At level 90, rating starts losing marginal value above 1,380 Critical Strike or Mastery, 1,320 Haste, and 1,620 Versatility. These Retail thresholds are shared across specs; they are not targets you must stay below.
Wowhead ↗This answer is due for another source review. Check the dated sources before relying on time-sensitive details.
Confirmed details
The table shows where additional rating enters the 10%, 20% and 30% penalty bands. Only the portion beyond each threshold is penalized: crossing 1,320 Haste does not remove 10% of your total haste. Rating from gear, gems, enchants and rating procs counts; flat percentage buffs do not enter this rating conversion.
| Stat | 10% penalty | 20% penalty | 30% penalty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mastery | 1380 | 1840 | 2300 |
| Critical Strike | 1380 | 1840 | 2300 |
| Haste | 1320 | 1760 | 2200 |
| Versatility | 1620 | 2160 | 2700 |
How to use this
Mastery rating becomes Mastery points before your spec converts it into its own effect. Base Mastery and that spec-specific multiplier mean 30% displayed Mastery is not a universal DR breakpoint. Compare your rating with the table, then use our spec gear pages for item context and simulations for your own upgrade decision.
Wowhead ↗Important distinction
Before penalties, level 90 uses 46 rating per 1% Crit or Mastery point, 44 per 1% Haste, and 54 per 1% offensive Versatility. Effective gains from rating use bands of 0–30 / 30–39 / 39–47 / 47–54 / 54–66 / 66–126, with marginal penalties of 0 / 10 / 20 / 30 / 40 / 50%. The rating-derived hard limit is 126. For Mastery these are points gained from rating, not displayed percentages. This is not crowd-control DR, a Classic rule, or proof a higher-penalty stat is worse for your character.
Wowhead ↗ · Wowhead ↗Sources & review
- Wowhead: How Mastery works — level-90 rating conversion, WhispyrSources checked 2026-10-07
- Icy Veins: Retribution Paladin stat priority — Bolas, patch 12.1Sources checked 2026-10-07
- Wowhead: Secondary-stat diminishing returns — AnshlunSources checked 2026-10-07
Facts are based on the linked sources. Practical advice is our interpretation, not an official rule. No page can guarantee a title, ranking, or future game change.
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