First off I'd like to say hello to all the posters. I've been reading these boards for years and I finally decided to create an account lol.
Lately I've been noticing quite a few ret specced pallies running around with a sword and board while leveling. Just wondering if this is the preferred method nowadays, or is a big heavy 2h still the way to go?
I can't imagine it being very effecient because you lose out on some nice talents built around the use of a 2h.
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Ret leveling with 1h & shield? Follow
What levels have you seen running around using a shield? I ask cause in the lower levels, even up to the 30s or so (maybe further still) it is quite possible to find a 1H with better stats and higher damage than your current 2H has. If this isn't the case then maybe they were just working on some of the higher level/more difficult quests where survivability is more important then dealing as much damage as fast as you can. I'm leveling a second Paladin (55 now) with my gf's Enhancement Shaman and I swap to sword/board depending on the circumstance.
All things considered though, a big, slow 2H is still the best thing for a Ret to use.
All things considered though, a big, slow 2H is still the best thing for a Ret to use.
sword and board as ret spec is definitely not the preferred way to level. keeping a sword and board to tank the occassional instance is ok, but definitely not to use for normal purposes...
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I've been seeing toons in their late 40's and higher doing this. Even speccing way down into the ret tree w/o picking up the talent for Improved 2h dmg, and having points all over the place with no rhyme or reason.
I figured it can't be right. Welcome to the post "refer a friend" age I guess lol.
I figured it can't be right. Welcome to the post "refer a friend" age I guess lol.
My pally is ret and I have ItemRack set to equip my healing mace and shield as one of the options. It increases HL to about 3k from 2.6k (as ret) so if I see someone getting the shaft, I can swap to sword/board and dish out a reasonable heal, or if I'm being hit by the pain train then I can do a fair heal on myself.
SoC and CS hits with those equipped are.......poor.
Aside from that its 2h all the way.
SoC and CS hits with those equipped are.......poor.
Aside from that its 2h all the way.
Pre-Verigan's Fist (level 1-22 or so) Sword and Board for Ret is fine.
The Verigan's Era (level 22-35 or so) Verigan's fist for questing, sword and board for tanking instances.
Level 35-51 Ravager or Rockpounder for questing, Sword and Board for Tanking.
Level 51-60 IBS for everything, don't bother with a sword and board, and let the Prot start tanking :)
Level 60+ Respec or go get Hellreaver from Ramps or the axe from BF ASAP.
The Verigan's Era (level 22-35 or so) Verigan's fist for questing, sword and board for tanking instances.
Level 35-51 Ravager or Rockpounder for questing, Sword and Board for Tanking.
Level 51-60 IBS for everything, don't bother with a sword and board, and let the Prot start tanking :)
Level 60+ Respec or go get Hellreaver from Ramps or the axe from BF ASAP.
if you use sword n board and The Armory classifies you at Retribution...you fail.
no matter what level, you will not mitigate enough dmg to justify killing almost twice as slowly. there is just not enough talents in the Ret tree for survival and not enough for a decent 1H offense.
no matter what level, you will not mitigate enough dmg to justify killing almost twice as slowly. there is just not enough talents in the Ret tree for survival and not enough for a decent 1H offense.
Level using a 2H weapon. Very rarely will a 1H beat a 2H (Usually the 2H will not be as up-to-date as the 1H)
Get a 1H and a shield. Carry it with you while leveling. If you get invited into a group - you can tank any instance before outland without actually spec'ing tank. (BRD might be tough, but it can be done.)
What you might be seeing is:
1. Noobs who don't know
2. Tanks who just left a group
3. Rets getting ready to take on a group or "Red" enemy (Thought this is largely not needed either)
4. Someone who just re-spec'd ret because they realized it's faster than tank from 0-60 (i.e. that's the best wep they own)
Just my guess.
Get a 1H and a shield. Carry it with you while leveling. If you get invited into a group - you can tank any instance before outland without actually spec'ing tank. (BRD might be tough, but it can be done.)
What you might be seeing is:
1. Noobs who don't know
2. Tanks who just left a group
3. Rets getting ready to take on a group or "Red" enemy (Thought this is largely not needed either)
4. Someone who just re-spec'd ret because they realized it's faster than tank from 0-60 (i.e. that's the best wep they own)
Just my guess.
Quote:
Get a 1H and a shield. Carry it with you while leveling. If you get invited into a group - you can tank any instance before outland without actually spec'ing tank. (BRD might be tough, but it can be done.)
i was waiting for this suggestion to spring up(sorry). but you will not be able to hold aggro using a 1H in a leveling PUG. with everyone running their own leveling spec(sans threat reducers) and wanting to be the group's hero, you'll be lucky if you can keep your healer alive.
do your groups a favor...if you spec Ret, stay with the 2H and serve 30-40% of your groups dmg...you will tank regardless.
Most likely in a leveling PuG you won't be able hold aggro regardless of spec/gear. That's the nature of leveling in this game. Do your healer a favor and take what measures you need to survive first, then worry about your e-peen. If you can take the hits with a 2H, fine, nothing wrong with it. Just don't expect that to be the best way all the time (yes, even as Ret ...).
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