If we're talking AOE tanks in World of Warcraft: Dragonflight, the conversation starts with Protection Paladins. They're a solid option in our tank tier list due to a combination of utility and effectiveness. Our best in slot guide will help you obtain the best gear Dragonflight has to offer and do the most damage you can.

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Prot Paladin Best in Slot Stat Priority

The most important factor to consider when obtaining new gear is your stat priority. In general, you should follow a rule like this:

1. Haste
2. Mastery
3. Versatility
4. Critical Strike

As a tank, there are things that matter more than the damage you do. While this is generally a good guideline to follow in terms of important secondary stats, we recommend that you use the gear that makes your life as a tank easy and efficient. For example, sometimes you'll take a higher ilvl item with Crit because it's that good.

Important Notes For BiS Lists

It is important to note that any jump in ilvl by more than 10 points almost always results in the higher ilvl item being better. If you have an upgrade of 5 ilvl or less, compare the stats based on the stat priorities to decide the better item.

When weighing options of other items not listed below, refer to the stat priority of the class and spec. Keep in mind that stats eventually have diminishing returns, so it is not required to have absolutely every slot stack the same 2 stats. For simplicity, we offer the best per slot assuming you have not capped out these stats.

The calculations for diminishing returns are as follows:

• 0 to 30% in a stat - no penalty.
• 30% to 39% in a stat - 10% penalty.
• 39% to 47% in a stat - 20% penalty.
• 47% to 54% in a stat - 30% penalty.
• 54% to 66% in a stat - 40% penalty.
• 66% to 126% in a stat - 50% penalty.

In the case where you have reached 30% in a secondary stat, an item that has a secondary stat that is lower on priority may in fact be a better upgrade. This is why it is always important to sim your gear. For simplicity, we offer the best item in that slot assuming you have not capped out these stats.

Prot Paladin BiS Gear

The items appearing in these lists may come from Mythic+, Raids, or The Vault. Their item level will depend on the instance's level of difficulty (Normal, Heroic, Mythic, Mythic+ 1-20). This list does not include Renown or Crafting items as it is meant as a guide on what dungeons or raids to attend to get your best gear from these sources.

Item tooltips will show the Mythic 9 or the Normal Raid difficulty item level version.

Best Head

This is a perfect example of the earlier point regarding picking up "poor" secondary stats. Vers and Crit aren't "ideal," but tier is tier. Sim to ensure its the best item over the Mythic+ piece.

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Best Neck

Theorycrafting and data show that the Elemental Lariat is almost always your best neck piece. We recommend getting this crafted ASAP. Anything else is honestly not worth mentioning. Use a missive to ensure your desired stats.

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Best Shoulders

There are a couple of decent options in raid, while the Mythic+ shoulders are better optimized stat wise.

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Best Back

Both cloaks have the same secondary stats, but come from different places. On paper, they're your best options. As always, sim your cloak upgrades.

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Best Chest

Tier chest has your best stats. This should be an easy decision on what to target.

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Best Wrist

Take your pick; both of these bracers are fantastic.

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Best Hands

Mythic+ gear is a good stop-gap until you're able to pick up tier.

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Best Waist

Every Mythic+ piece has crit, which isn't ideal. We recommend simming all belts to ensure you're equipping the best one.

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Best Legs

There are two ideally statted options in Mythic+ that compete with tier legs.

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Best Feet

Both options have your two best secondary stats.

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Best Rings

We recommend crafting the JC ring as it's the best way to ensure you get your two best stats.

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Best Trinkets

Data for trinkets is compiled from sims via bloodmallet.com.

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Best Weapons / Shield

You're a tank that can wear a shield, so we'll include those as well.

Strike Twice has a really nice proc effect.

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Best Gems For Prot Paladins

Here we list the best gems you can socket your gear with for Prot Paladins. As always, it is best to sim to ensure you're using the best options available. These gems are chosen given consideration to your best stats.

• Epic unique gem - Fierce Illimited Diamond
• Remaining gems - Quick Ysemerald or Keen Ysemerald

Best Enchants For Prot Paladins

Here are the best enchants available for Prot Paladins in Dragonflight.

• Cloak - Homebound Speed
• Chest - Sustained Strength
• Bracers - Devotion of Speed
• Legs - Fierce Armor Kit
• Boots - Plainsrunner's Breeze
• Rings - Devotion of Haste
• Weapon - Sophic Devotion

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How To Simulate To Determine Your Best Gear

Raidbots is a tool that World of Warcraft players can use to figure out if the gear they just looted is an upgrade. As mentioned earlier, there are so many nuances and diminishing returns as certain points in the game, that determining an exact set of bis gear is impossible. With the ilvl scaling of Mythic+ loot on higher keys and utility different gear has for different fights, there just isn't a pure "this is the absolute best for the entire Season" list. It's even something that certain classes have come across in Classic Wrath!

Don't worry, because we're still here to help. We highly recommend using raidbots to determine if an item you just acquired is an upgrade. Here's a quick guide to help you run simulations to see if your new item is an upgrade:

• Make sure you have the Simulationcraft add-on installed.
• With your new loot in your inventory, open your chatbox and type /simc.
• A window will open up. Copy the entire text and paste it on the Raidbots Top Gear page. I included my Simulation craft window for my personal character below

• This step is important. On the Top Gear page, scroll down and make sure you're selecting the gear you want simmed. If you do not select the gear you're wearing, as well as the gear in your inventory you just acquired, you won't know if you picked up an upgrade.
• Raidbots will then let you know which items allow you to maximize your DPS!

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