Warrior Protection[PVE]

[Fough]

this is just a translation of Romanian guide-because being bored is bad


WARRIOR PROTECTION GUIDE




Content(click to teleported to the wanted chapter):

1.Introduction.
2.Advantages and Dezadvantages.
3.Classes.
4.Changes from 4.0.6.
5.Specs.
6.Glyphs.
7.Stats priority +reforges.
8.Rotations.
9.Cooldowns.
10.Gems, enchants+ raid needs.
11.Proffesions.
12.Starting Gear.
13.Best In Slot Gear.
14.Best In Slot Gear non-donor.
15.Useful Macros.
16.Movie.
17.Tips.

______________________________________________________________________



1.Introduction.
In this guide i will present you everything that you must know about the warrior protection: spec,stats priorities,rotatii,glyphs,gems,enchants,starting gear,BIS gear.
It is done for every player that wishes to start warrior protection and also for those who already know a bit about this class !


2.Advantages and Dezadvantages.


Advantages:

-very good AOE damage,you will maintain aggro during multiple mob-encounters quite easily
-a lot of cooldowns for ressistance,so you won't die when trouble comes;

Dezadvantages:

-almost no self-heal;
-occasionally problems maintaning one-target aggro;

3.Classes.
If you are just starting warrior and don't know which class to choose these are your options:

Alliance:
-Dwarf:Frost Resistance+Stoneform;
-Night Elf:Quickness (wowhead link)+Shadowmeld;

Horde:
-Tauren:Endurance+Nature Resistace+War Stomp-really usefull for aoe aggro;

4.Changes from 4.0.6.

-4.1.0:
-we can use Pummel in any stance we want;
-new skill-Rallying Cry-bonus 20% HP to all the raid;
-we no longer have Shield Bash -->Gag Order doesn't include the spell any longer;
-Spell Reflect increased cooldown (from 10 seconds to 25);
-Glyph of Spell Reflection reduces the cooldown by 5 seconds instead of 1;
-Shield Mastery no longer reduces the cooldown for Spell Reflect with 3 seconds,but makes Shield Block reduce the magic damage taken ,thing that is even better;
Glyph of Sunder Armor also affects Devastate.

4.2.0: -no notable changes for the protection spec;
4.3.0: -no notable changes for the protection spec;

5.Specs
You here have 2 alternatives:a spec based on resistance and another one based on mainting aggro,the choice is yours to take(i prefer the aggro spec)
-aggro spec:
-run link:

Code:

/run t,p,a={3,13,23,32,53,62,81,91,102,111,122,131,142,152,161,171,193,201,1,13,22,63,2,32,}SetPreviewPrimaryTalentTree(t[1],GetActiveTalentGroup())for i=1,#t do a=t[i]if a<9 then p=a else AddPreviewTalentPoints(p,floor(a/10),a%10)end end

-defensive spec:
-run link:

Code:

/run t,p,a={3,11,23,32,43,53,62,81,91,102,111,122,131,142,152,161,193,201,1,13,22,62,2,13,}SetPreviewPrimaryTalentTree(t[1],GetActiveTalentGroup())for i=1,#t do a=t[i]if a<9 then p=a else AddPreviewTalentPoints(p,floor(a/10),a%10)end end

6.Glyphs.

Prime:Shield Slam,Devastate,Revenge.
Major:Shockwave,Shield Wall,Thunder Clap.Depending on the encounter the following glyphs may also work very well Resonating Power+Cleaving,but only when heavy AOE damage is required.
Minor:Command,Intimidating Shout,Demoralizing Shout.

7.Stats priority+ reforges.
Again,2 choices:

-Offensive:

Code:

CTC(88%)>hit(8%)>CTC(97%)>stamina>expertise(26)>hit(17%);

-defensiva:

Code:

CTC(97%)>stamina>hit(8%)>expertise(26)>hit(17%);

CTC(Combat Table Coverage)=block+dodge+parry+5%(basic miss chance).To see how much CTC you will have in a raid fully buffed you can test quite easily by asking a druid to give you Mark of the Wild,well fed from Lavascale Minestrone and Battle Shout.I DON'T put the recommended CTC of 102,4% because in a raid you will receive avoidance bonusses as the passives from trinkets or Shield Block and you will cross that limit,the rest of it going to Critical Block Rating->useless.
While capping CTC(97%) the order is:mastery(block)>parry>dodge.
To conclude:

1)if you choose offensive one:
-until 88%:
-from any item that doesn't have mastery,from higher stat->mastery;
-in any item that has mastery,other stat ->parry(if that stat is already parry,leave it this way).

-after 88%:
-any surplus of dodge/parry->hit(if you have to choose between parry and dodge reforge from dodge)

-if you also passed the 8% hit rating:
the surplus reforge it into mastery and parry(if you can choose which one to pick reforge to mastery)

-if you also passed the 8% hit rating and 97% CTC->expertise.

2)if you choose defensive-until 97%:
-from any item that doesn't have mastery,from higher stat->mastery;
-in any item that has mastery,other stat ->parry(if that stat is already parry,leave it this way).

-if you passed 97% CTC
-the surplus reforge it in hit rating,until 8%,if you also pass this,the surplus reforge it into expertise.

8.Rotations.
-Single Target:Heroic throw->Retaliation->Rend->Shield Block->Shield Slam->Revenge(if it has proc) or Heroic Strike->Devastate->Devastate->Devastate->Thunder Clap->Shockwave->Shield Slam.From here everything is simple:spam Devastate.Thunder Clap once every 10 secunde(just to maintain Rend),Shield Slam and Shockwave at cd,Revenge when it procs and if you don't lack of rage Heroic Strike+Inner Rage.
-AOE:Heroic Leap->Rend->Thunder Clap->Shockwave->(if by that moment,you don't have all mobs targeting you cast a Challenging Shout,being careful not to take the boss)-Devastate+Cleave(i recommend using a macro)+Inner Rage->Devastate +Cleave->Thunder Clap->Shockwave->etc.

9.Cooldowns.

Enraged Regeneration-a really good heal for the situations when the healers can't cope,good to cast it the same time with Last standor Rallying Cry.
Shield Wall-good for the situations when you will receive a heavy instant damage.
Shield Block-good to be given at cooldown.
Trinkets and what other potions you use.

10.Gems, enchants+ raid needs.

Gems:

Red:Defender's Shadow Spinel/Defender's Demonseye.if you choose mastery Fine Lava Coral/FIne Ember Topaz.
Yellow:Puissant Elven Peridot/Puissant Dream Emerald.
Blue:Soild Deepholm Iolite/Soild Ocean Sapphire,if you want mastery Puissant Elven Peridot/Puissant Dream Emerald.
Meta:Eternal Shadowspirit Diamond.

Enchants:

Head:Arcanum of the Earthen Ring.
Shoulder:Greater Inscription of Unbreakable Quartz.
Weapon:Windwalk.
Back:Enchant Cloak - Protection.
Chest:Enchant Chest - Greater Stamina.
Wrist:Enchant Bracer - Major Stamina.
Shield:Enchant Shield - Blocking.
Hands:Enchant Gloves - Greater Mastery (wowhead link).
Belt:Ebonsteel Belt Buckle+Solid Deepholm Iolite.
Pants:Charscale Leg Armor.
Boots:Enchant Boots - Mastery.

Raid needs:

Flask:Flask of Steelskin,or if you haven't capped the CTC during the raid fully buffed Elixir of the Master+Prismatic Elixir.
Potion:Earthen Potion.
Food:Lavascale Minestrone>Blackbelly Sushi.

11.Proffesions.

Leatherworking:bonus 155 stamina.
Blacksmithing:2 sockets->bonus 150 stamina.

12.Starting Gear.

+Crossfire Carbine.
link:Profiler2.

13.Best In Slot Gear.

Link:Profiler1.

Neck-Guardianspike Chocker-donate version
Back-Indefatigable Greatcloak-donate version.
Ranged Weapon:Unexpected Backup.

14.Best In Slot Gear non-donor.

Ranged Weapon:Unexpected Backup.
link profileProfiler 3.

15.Useful Macros.

-for aoe:


Code:

#showtooltip Cleave /startattack /cast Devastate /cast Cleave


-if you don't lack of:


Code:

#showtooltip Heroic Strike /startattack /cast Devastate /cast Heroic Strike


-when you feel like you will die:


Code:

#showtooltip Last Stand /cast Last Stand /use Healthstone /cast Enraged Regeneration

16.Movie.
Here's a movie for those too lazy to read.
click.
17.Tips.

Morchok
It's a very simple encounter,mostly you will just sit and do nothing.

-on normal difficulty hold it in the middle of the road.recommended from where he starts and move it each time when a crystal occurs in order to help the mdps
-on hc hold it on the snow from the left and right of the road (take care not to take the trash) and continue moving it after the crystals.
-keep your cooldowns for the last phase both on n and on hc and try while he is casting his first stomp while in that phase to cast a Rallying cry (wowhead link)

**NOTES
-i did this guide the best i could,explaining how i play protection on my own character(so don't be haters);
-you are free to comment,give rep,do whatever you want .
-you can come with suggestions on how to improve this guide and if i will realise that you are right,i will edit.
-I'm not a native english speaker so please notice me of any grammar mistake or any of my sentences don't make sense.

[tyslaj]

Why not use Heavy Repercussions 2/2, Shield slam dmg increase 100% during shield block ? Heavy threat generator and good opener during single target encounters imo

[Fough]

beacause i believe that 2 points in impending victory and 1 in heavy are better than 1/2 because u will need to healp the healers in the last phases because most of the encounters shall have bonus damage in a way or another in that stage( http://forum.wow-freakz.com/Warrior-PvE-PvP-Victory-Rush-damage-t200701.html also influenced my decision)Yes,i'm an exploiter,deal with it

[soulkreep]

Fough wrote:

you will cross that limit,the rest of it going to Critical Block Rating->useless.

Please explain how 60% damage reduction is "useless"

[Fough]

soulkreep wrote:

Fough wrote: you will cross that limit,the rest of it going to Critical Block Rating->useless. Please explain how 60% damage reduction is "useless"

it's 30% actually because after 102,4% u don't get the ussual block rating...so just 30%.I admit that i was a bit harsh calling it useless,it's more like üseless"by compairing it with the the choices u will have in that moment(stamina for sockets and enchants) and hit rating/expertise for reforging.
You can take as you want,but i called it so to point that adding more avoidance over 102.4 is forbidden in my opinion.
For more details about things over 102.4, read http://us.battle.net/wow/en/forum/topic/2674991915 .

[soulkreep]

Yes mastery looses some of its value after 102.5% but perhaps you could reformulate as not to confuse people .(paladin tank mastery really is useless after ctc cap because it doesn't give anything anymore )

You seem to have your terms mixed up .Avoidance =dodge+parry Mitigation=block&critical block

So actually adding avoidance is not forbidden it is a valid choice once you hit ctc cap .You just increase dodge and parry and reduce mastery in order to keep the 102.5% .