Protection Warrior guide

TankWarrior · WoW Forever

Beta guide, level 30. The WoW Forever beta stops at level 30, so this guide and its build cover levels 1 to 30. We update it for level 60 after launch on November 4.

Protection is the classic shield tank. Forever gives it far better Rage: blocks always give 5 Rage with Shield Specialization, and dodges and parries do too once you take Master of Defense. Vanguard lets you Charge without leaving Defensive Stance, and Focused Rage makes everything cheaper. It shines in dungeons and struggles when it isn't tanking.

Strengths

Rage from blocks, dodges and parries means almost no downtime while tanking
Big defensive cooldowns: Shield Wall and Last Stand
Vanguard: Charge into a pack without dancing out of Defensive Stance

Weaknesses

Low damage when you are not the tank
Slow to level solo
Groups expect you to lead the pull and know the dungeon

Talent build (level 30) 0/0/21

Protection 21 points

Shield Specialization5/5
Anticipation5/5
Last Stand1/1
Master of Defense2/2
Defiance3/3
Improved Sunder Armor3/3
Vanguard1/1
Concussion Blow1/1

A full tank build at 30: Shield Specialization and Master of Defense for Rage, Anticipation for defense, Defiance for threat, Vanguard and Concussion Blow. Shield Slam and Bastion come after launch. Some guides tank in a Fury-leaning build at 30 instead, which kills faster but is less safe.

Open this build in the talent calculator

Key talents

Shield Specialization: +5% block chance and 5 Rage every time you block.
Master of Defense: New in Forever: 5 Rage on every dodge or parry with a shield on.
Defiance: +15% threat in Defensive Stance with a shield.
Vanguard: New in Forever: Charge works in Defensive Stance.
Last Stand: +30% max health for 20 sec when things go wrong.

New in Forever: Protection talents

Master of DefenseGrants you a 100% chance to generate 5 Rage when you Dodge or Parry while a shield is equipped.
VanguardYour Charge ability is now usable while in Defensive Stance.
Focused RageReduces the Rage cost of your offensive abilities by 3.

Rotation

Charge in (Vanguard) and open with Sunder Armor or Revenge.
Revenge whenever it is available: cheap and high threat.
Sunder Armor on your main target, Heroic Strike when Rage piles up.
Shield Block before big hits.
Shield Slam on cooldown once you have it.

Several enemies

Thunder Clap and Demoralizing Shout on packs.
Tab-Sunder or Cleave to spread threat.
Battle Shout gives a little threat on every enemy fighting you.

Cooldowns

Shield Wall: Big damage cut for emergencies.
Last Stand: Extra health to survive a bad moment.
Concussion Blow: 5 sec stun to stop a dangerous mob.

Stats

Stamina and armor to survive, then defense, block and parry. Some hit so your threat abilities land.

Best races

Alliance

Dwarf: Stoneform: removes bleeds, poisons and diseases and cuts physical damage by 10%.
Night Elf: Quickness: +1% dodge.
Human: Will to Survive breaks stuns, and +1% crit adds threat.

Horde

Tauren: Endurance (+5% health) and War Stomp for packs.
Orc: Hardiness: stuns on you last 20% less.
Undead: Will of the Forsaken breaks fear and charm.

Professions

Mining and Blacksmithing for plate and shields.

Leveling

Protection is the best way to level a Warrior on your own in the beta. Revenge and Shield Block keep the damage you take low, so you stop to eat far less. In a group, Arms kills faster.