The Light and How to Swing It: Ret tips from the healer

by Matt Low Mar 17th 2010 at 8:00PM

With the Light as his strength, Gregg Reece of The Light and How to Swing It confronts the Burning Legion’s demons, battles Scourge undead, and assists with puppet performances at Icecrown’s Argent Ren Faire. Typically, he handles these duties. However, Gregg has temporary commitments this week, so I’m filling in to cover retribution content!

Nobody anticipated my authorship of this guide. Seriously, nobody. What expertise could a healing priest possibly offer about damage dealing? When initially approached about substituting for Gregg, my immediate reaction was genuine disbelief – “You’re joking, right?” But that skepticism is history now. You’re temporarily stuck with my guidance this week!

Admittedly, I maintain a paladin character specifically for combat enjoyment. Contrary to assumptions, I don’t exclusively play healers around the clock. After intensive raid healing sessions, I require relaxation and stress relief. What superior method exists than wielding a Justicebringer in battle? Having extensive healing experience, when I transitioned to retribution specialization, I adopted a distinctive approach. Certain behaviors consistently frustrated me during priest healing sessions whenever retribution paladins participated in raids. I resolved to avoid becoming that problematic ret paladin.

Here are several practices I’ve cultivated. I’ve noticed that some paladins implement these techniques, though not universally. Compared to Gregg’s foundational retribution guides, consider these advanced strategies – essentially graduate-level tactics. Perhaps that’s overstating it, but let’s proceed!

Strategic Dispelling: This remains one of my primary frustrations. Regardless of specialization, paladins possess dispelling capabilities. I acknowledge that activating this ability consumes one global cooldown, potentially disrupting rotation sequences. However, consider the significant aggravation when both primary healers become incapacitated (like during Plague Wing green slime transformations in Icecrown) and the sole remaining character with dispel capacity remains excessively focused on damaging enemies to notice. Minor actions create substantial impact, understand? Something as simple as timely dispelling can dramatically impress your healing team and ultimately the entire raid (at minimum, those observant enough to recognize it).

Defensive Cooldown Management: Admittedly, not all retribution paladins acquire Divine Sacrifice. I recognize Gregg’s extensive coverage previously, though it’s not our exclusive defensive option. As a priest practitioner, I deploy Pain Suppression or Guardian Spirit on tanks during critical encounter phases (For instance, Festergut’s third inhalation when his strikes become devastating). During raid engagements on my retribution paladin at precarious encounter stages, I apply Hand of Sacrifice to the primary tank. Typically, in pickup raid groups, defensive cooldowns lack coordinated sequencing. Frequently, they’re not utilized until situations become irrecoverable. Ensure you activate Divine Shield proactively to prevent unexpected fatalities. Applying Hand of Protection to healers facing imminent destruction also represents an excellent method for earning their appreciation. I’ve lost count of instances where impending defeat was averted by last-second Hand of Protection interventions.

Tactical Self-Healing: Your Exorcism ability is cooling down while Art of War activates. What’s your response? Consider using Flash of Light for immediate personal healing! While retribution specialization doesn’t mandate personal or ally sustainment, there’s absolutely nothing incorrect about occasional self-healing. When engaging Stinky, I typically heal myself following his raid-wide chomp attack. I’ve perfected timing so my healing lands immediately after Decimate concludes.

Multiple DoT Stack Management: Maintaining dual applications of Seal of Vengeance or Seal of Corruption (Horde equivalent) is achievable. This proves invaluable during encounters like Professor Putricide where maintaining damage on both the Professor and his active oozes is essential. After achieving five stacks on the Professor, transition targeting to Oozes. Remember to periodically return to the Professor for stack refreshing. While not always maximally efficient (with Seal of Command available for trash clearing), this technique remains useful when constant seal switching during boss encounters becomes cumbersome.

Emergency Taunt Protocol: Hand of Reckoning functions as a single-target taunt ability. Generally, avoid pressing this button barring extraordinary circumstances. If desperation necessitates usage, restrict it exclusively to healer preservation scenarios. An exemplary situation occurs during Saurfang encounters. Are Bloodbeasts active? Is ranged DPS struggling with elimination? Apply taunt after it has traveled considerable distance.

Stun Coordination Mechanics: Time your stuns to create chain effects with other crowd control. For example, if another player interrupts or stuns an enemy, delay several seconds until it resumes action before employing Hammer of Justice. Against undead targets, follow up subsequently with Holy Wrath. This proves particularly beneficial in Icecrown Citadel’s initial chamber when those mobs cast ground-traveling ice spike projectiles.

Tier Set Acquisition Strategy: Want to achieve extraordinary performance metrics? Secure the 2-piece tier 9 set combined with the 2-piece tier 10 set. The combined set bonuses deliver exceptional power amplification. Simultaneously, obtain the Libram of Valiance. Both the libram and tier 9 components should be relatively accessible, requiring only Emblems of Triumph. Tier 10 acquisition demands slightly extended effort since it involves Emblems of Frost. With Divine Storm gaining random cooldown reset capability, you’ll utilize it with increasing frequency, especially against multi-mob trash packs. As a healing specialist, I rarely witness such numerical outputs, making this a refreshing variation for me.

Righteous Fury Awareness: This seems relatively straightforward. Do not maintain this toggle active. I’ve accidentally enabled it previously. This should require no explanation, though I remained uncertain about its functionality until personally experiencing the consequences.

For those transitioning from other roles, our Class Guide offers comprehensive specialization insights that translate well to paladin gameplay.

The Light and How to Swing It assists Paladins navigating Cataclysm’s approaching challenges. Examine forthcoming Paladin modifications the expansion introduces. Wrath concludes as the ultimate confrontation with the Lich King arrives. Are you prepared for Icecrown Citadel’s assault?

No reproduction without permission：GameCDjnh » The Light and How to Swing It: Ret tips from the healer Advanced Retribution Paladin strategies for maximizing raid performance and utility in Wrath of the Lich King