For some time I feel like most Talent Trees lack depth and fun options for players to explore and that the system should just be more exciting to use.
As Blizzard changes talent options almost every expansion, I’m always extremely curious on what they’re going to do next. Many times, for the last few expansions, I was disapointed. However, I feel that they are always trying to improve the talent system and give players more options to personalize their character in a fun way.
In this thread I share a build I created for the Prot Paladin. A build that I would find exciting to play with, with combinations between the talent rows and your main spells, with options to play in different ways (more supportive, more damage focused, more defensive), while staying true to the Paladin’s core abilities and fantasy.
The Talent grid is based on the state of the prot Paladin in BFA (8.1.5). Numbers would need to be adjusted for balancing.
Two changes to its core would be needed in order for this grid to make sense:
- Judgement’s damage is modified based on the Paladin’s active Aura.
- Auras can be changed like they used to (similar to stances) and there are 3 different auras availabe:
Devotion Aura: Increases armor of allies within 15 yards by 1000.
Judgement (Devotion Aura): Judgement’s damage is increased by 100% of the Paladin’s armor.
Retribution Aura: Attacks made against you or any ally within 15 yards deals 100 damage to the attacker (counts as damage done by the paladin).
Judgement (Retribution Aura): Judgement’s damage is increased by the amount of damage done by your Retribution Aura (including damage resulted from your Blessing of Vengeance) in the last 15 seconds.
Holified Aura: Allies within 15 yards are healed by 2% of the Paladin’s total health every 5 seconds.
Judgement (Holified Aura): Casting Judgement heals everyone affected by your Holified Aura by 2% of the Paladin’s total health. The Paladin heals for an additional 5% of Judgement’s damage.
Taking these changes into consideration, here’s the build:
Tier 1
Swift Judgement
Passive ability.
Your Judgement now has 2 charges and a 8 second recharge time
Severe Judgement
Passive ability.
Your Judgement now has its cooldown increased by 3 seconds (total of 15 seconds CD).
However its damage is doubled.
Judgemental Practices
Passive ability.
Your Judgement now strikes up to two additional targets for 50% of it’s initial damage.
Tier 2
Righteous Shield
Passive ability.
Blocking a melee attack has a chance to reduce the cooldown of your Avenger’s Shield by 1 second.
Holy Armor
Passive ability.
Increases the armor received by your items and your total health by 5%
Blinding light
Passive ability.
Your Consecration radius is increased by 5 yards.
In addition, enemies affected by your Consecration have their casting time and time between attacks increased by 10%
Tier 3
Holy ground
Passive ability.
Enemies affected by your Consecration spell receive 10% increased damage from the Paladin’s abilities.
Divine Consecration
Active ability.
1 minute CD.
Channeling up to 4 seconds.
The Paladin stops momentarily and prays to the light.
Enemies affected by your Consecration spell are stunned.
Bursting Consecration
Passive ability.
Your Consecration spell deals 50% of its total damage instantly. The remaining 50% is dealt normally.
More than one Consecration can be active at a time.
Tier 4
Blessing of Light
Active ability.
No CD.
A blessing that increases all healing receive by 15%.
In addition, 30% of the healing received by the target is also received by the Paladin.
(maximum 2 blessings, can target self)
If targeted on self, all healing received is increased by 20% instead (with no extra effect).
Blessing of Vengeance
Active ability.
No CD.
A blessing that invokes the Paladin’s retributive tendencies. Whenever the blessed ally is attacked it instantly deals damage equal to the Retribution Aura effect, multiplied by 3.
(maximum 1 blessing, can target self)
Blessing of Presence
Active ability.
No CD.
The blessed target replicates the Paladin’s current aura with 50% of its original power. Effects can stack and act as if done by the Paladin itself.
(maximum 1 blessing, cannot target self)
Tier 5
Persistent Devotion
Passive ability.
Devotion Aura persists for 10 seconds after activating a different aura.
In addition, whenever Devotion Aura is active, the Paladin’s block chance is increased by 10%.
Everytime the Paladin blocks an incoming attack, allies affected by Devotion Aura have their morale raised, receiving 0.5% less damage for 10 seconds (stacks up to 5%).
Bastion of Light
Passive ability.
Whenever a target with full health is healed by your Holifying Aura, its haste is increased 1% for 10 seconds stacking up to 5 times
Righteous Retribution
Passive ability.
Whenever the Paladin suffers damage allies affected by Retribution Aura will have their critical chance increased by 3% for 10 seconds.
Tier 6
Aegis of Light
Passive ability.
When the Paladin’s shield returns, after casting Avenger’s Shield (or after catching it from the ground if Sanctified Shield talent is taken) the Paladin’s armor is increased by 1000 for 10 seconds (effect can stack, duration not refreshed).
Judgement of the Crusader
Passive ability.
Your Judgement marks the target with holy light for 10 seconds. Attacks made by you and your allies against the target have an extra 3% chance of critical strike.
Consecrated Ground
Passive ability.
Allies standing in the Paladin’s Consecration are inspired by his/her presence, dealing 2% increased damage.
Additionally, the more allies inside the Consecration the higher the Paladin’s morale, increasing its health by 1% per ally (up to 4%).
Tier 7
Ultimate Beacon
Active ability.
4 min CD
Instant cast
Your active aura’s effect is brought to its full potential.
Devotion Aura: Prevents any players affected by your aura from taking fatal damage for the next 3 seconds.
Retribution Aura: For the next 5 seconds, damage received from attackers splashes in holy explosions that also damage nearby enemies.
Holified Aura: Any ally affected by the aura is healed for 10% of the damage done by the Paladin for the next 8 seconds.
Sanctified Shield
Passive ability.
Your shield is blessed by the Holy Light making your Avenger’s Shield deal extra damage based on your armor.
A holy image of the shield drops on the last enemy it hits. If the Paladin catches it the remaining cooldown of Avenger’s Shield is reduced by 50%
Holy Sacrifice
Active ability.
5 min CD.
Instant Cast.
The Paladin sacrifices his/her life to save nearby allies, leaving an absortion shield of 10% of his maximum health to all allies affected by his/her Aura.