This build won't work at all, as much as i like the idea of being as versatile and "hybrid" as possible. It was to some extend possible at lvl60 preBC- for some classes more than others, though.

This won't work, simply because your missing some important things.

1. End game is to a large extend about specialized roles, even for PvP, though to a somewhat lesser extend, but still it's definatly the case for PvE.
2. Itemization - You can't equip yourself properly to make this work and you will definatly miss certain key talents that make a build viable, expecially if you go that far into retribution, without being able to pick up crusader strike or Sanctified Seals (wich is propably a must have for serious PvP or your seals will be gone the second after you casted them).

You won't do serious damage nor won't you be able to heal through serious damage doesn't matter if it's PvE or PvP. And if you try to fill a spot in a 5 man group there is always someone prefered over you, since it's basically always just tank 'n spank you need a tank a healer and 3 DDs, nothing "half backed".

@Galaphrey

One more thing, maybe.

If you like the idea of being able to do some damage, while being able to heal in a noticable way, try a 40 holy 21 retribution build. This way you can equip straight forward: healing gear, with maybe some spell damage items mixed in, but the main stats are the same without having to mix up gear like crazy.

Who here hates being a paladin in PvP versus other healers? I mean seriously, paladins are probably the weakest arena healers in the game now, and it doesnt seem to be changing anytime soon. I rarely ever see a pally with 2k shoulders either

(dont take my arena teams into account... i just transferred servers to play with my trash geared friends :P)

It's a bad time to be using any spec paladin in arena, unless you're holy in a 5v5. The "fix" we have is to simply group with classes that can cover all the things we lack.

The shortcomings of our class are balanced concerning PvE content, but not PvP.

If you're playing with trash geared people, obviously healing is not going to be fun. And with the average gear level of arena this season, since pretty much everyone with time has at the very least s1, yes you do need gear to compete, but what other class doesn't? You don't need to be any more "ridiculously geared" to compete in 2s and 3s than any other class.

I haven't taken 3s seriously at all this seasons, so I can't speak to that bracket. Obviously we shine in 5s, which is where I got my shoulders, but I also found no trouble grouping with a warrior and getting to 1850 in one week before we were there with our 5s to get him the weapon quickly. We sucked against warlock/healer, but we crushed warrior/druid, and were at least even chances against all priest/dps 2s.

The class has weaknesses, but before you just chalk it up to "paladins suck" and feel the need to post about it, try to evaluate your own play as well as the play and gear of the people you're with.

I'm going to assume theres no hope for a holy priest/holy paladin combo? =(

Add a Warrior and two ranged DPS and you have a successful 5v5 comp.

2v2 and 3v3 you don't have to be insanely geared, but you do have to be on par (especially for ret). The real question is who is your partner, and how good are they?

Paladins don't have many options for offensive control--the ones they do have are fairly easy to break or resist. Combined with defensive abilities on medium to long cool downs that are easily purged/dispelled, a serious weakness to mana attacks and you have a class that can only work with good assistance.

If you're ret, you need someone that can support themselves well, as well providing critical CC/debuffs/interrupts to add to your unspectacular utility (which you mostly use on yourself). Your DPS is nothing special, just being bursty. You need a partner that can help capitalize on it, and gear to further enhance it.

As holy, you need people to keep people that can keep casters/rogues off of you in addition to the offensive control and DPS.

Our weaknesses are only lightly touched by PvE content, but in PvP they are exploited to the fullest. It is a glaring fault of our one-sided class's emphasis on defense and passive abilities.

i write here to ask some suggestion.

i play in arena 5vs5 in the 1700 brakets, my team is:
holy pala (me)
disc priest
retri pala
war ms
shaman ench.

My problem is we always lose when i'm the focus of a rogue + another dps (not equip problem, got around 422 resi).
this is what i do: i put bless on freedom on myself and start running, but soon rogue stuns me ; then freedom expires and (assuming i have on me rogue+another melee dps/pet) i cant run away (poison:harmstring), i cant cast more than holy shock on myself, and the heal i receive from priest are not sufficent to stay alive.
If i do DS, i will get the same situation 15 second later.
While i try to survive in this way, my dps m8 dont do anything for me, they continue focusing their priest or mage or lock or the focus.

Tbh, I have the same problem in 3vs3 (same bracket), my team is
holy pala (me)
retri pala
war ms.

it is the same except here i dont have heal from priest. usually dps m8 focus on enemy healer, so another time they dont help me.


basically they said they hasnt cc, so they cant do a lot for me anyway ; and they think it is stupid to focus a rogue when there is a cloth weaver.
what have i to ask them ? what do u do when u are focus ?

Your team has absolutly no CC. That's just plain bad, since the other team can almost roam freely around the whole game, killing what they want.

You should switch some DPS for more CC (Mage/Rogue) or switch the Disc priest for another DD and go for 4 DPS.

You can try to rush in when the gates open and kill something in the time your DS lasts, but if they don't get something down fast, there's just not much you can do.

I am playing with warlock in 2v2 (on my paladin) and we got to around 2000 rating. But when we get warrior and druid we find them unbeatable. We summon void and druid kills him solo or warlock dies while I am running after void to heal it. What can be done about them? Any tips?