Why this build
How the build works
This Retribution Paladin build follows the tree after the 30 Oct hotfix. The idea is unchanged from the guides written before it: stay mana-positive, hit hard with Seal of Command, and keep Judgement and Holy Strike rolling.
Mana comes from two talents. Benediction cuts the cost of all instant spells and abilities by 10%. Sanctified Judgement at 3/3 returns 60% of the judged Seal’s mana every time. Since Judgement no longer consumes your Seal, you can judge on every cooldown, and Improved Judgement takes 2 sec off it.
Damage comes from Seal of Command (extra Holy damage equal to 70% of weapon damage), Conviction (+6% crit with all spells and attacks), and Two-Handed Weapon Specialization (+6% physical damage, and 20% less threat). Sacred Arbiter adds 20% to Holy Strike and makes it refresh your Judgements on the target. Vengeance, the 21st point, gives +1% Physical and Holy damage for 30 sec after a crit, stacking three times.
Leveling tips
Benediction and Conviction cover levels 10 to 17. Improved Judgement opens row 3 so Seal of Command arrives at level 20, which is when you should be swinging a slow two-hander. Before that, or with a fast weapon, use Seal of Righteousness. Pursuit of Justice adds 15% movement speed at 2/2, which helps a lot before you have a mount.
On a dangerous mob, stun it with Hammer of Justice and then judge Seal of Command; that Judgement deals roughly double damage against stunned targets. Use Consecration on packs once you learn it at 20.
Changes in WoW Forever
Retribution was reshaped twice before launch. The 30 Oct hotfix moved Holy Conduit into Holy, cut Conviction to 3 ranks but made it cover all spells and attacks, gave Champion of the Light 5 ranks, and changed Two-Handed Weapon Specialization to boost all physical damage. Turn Evil is new, Instrument of Law is gone, and Twist of Light became Unsealed Wrath, a row 7 talent that stores copies of your Seal on each swing. These Paladin talents are new enough that few players have tested them in practice.
Toward level 60
Provisional, and low confidence: all published level 60 builds predate the hotfix. The general direction is to finish Retribution with Champion of the Light and Unsealed Wrath, then put spare points into Holy for Divine Strength and Improved Seals.