Warrior

For related articles, see Category:Warriors.

“

For as long as war has raged, heroes from every race have aimed to master the art of battle. Warriors combine strength, leadership, and a vast knowledge of arms and armor to wreak havoc in glorious combat. - Official site

”

Warriors are melee fighters highly trained in the art of weaponry. Melee combat is the warrior's strongest skill. They are strong and quick on the battlefield. Depending on their specialization, a warrior can often deal very high damage or be tough to kill. Warrior abilities depend on rage generation. This is different to all but one melee class, the bear form druid. Rage for Arms and Fury is generated through auto-attacks, while rage for Protection warriors is generated primarily through taking damage.

Warriors wear plate, and at level 50 they receive [Plate Specialization]. They are able to use shields, wear a variety of armor, and wield any weapon with the exception of wands. Warrior is one of the two classes playable by all races, Hunter being the other.

Background

See also: List of warriors

As long as war is waged on Azeroth, there will be men and women who fight those wars. Warriors are no mere sword-swingers; they are skilled combatants, combining strength of arm, knowledge of weaponry, and practiced maneuvers to slice or bludgeon their foes into little red bits. Warriors are the most versatile of the combat classes, and they supplement their fighting prowess with the ability to rally their allies and spur them to victory. They charge into the heart of the battle and survive the most grievous of wounds. Warriors are common in dwarf, Forsaken, human, and orc societies, but many other species also fill their ranks with warriors. Masters of swords, spears, and weapons of all kinds, warriors share a common way of life on Azeroth. Using their abilities to deal pain and cause bloodshed, warriors are deadly adversaries and welcome friends in violent times (which seem to be all the time in recent decades). Anyone willing to take up arms to defend their people can be classed as a warrior. A knight is the warrior elite among humans.

Notable warriors

Kur'talos Ravencrest   Mannoroth   Shandris Feathermoon   Muradin Bronzebeard   Sir Anduin Lothar   Magtheridon

Danath Trollbane   King Varian Wrynn   Cairne Bloodhoof   Broxigar the Red   Orgrim Doomhammer   Durotan   Grom Hellscream

Garrosh Hellscream   Varok Saurfang   Dranosh Saurfang   Gamon   Kargath Bladefist

Races

Main article: Warrior races

• Playable races
• Racial advantages
• TCG images

The warrior class can be played by the following races:

Race		Strength	Agility	Stamina	Intellect	Spirit	Armor	Health
	Blood elf	20	22	20	24	19	?	?
	Forsaken	22	18	22	18	25	36	60
	Goblin	20	22	22	23	18	?	?
	Orc	26	17	23	17	22	34	70
	Tauren	28	16	23	16	22	32	71
	Troll	24	22	22	16	21	44	60
	Draenei	24	17	22	20	22	34	60
	Dwarf	28	16	23	19	19	32	70
	Gnome	18	22	22	24	20	44	60
	Human	23	20	22	20	20	40	60
	Night elf	19	24	22	20	20	48	60
	Pandaren	23	18	23	19	22	37	133
	Worgen	26	22	22	16	19	98	60

Before the release of Cataclysm, blood elf players were the only race that could not be warriors, though they were a standard class for blood elves in the RPG. Some blood elves become warriors (or scouts or hunters) — especially those seeking to be spell breakers, demon hunters, and rangers. In addition, there were high elf Swordsmen in the Undead campaign in Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos, so elven warriors have technically always been justified.

With the release of Cataclysm, warriors are the first non-hero class to be available to all races.

Alliance races

• Draenei: [Gift of the Naaru] heals 20% of the caster's health over 10 seconds, giving draenei warriors a healing ability. Extremely useful for high level PvP and PvE. The extra [shadow resistance] is always welcomed. [Heroic Presence] can help Off tanks or the Main tank perform better.

• Dwarves: [Stoneform] removes poison, disease, and bleed effects, and decreases damage taken by a short period of time. Both of these can be very useful in PvE and PvP fights. The additional [Frost Resistance] is always useful, as a warrior's sworn enemy is the frost mage.

• Gnomes: [Escape Artist] can be very useful, primarily in PvP situations, but also in PvE situations. Warriors, the prototypical tank, often have to lead mobs and bosses away from healers and ranged fighters, thus making Escape Artist very useful. Gnomes also benefit from increased [arcane resistance], which is always useful. Because of their small size, gnome warriors are useful in PvP environments, posing a difficulty to target. Inexperienced or careless opponents can be quickly hit before they have any idea as to what happened.

• Humans: Humans gain the "racial PvP trinket" – [Every Man for Himself] – effectively freeing up a trinket slot which warriors might find more useful.

• Night elves: [Quickness] adds an extra layer of survivability to night elf warriors. The enhanced [nature resistance] is always nice. [Shadowmeld] provides an interesting element to night elves, allowing them to stealth to avoid mob detection (more useful for solo play), or to get out of combat when about to die. In PvP settings Shadowmeld can be devastating, for the night elf warrior can operate as a rogue, attacking from a stealthed position! An additional bonus to Shadowmeld is the ability to temporarily drop threat in combat.

• Worgen: The worgen's [Darkflight] is very useful in chasing down a fleeing opponent in PvP, to avoid being kited, and for just saving time moving when you cannot use a mount. The additional [shadow resistance] is a nice addition, as well as the small buff to [critical strike chance].

Neutral races (before faction choice)

• Pandaren: The pandaren [love of food] allows them to gain a larger benefit from well fed buffs. These versatile fighters also take [less falling damage]. To add to their deadly warrior abilities, they also have a [natural stun].

Horde races

• Blood elves: Their racial abilities focus on magic and its disruption. Spell casters, especially healers, will learn to loathe the blood elf warrior. [Arcane Resistance] provides them defense against arcane-based attacks, while [Arcane Torrent] silences any spell caster within range.

• Forsaken: The increased [shadow resistance] is always useful, as is [Cannibalize], which can rapidly increase your health, thereby saving your healer's mana. [Will of the Forsaken] is one of the best racials in game, and can be the difference between life and death in both PvP and PvE settings; it removes charm, fear, and sleep effects. Forsaken also have a passive [damaging ability] that strips health from the enemy.

• Goblins: Tinkers at heart with an affinity for things that explode, goblin warriors fill a niche only an engineer could be jealous of. They use their rockets to not only [leap], but also to fire off a [barrage] into the faces of their enemies. And when they need to repair their armor, they always get the [Best Deals Anywhere]. Their [Time is Money] ability increases attack speed, helpful for any warrior.

• Orcs: [Hardiness] reduces stun duration, which can save a warrior in PvP settings, or save their group in PvE settings. [Blood Fury] increases attack power.

• Tauren: [War Stomp] is very important in providing an early stun to young warriors, especially useful against casters or other enemies that may have a long-cast attack. [Endurance] provides tauren with extra health, meaning tauren warriors can have the highest possible HP of any warrior. The additional [nature resistance] is always a plus.

• Trolls: [Berserking] increases attack speed by 20% for 10 seconds, useful for all warriors. [Health regeneration] in combat can help keep you alive during PvP fights or boss battles, and the increased healing can reduce down time for soloing players. [Da Voodoo Shuffle] reduces the duration of movement impairing effects by 15%. [Beast Slaying] gives a small boost against beasts.

Since the release of Cataclysm and Mists of Pandaria, worgen, goblins, blood elves, and pandaren are able to become warriors, giving every race in the game access to warriors.

Draenei

Dwarf

Gnome

Human

Night elf

Orc

Tauren

Troll

Specializations/stats

“

Battle-hardened masters of two-handed weapons, using mobility and overpowering attacks to strike their opponents down. - Official description

”

Stat priority

• Mastery
• Strength
• Versatility
• Haste
• Critical Strike

Mortal Strike

Ability	Min Level
Mortal Strike	10
Colossus Smash	20
Cleave	22
Hamstring	32
Tactician	34
Die by the Sword	36
Whirlwind	40

Ability	Min Level
Cleave (2)	55
Bladestorm	65
Intimidating Shout	70
Mastery: Colossal Might	78
Commanding Shout	80

“

Furious berserkers wielding a weapon in each hand, unleashing a flurry of attacks to carve their opponents to pieces. - Official description

”

Stat priority

• Strength
• Haste (to 50%)
• Mastery
• Versatility
• Critical Strike
• Haste

Whirlwind Raging Blow

Ability	Min Level
Bloodthirst	10
Furious Slash	10
Titan's Grip	10
Rampage	12
Enrage (warrior ability)	14
Raging Blow	20
Furious Slash (2)	22
Execute (2)	28
Piercing Howl	32

Ability	Min Level
Enraged Regeneration	36
Whirlwind	40
Whirlwind (2)	55
Intimidating Shout	70
Mastery: Unshackled Fury	78
Commanding Shout	80

“

Stalwart protectors who use a shield to safeguard themselves and their allies. - Official description

”

Stat priority

• Strength
• Versatility
• Mastery
• Haste
• Critical Strike

Shield Slam Shield Block

Ability	Min Level
Shield Slam	10
Devastate	10
Thunder Clap	14
Shield Block	20
Revenge	22
Intercept	28
Last Stand	32
Shield Slam (2)	34

Ability	Min Level
Deep Wounds	36
Shield Block (2)	38
Ignore Pain	40
Demoralizing Shout	48
Shield Wall	55
Mastery: Critical Block	78
Spell Reflection	80

Skills/Glyphs

Note: Players technically start in Arms spec; if a player chooses another specialization at level 10, Fury and Protection lose Slam; Protection loses Charge and Execute; Fury loses Victory Rush.

Charge

Ability	Min Level
Slam	Starts with
Charge	3
Victory Rush	5
Execute	8
Taunt	13

Ability	Min Level
Heroic Throw	17
Pummel	24
Heroic Leap	26
Berserker Rage	42
Battle Cry	50

Level	Abilities (choose one)
15	Dauntless War Machine Shockwave	Overpower Endless Rage Storm Bolt	Sweeping Strikes Fresh Meat Warbringer (warrior talent)
30	Shockwave Impending Victory	Storm Bolt Inspiring Presence	Double Time Safeguard
45	Fervor of Battle Wrecking Ball (warrior talent) Renewed Fury	Rend Outburst Ultimatum	Avatar (warrior talent)
60	Second Wind (warrior talent) Furious Charge Warlord's Challenge	Bounding Stride	Defensive Stance Warpaint Crackling Thunder
75	In For The Kill Massacre (warrior talent) Best Served Cold	Mortal Combo Frothing Berserker Never Surrender	Focused Rage Carnage (warrior talent) Indomitable (warrior talent)
90	Deadly Calm Bloodbath Vengeance (warrior talent)	Trauma Frenzy (warrior talent) Into the Fray	Titanic Might Inner Rage Booming Voice
100	Anger Management Bladestorm	Opportunity Strikes Reckless Abandon Heavy Repercussions	Ravager (warrior talent) Dragon Roar Ravager (warrior talent)

Name	Specialization
Glyph of Burning Anger	All
Glyph of Falling Thunder	All
Glyph of Gushing Wound	Protection
Glyph of Hawk Feast	Arms, Fury
Glyph of Mighty Victory	Arms, Protection
Glyph of the Blazing Savior	Protection
Glyph of the Blazing Trail	Arms, Fury
Glyph of the Weaponmaster	All
Glyph of Thunder Strike	Protection

Honor Level	Talent
1	Gladiator's Medallion
2	Hardiness (honor talent), Relentless Assault
4	Death Row, Mass Spell Reflection
6	Rage Machine
8	Intercept, Barbarian (honor talent), Leave No Man Behind
10	Wrecking Crew, Slaughterhouse (honor talent), Thunderstruck
13	Adaptation (honor talent)
16	Reinforced Armor, Oppressor
19	Blood Hunt, Sword and Board
22	Spell Reflection, Tenderizer
25	Shadow Colossus, Battle Trance (honor talent), Morale Killer
28	Echo Slam, Endless Rage, Warpath
31	Relentless (honor talent)
34	Sparring (honor talent), Softened Blows
37	Death Sentence, Bodyguard (honor talent)
40	Ready for Battle
43	Pain Train, Thirst for Battle, Shield Bash
46	Sharpen Blade, Death Wish, Dragon Charge

Suggested professions

Note: This is a generic section stub. You can help expand it by clicking  Edit to the right of the section title.

•  [Blacksmithing] and  [Mining] are logical choices for any plate armor wearing class. This allows crafting decent armor as one levels and sometimes good weapons also.
•  [Alchemy] and  [Herbalism] can be useful for quick potion heals and various buffs from elixirs and flasks. These professions are also good all around for making money and supplying guild runs.
•  [Cooking] is good for any non-healing class for non-combat health regeneration and provides good buff foods.
•  [First Aid] is good for any non-healing class for in-combat health regeneration and low downtime regeneration.
•  [Fishing] is good for leveling cooking.

End-game expectations

Warriors are a hybrid class capable of filling two major roles in groups or raids. They can specialize into Arms or Fury to focus on Damage or specialize into Protection to focus on survivability to tank.

Tanking

Main article: Warriors as tanks

Since Vanilla WoW, Warriors have been valued as tanks. Back then, protection warriors were considered the only class viable enough to tank high end raids. Nearly every raid, if not all, required a protection warrior to tank. As time went on, other classes have become viable enough to tank raids. This does not mean protection warriors have become less valued. Protection warriors and their high armor, damage reduction, and high block chance are always welcomed in any raid group.

Damage

Warriors can choose two DPS specs: Arms or Fury. Arms focuses on wielding a two-handed weapon and high direct damage while Fury focuses on dual wielding two weapons and enraging to increase damage.

Notes

Orc warrior

• In the Warcraft RPG, warrior and fighter were separate classes. Warrior was an NPC class, while fighter was a core class. In the World of Warcraft RPG, the old warrior class was replaced with the soldier class, while fighter was replaced with a new warrior class for gameplay purposes.
• Warriors have the most widely available choices in permanent Legendary weapons, as most are designed (through use or through lore) as melee weapons, which is the warrior's forte. The only one that was never available to warriors was Atiesh, Greatstaff of the Guardian (only magi, warlocks, druids, and priests could obtain it). Val'anyr, Hammer of Ancient Kings can theoretically be used by a warrior, though the fragments, which are needed to make the weapon can only be used by druids, shamans, priests, and paladins.

Media

Videos

World of Warcraft Warrior Beginner's Guide Updated for Legion -HD-

See also

• Warrior twinking guide for details on making a warrior twink.
• Warrior instance grouping guide for tips in Instances.

Patch changes

• Patch 7.0.3 (19-Jul-2016): Warriors and Paladins can now equip Plate armor from level 1 (down from level 40).
  

External links

Wowhead Warrior

WoWDB Warrior

Official

WoW Official Game Site (US) Warrior

WoW Official Game Site (EU) Warrior

General

Tankspot General information and resources for tanking.

Guides

Icy Veins Arms, Fury, and Protection Warrior Raiding Guides (Mists of Pandaria)

Lore

WoW Insider Know Your Lore: Warriors of Azeroth and beyond, Part 2 by Matthew Rossi Apr 9th 2014 11:00AM

WoW Insider Know Your Lore: Warriors of Azeroth and beyond Part 1 by Matthew Rossi Apr 2nd 2014 5:00PM