer of Wrath Discord – also a good place for information and to ask questions, most people generally seem kind.

I’ve been doing this for a long time (since Zul’Farrack) so most things are just habitual for me. It’s muscle memory. Honestly, that’s probably what you want to achieve. Reacting instinctively.

You’re going to screw up. Especially if you’re still getting used to it. I still screw up. I miss taunts and cooldowns. It happens. Just do it better the next time.

Have fun and good luck.