WoW Wrath Classic: Protection Paladin Best in Slot Gear (WotLK)

This article is part of a directory: WoW Wrath Classic (WotLK): Complete Guide Directory

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Paladin Specialization PvE Guides

Best In Slot Pre-Raid

Best in Slot Phase 1

There may be no better tank option than Protection Paladins for Classic Wrath of the Lich King. The spec tops our Wrath Classic PvE Tank Tier List thanks to their impressive set of skills and utility.

Our Prot Paladin BIS guide will focus on what gear is best in slot for you as you begin your journey into Wrath of the Lich King Classic. Currently, we'll go over both pre-raid and Phase One best in slot lists. As additional phases are released, we'll update the list accordingly.

Special thanks to the theorycrafting communities for their work discussing items and working on simulations to find the best gear available for players. As always, the best thing to do to determine gear upgrades is to sim your DPS.

Prot Paladin Pre-Raid Best in Slot

Item Slot Navigation Menu
Head	Neck	Shoulders	Back
Chest	Wrist	Hands	Waist
Legs	Feet	Rings	Trinkets
Weapon		Shield	Libram

Pre-Raid Best-In-Slot gear includes everything that can be obtained without stepping inside the first raids of WotLK. This includes gear obtained via Quests, Reputation Vendors, Professions, Dungeons, and Heroic Dungeons. There may also be a few pieces of gear from The Burning Crusade, namely Sunwell Plateau, that are still viable alternatives if you can find a group to go back and farm them.

Protection Paladin Best In Slot Head Pre-Raid WotLK

If you're a Blacksmith, putting the work in for Tempered Titansteel Helm is worth it. If you're an Engineer, the googles are a solid choice. If for some reason you're neither, there are still solid options out there.

Engineers - use the Mind Amplification Dish enchant

Best in Slot Rank	Gear	Location	Sockets	Enchants
Best	Tempered Titansteel Helm	Blacksmithing Craft - Bind on Equip	Solid Sky Sapphire Austere Earthsiege Diamond	Arcanum of the Stalwart Protector
Best	Armored Titanium Goggles	Engineering Craft - Bind on Pickup	Solid Sky Sapphire Austere Earthsiege Diamond	Arcanum of the Stalwart Protector
Viable	Ground Tremor Helm	Moorabi - Heroic Gundrak	Solid Sky Sapphire Austere Earthsiege Diamond	Arcanum of the Stalwart Protector
Viable	Titan-Forged Plate Helm of Triumph	40 Wintergrasp Marks of Honor	Solid Sky Sapphire Austere Earthsiege Diamond	Arcanum of the Stalwart Protector
Viable	Arcane-Shielded Helm	Grand Magus Telestra - Heroic Nexus	Solid Sky Sapphire Austere Earthsiege Diamond	Arcanum of the Stalwart Protector

Protection Paladin Best In Slot Neck Pre-Raid WotLK

The emblem neck is the easiest thing to obtain here. It's a no-brainer.

Best in Slot Rank	Gear	Location	Sockets
Best	Chained Military Gorget	25 Emblem of Heroism
Viable	Titanium Earthguard Chain	Jewelcrafting Craft - Bind on Equip	Regal Twilight Opal
Viable	Shadowseeker's Pendant	Jedoga Shadowseeker - Heroic Ahn'kahet: The Old Kingdom

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Protection Paladin Best In Slot Shoulders Pre-Raid WotLK

There are a couple of options here that can all get the job done, all with varying degrees of difficulty to obtain.

Do note that Pauldrons of Perseverance or Spaulders of the Thalasian Defender are more than adequate.

Best in Slot Rank	Gear	Location	Sockets	Enchants
Best	Pauldrons of the Colossus	Drakkari Colossus - Heroic Gundrak	Enduring Forest Emerald	Greater Inscription of the Gladiator
Viable	Iron Dwarf Smith Pauldrons	General Bjarngrim - Heroic Halls of Lightning		Greater Inscription of the Gladiator
Viable	Tempered Saronite Shoulders	Grand Magus Telestra - Heroic Nexus		Greater Inscription of the Gladiator
Viable	Pauldrons of Reconnaissance	Meathook - Heroic Culling of Stratholme		Greater Inscription of the Gladiator

Protection Paladin Best In Slot Back Pre-Raid WotLK

Get the crafted cloak regardless of the cost. It's that good.

Your enchant options are honestly dependent on the stats you need most.

Best in Slot Rank	Gear	Location
Best	Durable Nerubhide Cape	Leatherworking Craft - Bind on Equip
Viable	Cloak of Peaceful Resolutions	Honored with The Wyrmrest Accord
Viable	Cloak of the Enemy	Commander Stoutbeard - Heroic Nexus

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Protection Paladin Best In Slot Chest Pre-Raid WotLK

Whenever you have the option to get tier piece without stepping into raid, you should 100% do that.

Your enchant option will depend on the stats you need most.

Best in Slot Rank	Gear	Location	Sockets
Best	Heroes' Redemption Breastplate	80 Emblem of Heroism	Solid Sky Sapphire Solid Sky Sapphire
Viable	Icebane Chestguard	Blacksmithing Craft - Bind on Equip	Solid Sky Sapphire Solid Sky Sapphire Solid Sky Sapphire
Viable	Breastplate of the Solemn Council	Revered with Wyrmrest Accord
Viable	Sun-Emblazoned Chestplate	Sjonnir the Ironshaper - Heroic Halls of Stone	Solid Sky Sapphire

Protection Paladin Best In Slot Wrist Pre-Raid WotLK

There's nothing too exciting going on here, sadly.

Best in Slot Rank	Gear	Location	Enchants
Best	Bracers of the Herald	Herald Volazj - Ahn'kahet: The Old Kingdom	Enchant Bracers - Major Stamina
Viable	Bindings of Dark Will	Salramm the Fleshcrafter - Heroic Culling of Stratholme	Enchant Bracers - Major Stamina
Viable	Svala's Bloodied Shackles	Svala Sorrorgrave - Utgarde Pinnacle	Enchant Bracers - Major Stamina

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Protection Paladin Best In Slot Hands Pre-Raid WotLK

Fireproven Gauntlets are the unquestioned best choice, but they also require the commitment to get it. In the meantime, everything else listed here will get the job done.

Best in Slot Rank	Gear	Location	Sockets	Enchants
Best	Fireproven Gauntlets	Exalted with Kirin Tor		Enchant Gloves - Armsman
Viable	Heroes' Redemption Handguards	60 Emblem of Heroism	Solid Sky Sapphire	Enchant Gloves - Armsman
Viable	Horn-Tipped Gauntlets	Gal'darah - Heroic Gundrak		Enchant Gloves - Armsman
Viable	Daunting Handguards	Blacksmithing Craft - Bind on Equip		Enchant Gloves - Armsman
Viable	Gauntlets of Vigilance	Quest Reward - The Reckoning		Enchant Gloves - Armsman

Protection Paladin Best In Slot Waist Pre-Raid WotLK

Grab that emblem waist and don't look back.

Best in Slot Rank	Gear	Location	Sockets	Enchants
Best	Waistguard of Living Iron	40 Emblem of Heroism	Enduring Forest Emerald	Eternal Belt Buckle
Viable	Ancient Aligned Girdle	Anub'arak - Heroic Azjol-Nerub		Eternal Belt Buckle
Viable	Skadi's Iron Belt	King Ymiron - Heroic Utgarde Pinnacle	Solid Sky Sapphire	Eternal Belt Buckle
Viable	Icebane Girdle	Blacksmithing Craft - Bind on Equip	Solid Sky Sapphire Solid Sky Sapphire	Eternal Belt Buckle

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Protection Paladin Best In Slot Legs Pre-Raid WotLK

Bolstered Legplates are far and away your bis, but the rep legs are a good stop-gap.

Best in Slot Rank	Gear	Location	Sockets	Enchants
Best	Bolstered Legplates	Cyanigosa - Heroic Violet Hold	Regal Twilight Opal	Frosthide Leg Armor
Viable	Ley-Guardian's Legguards	Ley-Guardian Eregos - Heroic Oculus	Enduring Forest Emerald	Frosthide Leg Armor
Viable	Special Issue Legplates	Honored with Argent Crusade	Solid Sky Sapphire	Frosthide Leg Armor

Protection Paladin Best In Slot Feet Pre-Raid WotLK

Having a bis item be available through reputation is a dream come true.

Best in Slot Rank	Gear	Location	Sockets	Enchants
Best	Toxin-Tempered Sabatons	Honored with Knights of the Ebon Blade		Enchant Boots - Greater Fortitude
Viable	Slaughterhouse Sabatons	Meathook - Culling of Stratholme		Enchant Boots - Greater Fortitude
Viable	Sabatons of Draconic Vigor	Revered with Wyrmrest Accord		Enchant Boots - Greater Fortitude
Viable	Icebane Treads	Blacksmithing Craft - Bind on Equip	Solid Sky Sapphire Solid Sky Sapphire	Enchant Boots - Greater Fortitude

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Protection Paladin Best In Slot Rings Pre-Raid WotLK

If you're rocking the Sunwell ring, you're in a great spot.

Reminder that only enchanters can enchant rings.

Best in Slot Rank	Gear	Location	Sockets	Enchants
Best	Titanium Earthguard Ring	Jewelcrafting craft - Bind on Equip	Solid Sky Sapphire	Enchant Ring - Stamina
Best	Keystone Great-Ring	The Prophet Tharon'ja - Heroic Drak'Tharon Keep		Enchant Ring - Stamina
Viable	Ring of Hardened Resolve	Entropius - Sunwell Plateau		Enchant Ring - Stamina
Viable	Unsmashable Heavy Band	Ingvar the Plunderer - Heroic Utgarde Keep		Enchant Ring - Stamina
Viable	Band of Torture	Drakos the Interrogator - The Oculus		Enchant Ring - Stamina

Protection Paladin Best In Slot Trinkets Pre-Raid WotLK

These trinkets will be less about what's "bis" and more about what kind of tanking set you need. Both JC trinkets are BOP, so keep that in mind.

Best in Slot Rank	Gear	Location	Sockets
Stamina	Figurine - Monarch Crab	Jewelcrafting craft - Bind on Pick-up	Solid Sky Sapphire Enduring Forest Emerald
Stamina	Essence of Gossamer	Hadronox - Heroic Azjol-Nerub
Stamina	Figurine - Ruby Hare	Jewelcrafting craft - Bind on Pick-up	Solid Sky Sapphire Solid Sky Sapphire
Threat	Darkmoon Card: Greatness	Darkmoon Nobles Deck
Good trinket	Seal of the Pantheon	Loken - Halls of Lightning

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Protection Paladin Best In Slot Weapon Pre-Raid WotLK

There's the Red Sword of Courage, and then honestly, there's everything else.

Best in Slot Rank	Gear	Location	Enchants
Best	Red Sword of Courage	King Ymiron - Heroic Utgarde Pinnacle	Enchant Weapon - Mongoose
Viable	Infantry Assault Blade	Prince Keleseth - Heroic Utgarde Keep	Enchant Weapon - Mongoose
Viable	Cloudstrider's Waraxe	Varos Cloudstrider - The Oculus	Enchant Weapon - Mongoose
Viable	Hammer of Quiet Mourning	Wanted: Ragemane's Flipper	Enchant Weapon - Mongoose

Protection Paladin Best In Slot Shield Pre-Raid WotLK

You can pick up your best shields without ever stepping into an instance.

Best in Slot Rank	Gear	Location	Enchants
Best	Crygil's Discarded Plate Panel	35 Emblem of Heroism	Titanium Plating
Best	Titansteel Shield Wall	Blacksmithing Craft - Bind on Equip	Titanium Plating
Viable	Royal Crest of Lordaeron	Mal'Ganis - Heroic Culling of Stratholme	Titanium Plating
Viable	Bulwark of the Noble Protector	Keristrasza - Heroic Nexus	Titanium Plating
Viable	Saronite Bulwark	Blacksmithing Craft - Bind on Equip	Titanium Plating

Protection Paladin Best In Slot Libram Pre-Raid WotLK

Welp. One option. Beggers can't be choosers, I guess.

Best in Slot Rank	Gear	Location	Sockets	Enchants
Best	Libram of Obstruction	15 Emblem of Heroism

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Prot Paladin Phase 1 Best in Slot

Item Slot Navigation Menu
Head	Neck	Shoulders	Back
Chest	Wrist	Hands	Waist
Legs	Feet	Rings	Trinkets
Weapon		Shield	Libram

Phase one sees the introduction of the first wave of raids in Wrath of the Lich King, they are: Naxxramas, Obsidian Sanctum, and Eye of Eternity

Protection Paladin Best In Slot Head Phase 1 WotLK

Tier is the best, bar none. This is your best option and it's not even close.

Engineers - use the Mind Amplification Dish enchant

Best in Slot Rank	Gear	Location	Sockets	Enchants
Best	Valorous Redemption Faceguard	Kel'Thuzad - Naxxramas 25	Solid Sky Sapphire Austere Earthsiege Diamond	Arcanum of the Stalwart Protector
Viable	Helm of Vital Protection	Gothik the Harvester - Naxxramas 25	Enduring Forest Emerald Austere Earthsiege Diamond	Arcanum of the Stalwart Protector
Viable	Heroes' Redemption Faceguard	Kel'Thuzad - Naxxramas 10	Solid Sky Sapphire Austere Earthsiege Diamond	Arcanum of the Stalwart Protector
Viable	Thane's Tainted Greathelm	Four Horsemen - Naxxramas 10	Enduring Forest Emerald Austere Earthsiege Diamond	Arcanum of the Stalwart Protector
Viable	Tempered Titansteel Helm	Blacksmithing Craft - Bind on Equip	Solid Sky Sapphire Austere Earthsiege Diamond	Arcanum of the Stalwart Protector

Protection Paladin Best In Slot Neck Phase 1 WotLK

Sadly, none of your pre-raid bis items carry over here.

The Nexus War Champion Beads is a dream come true for stats and having a red socket.

Best in Slot Rank	Gear	Location	Sockets
Best	Nexus War Champion Beads	The Heroic Key to the Focusing Iris	Regal Twilight Opal
Viable	Boundless Ambition	Kel'Thuzad - Naxxramas 25
Viable	Medallion of the Disgraced	Multiple enemies - Naxxramas
Viable	Drakescale Collar	Judgment at the Eye of Eternity	Regal Twilight Opal
Viable	Heritage	Multiple enemies - Naxxramas

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Protection Paladin Best In Slot Shoulders Phase 1 WotLK

Your tier has an incredibly slight edge over the Pauldrons. Burdened Shoulderplates would have usage in certain gear sets.

Best in Slot Rank	Gear	Location	Sockets	Enchants
Best	Valorous Redemption Shoulderguards	60 Emblem of Valor, also Loatheb in Naxxramas 25	Enduring Forest Emerald	Greater Inscription of the Gladiator
Viable	Burdened Shoulderplates	Gothik the Harvester - Naxxramas 25		Greater Inscription of the Gladiator
Viable	Pauldrons of Unnatural Death	Anub'Rekhan - Naxxramas 25	Solid Sky Sapphire	Greater Inscription of the Gladiator
Viable	Heroes' Redemption Shoulderguards	Loatheb - Nraxxramas 10	Enduring Forest Emerald	Greater Inscription of the Gladiator

Protection Paladin Best In Slot Back Phase 1 WotLK

There's nothing that really stands out as an obvious choice here. Everything in this table will be viable.

Your enchant options are honestly dependent on the stats you need most.

Best in Slot Rank	Gear	Location	Sockets
Best	Platinum Mesh Cloak	25 Emblem of Valor
More than Viable	Shadow of the Ghoul	Multiple enemies - Naxxramas
More than Viable	Cloak of the Shadowed Sun	Maexxna - Naxxramas 25
More than Viable	Cloak of Armed Strife	Maexxna - Naxxramas 10
More than Viable	Gale-Proof Cloak	Sartharian - Obsidian Sanctum 10	Enduring Forest Emeral

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Protection Paladin Best In Slot Chest Phase 1 WotLK

Your desired chest will depend on what kind of set you want between mitigation and avoidance.

Your enchant option will depend on the stats you need most.

Best in Slot Rank	Gear	Location	Sockets
Best for Mitigation	Valorous Redemption Breastplate	Gluth - Naxxramas 25	Solid Sky Sapphire Solid Sky Sapphire
Best for Avoidance	Dragonstorm Breastplate	Sartharion - Obsidian Sanctum 25	Solid Sky Sapphire Solid Sky Sapphire
Viable - Mitigation	Heroes' Redemption Breastplate	80 Emblem of Heroism	Solid Sky Sapphire Solid Sky Sapphire
Viable - Mitigation	Chestguard of the Exhausted	Grobbulus - Naxxramas 25	Solid Sky Sapphire Solid Sky Sapphire
Viable	Breastplate of Tormented Rage	Heigan the Unclean - Naxxramas 25
Viable	Massive Skeletal Ribcage	Sapphiron - Naxxramas 10

Protection Paladin Best In Slot Wrist Phase 1 WotLK

More exciting things happening on the raid list! All three of these items are super solid.

Best in Slot Rank	Gear	Sockets	Enchants
Best for Mitigation	Bindings of the Hapless Prey		Enchant Bracers - Major Stamina
Best for Avoidance	Bracers of the Unholy Knight	Solid Sky Sapphire	Enchant Bracers - Major Stamina
Solid	Bracers of Dalaran's Parapets		Enchant Bracers - Major Stamina

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Protection Paladin Best In Slot Hands Phase 1 WotLK

Fireproven Gauntlets are the unquestioned best choice, but they also require the commitment to get it. In the meantime, everything else listed here will get the job done.

Best in Slot Rank	Gear	Location	Enchants
Best	Valorous Redemption Handguards	Sartharion - Obsidian Sanctum 25	Enchant Gloves - Armsman
Solid	Callous-Hearted Gauntlets	Grand Widow Faerlina - Naxxramas 25	Enchant Gloves - Armsman
Solid	Gauntlets of the Disobedient	Noth the Plaguebringer - Naxxramas 25	Enchant Gloves - Armsman
Viable	Heroes' Redemption Handguards	60 Emblem of Heroism	Enchant Gloves - Armsman
Viable	Gauntlets of the Master	Grand Widow Faerlina - Naxxramas 10	Enchant Gloves - Armsman

Protection Paladin Best In Slot Waist Phase 1 WotLK

Maexxna 25 has your best waist. Everything else offers solid alternatives.

Best in Slot Rank	Gear	Location	Sockets	Enchants
Best	Ablative Chitin Girdle	Maexxna - Naxxramas 25	Solid Sky Sapphire Solid Sky Sapphire	Eternal Belt Buckle
Viable	Waistguard of the Tutor	Instructor Razuvious - Naxxramas 10	Solid Sky Sapphire	Eternal Belt Buckle
Viable	leshless Girdle	Patchwerk - Naxxramas 25	Solid Sky Sapphire	Eternal Belt Buckle
Viable	Waistguard of Living Iron	40 Emblem of Heroism	Enduring Forest Emerald Solid Sky Sapphire	Eternal Belt Buckle

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Protection Paladin Best In Slot Legs Phase 1 WotLK

The Malygos legs offer everything you could want. Other options are good for mitigation; The Sartharion legs are another solid option if you can't get the Malygos legs.

Best in Slot Rank	Gear	Location	Sockets	Enchants
Best	Legplates of Sovereignty	Malygos - Eye of Eternity 25		Frosthide Leg Armor
Viable	Dragon Brood Legguards	Sartharion - Obsidian Sanctum 25		Frosthide Leg Armor
Viable	Valorous Redemption Legguards	75 Emblem of Valor	Solid Sky Sapphire Solid Sky Sapphire	Frosthide Leg Armor
Viable	Legplates of Inescapable Death	Loatheb - Naxxramas 10	Solid Sky Sapphire Solid Sky Sapphire	Frosthide Leg Armor
Viable	Heroes' Redemption Legguards	Thaddius - Naxxramas 10	Solid Sky Sapphire Solid Sky Sapphire	Frosthide Leg Armor

Protection Paladin Best In Slot Feet Phase 1 WotLK

Having a bis item be available through reputation is a dream come true.

Best in Slot Rank	Gear	Location	Sockets	Enchants
Best	Inexorable Sabatons	Anub'Rekhan - Naxxramas 25	Enduring Forest Emerald	Enchant Boots - Greater Fortitude
Viable	Sabatons of Endurance	Thaddius - Naxxramas 25		Enchant Boots - Greater Fortitude
Viable	Kyzoc's Ground Stompers	40 Emblem of Valor		Enchant Boots - Greater Fortitude
Viable	Plague-Impervious Boots	Noth the Plaguebringer - Naxxramas 10		Enchant Boots - Greater Fortitude

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Protection Paladin Best In Slot Rings Phase 1 WotLK

There's a lot of great options for rings. You can't really go wrong with any of em.

Reminder that only enchanters can enchant rings.

Best in Slot Rank	Gear	Location	Enchants
Threat	Signet of the Impregnable Fortress	25 Emblem of Valor	Enchant Ring - Stamina
Mitigation	Gatekeeper	Sapphiron - Naxxramas 25	Enchant Ring - Stamina
Avoidance	Sand-Worn Band	Several Bosses - Naxxramas	Enchant Ring - Stamina
Viable	Signet of the Accord	Sartharion - Obsidian Sanctum 10	Enchant Ring - Stamina
Viable	Deflection Band	Anub'Rekhan - Naxxramas 10	Enchant Ring - Stamina

Protection Paladin Best In Slot Trinkets Phase 1 WotLK

These trinkets will be less about what's "bis" and more about what kind of tanking set you need. Both JC trinkets are BOP, so keep that in mind.

Best in Slot Rank	Gear	Location	Sockets
Stamina	Figurine - Monarch Crab	Jewelcrafting craft - Bind on Pick-up	Solid Sky Sapphire Enduring Forest Emerald
Stamina	Essence of Gossamer	Hadronox - Heroic Azjol-Nerub
Stamina	Figurine - Ruby Hare	Jewelcrafting craft - Bind on Pick-up	Solid Sky Sapphire Solid Sky Sapphire
Threat	Darkmoon Card: Greatness	Darkmoon Nobles Deck
Good trinket	Repelling Charge	Thaddius - Naxxramas 10
Good trinket	Valor Medal of the First War	41 Emblem of Heroism
Good trinket	Rune of Repulsion	Sapphiron - Naxxramas 25

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Protection Paladin Best In Slot Weapon Phase 1 WotLK

Your top two choices are essentially the same thing.

Best in Slot Rank	Gear	Location	Enchants
Best	Last Laugh	Kel'Thuzad - Naxxramas 25	Enchant Weapon - Mongoose
Best	Broken Promise	Four Horsemen - Naxxramas 25	Enchant Weapon - Mongoose
Viable	Red Sword of Courage	King Ymiron - Heroic Utgarde Pinnacle	Enchant Weapon - Mongoose
Viable	Slayer of the Lifeless	Gothik the Harvester - Naxxramas 10	Enchant Weapon - Mongoose

Protection Paladin Best In Slot Shield Phase 1 WotLK

Nine times out of ten, Wall of Terror is the preferred option. There are times when Skull of Ruin will be good when you need mitigation.

Best in Slot Rank	Gear	Location	Enchants
Best	Wall of Terror	Kel'Thuzad - Naxxramas 25	Titanium Plating
Viable	The Skull of Ruin	Grobbulus - Naxxramas 10	Titanium Plating
Viable	Hero's Surrender	Patchwerk - Naxxramas 25	Titanium Plating
Viable	Barricade of Eternity	Malygos - Eye of Eternity 10	Titanium Plating