Warrior

Rotations & Guide · PvE guide · PvP guide · Talent builds · Abilities · Talent Calculator · Macros · Changes vs Classic

Other classes: Paladin, Hunter, Rogue, Priest, Shaman, Mage, Warlock, Druid

Warriors are rage-fuelled melee fighters that excel as tanks or two-handed/dual-wield damage dealers. Forever makes Tactical Mastery baseline so stance dancing keeps rage, reworks Slam into a 15 sec cooldown strike (Improved Slam, an Arms tier 6 talent, shortens the cooldown and stops Slam delaying your swing), and adds Spearing Strike, an Arms talent for dismounting and hitting giants.

Arms (Melee DPS)

Arms is a two-handed spec built around Mortal Strike, Overpower and big crits via Impale and Deep Wounds. A single Weaponmaster talent rewards whatever you wield: axes and polearms get crit, maces and staves ignore armor, swords get extra attacks. Bloodthrill lets main-hand hits on a target with your Rend enable Overpower without a dodge, and with baseline Tactical Mastery you can dance into Battle Stance for Overpower without dumping all your rage.

Fury (Melee DPS)

Fury is the dual-wield raid spec, stacking Cruelty, Flurry and Enrage while Bloodthirst and Whirlwind do the heavy lifting. Since the 1 October build (level 30), per Blizzard's Warrior notes, Whirlwind always strikes with both weapons, without a talent point. The 4 November build replaced Raging Blows with Improved Whirlwind, a tier 6 talent that takes 2 sec off Whirlwind's cooldown and adds 30% damage to the closest enemy. Improved Slam is an Arms talent in Forever's tree, so Fury's Slam keeps its cast delay. Heroic Strike queuing is your rage dump.

Protection (Tank)

Protection warriors tank with shield in Defensive Stance, using Shield Slam, Revenge and Sunder Armor for threat. Forever's Bastion talent adds 10% damage with a shield equipped, making sword-and-board threat much stronger than in Classic. Shield Block keeps Revenge and Shield Specialization rage flowing.

Tips & tricks: what ForeverDB learned

Arms

Updated 7 November 2026 for build 1.60.1.70862 · From the DPS simulator, the game client

Learning from players: DPS. Collecting comparable fights before publishing observed cast patterns.

Observed cast patterns, not a proven optimal rotation. Gear, buffs, healing assignments and incoming damage can explain performance differences. HPS is effective healing; overhealing does not increase it. HPS counts effective healing, APS counts recorded shield absorption, and EHPS is their combined rate. Shield application sizes and overhealing do not increase EHPS. Healing assignments and incoming damage still limit healer comparisons. Build groups use the version reported by the log; some logs omit the hotfix build number.

Simulator: Bloodrage (1 min cooldown): the simulator uses it on the pull; it's worth 2.5% of your DPS at level 60. (level 60)
Simulator: Best consumable at level 60: Elixir of Greater Strength (+2.1% DPS in the simulator); then Bear Bruscitti (+1.7%). (level 60)
Simulator: The party buff that helps you most at level 60 is Blessing of Might from a Paladin: +5.2% DPS in the simulator. (level 60)
Simulator: Where your damage comes from at level 60: auto attacks 34%, Heroic Strike 22%, Execute 16% (simulator: recommended build, best gear for the level, 60 s single-target fight). (level 60)
Speculation: The simulator uses Classic's rule here (Execute below 20% (Classic: 3 damage per extra Rage)); the Forever client doesn't give the number: Execute is worth 13.1% of your DPS at level 60: the simulator's fight without it did that much less damage. (level 60)
Simulator: Slam is worth 12.4% of your DPS at level 60: the simulator's fight without it did that much less damage. (level 60)
Simulator: Stat values at level 60 (simulator, 1 attack power = 1): Strength 2, crit rating 1.72, Agility 0.95. (level 60)
Simulator: Bloodrage (1 min cooldown): the simulator uses it on the pull; it's worth 1.3% of your DPS at levels 20-29. (levels 20–29)
Simulator: Best consumable at levels 20-29: Elixir of Greater Strength (+2.3% DPS in the simulator); then Bear Bruscitti (+1.5%). (levels 20–29)
Simulator: The party buff that helps you most at levels 20-29 is Blessing of Kings from a Paladin: +3.9% DPS in the simulator. (levels 20–29)
Simulator: Where your damage comes from at levels 20-29: auto attacks 56%, Slam 15%, Heroic Strike 15% (simulator: recommended build, best gear for the level, 60 s single-target fight). (levels 20–29)
Simulator: Slam is worth 14.4% of your DPS at levels 20-29: the simulator's fight without it did that much less damage. (levels 20–29)
Simulator: Rend is worth 6.1% of your DPS at levels 20-29: the simulator's fight without it did that much less damage. It kept it on the target 94% of the time. (levels 20–29)
Simulator: Bloodrage (1 min cooldown): the simulator uses it on the pull; it's worth 1.7% of your DPS at levels 30-39. (levels 30–39)
Simulator: Best consumable at levels 30-39: Bear Bruscitti (+2% DPS in the simulator); then Scroll of Strength IV (+1.7%). (levels 30–39)
Simulator: The party buff that helps you most at levels 30-39 is Blessing of Kings from a Paladin: +4% DPS in the simulator. (levels 30–39)
Simulator: Where your damage comes from at levels 30-39: auto attacks 48%, Heroic Strike 16%, Slam 12% (simulator: recommended build, best gear for the level, 60 s single-target fight). (levels 30–39)
Simulator: Slam is worth 12.1% of your DPS at levels 30-39: the simulator's fight without it did that much less damage. (levels 30–39)
Simulator: Overpower is worth 6.7% of your DPS at levels 30-39: the simulator's fight without it did that much less damage. (levels 30–39)
Simulator: Bloodrage (1 min cooldown): the simulator uses it on the pull; it's worth 2.5% of your DPS at levels 40-49. (levels 40–49)
Simulator: Best consumable at levels 40-49: Bear Bruscitti (+2.4% DPS in the simulator); then Elixir of Greater Agility (+2.4%). (levels 40–49)
Simulator: The party buff that helps you most at levels 40-49 is Blessing of Might from a Paladin: +4.6% DPS in the simulator. (levels 40–49)
Simulator: Where your damage comes from at levels 40-49: auto attacks 43%, Heroic Strike 15%, Slam 14% (simulator: recommended build, best gear for the level, 60 s single-target fight). (levels 40–49)
Simulator: Slam is worth 12.8% of your DPS at levels 40-49: the simulator's fight without it did that much less damage. (levels 40–49)
Speculation: The simulator uses Classic's rule here (Execute below 20% (Classic: 3 damage per extra Rage)); the Forever client doesn't give the number: Execute is worth 7.2% of your DPS at levels 40-49: the simulator's fight without it did that much less damage. (levels 40–49)
Simulator: Bloodrage (1 min cooldown): the simulator uses it on the pull; it's worth 2.5% of your DPS at levels 50-59. (levels 50–59)
Simulator: Best consumable at levels 50-59: Elixir of Greater Strength (+3.1% DPS in the simulator); then Bear Bruscitti (+2.6%). (levels 50–59)
Simulator: The party buff that helps you most at levels 50-59 is Blessing of Might from a Paladin: +5.1% DPS in the simulator. (levels 50–59)
Simulator: Where your damage comes from at levels 50-59: auto attacks 41%, Heroic Strike 19%, Execute 13% (simulator: recommended build, best gear for the level, 60 s single-target fight). (levels 50–59)
Speculation: The simulator uses Classic's rule here (Execute below 20% (Classic: 3 damage per extra Rage)); the Forever client doesn't give the number: Execute is worth 10.7% of your DPS at levels 50-59: the simulator's fight without it did that much less damage. (levels 50–59)
Simulator: Slam is worth 9% of your DPS at levels 50-59: the simulator's fight without it did that much less damage. (levels 50–59)

How to play it at level 60: priority, procs and cooldowns

What to press, in order. Cast the first one that is ready and whose condition holds.

Execute: When the target is under 20% health: Only below 20% target health; worth 13.1% of your DPS (Simulator, Forever client, ForeverDB guide)
Rend: When it's missing from the target: Keep it on the target: up 97% of the sim's fight; worth 2.6% of your DPS (Simulator, Forever client, ForeverDB guide)
Overpower: after dodge: Only after the target dodges; worth 4.6% of your DPS (Simulator, Forever client, ForeverDB guide)
Slam: Whenever it's ready: Cast it when it's ready (15 s cooldown); worth 12.4% of your DPS (Simulator, Forever client, ForeverDB guide)
Heroic Strike: Fill the gaps with it: Your filler: cast it when nothing above is ready; worth 4.9% of your DPS (Simulator, Forever client, ForeverDB guide)

React to:

Under 20% health: Execute: Execute works once the target is under 20% health (Forever client, Simulator)

Keep up:

Rend on the target, at least 95% of the time (Simulator, Forever client)

Cooldowns:

Bloodrage: On the pull (Simulator, Forever client, ForeverDB guide)

Before the pull:

Blessing of Might (Simulator, Forever client)
Blessing of Kings (Simulator, Forever client)
Elixir of Greater Strength (Simulator, Forever client)
Mark of the Wild (Simulator, Forever client)
Bear Bruscitti (Simulator, Forever client)
Scroll of Strength IV (Simulator, Forever client)
Elixir of Greater Agility (Simulator, Forever client)

Latest changes:

7 November 2026: tip wording or values (client build or hotfix rebuild)
7 November 2026: client build 1.60.1.70790 -> 1.60.1.70862; new Blizzard post (new client build 1.60.1.70862)
6 November 2026: 60-60: Execute worth 8.1% -> 13.1% (client build or hotfix rebuild)

Fury

Updated 7 November 2026 for build 1.60.1.70862 · From the DPS simulator, the game client

Learning from players: DPS. Collecting comparable fights before publishing observed cast patterns.

Simulator: Bloodrage (1 min cooldown): the simulator uses it on the pull; it's worth 1.7% of your DPS at level 60. (level 60)
Simulator: Death Wish (3 min cooldown): the simulator uses it on the pull; it's worth 8.5% of your DPS at level 60. (level 60)
Simulator: Best consumable at level 60: Elixir of Greater Strength (+2.5% DPS in the simulator); then Bear Bruscitti (+2%). (level 60)
Simulator: The party buff that helps you most at level 60 is Blessing of Might from a Paladin: +6.3% DPS in the simulator. (level 60)
Simulator: Where your damage comes from at level 60: Heroic Strike 24%, auto attacks 24%, Off hand 24% (simulator: recommended build, best gear for the level, 60 s single-target fight). (level 60)
Speculation: The simulator uses Classic's rule here (Execute below 20% (Classic: 3 damage per extra Rage)); the Forever client doesn't give the number: Execute is worth 14% of your DPS at level 60: the simulator's fight without it did that much less damage. (level 60)
Simulator: Overpower is worth 4% of your DPS at level 60: the simulator's fight without it did that much less damage. (level 60)
Simulator: Stat values at level 60 (simulator, 1 attack power = 1): haste rating 2.07, Strength 2, crit rating 1.34. (level 60)
Simulator: Bloodrage (1 min cooldown): the simulator uses it on the pull; it's worth 1.5% of your DPS at levels 20-29. (levels 20–29)
Simulator: Best consumable at levels 20-29: Elixir of Greater Strength (+3% DPS in the simulator); then Bear Bruscitti (+1.8%). (levels 20–29)
Simulator: The party buff that helps you most at levels 20-29 is Blessing of Kings from a Paladin: +5.2% DPS in the simulator. (levels 20–29)
Simulator: Where your damage comes from at levels 20-29: auto attacks 40%, Off hand 24%, Heroic Strike 15% (simulator: recommended build, best gear for the level, 60 s single-target fight). (levels 20–29)
Simulator: Slam is worth 6.3% of your DPS at levels 20-29: the simulator's fight without it did that much less damage. (levels 20–29)
Simulator: Overpower is worth 6.2% of your DPS at levels 20-29: the simulator's fight without it did that much less damage. (levels 20–29)
Simulator: Bloodrage (1 min cooldown): the simulator uses it on the pull; it's worth 1.9% of your DPS at levels 30-39. (levels 30–39)
Simulator: Death Wish (3 min cooldown): the simulator uses it on the pull; it's worth 8.8% of your DPS at levels 30-39. (levels 30–39)
Simulator: Best consumable at levels 30-39: Bear Bruscitti (+2.6% DPS in the simulator); then Scroll of Strength IV (+2.3%). (levels 30–39)
Simulator: The party buff that helps you most at levels 30-39 is Blessing of Might from a Paladin: +5.1% DPS in the simulator. (levels 30–39)
Simulator: Where your damage comes from at levels 30-39: auto attacks 31%, Off hand 26%, Heroic Strike 19% (simulator: recommended build, best gear for the level, 60 s single-target fight). (levels 30–39)
Simulator: Slam is worth 6.9% of your DPS at levels 30-39: the simulator's fight without it did that much less damage. (levels 30–39)
Speculation: The simulator uses Classic's rule here (Execute below 20% (Classic: 3 damage per extra Rage)); the Forever client doesn't give the number: Execute is worth 5% of your DPS at levels 30-39: the simulator's fight without it did that much less damage. (levels 30–39)
Simulator: Bloodrage (1 min cooldown): the simulator uses it on the pull; it's worth 2% of your DPS at levels 40-49. (levels 40–49)
Simulator: Death Wish (3 min cooldown): the simulator uses it on the pull; it's worth 8.3% of your DPS at levels 40-49. (levels 40–49)
Simulator: Best consumable at levels 40-49: Bear Bruscitti (+2.7% DPS in the simulator); then Scroll of Strength IV (+2.5%). (levels 40–49)
Simulator: The party buff that helps you most at levels 40-49 is Blessing of Might from a Paladin: +5.4% DPS in the simulator. (levels 40–49)
Simulator: Where your damage comes from at levels 40-49: auto attacks 28%, Off hand 23%, Heroic Strike 18% (simulator: recommended build, best gear for the level, 60 s single-target fight). (levels 40–49)
Speculation: The simulator uses Classic's rule here (Execute below 20% (Classic: 3 damage per extra Rage)); the Forever client doesn't give the number: Execute is worth 12.5% of your DPS at levels 40-49: the simulator's fight without it did that much less damage. (levels 40–49)
Simulator: Slam is worth 4.5% of your DPS at levels 40-49: the simulator's fight without it did that much less damage. (levels 40–49)
Simulator: Bloodrage (1 min cooldown): the simulator uses it on the pull; it's worth 2.4% of your DPS at levels 50-59. (levels 50–59)
Simulator: Death Wish (3 min cooldown): the simulator uses it on the pull; it's worth 8.3% of your DPS at levels 50-59. (levels 50–59)
Simulator: Best consumable at levels 50-59: Elixir of Greater Strength (+3.6% DPS in the simulator); then Bear Bruscitti (+2.7%). (levels 50–59)
Simulator: The party buff that helps you most at levels 50-59 is Blessing of Might from a Paladin: +6% DPS in the simulator. (levels 50–59)
Simulator: Where your damage comes from at levels 50-59: auto attacks 29%, Off hand 24%, Heroic Strike 17% (simulator: recommended build, best gear for the level, 60 s single-target fight). (levels 50–59)
Speculation: The simulator uses Classic's rule here (Execute below 20% (Classic: 3 damage per extra Rage)); the Forever client doesn't give the number: Execute is worth 13.2% of your DPS at levels 50-59: the simulator's fight without it did that much less damage. (levels 50–59)
Simulator: Slam is worth 4.4% of your DPS at levels 50-59: the simulator's fight without it did that much less damage. (levels 50–59)

How to play it at level 60: priority, procs and cooldowns

What to press, in order. Cast the first one that is ready and whose condition holds.

Execute: When the target is under 20% health: Only below 20% target health; worth 14% of your DPS (Simulator, Forever client, ForeverDB guide)
Overpower: after dodge: Only after the target dodges; worth 4% of your DPS (Simulator, Forever client)
Slam: Whenever it's ready: Cast it when it's ready (15 s cooldown); worth 3.5% of your DPS (Simulator, Forever client)
Rend: When it's missing from the target: Keep it on the target: up 86% of the sim's fight; worth 1.4% of your DPS (Simulator, Forever client)
Heroic Strike: Fill the gaps with it: Your filler: cast it when nothing above is ready; worth 8.8% of your DPS (Simulator, Forever client, ForeverDB guide)

React to:

Under 20% health: Execute: Execute works once the target is under 20% health (Forever client, Simulator)

Keep up:

Rend on the target, at least 85% of the time (Simulator, Forever client)

Cooldowns:

Bloodrage: On the pull (Simulator, Forever client, ForeverDB guide)
Death Wish: On the pull (Simulator, Forever client, ForeverDB guide)

Before the pull:

Blessing of Might (Simulator, Forever client)
Blessing of Kings (Simulator, Forever client)
Elixir of Greater Strength (Simulator, Forever client)
Mark of the Wild (Simulator, Forever client)
Bear Bruscitti (Simulator, Forever client)
Scroll of Strength IV (Simulator, Forever client)
Elixir of Greater Agility (Simulator, Forever client)

Latest changes:

7 November 2026: tip wording or values (client build or hotfix rebuild)
7 November 2026: client build 1.60.1.70790 -> 1.60.1.70862; new Blizzard post (new client build 1.60.1.70862)
6 November 2026: 1 new tip(s); 1 tip(s) dropped (client build or hotfix rebuild)

Protection

Updated 7 November 2026 for build 1.60.1.70862 · From the game client

Learning from players: DPS. Collecting comparable fights before publishing observed cast patterns.

Forever client: No simulation for this spec yet: the order here is the site's rotation card for level 60, with cooldowns and costs from the Forever client. (level 60)
Forever client: Mocking Blow has a 2 min cooldown and costs 10 Rage at level 60 (client data): about once every second or third pull. (level 60)
Forever client: Last Stand has a 3 min cooldown at level 60 (client data): about once every second or third pull. (level 60)
Forever client: Shield Wall has a 15 min cooldown at level 60 (client data): plan on once per dungeon wing, not per pull. (level 60)
Forever client: There is no simulation for this spec yet. The rotation order is taken from the site's rotation card for levels 20-29, with cooldowns and costs from the Forever client. (levels 20–29)
Forever client: No simulation for this spec yet: the order here is the site's rotation card for levels 30-39, with cooldowns and costs from the Forever client. (levels 30–39)
Forever client: Last Stand has a 3 min cooldown at levels 30-39 (client data): about once every second or third pull. (levels 30–39)
Forever client: Shield Wall has a 15 min cooldown at levels 30-39 (client data): plan on once per dungeon wing, not per pull. (levels 30–39)
Forever client: No simulation for this spec yet: the order here is the site's rotation card for levels 40-49, with cooldowns and costs from the Forever client. (levels 40–49)
Forever client: Last Stand has a 3 min cooldown at levels 40-49 (client data): about once every second or third pull. (levels 40–49)
Forever client: Shield Wall has a 15 min cooldown at levels 40-49 (client data): plan on once per dungeon wing, not per pull. (levels 40–49)
Forever client: No simulation for this spec yet: the order here is the site's rotation card for levels 50-59, with cooldowns and costs from the Forever client. (levels 50–59)
Forever client: Mocking Blow has a 2 min cooldown and costs 10 Rage at levels 50-59 (client data): about once every second or third pull. (levels 50–59)
Forever client: Last Stand has a 3 min cooldown at levels 50-59 (client data): about once every second or third pull. (levels 50–59)
Forever client: Shield Wall has a 15 min cooldown at levels 50-59 (client data): plan on once per dungeon wing, not per pull. (levels 50–59)

How to play it at level 60: priority, procs and cooldowns

What to press, in order. Cast the first one that is ready and whose condition holds.

Charge: Whenever it's ready: Open from 8 to 25 yd for 15 Rage, more with Improved Charge in the leveling and PvP builds. (ForeverDB guide, Forever client)
Defensive Stance: When it's missing from you: Switch right after Charge unless you took Vanguard. (ForeverDB guide, Forever client)
Shield Slam: Whenever it's ready: On cooldown; rank 4 (60) hits for 640 to 670 plus your Block Value. (ForeverDB guide, Forever client)
Revenge: Whenever it's ready: Every time it lights up; rank 6 (60). (ForeverDB guide, Forever client)
Shield Block: When it's missing from you: On hard hitters. (ForeverDB guide, Forever client)
Sunder Armor: When it's missing from the target: Rank 5 (58) removes 450 armor per stack. (ForeverDB guide, Forever client)
Heroic Strike: Whenever it's ready: With spare Rage; rank 9 (60). (ForeverDB guide, Forever client)
Shield Bash: Whenever it's ready: Rank 3 (52): interrupt casters. (ForeverDB guide, Forever client)
Concussion Blow: When it's missing from the target: Stun a caster or a runner for 5 sec. (ForeverDB guide, Forever client)
Taunt: When it's missing from the target: Grab loose enemies. (ForeverDB guide, Forever client)

Keep up:

Shield Block on you, at least 0% of the time (ForeverDB guide, Forever client)
Sunder Armor on the target, at least 0% of the time (ForeverDB guide, Forever client)
Concussion Blow on the target, at least 0% of the time (ForeverDB guide, Forever client)
Taunt on the target, at least 0% of the time (ForeverDB guide, Forever client)

Cooldowns:

Bloodrage: as needed (ForeverDB guide, Forever client)
Mocking Blow: as needed (ForeverDB guide, Forever client)
Last Stand: as needed (ForeverDB guide, Forever client)
Shield Wall: as needed (ForeverDB guide, Forever client)

Before the pull:

Defensive Stance (ForeverDB guide, Forever client)

Latest changes:

7 November 2026: client build 1.60.1.70790 -> 1.60.1.70862; new Blizzard post (new client build 1.60.1.70862)
4 November 2026: client build 1.60.1.70755 -> 1.60.1.70790; new Blizzard post (new client build 1.60.1.70790)
3 November 2026: tip wording or values (class pages reworked for 70755 and the level 60 cap)

Every spec's latest changes. Re-studied every week and after each new game build.

Best in slot gear at any level: Arms, Fury, Protection

Best professions for Warriors: Blacksmithing + Mining.

Warrior abilities

Improved Intimidating Shout
Long Daze
Battle Shout (level 1)
Battle Stance (level 1)
Heroic Strike (level 1)
Charge (level 4)
Rend (level 4)
Thunder Clap (level 6)
Hamstring (level 8)
Bloodrage (level 10)
Defensive Stance (level 10, from the Classic class quest Path of Defense)
Sunder Armor (level 10, from the Classic class quest Path of Defense (rank 1))
Taunt (level 10, from the Classic class quest Path of Defense)
Overpower (level 12)
Shield Bash (level 12)
Demoralizing Shout (level 14)
Revenge (level 14)
Tactical Mastery (level 14)
Mocking Blow (level 16)
Shield Block (level 16)
Disarm (level 18)
Cleave (level 20)
Retaliation (level 20)
Slam (level 20)
Victory Rush (level 20)
Intimidating Shout (level 22)
Execute (level 24)
Challenging Shout (level 26)
Shield Wall (level 28)
Berserker Rage (level 30)
Berserker Stance (level 30, from the Classic class quest The Affray)
Intercept (level 30, from the Classic class quest The Affray (rank 1))
Whirlwind (level 36)
Pummel (level 38)
Recklessness (level 50)

Data from the WoW Forever client, build 1.60.1.70862, extracted 2026-11-07.