TBC Classic Pre-Patch Overview
Protection Paladin Gear Upgrades
Many of the items on these lists will be able to last you for several levels. Note that the loot listed here isn't necessarily Best in Slot, nor does it include all the possible gear you might find throughout your questing adventures in Outland. The objective of these lists is to provide you with a general idea of what stats to begin prioritizing as you're leveling up.
Protection Paladin Pre-Raid BiS
Stats to Prioritize while Leveling:
Stamina: Provides HP, and the more HP you have, the longer it takes for you to die.
Defense: Lowers your chance to be critically hit by enemies. Defense cap is 490.
Spellpower: Increases the damage output and threat generation of your abilities.
Note:
Quests with the icon indicate that this quest is only available to players aligned with the Alliance faction. (Humans, Dwarf, Dranei Paladins)
Quests with the icon indicate that the quest is only available to players aligned with the Horde faction. (Blood Elf Paladins)
Hellfire Peninsula Quest Upgrades
Item
Quest Source
Reason
Landslide Buckler
Reward from completing Fel Orc Scavengers (Alliance only) or Bonechewer Blood (Horde only)
This shield provides a decent amount of armor, stamina, and intellect for more HP and mana, and spellpower for increasing threat generation.
Flintlocke's Piloting Pants
Reward from the quest In Case of Emergency.... The Zeppelin where the quest giver is can be found west of Honor Hold.
A large amount of stamina increases HP and defense rating, lowering the chance of taking critical hits.
Regal Protectorate
Reward from the quest Overlord/Cruel's Intentions
Provides a large amount of defense, reducing the chance to be critically hit. The active ability of this trinket can also provide a temporary, life-saving additional buffer of HP during emergencies.
Gilded Crimson Chestplate
Reward from the quests Zeth'Gor Must Burn! and Grillok "Darkeye".
This chest provides a large amount of spellpower, significantly increasing threat generation.
Zangarmarsh Quest Upgrades
Item
Quest Source
Reason
Fearless Girdle
Reward from the quests Pursuing Terrorclaw and The Terror of Marshlight Lake.
Provides a hefty amount of stamina for HP, and a defense rating to reduce the chance of being critically hit. The gem slots should be filled with +Stamina gems to make one's HP pool even larger.
Refuge Armor
Reward from A Damp, Dark Place.
Provides a hefty amount of stamina for HP, and a decent amount of spellpower.
Fen Strider's Footguards
Reward from Have You Ever Seen One of These?
Provides stamina and defense.
Pendant of the Marsh
Reward from Drain Schematics
Provides HP, mana, and some spellpower.
Glowing Crystal Insignia/Ancient Crystal Talisman
Reward from the quests Overlord Gorefist and A Spirit Ally?.
Passive provides a good amount of spellpower, and the active ability allows for higher bursts of damage and threat.
Many of the items on these lists will be able to last you for several levels. Note that the loot listed here isn't necessarily Best in Slot, nor does it include all the possible gear you might find in these dungeons, as this only includes pieces that'll bring you the most long-term benefit.
Hellfire Ramparts Upgrades
Item
Quest Source
Reason
Jade Warrior Pauldrons
Reward from the quests Weaken the Ramparts/Weaken the Ramparts.
Provides a lot of HP and some dodge from the Agility stat.
Ironsole Clompers
Drops from Reinforced Fel Iron Chest at the end of the instance.
Provides a lot of stamina and crit reduction. Stamina can be increased further by adding gems to the gem slots.
Witching Band
Drops from Reinforced Fel Iron Chest at the end of the instance.
Provides a good amount of HP, mana, and spellpower.
Blood Furnace Upgrades
Item
Quest Source
Reason
Diamond-Core Sledgemace
Drops from The Maker.
First weapon upgrade with lots of spellpower. Will significantly increase your damage output and threat generation.
Breastplate of Retribution
Reward from the quests The Blood is Life/The Blood is Life.
Provides a hefty amount of HP, mana, and spellpower.
Slave Pens Upgrades
Item
Quest Source
Reason
Bogstrok Scale Cloak
Drops from Rokmar the Crackler
Provides a good amount of HP and crit reduction
Spellfire Longsword
Drops from Mennu the Betrayer.
Provides a hefty amount of stamina. The spell hit on it also reduces the chance your spells will be resisted!
Underbog Upgrades
Item
Quest Source
Reason
Pauldrons of Brute Force
Drops from The Black Stalker.
Provides a good amount of stamina and crit reduction. For gem slots, blue stamina gems are recommended in order to make them provide more HP.
Talisman of Tenacity
Drops from Ghaz'an.
Provides a large amount of HP from stamina and crit reduction from resilience. Note that Resilience shouldn't be a sought-after stat in the majority of cases, as Defense not only reduces your chance to be crit, but also increases your Dodge/Parry/Miss/Block chance.
Retribution Paladin Gear Upgrades
All 3 of these quests are part of the same chain and reward a great setup of 3 pieces of gear for you to get the ball rolling.
Retribution Paladin Pre-Raid BiS
Rage Reaver
Reward from Felspark Ravine/The Path of Anguish
Early quest gets you a 2h that's on Molten Core level. Grab it quickly if you are leveling through questing.
Fire Scarred Breastplate
Reward fromDisrupt Their Reinforcements/Disrupt Their Reinforcements
A quick chest plate that will last you some time. It's got higher armor / stam / str than anything you can get in 5-man content from pre-Outlands content. I recommend this over the str / agi gear, as you will find the spell damage useful for your damage as well as your healing effects.
Helm of Infinite Visions
Reward from Mission: Gateways Murketh and Shaadraz/Mission: The Murketh and Shaadraz Gateways
A quick helm plate that will last you some time. It's got higher armor / stam / str than anything you can get in 5-man content from pre-Outlands content. I recommend this over the str / agi gear, as you will find the spell damage useful for your damage as well as your healing effects.
Hellreaver
Drops from Reinforced Fel Iron Chest, last boss in Hellfire Ramparts
Great 2h that is better than many things even in MC.
Warsong Howling Axe
Drops from Keli'dan the Breaker, last boss in The Blood Furnace
Great 2h that is better than many things even in BWL.
Hatebringer
Drops from Ghaz'an, 2nd boss in The Underbog
Great 2h that is better than many things even in BWL. NOTE: The gems are required for maximum effectiveness. Going for the socket bonus with Bold Blood Garnet, Inscribed Flame Spessarite, and Sovereign Shadow Draenite would be most optimal.
Holy Paladin Gear Upgrades
Holy Paladin Pre-Raid BiS
Preserver's Medallion
Reward from Escape from Umbrafen
The quest is a very easy escort quest and provides a nice healing power necklace.
Glowing Crystal Insignia/Ancient Crystal Talisman
Reward from Overlord Gorefist/A Spirit Ally?
Both quests require killing mobs and are the standard "fetch" type quests. There are two quests to complete on each faction side, which will reward a nice healing power trinket with the added benefit of an on-use effect.
Shadowcast Tunic
Reward from Drill the Drillmaster/The Foot of the Citadel
This quest series is a bit more involved on the Horde side compared to the Alliance side. You will need a party member or two to complete these quests. The culmination is a nice chest piece with healing power and spell critical chance.
Auslese's Light Channeler
Drops from Broggok in The Blood Furnace
This is a very strong trinket, adding in a lot of healing power and another on-use effect which helps with mana sustain. Having the additional ability to reduce your mana usage this early is very strong.
Band of Renewal
Drops from Reinforced Fel Iron Chest (final boss) of Hellfire Ramparts
A very well-rounded ring that is easy to obtain from the first TBCC dungeon you will likely do.
Mask of Penance
Drops from Mekgineer Steamrigger in The Steamvault
This is a wonderful helm and will last you until 70. The whole Judgement Armor (Recolor) set provides a great boost along your journey in TBC and is worth picking up whenever any of it drops.
