Patch 3.1 Complete Paladin Talents Review Part 3

Catch Parts 1 and Parts 2

Tier 4 Prot Talents
Now this is probably the last of the tree that any other classes may take things from, because farther than that and you are really a tank and not the other. Lets get started

Divine Guardian Ranks 1 to 2
Improves the effectiveness of your Divine Sacrifice spell by an additional 5% (10%) and increases the duration of your Sacred Shield by 50% (100%) and the amount absorbed by 10% (20%).
Comments - This is a nice tanking talent, too bad the requirement is Divine Sacrifice. Again, a must for any off tanking build. More tempting for a main tank build as it makes Sacred Shield last 9 or 12 seconds, and absorbs 550 or 600 damage. I see it offering really nothing to pvp this time around. Funny thing is many of the cookie cutter tanking builds have this along with Divine Sacrifice for Main Tank Builds Core, which I disagree with. My Ranking -

PVE Healing	PVP Healing	PVE Main Tanking	PVE Off Tanking	PVE DPS	PVP DPS

Improved Hammer of Justice Ranks 1 to 2
Decreases the cooldown of your Hammer of Justice spell by 10 (20) sec.

Comments - This is not a core talent for any speck, but can be useful in some encounters and pvp. So take this if you feel you need to interrupt more frequently. It may also be handy for Seal of Command for DPS PVE. Ranking -

PVE Healing	PVP Healing	PVE Main Tanking	PVE Off Tanking	PVE DPS	PVP DPS

Improved Devotion Aura Ranks 1 to 3
Increases the armor bonus of your Devotion Aura by 17% (34%, 50%) and increases the amount healed on any target affected by any of your Auras by 2% (4%, 6%).
Comments - This is a tank core talent. It is also helpful for healing, since with any aura it adds healing to those in range. Not really useful for pvp, except increasing your armor, but in pvp, you should be using Ret Aura. Let's Rank It -

PVE Healing	PVP Healing	PVE Main Tanking	PVE Off Tanking	PVE DPS	PVP DPS

Tier 5 Prot Talent Points
From this point, it is pure tanking talents cause at this point, if you go further, you really are not Ret or Holy. So lets dig into the higher talents.

Blessing of Sanctuary Ranks 1
Places a Blessing on the friendly target, reducing damage taken from all sources by 3% for 10 min. In addition, when the target blocks, parries, or dodges a melee attack the target will gain 2% of maximum displayed mana. Players may only have one Blessing on them per Paladin at any one time.
Comments - Yup Core Talent, it gives us mana. Core for both off and main tanking.

PVE Main Tanking	PVE Off Tanking

Reckoning Ranks 1 to 5
Gives you a 2% (4%, 6%, 8%, 10%) chance after being hit by any damaging attack that the next 4 weapon swings within 8 sec will generate an additional attack.
Comments - This is supposed to be a threat talent. It is definitely a trash mob talent. It is not a main tank talent unless you are hit and expertise cap. And it will help with threat, but really, I would not consider it. Here is why, it gives bosses an additional time to block, parry, and dodge you.

PVE Main Tanking	PVE Off Tanking

Tier 6 Prot Talents

Sacred Duty Ranks 1 to 2
Increases your total Stamina by 4% (8%), reduces the cooldown of your Divine Shield and Divine Protection spells by 30 (60) sec.
Comments - This is core for both, increased health and a minute cooldown on our bubble wall and bubble is good!

PVE Main Tanking	PVE Off Tanking

One-Handed Weapon Specialization Ranks 1 to 3
Increases all damage you deal when a one-handed melee weapon is equipped by 4% (7%, 10%).
Comments - This is a core threat talent and ups your damage of all your spells while you have a one handed weapon equipped. This is a must for both.

PVE Main Tanking	PVE Off Tanking

Tier 7 Prot Talents
Spiritual Attunement Ranks 1 to 2
A passive ability that gives the Paladin mana when healed by other friendly targets' spells. The amount of mana gained is equal to 5% (10%) of the amount healed.
Comments - This used to be available to all paladins. It is what allows us to tank, more specifically, main tank. There are other talents that allow for mana as well, so this could be an off tank ability.

PVE Main Tanking	PVE Off Tanking

Holy Shield Ranks 1
Increases chance to block by 30% for 10 sec and deals 274 Holy damage for each attack blocked while active. Each block expends a charge. 8 charges.
This is bread and butter of the paladin tank, getting hit and giving the damage to gain threat. Core for both main and off

PVE Main Tanking	PVE Off Tanking

Ardent Defender Ranks 1 to 3
When you have less than 35% health, all damage taken is reduced by 10% (20%, 30%).
Comments - Core for Main Tanks, Recommended for Off Tanks. It is the Oh Crap I am going to die save you ability that is nice and passive.

PVE Main Tanking	PVE Off Tanking

Tier 8 Prot Talents

Redoubt Ranks 1 to 3
Increases your block value by 10% (20%, 30%) and damaging melee and ranged attacks against you have a 10% chance to increase your chance to block by 10% (20%, 30%). Lasts 10 sec or 5 blocks.
Comments - Yup, Tanking Core. Increases your block value, yeah, what tank with a shield would not want that?

PVE Main Tanking	PVE Off Tanking

Combat Expertise Ranks 1 to 3
Increases your expertise by 2 (4, 6), total Stamina and chance to critically hit by 2% (4%, 6%).
Comments - Core for all tanks. More health, more hit, more expertise.

PVE Main Tanking	PVE Off Tanking

Tier 9 Prot Talents

Touched by the Light Ranks 1 to 3
Increases your spell power by an amount equal to 10% (20%, 30%) of your Stamina and increases the amount healed by your critical heals by 10% (20%, 30%).
Comments - Threat Talent, which makes it core for both. It increases your damage, and in those rare occasions, it will increase a heal you cast (good for soloing)

PVE Main Tanking	PVE Off Tanking

Avenger's Shield Ranks 1
Hurls a holy shield at the enemy, dealing 1100.14 to 1344.14 Holy damage, Dazing them and then jumping to additional nearby enemies. Affects 3 total targets. Lasts 10 sec.
Comments - This is a tribute to Captain America and is our number 1 pulling mechanic. CORE TALENT!!!!

PVE Main Tanking	PVE Off Tanking

Guarded by the Light
Ranks 1 to 2
Reduces spell damage taken by 3% (6%) and gives a 50% (100%) chance to refresh the duration of your Divine Plea when you hit an enemy. In addition, your Divine Plea spell is 50% (100%) less likely to be dispelled.
Comments - This is a nice change. It is another mana getter, especially for off tanks. Plus it is a spell damage reducer, so good for main tanks as well. Can we say CORE?

PVE Main Tanking	PVE Off Tanking

Tier 10 Prot Talents

Shield of the Templar Ranks 1 to 3
Reduces all damage taken by 1% (2%, 3%) and grants your Avenger's Shield a 33%(66%, 100%) chance to silence your targets for 3 sec.
Comments - CORE. This is such a nice change. We get a silence ability, so we can finally pull casters and possibly silence a boss attack. Plus more damage mitigation is always good.

PVE Main Tanking	PVE Off Tanking

Judgements of the Just Ranks 1 to 2
Reduces the cooldown of your Hammer of Justice by 10 (20) sec, increases the duration of your Seal of Justice effect by 0.5 (1) sec and your Judgement spells also reduce the melee attack speed of the target by 10 (20)%.
Comments - This is blizzards attempt at giving a tank some pvp viability. I find it funny. While having the cooldown of Hammer of Justice is nice, combined with the Improved, you can have a 20 second cooldown. Good for some gimmick fights, etc. The more important bit is reducig the melee attack speed of the target by 20%. This is what makes it a core talent for main tanks. That being said, I see it as an optional talent for Off Tanks.

PVE Main Tanking	PVE Off Tanking

Tier 11 Prot Talents

Hammer of the Righteous Ranks 1
Hammer the current target and up to 2 additional nearby targets, causing 4 times your main hand damage per second as Holy damage.
Comments - HAMMER TO THE HEAD BAM! This is the prot top talent and it rocks! CORE ALL THE WAY. THREAT, DAMAGE, MULTIPLE TARGETS!!!!

PVE Main Tanking	PVE Off Tanking

I knew this was ambitious tackling all this just from the amount of work, but I think it is well worth it. So critique away and let me know if I should re-rank any of these. Tomorrow we tackle the other trees.

Link to Part 4