Zeal vs Execution sentence

Classes Paladin
1

I’ve been running seal for pretty much everything thanks to skulldancer’s input.

I’m curious though if execution is better for raid and maybe zeal works better all around for mythic +?

1 Like
2

I use to run Zeal always for mythic+, but a while back I started getting used to execution sentence and the awesome burst it brings with final reckoning/sanctified wrath. Also helps with prideful kills.

It feels clunky at first and sometimes takes a sec to use, but it hits hard when you get in the swing of the rotation. Would recommend trying it out!

3

With Final Reckoning, ES is definitely stronger than Zeal for single-target damage. In M+ it can be useful for priority kill targets, but it depends on whether your group needs help with that, and in lower keys where trash dies too fast for ES to land, you don’t get any value out of it. Depending on what you’re fighting, using ES instead of an extra Divine Storm might actually be a small loss in total damage, but that can be worth it for some mobs.

I love ES in Necrotic Wake because I can blow up Necromancers and Stitchwerks before they get out of hand, in addition to being very strong on bosses and Prides. In Mists, there aren’t really any prio-kill targets like that, so ES is less valuable.

4

I guess my only real question is how far behind on dps does zeal vs execution sentence fall. I hate timing so many things plus I just dont understand the rotation with ES.

5

It’s 70 to 100 dps more. For me it’s not worth it having to click an extra button trying to line EVERYTHING up but it is the “popular” Ret Spec. Even with the Final Reckoning macro it’s still a hassle trying to line everything up clicking like 6 buttons additional to our rotation

1 Like
6

On pure ST, ES is ahead by a couple percent. For example, here is a sim of ES vs Zeal with my current gear:

https://www.raidbots.com/simbot/report/5hLyzsexxmCLtsDw1LFkTt

If you don’t like or can’t consistently execute the sequence for ES, it’s probably not a DPS gain. The real value is in its damage profile: you can quickly blow up a priority target, or get full value in limited uptime.

That said, the ES sequence is always the same: Sera-build to 5-FR-ES-Toll-TV-Wake-TV-spender-TV. At first this feels super weird, but once you get it down to muscle memory, IMO it becomes very satisfying to pull off.

1 Like