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Protection Paladin Mythic+ PvE Guide for Midnight Pre-Patch

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

Built using real‑time data from the top 50 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+ Protection Paladins

  1. Dirtdonut's icon
    1
    Dirtdonut
    Sargeras (US)
    Earthen | Templar | 165 ilvl
    5689
  2. Frogkisser's icon
    2
    Frogkisser
    Frostmourne (US)
    Dwarf | Lightsmith | 169 ilvl
    3974
  3. Hellomouto's icon
    3
    Hellomouto
    Azralon (US)
    Dwarf | Lightsmith | 170 ilvl
    3956
  4. Yodafotm's icon
    4
    Yodafotm
    Illidan (US)
    Dwarf | Lightsmith | 169 ilvl
    3954
  5. Hixyn's icon
    5
    Hixyn
    Lightnings Blade (US)
    Dwarf | Lightsmith | 170 ilvl
    3922

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

  • 48% Critical Strike +481
  • 41% Haste +410
  • 30% Mastery +224
  • 7% Versatility +104

Stat priority

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

Additional Minor Stats

  • 2% Avoidance +22
  • 9% Leech +172
  • 6% 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 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. Lightmane of the Lucent Battalion

    • Set
    • 41
    Lightmane of the Lucent Battalion icon

  2. Crown of Absolute Command

    • 5
    Crown of Absolute Command icon

  3. Soaring Behemoth's Greathelm

    • 2
    Soaring Behemoth's Greathelm icon

  4. Bone-Melted Faceplate

    • 1
    Bone-Melted Faceplate icon

  5. Wing Commander's Helmet

    • 1
    Wing Commander's Helmet icon

Neck

  1. Amulet of Earthen Craftsmanship

    • 25
    Amulet of Earthen Craftsmanship icon

  2. Ornately Engraved Amplifier

    • 8
    Ornately Engraved Amplifier icon

  3. Sin Stained Pendant

    • 6
    Sin Stained Pendant icon

  4. Cabochon of the Infinite Flight

    • 5
    Cabochon of the Infinite Flight icon

  5. Bloodstained Memento

    • 1
    Bloodstained Memento icon

Shoulders

  1. Chargers of the Lucent Battalion

    • Set
    • 43
    Chargers of the Lucent Battalion icon

  2. Stoneflesh Spaulders

    • 3
    Stoneflesh Spaulders icon

  3. Beacons of False Righteousness

    • 2
    Beacons of False Righteousness icon

  4. Everforged Pauldrons

    • 1
    Everforged Pauldrons icon

  5. Swarm Monarch's Spaulders

    • 1
    Swarm Monarch's Spaulders icon

Back

  1. Reshii Wraps

    • 50
    Reshii Wraps icon

Chest

  1. Cuirass of the Lucent Battalion

    • Set
    • 48
    Cuirass of the Lucent Battalion icon

  2. Breastplate of Otherworldly Influence

    • 1
    Breastplate of Otherworldly Influence icon

  3. Everforged Breastplate

    • 1
    Everforged Breastplate icon

Wrist

  1. Everforged Vambraces

    • 36
    Everforged Vambraces icon

  2. Vambraces of Verification

    • 6
    Vambraces of Verification icon

  3. Discarded Nutrient Shackles

    • 3
    Discarded Nutrient Shackles icon

  4. Flameforged Armguard

    • 3
    Flameforged Armguard icon

  5. Eco-Dome Access Bands

    • 1
    Eco-Dome Access Bands icon

Hands

  1. Protectors of the Lucent Battalion

    • Set
    • 49
    Protectors of the Lucent Battalion icon

  2. Breached Containment Guards

    • 1
    Breached Containment Guards icon

Waist

  1. Everforged Greatbelt

    • 31
    Everforged Greatbelt icon

  2. Seal of the Lucent Battalion

    • 12
    Seal of the Lucent Battalion icon

  3. Fresh Ethereal Fetters

    • 2
    Fresh Ethereal Fetters icon

  4. Girdle of Somber Ploys

    • 2
    Girdle of Somber Ploys icon

  5. Venture Contractor's Floodlight

    • 2
    Venture Contractor's Floodlight icon

Legs

  1. Cuisses of the Lucent Battalion

    • Set
    • 47
    Cuisses of the Lucent Battalion icon

  2. Quantum Leapers

    • 2
    Quantum Leapers icon

  3. Shrapnel-Fused Legguards

    • 1
    Shrapnel-Fused Legguards icon

Feet

  1. Interloper's Plated Sabatons

    • 43
    Interloper's Plated Sabatons icon

  2. Implacable Weatherproof Treads

    • 4
    Implacable Weatherproof Treads icon

  3. Everforged Sabatons

    • 1
    Everforged Sabatons icon

  4. Sterilized Expulsion Boots

    • 1
    Sterilized Expulsion Boots icon

  5. Stompers of the Lucent Battalion

    • 1
    Stompers of the Lucent Battalion icon

Rings

  1. Ring of Earthen Craftsmanship

    • 30
    Ring of Earthen Craftsmanship icon

  2. Devout Zealot's Ring

    • 17
    Devout Zealot's Ring icon

  3. Logic Gate: Alpha

    • 13
    Logic Gate: Alpha icon

  4. Ring of the Panoply

    • 11
    Ring of the Panoply icon

  5. Whispers of K'aresh

    • 7
    Whispers of K'aresh icon

Trinkets

  1. Brand of Ceaseless Ire

    • 48
    Brand of Ceaseless Ire icon

  2. Astral Antenna

    • 22
    Astral Antenna icon

  3. Improvised Seaforium Pacemaker

    • 11
    Improvised Seaforium Pacemaker icon

  4. All-Devouring Nucleus

    • 6
    All-Devouring Nucleus icon

  5. Tome of Light's Devotion

    • 4
    Tome of Light's Devotion icon

Main Hand

  1. Blade of Grievous Harm

    • 17
    Blade of Grievous Harm icon

  2. Everforged Longsword

    • Craft
    • 12
    Everforged Longsword icon

  3. Factory-Issue Plexhammer

    • 12
    Factory-Issue Plexhammer icon

  4. Shipwrecker's Bludgeon

    • 4
    Shipwrecker's Bludgeon icon

  5. Mandibular Bonewhacker

    • 2
    Mandibular Bonewhacker icon

Off Hand

  1. Ward of the Weaving-Beast

    • 14
    Ward of the Weaving-Beast icon

  2. Everforged Defender

    • Craft
    • 13
    Everforged Defender icon

  3. Starlit Safeguard

    • 8
    Starlit Safeguard icon

  4. Sanctified Priory Wall

    • 7
    Sanctified Priory Wall icon

  5. Package Protector

    • 6
    Package Protector 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. Dawnthread Lining

    • 57
    Everforged Vambraces icon

  2. Elemental Focusing Lens

    • 9
    Amulet of Earthen Craftsmanship icon

  3. Writhing Armor Banding

    • 6
    Everforged Greatbelt icon

  4. Ascendance

    • 5
    Everforged Longsword icon

  5. Bind Binding Of Binding

    • 3
    Binding of Binding 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-Patch.

Head

  1. Incandescent Essence

    • 1
    Incandescent Essence icon

Neck

  1. Enchant Neck - Mark of the Claw

    • 1
    Enchant Neck - Mark of the Claw icon

Shoulders

  1. Greater Tiger Fang Inscription

    • 1
    Greater Tiger Fang Inscription icon

Back

  1. Chant of Leeching Fangs

    • 39
    Chant of Leeching Fangs icon

  2. Chant of Winged Grace

    • 7
    Chant of Winged Grace icon

  3. Chant of Burrowing Rapidity

    • 2
    Chant of Burrowing Rapidity icon

Chest

  1. Crystalline Radiance

    • 47
    Crystalline Radiance icon

  2. Council's Intellect

    • 1
    Council's Intellect icon

Wrist

  1. +135 Leech

    • 41
    +135 Leech icon

  2. +72 Avoidance

    • 5
    +72 Avoidance icon

  3. +66 Speed

    • 2
    +66 Speed icon

Hands

  1. Enchant Gloves - Mighty Strength

    • 1
    Enchant Gloves - Mighty Strength icon

Waist

  1. Shadowed Belt Clasp

    • 1
    Shadowed Belt Clasp icon

Legs

  1. Stormbound Armor Kit

    • 42
    Stormbound Armor Kit icon

  2. Defender's Armor Kit

    • 4
    Defender's Armor Kit icon

  3. Daybreak Spellthread

    • 1
    Daybreak Spellthread icon

Feet

  1. Defender's March

    • 29
    Defender's March icon

  2. Scout's March

    • 17
    Scout's March icon

Rings

  1. +21 Critical Strike

    • 37
    +21 Critical Strike icon

  2. +21 Haste

    • 24
    +21 Haste icon

  3. +21 Mastery

    • 20
    +21 Mastery icon

Main Hand

  1. Council's Guile

    • 33
    Council's Guile icon

  2. Authority of Radiant Power

    • 9
    Authority of Radiant Power icon

  3. Oathsworn's Tenacity

    • 3
    Oathsworn's Tenacity icon

Off Hand

  1. Enchant Shield - Parry

    • 1
    Enchant Shield - Parry 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. Culminating Blasphemite

    • 38
    Culminating Blasphemite icon

  2. Elusive Blasphemite

    • 7
    Elusive Blasphemite icon

Fiber

  1. Pure Precise Fiber

    • 23
    Pure Precise Fiber icon

  2. Pure Chronomantic Fiber

    • 10
    Pure Chronomantic Fiber icon

  3. Pure Energizing Fiber

    • 10
    Pure Energizing Fiber icon

  4. Pure Dexterous Fiber

    • 5
    Pure Dexterous Fiber icon

  5. Precise Fiber

    • 2
    Precise Fiber icon

Prismatic

  1. Quick Ruby

    • 83
    Quick Ruby icon

  2. Deadly Sapphire

    • 62
    Deadly Sapphire icon

  3. Deadly Emerald

    • 49
    Deadly Emerald icon

  4. Masterful Ruby

    • 30
    Masterful Ruby icon

  5. Deadly Onyx

    • 29
    Deadly Onyx 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-Patch.

  1. Dwarf

    • 26
    Dwarf icon

  2. Blood Elf

    • 7
    Blood Elf icon

  3. Human

    • 6
    Human icon

  4. Dark Iron Dwarf

    • 4
    Dark Iron Dwarf icon

  5. Tauren

    • 3
    Tauren icon

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 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-Patch 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.