PRE-RAID BIS · WOW FOREVER · PALADIN

Retribution Paladin: pre-raid BiS for WoW Forever

Provisional – based on Classic Era values; Forever talents and item stats may differ.

For every slot: our best item and up to two alternatives for Paladin (Retribution) before the first raid in WoW Forever – from dungeons, quests, professions and reputation. The raids open on December 9, 2026; their loot has not been published yet.

GuildLoot’s own recommendation based on the item stats in our loot database (CMaNGOS, Classic Era) and general stat priorities of the class – not copied from another list. Only items that are in our Forever item data and can be obtained before the first raid count: dungeons, quests, professions and reputation. Sources and stats come from Classic Era. Blizzard reworked all dungeon drops for Forever, talents and racial bonuses have changed, and the stats of new loot stay hidden until the first drop. Effects such as “Use” or “Chance on hit” are not part of the numbers; such entries are marked with ≈.

Before the first raid Sources per Classic Era

Slot	Best item	Alternatives
Head	Eye of Rend Drop: Warchief Rend Blackhand in Upper Blackrock Spire+2% crit, +13 Strength – top score in this slot	Helm of the Executioner Drop: Baron Rivendare in Stratholme+2% hit, +14 Strength Crown of Tyranny Drop: Grand Crusader Dathrohan in Stratholme+40 attack power, +1% crit
Neck	Mark of Fordring Quest reward: In Dreams (Western Plaguelands)+26 attack power, +1% crit – top score in this slot	Beads of Ogre Might Quest reward: Falrin's Vendetta (Dungeon Set 2 / T0.5 (Alliance))+24 attack power, +1% hit Pendant of Celerity Drop: Lord Valthalak in Upper Blackrock Spire+1% hit, +15 Agility
Shoulders	Truestrike Shoulders Drop: Pyroguard Emberseer in Upper Blackrock Spire+2% hit, +24 attack power – top score in this slot	Dark Warder's Pauldrons Drop: Warder Stilgiss in Blackrock Depths+11 Strength, +17 Agility Black Dragonscale Shoulders Profession: Leatherworking (Armor - Shoulder)+40 attack power, +9 Stamina
Back	Shroud of Domination Drop: Lord Valthalak in Upper Blackrock Spire+17 Strength, +7 Stamina – top score in this slot	Cape of the Black Baron Drop: Baron Rivendare in Stratholme+20 attack power, +15 Agility Shadewood Cloak Drop: Alzzin the Wildshaper in Dire Maul East+13 Strength, +7 Stamina
Chest	Savage Gladiator Chain Drop: Gorosh the Dervish in Blackrock Depths+2% crit, +13 Strength – top score in this slot	Cadaverous Armor Drop: Instructor Malicia in Scholomance+60 attack power, +8 Strength Breastplate of Bloodthirst Quest reward: Breastplate of Bloodthirst (Winterspring)+2% crit, +13 Strength
Wrists	Battleborn Armbraces Drop: Warchief Rend Blackhand in Upper Blackrock Spire+1% crit, +1% hit – top score in this slot	Gordok Bracers of Power Drop: Cho'Rush the Observer in Dire Maul North+17 Strength, +7 Stamina Vambraces of the Sadist Drop: Timmy the Cruel in Stratholme+1% crit, +6 Strength
Hands	Gargoyle Slashers Drop: Kirtonos the Herald in Scholomance+1% crit, +10 Strength – top score in this slot	Timbermaw Brawlers Profession: Leatherworking (Armor - Hand)+23 Strength, +10 Stamina Gloves of the Dawn Profession: Blacksmithing (Armor - Hand)+23 Strength, +10 Stamina
Waist	Omokk's Girth Restrainer Quest reward: Warlord's Command (Onyxia attunement (Horde)) · Quest reward: Maxwell's Mission (Blackrock Spire)+15 Strength, +1% crit – top score in this slot	Brigam Girdle Drop: General Drakkisath in Upper Blackrock Spire+15 Strength, +1% hit Girdle of Beastial Fury Drop: Eviscerator in Blackrock Depths+30 attack power, +8 Strength
Legs	Eldritch Reinforced Legplates Drop: Prince Tortheldrin in Dire Maul West+15 Strength, +1% crit – top score in this slot	Handcrafted Mastersmith Leggings Drop: Goraluk Anvilcrack in Upper Blackrock Spire+29 Strength, +12 Stamina Legplates of Valor Drop: Baron Rivendare in Stratholme+23 Strength, +11 Agility
Feet	Bloodmail Boots Drop: Instructor Malicia in Scholomance+1% hit, +9 Strength – top score in this slot	Battlechaser's Greaves Trash in Blackrock Depths+14 Strength, +13 Agility Boots of Ferocity Drop: Isalien in Dire Maul East+13 Strength, +13 Agility
Ring 1	Painweaver Band Drop: General Drakkisath in Upper Blackrock Spire+1% crit, +16 attack power – top score in this slot	Magni's WillAlliance only Quest reward: The Princess's Surprise (Blackrock Depths)+1% crit, +6 Strength Tarnished Elven Ring Drop: Cho'Rush the Observer in Dire Maul North+1% hit, +15 Agility
Ring 2	Blackstone Ring Drop: Princess Theradras in Maraudon+1% hit, +20 attack power – top score in this slot	Band of the Ogre King Drop: King Gordok in Dire Maul North+14 Strength, +13 Stamina Magma Forged Band Drop: Dark Keeper Bethek in Blackrock Depths+7 Strength, +12 Agility
Trinket 1	Blackhand's Breadth Quest reward: For The Horde! (Onyxia attunement (Horde)) · Quest reward: General Drakkisath's Demise (Blackrock Spire)+2% crit – top score in this slot	Counterattack Lodestone Drop: Cho'Rush the Observer in Dire Maul North+22 attack power Briarwood Reed Drop: Jed Runewatcher in Upper Blackrock Spire+29 spell damage and healing
Trinket 2	Hand of Justice≈ uncertain Drop: Emperor Dagran Thaurissan in Blackrock DepthsChance on hit: 2% for an extra attack – effect not in the stats	Briarwood Reed Drop: Jed Runewatcher in Upper Blackrock Spire+29 spell damage and healing Burst of Knowledge≈ uncertain Drop: Ambassador Flamelash in Blackrock Depths+12 spell damage and healing (plus an effect not covered by the stats)
Two-hand	Treant's Bane Drop: Cho'Rush the Observer in Dire Maul North59.4 damage per second, +25 Strength – top score in this slot	Runeblade of Baron Rivendare Drop: Baron Rivendare in Stratholme59.4 damage per second, slow weapon (3.6 sec) Blackblade of Shahram≈ uncertain Drop: General Drakkisath in Upper Blackrock Spire59.4 damage per second, slow weapon (3.5 sec) (plus an effect not covered by the stats)
Ranged / relic	Libram of Hope≈ uncertain Drop: Isalien in Dire Maul EastSeals cost 20 less mana – relic, effect not in the stats	–