Leveling in wotlk?

[Broberg]

Hello people!
So iv'e been thinking now that ret seems useless mana way according to people (haven't tested it myself cause my internet keeps making me disconnect from wow) will prot be faster? Or will it be about the same speed?

Sorry if this has been posted before.

Peace, Broberg

[crabcrouton]

It doesn't take more than Judge + CS + DS and seal procs to kill things as Ret and JotW + Replenishment is enough mana regen for that.

People were only concerned about Ret's mana in PvP and boss fights. Leveling and 5 mans shouldn't be a problem.

[Jasari]

The ret nerfs won't affect leveling speed much at all. You won't be using any of the real mana draining abilities much at all besides the occasional flash of light. You might run around with 90% hp and 80% mana sometimes instead of never dropping below 99% on either.

PvP was the area that these nerfs targeted and it was by far the most effected aspect of the game for ret. The posts of apocalyptic proportions are mostly from PvPers or uninformed paladins who panic at the sign of any nerfs.

Ret will always be significantly faster for leveling than Prot. That's not to say Prot isn't a "viable" leveling spec, it's a hell of a lot better at questing than it was Pre 3.0. But if you're serious about getting to 80 the most efficient way possible, you'd be gimping yourself if you don't spec ret.

[Broberg]

ah I get it now:)

Thanks for answering >.>

[Spectrum]

I just want to add in that you have no mana issues when tanking as ret. The mana from judgements is enough to keep your main rotations going, and the mana from SA makes up the rest. It's still better mana than pre-3.0. You can still AE down the big packs (I did that with some of the scourge invasion mobs with me and a resto druid, pulling as many as I could) and you can easily knock those casters around that would normally piss off prot.

I'm going to be going ret and tanking.

[Liberation]

Hope no one minds if I interject a couple of questions in here. I'm planning to go ret until 75ish when I can get ShoR, then go to a DPS-oriented prot spec to start doing instances to get the gear I need in preparation for heroics and Naxx. This may change as I get to that point, but it seems like prot's solo and questing viability is pretty good now with the new changes.

So I was just wondering what specs others are going to level with? Ret or prot? Or maybe even holy?

And I was wondering if you guys think Reckoning is worth it for the pure white damage increase in a leveling setting. In its current form, I won't be speccing it in a serious prot build, but there doesn't seem like there will be a lot else DPS-wise in early prot to bump up my damage while leveling. Or do you guys think Seal of Righteousness would be preferable to level with instead of Vengeance/Corruption because things won't stay alive long enough to get the full benefit out of Vengeance. In that case, Reckoning is a little bit better.

I'm considering this spec from 75-80 until I can get ready for heroics. This isn't what I intend to go raid with, but I'm sure it should be sufficient to tank normal 5-mans while leveling start gearing up for the more important content.

http://wotlk.wowhead.com/?talent=sZ0xVAczgtcIoGoxf0x0G

Thanks for any advice!

[gibborim]

I'll be prot AoEing until the change in ratings values makes it inviable.

[Ryoku]

Will be leveling as prot all the way to 80.

[Ryu]

Leveling as Ret, as itll be alot faster. First guild Naxx run is on Sunday.

[EvilNuff]

I'll be prot AoEing until the change in ratings values makes it inviable.

The changes in Ret spec with 3.0 made it inviable already (relative to ret).

[guillex]

Leveling as Ret, as itll be alot faster. First guild Naxx run is on Sunday.

Ret in ret gear to 75.

75 -> 77/78 = Prot in Ret gear.

78 -> 80 = Prot in prot gear.

[majiben]

Leveling as Ret, as itll be alot faster. First guild Naxx run is on Sunday.

Ret in ret gear to 75.

75 -> 77/78 = Prot in Ret gear.

78 -> 80 = Prot in prot gear.

I like your style.

[Elsie]

71-80 ret in ret gear
71-80 ret in prot gear (instances, I don't trust other tanks).

[Shirak]

My wife and I will be leveling together, she has a holy priest...

I'll be staying Prot as our guild has 2-3 tanks, and I'll be needed to tank those instances.

Plus think of how many I can pull at once with a healer strapped to my back

[EvilNuff]

My wife and I will be leveling together, she has a holy priest...

I'll be staying Prot as our guild has 2-3 tanks, and I'll be needed to tank those instances.

Plus think of how many I can pull at once with a healer strapped to my back

Keep in mind the normal instances in wrath were designed to be tanked by tanks who were dps spec'd but wearing tank gear. I tanked several of them (UK, Nexus, ZD) as ret in beta with no real problems. I can pretty much see zero reason to spec prot before 80.