World of Warcraft Guide: Preparing Your Fresh 80 Retribution Paladin For Raiding

You Made It!
Congrats! You managed to level your paladin all the way to 80. So now what? I know you see your guildies or just random people on your server with awesome looking gear and then you look at your green quest items and wonder how you’ll ever bridge that huge gap. Well it isn’t as hard as you would think if you just do it in steps, so lets start!
Now the first couple pieces of gear you’ll want to get is the reputation pieces. You can work on getting these before you even hit 80 since some of your quests will begin netting you rep with certain factions. Remember to visit a tabard vendor in Dalaran (Elizabeth Ross) and pick up tabards for any faction your not exalted with yet, since doing heroics while wearing said tabard nabs you precious rep with them. You can throw most of them in your bank for now, just use one at a time until your exalted with each if your worried about bag space.
Since paladins are a hybrid class and can effectively tank, heal, or dps, I’m going to be splitting this guide up into three parts respectively.
Retribution - Reputation Gear
We’re going to begin with looking at the gear your can get from the different factions in Northrend.
Head: Fang-Deflecting Faceguard - Argent Crusade at revered.
Shoulders: Spaulders of the Giant Lords - Sons of Hodir at revered.
Cloak: Cloak of Holy Extermination - Argent Crusade at honored.
Weapon: Argent Skeleton Crusher - Argent Crusade at revered.
Leggings: Legplates of Bloody Reprisal - Wyrmrest Accord at exalted.
Boots: Death-Inured Sabatons - Knights of the Ebon Blade at exalted.
Reputation Enchant: Arcanum of Torment (atk power/crit to helm) - Knights of the Ebon Blade at revered.
Reputation Enchant: Lesser Inscription of the Axe (atk power/crit to shoulders) - Sons of Hodir at honored.
Reputation Enchant: Greater Inscription of the Axe (atk power/crit to shoulders) - Sons of Hodir at exalted.
Note that The Sons of Hodir do not have a tabard. In order to get reputation with them you must do daily quests at their camp in Storm Peaks. If you need help with getting rep with Sons of Hodir or another rep like Kalu’ak, both of which do not have a tabard. You can have a look here for Hodir and here for Kalu’ak.
Retribution - Heroic Gear
Now we’ll be looking at the gear you can nab from Northrend heroics. If there is more then one item per slot they will be listed in order from best to worst.
Head: Chitin Shell Greathelm - Anub’arak/Azjol’Nerub, Planetary Helm - Loken/Halls of Lightning
Necklace: Gold Amulet of Kings - King Ymiron/Utgarde Pinnacle, Necklace of Arcane Spheres - Xevozz/Violet Hold
Shoulders: Snake Den Spaulders - Slad’ran/Gundrak
Cloak: Shroud of Reverberation - Volkhan/Halls of Lightning, Cloak of the Gushing Wound - Erekem/Violet Hold
Chest: Breastplate of Undeath - Novos the Summoner/Drak’Tharon, Bonegrinder Breastplate - Prince Taldaram/Ahn’kahet: The Old Kingdom, Engraved Chestplate of Eck - Eck the Ferocious/Gundrak
Bracers: Bands of the Stoneforge - Sjonnir The Ironshaper/Halls of Stone, Golden Limb Bands - Krik’thir the Gatewatcher/Azjol-Nerub
Weapon: Colossal Skull-Clad Cleaver - Loken/Halls of Lightning, Sword of Justice - Tribunal Chest/Halls of Stone, Mojo Masked Crusher - The Prophet Tharon’ja/Drak’Tharon
Gloves: Gauntlets of Dragon Wrath - Cache of Eregos/The Oculus, Gauntlets of Capture - Cyanigosa/Violet Hold
Belt: Flame-Bathed Steel Girdle - Keristrasza/The Nexus, Strategist’s Belt - Prince Keleseth/Utgarde Keep, The General’s Steel Girdle - General Bjarngrim/Halls of Lightning
Leggings: Staggering Legplates - Ingvar the Plunderer/Utgarde Keep, Legplates of Steel Implants - Meathook/The Culling of Stratholme, Legplates of the Oculus Guardian - Varos Cloudstrider/The Oculus
Boots: Rift Striders - Anomalus/The Nexus, Echoing Stompers - Svala Sorrowgrave/Utgarde Pinnacle
Rings: Hemorrhaging Circle - Gal’darah/Gundrak, Mobius Band - Chrono-Lord Epoch/The Culling of Stratholme, Band of Frosted Thorns - Ormork the Tree-Shaper/The Nexus
Trinkets: Meteorite Whetstone - King Ymiron/Utgarde Pinnacle, Sphere of Red Dragon’s Blood - Keristrasza/The Nexus, Incisor Fragment - King Dred/Drak’Tharon
Retribution - Crafted/Emblem Gear/Enchants
You can either farm the mats for these pieces yourself or have a look at the auction house and see if one is posted that is in your price range.
You receive emblems of heroism from heroic level bosses. You can turn in these emblems to her for assorted gear. Here’s what you’ll want to be looking to get for your ret pally. The order you get them in is up to you.
Chestguard of the Lost Conqueror
Once you get some decent gear make sure you maximize your potential by enchanting all of your gear. Here’s what you’ll probably be wanting:
Cloak - Major Agility
Chest - Powerful Stats
Boots - Icewalker
Gloves - Crusher/Major Strength
Leggings - Icescale Leg Armor
Weapon - Greater Savagery
Bracers - Greater Assault
Holy - Reputation Gear
We’re going to begin with looking at the gear your can get from the different factions in Northrend.
Head: Helm of Purified Thoughts - Argent Crusade at exalted.
Cloak: Shroud of Dedicated Research - Kirin Tor at honored.
Bracers: Bracers of Accorded Courtesy - Wyrmrest Accord at honored.
Weapon**:** Gavel of the Brewing Storm - Wyrmrest Accord at revered.
Shield: Lordaeron’s Resolve - Alliance Vanguard at revered.
Belt: Girdle of the Warrior Magi - Kirin Tor at revered.
Leggings: Standard Issue Legguards - Argent Crusade at honored.
Ring: Signet of Hopeful Light - Argent Crusade at exalted.
Reputation Enchant: Arcanum of Burning Mysteries (spell pwer/crit to head) - Kirin Tor at revered.
Reputation Enchant: Lesser Inscription of the Storm (spell pwer/crit to shoulder) - Sons of Hodir at honored.
Reputation Enchant: Greater Inscription of the Storm (spell pwer/crit to shoulder) - Sons of Hodir at exalted.
Holy - Heroic Gear
Now we’ll be looking at the gear you can nab from Northrend heroics. If there is more then one item per slot they will be listed in order from best to worst.
Head: Helmet of the Constructor - Skarvaled the Constructor/Utgarde Keep, Faceguard of the Hammer Clan - Jedoga Shadowseeker/Ahn’Kahet: The Old Kingdom
Necklace: Amulet of the Spell Flinger - Amanitar/Ahn’Kahet: The Old Kingdom, Necromancer’s Amulet - Salramm the Fleshcrafter/Culling of Stratholme, Zuramat’s Necklace - Zuramat the Obliterator/Violet Hold
Shoulders: Ferocious Pauldrons of the Rhino - Gortok Palehoof/Utgarde Pinnacle, Pauldron’s of Destiny - Mal’Ganis/Culling of Stratholme
Cloak: Ancient Dragon Spirit Cape - Eregos/The Oculus, Shround of Moorabi - Moorabi/Gundrak
Chest: Ornamented Plate Regalia - King Ymiron/Utgarde Pinnacle
Bracers: Flamebeard’s Bracers - Anub’arak/Azjol’Nerub, Catalytic Bands - Mage-Lord Urom/The Oculus
Weapon: War Mace of Unrequited Love - Keristrasza/Nexus, Gavel of the Fleshcrafter - Salramm the Fleshcrafter/Culling of Stratholme
Shield: Facade Shield of Glyphs - Krik’ther the Gatewatcher/Azjol’Nerub
Gloves: Grips of Sculptured Icicles - Commander Kolurg/Nexus
Belt: Sjonnir’s Girdle - Sjonnir the Ironshaper/Halls of Stone
Leggings: Leggings of Protective Auras - Eregos/Oculus, Shardling Legguards - Krystallus/Halls of Stone, Legs of Physical Regeneration - Trollgore/Drak’Tharon Keep
Boots: Skywall Striders - Ionar/Halls of Lightning, Mojo Frenzy Greaves - Moorabi/Gundrak, Sabatons of Erekem - Erekem/Violet Hold
Rings: Band of Guile - Mal’Ganis/Culling of Stratholme, Annhylde’s Ring - Ingvar the Plunderer/Utgarde Keep, Ring of the Traitor King - Anub’arak/Azjol’Nerub, Globule Signet - Ichoron/Violet Hold, Solitaire of Reflecting Beams - Moragg/Violet Hold, Ring of the Frenzied Wolvar - Gortok Palehoof/Utgarde Pinnacle
Trinkets: Forge Ember - Sjonnir the Ironshaper/Halls of Stone, Spark of Life - Sjonnir the Ironshaper/Halls of Stone
Holy - Crafted/Emblem Gear/Enchants
You can either farm the mats for these pieces yourself or have a look at the auction house and see if one is posted that is in your price range.
You receive emblems of heroism from heroic level bosses. You can turn in these emblems to her for assorted gear. Here’s what you’ll want to be looking to get for your ret pally. The order you get them in is up to you.
Chestguard of the Lost Conqueror
Once you get some decent gear make sure you maximize your potential by enchanting all of your gear. Here’s what you’ll probably be wanting:
Cloak: Greater Speed
Chest: Powerful Stats
Bracers: Major Intellect
Weapon: Exceptional Spellpower
Shield: Greater Intellect
Gloves: Exceptional Spellpower / Greater Blasting
Leggings: Brilliant Spellthread
Protection - Reputation Gear
We’re going to begin with looking at the gear your can get from the different factions in Northrend.
Chest: Breastplate of the Solemn Council - Wyrmrest Accord at revered, Ivory-Reinforced Chestguard - The Kal’uak at honored.
Weapon: Hammer of the Alliance Vanguard - Alliance Vanguard at revered.
Shield: Shield of the Lion-hearted - Alliance Vanguard at revered.
Gloves: Fireproven Gauntlets - Kirin Tor at exalted, Giant-Sized Gauntlets - Frenzyheart Tribe at revered.
Leggings: Special Issue Legplates - Argent Crusade at honored.
Boots: Sabatons of Draconic Vigor - Wyrmrest Accord at revered, Toxin-Tempered Sabatons - Knights of the Ebon Blade at honored.
Reputation Enchant: Arcanum of the Stalwart Protector (stam/def to helm) - Argent Crusade at revered.
Reputation Enchant: Lesser Inscription of the Pinnacle (dodge/def to shoulder) - Sons of Hodir at honored.
Reputation Enchant: Greater Inscription of the Pinnacle (dodge/def to shoulder) - Sons of Hodir at exlated.
Protection - Heroic Gear
Now we’ll be looking at the gear you can nab from Northrend heroics. If there is more then one item per slot they will be listed in order from best to worst.
Head: Arcane-Shielded Helm - Grand Magus Telestra/Nexus, Ground Tremor Helm - Moorabi/Gundrak
Necklace: Shadowseeker’s Pendant - Jedoga Shadowseeker/Ahn’Kahet: The Old Kingdom, Pendant of the Nathrezim - Mal’Ganis/Culling of Stratholme
Shoulders: Pauldron’s of the Colossus - Drakkari Elemental/Grundrak, Iron Dwarf Smith Pauldrons - General Bjarngrim/Halls of Lightning
Cloak: Cloak of the Enemy - Commander Kolurg/Nexus
Chest: Sun-Emblazoned Chestplate - Sjonnir the Ironshaper/Halls of Stone, Ziggurat Imprinted Chestguard - The Prophet Tharon’ja/Drak’Tharon Keep
Bracers: Bracers of Herald - Herald Volazj/Ahn’Kahet: The Old Kingdom, Bindings of the Dark Will - Salramm the Fleshcrafter/Culling of Stratholme
Weapon: Red Sword of Courage - King Ymiron/Utgarde Pinnacle, Cloudstrider’s Waraxe - Varos Cloudstrider/Oculus, Infantry Assault Blade - Prince Keleseth/Utgarde Keep
Shield: Royal Crest of Lordaeron - Mal’Ganis/Culling of Stratholme, Bulwark of the Noble Protector - Keristrasza/Nexus
Gloves: Horn-Tipped Gauntlets - Gal’darah/Gundrak, Gauntlets of the Water Revenant - Ichoron/Violet Hold
Belt: Ancient Aligned Girdle - Anub’arak/Azjol’Nerub, Skadi’s Iron Belt - Skadi the Ruthless/Utgarde Pinnacle
Leggings: Bolstered Legplates - Cyanigosa/Violet Hold, Ley-Guardian’s Legguards - Eregos/Oculus, Legplates of the Infinite Drakonid - Chrono-Lord Epoch/Culling of Stratholme
Boots: Greaves of Ancient Evil - Herald Volazj/Ahn’Kahet: The Old Kingdom, Terrace Defence Boots - Trollgore/Drak’Tharon Keep
Rings: Keystone Great-Ring - The Prophet Tharon’ja/Drak’Tharon Keep, Unsmashable Heavy Band - Ingvar the Plunderer/Utgarde Keep, Band of Torture - Drakos the Interrogator/Oculus, Woeful Band - Maiden of Grief/Halls of Stone, Nerubian Shield Ring - Elder Nadox/Ahn’Kahet: The Old Kingdom
Trinkets: Essence of Gossamer - Hadronox/Azjol-Nerub, Lavanthor’s Talisman - Lavanthor/Violet Hold
Protection - Crafted/Emblem Gear/Enchants
You can either farm the mats for these pieces yourself or have a look at the auction house and see if one is posted that is in your price range.
You receive emblems of heroism from heroic level bosses. You can turn in these emblems to her for assorted gear. Here’s what you’ll want to be looking to get for your ret pally. The order you get them in is up to you.
Chestguard of the Lost Conqueror
Crygil’s Discarded Plate Panel
Once you get some decent gear make sure you maximize your potential by enchanting all of your gear. Here’s what you’ll probably be wanting:
Cloak: Titanweave/Steelweave
Chest: Greater Defense
Bracers: Major Defense
Weapon: Titanium Weapon Chain
Shield: Defense
Leggings: Frosthide Leg Armor
Boots: Greater Fortitude