by DrearyYew » Fri Jan 22, 2016 4:25 pm
There's no doubting that Holy is a superior spec to Ret. Ret in terms of pure DPS are a pretty weak class, but in terms of raid utility are quite valuable if you actually use your utility instead of tunnel visioning boss. If a guild has an abundance of Holy Paladins, however, the desire for a Ret is pretty much zero. With that said, you can still raid as Ret, just don't expect a raid spot in a tryhard guild.
In terms of PvP, Ret is much more viable, but again, is more there for utility than for damage. The worst thing a Ret can do in group PvP is to Freedom themselves... I just facepalm when I see this shit. Too easy to kite a Paladin, use Freedom on a Warrior. You are there for the utility, meaning using Sacrifice to artificially increase someones health pool (and make yourself immune to CCs like Polymorph, Sap, and Blind), or BoP a squishy target that is being focused by melee, or Freedom an Arms Warrior, or throw a heal every once in a while. IMO the best place for a Ret Paladin is not the frontline, but in the back with the healers and casters, as Rogues will most likely be waiting to pick off squishier targets, and you can support from a distance with your utility, then peel for your healers. This avoids your one biggest weakness, which is being kited. Ret Paladins also have the advantage of being probably the hardest matchup for a Rogue 1v1. Rogues want to end fights quickly, and they absolutely cannot do that against a Paladin.
With that said, in PvP, Holy Paladins are still more viable than Ret because Holy Paladin is by far the best PvP healer, and it's not even close. 15% silence and interrupt immunity AURA with Improved Concentration Aura, 10% fear and disorient immunity, personal full immunity with Divine Shield, 10s physical immunity useable on others, plate wearing class with a shield and easily accessible and extremely potent shield talents, extremely high mana efficiency, full pushback immunity, 50% pushback immunity AURA, 16s Freedom on a 20s CD, immunity to Sap, Blind, Polymorph, and any CC that breaks on damage... I honestly don't understand why people rolled Horde for PvP. Racials don't mean shit when Alliance have Holy Paladins.
Dreary - Human "Needs No Mana" Holy Paladin