Best in slot (BiS) · Level 40

WoW Forever Protection Paladin BiS at level 40

Tank

role

9/16

new in Forever

9/16

with a known source

Summary

This is the site’s suggestion for Protection Paladin at level 40, not an official list: we use our Protection stat weights to score every item a Paladin can use with a required level of 40 or lower, and pick the best one for each slot. The beta does not reach this level yet (the current cap is 30): it is a forecast, and items and their sources may change.

Stat priority of the list, per point: Defense > Stamina > Mana per 5 sec > Block Value = Agility. Percentage stats count too, per 1%: dodge and parry. On weapons, main-hand DPS matters most. Armour adds to the score too.

The highest-scoring pieces:

Off hand: Aegis of the Scarlet Commander
Main hand: Ardent CustodianClassic data (not in the beta client)
Feet: Boots of AvoidanceClassic data (not in the beta client)
Chest: Carapace of Tuten'kashClassic data (not in the beta client)

9 of the 16 pieces are new in Forever and 9 have a known source.

Gear by slot

For each slot, the suggested piece and the next two on the list.

Head

Top pickSouthsea Head Bucket

Item level 45 · no level requirement · Plate

+15 Stamina · +4 Defense · +6 Strength

Quest Southsea Shakedown (level 45) in Tanaris (Classic data)

Alternatives

Horned Viking HelmetClassic data (not in the beta client)

Item level 42 · requires level 40 · Plate

Drops from Eric \"The Swift\" (50%) in Uldaman (Classic data)

Sentinel's Guard

Item level 45 · no level requirement · Plate

Quest Delivering the Relic (level 45, Alliance) in Feralas (Classic data)

Neck

Top pickAmulet of VengeanceNew in Forever

Item level 43 · no level requirement · Miscellaneous

+10 Stamina · +8 Strength

Unknown source

Alternatives

Seal of the ExpeditionNew in Forever

Item level 43 · requires level 38 · Miscellaneous

Unknown source

Darkspear Warding PendantNew in Forever

Item level 43 · requires level 38 · Miscellaneous

Unknown source

Shoulders

Top pickPauldrons of VindicationNew in Forever

Item level 45 · no level requirement · Plate

+10 Stamina · +10 Strength · +0.7% Critical Strike

Unknown source

Alternatives

Clacking Carapace SpauldersNew in Forever

Item level 43 · no level requirement · Mail

Unknown source

Ornate Mithril ShouldersChanged

Item level 45 · requires level 40 · Plate

Crafted Blacksmithing

Back

Top pickCorpsefeeder's SheddingNew in Forever

Item level 43 · no level requirement · Cloth

+11 Stamina · +4 Agility · +4 Strength

Unknown source

Alternatives

Sergeant Major's CapeUnique

Item level 45 · requires level 40 · Cloth

Unknown source

Wing of the WhelplingClassic data (not in the beta client)

Item level 38 · requires level 33 · Cloth

World drop (0.003%) (Classic data)

Chest

Top pickCarapace of Tuten'kashClassic data (not in the beta client)

Item level 42 · requires level 40 · Plate

+15 Stamina · +10 Strength · +8 Agility

Drops from Tuten'kash (33.3%) in Razorfen Downs (Classic data)

Alternatives

Steel BreastplateChanged

Item level 40 · requires level 35 · Mail

Crafted Blacksmithing

Scarlet ChestpieceChain of the Scarlet CrusadeClassic data (not in the beta client)

Item level 39 · requires level 34 · Mail

Drops from Trash in Scarlet Monastery

Wrists

Top pickBerserker BracersUnique

Item level 45 · requires level 40 · Plate

+8 Stamina · +14 Strength · +6 Agility

Vendor Illiyana Moonblaze — Silverwing Supply Officer (Classic data)

Alternatives

Windtalker's Wristguards

Item level 45 · requires level 40 · Mail

Vendor Illiyana Moonblaze — Silverwing Supply Officer (Classic data)

Crushridge BindingsClassic data (not in the beta client)

Item level 41 · requires level 36 · Mail

World drop (0.003%) (Classic data)

Hands

Top pickPlated Fist of HakooClassic data (not in the beta client)

Item level 45 · requires level 40 · Plate

+10 Stamina · +10 Agility · +10 Strength

World drop (0.003%) (Classic data)

Alternatives

Warder's GauntletNew in Forever

Item level 40 · requires level 35 · Mail

Crafted Blacksmithing

Sentinel's GauntletNew in Forever

Item level 40 · requires level 35 · Mail

Crafted Blacksmithing

Waist

Top pickWarder's BeltNew in Forever

Item level 35 · requires level 30 · Mail

+10 Stamina · +7 Defense · +7 Spell Power

Crafted Blacksmithing

Alternatives

Sentinel's BeltNew in Forever

Item level 35 · requires level 30 · Mail

Crafted Blacksmithing

Highlander's Lamellar GirdleUnique

Item level 43 · requires level 40 · Plate

Vendor Samuel Hawke — League of Arathor Supply Officer (Classic data)

Legs

Top pickGuard's Silvered Chain LeggingsNew in Forever

Item level 30 · requires level 25 · Mail

+11 Stamina · +8 Defense · +7 Strength

Crafted Blacksmithing

Alternatives

Protector's Silvered Chain LeggingsNew in Forever

Item level 30 · requires level 25 · Mail

Crafted Blacksmithing

Double-Plated LegplatesNew in Forever

Item level 45 · requires level 40 · Plate

Unknown source

Feet

Top pickBoots of AvoidanceClassic data (not in the beta client)

Item level 45 · requires level 40 · Plate

+2% Dodge · +11 Stamina · +14 Agility

World drop (0.001%) (Classic data)

Alternatives

Warder's BootsNew in Forever

Item level 45 · requires level 40 · Plate

Crafted Blacksmithing

Sentinel's BootsNew in Forever

Item level 45 · requires level 40 · Plate

Crafted Blacksmithing

Ring 1

Top pickOgre Horn RingNew in Forever

Item level 45 · no level requirement · Miscellaneous

+10 Stamina · +3 Defense · +4 Strength · …

Unknown source

Alternatives

Darkspear SignetNew in ForeverUnique

Item level 43 · requires level 38 · Miscellaneous

Unknown source

Suspicious Spare PartNew in Forever

Item level 45 · requires level 40 · Miscellaneous

Unknown source

Ring 2

Top pickDarkspear SignetNew in ForeverUnique

Item level 43 · requires level 38 · Miscellaneous

+11 Stamina · +6 Mana per 5 sec

Unknown source

Alternatives

Suspicious Spare PartNew in Forever

Item level 45 · requires level 40 · Miscellaneous

Unknown source

Theramore SignetNew in ForeverUnique

Item level 43 · requires level 38 · Miscellaneous

Unknown source

Trinket 1

Top pickEnriched SealNew in Forever

Item level 38 · requires level 33 · Miscellaneous

+9 Mana per 5 sec · +7 Stamina

Unknown source

Alternatives

Darkspear Voodoo SealNew in Forever

Item level 38 · requires level 33 · Miscellaneous

Unknown source

Defiler's TalismanChanged

Item level 43 · requires level 38 · Miscellaneous

Vendor Rutherford Twing — Defilers Supply Officer (Classic data)

Trinket 2

Top pickDarkspear Voodoo SealNew in Forever

Item level 38 · requires level 33 · Miscellaneous

+9 Mana per 5 sec · +7 Stamina

Unknown source

Alternatives

Defiler's TalismanChanged

Item level 43 · requires level 38 · Miscellaneous

Vendor Rutherford Twing — Defilers Supply Officer (Classic data)

Talisman of ArathorChanged

Item level 43 · requires level 38 · Miscellaneous

Vendor Samuel Hawke — League of Arathor Supply Officer (Classic data)

Main hand

Top pickArdent CustodianClassic data (not in the beta client)

Item level 43 · requires level 38 · One-Hand Mace

+5 Defense

World drop (0.001%) (Classic data)

Alternatives

Swampspine CrusherNew in Forever

Item level 45 · requires level 40 · One-Hand Mace

Unknown source

Hammer of ExpertiseUnique

Item level 50 · requires level 40 · One-Hand Mace

Unknown source

Off hand

Top pickAegis of the Scarlet CommanderChangedForever values from WoWSims

Item level 44 · requires level 39 · Shield

+8 Stamina · +7 Strength

Drops from Scarlet Commander Mograine (40%) in Scarlet Monastery (Classic data)

Alternatives

The Green TowerClassic data (not in the beta client)

Item level 41 · requires level 36 · Shield

World drop (0.001%) (Classic data)

Collection Plate

Item level 44 · no level requirement · Shield

Quest Cracking Maury's Foot (level 44) in Stranglethorn Vale (Classic data)

Relic

Relic: not scored

More on Protection Paladin

Reasoning: Shield tank. Same criteria as Protection Warrior (stamina, defense, dodge/parry/block, armour) plus a bit of intellect and spell power, since paladin threat comes from Consecration, Holy Shield and seals, which scale with mana and holy damage. Block is worth more than for warriors because of Holy Shield and Redoubt.

Heads up: the beta is capped at level 30 and the weights are indicative, tuned for level 60 with no simulations behind them. Sources come from the WoWSims Forever database and, for items that already existed in Classic, from the Classic 1.12 database (CMaNGOS Classic-DB, marked "Classic data": they may change in Forever); an item without a source may not be obtainable yet. Set bonuses and procs are not scored. Everything will change with each build.

Treat these lists as a starting point: your talents, enchants and play style may make another piece the better pick.

Updated October 4, 2026

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WoW Forever Protection Paladin BiS at level 40

Summary

Gear by slot

Head

Neck

Shoulders

Back

Chest

Wrists

Hands

Waist

Legs

Feet

Ring 1

Ring 2

Trinket 1

Trinket 2

Main hand

Off hand

Relic

More on Protection Paladin