Protection Paladin Tank Artifact Talents/Traits and Relics (Legion 7.2.5)

Table of Contents

• +Introduction
  • 1. Class Overview
  • 2. Patch 7.2.5 Changes
  • 3. Patch 7.2 Changes
  • 4. Contents
  • 5. ChangeLog
• +Easy Mode
  • 1. The Basics
  • 2. Talent Choice
  • 3. Stat Choice
  • 4. Basic Rotation
  • 5. Active Mitigation Abilities
  • 6. Cooldown Usage
  • 7. ChangeLog
• +Spell Summary
  • 1. Introduction
  • 2. Main Resource
  • 3. Basic Abilities
    • 3.1. Utility
  • 4. Important Procs
  • 5. Active Mitigation
  • 6. Cooldowns
  • 7. ChangeLog
• +Builds and Talents
  • 1. Talent Choices
  • 2. Tier 1 (Level 15) Talents
  • 3. Tier 2 (Level 30) Talents
  • 4. Tier 3 (Level 45) Talents
  • 5. Tier 4 (Level 60) Talents
  • 6. Tier 5 (Level 75) Talents
  • 7. Tier 6 (Level 90) Talents
  • 8. Tier 7 (Level 100) Talents
  • 9. ChangeLog
• ×Artifact Traits and Relics
  • 1. Artifact Progression
  • 2. Relic Choice
  • 3. ChangeLog
• +Rotation, Cooldowns, and Abilities
  • 1. Single Target Rotation
  • 2. Multiple Target Rotation
  • 3. Active Mitigation
    • 3.1. Shield of the Righteous
    • 3.2. Light of the Protector
  • 4. Taunting
  • 5. Cooldown Usage
  • 6. Optional Read: Mastering Your Protection Paladin
    • 6.1. Artifact Ability
    • 6.2. Creative Divine Shield Usage
      • 6.2.1. Divine Shield Taunting
      • 6.2.2. Avoiding Mechanics
      • 6.2.3. Blessing of Protection
    • 6.3. Abilities and Cooldowns from Talents
      • 6.3.1. Tier 4 Talents
      • 6.3.2. Tier 5 Talents
      • 6.3.3. Tier 6 Talents
      • 6.3.4. Tier 7 Talents
  • 7. ChangeLog
• +Stat Priority
  • 1. Basics
    • 1.1. Survivability
    • 1.2. DPS
  • 2. Getting a Better Understanding
    • 2.1. Statistics Explanations
  • 3. ChangeLog
• +Gems, Enchants, and Consumables
  • 1. Gems
  • 2. Enchants
  • 3. Consumables
  • 4. ChangeLog
• +Macros and Addons
  • 1. Macros
    • 1.1. Generic Macros for Paladins
      • 1.1.1. Blessing Mouseover Macros
      • 1.1.2. Lay on Hands Mouseover Macro
      • 1.1.3. Hand of the Protector Mouseover Macro
      • 1.1.4. Mouseover Cleanse Toxins Macro
      • 1.1.5. Divine Shield
      • 1.1.6. Rebuke
    • 1.2. Specific Macros for Protection Paladins
      • 1.2.1. Divine Shield Cancelaura Macro
      • 1.2.2. Blessing of Protection Cancelaura Macro
  • 2. Addons
    • 2.1. Generic Addons for Paladins
      • 2.1.1. ElvUI
      • 2.1.2. Boss Mods: Deadly Boss Mods or Bigwigs
      • 2.1.3. GTFO
      • 2.1.4. Parrot or Mik's Scrolling Battle Text
      • 2.1.5. Recount / Skada / Details!
      • 2.1.6. Weak Auras
      • 2.1.7. Omen Threat Meter
      • 2.1.8. Grid and GridClickSets (Optional)
    • 2.2. Specific Addons for Protection Paladins
  • 3. ChangeLog
• +Gear, Legendaries, and Best in Slot
  • 1. Best in Slot List
  • 2. Trinkets
    • 2.1. Non-Raid Trinkets
    • 2.2. Raid Trinkets
  • 3. Tier 20 Set Bonuses
  • 4. Legendary Items
  • 5. Loot Competition
  • 6. ChangeLog

General Information

This page shows you how to level up the Artifact and how to choose the right Relics for your Protection Paladins. It is updated for World of Warcraft Legion 7.2.5.

The other pages of our Protection Paladin guide can be accessed from the table of contents on the right.

About Our Reviewer

This guide has been reviewed and approved by Treckie, one of the best Protection Paladins in the world, who raids in Prime. You can watch his stream on Twitch and you can follow him on Twitter.

1. Artifact Progression

As a Protection Paladin, for the first 35 Artifact points, there is really only one recommended progression path. The idea with this Artifact progression path is to pick up the Tyr's Enforcer and Bulwark of Order golden traits, but not to go for the third golden trait, Light of the Titans, right away, as it is lackluster. It is acceptable to go for Bulwark of Order before Tyr's Enforcer if you are jumping straight into raiding, but for 5-man content, Tyr's Enforcer will just be more beneficial to have right away. While increasing AoE damage might not feel very powerful, the main draw with the talent is that it damages everything close to whatever target you hit with Avenger's Shield; without this trait you only hit 3 targets and would need to damage the others before they reach you. Strictly for raids, Bulwark of Order is more effective; it is fairly weak but has relatively high uptime.

1. Eye of Tyr
2. Truthguard's Light
3. Faith's Armor
4. Righteous Crusader
5. Hammer Time
6. Consecration in Flame
7. Tyr's Enforcer
8. Resolve of Truth
9. Bulwark of Order
10. Scatter the Shadows
11. Unflinching Defense
12. Painful Truths
13. Sacrifice of the Just
14. Bastion of Truth
15. Light of the Titans
16. Forbearant Faithful
17. Stern Judgment
18. Unrelenting Light

After the first 35 points, you should distribute the other points as follows.

1. Bulwark of the Silver Hand
2. Holy Aegis
3. Defender of Truth
4. Blessed Stalwart
5. Consecration in Flame
6. Hammer Time
7. Stern Judgment
8. Righteous Crusader
9. Unflinching Defense
10. Scatter the Shadows
11. Faith's Armor
12. Resolve of Truth
13. Bastion of Truth

The golden Blessed Stalwart trait is not particularly strong (especially considering the 5 other traits you have to go for to reach it), so if you are going for a more DPS-oriented path, take Consecration in Flame, Hammer Time, and Stern Judgment before investing in the 6 traits required for Blessed Stalwart.

2. Relic Choice

When choosing which Relics to use, while it is sometimes worth sacrificing 1 weapon item level, we recommend always taking the one that grants you the highest item level, regardless of the benefit it offers. When having to choose between Relics that grant the same item level, chose based on the following trait enhancement recommendations.

Most traits are just small increases in throughput in either survivability or damage. We recommend looking out for the Unflinching Defense trait, as it gives more leeway with cooldown usage for raiding.

If you are looking for more throughput, good survivability traits are: Unflinching Defense, Righteous Crusader, and Faith's Armor.

For more damage, best Relics, in order are:

1. Consecration in Flame;
2. Hammer Time;
3. Stern Judgment.

3. ChangeLog

+ show all entries - show only 10 entries

• 13 Jun. 2017: Added a small mention regarding Blessed Stalwart, following changes to it in Patch 7.2.5.
• 28 Mar. 2017: Added path for the Artifact traits added in Patch 7.2.
• 10 Jan. 2017: Updated the Relic recommendations slightly.
• 17 Oct. 2016: Updated Artifact progression path introduction text and slightly updated Relic mentions.
• 19 Sep. 2016: Clarified that Stern Judgment should be taken before Forebearant Faithful in the Artifact progression, and slightly tweaked Relic recommendations.
• 29 Aug. 2016: Added.