Protection Warrior PvP Guide — The War Within (11.0.5)
General Information
This guide will walk you through everything you need to know to play Protection Warrior in a PvP environment. The guide will cover everything from talent choices, PvP talents, gameplay and rotation, and useful racial bonuses. It is most applicable to Arena content, but most talents and racial bonuses will work in Rated Battlegrounds and skirmishes.
If you were looking for TBC Classic content, please refer to our TBC Warrior PvP guide.
PvP Protection Warrior Guides
1.
Protection Warriors in the Current Meta
Protection Warrior and tanks, in general, are often considered niche specializations for PvP, and especially arena, with very few regular players. However, Protection Warrior has seen high ratings in the past and is currently capable of dealing high amounts of damage while averting great pressure from enemy melees. The main struggle is magic damage-dealing specializations, as you have little passive sustain or defense against this type of damage.
Protection Warrior plays primarily as a bodyguard, averting dangers off of a
serious damage dealing teammate and trying to stall out a game long enough for
the enemy team to run dry on Mana. By using powerful damage-reducing abilities
such as 
Bodyguard, 
Morale Killer, 
Shield Bash and
Shockwave, Protection Warrior can single-handedly ruin the enemy
team's chances of killing your team.
2.
Changes in Patch 11.0.5
There are no changes to Protection Warrior in this patch.
3.
Changes in The War Within
The talent tree received multiple changes to the placements of the talents, with some minor tweaks, but overall, most of the talents are the same as in Dragonflight.
Two new Hero Talent specializations have been added, which are Mountain Thane and Colossus.
4.
Protection Warrior Strengths and Weaknesses
Strengths
Incredible peeling abilities.- Great damage for a tank.
- Almost impervious to enemy melees.
- Strong utility.
Weaknesses
Struggles to keep up with consistent ranged slows.- Vulnerable to magic damage.
- Lack of
Bladestorm means high vulnerability to being hit with CC. - Tanks sustain 50% more damage from all sources in PvP.
5.
Changelog
- 21 Oct. 2024 (races): Reviewed for Patch 11.0.5.
- 21 Oct. 2024 (macros): Reviewed for Patch 11.0.5.
- 21 Oct. 2024 (playstyle): Reviewed for Patch 11.0.5.
- 21 Oct. 2024 (comps): Reviewed for Patch 11.0.5.
- 21 Oct. 2024 (blitz): Reviewed for Patch 11.0.5.
- 21 Oct. 2024 (gear): Updated for Patch 11.0.5.
- 21 Oct. 2024 (talents): Reviewed for Patch 11.0.5.
- 21 Oct. 2024 (this page): Updated for Patch 11.0.5.
- 21 Oct. 2024 (this page): Updated for Patch 11.0.5.
- 09 Sep. 2024 (races): Reviewed for The War Within Season 1.
- 09 Sep. 2024 (macros): Reviewed for The War Within Season 1.
- 09 Sep. 2024 (playstyle): Reviewed for The War Within Season 1.
- 09 Sep. 2024 (comps): Reviewed for The War Within Season 1.
- 09 Sep. 2024 (blitz): Page added.
- 09 Sep. 2024 (gear): Reviewed for The War Within Season 1.
- 09 Sep. 2024 (talents): Reviewed for The War Within Season 1.
- 09 Sep. 2024 (this page): Reviewed for The War Within Season 1.
- 09 Sep. 2024 (this page): Reviewed for The War Within Season 1.
- 21 Aug. 2024 (races): Updated for The War Within
- 21 Aug. 2024 (macros): Updated for The War Within
- 21 Aug. 2024 (playstyle): Updated for The War Within
- 21 Aug. 2024 (comps): Updated for The War Within
- 21 Aug. 2024 (gear): Updated for The War Within
- 21 Aug. 2024 (talents): Updated for The War Within
- 21 Aug. 2024 (this page): Updated for The War Within
- 21 Aug. 2024 (this page): Updated for The War Within
- 23 Jul. 2024 (races): Updated for The War Within Pre-Patch.
- 23 Jul. 2024 (macros): Updated for The War Within Pre-Patch.
- 23 Jul. 2024 (playstyle): Updated for The War Within Pre-Patch.
- 23 Jul. 2024 (comps): Updated for The War Within Pre-Patch.
- 23 Jul. 2024 (gear): Updated for The War Within Pre-Patch.
- 23 Jul. 2024 (talents): Updated for The War Within Pre-Patch.
- 23 Jul. 2024 (this page): Updated for The War Within Pre-Patch.
- 23 Jul. 2024 (this page): Updated for The War Within Pre-Patch.
- 07 May 2024 (races): Reviewed for 10.2.7.
- 07 May 2024 (macros): Reviewed for 10.2.7.
- 07 May 2024 (playstyle): Reviewed for 10.2.7.
- 07 May 2024 (comps): Reviewed for 10.2.7.
- 07 May 2024 (gear): Reviewed for 10.2.7.
- 07 May 2024 (talents): Reviewed for 10.2.7.
- 07 May 2024 (this page): Reviewed for 10.2.7.
- 07 May 2024 (this page): Reviewed for 10.2.7.
- 22 Apr. 2024 (races): Updated for Season 4
- 22 Apr. 2024 (macros): Updated for Season 4
- 22 Apr. 2024 (playstyle): Updated for Season 4
- 22 Apr. 2024 (comps): Updated for Season 4
- 22 Apr. 2024 (gear): Updated for Season 4
- 22 Apr. 2024 (talents): Updated for Season 4
- 22 Apr. 2024 (this page): Updated for Season 4
- 22 Apr. 2024 (this page): Updated for Season 4
- 19 Mar. 2024 (races): Updated for Patch 10.2.6
- 19 Mar. 2024 (macros): Updated for Patch 10.2.6
- 19 Mar. 2024 (playstyle): Updated for Patch 10.2.6
- 19 Mar. 2024 (comps): Updated for Patch 10.2.6
- 19 Mar. 2024 (gear): Updated for Patch 10.2.6
- 19 Mar. 2024 (talents): Updated for Patch 10.2.6
- 19 Mar. 2024 (this page): Updated for Patch 10.2.6
- 19 Mar. 2024 (this page): Updated for Patch 10.2.6
- 15 Jan. 2024 (races): Updated for Patch 10.2.5
- 15 Jan. 2024 (macros): Updated for Patch 10.2.5
- 15 Jan. 2024 (playstyle): Updated for Patch 10.2.5
- 15 Jan. 2024 (comps): Updated for Patch 10.2.5
- 15 Jan. 2024 (gear): Updated for Patch 10.2.5
- 15 Jan. 2024 (talents): Updated for Patch 10.2.5
- 15 Jan. 2024 (this page): Updated for Patch 10.2.5
- 15 Jan. 2024 (this page): Updated for Patch 10.2.5
- 06 Nov. 2023 (races): Updated for Patch 10.2
- 06 Nov. 2023 (macros): Updated for Patch 10.2
- 06 Nov. 2023 (playstyle): Updated for Patch 10.2
- 06 Nov. 2023 (comps): Updated for Patch 10.2
- 06 Nov. 2023 (gear): Updated for Patch 10.2
- 06 Nov. 2023 (talents): Updated for Patch 10.2
- 06 Nov. 2023 (this page): Updated for Patch 10.2
- 06 Nov. 2023 (this page): Updated for Patch 10.2
- 04 Sep. 2023 (races): Reviewed for Patch 10.1.7.
- 04 Sep. 2023 (macros): Reviwed for Patch 10.1.7
- 04 Sep. 2023 (playstyle): Reviewed for Patch 10.1.7.
- 04 Sep. 2023 (comps): Updated for Patch 10.1.7.
- 04 Sep. 2023 (gear): Reviewed for Patch 10.1.7.
- 04 Sep. 2023 (talents): Reviewed for Patch 10.1.7
- 04 Sep. 2023 (this page): Reviewed for Patch 10.1.7
- 04 Sep. 2023 (this page): Reviewed for Patch 10.1.7
- 10 Jul. 2023 (races): Reviewed for Patch 10.1.5
- 10 Jul. 2023 (macros): Reviewed for Patch 10.1.5
- 10 Jul. 2023 (playstyle): Reviewed for Patch 10.1.5
- 10 Jul. 2023 (comps): Reviewed for Patch 10.1.5
- 10 Jul. 2023 (gear): Reviewed for Patch 10.1.5
- 10 Jul. 2023 (talents): Updated for Patch 10.1.5
- 10 Jul. 2023 (this page): Updated for Patch 10.1.5
- 10 Jul. 2023 (this page): Updated for Patch 10.1.5
- 09 May 2023 (races): Updated for Dragonflight Patch 10.1.
- 09 May 2023 (macros): Updated for Dragonflight Patch 10.1.
- 09 May 2023 (playstyle): Updated for Dragonflight Patch 10.1.
- 09 May 2023 (comps): Updated for Dragonflight Patch 10.1.
- 09 May 2023 (talents): Updated for Dragonflight Patch 10.1.
- 09 May 2023 (this page): Updated for Dragonflight Patch 10.1.
- 09 May 2023 (this page): Updated for Dragonflight Patch 10.1.
- 21 Mar. 2023 (races): Reviewed for Patch 10.0.7.
- 21 Mar. 2023 (macros): Reviewed for Patch 10.0.7.
- 21 Mar. 2023 (playstyle): Updated for Patch 10.0.7.
- 21 Mar. 2023 (comps): Reviewed for Patch 10.0.7.
- 21 Mar. 2023 (gear): Updated for Patch 10.0.7.
- 21 Mar. 2023 (talents): Reviewed for Patch 10.0.7.
- 21 Mar. 2023 (this page): Updated for Patch 10.0.7.
- 21 Mar. 2023 (this page): Updated for Patch 10.0.7.
- 30 Jan. 2023 (races): Reviewed for Patch 10.0.5.
- 30 Jan. 2023 (macros): Reviewed for Patch 10.0.5.
- 30 Jan. 2023 (playstyle): Reviewed for Patch 10.0.5.
- 30 Jan. 2023 (comps): Reviewed for Patch 10.0.5.
- 30 Jan. 2023 (gear): Reviewed for Patch 10.0.5.
- 30 Jan. 2023 (talents): Reviewed for Patch 10.0.5.
- 30 Jan. 2023 (this page): Reviewed for Patch 10.0.5.
- 30 Jan. 2023 (this page): Reviewed for Patch 10.0.5.
- 11 Dec. 2022 (races): Reviewed for Dragonflight Season 1.
- 11 Dec. 2022 (macros): Reviewed for Dragonflight Season 1.
- 11 Dec. 2022 (playstyle): Updated for Dragonflight Season 1.
- 11 Dec. 2022 (comps): Updated for Dragonflight Season 1.
- 11 Dec. 2022 (gear): Updated for Dragonflight Season 1.
- 11 Dec. 2022 (talents): Updated for Dragonflight Season 1.
- 11 Dec. 2022 (this page): Updated for Dragonflight Season 1.
- 11 Dec. 2022 (this page): Updated for Dragonflight Season 1.
- 22 Nov. 2022 (races): Updated for Dragonflight pre-patch.
- 22 Nov. 2022 (macros): Updated for Dragonflight pre-patch.
- 22 Nov. 2022 (playstyle): Updated for Dragonflight pre-patch.
- 22 Nov. 2022 (comps): Updated for Dragonflight pre-patch.
- 22 Nov. 2022 (gear): Updated for Dragonflight pre-patch.
- 22 Nov. 2022 (talents): Updated for Dragonflight pre-patch.
- 22 Nov. 2022 (this page): Updated for Dragonflight pre-patch.
- 22 Nov. 2022 (this page): Updated for Dragonflight pre-patch.
- 29 Jul. 2022 (playstyle): Updated for Shadowlands Season 4.
- 29 Jul. 2022 (comps): Updated for Shadowlands Season 4.
- 29 Jul. 2022 (gear): Updated for Shadowlands Season 4.
- 29 Jul. 2022 (talents): Updated for Shadowlands Season 4.
- 29 Jul. 2022 (this page): Updated for Shadowlands Season 4.
- 29 Jul. 2022 (this page): Updated for Shadowlands Season 4.
- 31 May 2022 (races): Reviewed for Patch 9.2.5.
- 31 May 2022 (macros): Reviewed for Patch 9.2.5.
- 31 May 2022 (playstyle): Reviewed for Patch 9.2.5.
- 31 May 2022 (comps): Reviewed for Patch 9.2.5.
- 31 May 2022 (gear): Reviewed for Patch 9.2.5.
- 31 May 2022 (talents): Reviewed for Patch 9.2.5.
- 31 May 2022 (this page): Reviewed for Patch 9.2.5.
- 31 May 2022 (this page): Reviewed for Patch 9.2.5.
- 28 Feb. 2022 (races): Page reviewed and approved for Patch 9.2.
- 28 Feb. 2022 (macros): Page reviewed and approved for Patch 9.2.
- 28 Feb. 2022 (playstyle): Page updated for Patch 9.2.
- 28 Feb. 2022 (comps): Page reviewed and approved for Patch 9.2.
- 28 Feb. 2022 (gear): Page updated for Patch 9.2.
- 28 Feb. 2022 (talents): Page updated for Patch 9.2.
- 28 Feb. 2022 (this page): Page updated for Patch 9.2.
- 28 Feb. 2022 (this page): Page updated for Patch 9.2.
- 08 Nov. 2021 (races): Page reviewed for Patch 9.1.5.
- 08 Nov. 2021 (macros): Page reviewed for Patch 9.1.5.
- 08 Nov. 2021 (playstyle): Page reviewed for Patch 9.1.5.
- 08 Nov. 2021 (comps): Page reviewed for Patch 9.1.5.
- 08 Nov. 2021 (gear): Page reviewed for Patch 9.1.5.
- 08 Nov. 2021 (talents): Page reviewed for Patch 9.1.5.
- 08 Nov. 2021 (this page): Page reviewed for Patch 9.1.5.
- 08 Nov. 2021 (this page): Page reviewed for Patch 9.1.5.
- 04 Jul. 2021 (races): Reviewed and approved for Patch 9.1.
- 04 Jul. 2021 (macros): Reviewed and approved for Patch 9.1.
- 04 Jul. 2021 (playstyle): Updated for Patch 9.1.
- 04 Jul. 2021 (gear): Updated for Patch 9.1.
- 04 Jul. 2021 (talents): Updated for Patch 9.1.
- 04 Jul. 2021 (this page): Updated for Patch 9.1.
- 04 Jul. 2021 (this page): Updated for Patch 9.1.
- 02 Jul. 2021 (comps): Reviewed and approved for Patch 9.1.
- 27 Mar. 2021 (this page): Guide created.
- 27 Mar. 2021 (this page): Guide created.
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PvP Protection Warrior Guides
Other PvP Guides
This guide has been written by Karanze, an experienced Gladiator Warrior player who has been a Stormforged/trusted member in the popular Warrior class discord Skyhold. You can watch his stream on Twitch.
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