Because of the various types of styles of playing that tanks must adapt to, it is not adequate to say that one spec will fill everyone’s needs. Spec changes depending on whether on does raids or only heroics, and even in heroics, the spec must change if one is starting out as a tank with moderate gear, to when one has t9 and t10 gear. Furthermore, dps tanking and chainpulling require some alterations to spec as well. Here is a look at a few different tanking specs to suit different environments and playing styles.
Raiding Spec
This spec focuses on survivability. In the Prot tree, there are: 3 points in Improved Devotion Aura, 2 points in Divine Guardian, and 3 points Ardent Defender. Points are taken away from divinity because most healers in raids are expected to be geared and these points are better put to use elsewhere.
In the ret tree 2 points in Vindication help with damage reduction as well. Seal of Command is Specced for trash pulling because of it’s cleave ability. Points in Crusade help boost the tanks dps.
Heroic Survivability
This spec is advisable for new paladin tanks. From the prot tree, Points have been put into Improved Devotion aura, Divinity for healing bonus, and Ardent Defender. These things help with damage mitigation and survivability.
From the ret tree, once again look at the points put into Vindication for damage decrease.
As ones skill and gear progresses, one might consider a spec like this:
Heroic Chainpulling Spec
This spec focuses on chainpulling and maximizing DPS. Points in survivability like Improved Devotion Aura and Judgements of the Just from the prot tree to put into Conviction for DPS increase. Note that while points in Seals of the Pure are better than Conviction, (A potential of 15% increase in damage done from Seal of Vengeance and Seal of Righteousness vs a potential of 5% in Crit) there are a few reasons why this spec is better for Chainpulling.
1. Most of the time, as a Chainpulling tank, one will want to pull mobs with a boss in heroics. This allows for maximizing dps. Seal of Command is a better seal for dealing with mass mobs because of the the cleave effect, and it’s ability to turn Judgement and Shield of Righteousness into multitarget abilities.
2. Points in Seals of the Pure are only active when Seal of Vengeance is up. The only time one would use this seal in heroics is on bosses, or single target.
3. Considering that most players are well geared when doing heroics, trash takes relatively short time to go down. Therefore, stacks in Seal of Vengeance cannot be properly built up, even considering the use of Hammer of the Righteous and targeting 4 mobs simultaneously.
These things being said, there is a use for Seals of the Pure. Some tanks prefer the use of SoV over SoC because SoV is the primary tanking seal of choice overall. The reasons for this are:
1. Expertise cap through the use of Glyph of Seal of Vengeance
2. On prolonged fights, SoV does better DPS and holds better aggro because of the stacks apply to each mob.
3. In the newer heroics like FoS or HoR, trash still takes a longer time to down, and chainpulling is not an option. For these heroics, a spec like this should be considered to maximize dps.
Seal of Vengeance Spec
From these basics, one can formulate their own opinion of what suits their playing style best. To match with the varying content for raiding and heroics, one can easily balance a few points here or there to suit ones needs. If anyone has any questions of comments, please feel free to post!
