Paladin leveling guide: Retribution 1-60
Retribution with a two-handed weapon is the standard way to level a paladin. It is not the fastest class to level, but it is the hardest to kill: plate later, self-healing and a full immunity bubble. New to the class? Read the paladin overview first.
The build
| Talent split | Holy 11 / Retribution 40 |
| Weapon | A slow two-handed weapon |
| Stats | Strength, Stamina, some Intellect |
| Calculator | Open this build in the talent calculator |
This order is checked against the Forever talent trees. The Retribution tree in Forever ends in 
Repentance rather than the original game’s capstone, and 
Vengeance now boosts Holy damage too.
Talent order
One point per level from 10.
| Levels | Talent | Tree | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10-14 |  Benediction |
Retribution | 5/5 |
| 15-16 |  Improved Judgement |
Retribution | 2/2 |
| 17-19 |  Improved Seal of the Crusader |
Retribution | 3/3 |
| 20 |  Seal of Command |
Retribution | 1/1 |
| 21-25 |  Conviction |
Retribution | 5/5 |
| 26-27 |  Pursuit of Justice |
Retribution | 2/2 |
| 28-29 |  Eye for an Eye |
Retribution | 2/2 |
| 30-32 |  Two-Handed Weapon Specialization |
Retribution | 3/3 |
| 33 |  Sanctity Aura |
Retribution | 1/1 |
| 34 |  Vindication |
Retribution | 1/3 |
| 35-39 | Vengeance |
Retribution | 5/5 |
| 40 | Repentance |
Retribution | 1/1 |
| 41-45 |  Divine Strength |
Holy | 5/5 |
| 46-50 |  Divine Intellect |
Holy | 5/5 |
| 51 |  Consecration |
Holy | 1/1 |
| 52-53 | Vindication |
Retribution | 3/3 |
| 54-55 |  Improved Retribution Aura |
Retribution | 2/2 |
| 56-60 |  Improved Blessing of Might |
Retribution | 5/5 |
Why this order. Benediction first makes every seal and judgement cheaper, which is most of your mana use while leveling. Improved Judgement and Improved Seal of the Crusader speed up kills. Seal of Command at 20 is your main seal for a slow weapon. Conviction leads into Vengeance, the biggest damage talent of the tree. After Repentance, Divine Strength and Divine Intellect from Holy add Strength and mana, and Consecration at 51 gives you an area attack. The last points return to Retribution.
Abilities by level
Levels are from the Forever client.
| Level | Ability |
|---|---|
| 1 |  Devotion Aura |
| 1 |  Holy Light |
| 1 |  Seal of Righteousness |
| 4 | Blessing of Might |
| 4 | Judgement |
| 6 |  Divine Protection |
| 6 | Seal of the Crusader |
| 8 |  Hammer of Justice |
| 8 |  Purify |
| 10 |  Lay on Hands |
| 16 | Retribution Aura |
| 20 |  Exorcism |
| 20 | Seal of Command |
| 34 |  Divine Shield |
| 42 |  Cleanse |
| 44 |  Hammer of Wrath |
Level by level
1 to 10. Seal of Righteousness, Judgement when it is ready, and a new seal. Devotion Aura on, Blessing of Might on yourself. Heal with Holy Light between fights instead of eating.
10 to 20. Lay on Hands at 10 is your emergency button. Hammer of Justice stuns a runner or a caster. Seal of the Crusader before the first Judgement increases damage. Retribution Aura at 16 punishes enemies that hit you.
20 to 30. Seal of Command and a slow two-hander are where Retribution starts to feel good. Exorcism is strong against undead and demons. Purify removes poisons and diseases you pick up.
30 to 40. Divine Shield at 34: a few seconds of immunity that save almost any bad pull. Vengeance and Repentance arrive in this range. Plate at 40.
40 to 60. Cleanse at 42 removes magic as well. Hammer of Wrath at 44 finishes low-health enemies from range. With Consecration you can take on two or three enemies at once.
Tips
- Keep your mana for seals and judgement; heal between fights, not during, unless you have to.
- Bubble, then heal: Divine Shield plus Holy Light turns a lost fight into a won one.
- Groups will want you to heal. Keep a few pieces of Intellect gear in your bags for dungeon runs.
The talent order and ability levels come from the Forever client files (build 1.60.1.70790); the advice per level follows the original game and will be checked in Forever.