Having finally gotten my RSS feeds under control (somewhat), I’d like to start taking time each week (or as opportunity permits) to highlight some of the more interesting blog posts I’ve come across recently. These posts may not be for the same class each time around, but each “round-up” post will have a class theme. This time I’d like to focus on Paladin blogs.

Blessing of Kings – Cooldown Rotations

In this post, Rohan puts an interesting spin on the concept of tank cooldowns. Due to the nature of various class cooldowns, some tanks are preferable for encounters over others because of their ability to mitigate spike damage. It is for this reason that many feel Death Knights are the superior tanking class, while Paladins lag behind the rest of the pack. However, in this article Rohan points out that healers also have cooldowns at their disposal to help mitigate spike damage coming at their tanks and describes how to utilize rotations for healer cooldowns to maximize tank survivability.

Holypaladin.net – Arena Healing Tips for Holy Paladins

This rather extensive article serves as a wonderful primer for those of the Holy persuasion looking to get into PvP, particularly arenas. There are numerous tips and tricks within this article that every Holy Paladin should know before entering the arenas, as well as details on what you can expect from battling in the arenas, which heals are most effective, and what gear/stats to look for to improve your performance and survivability. If you’re looking to get into arenas as a healer, check this out first and save yourself some frustration.

Honor’s Code – The Uphill Battle of the Fresh 80 Tank

This article describes the challenges a fresh 80 tank can face when undergeared for the content they face, and ways to deal with this issue in order to get you into the content you need to gear up for higher-end content. As the article points out, an undergeared tank is a huge liability to any group, moreso than players of any other type (healer or DPS), and quick progression can be crippling when you’re not picking up gear as you go. This article details ways to help get yourself geared up and ready to tank once you’re 80.

Pally-Tank-Adin – 540 Def? Way too Easy! I Can Get You There Before You Hit 80

A great follow-up to the post from Honor’s Code, this article details several gear options to put you at uncrittable (540 Defense Rating) for when you make your final ding and are ready to start digging into some serious content, be that heroics or raids.

Pallymar’s Take – The Healadin’s Ulduar Best-in-Slot Guide

Just as the title would suggest, this article walks you through a Holy Paladin’s best-in-slot items from Ulduar. This guide offers at least six different item options for each slot, and describes the rankings for each in detail.

Righteous Defense – When to Go for Socket Bonuses

Always a fan of visual aids, this post is great for tanks wondering how the heck to socket their gear. A very simple (and helpful) flow-chart depicts the best times to shoot for that socket bonus, and when to ignore it and just socket for pure Stamina or Defense/Stamina instead.

Holypaladin.net – Holy Paladin Changes Patch 3.2 – Beacon, Flash, SS, Illumination

This post describes the upcoming changes for Holy Paladins in Patch 3.2 and their possible implications for healing strategy and efficiency. Of particular note here is the buff to Beacon of Light and subsequent nerf to Illumination. This article describes how those changes will affect mana efficiency and group healing.

Honor’s Code – Back to Basics: The 969 Paladin Threat Rotation

While other tanking classes have a “priority list” for building and maintaining threat, Paladins appear to be the last bastion of the threat “rotation” for tanking. This article describes the history of the 969 rotation’s origins in Wrath, the make-up of the rotation itself, and auxiliary abilities that can be woven into the 969 rotation for additional threat or situational usefulness.

Pallymar’s Take – Healadin-ing 101

As you might expect from the title, this article serves as a primer to healing as a Paladin. The article covers topics such as available healing spells and their most efficient/useful applications, optimal talent choices, which glyphs to use, gear theory, proper use of Judgements, Seals, Auras, Blessings, and Hands. The guide is extremely comprehensive, and is a must-read for any new Paladin healer.

Righteous Defense – Spec Possibilities in Next Patch

Rhidach takes a moment to reflect on the upcoming changes in Patch 3.2 and offers some possible specs to try out post-patch (provided the current patch notes remain the same). This post includes the Lay on Hands Spec (12/53/6) and Vindication Spec (0/53/18), and Rhidach’s thoughts on each.

Honor’s Code – Shared Topic: Situational Awareness, or Driving the Tank

This post was inspired by a recent Blog Azeroth Shared Topic and covers handling multiple tasks in a raid environment based on the player’s role (in this case, a tank). This article talks about the numerous responsibilities of a Paladin tank during a boss encounter and how each is executed. If you’re new to tanking, this is a must-read. It’s very insightful.

Read any great Paladin articles I’ve missed? Leave ‘em in the comments!

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