Im currently level 64 using Prot specialization. Everyone keeps telling me to level Ret. I've noticed much higher dps output as Prot. Am I doing it wrong when it comes to Ret? Or should I be more focused on Ret once I hit 85?
Im currently level 64 using Prot specialization. Everyone keeps telling me to level Ret. I've noticed much higher dps output as Prot. Am I doing it wrong when it comes to Ret? Or should I be more focused on Ret once I hit 85?
There is nothing wrong with levelling in Prot, I levelled my Prot pally that way and still haven't picked up an OS. Are you levelling via quests or dungeons?
Even in questing, tank specs allow you to pick up a lot of mobs at once. And you're effectively invulnerable. And the damage isn't that bad.
Leveling tank spec = faster dungeons and queues and less 'well crap I pulled too many and died' downtime (if any at all). Its a great way to level.
All my tanks have been leveled in their tanking specs. If anything I found leveling as dps to be less efficient.
Level in Tank spec - you can pull entire camps and not die. The xp and quest speed is very good. I usually just mount up, charge into and around the camp. It wouldn't be uncommon to have 10+ toons beating on you. Used to be a pain without area looting - not anymore though! This applies to every tank class btw.
Possibly the only dps spec that could match a tanks efficiency is a Warlock.
Last edited by Balir; 2014-01-10 at 06:11 AM.
"The further a society drifts from the truth the more it will hate those who speak it" - George Orwell
I've leveled up every class, generally having multiple specs per class (only exception was dk, stayed blood the whole time throughout the leveling process). Leveling as prot as a pally is totally viable and quite quick for most of the process, but for me, its viability dropped off quite quickly with MoP content. I found ret leveling to be much quicker (and quite fun) with MoP. But to each their own.
For low levels I think there's no discussion, prot is absolutely OP.
Now with the dual spec when you hit 80/85 you should switch to ret because you will do more damage, and change to prot for dungeons.
Prot is great for leveling, fast ques! ;D
Ret is pretty horrible at low levels. It gets better the higher level you are but Prot isn't bad at all to level as.
I've just finished leveling an alt pally in prot and after leveling my main as ret i can say it alot easier as prot, once you hit pandaria it makes things alot better and for not much of a damage loss
I levelled my tanks as BRM, ProtW, ProtP and blood. Pre-80 you still do tons of damage that you dont notice the differance from a dps spec, but as you pass 80 or 85 youll notice your dps dropping drasticly, I swapped to my dps specs for the last few levels and Id recommend you do the same, otherwise it take forever to kill something.
I have only been prot through leveling
Im leveling my second palli as prot. Much better cause you can pull a shit ton of mobs and not die. Also, you can instantly get into a dungeon.
There's little point to play retribution until 80-85, it can't compete with the ridiculous damage Avenger's Shield does. After 85 you probably want a retri spec for questing though, at that point tanks are really balanced around having vengeance to prop up their damage.
like most have said - prot to cata then spec ret.
prot leveling is the best!
Going to second leveling as Prot. Tanking instances is decent though sort of jarring if you're used to having high haste as a 90 Paladin (you have nothing). But once you get GC it already feels a lot better, and also Sanctity of Battle later on.