Paladin Opener (Max Threat)

[Ashkendor]

I used to use FoF in my pull macro (losing several seconds of it) but I've since pushed it back further into the rotation. I usually end up going Shield Lob > Circle of Scorn > Flash > Sheltron > Fast Blade (Shield Swipe if it procs) > Savage Blade (FoF + Bloodbath) > Rage of Halone > Spirits Within. I take a look at the enmity levels at that point and decide whether I need another RoH combo or if I can go right into Goring Blade. I know I lose some DPS using CoS without FoF up, but it just makes me feel a lot more comfortable having that oGCD in there early on when threat is really fragile.

[Februs]

Depends on what I'm doing. For most bosses that require mitigation:

- Shield Lob > FoF > CoS > Bloodbath > Spirits Within > Fast Blade> Shelltron (use Shield Swipe as it procs) > Savage Blade > Rampart > Rage of Halone (applies Debuff) > Fast Blade > Riot Blade > Goring Blade (applies DoT)

From here my combo varies depending on the fight. If greater physical mitigation is required or threat generation is an issue I'll rotate another RoH to reapply Debuff and establish more enmity before falling into Royal Authority, continuing as so:

- > Goring Blade (applies DoT) > Fast Blade > Savage Blade > RoH (Reapplies Buff to ensure timer does not expire) > Fast Blade > Savage Blade > Royal Authority > Fast Blade > Riot Blade > Goring Blade (reapplies DoT) > Fast Blade > Savage Blade> RoH (reapplies debuff) > Repeat.

After the first Royal Authority you fall into the same pattern of RA>GB>ROH, keeping up both debuff and DoT at all times.

For fights in which physical mitigation and enmity are not issues, I change my rotation to allow the debuff to fall off rotation 2 RA combos for Every one RoH combo, like so:

- RoH > GB > RA > RA > GB > ROH > RA > GB > RA > RoH > GB etc.

Goring Blade becomes the staple of the rotation.

For typical mob pulls, on the other hand, my opener is:

- Shield lob (on mob #1) > Flash (all) >Shelltron (use Shield Swipe as it procs as a +1 for a new target) > FoF> CoS (all) > Spirits Within > Fast blade (first target) > Savage Blade (new target) > RoH (new target) > Flash (all)

From here my rotation can vary quite a bit depending on the number of mobs and how focused or spread out the Dps are. Typically, I prefer to rotate the RoH combo in such a way that either Savage Blade or RoH have hit every target available at least once. Which targets get hit with Savage Blade and which get hit with RoH depends on the Dps (and very rarely the dmg being dealt by the mob). Targets at higher risk of being pulled off of me by high Dps are priority targets for the higher enmity move (RoH). Once every target has been sufficiently secured by enmity, I stop my RoH rotation and focus on rotating Goring Blade/Royal Authority among the remaining mobs until they are dead.

[SpookyGhost]

Sheltron lasts 10s, you can pop it before you pull and proc Shield Swipe sooner/have Sheltron back up sooner. Otherwise these openers are fine.

[Lambdafish]

I go FoF (If its a trial) mainly as a signal that I'm pulling, then I go SW in between cooldowns, then FB > CoS > RB > GB > then RoH combo. The reason for this is that the FoF buff will be placed on both DoTs for maximum DPS, and the RoH combo will most likely be up before anything comes up that really needs mitigating (if not then its your gear thats an issue, not your combo). As others have said, I guess you can pop sheltron in between RB and GB for a SS proc (use it between GB and FB), but I prefer to save the skill for mitigation.

The main thing to take away is that using shield lob, then using spirits within while you move through the boss looks cool AF (especially if you follow it up with CS for maximum hate gains).

[Malicewolf]

Why do so many use Flash? I would think this would be a loss in enmity for an opener. Unless, they have increased Flash enmity potency since last time I checked (I know in 2.3ish they increased it). As for Lob > Flash, I don't understand how this would generate more threat. You are delaying your RoH combo by 1 GCD when you do this.

For a PLD, the only other AoE enmity generator is CoS. This is a 25 sec cooldown, so it's not a constant, spammable AoE that every other tank class has. So when pulling mobs, in order to grab enmity on all of the mob, flash is often used. Especially since in lower level dungeons, CoS isn't an option as it's a lvl 50 move. On a single boss, then yea, sure, flash isn't needed. But I've definitely had my dungeon runs where the DPS decide to all attack different enemies, and sometimes, decide to open with AoE's. Not a problem for me when I use my flash to cover the mob and I usually still have plenty of time to start up a rotation on the mob to build up hate.

[Tsilyi]

I open with Provoke

do you... come from swtor? hell, i'm not even sure if taunts still work the same in swtor as they did years ago...

[Ashkendor]

Sheltron lasts 10s, you can pop it before you pull and proc Shield Swipe sooner/have Sheltron back up sooner. Otherwise these openers are fine.

I actually started putting it there specifically for Thordan EX, because then the block is timed to catch the first cleave.

After that it just became habit. :3

[RiisWolf]

Shield Lob> CoS> Flash> flash>flash>repeat flash equal to 2 greater than number of enemies, unless they will die super fast. Sure there's weaving here or there, but this is basically it.

[Valkyrie-Amber]

SL>CoS>Flash>Flash>FoF RoH combo then fight like normal and watch the other party members enmity bars and flash when necessary.

[thunderbreak]

If you can chain fast blade -> savage blade before pull, then (provoke ->) fight or flight + rage of halone is your highest threat generating opener.

There are a few adds before boss/boss transition/phase transition you can pull this off.