alt="Enhancing gear for your Paladin"
src="http://www.tentonhammer.com/image/view/66997">
*Updated for Patch 4.3*
In this section of the Paladin class guide we look at how to improve the gear that you’ve
worked so hard to get. Gear enhancements include gems, enchants,
crafted items
and reputation rewards. While these enhancements can really boost
productivity,
they can’t completely overhaul your gear for a different spec
(i.e. your
healing legs won’t turn into great tanking legs by re-gemming
and putting some
enchants on them). While you can’t rely on enhancements to
provide a complete
make-over, you can really fill in the gaps of your gear with the right
decisions.
First
and foremost your crafting professions will determine
the ease of gathering some of the gear enhancements. In addition to
Belt
Buckles from Blacksmithing (discussed below), Tailors may create
special
“threads,” Jewelcrafters can make self-applied
gems, Inscribers create
self-applied glyphs, and even Engineers have a few tricks that only
they can
use. We’ll list out these crafter-specific items later, but
keep them in mind
when evaluating which gems and enchants you plan on using.
The
goal is to use gear enhancements to fill in the gaps in
your gear and if you have no gaps then it should be used to maximize your most important stats. In general you want to focus on your main stat and use reforging to ajust other stats to fill in what you can, but that is best explained in our reforging guide: Reforge This. For enhancements just keep in mind, reforge first, then gem and enchant to fill in holes and then focus on core stats.
style="">Gems
The
first thing you will notice is that most gear does not have gem sockets. Not until you get all the way to the late 70's or late 80's or near 85 do most pieces of gear come with gem sockets. Luckily Blacksmiths can
make
Belt Buckles (yeehaw!) which will add a gem socket to your belt. As soon as your level allows you should
attach
a belt buckle to your belts! This gem
slot is very useful.
alt="Gems are good!"
src="http://www.tentonhammer.com/image/view/66996"> href="http://www.tentonhammer.com/image/view/66996">
Which gems you can use with obviously depend on what level you are since you cna not use high level gems when you are low level. Therefore keep in mind that this is written for level 85 players but you can be looking for the same type of gem just a lower level version.
mastery - crit
Once a Paladin starts receiving gear with gem sockets, there
are plenty of options. The choices made will of course depend on the
play style
and talent spec chosen, but following is a handy reference for you at level 85, when
you’re standing
at the auction house trying to decide which gems to choose:
border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"
width="885">
nowrap="nowrap" valign="bottom" width="105">
nowrap="nowrap" valign="bottom" width="468">
style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; line-height: normal;"
align="center"> style="font-size: 12pt; color: black;">Gems
nowrap="nowrap" valign="bottom" width="105">Gem
Types
nowrap="nowrap" valign="bottom" width="468">
style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; line-height: normal;"
align="center"> style="color: black;">Holy
nowrap="nowrap" valign="bottom" width="144">
style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; line-height: normal;"
align="center"> style="color: black;">Protection
nowrap="nowrap" valign="bottom" width="168">
style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; line-height: normal;"
align="center"> style="color: black;">Retribution
nowrap="nowrap" valign="bottom" width="105">
style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"> style="font-size: 12pt; color: black;">Blue
nowrap="nowrap" valign="bottom" width="468">
nowrap="nowrap" valign="bottom" width="144">
nowrap="nowrap" valign="bottom" width="168">
nowrap="nowrap" width="105">
style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; line-height: normal;"
align="center"> style="color: black;">Good
style="padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 117pt; height: 30pt; text-align: center;">
style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"> style="color: black;">Sparking Ocean Sapphire (+40
Spirit)
style="padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 1.5in; height: 30pt; text-align: center;">
style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"> style="color: black;">Solid Ocean Sapphire (+60 Stamina)
style="padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 1.75in; height: 30pt; text-align: center;">
style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;">Use a red gem
nowrap="nowrap" width="105">
style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; line-height: normal;"
align="center"> style="color: black;">Best
valign="bottom" width="468">
style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"> style="color: black;">Sparking Deepholm (+50
Spirit)
valign="bottom" width="144">
style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"> style="color: black;">Solid Deepholm Iolite (+75 Stamina)
valign="bottom" width="168">
style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;">Use a red gem
nowrap="nowrap" valign="bottom" width="105">
style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"> style="font-size: 12pt; color: black;">Red
valign="bottom" width="468">
valign="bottom" width="144">
valign="bottom" width="168">
nowrap="nowrap" width="105">
style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; line-height: normal;"
align="center"> style="color: black;">Good
style="padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 117pt; height: 30pt; text-align: center;">
style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"> style="color: black;">Brilliand Inferno Ruby (+40 Intellect)
valign="bottom" width="144">Use an orange or purple gem
style="padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 1.75in; height: 30pt; text-align: center;">
style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"> style="color: black;">Bold Inferno Ruby (+40 Strength)
nowrap="nowrap" width="105">
style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; line-height: normal;"
align="center"> style="color: black;">Best
valign="bottom" width="468">
style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"> style="color: black;">Brilliant Queen's Garnet (+50 Intellect)
valign="bottom" width="144">Use an orange or purple gem
valign="bottom" width="168">
style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"> style="color: black;">Bold Queen's Garnet (+50
Strength)
nowrap="nowrap" valign="bottom" width="105">
style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"> style="font-size: 12pt; color: black;">Yellow
valign="bottom" width="468">
valign="bottom" width="144">
valign="bottom" width="168">
nowrap="nowrap" width="105">
style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; line-height: normal;"
align="center"> style="color: black;">Good
style="padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 117pt; height: 30pt; text-align: center;">
style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"> style="color: black;">Use an orange gem
style="padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 1.5in; height: 30pt; text-align: center;">
style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"> style="color: black;">Fractured Amberjewel (+40 Mastery)
style="padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 1.75in; height: 30pt; text-align: center;">
style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;">Use an orange gem
nowrap="nowrap" width="105">
style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; line-height: normal;"
align="center"> style="color: black;">Best
valign="bottom" width="468">
style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"> style="color: black;">Use an orange gem
valign="bottom" width="144">
style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"> style="color: black;">Fractured Lightstone (+50
Mastery)
valign="bottom" width="168">
style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"> style="color: black;">Use an orange gem
nowrap="nowrap" valign="bottom" width="105">
style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"> style="font-size: 12pt; color: black;">Purple
valign="bottom" width="468">
valign="bottom" width="144">
valign="bottom" width="168">
nowrap="nowrap" width="105">
style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; line-height: normal;"
align="center"> style="color: black;">Good
valign="bottom" width="468">
style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"> style="color: black;">Purified Demonseye (+20 Intellect and +20 Spirit)
valign="bottom" width="144">
style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"> style="color: black;">Defender's Demonseye (+20
Parry and +30 Stamina)
valign="bottom" width="168">
style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"> style="color: black;">Etched Demonseye (+20 Strength and +20 Hit)
nowrap="nowrap" width="105">
style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; line-height: normal;"
align="center"> style="color: black;">Best
valign="bottom" width="468">
style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"> style="color: black;">Purified Shadow Spinel (+25 Intellect and +25 Spirit)
valign="bottom" width="144">
style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"> style="color: black;">Defender's Shadow Spinel (+25
Parry and +37 Stamina)
valign="bottom" width="168">
style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"> style="color: black;">Etched Shadow Spinel (+25 Strength and +25 Hit)
nowrap="nowrap" valign="bottom" width="105">
style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"> style="font-size: 12pt; color: black;">Orange
valign="bottom" width="468">
valign="bottom" width="144">
valign="bottom" width="168">
nowrap="nowrap" width="105">
style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; line-height: normal;"
align="center"> style="color: black;">Good
valign="bottom" width="468">
style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"> style="color: black;">Reckless Ember Topaz (+20 Intellect and +20 Haste Rating)
valign="bottom" width="144">
style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"> style="color: black;">Fine Ember Topaz (+20
Parry and +30 Stamina)
valign="bottom" width="168">
style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"> style="color: black;">Skillfull Ember Topaz (+20 Strength and +20 Mastery)
nowrap="nowrap" width="105">
style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; line-height: normal;"
align="center"> style="color: black;">Best
valign="bottom" width="468">
style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"> style="color: black;">Reckless Lava Coral (+25 Intellect and +25 Haste)
valign="bottom" width="144">
style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"> style="color: black;">Fine Lava Coral (+25
Parry and +37 Stamina)
valign="bottom" width="168">
style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"> style="color: black;">Skillful Lava Coral (+25 Strength and +25 Mastery)
nowrap="nowrap" valign="bottom" width="105">
style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"> style="font-size: 12pt; color: black;">Green
valign="bottom" width="468">
valign="bottom" width="144">
valign="bottom" width="168">
nowrap="nowrap" width="105">
style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; line-height: normal;"
align="center"> style="color: black;">Good
valign="bottom" width="468">
style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;">Use a red gem
valign="bottom" width="144">
style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"> style="color: black;">Puissant Dream Emerald (+20 Mastery
and +30 Stamina)
valign="bottom" width="168">
style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;">Use a red gem
nowrap="nowrap" width="105">
style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; line-height: normal;"
align="center"> style="color: black;">Best
valign="bottom" width="468">
style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;">Use a red gem
valign="bottom" width="144">
style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"> style="color: black;">Puissant Elven Peridot (+25
Mastery and +37 Stamina)
valign="bottom" width="168">
style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;">Use a red gem
nowrap="nowrap" valign="bottom" width="105">
style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"> style="font-size: 12pt; color: black;">Meta
valign="bottom" width="468">
valign="bottom" width="144">
valign="bottom" width="168">
nowrap="nowrap" width="105">
style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; line-height: normal;"
align="center"> style="color: black;">Good
valign="bottom" width="468">
style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;">Insightful Earthsiege Diamond
(+21 Intellect and chance to restore mana on spellcast)
valign="bottom" width="144">
style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"> style="color: black;">Austere Shadowspirit Diamond (+81
Stamina and 2% increased armor from items)
valign="bottom" width="168">
style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;">See below.
nowrap="nowrap" width="105">
style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; line-height: normal;"
align="center"> style="color: black;">Best
valign="bottom" width="468">
style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"> style="color: black;">Ember Shadowspirit Diamond (+54 Intellect and +2% maximum mana)
valign="bottom" width="144">
style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"> style="color: black;">Eternal Shadowspirit Diamond (+81
Stamina and +1% block value)
valign="bottom" width="168">
style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"> style="color: black;">Reverberating Shadowspirit Diamond
(+54 Strength and +3% Increased Critical Damage)
If you can't cut your own gems, make sure to stay up on the latest prices at the Auction House. Sometimes you can set yourself up without breaking the bank.
src="http://www.tentonhammer.com/image/view/66995">
style="">Enchanting your gear.
Once
the gems are socketed, it’s time to evaluate enchants
that are available. Enchanting has come a long way and now provides
some
significant bonuses to your gear.
Recommended
Enchants for each of the talent specs:
border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"
width="573">
nowrap="nowrap" valign="bottom" width="105">
nowrap="nowrap" valign="bottom" width="468">
style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; line-height: normal;"
align="center"> style="color: black;">Enchants
nowrap="nowrap" valign="bottom" width="105">
nowrap="nowrap" valign="bottom" width="156">
style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; line-height: normal;"
align="center"> style="color: black;">Holy
nowrap="nowrap" valign="bottom" width="144">
style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; line-height: normal;"
align="center"> style="color: black;">Protection
nowrap="nowrap" valign="bottom" width="168">
style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; line-height: normal;"
align="center"> style="color: black;">Retribution
nowrap="nowrap" width="105">
style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; line-height: normal;"
align="center"> style="color: black;">Head
width="156">
style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; line-height: normal;"
align="center"> style="color: black;">Arcanum of Hyjal: +60 Intellect and +35 Crit
width="144">
style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; line-height: normal;"
align="center"> style="color: black;">Arcanum of the Earthen Ring: +90 Stamin and +35 Dodge
width="168">
style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; line-height: normal;"
align="center"> style="color: black;">Arcanum of the Dragonmaw: +60 Strength and +30 Mastery
nowrap="nowrap" width="105">
style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; line-height: normal;"
align="center"> style="color: black;">Shoulder
width="156">
style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; line-height: normal;"
align="center"> style="color: black;">Greater Inscription of Charged Lodestone: +50 Intellect and +2 5 Haste
width="144">
style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; line-height: normal;"
align="center"> style="color: black;">Greater Inscription of the
Unbreakable Quartz: +75 Stamina and +25 Dodge
width="168">
style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; line-height: normal;"
align="center"> style="color: black;">Greater Inscription of Jagged Stone: +50 Strength and +25 Critical Strike
nowrap="nowrap" width="105">
style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; line-height: normal;"
align="center"> style="color: black;">Chest
width="156">
style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; line-height: normal;"
align="center"> style="color: black;">Peerless Stats:
+20 All Stats
width="144">
style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; line-height: normal;"
align="center"> style="color: black;">Greater Stamina: +75 Stamina
width="168">
style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; line-height: normal;"
align="center">Peerless Stats:
+20 All Stats
nowrap="nowrap" width="105">
style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; line-height: normal;"
align="center"> style="color: black;">Cloak
width="156">
style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; line-height: normal;"
align="center"> style="color: black;">Greater Intellect:
+50 Intellect
width="144">
style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; line-height: normal;"
align="center"> style="color: black;">Protection: +250 Armor
width="168">
style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; line-height: normal;"
align="center"> style="color: black;">Greater Critical Strike: +65 Critical Strike
nowrap="nowrap" width="105">
style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; line-height: normal;"
align="center"> style="color: black;">Wrist
width="156">
style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; line-height: normal;"
align="center"> style="color: black;">Mighty Intellect:
+50 Intellect
width="144">
style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; line-height: normal;"
align="center"> style="color: black;">Superior Dodge: +50 Dodge
width="168">
style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; line-height: normal;"
align="center"> style="color: black;">Major Strength:
+50 Strength
nowrap="nowrap" width="105">
style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; line-height: normal;"
align="center"> style="color: black;">Hands
width="156">
style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; line-height: normal;"
align="center"> style="color: black;">Haste:
+50 Haste
width="144">
style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; line-height: normal;"
align="center"> style="color: black;">Greater Mastery: +65 Mastery
width="168">
style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; line-height: normal;"
align="center"> style="color: black;">Mighty Strength:
+50 Strength
nowrap="nowrap" width="105">
style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; line-height: normal;"
align="center"> style="color: black;">Legs
width="156">
style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; line-height: normal;"
align="center"> style="color: black;">Powerful Ghostly Spellthread:
+95 Intellect and +55 Spirit
width="144">
style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; line-height: normal;"
align="center"> style="color: black;">Drakehide Leg Armor: +145 Stamina
and +55 Dodge
width="168">
style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; line-height: normal;"
align="center"> style="color: black;">Dragonscale Leg Armor: +190
Attack Power and +55 Critical Strike
nowrap="nowrap" width="105">
style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; line-height: normal;"
align="center"> style="color: black;">Waist
width="156">
style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; line-height: normal;"
align="center">Ebonsteel Belt Buckle
width="144">
style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; line-height: normal;"
align="center">Ebonsteel Belt Buckle
width="168">
style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; line-height: normal;"
align="center"> style="color: black;"> Ebonsteel Belt Buckle
nowrap="nowrap" width="105">
style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; line-height: normal;"
align="center"> style="color: black;">Boots
width="156">
style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; line-height: normal;"
align="center"> style="color: black;">Haste:
+50 Haste
width="144">
style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; line-height: normal;"
align="center"> style="color: black;">Mastery: +50 Mastery
width="168">
style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; line-height: normal;"
align="center">Mastery: +50 Mastery
nowrap="nowrap" width="105">
style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; line-height: normal;"
align="center"> style="color: black;">Weapon
width="156">
style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; line-height: normal;"
align="center"> style="color: black;">Power Torrent:
Chance to increase Intellect by 500 for 12 seconds.
width="144">
style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; line-height: normal;"
align="center"> style="color: black;">Windwalk: Chance to increase Dodge by 600 for 15 seconds.
width="168">
style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; line-height: normal;"
align="center"> style="color: black;">Landslide: Chance to increase attack power by 1000 for 12 seconds.
nowrap="nowrap" width="105">
style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; line-height: normal;"
align="center"> style="color: black;">Shield
width="156">
style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; line-height: normal;"
align="center"> style="color: black;">Superior Intellect:
+40 Intellect
width="144">
style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; line-height: normal;"
align="center"> style="color: black;">Mastery: +50 Mastery
width="168">
style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; line-height: normal;"
align="center"> style="color: black;">N/A
World of Warcraft offers plenty of ways to outfit a
character and they pay special attention to provide alternate paths to
the same
conclusion. With this guide and some elbow grease, there is no reason
you can’t
be ready to raid with the best of them.
To read the latest guides, news, and features you can visit our World of Warcraft Game Page.