Protection Warrior
Tank Vanguard allows Charge in Defensive Stance, which fixes the worst part of Classic tanking.
Best in slot
Head Protector's Silvered Chain Helm Blacksmithing · Crafted 9
- 2 Guard's Silvered Chain Helm Blacksmithing · Crafted
- 3 Veteran's Silvered Chain Helm Blacksmithing · Crafted
- 4 Magistrate's Chain Hood Source not listed
- 5 Brawler's Leather Hood Leatherworking · Crafted
- 6 Acolyte's Silvered Chain Helm Blacksmithing · Crafted
- 7 Crusader's Silvered Chain Helm Blacksmithing · Crafted
- 8 Defender's Leather Hood Leatherworking · Crafted
- 9 Totemic Leather Hood Leatherworking · Crafted
- 10 Trapper's Leather Hood Leatherworking · Crafted
Neck Erudite's Amulet Source not listed 8
- 2 Scholarly Pendant Source not listed
- 3 Scout's Medallion Kelm Hargunth · Vendor
- 4 Sentinel's Medallion Illiyana Moonblaze · Vendor
- 5 Tarnished Locket Source not listed
- 6 Ephemeral Choker Faldrim Anvilmar · Hall of Thanes
- 7 Replica Crescent Necklace Source not listed
- 8 Snake Eye Kaleidoscope Lady Anacondra · Wailing Caverns
- 9 Mark of the Pack Leader Source not listed
Shoulder Bronzed Shoulderguards Source not listed 9
- 2 Durable Chain Shoulders WANTED: Chok'sul · Quest (Alliance)
- 3 Tanned Shoulderpads Source not listed
- 4 Rough Bronze Shoulders Blacksmithing · Crafted
- 5 Silvered Bronze Shoulders Blacksmithing · Crafted
- 6 Criminal's Pauldrons Source not listed
- 7 Luminescent Amice Fallen Sky Lake · Quest
- 8 Forest Leather Mantle World drop
- 9 Prospector's Pads World drop
- 10 Grunt's Pauldrons World drop
Back Sentry Cloak World drop 9
- 2 Grave Shroud Source not listed
- 3 Sporid Cape Verdan the Everliving · Wailing Caverns
- 4 Cape of the Brotherhood Edwin VanCleef · The Deadmines
- 5 Quilted Cloak Ratchet - Friendly · Reputation
- 6 Miner's Cape Miner Johnson · The Deadmines
- 7 Resilient Poncho Apprentice's Duties · Quest (Alliance)
- 8 Engineer's Cloak Gerenzo Wrenchwhistle · Quest (Horde)
- 9 Spritekin Cloak Bloodfury Bloodline · Quest (Horde)
- 10 Feyscale Cloak Deviate Faerie Dragon · Wailing Caverns
Chest Fire Hardened Hauberk Furen's Armor · Quest 9
- 2 Brutal Hauberk Brutal Hauberk · Quest
- 3 Guard's Chain Shirt Blacksmithing · Crafted
- 4 Protector's Chain Shirt Blacksmithing · Crafted
- 5 Remembrance Armor Source not listed
- 6 Veteran's Chain Shirt Blacksmithing · Crafted
- 7 Blackened Defias Armor Edwin VanCleef · The Deadmines
- 8 Rough Bronze Cuirass Blacksmithing · Crafted
- 9 Mutant Scale Breastplate Mutanus the Devourer · Wailing Caverns
- 10 Golemguard Chest Plunder · Hall of Thanes
Shirt Empty No stats, wear what you like
Tabard Empty No stats, reputation and guild only
Wrist Beetle Clasps Researching the Corruption · Quest 9
- 2 Steel-clasped Bracers The Book of Ur · Quest (Horde)
- 3 Beastial Manacles Fallen Sky Lake · Quest
- 4 Cultist's Armguards Source not listed
- 5 Staghide Armguards Source not listed
- 6 Tempered Bracers Reclaiming the Charred Vale · Quest (Alliance)
- 7 Bandsaw Wristbands Sneed · The Deadmines
- 8 Hexed Bracers Jin'Zil's Forest Magic · Quest (Horde)
- 9 Spare Part Bindings Source not listed
- 10 Rift Bracers Arugal's Voidwalker · Shadowfang Keep
Hands Guard's Gloves Blacksmithing · Crafted 9
- 2 Silvered Gauntlets Source not listed
- 3 Grip of Fear The Abandoned · Ruins of Lordaeron
- 4 Protector's Gloves Blacksmithing · Crafted
- 5 Veteran's Gloves Blacksmithing · Crafted
- 6 Runed Gauntlets Source not listed
- 7 Warsong Gauntlets Warsong Supplies · Quest (Horde)
- 8 Crusader's Gloves Blacksmithing · Crafted
- 9 Shadow Gauntlets Source not listed
- 10 Thorbia's Gauntlets World drop
Waist Guard's Chain Belt Blacksmithing · Crafted 9
- 2 Protector's Chain Belt Blacksmithing · Crafted
- 3 Centaur War Chain Source not listed
- 4 Deviate Scale Belt Leatherworking · Crafted
- 5 Atrophic Girdle Witherfang · Ruins of Lordaeron
- 6 Veteran's Chain Belt Blacksmithing · Crafted
- 7 Windborne Belt Highperch Venom · Quest
- 8 Beastmaster's Girdle Isha Awak · Quest (Horde)
- 9 Kindlegem Girdle Magmatus · Hall of Thanes
- 10 Heartwood Girdle Twilight Falls · Quest (Alliance)
Legs Guard's Chain Leggings Blacksmithing · Crafted 9
- 2 Protector's Chain Leggings Blacksmithing · Crafted
- 3 Veteran's Chain Leggings Blacksmithing · Crafted
- 4 Plainsguard Leggings Wanted - Arnak Grimtotem · Quest (Horde)
- 5 Cobalt Legguards King of the Foulweald · Quest (Horde)
- 6 Fire Hardened Leggings Mathiel's Armor · Quest
- 7 Brutal Legguards Brutal Legguards · Quest
- 8 Crusader's Chain Leggings Blacksmithing · Crafted
- 9 Duty Bound Leggings Source not listed
- 10 Defender's Leather Pants Leatherworking · Crafted
Feet Guard's Boots Blacksmithing · Crafted 9
- 2 Protector's Boots Blacksmithing · Crafted
- 3 Grizzled Boots The Book of Ur · Quest (Horde)
- 4 Veteran's Boots Blacksmithing · Crafted
- 5 Silver-linked Footguards World drop
- 6 Savage Trodders Lord Serpentis · Wailing Caverns
- 7 Warsong Boots Warsong Supplies · Quest (Horde)
- 8 Vilewalkers Viktor the Vile · Ruins of Lordaeron
- 9 Quagmire Galoshes In Nightmares · Quest (Horde)
- 10 Crusader's Boots Blacksmithing · Crafted
Finger 1 Seal of Sylvanas Arugal Must Die · Quest (Horde) 9
- 2 Slain Baron's Signet Source not listed
- 3 Sustaining Ring Knowledge in the Deeps · Quest
- 4 Legionnaire's Band Kelm Hargunth · Vendor
- 5 Protector's Band Illiyana Moonblaze · Vendor
- 6 Blood Ring World drop
- 7 Ring of Scorn A Husband's Revenge · Quest (Horde)
- 8 Ring of Defense World drop
- 9 Ring of Iron Will Howling in the Hills · Quest
- 10 First Mate Band Mr. Smite · The Deadmines
Finger 2 Slain Baron's Signet Source not listed 9
- 1 Seal of Sylvanas Arugal Must Die · Quest (Horde)
- 3 Sustaining Ring Knowledge in the Deeps · Quest
- 4 Legionnaire's Band Kelm Hargunth · Vendor
- 5 Protector's Band Illiyana Moonblaze · Vendor
- 6 Blood Ring World drop
- 7 Ring of Scorn A Husband's Revenge · Quest (Horde)
- 8 Ring of Defense World drop
- 9 Ring of Iron Will Howling in the Hills · Quest
- 10 First Mate Band Mr. Smite · The Deadmines
Trinket 1 Minor Recombobulator Engineering · Crafted 9
- 2 Gnomish Universal Remote Engineering · Crafted
- 3 Rune of Duty Source not listed
- 4 Rune of Perfection Source not listed
- 5 Lookie's Spyglass Cookie · The Deadmines
- 6 Crystal of Zin-Malor Source not listed
- 7 Greater Insignia of the Alliance Source not listed
- 8 Greater Insignia of the Horde Source not listed
- 9 Insignia of the Alliance Rank 6 · PvP Rank
- 10 Insignia of the Horde Rank 6 · PvP Rank
Trinket 2 Gnomish Universal Remote Engineering · Crafted 9
- 1 Minor Recombobulator Engineering · Crafted
- 3 Rune of Duty Source not listed
- 4 Rune of Perfection Source not listed
- 5 Lookie's Spyglass Cookie · The Deadmines
- 6 Crystal of Zin-Malor Source not listed
- 7 Greater Insignia of the Alliance Source not listed
- 8 Greater Insignia of the Horde Source not listed
- 9 Insignia of the Alliance Rank 6 · PvP Rank
- 10 Insignia of the Horde Rank 6 · PvP Rank
Main Hand Frostfall Source not listed 9
- 2 Butcher's Slicer Razorclaw the Butcher · Shadowfang Keep
- 3 Cruel Barb Edwin VanCleef · The Deadmines
- 4 Stinging Viper Lord Pythas · Wailing Caverns
- 5 Legionnaire's Sword Kelm Hargunth · Vendor
- 6 Protector's Sword Illiyana Moonblaze · Vendor
- 7 Diamond Hammer World drop
- 8 Guillotine Axe Trash drop · Shadowfang Keep
- 9 Shadowfang Trash drop · Shadowfang Keep
- 10 Hammer of Orgrimmar Hidden Enemies · Quest
Off Hand Arctic Buckler Blackfathom Villainy · Quest 9
- 2 Raven Hill Crest Source not listed
- 3 Clink Shield Arikara · Quest
- 4 Mirror of Rath'mael Rath'mael · Ruins of Lordaeron
- 5 Redbeard Crest World drop
- 6 Gold-plated Buckler Miner Johnson · The Deadmines
- 7 Kresh's Back Kresh · Wailing Caverns
- 8 Constable Buckler Reclaiming the Charred Vale · Quest (Alliance)
- 9 Driftmire Shield Je'neu of the Earthen Ring · Quest (Horde)
- 10 Shield of the Faith Worgen in the Woods · Quest (Alliance)
Ranged Outrider's Bow Kelm Hargunth · Vendor 9
- 2 Outrunner's Bow Illiyana Moonblaze · Vendor
- 3 Calibrated Blunderbuss Source not listed
- 4 Bow of Plunder Dangerous! · Quest (Horde)
- 5 Raptor's End Ormer's Revenge · Quest
- 6 Lunaris Bow Answered Questions · Quest (Alliance)
- 7 Satchel of Copper Bombs Engineering · Crafted
- 8 Lil Timmy's Peashooter World drop
- 9 Iron Star Source not listed
- 10 Harvester's Pestslayer Source not listed
Where the list sends you
- 7 Crafted of 37 on the list
- 3 Quest of 16 on the list
- 1 Quest (Horde) of 17 on the list
- 1 World drop of 13 on the list
- 1 Vendor of 10 on the list
Alternatives only: The Deadmines, Wailing Caverns, Quest (Alliance), Shadowfang Keep, Ruins of Lordaeron, PvP Rank, Hall of Thanes, Reputation.
Talents
50 points, all of them spent by level 59.
Arms
17
3/3 
5/5 
3/3 
1/2 
0/5 
0/2 
0/1 
3/3 
0/1 
0/3 
2/2 
0/5 
0/1 
0/5 
0/2 
0/3 
0/1 
Fury
0
0/5 
0/5 
0/5 
0/5 
0/3 
0/1 
0/3 
0/3 
0/5 
0/1 
0/5 
0/2 
0/3 
0/1 
0/2 
0/2 
0/5 
0/1 
Protection
33
5/5 
4/5 
2/2 
0/5 
0/3 
1/1 
2/2 
3/3 
3/3 
0/3 
0/3 
1/1 
2/2 
1/1 
0/2 
5/5 
3/3 
1/1 21 points, which is everything the beta's level 30 cap allows.
Arms
0 0/3 0/5 0/3 0/2 0/5 0/2 0/1 0/3 0/1 0/3 0/2 0/5 0/1 0/5 0/2 0/3 0/1 Fury
0 0/5 0/5 0/5 0/5 0/3 0/1 0/3 0/3 0/5 0/1 0/5 0/2 0/3 0/1 0/2 0/2 0/5 0/1 Protection
21 5/5 3/5 0/2 0/5 3/3 0/1 2/2 3/3 3/3 0/3 0/3 1/1 0/2 0/1 0/2 1/5 0/3 0/1 Rotation
In priority order: the first line that applies is the one you press.
- Use Defensive Stance . A defensive combat stance. Decreases damage taken by 10% and damage caused by 10%. Increases all threat generated by 30%.
- Use Battle Shout . The warrior shouts, increasing the melee attack power of all party members within 20 yards by 12. Lasts 3 min.
- Cast Shield Wall and Last Stand as your emergency defensive cooldowns. Reduces the damage taken from all attacks by 60% for 12 sec.
- Cast Bloodrage to generate rage. Generates 10 rage at the cost of health, and then generates an additional 10 rage over 10 sec. The warrior is considered in combat for the duration.
- Maintain 5 stacks of Sunder Armor . Sunders the target's armor, reducing it by 90 per Sunder Armor and causes a high amount of threat. Can be applied up to 5 times. Lasts 30 sec.
- Maintain Thunder Clap . Blasts nearby enemies, increasing the time between their attacks by 20% for 10 sec and doing 10 damage to them. Will affect up to 4 targets.
- Maintain Demoralizing Shout . Reduces the melee attack power of all enemies within 10 yards by 63 for 45 sec.
- Cast Shield Block against physical attacks. Increases chance to block by 75% for 7 sec, but will only block 2 attacks.
- Cast Heroic Strike with excess rage. A strong attack that increases melee damage by 11 and causes a high amount of threat.
- Cast Shield Slam . Slam the target with your shield, causing 494 to 516 damage, increased by your Block Value, and has a 50% chance of dispelling 1 magic effect on the target. Causes a very high amount of threat.
- Cast Revenge . Instantly counterattack an enemy for 20 to 24 damage and a high amount of threat. Revenge must follow a block, dodge or parry.
- Cast Sunder Armor . Sunders the target's armor, reducing it by 90 per Sunder Armor and causes a high amount of threat. Can be applied up to 5 times. Lasts 30 sec.
- Use Defensive Stance . A defensive combat stance. Decreases damage taken by 10% and damage caused by 10%. Increases all threat generated by 30%.
- Use Battle Shout . The warrior shouts, increasing the melee attack power of all party members within 20 yards by 12. Lasts 3 min.
- Use Shield Wall and Last Stand as your emergency defensive cooldowns. Reduces the damage taken from all attacks by 60% for 12 sec.
- Use Bloodrage to generate rage. Generates 10 rage at the cost of health, and then generates an additional 10 rage over 10 sec. The warrior is considered in combat for the duration.
- Maintain 5 stacks of Sunder Armor . Sunders the target's armor, reducing it by 90 per Sunder Armor and causes a high amount of threat. Can be applied up to 5 times. Lasts 30 sec.
- Maintain Thunder Clap . Blasts nearby enemies, increasing the time between their attacks by 20% for 10 sec and doing 10 damage to them. Will affect up to 4 targets.
- Maintain Demoralizing Shout . Reduces the melee attack power of all enemies within 10 yards by 63 for 45 sec.
- Use Shield Block against physical attacks. Increases chance to block by 75% for 7 sec, but will only block 2 attacks.
- Use Heroic Strike with excess rage. A strong attack that increases melee damage by 11 and causes a high amount of threat.
- Use Revenge . Instantly counterattack an enemy for 20 to 24 damage and a high amount of threat. Revenge must follow a block, dodge or parry.
- Use Sunder Armor . Sunders the target's armor, reducing it by 90 per Sunder Armor and causes a high amount of threat. Can be applied up to 5 times. Lasts 30 sec.
Races
Ranked by how many of a race's racials touch what this spec does, read out of the game's own wording and out of the weapon its gear list aims for. Those are lit; the number on the right is the count. It is a measure, not a verdict: nothing in the beta has been parsed yet, so anything stronger would be a guess.
Alliance
- 1 Dwarf Big Game Hunter Mace Specialization Stoneform Find Treasure 1
- 2 Gnome Eureka! Engineering Specialization Escape Artist Expansive Mind 1
- 3 Human Will to Survive Sword Specialization Perception The Human Spirit 1
- 4 Night Elf Elune's Light Quickness Shadowmeld Wisp Spirit 1
- 5 Skyborne Elemental Insight Read Ley Line Walk on Air Wind Blessed 0
Horde
- 1 Orc Shatter Curse Axe Specialization Blood Fury Hardiness 2
- 2 Undead Touch of the Grave Cannibalize Will of the Forsaken Underwater Breathing 2
- 3 Tauren Plainsrunning Cultivation Endurance War Stomp 1
- 4 Troll Rapid Regeneration Berserking Regeneration Beast Slaying 1
- 5 Skyborne Elemental Insight Skysight Walk on Air Wind Blessed 0
What Forever changed
2 new, 17 rewritten, 0 no longer taught, across the whole class. Every ability, rank by rank.
In the Protection tree
- VanguardCharge works in Defensive Stance. In Classic a tank had to leave their stance to open, then switch back.
Elsewhere in Warrior
- Tactical Mastery is baselineStance dancing no longer costs talent points, which frees up the top of the Arms tree.
- Victory RushA free heal after a kill, which makes solo levelling markedly less painful.
- BloodthrillOverpower gains proc chances beyond a dodge, so Arms is not waiting on the enemy to miss.
- Improved Slam moved to ArmsSlam becomes an Arms tool rather than a Fury one, which is where it was always used.
New abilities
An X stands where the client would put a number it works out from your own character. The source publishes the formula rather than the value, so it is left as X rather than guessed at.
- Tactical MasteryYou retain up to 10 Rage when you change Stances.
- Victory RushInstantly attack the target causing X damage and healing you for 10% of your maximum health. Only useable within 20 sec after you kill a non-trivial enemy.