With the addition of "Holy power" and talent tree changes. retribution paladins no longer rely on "Art of War" or mana for an instant heal. Now it is about managing you're Holy Power to dish out damage or live.
This build was selected with things that would increase damage and healing/armor. if you want more of a conservative survivability spec. you could select "Eternal Glory" instead of imporving hammer of justice. this would give you the chance to possibly heal without consuming holy power which could then be used as DPS.
**I highly suggest thouroughly reading through you're talent tree to make sure you understand it in addition to it being explained here**
HOLY POWER:
You Gain holy power from attacks. normal white damage attacks will not produce Holy Power. Crusader strike, divine storm, holy wrath all produce holy power. With mastery rating you're auto attacks will have a chance to grand "Hand of Light" which instantly produces 3 holy power and makes you're attacks consume no holy power. Simple put, make sure you manage you're holy power and make sure you have mastery rating.
Managing Holy Power:
The best way to maintain DPS and Survivability, is to never let you're holy power just sit there. when you have a full bar, use it. And try to make sure you use only when its full. Holy power is cheap and and produced quickly and is wasted dps when left alone. The best way seems to be to gain 3 Holy Power and Dump it(use it) and repeat. if you need a heal, use Word of Glory, if you need DPS use Templars Verdict or Inquisition, it consumes 3 holy power to increase holy damage by 30% if hand of light is proc'ed its bassically a free buff. It's you're judgement, but i try to keep my health as close to full as possible. that way if you get into deep trouble like stun locked, you may have time to hold out the stun and start destroying again. Mana seems to almost not even be an issue anymore, unless you are using big heals you almost never OOM.
ROTATION:
This was pretty much explained above.
The paladin rotation has been known as a first come first serve rotation. and pretty much still is. Crusader strike and divine storm share a cool down. so Holy wrath becomes a good attack to use in between producing alot of holy power but does use alot of mana. Rotate between these 3 attacks to produce holy power. As soon as you have full holy power, dump it. use either templars verdict for dps or Word of glory to sustain you're life. its a good idea to keep you're health up as high as you can. When Art of War procs, use exercism to add DPS. max dps comes from not letting you're holy power sit. ALWAYS USE IT.
MASTERY:
You're mastery gives you're auto attacks a chance to grant you hand of light; which produces 3 holy power and you're attacks do not consume holy power. this is an asset. its a free heal, buff or hit. the higher your mastery the better chance you have of this happening. making you're mana last longer which inturn makes you last longer. mastery is a must.
