The Cataclysm Patch4.2--Holy Paladin

With patch 4.2's discharge date closing, we are able to look forward to Firelands and the new quest hub in Hyjal. The introduction of new reputations and raid bosses mean that there are both new challenges to be overcome and new rewards to be obtained.

The good news is how the gear we'll be seeing in patch 4.2 is much better itemized for holy paladin than what we saw in the first tier of Cataclysm raiding. Holy paladins would be the only spec that utilizes plate gear with intellect on it, and so it's consistently a bit interesting to determine gear that's not that good for us. Our potency should improve significantly from both the pure ilvl boost from the new gear, but furthermore as a result of the much better choice of secondary stats.

Make close friends with a blacksmith
We've talked a lot about which stats are best for a holy paladin, and the conclusion hasn't changed: haste and spirit win. Blacksmiths will have access to several new plans in patch 4.2, including a quantity of new pieces that are of interest to us. The first product is often a pair of boots, the Emberforged Elementium Boots. These would be the most beneficial boots you can get your hands on in patch 4.2, and they're itemized with the perfect haste/spirit mix as well. There's no reason to wait close to for something to drop, you'll want to possess someone craft these for you ASAP.

The second product is often a pair of gloves, which gives me the impression how the developers want our hands and ft to be cozy as we explore Firelands. The Holy Flame Gauntlets are quite good, again completely itemized with haste/spirit. The only catch is that our set gloves (which I'll be covering in a minute) aren't bad either. Holy Flame Gauntlets are absolutely better, and so I'll be making myself a pair, but in the extended run I'll want to use the set gloves to obtain the awesome 4-piece bonus. There's also a decent weapon available, the Lightforged Elementium Hammer, out there from blacksmiths. Look into certainly one of these if your weapon is lacking.

Regalia of Immolation rules
Our new tier set is called the Regalia of Immolation, and it's a huge upgrade greater than our lackluster Reinforced Sapphirium Regalia of tier 11. First, there's not just one piece itemized with mastery rating, that is great since mastery still isn't impressive. Secondly, three pieces of our tier are itemized with haste, including two awesome haste/spirit pieces that we'll want to focus on first. The worst piece of the tier is our Immolation Breastplate, with its spirit/crit mix. We'll want to replace that with a Clutch of the Firemother, picking up the other four pieces for our splash healing bonus. Our Immolation Mantle can also be itemized with spirit/crit, but the offset piece isn't any better. Every holy paladin will want to work on obtaining both the 2-piece and 4-piece bonuses as soon as possible. It's wonderful to possess our tier set be viable again.

New gear from vendors
The Cenarion Circle has started their reverse invasion of Firelands, and there's plenty of great gear to be found if you lend them your talents. There's a new faction, the Avengers of Hyjal, which will probably be quite just like the Ashen Verdict of Icecrown Citadel. They've got some great epic rewards at every reputation level, but we'll probably call for to raid Firelands to possess the ability to increase our AoH reputation. The second gear source is the quest hub known as the Molten Front. The setup is quite just like the Argent Tournament in Wrath, and we'll be saving up Marks of the World Tree to unlock access to new vendors. The gear we get from the Molten Front isn't quite as amazing as the new raid or reputation gear, but it's much better than what you can get from normal modes in tier 11.

The Avengers of Hyjal reputation gear
As you level up your Avengers of Hyjal reputation, you're first granted access to a new healing cloak, the Flowing Flamewrath Cape. It's important to note that all reputation gear is ilvl 378, that is much better than even the current tier of heroic gear. At honored, we obtain the Belt of the Seven Seals. You'll want to obtain this belt immediately, since it's the most beneficial intellect plate belt that we've found in patch 4.2.

Revered reputation brings us a decent spirit trinket with an intellect proc, although I think we'll be focusing on a few of the intellect trinkets that are out there from Firelands itself. If you don't have access to Firelands, then the Fiery Quintessence is still quite good. The final reputation item, out there at exalted, is often a decent healing ring. You'll observe that none of the things are particularly well-itemized, so expect to replace the rep gear eventually as you gear up in Firelands. The only persistent product will be the Belt of the Seven Seals, specifically since the other choices aren't that great.

Vendor gear from the Molten Front
The vendor gear that one could unlock by doing dailies at the Molten Front is all ilvl 365, and there's a huge choice of gear available. While none of the pieces will be much better than crafted or reputation gear, the gear can still be useful if you're having bad luck with drops or if you don't have access to Firelands. If you're on the way to be doing the regular quests anyway, you might as well pick up a quantity of pieces to circular out your gear as you wait for much better stuff to drop.

We can buy a Nightweaver's Amulet and Spirit Fragment Band to fill our necklace and ring slots, though the Spirit Fragment Band is quite bad. There's also a planet of the Moonlight, that is often a lackluster offhand choices (I'll hold out for a shield). The Moonwell Chalice is in fact a decent trinket, as we consistently love intellect. The Belt of residing Obsidium is awful, so ignore it for the Belt of the Seven Seals mentioned above. There's one more plate item: the Gauntlets of residing Obsidium. The gloves are well-itemized, but you're on the way to be crafting the Holy Flame Gauntlets anyway, so don't waste your gold here. The Relic of Elune's lighting gives a decent relic slot option, although we'll be getting a Singed Plume of Aviana as soon as we have valor points to spare.

Valor point gear isn't impressive
Speaking of valor point gear, there's really not much here (besides the Singed Plume) that's of interest to a holy paladin. None of the gear is well-itemized, and you'll be burning your valor points on your tier set instead. If you come across yourself having awful luck, getting valor gear is an option, but make sure you've bought everything you need (your tier and relic) first. That is all, thank you! Hace a good time in the game!