Protection Paladin Weapon and Shield

Jaska

Grandfathered
Hey guys, I'm debating whether the 33 ilvl artifact is better than https://www.wowhead.com/item=27901/blackout-truncheon?bonus=6710 + a shield with a socket slot?

I'm playing a protection paladin, stacking Talasite gems. Wondering which weapon combination is better in the long run (winning duels, tanking as much as possible in battlegrounds, being as useful as possible in PvP in general). I would definitely gain a lot of HP from the extra gems, but is it worth it, considering the loss of other stats + damage?

Also, I am F2P and I only have 2 relic quests left to get the epic proc. So it might be between 32 ilvl artifact and https://www.wowhead.com/item=27901/blackout-truncheon?bonus=6710 + a socketed shield.
 
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So what I would do, Compare the stats of the shield + trunch (with your gems of choice probably talasite) thats an additional 18 stam.
I have no idea how much stam you get from the artifact one but if its less stam, I think your option is pretty clear.

Plus you get a nifty haste proc, if you're into that sort of thing :p
 
So what I would do, Compare the stats of the shield + trunch (with your gems of choice probably talasite) thats an additional 18 stam.
I have no idea how much stam you get from the artifact one but if its less stam, I think your option is pretty clear.

Plus you get a nifty haste proc, if you're into that sort of thing :p

That's kind of the issue I'm facing. The mace has that haste proc instead of regular stats (stam+str+crit+haste and so on), hence I've no idea how to properly compare them.

I'm hoping to find someone that has tested both and has good reasoning for one over the other, if that makes sense.

Stat-wise, the artifact doesn't have anything special about it, str/stam + crit/mastery on both main hand and the shield. It's only the item level that puts it above other weapon and shield combinations, but the mace is different.
 
I mean, all other stats besides main (str/stam) get pretty nerfed in bgs si the crit/haste from the arti are probably negligible vs the stam that you're going to get

Exactly what I was thinking. But looking at armory links, I only found one or two paladins rolling this combo instead of artifact. I expected it to be way more common, especially on vets, since they can buy socketed shields with versatility.
 
One of the first items I got on the character. I think it's essential for PvP, especially when the goal is to make people target you.

The weapon and shield thing just keeps me wondering.
The prot pallys that have given me trouble are ones with rebuke and silencing avenger shield, it's a pain in the ass lol

Normally I'd say wep damage is king but idk. The haste proc is nice to reduce your cooldowns too. I think haste is still pretty important for tanks, after vers. As far as shield for shield, I think the talasite outweighs the ilvl 34 extra armor. Armor is pretty cut down when you scale to 29.
[doublepost=1619905301,1619905165][/doublepost]There's a shield off a rare outside AD that can proc socket, which might have vers... don't remember. It's a one shot chance, like bramble.
 
The prot pallys that have given me trouble are ones with rebuke and silencing avenger shield, it's a pain in the ass lol

Normally I'd say wep damage is king but idk. The haste proc is nice to reduce your cooldowns too. I think haste is still pretty important for tanks, after vers. As far as shield for shield, I think the talasite outweighs the ilvl 34 extra armor. Armor is pretty cut down when you scale to 29.
[doublepost=1619905301,1619905165][/doublepost]There's a shield off a rare outside AD that can proc socket, which might have vers... don't remember. It's a one shot chance, like bramble.

Thank you for your detailed response. You're thinking of https://www.wowhead.com/item=160978/golden-tomb-defender?bonus=6691, I'm definitely giving that shield a shot.

So from your experience, survivability + haste and gems outweigh the extra damage and stats from 33ilvl artifact?
 
Thank you for your detailed response. You're thinking of https://www.wowhead.com/item=160978/golden-tomb-defender?bonus=6691, I'm definitely giving that shield a shot.

So from your experience, survivability + haste and gems outweighs the extra damage and stats from 33ilvl artifact?
I haven't pvped with a tank in forever. I think get both and test. Those sockets def make it a strong contender. I think any extra mitigation will be pretty mute. More stamina vs wep damage, compare your crusader strikes to see if it's worth it, you might not loose much.
[doublepost=1619906111,1619905671][/doublepost]Another random thought, I'd probably run Minor Speed over Earthen Vitality to boots. The stat ones don't stack with ghost wolf (and I'm guessing Divine Stead as well). I'd take a faster gap closer over 3 stamina. You can pick that up elsewhere.
[doublepost=1619906294][/doublepost]Sorry another random thought lol you can get ilvl 25 shield from BfA greens that will have vers and socket. Need to farm on a level 23.
 
I have an ilvl 40 artifact for my prot spec, and the diff in armor between it and a 25 blue is 3.4% The block value (how much reduction your block gives) is about 10%. The block value is more impactful than the armor value by a bit, and I would not run the gems over my artifact, but my artifact is a 40 and not a 33. I suspect that the gems definitely could be worth it and I would not worry at all about the haste proc vs static secondary, You will use haste proc just fine.
 
I am pretty sure weapon damage also buffs your self healing but it might not be a big loss considering crusader is such a large buff anyway.
 
why would you play prot though? you can adopt the exact same playstyle by playing 1h+shield hpal, the only difference is that you don't take additional damage and have way more self-heals.

Do you even play prot pala?
 

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