Warrior Protection PvE guide

[Stormillidan]

Warrior Protection PvE Guide


1.Introduction

This is a PvE Protection Warrior guide,that was made based on my studies reffered to this class and experience that i gained.In the next "mini-chapters" i will go through all that is essential for this class and the way its meant to be played.


2.Stats

The most important stat of a protection warrior is STAMINA but,unlike wotlk,a new stat was implemented,Mastery,which is also great for a protection warrior,increasing the chance of blocking(it is worth mentioning that the block formula is different from WOTLK,so now block reduces damage by 30% and Critical block by 60%,the old formula based on strenth and block rating was removed).Increasing the chance of blocking improves the survivability of the tank,as well as help the healers in different challenges you will face.Your stat priorities are the following:

Stamina>Mastery>Parry>Dodge

3.Specs

Specs can be different,based on the players style,but i picked the following spec: http://www.wowhead.com/talent#LG0MZhZcbGdRRRdbu and in the following specs,i will motivate my choice.
Because of the first patch and like everyone knows,healers have big problems with mana,so i preffered a spec that will offer them a time to take a breath.So i inserted into https://www.wow-freakz.com/spells.php?spell=84580 (wowhead link) talent tree), https://www.wow-freakz.com/spells.php?spell=16492 (wowhead link) (Fury talent tree) and https://www.wow-freakz.com/spells.php?spell=80129 (wowhead link) (Protection talent tree). News is that Victory Rush,which can be set off only when the target is under 20% HP and when Devastateis used,following the proc of the talent and the use of the abilityVictory Rush.At least until people will get items,my personal opinion is that it's a usefull talent,especially that alot of scripts have a "critical" phase on the end.
A new talent is https://www.wow-freakz.com/spells.php?spell=29594 (wowhead link) practically replaces Defense Cap and makes the tank non-criticable,so it's a crucial talent for any protection warrior.
The rest of the talents,like : https://www.wow-freakz.com/spells.php?spell=12958 (wowhead link) , https://www.wow-freakz.com/spells.php?spell=12867 (wowhead link) and so on, i picked them so i can have a silence/interrupt effect and for easyer aggro keeping.

4.Enchants

Next,i will display a list with the best item enchants for the protection warrior:

Helm- http://www.wowhead.com/item=62366
Umeri- http://www.wowhead.com/item=62333
Cloak- https://www.wow-freakz.com/spells.php?spell=74234 (wowhead link)
Chest- https://www.wow-freakz.com/spells.php?spell=74251 (wowhead link)
Wrist- https://www.wow-freakz.com/spells.php?spell=74229 (wowhead link) sau https://www.wow-freakz.com/spells.php?spell=62256 (wowhead link) (in functie de preferinte)
Gloves- https://www.wow-freakz.com/spells.php?spell=74255 (wowhead link) (The reason for why i didn't pick a threat enchant is that it seems pretty easy to keep threat because of Vengeance)
Waist- http://www.wowhead.com/item=55054
Legs- http://www.wowhead.com/item=56551
Feet- https://www.wow-freakz.com/spells.php?spell=74238 (wowhead link)

5.Cooldowns

Cooldown have been made to help the tank in certain limit-situations when everyone is overwhelmed and to help at passing the moment with ease.The most notable cooldowns are:

1).Last Stand( https://www.wow-freakz.com/spells.php?spell=12975 (wowhead link) )
2).Shield Wall( https://www.wow-freakz.com/spells.php?spell=871 (wowhead link) )
3).Enraged Regeneration ( https://www.wow-freakz.com/spells.php?spell=55694 (wowhead link) ) --->worth mentioning,is that this ability is used for maximum succes when used in combination with Last Stand and a HP increasing trinket(when you have one).
4).Shield Block ( https://www.wow-freakz.com/spells.php?spell=2565 (wowhead link) ) --->a little advice,when you use this ability try to spam as much as possible Shield Slam,because the damage of this ability will increase considerably.
5).Random trinket use: http://www.wowhead.com/item=68713 , http://www.wowhead.com/item=63742/zabroxs-lucky-tooth and so on

6.Major changes of some abilities/talents,because of the WOTLK->CATALYSM transaction

1.Vengeance ( https://www.wow-freakz.com/spells.php?spell=76691 (wowhead link) ) .This abilities offers the tank alot of attack power based on damage taken,increasing threat generation,as well as increasing the DPS numbers considerable.
2.Vigilance ( https://www.wow-freakz.com/spells.php?spell=50725 (wowhead link) ). Unlike in WOTLK,it doesnt offer 3% damage reduction on target and threat transfer for tank,and now when the target is attacked,the tanks Tauntis refreshed and gains additional attack power thanks to Vengeance.

7.Glyphs

Prime:
1). https://www.wow-freakz.com/spells.php?spell=58364 (wowhead link) ->Glyph of Revenge
2). https://www.wow-freakz.com/spells.php?spell=58388 (wowhead link) ->Glyph of Devaste
3). https://www.wow-freakz.com/spells.php?spell=58375 (wowhead link) ->Glyph of Shield Slam

Major:
1). https://www.wow-freakz.com/spells.php?spell=63329 (wowhead link) ->Glyph of Shield Wall
2). https://www.wow-freakz.com/spells.php?spell=63325 (wowhead link) ->Glyph of Shockwave
3). https://www.wow-freakz.com/spells.php?spell=58098 (wowhead link) ->Glyph of Thunder Clap

Minor(mai putin importante):
1). https://www.wow-freakz.com/spells.php?spell=58095 (wowhead link) ->Glyph of Battle Shout
2). https://www.wow-freakz.com/spells.php?spell=68164 (wowhead link) ->Glyph of Commanding Shout
3). http://www.wowhead.com/item=45794/glyph-of-intimidating-shout ->Glyph of Intimidating Shout

8.Rotatie

Rotation of a tank is not rigid,but in case of a protection warrior it is a very important that the first ability used is Thunder Clap
,followed by 2xDevastate and after that,the use of the Shield Block+Shield Slamcombo.In all this time Heroic Strikeis spammed too. Lower down i will put this rotation in a more "mathematic" formula:

(Thunder Clap->2xDevastate->Shield Block+Shield Slam->1xDevastate->Revenge,at proc)+Heroic Strike

For extra threat and AOE damage use Shockwave,Revenge,Thunder Clap.

9).Professions

Again,not even the professions are rigid,every one offering something benefic for a tank,but the most popular are:Jewelcrafting(3 sockete de 101 stamina),Mining(120 stamina),Blacksmithing(2 bonus sockets on the wrist and gloves),Enchanting(2*60 stamina pe ringuri=120 stamina).

10).Usefull advice

a).When you are in a instance,as a tank you have the duty of having flasks,scrolls and stats food.
b).You have the minimum knowledge reffering to the scripts you will approach,because depending on how you go,the raid will go the same.
c).To save time,put the base abilities like Taunt or defensive cooldown on Key Bindings.This helps everyone,not just you.

11).Final note

First of all,i will like to thank k0s,because i have been a little inspired from his guide( http://forum.wow-freakz.com/Holy-Paladin-PvE-Guide-t96051.html ) in what the structure of the ideas are.Second of all,i would like to apologise for "finesse" things,like words that send you to links,which i am not aware how to use them,my first time when i post in a forum like this.I would also like to apologise the estetic of the guide,because i have gambled on efficiency and short explanasions and less on estetic.
And last but not least,i hope this guide will help all the players that want to start playing PvE Protection Warrior or the ones that need advice.I accept with great pleasure and interes your suggestions(in case i forgot something)and i hope that you enjoyed reading this guide.
For more questions,/w Ficatuluman,realm Evolution.

P.S.: I have not put the infinite list with items which you can get to help.For more informations reffering to items,i recommend with pleasure to consult with the http://www.maxdps.com site .

I wish you a nice "tanking"!

Guide made by Ficatuman
Original guide in romanian
Translated by Stormillidan