Rift Reaver/Paladin Tank Leveling Guide

Rift Reaver/Paladin Tank Leveling Guide by Primalthirst

Here’s my guide to leveling as a Reaver/Paladin tank. As it is a leveling guide in some places it sacrifices optimal performance for simplicity. I have refrained from going into too much detail about specific abilities and rotations to prevent this turning into an essay.

Whilst you are able to queue for Realm of the Fae in the Dungeon Finder at level 15, it is much easier if you wait for level 16 since you gain your first AoE ability at this level.

Level 16: 16 Reaver, 5 Paladin, 0 Warlord
http://rift.magelo.com/en/soultree#69sFV0/9g/8

Self Buffs
-Crest of the Abyss
-Binding of Affliction

Pulling:
-Activate Crest of the Shadow
-Pull with Soul Sickness as you run in
-Use Cyclone Strike when enemies reach melee range

ST ‘Rotation’
-Aggressive Block every 15s
-Soul Sickness on cooldown
-Cyclone Strike on cooldown
-Spam Blood Fever

AoE ‘Rotation’
-Cyclone Strike on cooldown
-Aggressive Block every 15s
-Soul Sickness on cooldown
-Cycle through enemies applying Blood Fever to each one

Finisher Priority
-Dire Corruption only if tanking multiple targets
-Dire Blow

Macros
-Single Target
#show Soul Sickness
suppressmacrofailures
cast Soul Sickness
cast Cyclone Strike
cast Blood Fever

-AoE
#show Cyclone Strike
suppressmacrofailures
cast Cyclone Strike
cast Soul Sickness
cast Blood Fever
cast Retaliation

You must apply Aggressive Block manually.

-Other Abilities
Use Crest of Shadow frequently since there aren’t any mechanics likely to kill you while levelling that require saving it for.
Use Sergeant’s Order to pull ranged enemies into melee. Take note this ability triggers the GCD and does not taunt the enemy without Defensive or Recovery Posture.
Use Grim Lure as your taunt for when you lose aggro on a mob. Do not use this ability too frequently or the enemy will become immune to taunts.

Level 28: 28 Reaver, 9 Paladin, 0 Warlord
http://rift.magelo.com/en/soultree#69sF5eks/9hg/8

Self Buffs
-Crest of the Abyss
-Binding of Affliction
-Shield of the Hero

Pulling
-Crest of the Shadow
-Activate Plague Bringer
-Pull with Soul Sickness and Blood Fever as you run in
-Use Cyclone Strike when enemies reach melee range

ST ‘Rotation’
-Aggressive Block every 15s
-Soul Sickness on cooldown
-Infestation on cooldown
-Cyclone Strike on cooldown
-Spam Blood Fever

AoE ‘Rotation’
-Keep up Plague Bringer
-Cyclone Strike on cooldown
-Aggressive Block every 15s
-Soul Sickness on cooldown
-Cycle through enemies applying Blood Fever to each one

Finishers
-Dire Corruption only if tanking multiple targets
-Dire Blow

Macros
-Single Target
#show Soul Sickness
suppressmacrofailures
cast Soul Sickness
cast Infestation
cast Cyclone Strike
cast Blood Fever
cast Plague Bringer
cast Retaliation

-AoE
#show Cyclone Strike
suppressmacrofailures
cast Cyclone Strike
cast Soul Sickness
cast Blood Fever
cast Plague Bringer
cast Retaliation

You must apply Aggressive Block manually.

-Other Abilities
Use Crest of Entropy frequently since there aren’t any mechanics likely to kill you while levelling that require saving them for.
Since you now have Shield Throw use it as your taunt for when you lose aggro on a mob. Do not use this ability too frequently or the enemy will become immune to taunts. Use Concussion as your AoE taunt.

Level 39: 30 Reaver, 22 Paladin, 0 Warlord
http://rift.magelo.com/en/soultree#69sF5ekg/9hj4dEw/8

Self Buffs
-Crest of the Abyss
-Binding of Affliction
-Shield of the Hero

Pulling
-Crest of the Shadow
-Activate Plague Bringer
-Pull with Soul Sickness and Blood Fever as you run in
-Use Cyclone Strike and Sweeping Strike as enemies reach melee

ST ‘Rotation’
-Pacifying Strike every 15s
-Aggressive Block every 15s
-Soul Sickness on cooldown
-Infestation on cooldown
-Cyclone Strike on cooldown
-Spam Blood Fever

AoE ‘Rotation’
-Keep up Plague Bringer
-Cyclone Strike on cooldown
-Sweeping Strike on cooldown
-Cycle through enemies applying Pacification to each one every 15s
-Aggressive Block every 15s
-Soul Sickness on cooldown
-Cycle through enemies while spamming Blood Fever

Finishers
-Dire Corruption only if tanking multiple targets
-Dire Blow

Macros
-Single Target
#show Soul Sickness
suppressmacrofailures
cast Soul Sickness
cast Infestation
cast Cyclone Strike
cast Blood Fever
cast Plague Bringer
cast Retaliation

-AoE
#show Cyclone Strike
suppressmacrofailures
cast Cyclone Strike
cast Sweeping Strike
cast Soul Sickness
cast Blood Fever
cast Plague Bringer
cast Retaliation

You must apply Pacifing Strike manually.

-Other Abilities
Light’s Balm can be handy to help your healer out when they are struggling.
Face Slam is your Interrupt.

Level 49: 41 Reaver, 24 Paladin, 0 Warlord
http://rift.magelo.com/en/soultree#69sF5fkiEEg/9hj49i/8

Self Buffs
-Crest of the Abyss
-Binding of Affliction
-Shield of the Hero

Pulling
-Crest of the Shadow
-Activate Plague Bringer
-Pull with Soul Sickness, Blood Fever then Flesh Rot as you run in
-Use Cyclone Strike and Sweeping Strike as enemies reach melee

ST ‘Rotation’
-Pacifying Strike every 15s
-Aggressive Block every 15s
-Soul Sickness on cooldown
-Necrotic Wounds every 15s
-Flesh Rot every 15s
-Infestation/Explosive Infestation on cooldown
-Cyclone Strike on cooldown
-Spam Blood Fever

AoE ‘Rotation’
-Keep up Plague Bringer
-Cyclone Strike on cooldown
-Sweeping Strike on cooldown
-Aggressive Block every 15s
-Cycle through enemies applying Pacification to each one every 15s
-Explosive Infestation on cooldown
-Soul Sickness on cooldown
-Cycle through enemies while spamming Blood Fever

Finishers
-Dire Corruption only if tanking multiple targets
-Dire Blow

Macros
-Single Target
#show Soul Sickness
suppressmacrofailures
cast Soul Sickness
cast Infestation
cast Cyclone Strike
cast Blood Fever
cast Plague Bringer
cast Retaliation

-AoE
#show Cyclone Strike
suppressmacrofailures
cast Cyclone Strike
cast Sweeping Strike
cast Explosive Infestation
cast Soul Sickness
cast Blood Fever
cast Plague Bringer
cast Retaliation

You must apply Aggressive Block, Pacifing Strike, Flesh Rot and Necrotic Wounds manually.
When tanking multiple mobs it isn’t generally worth keeping up Flesh Rot and Necrotic wounds, it’s a lot of hassle for little gain. Try to spread out Infestation and Explosive Infestation on single targets if possible to ensure one of them is always active.

-Other Abilities
Spasm is now your Interrupt.

At Level 50 respec into 51 Reaver, 15 Paladin, 0 Void Knight
http://rift.magelo.com/en/soultree#6kiAGiyl52/9hj4/4

Note: Storm Legion content has MUCH higher tank damage than anything you will have encountered before. You have been warned.

Self Buffs
-Void
-Binding of Death
-Crest of the Abyss
-Shield of the Hero

Pulling
-Crest of the Shadow
-Activate Plague Bringer
-Pull with Soul Sickness, Blood Fever then Flesh Rot as you run in
-Use Cyclone Strike as enemies reach melee

ST ‘Rotation’
-Aggressive Block every 15s
-Soul Sickness on cooldown
-Necrotic Wounds every 15s
-Flesh Rot every 15s
-Infestation/Explosive Infestation on cooldown
-Cyclone Strike on cooldown
-Spam Blood Fever

AoE ‘Rotation’
-Keep up Plague Bringer
-Cyclone Strike on cooldown
-Aggressive Block every 15s
-Explosive Infestation on cooldown
-Soul Sickness on cooldown
-Cycle through enemies while spamming Blood Fever

Finishers
-Creeping Corruption only if tanking multiple targets
-Dire Corruption only if tanking multiple targets
-Dire Blow

Macros
-Single Target
#show Soul Sickness
suppressmacrofailures
cast Soul Sickness
cast Infestation
cast Cyclone Strike
cast Blood Fever
cast Plague Bringer
cast Retaliation

-AoE
#show Cyclone Strike
suppressmacrofailures
cast Cyclone Strike
cast Explosive Infestation
cast Soul Sickness
cast Blood Fever
cast Plague Bringer
cast Retaliation

-Other Abilities
Incite is an AoE taunt,but it does not share a cooldown with other AoE taunts, which means you effectively have two.

Level 53: 51 Reaver, 18 Paladin, 0 Void Knight
http://rift.magelo.com/en/soultree#6kiAGiyl52/9hj42/4

Plays identically to at level 50 except Pacification (the debuff from Pacifying Strike) should be applied manually to as many enemies as possible as a high priority. You also regain Sweeping Strike, so add it back into the AoE macro. You have also gained the Self Buff Void from 0pt Void Knight, you can choose to sacrifice the mitigation for Sergeant’s Order in Warlord if you like, but I don’t recommend it. Stuff hits hard.

Level 60: 51 Reaver, 21 Paladin, 4 Void Knight
http://rift.magelo.com/en/soultree#6…l52/9hj4dh0/4f

Plays the same as at level 53, Accord of Resilience is the new Self Buff and you have regained Touch of Life as a cooldown.

Please provide feedback or ask questions if necessary.