Protection Warrior
Shield up. You are the wall.
The warrior tank: Defensive Stance, Shield Block, Revenge and Shield Slam, with new WoW Forever tools like Vanguard, Master of Defense and a stronger Shield Wall.
Three things to remember
Shield Block every time
In WoW Forever it lasts 7 sec and blocks 2 attacks. Blocks give rage and open Revenge.
Revenge first
Cheap, strong threat, and it lights up after your blocks, dodges and parries.
Thunder Clap in Defensive
You can use it in Defensive Stance now, so packs are easier to hold.
What changed for you
Victory Rush
New: after you kill an enemy that gives experience, Victory Rush hits and heals you for 10% of your health. Great for levelling.
Tactical Mastery is free
It is a spell at level 14 now, not a talent: you keep up to 10 rage when you switch stance.
Whirlwind hits with both weapons
Dual wielders get the off-hand hit too.
Stronger tank tools
Shield Wall: 60% less of all damage for 12 sec, 15-min cooldown. Shield Block blocks 2 attacks. Taunt every 8 sec.
Vanguard
Charge from Defensive Stance.
Master of Defense and Focused Rage
Rage from dodges and parries, and every attack costs 1 rage less.
Low-level tips and what to press as you level
- Charge in, Heroic Strike with spare rage, Rend (4) on mobs that live a while.
- Victory Rush after each kill heals you; it is your free food.
- Thunder Clap (6) for two or more mobs.
- Keep Battle Shout up. Grab the biggest two-handed weapon from quests.
- Defensive Stance and Taunt at 10; Sunder Armor (10) for threat.
- Revenge (14) and Demoralizing Shout (14).
- Take Shield Specialization and Anticipation.
- Use Shield Block and Revenge together.
- Take Improved Revenge, Improved Thunder Clap and Last Stand.
- Cleave (20) with spare rage on packs. Take Vanguard to Charge in Defensive.
- Shield Slam (40): your big threat button.
- Take Focused Rage, Bastion and Concussion Blow.
- Save Shield Wall and Last Stand for the boss hits that would kill you.
Your priority
The order the WoW Forever simulator uses for a warrior tank.
- Last Stand and Shield Wall only when you are about to die.
- Revenge whenever it lights up.
- Shield Block on cooldown, so blocks keep giving rage and Revenge.
- Thunder Clap on packs, and to slow the boss.
- Shield Slam on cooldown.
- Demoralizing Shout keep it on the target.
- Sunder Armor until 5 stacks, then to fill gaps.
- Heroic Strike or Cleave with spare rage.
Talents that matter
| Talent | Tree | Why take it |
|---|---|---|
| Shield Specialization | Protection | More blocks, and blocks give rage. |
| Anticipation | Protection | More Defense. |
| Improved Revenge | Protection | 20% more Revenge damage. |
| Improved Thunder Clap | Protection | A stronger Thunder Clap (moved here from Arms). |
| Last Stand | Protection | Temporary extra health. |
| Master of Defense | Protection | Rage from dodges and parries with a shield. |
| Defiance | Protection | More threat. |
| Vanguard | Protection | Charge in Defensive Stance. |
| Focused Rage | Protection | Attacks cost 1 rage less. |
| Improved Shield Wall | Protection | Shield Wall 5.5 minutes sooner. |
| Bastion | Protection | +2% damage with a shield. |
| Shield Slam | Protection (31) | Big threat strike; it hits much harder in WoW Forever. |
Best race for this spec
Stoneform is a free 10% physical damage cut for 8 sec, and +1% hit keeps threat flowing.
Endurance gives +5% health, and War Stomp stuns a pack when things go wrong.
| Race | Side | Racials |
|---|---|---|
| Human | Alliance | Ruthless: +1% crit. The Human Spirit: +10% Spirit. Will to Survive: break out of a stun. Perception: spot stealthed players. |
| Dwarf | Alliance | Artisan's Precision: +1% hit with attacks and spells. Stoneform: removes bleeds, poisons and diseases and cuts physical damage taken by 10% for 8 sec. Big Game Hunter: +5% damage to Beasts. |
| Night Elf | Alliance | Elune's Light: +10% crit for 15 sec. Shadowmeld: hide when standing still. Quickness: +1% dodge and a little extra run speed. |
| Gnome | Alliance | Eureka!: 10% more damage and cheaper abilities for 8 sec (also boosts Power Word: Shield). Expansive Mind: +5% maximum mana (rage for Warriors, energy for Rogues). Escape Artist: break out of roots and slows. |
| Skyborne (High Order) | Alliance | Wind Blessed: +2% attack and casting speed. Elemental Insight: +5% damage to Elementals. Walk on Air. Read Leyline: +50% mana and health regeneration for 15 sec (+100% while Attuned from a Ley Line; Attuned ends when you enter a raid). Paid race. |
| Orc | Horde | Blood Fury: +10% attack power and spell power for 15 sec, every 2 minutes. Command: +5% damage for Hunter and Warlock pets. Shatter Curse: 5% less magic damage taken for 8 sec. |
| Undead | Horde | Touch of the Grave: your hits can drain health from the target (30% chance for casters, 20% for Paladins, Rogues and Warriors; once every 15 sec). Will of the Forsaken: break fear, charm and sleep. Cannibalize: eat a corpse to heal. |
| Tauren | Horde | Endurance: +5% health. War Stomp: stun nearby enemies. Plainsrunning: run speed that builds while you run (2% a stack, up to 60%; not on mounts). |
| Troll | Horde | Berserking: faster attacks and casts for 15 sec. Beast Slaying: +5% damage to Beasts. |
| Skyborne (Windshaper) | Horde | Wind Blessed: +2% attack and casting speed. Elemental Insight: +5% damage to Elementals. Walk on Air. Skysight: +15% run speed for 15 sec (+30% while Charged from an elemental convergence; Charged ends when you enter a raid). Paid race. |
These are small edges, about 1 to 2 percent. Play the race you enjoy and the side your friends are on. Skyborne needs the paid Skyborne Heroic Pack.
Play it better
Open with Charge
With Vanguard you Charge in Defensive Stance: instant rage and threat.
Mark and Sunder
Ask DPS to wait for 2 to 3 Sunders, or one Shield Slam, before going all out.
Taunt is cheap
Taunt comes back every 8 sec now. Use it the moment a mob leaves you.
Challenging Shout is short
It only reaches enemies within 10 yards in WoW Forever.
When something seems off
| What you see | What to do |
|---|---|
| No rage at the start | Charge in, Bloodrage before the pull, and take Shield Specialization and Master of Defense. |
| Losing packs | Thunder Clap and Demoralizing Shout first, then Cleave, then tab-Sunder. |
| Revenge never lights up | It needs a block, dodge or parry. Keep Shield Block up. |
| Taking huge hits | Use Shield Block before big swings, and save Shield Wall for the worst of them. |
Let Bonkr Compass+ call your buttons
Compass+ shows your next tank button, including Revenge when it lights up, and keeps Shield Wall and Last Stand in its defensive row. Type /cplus why to see why it picked a spell.