Protection Paladin AoE Leveling — AoE Leveling · WoW Burning Crusade

Protection paladins in The Burning Crusade can gather a pack and hold it with Consecration, Holy Shield and Blessing of Sanctuary, every block returning holy damage. Consecration is trained from level 20 in this expansion, so the build spends its points on survival and threat: Holy Shield at 40 makes pulls of several enemies routine.

Paladins don't kite: they stand in the pack and outlast it. Outland's melee herds, which hit often but not hard, suit a paladin who blocks.

Strengths

No kiting: stand and fight
Holy Shield and Blessing of Sanctuary punish every hit
Very hard to kill with Divine Shield and Lay on Hands

Weaknesses

Mana is the limit: rest between pulls
Slower kills than a mage
Needs a shield and Stamina

Class: Paladin
Talents: Protection (0/40/21)
Starts at: Level 40
Difficulty: Medium
Farming spots: 7
Version: WoW Burning Crusade

Talents by level

The build is the popular leveling build Sanctity Shieldbearer, learned in its talent order. Each stage opens the talent calculator with the points you have at that level.

Blessing of Sanctuary (level 30)
21 points · 0/21/0
Redoubt, Toughness and Improved Righteous Fury, then Blessing of Sanctuary.
- Redoubt 5/5
- Toughness 5/5
- Blessing of Sanctuary 1/1
- Improved Righteous Fury 3/3
- Anticipation 4/5
- Precision 3/3
Open the level 30 build in the talent calculator
Holy Shield (level 45)
36 points · 0/36/0
Holy Shield and Improved Holy Shield: the pull's core.
- Reckoning 3/5
- One-Handed Weapon Specialization 5/5
- Holy Shield 1/1
- Anticipation 5/5
- Sacred Duty 2/2
- Combat Expertise 1/5
- Improved Holy Shield 2/2
Open the level 45 build in the talent calculator
Level 70
61 points · 0/40/21
Combat Expertise, then Seal of Command, Crusade and Sanctity Aura.
- Deflection 5/5
- Benediction 5/5
- Sanctity Aura 1/1
- Conviction 3/5
- Seal of Command 1/1
- Pursuit of Justice 3/3
- Combat Expertise 5/5
- Crusade 3/3
Open the level 70 build in the talent calculator

Open the full build (0/40/21)

Key talents

Blessing of Sanctuary · Protection, up to 1
Blocks damage the attacker; less damage taken.
Places a Blessing on the friendly target, reducing damage dealt from all sources by up to 10 for 10 min. In addition, when the target blocks a melee attack the attacker will take 14 Holy damage. Players may only have one Blessing on them per Paladin at any one time.
Holy Shield · Protection, up to 1
More blocks, each dealing holy damage.
Increases chance to block by 30% for 10 sec and deals 59 Holy damage for each attack blocked while active. Damage caused by Holy Shield causes 35% additional threat. Each block expends a charge. 4 charges.
Improved Holy Shield · Protection, up to 2
Stronger Holy Shield.
Increases damage caused by your Holy Shield by 20% and increases the number of charges of your Holy Shield by 4.
Redoubt · Protection, up to 5
More blocks.
Damaging melee and ranged attacks against you have a 10% chance to increase your chance to block by 30%. Lasts 10 sec or 5 blocks.
Improved Righteous Fury · Protection, up to 3
Less damage taken while Righteous Fury is up.
While Righteous Fury is active, all damage taken is reduced by 6% and increases the amount of threat generated by your Righteous Fury spell by 50%.
Crusade · Retribution, up to 3
More damage dealt.
Increases all damage caused against Humanoids, Demons, Undead and Elementals by 3%.

Abilities

Consecration · level 20, 6 ranks
Under the pack; recast as it ends.
Consecrates the land beneath the Paladin, doing 512 Holy damage over 8 sec to enemies who enter the area.
Holy Shield · talent, 4 ranks
Keep it up: every block hits back.
Increases chance to block by 30% for 10 sec and deals 155 Holy damage for each attack blocked while active. Damage caused by Holy Shield causes 35% additional threat. Each block expends a charge. 4 charges.
Blessing of Sanctuary · talent, 5 ranks
On yourself.
Places a Blessing on the friendly target, reducing damage dealt from all sources by up to 80 for 10 min. In addition, when the target blocks a melee attack the attacker will take 46 Holy damage. Players may only have one Blessing on them per Paladin at any one time.
Righteous Fury · level 16
More holy threat and, with the talent, less damage taken.
Increases the threat generated by your Holy spells by 60%. Lasts 30 min.
Retribution Aura · level 16, 6 ranks
Damages every attacker.
Causes 26 Holy damage to any creature that strikes a party member within 30 yards. Players may only have one Aura on them per Paladin at any one time.
Seal of Wisdom · level 38, 4 ranks
Mana from your hits.
Fills the Paladin with divine wisdom for 30 sec, giving each melee attack a chance to restore 121 of the Paladin's mana. Only one Seal can be active on the Paladin at any one time. Unleashing this Seal's energy will judge an enemy for 20 sec, granting attacks and spells used against the judged enemy a chance to restore 74 mana to the attacker. Your melee strikes will refresh the spell's duration. Only one Judgement per Paladin can be active at any one time.
Judgement · level 4
Judge Wisdom for mana from your attacks.
Unleashes the energy of a Seal spell upon an enemy. Refer to individual Seals for Judgement effect.
Holy Wrath · level 50, 3 ranks
Against undead and demons.
Sends bolts of holy power in all directions, causing 637 to 747 Holy damage to all Undead and Demon targets within 20 yds.
Exorcism · level 20, 7 ranks
Burst on undead and demons.
Causes 626 to 698 Holy damage to an Undead or Demon target.
Divine Shield · level 34, 2 ranks
Emergency immunity.
Protects the paladin from all damage and spells for 12 sec, but increases the time between your attacks by 100%. Once protected, the target cannot be made invulnerable by Divine Shield, Divine Protection, Blessing of Protection again or use Avenging Wrath for 1 min.
Lay on Hands · level 10, 4 ranks
Full heal in an emergency.
Heals a friendly target for an amount equal to the Paladin's maximum health and restores 900 of their mana. Drains all of the Paladin's remaining mana when used.

The pull

Buff Blessing of Sanctuary, Retribution Aura and Righteous Fury; Seal of Wisdom; full mana.
Gather the pack around you.
Holy Shield, then Consecration.
Judge Wisdom and re-seal.
Refresh Holy Shield and Consecration as they end.

Pulling: Walk through the area and let four to six enemies catch up together.
Grouping: Stand still once they reach you, ideally with your back to an obstacle.
Positioning: Keep everything in front of you so you block it.
Crowd control: Hammer of Justice on the most dangerous enemy or a runner.
Defensives: Divine Shield, then Lay on Hands; Divine Protection at low levels.
Mana and health: Seal and Judgement of Wisdom for mana; lower Consecration ranks; drink between pulls.

Common mistakes

Pulling casters
Pulling more than your mana allows
Letting Holy Shield drop

Gear and consumables

Gear: A shield, Stamina and block value, then spell damage for Consecration and Holy Shield.
Stats: Stamina, block value, Defense; spell damage for more AoE damage.
Enchants: Stamina on chest and bracers, a shield spike, block value on the shield.

Super Mana PotionMana in an emergency.
Super Healing PotionHealth in an emergency.
Elixir of Major FortitudeMore health.

Farming spots

In the order you reach them. Each opens its area on the World Map.

Deranged Helboars in southern Hellfire Peninsula
Hellfire Peninsula · Levels 60–62
Easy
Deranged Helboars at levels 60–61 roaming southern Hellfire Peninsula: melee demons with tusks and snouts that vendor well, and leather for skinners. The first Outland AoE pulls.
Spawn points
46
Respawn
about 5 min
Coin per kill
None
Vendor loot per kill
21 silver 11 copper
Creatures
- Deranged HelboarLevels 60–61 · 46 spawns
Pros
- Melee only, dense and open ground
- Cracked Boar Tusks on four kills in five vendor for almost 9 silver
- Skinning: Knothide Leather
Cons
- No coin
- Shattered Hand orcs share the area
Requires:
Frost AoE (Improved Blizzard, Frost Nova); paladins with Consecration and Holy Shield.
Watch out for:
Unyielding Knight (59–60, caster)
How to farm it, step by step
1. 1.Where to stand: Start on the open plain with nothing behind you.
2. 2.Pull: Run through the boars until five to eight follow.
3. 3.Group them up: Lead them in a line behind you and turn.
4. 4.Abilities: Frost Nova as they bunch up, step out of melee range, then channel Blizzard over the pack; Improved Blizzard and Permafrost keep them crawling through it. Cone of Cold and a second Frost Nova (after its cooldown or Cold Snap) cover the last seconds. Paladins: Consecration under the pack, Holy Shield, and Avenger's Shield if you have it.
5. 5.Kite: The plain is open: kite in a wide arc.
6. 6.Finish: Arcane Explosion or Cone of Cold.
7. 7.Recover: Drink conjured water and eat between pulls; save Evocation and a mana gem for a pull that runs long. Rebuff Frost or Ice Armor and Ice Barrier before the next pull.
8. 8.Avoid: Shattered Hand Guards, Berserkers and Grenadiers patrol in from their camp; Marauding Crust Bursters surface from the ground.
Show the area on the World Map
Wrekt Slaves at the Bloodscale camps
Zangarmarsh · Levels 61–63
Hard
Wrekt Slaves at level 62 working the Bloodscale naga camps in western Zangarmarsh: melee humanoids with Netherweave, guarded by naga slavedrivers.
Spawn points
47
Respawn
about 5 min
Coin per kill
1 silver 56 copper
Vendor loot per kill
16 silver 89 copper
Creatures
- Wrekt SlaveLevel 62 · 47 spawns
Pros
- Dense melee slaves
- Netherweave on one kill in five
- Coin on every kill
Cons
- Bloodscale Slavedrivers and Enchantresses (casters) guard them
Requires:
Careful pulls: the naga guards are in the same camps.
Watch out for:
Bloodscale Enchantress (63–64, caster)
How to farm it, step by step
1. 1.Where to stand: Start at a camp's edge and look for Enchantresses before you pull.
2. 2.Pull: Gather slaves away from their guards, four to six at a time.
3. 3.Group them up: Lead them out of the camp before turning.
4. 4.Abilities: Frost Nova as they bunch up, step out of melee range, then channel Blizzard over the pack; Improved Blizzard and Permafrost keep them crawling through it. Cone of Cold and a second Frost Nova (after its cooldown or Cold Snap) cover the last seconds. Paladins: Consecration and Holy Shield.
5. 5.Kite: Away from the camp, through open marsh.
6. 6.Finish: Arcane Explosion.
7. 7.Recover: Drink conjured water and eat between pulls; save Evocation and a mana gem for a pull that runs long. Rebuff Frost or Ice Armor and Ice Barrier before the next pull.
8. 8.Avoid: Bloodscale Slavedrivers stand among the slaves and Bloodscale Enchantresses cast; Bogstrok crabs come out of the water.
Show the area on the World Map
Timber Worg Alphas in northern Terokkar
Terokkar Forest · Levels 63–65
Medium
Timber Worg Alphas at levels 63–64 in Terokkar's northern forest: melee beasts with fangs that vendor for nearly 9 silver and leather for skinners.
Spawn points
37
Respawn
about 5 min
Coin per kill
None
Vendor loot per kill
21 silver 57 copper
Creatures
- Timber Worg AlphaLevels 63–64 · 37 spawns
Pros
- Melee beasts
- Bloody Fangs on four kills in five
- Skinning: Knothide Leather
Cons
- Warp Stalkers blink and cast
- No coin
Requires:
Frost AoE or a tanking paladin.
Watch out for:
Warp Stalker (63–64, caster), Firewing Bloodwarder (63–64, caster)
How to farm it, step by step
1. 1.Where to stand: Work the forest's clearings, where the trees don't block line of sight.
2. 2.Pull: Gather four to six worgs.
3. 3.Group them up: Lead them into a clearing and turn.
4. 4.Abilities: Frost Nova as they bunch up, step out of melee range, then channel Blizzard over the pack; Improved Blizzard and Permafrost keep them crawling through it. Cone of Cold and a second Frost Nova (after its cooldown or Cold Snap) cover the last seconds. Paladins: Consecration and Holy Shield.
5. 5.Kite: Kite through the clearings; trees break Blizzard's line of sight.
6. 6.Finish: Arcane Explosion.
7. 7.Recover: Drink conjured water and eat between pulls; save Evocation and a mana gem for a pull that runs long. Rebuff Frost or Ice Armor and Ice Barrier before the next pull.
8. 8.Avoid: Warp Stalkers (they cast and blink), Dampscale Devourers and the Firewing elves at the area's edge.
Show the area on the World Map
Talbuk Thorngrazers on the Nagrand plains
Nagrand · Levels 64–67
Easy
More than a hundred Talbuk Thorngrazers at levels 65–66 on Nagrand's central plains: melee beasts on open grass, with Resilient Tail Hair that vendors for 12 silver and leather for skinners.
Spawn points
129
Respawn
about 5 min
Coin per kill
None
Vendor loot per kill
25 silver 35 copper
Creatures
- Talbuk ThorngrazerLevels 65–66 · 129 spawns
Pros
- The densest beast field in Outland
- Open grass
- Resilient Tail Hair on four kills in five
- Skinning: Knothide Leather
Cons
- No coin
- Storm Ragers (casters) drift across the plains
Requires:
Frost AoE or a tanking paladin; hunters do well too.
Watch out for:
Storm Rager (65–66, caster), Lake Spirit (64–65, caster)
How to farm it, step by step
1. 1.Where to stand: Start in open grass with nothing behind you.
2. 2.Pull: Run through the talbuks until six to ten follow you.
3. 3.Group them up: Lead them in a long line and turn.
4. 4.Abilities: Frost Nova as they bunch up, step out of melee range, then channel Blizzard over the pack; Improved Blizzard and Permafrost keep them crawling through it. Cone of Cold and a second Frost Nova (after its cooldown or Cold Snap) cover the last seconds. Paladins: Consecration and Holy Shield; talbuks hit slowly for their level.
5. 5.Kite: Open plains in every direction.
6. 6.Finish: Arcane Explosion.
7. 7.Recover: Drink conjured water and eat between pulls; save Evocation and a mana gem for a pull that runs long. Rebuff Frost or Ice Armor and Ice Barrier before the next pull.
8. 8.Avoid: Clefthoof Bulls hit harder; Storm Ragers cast; Enraged Crushers stand among the hills.
Show the area on the World Map
Shattered Rumblers in southern Nagrand
Nagrand · Levels 66–68
MediumGood value
Shattered Rumblers at levels 66–67 in Nagrand's southern hills: earth elementals with Motes of Earth on almost one kill in five and Elemental Fragments that vendor well.
Spawn points
35
Respawn
about 5 min
Coin per kill
None
Vendor loot per kill
27 silver 73 copper
Creatures
- Shattered RumblerLevels 66–67 · 35 spawns
Materials
- Mote of Earth19% of kills · vendor price 4 silverUsed in Blacksmithing (2), Alchemy (1), Enchanting (1), Engineering (1) recipes10 combine into Primal Earth, used in Leatherworking (18), Blacksmithing (13), Enchanting (6), Engineering (6), Alchemy (5), Tailoring (5), Jewelcrafting (3), Mining (1) recipes
Pros
- Melee elementals
- Motes of Earth (ten make Primal Earth)
- Elemental Fragments on four kills in five
Cons
- Voidspawn and Living Cyclones cast
- No coin
Requires:
Frost AoE or a tanking paladin.
Watch out for:
Voidspawn (65–66, caster), Living Cyclone (66–67, caster), Kil'sorrow Ritualist (67–68, caster)
Value:
Ten Motes of Earth combine into Primal Earth, a reagent for Leatherworking, Blacksmithing and five more professions; price depends on your realm.
How to farm it, step by step
1. 1.Where to stand: Start at the hills' edge.
2. 2.Pull: Gather four to six rumblers.
3. 3.Group them up: They are slow: let them bunch.
4. 4.Abilities: Frost Nova as they bunch up, step out of melee range, then channel Blizzard over the pack; Improved Blizzard and Permafrost keep them crawling through it. Cone of Cold and a second Frost Nova (after its cooldown or Cold Snap) cover the last seconds. Paladins: Consecration and Holy Shield.
5. 5.Kite: Slow enough to kite at walking speed.
6. 6.Finish: Arcane Explosion.
7. 7.Recover: Drink conjured water and eat between pulls; save Evocation and a mana gem for a pull that runs long. Rebuff Frost or Ice Armor and Ice Barrier before the next pull.
8. 8.Avoid: Voidspawn, Living Cyclones and Kil'sorrow Ritualists cast.
Show the area on the World Map
Phase Hunters in western Netherstorm
Netherstorm · Levels 67–70
MediumGood value
Phase Hunters at levels 67–68 in western Netherstorm: beasts that come back after two minutes and drop Motes of Mana on a quarter of kills.
Spawn points
23
Respawn
about 2 min
Coin per kill
None
Vendor loot per kill
28 silver 16 copper
Creatures
- Phase HunterLevels 67–68 · 23 spawns
Materials
- Mote of Mana26% of kills · vendor price 4 silver10 combine into Primal Mana, used in Leatherworking (19), Tailoring (10), Blacksmithing (9), Engineering (7), Jewelcrafting (6), Alchemy (5), Enchanting (3) recipes
Pros
- Two-minute respawn
- Motes of Mana on a quarter of kills
- Skinning: Knothide Leather
Cons
- They shift out of phase during the fight
- No coin
Requires:
Frost AoE or a tanking paladin.
Watch out for:
Sunfury Blood Knight (70, caster)
Value:
Ten Motes of Mana combine into Primal Mana, a reagent for Leatherworking, Tailoring and five more professions; price depends on your realm.
How to farm it, step by step
1. 1.Where to stand: Start at the edge of the hunting ground.
2. 2.Pull: Gather four to six Phase Hunters.
3. 3.Group them up: Let them bunch behind you.
4. 4.Abilities: Frost Nova as they bunch up, step out of melee range, then channel Blizzard over the pack; Improved Blizzard and Permafrost keep them crawling through it. Cone of Cold and a second Frost Nova (after its cooldown or Cold Snap) cover the last seconds. Paladins: Consecration and Holy Shield.
5. 5.Kite: Open ground around the area.
6. 6.Finish: Arcane Explosion.
7. 7.Recover: Drink conjured water and eat between pulls; save Evocation and a mana gem for a pull that runs long. Rebuff Frost or Ice Armor and Ice Barrier before the next pull.
8. 8.Avoid: Gan'arg Warp-Tinkers and Sunfury Blood Knights at the edges.
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Ashtongue Workers in Shadowmoon Valley
Shadowmoon Valley · Levels 68–70
MediumGood value
Nearly a hundred Ashtongue Workers at level 69 in Shadowmoon Valley: melee Broken with Netherweave on a third of kills and 2–2.7 silver each.
Spawn points
94
Respawn
about 5 min
Coin per kill
2 silver 33 copper
Vendor loot per kill
21 silver 33 copper
Creatures
- Ashtongue WorkerLevel 69 · 94 spawns
Materials
- Netherweave Cloth35% of kills · vendor price 8 silverUsed in Engineering (5), Blacksmithing (2), Tailoring (2), First Aid (2) recipes
Pros
- Netherweave on one kill in three
- Coin on every kill
- Very dense
Cons
- Ashtongue Shamans cast
- Warriors and Illidari Overseers mix in
Requires:
Level 69+; mages and paladins can AoE them, other classes farm them singly.
Watch out for:
Ashtongue Shaman (69–70, caster)
Value:
Netherweave Cloth is used by Tailoring, Engineering, Blacksmithing and First Aid; price depends on your realm.
How to farm it, step by step
1. 1.Where to stand: Start at the edge of the worksite, away from the Overseers.
2. 2.Pull: Gather four to six workers.
3. 3.Group them up: Lead them clear of the next group.
4. 4.Abilities: Frost Nova as they bunch up, step out of melee range, then channel Blizzard over the pack; Improved Blizzard and Permafrost keep them crawling through it. Cone of Cold and a second Frost Nova (after its cooldown or Cold Snap) cover the last seconds. Paladins: Consecration and Holy Shield.
5. 5.Kite: Open ground around the worksite.
6. 6.Finish: Arcane Explosion.
7. 7.Recover: Drink conjured water and eat between pulls; save Evocation and a mana gem for a pull that runs long. Rebuff Frost or Ice Armor and Ice Barrier before the next pull.
8. 8.Avoid: Ashtongue Shamans (casters), Warriors and Handlers, Elekk Demolishers and Illidari Overseers.
Show the area on the World Map