Warrior PvP in WoW Forever: Arms, Fury and shield builds, and rotations against every class

Closing the gap

Charge only works out of combat: 8-25 yards, a 1-second stun, 15 rage and a 15-second cooldown. Out of combat refers to you, not your target. You can Charge someone fighting a mob, but not if a DoT is already ticking on you or a shot has hit you. That is why Mages and Hunters in Forever tag Warriors from 30-40 yards first. This is beta Warriors' main complaint, and Blizzard has not yet addressed it.

Intercept is your in-combat gap closer: Berserker Stance, 10 rage, a 3-second stun and a 30-second cooldown, reduced to 20 with the Fury talent. Charge and Intercept share stun diminishing returns, so Intercept immediately after Charge lasts only 1.5 seconds. If you have no rage, use Bloodrage first: it is off the global cooldown and instantly gives you 10 rage.

Intervene and Spell Reflection do not exist at level 60 in Forever: those are TBC abilities, and guides listing them were written for a different version of the game.

Crowd control and interrupts

Hamstring is your main button against everyone: 50% less movement speed for 15 seconds, costing 10 rage with no cooldown. It is not magic, so Priests and Paladins cannot dispel it. Improved Hamstring adds a 15% chance per use to root the target for 5 seconds; those roots have no diminishing returns. Druid shapeshifting, Escape Artist, Blessing of Freedom, the PvP trinket and potions can remove Hamstring.

The PvP trinket is an equipped accessory you activate to break control on yourself. In the beta tooltip, the Greater Insignia of the Horde and Alliance versions remove stuns, fear, slows and other loss-of-control effects; they do not grant immunity to the next CC. Rank 2 means your PvP rank, not character level; the exact launch reward still needs confirmation.

Fury's Piercing Howl slows all enemies within 10 yards by 50% for 6 seconds. It is your best button against a crowd around the flag or a Rogue who appears next to your healer. Intimidating Shout fears up to 5 nearby enemies for 8 seconds, with the primary target cowering in place. Damage breaks the fear; the shout is not magic and cannot be dispelled. Its cooldown is 3 minutes. Usually you use it to disengage and bandage or interrupt a base capture.

Disarm in Defensive Stance removes a weapon for 10 seconds on a one-minute cooldown, or 40 seconds with the Protection talent. It works on Warriors, Rogues, Paladins, Shamans and Hunters in melee, but Druid forms cannot be disarmed. Pummel in Berserker Stance locks a spell school for 4 seconds; Shield Bash locks it for 6 and adds a 3-second silence with the talent. They appear to share a cooldown, so you cannot chain both interrupts.

Protection's Concussion Blow stuns for 5 seconds for 10 rage, on a 45-second cooldown. It shares diminishing returns with Charge and Intercept, so save it until the previous stun's diminishing returns have expired.

Thunder Clap now works in Defensive Stance too and reduces the attack speed of up to 4 enemies by 20%; Demoralizing Shout reduces nearby attackers' attack power by 210 for 45 seconds. This is noticeable against Rogues, Warriors and Cats.

Damage

Mortal Strike is Arms' signature button: weapon damage plus 160 and 50% less healing for 10 seconds, costing 30 rage on a 6-second cooldown. It cannot be dispelled, so maintain it on any target being healed. A Hunter's crocolisk also reduces healing, but after the October 15 change its reduction is 25% for 6 seconds, not Mortal Strike's 50%.

Fury's Bloodthirst deals 45% of attack power plus 48 damage, has a 6-second cooldown and increases movement speed by 10% for 10 seconds. It no longer heals you as it did in Classic. Whirlwind in Berserker Stance now hits up to 4 nearby enemies with both weapons.

Overpower becomes available in Battle Stance after the target dodges and cannot be dodged, parried or blocked. It is your best answer to a Rogue's Evasion. Arms' Bloodthrill also enables it without a dodge: a main-hand hit against a target affected by your Rend has a 20% chance to trigger it.

Execute finishes targets below 20% health: at 60 it deals 600 damage plus 15 per additional point of rage. Since October 8, PvP critical hits are no longer weakened, making Execute and Mortal Strike crits fight-deciding again. Rend's bleed prevents Rogues and Cats from restealthing.

Sweeping Strikes in Battle Stance is off the global cooldown: your next 5 attacks also hit a second target. The classic flag-fight combination is Sweeping Strikes, Berserker Stance and Whirlwind. In Forever, though, it costs 55 rage, which Arms struggles to spare.

Spearing Strike is a new Arms talent: 40% weapon damage, plus another 80% against a mounted target. Its tooltip says it dismounts the target, but this has not yet been verified in game after the beta changes. It is weak against players on foot, and testers call it a trap.

Victory Rush heals 10% health after a kill granting experience or honor, with a 30-second cooldown. It works in world PvP and battlegrounds, but not duels, where nobody dies.

Defense and survival

From level 30, Berserker Rage in Berserker Stance grants 10 seconds of immunity to fear and incapacitation, including Sap, Gouge and, according to the data, Repentance. Its cooldown is 30 seconds. Use it preemptively: when a Warlock starts Fear or a Priest moves within 8 yards, press Berserker Rage immediately. It does not protect against Blind, Polymorph, Seduction or Death Coil.

Bloodrage is off the global cooldown and gives 10 rage immediately plus 10 over the next 10 seconds, on a one-minute cooldown. The Protection talent increases that rage by 50%.

Retaliation in Battle Stance counters every frontal attack for 15 seconds, up to 30 times, on a 15-minute cooldown. Against Rogues, Warriors and Cats, face them with your back to a wall. Shield Wall in Defensive Stance with a shield reduces all damage by 60% for 12 seconds, on a 15-minute cooldown, or 4 minutes with the Protection talent. Recklessness in Berserker Stance gives +100% critical strike chance and fear protection for 15 seconds, but increases damage taken by 20%, on a 30-minute cooldown.

Protection's Last Stand grants 30% health for 20 seconds, on a 3-minute cooldown and off the global cooldown. Fury's Death Wish gives +20% physical damage and 30 seconds of fear immunity at the cost of +5% damage taken, on a 3-minute cooldown. Passively, Protection's Iron Will reduces stun and fear duration by 15%, Blood Craze heals 3% health after you take a critical hit, and Enrage grants +10% damage after you are hit.

Everything a Warrior applies to an enemy, except Shield Bash's silence, is undispellable. The reverse is also true: enemies cannot dispel Retaliation, Recklessness, Shield Wall or Berserker Rage from you.

Quick reference

Ability	Level	Cooldown	PvP purpose
Charge	4	15 sec, out of combat only	Open with a stun
Rend	4	-	Bleed to prevent restealthing
Hamstring	8	-	Keep targets close; roots with the talent
Overpower	12	5 sec	Answer dodges and Evasion
Shield Bash	12	12 sec	Interrupt with a shield
Disarm	18	1 min (40 sec talented)	Disarm a melee attacker
Retaliation	20	15 min	Counter frontal melee attacks
Victory Rush	20	30 sec	10% health after a kill
Intimidating Shout	22	3 min	Disengage or interrupt a capture
Execute	24	-	Finish targets below 20%
Shield Wall	28	15 min (4 min talented)	60% less damage for 12 sec
Berserker Rage	30	30 sec	Preempt fear and Sap
Intercept	30	30 sec (20 sec talented)	Close the gap in combat
Whirlwind	36	10 sec	Damage a crowd
Pummel	38	10 sec	Interrupt in Berserker Stance
Recklessness	50	30 min	Burst and fear protection
Piercing Howl	Talent, 20	-	Slow everyone nearby
Last Stand	Talent, 20	3 min	+30% health
Concussion Blow	Talent, 30	45 sec	5-sec stun
Death Wish	Talent, 30	3 min	Damage and 30 sec of fear immunity
Mortal Strike	Talent, 40	6 sec	50% less healing on the target
Bloodthirst	Talent, 40	6 sec	Damage and +10% movement speed
Shield Slam	Talent, 40	6 sec	Damage and removing magic from the target

Arms: Mortal Strike and Enrage (31/20/0)

The main Warrior PvP build uses the same framework as Classic. Mortal Strike reduces healing, Improved Hamstring holds targets in place, Enrage has near-constant combat uptime, and Piercing Howl catches crowds. Strengths: the best Warrior alongside a healer and in battlegrounds. Weaknesses: no slow or root removal beyond potions, trinket and racials; low rage while chasing; and only Berserker Rage and Recklessness against fear.

31/20/0Open in calculator →

Arms 31

2/5133/3105/5152/2201/1223/3233/3262/2291/1315/5323/3371/140

Fury 20

1/5555/5415/5461/1513/3525/556

Protection 0

Why each talent matters

• Improved Rend 3/3Rend is 35% stronger. Its bleed prevents Rogues and Cats from restealthing, and it unlocks Deep Wounds.
• Deflection 2/5+2% parry. Essentially two points to unlock the second row.
• Improved Tactical Mastery 5/5Retain 25 rage instead of 10 when changing stance. Without this, dancing for Intercept, Overpower and Disarm consumes all your rage.
• Improved Overpower 2/2+50% Overpower critical strike chance. It cannot be dodged or parried, making it the best answer to Evasion.
• Anger Management 1/1+1 rage every 3 seconds in combat, even while controlled or running.
• Deep Wounds 3/3Every critical hit applies a bleed for 60% of average weapon damage over 12 seconds. Another bleed to prevent restealthing.
• Two-Handed Weapon Specialization 3/3+3% two-handed weapon damage.
• Impale 2/2+20% critical strike damage for abilities: Mortal Strike, Overpower and Execute.
• Sweeping Strikes 1/15 attacks also hit a second target. Required for Mortal Strike and useful around the flag.
• Weaponmaster 5/5Axe: +5% critical strike chance; sword: 5% chance of an extra attack; mace: attacks ignore 15% armor, useful against plate. Maces no longer stun.
• Improved Hamstring 3/3Hamstring has a 15% chance to root for 5 seconds, with no diminishing returns. That is why you use Hamstring again even when it is already applied.
• Mortal Strike 1/1Weapon damage plus 160 and 50% less healing for 10 seconds. Arms' defining ability and the reason for the build.
• Cruelty 5/5+5% critical strike chance: more rage, Deep Wounds and Impale.
• Unbridled Wrath 5/5Each weapon hit has a 60% chance to generate 1 extra rage.
• Piercing Howl 1/1Slows all enemies within 10 yards by 50% for 6 seconds, costing 10 rage. Catches flag crowds and Rogues near your healer.
• Blood Craze 3/3Heals 3% health over 6 seconds after a critical or heavy hit against you.
• Booming Voice 1/5Shouts cost 5% less and have 10% greater range. One point to unlock Enrage.
• Enrage 5/5A 30% chance after any hit taken to gain +10% physical damage for 12 seconds. In PvP you are constantly hit, so the buff rarely falls off.

Level-by-level order

1. 10–12Improved Rend 3/3
2. 13–14Deflection 2/5
3. 15–19Improved Tactical Mastery 5/5
4. 20–21Improved Overpower 2/2
5. 22Anger Management 1/1
6. 23–25Deep Wounds 3/3
7. 26–28Two-Handed Weapon Specialization 3/3
8. 29–30Impale 2/2
9. 31Sweeping Strikes 1/1
10. 32–36Weaponmaster 5/5
11. 37–39Improved Hamstring 3/3
12. 40Mortal Strike 1/1
13. 41–45Cruelty 5/5
14. 46–50Unbridled Wrath 5/5
15. 51Piercing Howl 1/1
16. 52–54Blood Craze 3/3
17. 55Booming Voice 1/5
18. 56–60Enrage 5/5

Arms / Protection: Mortal Strike and silence (31/0/20)

A new Forever build following Blizzard's own design: the middle of Protection replaces Fury. You get Mortal Strike and a 3-second Shield Bash silence on healers, Iron Will against stuns and fear, Last Stand every 3 minutes and Disarm every 40 seconds. Strengths: durability and control against casters, healers and melee. Weaknesses: no Howl, 5% less critical strike chance and no Enrage; the silence requires an equipped shield, so use a weapon-swap macro.

31/0/20Open in calculator →

Arms 31

2/5133/3105/5152/2201/1223/3233/3262/2291/1315/5323/3371/140

Fury 0

Protection 20

2/2465/5413/5513/3481/1543/3551/1602/258

Why each talent matters

• Improved Rend 3/3Rend is 35% stronger and unlocks Deep Wounds. Its bleed prevents restealthing.
• Deflection 2/5+2% parry. Two points to unlock the second row.
• Improved Tactical Mastery 5/5Retain 25 rage when changing stance. This build dances more than any other: Battle, Berserker and Defensive for Disarm.
• Improved Overpower 2/2+50% Overpower critical strike chance: your answer to Evasion.
• Anger Management 1/1+1 rage every 3 seconds in combat.
• Deep Wounds 3/3Critical hits apply a bleed for 60% of average weapon damage over 12 seconds.
• Two-Handed Weapon Specialization 3/3+3% two-handed weapon damage.
• Impale 2/2+20% critical strike damage for Mortal Strike, Overpower and Execute.
• Sweeping Strikes 1/15 attacks also hit a second target, and it unlocks Mortal Strike.
• Weaponmaster 5/5Weapon-type bonus: axes give critical strike chance, swords extra attacks, maces armor penetration.
• Improved Hamstring 3/3Hamstring has a 15% chance to root for 5 seconds, without diminishing returns.
• Mortal Strike 1/1Weapon damage plus 160 and 50% less healing for 10 seconds.
• Iron Will 5/5Stuns and fears last 15% less time. Orcs also have Hardiness.
• Improved Bloodrage 2/2Bloodrage generates 50% more rage: 15 immediately and 15 afterward.
• Improved Thunder Clap 3/3Thunder Clap costs 6 less rage: 20% less attack speed for nearby melee, in Battle or Defensive Stance.
• Anticipation 3/5+12 Defense. Essentially points to unlock the fourth row.
• Last Stand 1/1+30% health for 20 seconds, on a 3-minute cooldown and off the global cooldown.
• Improved Disarm 3/3Disarm has a 40-second cooldown instead of a minute: two Disarms in a duel.
• Improved Shield Bash 2/2Shield Bash applies a 3-second silence. You need an equipped shield, so keep a weapon-swap macro ready.
• Vanguard 1/1Charge works from Defensive Stance too, letting you open with Disarm ready.

Level-by-level order

1. 10–12Improved Rend 3/3
2. 13–14Deflection 2/5
3. 15–19Improved Tactical Mastery 5/5
4. 20–21Improved Overpower 2/2
5. 22Anger Management 1/1
6. 23–25Deep Wounds 3/3
7. 26–28Two-Handed Weapon Specialization 3/3
8. 29–30Impale 2/2
9. 31Sweeping Strikes 1/1
10. 32–36Weaponmaster 5/5
11. 37–39Improved Hamstring 3/3
12. 40Mortal Strike 1/1
13. 41–45Iron Will 5/5
14. 46–47Improved Bloodrage 2/2
15. 48–50Improved Thunder Clap 3/3
16. 51–53Anticipation 3/5
17. 54Last Stand 1/1
18. 55–57Improved Disarm 3/3
19. 58–59Improved Shield Bash 2/2
20. 60Vanguard 1/1

Two-handed Fury (20/31/0)

A solo Warrior for world PvP and random battlegrounds: a two-hander, Bloodthirst and the full lower-Fury PvP toolkit. Intercept every 20 seconds, Improved Berserker Rage to clear slows, Death Wish for 30 seconds without fear, and Bloodthirst for movement speed. Arms supplies Deep Wounds and Impale for critical hits. Beta testers are discussing this build: the thread's author considers it stronger than Arms solo, but explicitly recommends Arms if you always have a healer. Weaknesses: no Mortal Strike, so enemy healers heal at full strength, and no Hamstring roots.

For long fights without a healer, move two Flurry points into Gore Drinker. After Berserker Rage, Bloodrage, Death Wish and Bloodthirst, three attacks then heal 1% health each: open in the calculator →.

20/31/0Open in calculator →

Arms 20

2/5443/3411/2515/5461/1523/3533/3562/259

Fury 31

1/5245/5105/5151/1203/3215/5252/2301/1322/2335/5351/140

Protection 0

Why each talent matters

• Cruelty 5/5+5% critical strike chance: more rage, Flurry and Deep Wounds.
• Unbridled Wrath 5/5Each weapon hit has a 60% chance to generate 1 extra rage.
• Piercing Howl 1/1Slows all enemies within 10 yards by 50% for 6 seconds, costing 10 rage.
• Blood Craze 3/3Heals 3% health over 6 seconds after a critical or heavy hit against you.
• Booming Voice 1/5Shouts cost 5% less and have 10% greater range. One point to unlock the next row.
• Enrage 5/5A 30% chance after any hit taken to gain +10% physical damage for 12 seconds.
• Improved Berserker Rage 2/2Berserker Rage instantly grants 10 rage and removes movement-impairing effects, including roots and slows. The October 15 patch fixed this removal.
• Death Wish 1/1+20% physical damage and 30 seconds of fear immunity at the cost of +5% damage taken, on a 3-minute cooldown. Unlocks Flurry.
• Improved Intercept 2/2Intercept has a 20-second cooldown instead of 30.
• Flurry 5/5After a critical hit, your next 3 attacks are 25% faster.
• Bloodthirst 1/145% attack power plus 48 damage every 6 seconds, and +10% movement speed for 10 seconds.
• Improved Rend 3/3Rend is 35% stronger and unlocks Deep Wounds.
• Deflection 2/5+2% parry. Two points to unlock the second row.
• Improved Tactical Mastery 5/5Retain 25 rage when switching stance: Berserker for Intercept and Battle for Overpower without losing your reserve.
• Improved Charge 1/2Charge generates 3 additional rage. One point to fill the row.
• Anger Management 1/1+1 rage every 3 seconds in combat.
• Deep Wounds 3/3Critical hits apply a bleed for 60% of average weapon damage over 12 seconds.
• Two-Handed Weapon Specialization 3/3+3% two-handed weapon damage.
• Impale 2/2+20% critical strike damage for Bloodthirst, Whirlwind and Execute.

Level-by-level order

1. 10–14Cruelty 5/5
2. 15–19Unbridled Wrath 5/5
3. 20Piercing Howl 1/1
4. 21–23Blood Craze 3/3
5. 24Booming Voice 1/5
6. 25–29Enrage 5/5
7. 30–31Improved Berserker Rage 2/2
8. 32Death Wish 1/1
9. 33–34Improved Intercept 2/2
10. 35–39Flurry 5/5
11. 40Bloodthirst 1/1
12. 41–43Improved Rend 3/3
13. 44–45Deflection 2/5
14. 46–50Improved Tactical Mastery 5/5
15. 51Improved Charge 1/2
16. 52Anger Management 1/1
17. 53–55Deep Wounds 3/3
18. 56–58Two-Handed Weapon Specialization 3/3
19. 59–60Impale 2/2

Fury / Protection (0/31/20)

The toughest Warrior without a permanently equipped shield: the full Fury PvP toolkit plus the middle of Protection, including Iron Will, Last Stand, Disarm every 40 seconds and Shield Bash's silence. Strengths: mobility, slow removal, 30 seconds of fear immunity and plenty of defensives. Weaknesses: less damage than 20/31/0 because you lack Deep Wounds and Impale, and still no Mortal Strike.

0/31/20Open in calculator →

Arms 0

Fury 31

1/5245/5105/5151/1203/3215/5252/2301/1322/2335/5351/140

Protection 20

2/2465/5413/5513/3481/1543/3551/1602/258

Why each talent matters

• Cruelty 5/5+5% critical strike chance: more rage and Flurry.
• Unbridled Wrath 5/5Each weapon hit has a 60% chance to generate 1 extra rage.
• Piercing Howl 1/1Slows all enemies within 10 yards by 50% for 6 seconds, costing 10 rage.
• Blood Craze 3/3Heals 3% health over 6 seconds after a critical or heavy hit against you.
• Booming Voice 1/5Shouts cost 5% less and have 10% greater range. One point to unlock the next row.
• Enrage 5/5A 30% chance after any hit taken to gain +10% physical damage for 12 seconds.
• Improved Berserker Rage 2/2Berserker Rage instantly grants 10 rage and removes all slows.
• Death Wish 1/1+20% physical damage and 30 seconds of fear immunity, on a 3-minute cooldown.
• Improved Intercept 2/2Intercept has a 20-second cooldown instead of 30.
• Flurry 5/5After a critical hit, your next 3 attacks are 25% faster.
• Bloodthirst 1/145% attack power plus 48 damage every 6 seconds, and +10% movement speed for 10 seconds.
• Iron Will 5/5Stuns and fears last 15% less time.
• Improved Bloodrage 2/2Bloodrage generates 50% more rage.
• Improved Thunder Clap 3/3Thunder Clap costs 6 less rage: 20% less attack speed for nearby melee.
• Anticipation 3/5+12 Defense. Points to unlock the fourth row.
• Last Stand 1/1+30% health for 20 seconds, on a 3-minute cooldown.
• Improved Disarm 3/3Disarm has a 40-second cooldown instead of a minute.
• Improved Shield Bash 2/2Shield Bash applies a 3-second silence. Requires an equipped shield.
• Vanguard 1/1Charge works from Defensive Stance too.

Level-by-level order

1. 10–14Cruelty 5/5
2. 15–19Unbridled Wrath 5/5
3. 20Piercing Howl 1/1
4. 21–23Blood Craze 3/3
5. 24Booming Voice 1/5
6. 25–29Enrage 5/5
7. 30–31Improved Berserker Rage 2/2
8. 32Death Wish 1/1
9. 33–34Improved Intercept 2/2
10. 35–39Flurry 5/5
11. 40Bloodthirst 1/1
12. 41–45Iron Will 5/5
13. 46–47Improved Bloodrage 2/2
14. 48–50Improved Thunder Clap 3/3
15. 51–53Anticipation 3/5
16. 54Last Stand 1/1
17. 55–57Improved Disarm 3/3
18. 58–59Improved Shield Bash 2/2
19. 60Vanguard 1/1

Shield flag carrier (0/20/31)

The successor to Classic's 14/5/32. Shield Wall every 4 minutes, Last Stand every 3, Iron Will and a shield that generates rage from blocks, dodges and parries. Use Concussion Blow and silence on pursuers; Shield Slam has a 50% chance to remove an enemy magic effect, such as Blessing of Freedom. Fury supplies Howl for pursuers and cheaper shouts. Strength: the toughest Warrior. Weaknesses: no Improved Berserker Rage or Death Wish, and Berserker Rage requires its own stance.

Against many Warlocks and Priests, there is a 0/23/28 variation: Death Wish and Improved Berserker Rage instead of Shield Slam. Both cannot fit alongside it within 51 points: open in the calculator →.

0/20/31Open in calculator →

Arms 0

Fury 20

5/5555/5415/5461/1513/3521/560

Protection 31

2/2205/5105/5152/5253/3221/1272/2281/1322/2302/2331/1353/3361/5391/140

Why each talent matters

• Shield Specialization 5/5+5% block and 5 rage per block. Your shield feeds you rage while you are being hit.
• Iron Will 5/5Stuns and fears last 15% less time.
• Improved Bloodrage 2/2Bloodrage generates 50% more rage.
• Improved Thunder Clap 3/3Thunder Clap costs 6 less rage: 20% less attack speed for pursuers.
• Anticipation 2/5+8 Defense. Points to unlock the next row.
• Last Stand 1/1+30% health for 20 seconds, on a 3-minute cooldown and off the global cooldown.
• Master of Defense 2/2Another 5 rage when you dodge or parry with a shield equipped.
• Improved Shield Bash 2/2Shield Bash applies a 3-second silence, stopping the enemy healer from healing your pursuer.
• Vanguard 1/1Charge works from Defensive Stance too.
• Improved Shield Wall 2/2Shield Wall every 4 minutes instead of 15. The flag carrier's key defensive.
• Concussion Blow 1/1A 5-second stun for 10 rage, on a 45-second cooldown. Stop anyone who catches you.
• Focused Rage 3/3All offensive abilities cost 3 less rage, including Hamstring, Intercept and interrupts.
• Bastion 1/5+2% damage with a shield. One point to unlock Shield Slam.
• Shield Slam 1/1A shield strike for 640-670 damage plus block value every 6 seconds, with a 50% chance to remove one magic effect: Blessing of Freedom, a Priest's shield or Ice Barrier.
• Cruelty 5/5+5% critical strike chance.
• Unbridled Wrath 5/5Each weapon hit has a 60% chance to generate 1 extra rage.
• Piercing Howl 1/1Slows all enemies within 10 yards by 50% for 6 seconds. Your main answer to pursuers.
• Blood Craze 3/3Heals 3% health over 6 seconds after a critical or heavy hit against you.
• Booming Voice 5/5Shouts cost 25% less and have 50% greater range: Intimidating and Demoralizing Shout catch more enemies.
• Enrage 1/5One point to reach 20: a 30% chance after a hit taken to gain +2% damage.

Level-by-level order

1. 10–14Shield Specialization 5/5
2. 15–19Iron Will 5/5
3. 20–21Improved Bloodrage 2/2
4. 22–24Improved Thunder Clap 3/3
5. 25–26Anticipation 2/5
6. 27Last Stand 1/1
7. 28–29Master of Defense 2/2
8. 30–31Improved Shield Bash 2/2
9. 32Vanguard 1/1
10. 33–34Improved Shield Wall 2/2
11. 35Concussion Blow 1/1
12. 36–38Focused Rage 3/3
13. 39Bastion 1/5
14. 40Shield Slam 1/1
15. 41–45Cruelty 5/5
16. 46–50Unbridled Wrath 5/5
17. 51Piercing Howl 1/1
18. 52–54Blood Craze 3/3
19. 55–59Booming Voice 5/5
20. 60Enrage 1/5

Niche option: shield fighter (20/0/31)

A Forever experiment. Bastion gives +10% to all damage with a shield, Shield Slam hits almost twice as hard as in Classic, Revenge is 60% stronger, and Impale boosts their critical hits. This build's only supporting assessment is Mobalytics' view that Protection looks slightly more promising in level-30 duels. Strengths: flag-carrier durability with damage. Weaknesses: no Mortal Strike, Howl or frequent Intercept, and nobody has tested its damage against plate at 60 yet.

20/0/31Open in calculator →

Arms 20

2/5443/3412/2515/5462/2531/1553/3562/259

Fury 0

Protection 31

2/2205/5105/5153/3221/1252/2262/2281/2301/1313/3325/5351/140

Why each talent matters

• Shield Specialization 5/5+5% block and 5 rage per block.
• Iron Will 5/5Stuns and fears last 15% less time.
• Improved Bloodrage 2/2Bloodrage generates 50% more rage.
• Improved Revenge 3/3Revenge after a block, dodge or parry deals 60% more damage.
• Last Stand 1/1+30% health for 20 seconds, on a 3-minute cooldown.
• Master of Defense 2/2Another 5 rage when you dodge or parry with a shield equipped.
• Improved Shield Bash 2/2Shield Bash applies a 3-second silence.
• Improved Shield Wall 1/2Shield Wall every 9.5 minutes instead of 15.
• Concussion Blow 1/1A 5-second stun for 10 rage, on a 45-second cooldown.
• Focused Rage 3/3All offensive abilities cost 3 less rage.
• Bastion 5/5+10% to all damage with a shield.
• Shield Slam 1/1640-670 damage plus block value every 6 seconds, with a 50% chance to remove a magic effect from the target.
• Improved Rend 3/3Rend is 35% stronger and unlocks Deep Wounds.
• Deflection 2/5+2% parry; parrying with a shield generates rage.
• Improved Tactical Mastery 5/5Retain 25 rage when changing stance.
• Improved Charge 2/2Charge generates 6 additional rage, giving you a reserve at the start.
• Improved Overpower 2/2+50% Overpower critical strike chance.
• Anger Management 1/1+1 rage every 3 seconds in combat.
• Deep Wounds 3/3Critical hits apply a bleed for 60% of average weapon damage over 12 seconds.
• Impale 2/2+20% critical strike damage for Shield Slam, Revenge and Overpower.

Level-by-level order

1. 10–14Shield Specialization 5/5
2. 15–19Iron Will 5/5
3. 20–21Improved Bloodrage 2/2
4. 22–24Improved Revenge 3/3
5. 25Last Stand 1/1
6. 26–27Master of Defense 2/2
7. 28–29Improved Shield Bash 2/2
8. 30Improved Shield Wall 1/2
9. 31Concussion Blow 1/1
10. 32–34Focused Rage 3/3
11. 35–39Bastion 5/5
12. 40Shield Slam 1/1
13. 41–43Improved Rend 3/3
14. 44–45Deflection 2/5
15. 46–50Improved Tactical Mastery 5/5
16. 51–52Improved Charge 2/2
17. 53–54Improved Overpower 2/2
18. 55Anger Management 1/1
19. 56–58Deep Wounds 3/3
20. 59–60Impale 2/2

Which build should you choose?

• Playing with a healer or in a battleground group: Arms 31/20/0.
• Casters constantly control you and enemy healers escape alive: Arms / Protection 31/0/20 with silence.
• Solo world PvP: Fury 20/31/0, or 0/31/20 if you want more defensives.
• Carrying flags or holding bases: flag carrier 0/20/31, or its 0/23/28 variation against Warlocks and Priests.
• Enjoy fighting with a shield: shield fighter 20/0/31, but treat it as a bet rather than a proven build.
• For premades with healers, there is a Classic successor: dual-wield Fury 17/34/0. Open in the calculator →. Dual wielding has a hit penalty, making it weaker than a two-hander outside a group.
• If you have neither an axe nor a sword, you can replace Weaponmaster with Bloodthrill: Arms with Bloodthrill →.
• At level 40, get dual specialization: for example, Arms plus flag carrier, or a PvP build plus a dungeon tank.

Why a Warrior and healer drive the fight

A Warrior gains rage from incoming damage. When enemies hit you and a healer keeps you alive, rage keeps flowing and you keep pressing Mortal Strike. Forever makes this even better: Priest shields no longer deny rage, and all Priests have Fear Ward. Horde has Paladins and Alliance has Shamans, so both factions can give their Warrior Blessing of Freedom against kiting, Tremor Totem against fear and Windfury Totem for damage.

Mortal Strike cannot be dispelled and lasts 10 seconds on a 6-second cooldown. You can maintain it continuously on a healed target, effectively doubling the enemy healer's mana expenditure. That is why an MS Warrior stays close to a healer in battlegrounds, and why that healer is the enemy's primary target.

Who protects whom?

Your healer supports you: shields, healing, dispelling magical crowd control (Hammer of Justice, Polymorph, Fear, Frost Nova, roots), Fear Ward before facing Warlocks and Priests, and Blessing of Freedom against kiting. A Priest cannot remove your physical stuns or Blind. Blessing of Protection is used on a Warrior only to prevent death: you cannot attack while it is active.

You protect your healer: Hamstring and Howl melee attackers, Intercept whoever attacks the healer, Intimidating Shout around them, Disarm a Rogue or Warrior, and interrupt a caster's Polymorph or Fear aimed at your healer. A Warrior who chases a flag carrier and abandons the healer usually loses both.

Hunting healers and flag carriers

Target priority: enemy healer first, then flag carrier, then anything below 20% for Execute. Maintain Mortal Strike on the healer and interrupt healing: Pummel locks Holy or Nature for 4 seconds; Shield Bash locks it for 6 and adds silence. Intercept when the healer moves away. Keep Mortal Strike and Hamstring on a flag carrier being healed.

Do not keep Mortal Strike on one target when nobody is healing it: those 10 seconds of debuff are more useful where healing is happening. After a kill, use Victory Rush for 10% health in one button.

World PvP and duels without a healer

Alone in world PvP, a Warrior has no escape: no Vanish, Blink or shapeshift. Choosing your fights is therefore your most important skill. Attack when the target is fighting a mob, sitting, drinking or already low, near cover rather than in an open field against a Hunter or Mage. Charge only works while you are out of combat, so approach unnoticed.

Against a caster, stand behind a pillar or tree: they need line of sight, while you need them to move closer. Drink a Free Action Potion before fighting a Mage, Hunter or Rogue; Conquest Capped rightly calls it a Warrior's lifeline. After winning, use Victory Rush and a bandage.

In duels: Battle Stance, Charge, Hamstring, Mortal Strike and Rend, then Overpower after every dodge. Against fear, switch to Berserker Stance and use Berserker Rage in advance. Intercept after kiting or fear, Retaliation against frontal melee, Recklessness for the Execute finish. Victory Rush does not work in duels, and Retaliation and Shield Wall are almost always on cooldown during repeated duels. Agree on potions and trinkets beforehand.

Flag carrier

A shield Warrior is the classic second-choice flag carrier after Druid. The strength is durability rather than speed: Shield Wall reduces damage by 60% for 12 seconds and has a talented 4-minute cooldown, Last Stand is available every 3 minutes, Shield Block absorbs 2 attacks, and Iron Will shortens stuns and fear. Blocks, dodges and parries generate rage, so under focus fire you have enough for Hamstring, Howl and Concussion Blow on anyone who catches you.

Slows and fear are the weakness. Without Improved Berserker Rage, a flag carrier cannot clear slows alone: use the trinket, a preemptive Free Action Potion, your Paladin's Blessing of Freedom or Gnome Escape Artist. Defensive Stance cannot use Berserker Rage, so against Warlocks and Priests you need Fear Ward, Tremor Totem or Undead racials. Shield Slam has a 50% chance to remove a pursuer's magic buff, such as Blessing of Freedom.

Charge is almost useless for a flag carrier because it only works out of combat. Intercept, however, can jump to an enemy standing along your route to your own base.

Darkspear Islands

The beta has one battleground: Darkspear Islands, 15 versus 15 from level 30. It has four bases and a central flag that you carry to any base your team controls. The flag imposes a movement-speed cap, listed as 85% in client data. Routes are short, so the carrier needs to survive 10-20 seconds of focus fire rather than escape across the entire map. That is exactly the window for Shield Wall and Last Stand, making a plate wearer with a shield competitive with a Bear Druid here.

The open center belongs to Hunters and Mages; testers report several in every match. A flag-carrying Warrior will not survive there without a healer and trinket. Near water, keep Berserker Rage ready against Priests and Warlocks: fear sends you into shark-infested seas. Conversely, Intimidating Shout with your back to the sea drives enemies into the water. Darkspear Islands Silk Bandage only works on the Islands: 640 health over 8 seconds.

Defending and assaulting bases

Bases on the Islands are captured by interacting with the flag, as in Arathi Basin; in Classic, damage and crowd control interrupted captures. Warrior tools follow from that: Intimidating Shout scatters up to 5 attackers for 8 seconds, a distant Intercept stuns someone already interacting, and Howl and Hamstring catch those approaching. Whether an interrupt can stop a capture has not yet been verified.

A shield defender holds the base rather than chasing kills: Demoralizing Shout and Thunder Clap reduce melee damage, Retaliation counters attacks, and Concussion Blow stops the most dangerous enemy. Your job is to survive until help arrives. In a flag melee, Arms uses Sweeping Strikes, Berserker Stance and Whirlwind, but this costs 55 rage in Forever.

Warriors have few ways to find stealthed ninja cappers. Thunder Clap hits up to 4 nearby targets and can reveal someone standing very close; Humans detect stealth with Perception.

Warrior

In the mirror, Disarm decides momentum: whoever removes the other weapon first applies pressure. Watch for Mortal Strike, Hamstring roots, Intercept, Intimidating Shout and Retaliation, during which you should not attack from the front for 15 seconds. Retaliation has a 15-minute cooldown in Forever, so it is usually ready in world PvP. Watch the stance: Defensive means Disarm is ready; Berserker means Intercept and Berserker Rage.

Maintain Hamstring and use Mortal Strike on cooldown, saving rage for Execute: whoever drops below 20% first usually loses. Disarm when they activate Recklessness or Blood Fury to waste their burst. Dwarf Stoneform helps against their bleeds. They may drink a Potion of Venomous Blood, making your own Rend and Deep Wounds damage you.

With a shield or in battlegrounds: against an MS Warrior on your flag carrier or healer, use Disarm, Shield Wall, Thunder Clap and Demoralizing Shout.

Paladin

The threats are Hammer of Justice's 6-second stun, Repentance, Divine Shield for 12 seconds and Blessing of Freedom, which removes your Hamstring for 10 seconds on only a 20-second cooldown. Without Hammer, a Paladin cannot maintain distance, so this becomes an attrition fight.

Use Mortal Strike on cooldown and interrupt heals with Pummel (4 seconds without Holy) or Shield Bash (6 seconds plus silence). Do not waste the interrupt during Voice of Truth: the Paladin is immune to silence and interrupts for 6 seconds. During the bubble, back away, bandage and return. If they Hearthstone under it, remember that the cast takes 10 seconds and the bubble lasts 12. A timely Disarm cuts Retribution's damage. Save the trinket for Hammer during burst; a preemptive Free Action Potion gives 30 seconds without Hammer.

With a shield or in battlegrounds: Hammer and Repentance can control a flag carrier for up to 12 seconds. Shield Slam has a 50% chance to remove Freedom from the enemy carrier.

Hunter

The Warrior's toughest opponent. In Forever, Freezing Trap can be placed directly under the Hunter in combat, Scatter Shot disables you for 4 seconds, and Wing Clip slows by 60%, with a talented chance to root without diminishing returns. Pets add more problems: birds disarm, spiders web, and crocolisks reduce healing by 25% for 6 seconds after the October 15 change.

The plan is to Charge out of combat, Hamstring and fight close, in the dead zone where the Hunter cannot shoot. If they escape it, Intercept. Drink a Free Action Potion before combat: 30 seconds without Wing Clip, roots or Intimidation, but no protection from traps or Scatter Shot. Save the trinket for a trap or Scatter, and Intimidating Shout fears both Hunter and pet. Against Deterrence, Overpower every dodge.

With a shield or in battlegrounds: Hunters are a flag carrier's main enemy. Use Shield Wall against burst; a Paladin's Blessing of Freedom stops kiting for 10 seconds.

Rogue

A Rogue opens from stealth with a stunlock - a chain of stuns leaving little time to respond: Cheap Shot, Kidney Shot for up to 6 seconds, then Blind for 10 seconds and Vanish. Riposte can also disarm you after a parry, and Crippling Poison slows you. Sap no longer breaks the Rogue's stealth in Forever.

While looking for the Rogue, stay in Berserker Stance: preemptive Berserker Rage protects against Sap and Gouge. Once the stunlock begins, switch to Defensive with a shield, because Berserker Stance gives them 10% extra damage, then return to your two-hander. Overpower into Evasion, Rend to prevent restealthing, Retaliation while facing them, and Disarm after the opener. Drink a Free Action Potion before the opener; Restorative Potion and Dwarf Stoneform remove Blind.

With a shield or in battlegrounds: Retaliation only works from the front, so put your back to a wall. Limited Invulnerability Potion and Shield Wall help a flag carrier against Rogues.

Mage

A Mage holds you in Frost Nova for 8 seconds and casts Ice Lance, which deals triple damage to frozen targets. They also have Polymorph and Blink, which removes your stun and roots; Frost adds Ice Block and Ice Barrier. A good Mage can kite a Warrior in both Classic and Forever.

Charge, Hamstring, then interrupt Frostbolt or Polymorph. Mages wait for Charge's stun to end before using Nova, so save your trinket or Escape Artist for it and escape before Ice Lance. Intercept immediately after Blink. Drink Free Action Potion in advance; Restorative Potion removes both Nova and Polymorph. The new trinket's tooltip suggests it also removes Polymorph, unlike the Classic Warrior trinket. Shield Slam can remove Ice Barrier.

With a shield or in battlegrounds: trinket, potion or your healer can remove Polymorph or Nova from a flag carrier. Fury with Improved Berserker Rage clears slows itself.

Warlock

Watch for Fear for 20 seconds, Howl of Terror on nearby enemies, Death Coil for 3 seconds without diminishing returns and unaffected by Berserker Rage, Succubus Seduction, curses and Soul Link redirecting some damage to the demon. Against you, the Warlock uses Curse of Weakness or Curse of Exhaustion; only one curse from each Warlock can affect a target.

Stay in Berserker Stance throughout the fight. Use Berserker Rage as soon as Fear starts casting: you cannot activate it once feared. Pummel on Fear or Shadow Bolt locks Shadow for 4 seconds, including both Fear and Death Coil. Save Intercept for after Death Coil. Hit the Warlock, not the demon: Mortal Strike reduces Drain Life healing. Trinket the second fear or Seduction; Recklessness gives 15 seconds without fear for the finish.

Orcs clear curses with Shatter Curse, Undead break fear with Will of the Forsaken, and Restorative Potion removes Fear, Death Coil and curses. With a shield or in battlegrounds: a carrier in Defensive Stance lacks Berserker Rage and needs Priest Fear Ward, Tremor Totem or the trinket. Shield Slam can remove Soul Link.

Shaman

A Shaman hits with Stormstrike and Windfury procs, slows with Frost Shock and Earthbind Totem, and escapes in Ghost Wolf. If Tremor Totem is nearby, your Intimidating Shout is useless.

Charge, Hamstring, Rend, Berserker Stance and Mortal Strike. Pummel on Chain Lightning or a heal locks Nature for 4 seconds, including all Shaman healing. Destroy Earthbind and Disarm Enhancement. Frost Shock every 6 seconds is a reason to use Free Action Potion or the trinket. A Dwarf Shaman's Stoneform removes your bleeds. Thunder Clap and Demoralizing Shout reduce their damage.

With a shield or in battlegrounds: an enemy Shaman's Purge removes Freedom and Fear Ward from your carrier. Your Shaman supplies Tremor Totem and Windfury Totem.

Priest

Psychic Scream fears up to 5 targets for 8 seconds on a 30-second cooldown, and neither potion nor dispel removes this fear. The Priest's shield absorbs damage; Devouring Plague, on a 24-second cooldown, heals the Priest, and only Restorative Potion or Stoneform removes Plague. Gnome Priests blind with a flash; Dwarves briefly root.

Charge, Hamstring, Rend, Berserker Stance. Save Berserker Rage specifically for Scream. Our Priest guide advises screaming after your Berserker Rage expires, so patience wins. Pummel Mind Blast or Penance; Mortal Strike reduces both Plague healing and Penance. Execute below 20%, and heal immediately after winning because DoTs keep ticking. Trinket the second Scream, Recklessness for the finish, Intercept to catch up after Scream.

With a shield or in battlegrounds: the trinket, Fear Ward or Tremor Totem saves a Defensive-Stance flag carrier from Scream. A friendly Priest healer is an excellent partner: their shield no longer denies your rage.

Druid

Shapeshifting removes Hamstring, Howl and roots, and a Druid in form cannot be disarmed. They have Nature's Grasp to root the first attacker, Entangling Roots, Bear Bash, Barkskin and Travel Form, while Dire Bear handles Warriors better than it looks.

While the Druid runs and shifts, do not waste rage on damage; wait for caster form. They leave form to heal, which is your moment for Intercept, Mortal Strike and an interrupt: Pummel locks Nature for 4 seconds, including heals and roots. Reapplying Hamstring after each shift forces more mana expenditure. Disarm them in caster form: a disarmed Druid also deals less damage in form, an October 1 change. Trinket roots or Bash during their heal; Gnomes can clear roots themselves.

With a shield or in battlegrounds: Druids are the best escaping flag carriers. Hamstring, Intercept Travel Form and keep Mortal Strike on their HoTs. Shield Slam can remove Nature's Grasp or Barkskin.