TBC Classic Arms Warrior Rotation, Cooldowns, and Abilities

If you have not already, please read the spell summary page. Knowing how each of your spells and abilities works in detail will greatly increase your understanding of your different priorities and rotations.

You will want to keep up whichever of Battle Shout and Commanding Shout you are assigned to for the entire duration of the fight.

Also use Demoralizing Shout, as it greatly reduces melee damage dealt by enemies.

The Arms Warrior rotation is much more complex than other rotations. It involves watching your swing timer extensively and using Slam instantly after your auto-attack.

Slam resets your swing timer, so it is very important to watch your swing timer and not lose auto attacks by Slamming too early or too late.

When it comes to Execute phase, you should swap to two fast One-Handed weapons and use Execute as much as possible.

1. Use Execute
   • can only be used on enemies below 20% health.
2. Use Slam. The short cast time requires you to stand still. Resets your weapon swing timer.
3. Use Mortal Strike on cooldown.
4. Use Whirlwind with any extra Rage.
5. Use Heroic Strike
   • if you have over 60 Rage OR
   • if you are moving and have no other abilities available

Warriors struggle greatly with threat in AoE situations, as they can deal very high burst cleave damage. Make sure you wait long enough for the tanks to establish threat before doing this rotation when fighting multiple mobs at once.

1. Use Sweeping Strikes on cooldown when you can hit multiple mobs at once.
2. Use Whirlwind.
3. Use Execute
   • can only be used on enemies below 20% health.
4. Use Cleave if it will hit multiple enemies and you have enough Rage.
5. Use Slam if nothing else is applicable.
6. Use Mortal Strike if you have the Rage after the above priorities.

Understanding and managing your Rage is a large part of Warrior gameplay. Knowing when to build Rage up, when to spend it, what abilities to use when and where is a huge part of being a great Warrior. While most of this knowledge will come with experience, some of these things you can practice right away.

• Learn and know the Rage cost of your abilities.
• Always be aware of your Rage. Make sure you can easily see your Rage bar on your UI.
• Understand your incoming Rage. Know how much damage you deal with attacks and approximately how much Rage you will get from them.
• Try to always think a few abilities ahead. Be aware of your rotation and plan out Rage spending depending on your main ability cooldowns.
• Try to pool Rage when you have big cooldowns coming up, including trinkets, potions and cooldowns. Do not cap on Rage, but skipping a Heroic Strike or a Whirlwind to have that extra Rage with cooldowns is typically an increase in damage.