Patch 5.4 patch notes
Virtual Realms feature revealed
The Proving Grounds are coming
The latest patch 5.4 newsPaladin tier 13 armor set revealed
by Michael Sacco 
Sep 21st 2011 at 9:30PM
Check out the full preview, along with the requisite transmogrification retrospective, over at Blizzard's community site.Design requested a set to 'key off the Guardian of Ancient Kings summon,' and I thought the concept of 'feathered' plate mail, rendered in silver and gold, would create an aggressive, yet sweeping and powerful silhouette. The previous paladin raid set had a good deal of cloth, but we wanted this set to be entirely platemail.
The key to a strong paladin tier is hitting a balance between martial prowess and elegant grace -- tapping into that classic Arthurian knight archetype.
Brace yourselves for what could be some of most exciting updates to the game recently with patch 4.3. Look at what's ahead: new item storage options, cross-realm raiding, cosmetic armor skinning and your chance to battle the mighty Deathwing -- from astride his back! Filed under: Paladin
Reader Comments (Page 4 of 9)
Fletcher Sep 21st 2011 9:49PM
First impressions: That hat. That HAAAAAT. I think Blizzard is being more out there with hats than other bits, secure in the knowledge that we can turn helm display off.
In its silver-and-gold featheriness, this set is very reminiscent of T1 (Lawbringer) - and a look at Lawbringer in their retrospective shows you just how far Blizzard's art team has come. The shape of the helm in particular recalls that of Lawbringer.
This is a good, solid paladin tier, something that we can wear without qualm or quibble. In terms of overall design I'd rank it up there with Judgement, Lightbringer and Aegis. In terms of "looking the most like a paladin" the only ones that really match it are Judgement and Lightbringer.
Overall, I give this set an A. Blizzard has done a good job with this one!
Arcanum Sep 21st 2011 9:49PM
Enormous Helmet, awesome shoulders and a simple yet elegant chestpiece. Love it.
HappyTreeDance Sep 21st 2011 9:53PM
I love this set (minus the helm). It's absolutely gorgeous and I want it for my pally. I really hope the looking for raid version is just as pretty, because I don't get the chance to raid on my pally with my guild.
darkmalakim Sep 21st 2011 9:54PM
Really Blizz? I mean really? Warriors look like Deathwing, Rogues get a Legendary Pair of Daggers AND get to look like Batman, and Pallys get to look like Sam the Eagle...really?
Kylenne Sep 21st 2011 9:54PM
Time to dust my pally off and give him another go. This is going to look stellar on a blood elf (as does everything).
Though I can't help but wonder the design team was watching a bit too much Blackadder when they came up with that codpiece region. It's the Black Russian!
Fletcher Sep 21st 2011 10:00PM
Hide it with your [Tabard of the Crusader]?
ravyncat Sep 21st 2011 10:02PM
I'm hoping it looks more subtle on a female pally. That codpiece is just terrible. XD
I do not care about the silly hat because I never let helms show anyway.
Skarn Sep 22nd 2011 3:22AM
I had not looked there.
Now...I can not UN-see.
Thanks. -_-
mem0ryburn Sep 21st 2011 9:55PM
Easily my favourite paly set since 2. Helm too big? It's obviously big and would look super ridic irl of course but it's exactly the kind of design the pally should have. Perfect set.
Kylenne Sep 21st 2011 9:59PM
I was starting to think I was crazy for loving the hell out of the helm. Then I remembered I'm one of like, five people to love the Cher-goes-to-Hogwarts motif of the Mage T12 hat.
Can you tell I'm a BC kid?
MusedMoose Sep 21st 2011 10:05PM
Y'know, you bring up a really good point. That is a very paladin helm. Despite what I just posted a moment ago, I'm actually starting to like the helm the more I look at it. Running into battle with my dwarf with that helmet on could be pretty damn fun. ^_^
mem0ryburn Sep 21st 2011 10:12PM
"Cher-goes-to-Hogwarts" XD
Shinae Sep 21st 2011 9:55PM
Didn't someone predect that it'd look like the Guardian of Ancient Kings? I can't remember who it was, but good call, man.
I'm so glad that I will finally have a paladin at endgame now.
rip Sep 22nd 2011 12:07PM
Blizzard themselves said they were basing the tier sets off of some lvl 85 spells.
"Most of this tier was attempting to play off a new ability the class got in Cataclysm, so for instance Time Warp for mages and Wild Mushroom for druid, in some cases (like warrior or warlock) there's playing off of the raid and those themes, and then for others it's a bit more just doing something we think represents the class in a more abstract manner. We're putting them up as soon as they're done, essentially, so from here on out they're likely to be posted rather randomly."
Here's a list of new spells for pallys according to wowhead http://www.wowhead.com/spells=7.2?filter=minle=85;maxle=85
Rubicon Sep 21st 2011 9:55PM
This looks fricking awesome!!! I cannot wait to adorn these!
Poleposition Sep 21st 2011 9:56PM
Oh, nice. That helm's outrageous but the rest of the set is 100% paladin. I really, REALLY like those shoulders and gloves. I'm even used to looking like a bird, having just filled out my PvP set.
I am a fan of the "tank dress" and the robes mixed with plate on paladins, but once every few tiers is plenty. Plus, I can always transmog to the current (friggin awesome) tier whenever I damn well please.
It's fun looking at the paladin sets all next to each other, even though there are some serious swings between sets I wanna get my hands on and what-the-eff-am-I-looking-at.
Literaltruth Sep 21st 2011 9:57PM
I wish they would never use Human models to preview stuff. There's just something that's so wrong about the body shape / proportion of the human male in WoW that it kinda makes any armour set look weird.
My initial impression was that I didn't like it, but looking at it closer I think it will look really cool on Dwarves / Draenei / Blood Elves. Not so sure about Tauren, but then I don't expect we'll ever see a Paladin Tier set that's geared towards Sunwalkers.
Fletcher Sep 21st 2011 10:03PM
I've always thought that the current paladin PVP tier (the reddish-brown one) would look good for Sunwalkers. It's vaguely eagle-ish to my eyes.
Dreyja Sep 21st 2011 10:05PM
Best one so far. I can only hope that the hunter set will be as class-classic. :) Almost makes me want to play a pally. ALMOST.
As has been said the best thing is that we can choose not to show the helm. Why wouldn't they have just dialed back the wings a tad, I wonder?
Pyromelter Sep 22nd 2011 3:33AM
"Best one so far"
I could name about 5 paladin tiers better than this one. And the warrior t13 is way better so... either I'm blind, or I just don't really see what the hell everyone sees as good in this tier.
Then again, a lot of people were talking up how awesome the mage set was, when it's obviously really lame and ugly...
My prediction is t13 will be xmogged a lot by many classes, mages and paladins at the top of that list.