While not the most attractive DPS option, Retribution Paladin can still dish out serious damage in World of Warcraft: Dragonflight. They're a firm B on our DPS tier list due to steady damage and impressive utility. 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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Ret 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. Critical Strike
4. Versatility

Haste is your best secondary stat. While the above tiered order is true, the difference between Mastery, Crit, and Versatility is negligible at best. It's a pretty close call, opening yourself up to a bevy of gearing options.

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.

Ret 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

Because all of your stats are so close together, we recommend always going with tier if possible.

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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

As will be the case throughout our guide, you should prioritize tier above all else. If you can't pick up tier, target items that have haste from Mythic+.

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Best Back

You're going to have a lot of options for your cloak. Sim to find the best upgrade.

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Best Chest

Again, we recommend going after tier if possible.

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Best Wrist

Bracer options are slim, but you can honestly do no wrong going with any of them.

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Best Hands

Nearly every available gloves item has Haste, including the ones not listed below. You can do just about no wrong with anything you pick up in raid or Mythic+.

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Best Waist

Like your wrists, the waist option is lacking in options, but that shouldn't be an issue.

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Best Legs

We included the Nokhud legs because of their high Haste value.

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Best Feet

Sim to make sure you pick up the best item. We like the Mythic+ boots from Court of Stars in particular. Your mileage may vary, especially if they don't drop.

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Best Rings

You can do no wrong with any of these rings, whether its from raid, Mythic+, or crafted.

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Best Trinkets

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

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Best Weapons

We highly recommend simming all weapon upgrades.

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Best Gems For Ret Paladins

Here we list the best gems you can socket your gear with for Ret 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 - Keen Ysemerald

Best Enchants For Ret Paladins

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

• Cloak - Writ of Avoidance
• Chest - Waking Stats
• Bracers - Devotion of Avoidance
• Legs - Fierce Armor Kit
• Boots - Plainsrunner's Breeze
• Rings - Devotion of Haste
• Weapon - Frozen 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!