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Warrior specialization

Protection Warrior in WoW Forever

Shield defense and threat control.

  • Your role: Tank
  • Class guides to level 30
  • Class notes checked

Your character

I’m playing
Updating…

Choose the level you are playing now. The playbook and gear rankings update to match.

Level 30 · Combat priorities

How to play at level 30

Your tank loop

Press the first one that is ready.

Keep up:
  1. Shield Block Cooldown · every 5 sec

    Use it whenever it is ready, every 5 sec.

  2. Bloodrage For rage · every 60 sec

    Use it whenever it is ready, every 60 sec, for rage.

  3. Revenge Every 5 sec

    Use it whenever it is ready, every 5 sec.

    42% of your damage
  4. Heroic Strike Spare rage

    Spend spare rage on it.

    4% of your damage
  5. Auto attack All the time

    Your weapon swings on its own. Stay in melee range.

    54% of your damage

The first 30 seconds

When to press each one from the pull. The blue line under a press is the global cooldown (1.5 sec) or cast it holds: nothing else on the global cooldown can go until it ends, so of two that are ready together the higher one goes first. Shield Block and Bloodrage are off the global cooldown, so they have no line and go alongside.

In the gaps
Heroic Strike
All the time
Auto attack

How MaxDPS works this out

Talents at level 30

The MaxDPS build at this level, in the game’s talent frame. Click a talent to learn it and right click to unlearn it, as in the game.

· of 21 points spent

Unspent Talents
Point order: when each point goes in
  1. Shield Specialization 5/5 · levels 10–14 +0.1% survival and threat
  2. Anticipation 5/5 · levels 15–19 +3.9% survival and threat
  3. Defiance 3/3 · levels 20–22 +4.7% survival and threat
  4. Improved Revenge 3/3 · levels 23–25 +4.4% survival and threat
  5. Last Stand 1/1 · level 26 no survival and threat
  6. Improved Sunder Armor 3/3 · levels 27–29 no survival and threat
  7. Vanguard 1/1 · level 30 no survival and threat

Every Warrior talent

Preliminary item rankings

Protection Warrior gear rankings

Survival and physical threat · Level 30 · Dungeons · Calculated defaults

Head

103 items matching this build · Updating…

Key stats show the stats behind the three largest score contributions, as the game tooltip states them; open an item’s details for every value and source.

Head items with imported stats, weighted scores and acquisition sources.
Rank Item Key stats Score (pts) Where to get it Actions
1 in this filtered list
Guard's Chain Helm Mail · iLvl 30 · Req. 25 · Crafted
  • 11 Stamina
  • 177 Armor
  • 12 Agility
24.68

Score breakdown

  • Stamina: 11 × 1 = 11.00 pts
  • Armor: 177 × 0.0454 = 8.04 pts
  • Agility: 12 × 0.4707 = 5.65 pts

Rare

Source

2 in this filtered list
Frostreaver Crown Mail · iLvl 32 · Req. 27 · Other drop
  • 15 Stamina
  • 182 Armor
  • 4 Strength
24.44
Burning Blade SeerNPC drop · 2.8% · Desolace

Score breakdown

  • Stamina: 15 × 1 = 15.00 pts
  • Armor: 182 × 0.0454 = 8.26 pts
  • Strength: 4 × 0.2941 = 1.18 pts

Rare

43 sources

Burning Blade SeerNPC drop · 2.8% · Desolace
Hatefury BetrayerNPC drop · 0.7% · Desolace
Hatefury HellcallerNPC drop · 0.7% · Desolace
Qiraji LieutenantNPC drop · 0.4% · The Barrens
Razorfen ThornweaverNPC drop · 0.3%
Large Solid ChestObject loot · 0.3%
Giant YetiNPC drop · 0.3% · Alterac Mountains
Dabyrie LaborerNPC drop · 0.2% · Arathi Highlands
All 43 sources
3 in this filtered list
Veteran's Chain Helm Mail · iLvl 30 · Req. 25 · Crafted
  • 11 Stamina
  • 177 Armor
  • 12 Strength
22.57

Score breakdown

  • Stamina: 11 × 1 = 11.00 pts
  • Armor: 177 × 0.0454 = 8.04 pts
  • Strength: 12 × 0.2941 = 3.53 pts

Rare

Source

4 in this filtered list
Protector's Chain Helm Mail · iLvl 30 · Req. 25 · Crafted
  • 11 Stamina
  • 177 Armor
  • 7 Defense rating
22.06

Score breakdown

  • Stamina: 11 × 1 = 11.00 pts
  • Armor: 177 × 0.0454 = 8.04 pts
  • Defense rating: 7 × 0.4319 = 3.02 pts

Rare

Source

5 in this filtered list
Brawler's Leather Helm Leather · iLvl 30 · Req. 25 · Dungeon drop
  • 13 Stamina
  • 10 Agility
  • 84 Armor
21.52

Score breakdown

  • Stamina: 13 × 1 = 13.00 pts
  • Agility: 10 × 0.4707 = 4.71 pts
  • Armor: 84 × 0.0454 = 3.81 pts

Rare

17 sources

RoogugNPC drop · <0.1% · Razorfen Kraul
Lorgus JettNPC drop · <0.1% · Blackfathom Deeps
GelihastNPC drop · <0.1% · Blackfathom Deeps
Charlga RazorflankNPC drop · <0.1% · Razorfen Kraul
IronspineNPC drop · <0.1% · Scarlet Monastery
Aggem ThorncurseNPC drop · <0.1% · Razorfen Kraul
Aku'maiNPC drop · <0.1% · Blackfathom Deeps
Dextren WardNPC drop · <0.1% · Stormwind Stockade
All 17 sources
6 in this filtered list
Guard's Silvered Chain Helm Mail · iLvl 25 · Req. 20 · Crafted
  • 9 Stamina
  • 163 Armor
  • 10 Agility
21.11

Score breakdown

  • Stamina: 9 × 1 = 9.00 pts
  • Armor: 163 × 0.0454 = 7.40 pts
  • Agility: 10 × 0.4707 = 4.71 pts

Rare

Source

7 in this filtered list
Defender's Leather Helm Leather · iLvl 30 · Req. 25 · Dungeon drop
  • 13 Stamina
  • 84 Armor
  • 12 Strength
20.34

Score breakdown

  • Stamina: 13 × 1 = 13.00 pts
  • Armor: 84 × 0.0454 = 3.81 pts
  • Strength: 12 × 0.2941 = 3.53 pts

Rare

14 sources

Lorgus JettNPC drop · 0.3% · Blackfathom Deeps
Aggem ThorncurseNPC drop · <0.1% · Razorfen Kraul
Bazil ThreddNPC drop · <0.1% · Stormwind Stockade
Aku'maiNPC drop · <0.1% · Blackfathom Deeps
Charlga RazorflankNPC drop · <0.1% · Razorfen Kraul
Old Serra'kisNPC drop · <0.1% · Blackfathom Deeps
All 14 sources
8 in this filtered list
Green Iron Helm Mail · iLvl 34 · Req. 29 · Crafted
  • 11 Stamina
  • 171 Armor
  • 5 Strength
20.23

Score breakdown

  • Stamina: 11 × 1 = 11.00 pts
  • Armor: 171 × 0.0454 = 7.76 pts
  • Strength: 5 × 0.2941 = 1.47 pts

Uncommon

Source

9 in this filtered list
Cloudy Skyforged Helm Mail · iLvl 35 · Req. 30 · Crafted
  • 9 Stamina
  • 173 Armor
  • 9 Strength
19.50

Score breakdown

  • Stamina: 9 × 1 = 9.00 pts
  • Armor: 173 × 0.0454 = 7.85 pts
  • Strength: 9 × 0.2941 = 2.65 pts

Uncommon

Source

10 in this filtered list
Azure Skyforged Helm Mail · iLvl 35 · Req. 30 · Crafted
  • 9 Stamina
  • 173 Armor
  • 9 Strength
19.50

Score breakdown

  • Stamina: 9 × 1 = 9.00 pts
  • Armor: 173 × 0.0454 = 7.85 pts
  • Strength: 9 × 0.2941 = 2.65 pts

Uncommon

Source

11 in this filtered list
Protector's Silvered Chain Helm Mail · iLvl 25 · Req. 20 · Crafted
  • 9 Stamina
  • 163 Armor
  • 7 Defense rating
19.42

Score breakdown

  • Stamina: 9 × 1 = 9.00 pts
  • Armor: 163 × 0.0454 = 7.40 pts
  • Defense rating: 7 × 0.4319 = 3.02 pts

Rare

Source

12 in this filtered list
Veteran's Silvered Chain Helm Mail · iLvl 25 · Req. 20 · Crafted
  • 9 Stamina
  • 163 Armor
  • 10 Strength
19.34

Score breakdown

  • Stamina: 9 × 1 = 9.00 pts
  • Armor: 163 × 0.0454 = 7.40 pts
  • Strength: 10 × 0.2941 = 2.94 pts

Rare

Source

13 in this filtered list
Acolyte's Chain Helm Mail · iLvl 30 · Req. 25 · Crafted
  • 11 Stamina
  • 177 Armor
19.04

Score breakdown

  • Stamina: 11 × 1 = 11.00 pts
  • Armor: 177 × 0.0454 = 8.04 pts

Rare

Source

14 in this filtered list
Foreman's Helm Mail · iLvl 26 · Req. 21 · Other drop
  • 9 Stamina
  • 166 Armor
  • 8 Strength
18.89

Score breakdown

  • Stamina: 9 × 1 = 9.00 pts
  • Armor: 166 × 0.0454 = 7.54 pts
  • Strength: 8 × 0.2941 = 2.35 pts

Rare

15 in this filtered list
Fire Hardened Coif Mail · iLvl 31 · Req. 26* · Quest · Alliance only
  • 8 Stamina
  • 163 Armor
  • 7 Agility
18.70
Grimand's ArmorQuest reward

Score breakdown

  • Stamina: 8 × 1 = 8.00 pts
  • Armor: 163 × 0.0454 = 7.40 pts
  • Agility: 7 × 0.4707 = 3.29 pts

Uncommon

Source

Grimand's ArmorQuest reward
16 in this filtered list
Brutal Helm Mail · iLvl 31 · Req. 26* · Quest · Horde only
  • 8 Stamina
  • 163 Armor
  • 7 Agility
18.70
Brutal HelmQuest reward

Score breakdown

  • Stamina: 8 × 1 = 8.00 pts
  • Armor: 163 × 0.0454 = 7.40 pts
  • Agility: 7 × 0.4707 = 3.29 pts

Uncommon

Source

Brutal HelmQuest reward
17 in this filtered list
Slayer's Skullcap Mail · iLvl 33 · Req. 28 · Other drop
  • 168 Armor
  • 7 Stamina
  • 9 Strength
18.69
Withered WarriorNPC drop · 1.7% · Razorfen Downs

Score breakdown

  • Armor: 168 × 0.0454 = 7.63 pts
  • Stamina: 7 × 1 = 7.00 pts
  • Strength: 9 × 0.2941 = 2.65 pts
  • Agility: 3 × 0.4707 = 1.41 pts

Uncommon

58 sources

Withered WarriorNPC drop · 1.7% · Razorfen Downs
Kolkar Battle LordNPC drop · 0.9% · Desolace
Kolkar ScoutNPC drop · 0.4% · Desolace
Kolkar WindchaserNPC drop · 0.3% · Desolace
Magram OutrunnerNPC drop · 0.3% · Desolace
Razorfen ThornweaverNPC drop · 0.2%
Razorfen BattleguardNPC drop · 0.2%
Death's Head CultistNPC drop · 0.1%
Ward GuardianNPC drop · 0.1% · Razorfen Kraul
All 58 sources
18 in this filtered list
Sunblaze Coif Mail · iLvl 33 · Req. 28 · Other drop · Provisional stats
  • 10 Stamina
  • 185 Armor
18.40

Score breakdown

  • Stamina: 10 × 1 = 10.00 pts
  • Armor: 185 × 0.0454 = 8.40 pts

Rare

19 in this filtered list
Tusken Helm Mail · iLvl 34 · Req. 29 · Dungeon drop
  • 188 Armor
  • 120 Bonus armor
  • 13 Strength
17.81
Overlord RamtuskNPC drop · 75% · Razorfen Kraul

Score breakdown

  • Armor: 188 × 0.0454 = 8.54 pts
  • Bonus armor: 120 × 0.0454 = 5.45 pts
  • Strength: 13 × 0.2941 = 3.82 pts

Rare

Source

Overlord RamtuskNPC drop · 75% · Razorfen Kraul
20 in this filtered list
Glimmering Mail Coif Mail · iLvl 31 · Req. 26 · Other drop
  • 163 Armor
  • 7 Stamina
  • 6 Agility
17.22
Large Iron Bound ChestObject loot · 10%

Score breakdown

  • Armor: 163 × 0.0454 = 7.40 pts
  • Stamina: 7 × 1 = 7.00 pts
  • Agility: 6 × 0.4707 = 2.82 pts

Uncommon

89 sources

Large Iron Bound ChestObject loot · 10%
Scarlet DiscipleNPC drop · 0.7% · Tirisfal Glades
Iron LockboxContainer loot · 0.5%
Large Solid ChestObject loot · 0.4%
Horde ChestObject loot · 0.2% · Arathi Highlands
All 89 sources

Item stats from the WoW Forever game files; sources from Wowhead.