Hey guys! Leveling up your Retribution Paladin in Wrath of the Lich King (WotLK) and want to maximize your damage and simplify your rotation? Macros are the answer! They can streamline your gameplay, making it easier to execute complex actions and react quickly in both PvE and PvP situations. This guide will walk you through some essential Retribution Paladin macros that will significantly enhance your performance. Let's dive in!

Why Use Macros as a Retribution Paladin?

Before we get into the specifics, let's discuss why macros are so valuable for Retribution Paladins in WotLK. Retribution Paladins have a toolkit filled with abilities that can be used in various situations. Macros allow you to combine these abilities, target specific players, and react more efficiently to the chaos of combat. By using macros, you can:

• Improve Reaction Time: Execute abilities faster by combining multiple actions into a single button press.
• Simplify Rotations: Streamline your rotation by creating macros that handle cooldown management and priority abilities.
• Enhance Targeting: Quickly target specific enemies or allies without losing your current target.
• Reduce Clutter: Condense multiple abilities into fewer keybinds, freeing up space on your action bars.

In essence, macros allow you to play your Retribution Paladin more effectively and efficiently, leading to higher DPS, better survivability, and a more enjoyable gaming experience. Now, let's explore some essential macros that every Retribution Paladin should have.

Essential Retribution Paladin Macros

1. Crusader Strike and Judgement Macro

This macro combines Crusader Strike and Judgement into a single button, prioritizing Crusader Strike when it's available and casting Judgement when it's not. This is a great way to simplify your basic rotation.

#showtooltip
/castsequence reset=combat Crusader Strike, Judgement

Explanation:

• #showtooltip: This line displays the icon and tooltip for the ability that will be cast next.
• /castsequence: This command executes a sequence of spells in order.
• reset=combat: This resets the sequence when you enter or leave combat, ensuring that the macro always starts with Crusader Strike.
• Crusader Strike, Judgement: This specifies the sequence of spells to cast. It will cast Crusader Strike first, and if it's on cooldown, it will cast Judgement.

This macro is a fundamental building block for any Retribution Paladin. It ensures that you are always using one of your core abilities, maximizing your damage output. By prioritizing Crusader Strike, you take advantage of its higher damage potential while still ensuring that Judgement is used when Crusader Strike is unavailable. This simple macro can significantly improve your overall DPS by streamlining your rotation and reducing the chances of downtime between abilities.

2. Hammer of Wrath Macro with Divine Storm

This macro prioritizes Hammer of Wrath when the target is below 20% health and casts Divine Storm otherwise. This is useful for maximizing damage during the execute phase.

#showtooltip
/cast [target=mouseover,exists,harm,nodead] Hammer of Wrath; [exists,harm,nodead,health=20] Hammer of Wrath; Divine Storm

Explanation:

• #showtooltip: Displays the icon and tooltip for the ability that will be cast.
• /cast: This command casts a spell.
• [target=mouseover,exists,harm,nodead]: This conditional checks if there is a valid hostile target under your mouse cursor and casts Hammer of Wrath on it.
• [exists,harm,nodead,health=20]: This conditional checks if the target is below 20% health and casts Hammer of Wrath.
• Divine Storm: If neither of the above conditions are met, it casts Divine Storm.

Having a well-optimized execute phase is crucial for maximizing your DPS as a Retribution Paladin. This macro ensures that you are always using Hammer of Wrath when the target is near death, taking full advantage of its increased damage. The inclusion of the mouseover functionality also allows you to quickly target low-health enemies without interrupting your current rotation. Divine Storm serves as your primary AoE ability and is cast when Hammer of Wrath is not available, making this macro a versatile tool for both single-target and multi-target encounters.

3. Divine Shield and Cancel Aura Macro

This macro casts Divine Shield to protect you from incoming damage and then cancels the aura if you need to resume attacking. This is essential for survivability in both PvE and PvP.

#showtooltip Divine Shield
/cast Divine Shield
/cancelaura Divine Shield

Explanation:

• #showtooltip Divine Shield: Displays the icon and tooltip for Divine Shield.
• /cast Divine Shield: This casts Divine Shield, making you immune to most forms of damage for a short duration.
• /cancelaura Divine Shield: This cancels the Divine Shield effect, allowing you to resume attacking sooner if necessary.

Divine Shield is a powerful defensive cooldown that can save your life in many situations. However, its long duration can sometimes be a hindrance, especially if you need to resume attacking quickly. This macro allows you to use Divine Shield to mitigate damage and then immediately cancel it, ensuring that you are not wasting valuable time being unable to attack. This is particularly useful in PvP, where every second counts, and in PvE encounters with specific mechanics that require you to quickly resume DPS after mitigating a burst of damage.

4. Hand of Protection Macro

This macro casts Hand of Protection on a targeted ally or yourself if no ally is targeted, shielding them from physical damage. It’s useful for saving a teammate from a deadly physical attack or for personal survivability.

#showtooltip Hand of Protection
/cast [help,nodead] Hand of Protection; [target=player] Hand of Protection

Explanation:

• #showtooltip Hand of Protection: Shows the icon and tooltip for Hand of Protection.
• /cast [help,nodead] Hand of Protection: Casts Hand of Protection on a friendly, living target.
• [target=player] Hand of Protection: If no friendly target is selected, it casts Hand of Protection on yourself.

Hand of Protection is an invaluable tool for protecting yourself and your allies from physical damage. This macro makes it easy to quickly apply Hand of Protection to a targeted ally or, if no ally is targeted, to yourself. This can be a lifesaver in situations where a teammate is taking heavy physical damage or when you need to mitigate a physical attack yourself. The ability to quickly apply Hand of Protection without having to switch targets or search for the spell on your action bars can significantly improve your reaction time and your ability to support your team.

5. Cleanse Macro

This macro casts Cleanse on a friendly target or yourself if no friendly target is selected, removing harmful magical effects, diseases, and poisons. It's an essential tool for supporting your group.

#showtooltip Cleanse
/cast [help,nodead] Cleanse; [target=player] Cleanse

Explanation:

• #showtooltip Cleanse: Displays the icon and tooltip for Cleanse.
• /cast [help,nodead] Cleanse: Casts Cleanse on a friendly, living target.
• [target=player] Cleanse: If no friendly target is selected, it casts Cleanse on yourself.

As a Retribution Paladin, you have access to powerful support abilities, and Cleanse is one of the most important. This macro allows you to quickly remove harmful magical effects, diseases, and poisons from your allies or yourself. This can be crucial in many encounters where these effects can significantly reduce your group's effectiveness or even lead to death. By using this macro, you can quickly react to these situations and ensure that your team stays healthy and ready to fight. The ability to cast Cleanse on yourself when no friendly target is selected also ensures that you can quickly remove harmful effects from yourself without having to switch targets or search for the spell on your action bars.

6. Avenging Wrath and Trinket Macro

This macro combines Avenging Wrath with your on-use trinkets to maximize burst damage. Replace “Trinket Slot” with the appropriate slot number (13 or 14).

#showtooltip Avenging Wrath
/cast Avenging Wrath
/use Trinket Slot

Explanation:

• #showtooltip Avenging Wrath: Displays the icon and tooltip for Avenging Wrath.
• /cast Avenging Wrath: Activates Avenging Wrath, increasing your damage output.
• /use Trinket Slot: Uses the trinket in the specified slot. Replace “Trinket Slot” with either 13 (for the top trinket slot) or 14 (for the bottom trinket slot).

Avenging Wrath is a major cooldown that significantly increases your damage output. Combining it with your on-use trinkets allows you to maximize your burst damage potential, making it easier to take down enemies quickly or deal significant damage during crucial phases of a fight. This macro ensures that you are always using your cooldowns together, maximizing their effectiveness. Remember to replace “Trinket Slot” with the correct slot number for your trinket to ensure that the macro works correctly.

General Tips for Using Macros

• Test Your Macros: Always test your macros on a training dummy or in a low-stakes environment before using them in a raid or PvP situation. This will help you ensure that they are working correctly and that you are comfortable using them.
• Customize Your Macros: Feel free to customize these macros to better suit your playstyle and preferences. You can add additional abilities, change the order of spells, or add conditional statements to make them even more versatile.
• Keep Your Macros Organized: Use a macro management addon or a notepad to keep track of your macros and their functions. This will make it easier to find and edit them when needed.
• Understand Your Abilities: Macros are a tool to enhance your gameplay, but they are not a substitute for understanding your abilities and how they work. Make sure you have a solid understanding of your class and its abilities before relying heavily on macros.

Conclusion

Macros are a powerful tool for Retribution Paladins in WotLK. By using the macros outlined in this guide, you can simplify your rotation, improve your reaction time, and maximize your damage output. Experiment with these macros, customize them to your liking, and watch your performance soar. Good luck, and have fun smiting your enemies!