Cataclysm Classic Protection Warrior Rotation and Cooldowns

Warriors have three different stances, each having unique functions that are needed in certain situations. Some spells can only be used in specific stances as well, making it important for you to understand the general purpose each stance has.

• Battle Stance — Increases all damage dealt by 5% and reduces damage taken by 5%. Allows you to use abilities that require you to be in Battle Stance, such as Shattering Throw.
• Defensive Stance — Decreases all damage taken by 10% and increases threat generation by 500%. This is the main stance that Protection Warrior uses.
• Berserker Stance — Increases all damage dealt by 10% and allows you to use abilities that require you to be in Berserker Stance like Whirlwind.

If you have not already, we recommend reading the Spells Summary page first. Knowing how each spell and ability works in detail will greatly increase your understanding of the topics discussed on this page.

The Protection rotation is fairly simple, but still remains engaging as you focus on utilizing multiple different procs while maintaining multiple different buffs and debuffs.

1. Rend — Apply at start of combat, or if it falls off.
2. Shield Slam — Use on cooldown. The cooldown of Shield Slam will frequently be reset by the Sword and Board talent, allowing you to use it more often; be mindful of these procs.
3. Revenge — Use on cooldown.
4. Colossus Smash — Use on cooldown. Make sure to burst with any available cooldowns during the 6 second debuff window.
5. Shockwave — On cooldown.
6. Thunder Clap — To refresh Rend.
7. Devastate — Use as a filler during the gaps in your rotation.
8. Heroic Strike — When you have are high Rage.
9. Demoralizing Shout — If you need to maintain the debuff.
10. Commanding Shout — Use this for Rage as needed.

1. Rend — Apply to 1 target.
2. Thunder Clap — On cooldown; spreads Rend via Blood and Thunder.
3. Shockwave — On cooldown.
4. Revenge — On cooldown.
5. Shield Slam — On any open globals.
6. Cleave — Any additional Rage.

Protection Warriors has somewhat limited cooldowns, mostly focused on increasing your own survivability. Cataclysm adds Rallying Cry, a raid-wide defensive cooldown.

• Shield Block — 30-second cooldown. Use on cooldown.
• Shield Wall — 2-minute cooldown. Use to reduce damage taken during high damage raid mechanics.
• Last Stand — 3-minute cooldown. Use whenever your health drops dangerously low.
• Enraged Regeneration — 3-minute cooldown. Use together with Last Stand.
• Rallying Cry — 3-minute cooldown. Coordinate this with your raid to help the group survive raid mechanics.
• Challenging Shout — 3-minute cooldown. Use as needed when enemies get loose, usually on trash.
• Inner Rage — 30-second cooldown. Use when you have high Rage that you can't spend otherwise.
• Shattering Throw — 5-minute cooldown. Use this with raid cooldowns such as Bloodlust.
• Recklessness — 5-minute cooldown. Use with major cooldowns such as Bloodlust, ideally when you are not currently tanking.