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Lightsmith Protection Paladin Mythic+ PvE Guide for Midnight Pre-Season

Welcome to Murlok’s Lightsmith Protection Paladin PvE guide for Mythic+ Dungeons in World of Warcraft: Midnight Pre-Season.

Built using real‑time data from the top 50 Lightsmith Protection Paladin Tanks across the US, EU, KR, and TW regions, this guide highlights the optimal stats, talents, gear, embellishments, enchantments, gems, and races used in Patch 12.0 competitive M+.

Data is refreshed every 8 hours via Blizzard’s Battle.net API to ensure accuracy and up-to-date insights.

Top Mythic+ Lightsmith Protection Paladins

  1. Selectx's icon
    1
    Selectx
    Azshara (KR)
    Dwarf | Lightsmith | 235 ilvl
    4360
  2. Стоуфилд's icon
    2
    Стоуфилд
    Gordunni (EU)
    Human | Lightsmith | 242 ilvl
    4256
  3. Диминишир's icon
    3
    Диминишир
    Gordunni (EU)
    Dwarf | Lightsmith | 240 ilvl
    4222
  4. Эгоистпал's icon
    4
    Эгоистпал
    Gordunni (EU)
    Lightforged Draenei | Lightsmith | 237 ilvl
    4213
  5. 캐빈데브라이너's icon
    5
    캐빈데브라이너
    Azshara (KR)
    Dwarf | Lightsmith | 238 ilvl
    4203

Stat Priority

Stats directly affect a Protection Paladin's Tank performance, appearing on gear, consumables, enchantments, and gems.

They have diminishing returns after reaching +20% from gear, so proper balance ensures the best results.

Optimal Secondary Stats

  • 19% Critical Strike +464
  • 16% Haste +471
  • 21% Mastery +419
  • 4% Versatility +234

Stat priority

  1. Haste
  2. Critical Strike
  3. Mastery
  4. Versatility

Additional Minor Stats

  • 0% Avoidance +15
  • 1% Leech +37
  • 1% Speed +0

Stat priority

  1. Leech
  2. Avoidance
  3. Speed

Talent Build

Talents play a major role in Mythic+ Dungeons. The heatmaps below show how frequently each talent is selected among the top Lightsmith Protection Paladins.

  1. Most used talents, strongly recommended!
  2. Frequently used talents, offer flexibility or suit personal preference.
  3. Rarely used talents, usually chosen to unlock deeper rows in the tree.

Best-in-Slot Gear for Mythic+

Gear provides core stat bonuses and typically comes from the Great Vault, crafted items, raids, dungeons, Delves, or PvP vendors.

These items are most frequently used by top-ranked Protection Paladins in Mythic+ Dungeons.

Head

  1. Silvermoon Suncrest

    • 37
    Silvermoon Suncrest icon

  2. Greathelm of Temptation

    • 4
    Greathelm of Temptation icon

  3. Fletcher's Faded Faceplate

    • 3
    Fletcher's Faded Faceplate icon

  4. Steelbark Casque

    • 2
    Steelbark Casque icon

  5. Tarnished Dawnlit Commander's Helmet

    • 2
    Tarnished Dawnlit Commander's Helmet icon

Neck

  1. Amani Heartstring Pendant

    • 34
    Amani Heartstring Pendant icon

  2. Yoke of the Charging Bear

    • 5
    Yoke of the Charging Bear icon

  3. Pendant of Aching Grief

    • 4
    Pendant of Aching Grief icon

  4. Pendant of Malefic Fury

    • 4
    Pendant of Malefic Fury icon

  5. Graft of the Domanaar

    • 2
    Graft of the Domanaar icon

Shoulders

  1. Amalgamation's Harness

    • 11
    Amalgamation's Harness icon

  2. Steelbark Shoulderguards

    • 11
    Steelbark Shoulderguards icon

  3. Searing Spaulders

    • 10
    Searing Spaulders icon

  4. Cinderfury Shoulderguards

    • 8
    Cinderfury Shoulderguards icon

  5. Blood-Tempered Pauldrons

    • 4
    Blood-Tempered Pauldrons icon

Back

  1. Defiant Defender's Drape

    • 11
    Defiant Defender's Drape icon

  2. Deepvine Shroud

    • 7
    Deepvine Shroud icon

  3. Bloodthorn Burnous

    • 6
    Bloodthorn Burnous icon

  4. Fluxweave Cloak

    • 4
    Fluxweave Cloak icon

  5. Soulhunter's Mask

    • 4
    Soulhunter's Mask icon

Chest

  1. Arcane Guardian's Shell

    • 13
    Arcane Guardian's Shell icon

  2. Sentinel Challenger's Prize

    • 10
    Sentinel Challenger's Prize icon

  3. Steelbark Chestguard

    • 8
    Steelbark Chestguard icon

  4. Taproot Ribs

    • 7
    Taproot Ribs icon

  5. Tarnished Dawnlit Commander's Breastplate

    • 3
    Tarnished Dawnlit Commander's Breastplate icon

Wrist

  1. Trollhunter's Bands

    • 19
    Trollhunter's Bands icon

  2. Steelbark Vambraces

    • 9
    Steelbark Vambraces icon

  3. Overseer's Vambraces

    • 8
    Overseer's Vambraces icon

  4. Kasreth's Bindings

    • 6
    Kasreth's Bindings icon

  5. Tarnished Dawnlit Commander's Armplates

    • 2
    Tarnished Dawnlit Commander's Armplates icon

Hands

  1. Embergrove Grasps

    • 16
    Embergrove Grasps icon

  2. Steelbark Gauntlets

    • 8
    Steelbark Gauntlets icon

  3. Despondent's Gauntlets

    • 7
    Despondent's Gauntlets icon

  4. Thornspike Gauntlets

    • 7
    Thornspike Gauntlets icon

  5. Bonds of the Hash'ura

    • 4
    Bonds of the Hash'ura icon

Waist

  1. Hara'ti Defender's Greatbelt

    • 24
    Hara'ti Defender's Greatbelt icon

  2. Riphook Defender

    • 15
    Riphook Defender icon

  3. Shadowsplit Girdle

    • 4
    Shadowsplit Girdle icon

  4. Steelbark Girdle

    • 3
    Steelbark Girdle icon

  5. Autumn's Boon Belt

    • 2
    Autumn's Boon Belt icon

Legs

  1. Legplates of Lingering Dusk

    • 15
    Legplates of Lingering Dusk icon

  2. Bedrock Breeches

    • 14
    Bedrock Breeches icon

  3. Lightscarred Cuisses

    • 7
    Lightscarred Cuisses icon

  4. Steelbark Greaves

    • 6
    Steelbark Greaves icon

  5. Blood-Tempered Leggings

    • Craft
    • 2
    Blood-Tempered Leggings icon

Feet

  1. Footwraps of Ill-Fate

    • 12
    Footwraps of Ill-Fate icon

  2. Oathsworn Stompers

    • 11
    Oathsworn Stompers icon

  3. Sabatons of Furious Revenge

    • 9
    Sabatons of Furious Revenge icon

  4. Steelbark Sabatons

    • 9
    Steelbark Sabatons icon

  5. Galactic Warmonger's Sabatons

    • Set
    • 4
    Galactic Warmonger's Sabatons icon

Rings

  1. Omission of Light

    • Set
    • 12
    Omission of Light icon

  2. Occlusion of Void

    • Set
    • 11
    Occlusion of Void icon

  3. Sickening Signet of Atroxus

    • 10
    Sickening Signet of Atroxus icon

  4. Bifurcation Band

    • 8
    Bifurcation Band icon

  5. Forest Hunter's Hoop

    • 8
    Forest Hunter's Hoop icon

Trinkets

  1. Crucible of Erratic Energies

    • 36
    Crucible of Erratic Energies icon

  2. Heart of Wind

    • 10
    Heart of Wind icon

  3. Permafrost Essence

    • 8
    Permafrost Essence icon

  4. Manaheart's Binding Flame

    • 6
    Manaheart's Binding Flame icon

  5. Resonant Bellowstone

    • 5
    Resonant Bellowstone icon

Main Hand

  1. Taz'Rah's Cosmic Edge

    • 9
    Taz'Rah's Cosmic Edge icon

  2. Malfeasance Mallet

    • 8
    Malfeasance Mallet icon

  3. Viridescent Crusher

    • 5
    Viridescent Crusher icon

  4. Spellbreaker's Blade

    • Craft
    • 4
    Spellbreaker's Blade icon

  5. Thornwood Slasher

    • 4
    Thornwood Slasher icon

Off Hand

  1. Ironvine Bulwark

    • 12
    Ironvine Bulwark icon

  2. Preyseeker's Tower Shield

    • 10
    Preyseeker's Tower Shield icon

  3. Tempest's Shelter

    • 5
    Tempest's Shelter icon

  4. Ward of the Spellbreaker

    • 5
    Ward of the Spellbreaker icon

  5. Reflux Reflector

    • 4
    Reflux Reflector icon

Embellishments

Embellishments add special effects to crafted gear. Only two can be equipped, so selection is important.

The following embellishments are the most commonly used by high-rated Protection Paladins.

  1. Devouring Banding

    • 5
    Spellbreaker's Blade icon

  2. Arcanoweave Lining

    • 1
    Blood-Tempered Leggings icon

  3. Dawnthread Lining

    • 1
    Everforged Vambraces icon

Enchantments

Enchantments enhance gear with additional stats or special procs. Most are crafted by Enchanters, leg enchants come from Leatherworkers, and some slot-specific options appear through seasonal content.

These are the top enchantments for Protection Paladin gear in Mythic+ Dungeons during Midnight Pre-Season.

Head

  1. Enchant Helm - Hex of Leeching

    • 3
    Enchant Helm - Hex of Leeching icon

  2. Enchant Helm - Hex of Leeching

    • 3
    Enchant Helm - Hex of Leeching icon

  3. Enchant Helm - Blessing of Speed

    • 2
    Enchant Helm - Blessing of Speed icon

Shoulders

  1. Enchant Shoulders - Thalassian Recovery

    • 5
    Enchant Shoulders - Thalassian Recovery icon

  2. Enchant Shoulders - Nature's Grace

    • 2
    Enchant Shoulders - Nature's Grace icon

  3. Enchant Shoulders - Thalassian Recovery

    • 2
    Enchant Shoulders - Thalassian Recovery icon

Back

  1. Chant of Leeching Fangs

    • 3
    Chant of Leeching Fangs icon

Chest

  1. Crystalline Radiance

    • 2
    Crystalline Radiance icon

  2. Enchant Chest - Mark of the Worldsoul

    • 1
    Enchant Chest - Mark of the Worldsoul icon

Wrist

  1. +43 Leech

    • 2
    +43 Leech icon

Legs

  1. Forest Hunter's Armor Kit

    • 2
    Forest Hunter's Armor Kit icon

  2. Thalassian Scout Armor Kit

    • 2
    Thalassian Scout Armor Kit icon

  3. Defender's Armor Kit

    • 1
    Defender's Armor Kit icon

Feet

  1. Defender's March

    • 1
    Defender's March icon

Rings

  1. Enchant Ring - Thalassian Haste

    • 14
    Enchant Ring - Thalassian Haste icon

  2. Enchant Ring - Nature's Wrath

    • 4
    Enchant Ring - Nature's Wrath icon

  3. +21 Mastery

    • 2
    +21 Mastery icon

Main Hand

  1. Enchant Weapon - Worldsoul Aegis

    • 3
    Enchant Weapon - Worldsoul Aegis icon

  2. Council's Guile

    • 1
    Council's Guile icon

  3. Enchant Weapon - Acuity of the Ren'dorei

    • 1
    Enchant Weapon - Acuity of the Ren'dorei icon

Gems

Gems provide focused secondary stat bonuses to help fine‑tune builds. They are crafted by Jewelcrafters and socketed into gear.

Sockets can be added to Necklaces and Rings with the Magnificent Jeweler's Setting , or to other gear through seasonal vendor items.

These are the most popular gems among top‑rated Protection Paladins in Mythic+ Dungeons.

Algari Diamond

  1. Elusive Blasphemite

    • 2
    Elusive Blasphemite icon

  2. Culminating Blasphemite

    • 1
    Culminating Blasphemite icon

Fiber

  1. Pure Chronomantic Fiber

    • 1
    Pure Chronomantic Fiber icon

  2. Pure Energizing Fiber

    • 1
    Pure Energizing Fiber icon

  3. Pure Precise Fiber

    • 1
    Pure Precise Fiber icon

Prismatic

    • 114

  2. Versatile Peridot

    • 9
    Versatile Peridot icon

  3. Masterful Emerald

    • 5
    Masterful Emerald icon

  4. Quick Emerald

    • 5
    Quick Emerald icon

  5. Quick Ruby

    • 3
    Quick Ruby icon

Most Played Races for Protection Paladin M+

Racial traits can provide noticeable advantages in PvE, giving a competitive edge in Mythic+ Dungeons.

These are the most commonly chosen races among top‑rated Protection Paladin Tank players in Midnight Pre-Season.

  1. Dwarf

    • 23
    Dwarf icon

  2. Blood Elf

    • 13
    Blood Elf icon

  3. Human

    • 5
    Human icon

  4. Tauren

    • 3
    Tauren icon

  5. Lightforged Draenei

    • 2
    Lightforged Draenei icon

Lightsmith Protection Paladin Guide FAQ

Here are answers to common questions about how this guide is built and how to interpret the data.

How is this Mythic+ PvE guide created?

This guide compiles live data from the top Lightsmith Protection Paladins in Mythic+ Dungeons using Blizzard’s Battle.net API .

How often is the information updated?

Data updates every 8 hours.

Why is this guide valuable?

The guide provides real-time build insights, showing exactly what high-ranking players are currently using, helping you make informed decisions for your character.

Is this guide current?

Yes. The guide always reflects the latest information for Midnight Pre-Season and Patch 12.0.

Is this guide suitable for beginners?

Yes. Beginners can easily identify current trends and optimal setups. However, it does not provide gameplay tutorials.

Why isn’t my character listed in the top rankings?

Reasons may include inactivity, falling below the minimum rating threshold, frequent spec changes, or gear not optimized for PvE.