Hurls a hammer that strikes an enemy for [X + 0.15 * SPH + 0.15 * AP] to [Y + 0.15 * SPH + 0.15 * AP] Holy damage. Only usable on enemies that have 20% or less health.
Nothing is as devastating as running away with a few hundred health only to be tagged with a paladin's Hammer from long range. Paladins may make full use of the Hammer on fleeing targets, as well as mobs and bosses who are in their death throes.
There is no minimum range on the Hammer; it can be used at point-blank distance.
The attack is resolved as a ranged special-attack that does non-physical damage, similar to a Hunter's [Arcane Shot]. It can miss, it can be blocked (if the target is facing you), and it does double damage on a crit. Hit Rating and Crit Rating improve your chances of hitting and critting, respectively.
Related equipment
The Retribution-centric Tier 6 Paladin Armor Set Lightbringer Battlegear includes a 4-piece set ability that increases the damage dealt by your Hammer of Wrath ability by 10%.
Patch changes
Patch 3.0.3 (2008-11-04): Now can't be used until the target is below 20% health.
Tooltip has not been updated accordingly.
Patch 3.0.2 (2008-10-14): Hammer of Wrath is now considered a Retribution spell, moved from Holy, mana cost reduced, now instant cast, global cooldown increased to 1.5, missile speed increased, now usable on targets below 35% health and now scales with attack power and spell power.
Patch 2.3.0 (2007-11-13): Hammer of Wrath mana cost reduced.
Template:Patch 2.2
Patch 2.1.0 (2007-05-22): Hammer of Wrath: Rank 4, damage increased.