[Guide] Arms Warrior Dueling Tips

Note! This is a guide for beginners and represents my personal preferences. I am not a pro warrior and this guide should NOT be considered as optimal! Also English is not my mother's tongue and I would like to apologize for grammatical errors, sentence structure and typos. I will keep editing it in the next few days.

Introduction

Hello,

I decided to make this guide on how to duel as Arms Warrior, because I was struggling in duels initially and there aren't many sources online which you can follow.

Arms Warrior is considered as underdog dueling class and this is not the case if played smartly.

Make sure that you have low Latency and high FPS. These are your biggest enemies.

Due to the stance dancing, number of macros and skills, it is recommended to use a mouse with more than 12 buttons.

Talents and Glyphs

Standard - 57/14/0 - A build against all classes, except Paladins and Death Knights.

https://wotlkdb.com/?talent#LcbIbfIt...uioGx0s:qas0cM

The talent Sudden Death has a 9% chance to proc and gives you the opportunity to use Execute regardless of the target's health. Be mindful when using Execute, especially when Heroic Strike is in the queue because it can easily rage starve you.

The Weapon Specialization points should match the weapon that you are using. It is recommended to use Axe/Poleaxe though.

Last Stand spec - 53/5/13 - A build against Paladins and Death Knights.

https://wotlkdb.com/?talent#LcbfbfIt...hbZV0tb:qsLMoz

Professions

Engineering - Provides you with a lot of utility.

Jewelcrafting - The Gems can be adjusted as per your needs.

Gear

The gear and talents are what makes the big difference in PvP apart from skill level.

Set 1 - BiS - Can be found in any Arms Warrior guide:

Head: Wrathful Gladiator's Plate Helm - Arcanum of Torment
Chest: Wrathful Gladiator's Plate Chestpiece - Resilience enchant
Hands: Wrathful Gladiator's Plate Gauntlets -Rocket Launchers enchant
Legs: Wrathful Gladiator's Plate Legguards - Earthen Leg Armor
Shoulders: Wrathful Gladiator's Plate Shoulders - Inscription of Triumph
Neck: Penumbra Pendant (HC)
Back: Vereesa's Dexterity (Heroic) - Flexweave Underlay
Wrists: Toskk's Maximized Wristguards (Heroic) - Greater Assault
Waist: Coldwraith Links (Heroic) - Eternal Belt Buckle | Cobalt Frag Belt
Feet: Apocalypse's Advance (Heroic) - Nitro Boots
Ring 1: Frostbrood Sapphire Ring (Heroic)
Ring 2: Ashen Band of Endless Vengeance
Trinket 1: Sharpened Twilight Scale (Heroic)
Trinket 2: Deathbringer's Will (Heroic) / Whispering Fanged Skull (Heroic)
2H weapon: Shadowmourne - Executioner Enchant. (Oathbinder HC is not bad at all)
1H weapon: Wrathful Gladiator's Handaxe - Blood Draining
Shield: Wrathful Gladiator's Shieldwall - Resilience Enchant
Crossbow: Fal'Inrush, Defender of Quel'Thalas (Heroic)

Gems:

Meta Gem: Relentless Earthsiege Diamond
Chest: use one Nightmare Tear in order to activate the meta gem.

The rest of the set gems should be resilience.

Use 2x34 Resilience on the set.

Use 2x20 and 1x34 Armor Penetration gems on 2H so you can add 1x34 on the 1H weapon and swap them.

Set 2 - People disrespect resilience, make them suffer.

Head: Wrathful Gladiator's Plate Helm - Arcanum of the Savage Gladiator
Chest: Wrathful Gladiator's Plate Chestpiece - Resilience enchant
Hands: Wrathful Gladiator's Plate Gauntlets -Rocket Launchers enchant
Legs: Wrathful Gladiator's Plate Legguards - Earthen Leg Armor
Shoulders: Wrathful Gladiator's Plate Shoulders - Inscription of Triumph
Neck: Wrathful Gladiator's Pendant of Victory
Back: Wrathful Gladiator's Cloak of Victory - Flexweave Underlay
Wrists: Wrathful Gladiator's Bracers of Triumph - Greater Assault
Waist: Wrathful Gladiator's Girdle of Triumph - Eternal Belt Buckle | Cobalt Frag Belt
Feet: Wrathful Gladiator's Greaves of Trimph - Nitro Boots
Ring 1: Wrathful Gladiator's Band of Triumph
Ring 2: Relentless Gladiator's Band of Victory
Trinket 1: Corroded Skeleton Key
Trinket 2: Sindragosa's Flawless Fang
2H weapon: Wrathful Gladiator's Sunderer - Berserking Enchant.
1H weapon: Wrathful Gladiator's Handaxe - Blood Draining
Shield: Wrathful Gladiator's Shieldwall - Resilience Enchant
Bow: Wrathful Gladiator's Recurve(Heroic)

Gems:

Meta Gem: Powerful Earthsiege Diamond - 10% reduced stun duration is priceless against rogues.

Chest: use one Nightmare Tear and 2x30 Stamina gems in order to activate the meta gem.

The rest of the set gems should be resilience.

Use 2x34 Resilience on the set.

Use 1x20 and 1x34 Strength gems on 2H so you can add 1x34 Resilience gem on the 1H weapon and swap them.

Macros

As an Arms Warrior you need tons of macros.

Here are some of them which I personally use:

Battle Stance

Code:

---

#showtooltip Battle Stance
/cancelaura Bladestorm
/cast Battle Stance
/equip Shadowmourne

---

DefensiveStance

Code:

---

#showtooltip Defensive Stance
/cancelaura Bladestorm
/cast Defensive Stance
/equip Wrathful Gladiator's Handaxe
/equip Wrathful Gladiator's Shield Wall
/cast Shield Block

---

Double tapping the macro will activate Shield Block as well.

Charge

Code:

---

#showtooltip Charge
/cast [stance:2/3] Battle Stance
/cancelaura Bladestorm
/cancelaura Hand of Protection
/startattack
/cast auto attack [harm]
/cast [target=mouseover, exists] Charge; Charge
/cast hamstring

---

Double tapping it will cast Hamstring on your target which saves one key slot on your bar.

Intercept

Code:

---

#showtooltip Intercept
/cast [stance:1/2] Berserker Stance
/cancelaura Bladestorm
/cancelaura Hand of Protection
/startattack
/cast auto attack [harm]
/cast [target=mouseover, exists] Intercept; Intercept
/cast Hamstring
/script UIErrorsFrame:Clear()

---

Double tapping it will cast Hamstring on your target which saves one key slot on your bar.

Spell Reflection

Code:

---

#showtooltip spell reflection
/cancelaura Bladestorm
/cast Bloodrage
/cast [stance:1/2, equipped:shields] Spell Reflection; [stance:3] Battle Stance;
/equip Wrathful Gladiator's Handaxe
/equip Wrathful Gladiator's Shield Wall
/script UIErrorsFrame:Clear()

---

I prefer to pop Bloodrage with this macro because when you are trying to reflect a spell, each millisecond is important.

Shield Wall

Code:

---

#showtooltip Shield Wall
/cancelaura Bladestorm
/cast [stance:1/3] Defensive Stance
/equipslot 16 Wrathful Gladiator's Handaxe
/equipslot 17 Wrathful Gladiator's Shield Wall
/cast Shield Block
/cast Shield Wall
/script UIErrorsFrame:Clear()

---

Activates Shield Wall and Shield Block.

Interrupt Macro

Code:

---

#showtooltip Shield Bash
/cancelaura Bladestorm
/cast [stance:3] Pummel; [stance:1/2, equipped:shield] Shield Bash
/cast [stance:1/2] Berserker Stance
/script UIErrorsFrame:Clear()

---

Pummel has priority over if 2H is equipped so you can save one GCD.

Revenge

Code:

---

#showtooltip Revenge
/startattack
/cast Shield Block
/cast Revenge
/script UIErrorsFrame:Clear()

---

Mortal Strike

Code:

---

#showtooltip Mortal Strike
/cast Mortal Strike
/startattack
/script UIErrorsFrame:Clear()

---

Simple MS macro so you can start attack immediately.

Retaliation

Code:

---

#showtooltip Retaliation
/cast [nostance:1] Battle Stance
/cast Retaliation

---

Retaliation from any stance.

Rend

Code:

---

#showtooltip Rend
/cast [stance:3] Battle Stance
/startattack
/cast [stance:1/2] Rend

---

Rend from any stance.

Overpower

Code:

---

#showtooltip Overpower
/cancelaura Bladestorm
/cast [stance:2/3] Battle Stance
/cast [stance:1]Overpower

---

Overpower from any stance.

Shattering Throw

Code:

---

#showtooltip Shattering Throw
/cancelaura Hand of protection
/cancelaura bladestorm
/cast Battle Stance
/cast Bloodrage
/equipslot 16 Wrathful Gladiator's Handaxe
/equipslot 17 Wrathful Gladiator's Shield Wall
/cast Spell Reflection
/cast Shattering Throw

---

Now here is a tip. In most cases when you start casting Shattering Throw on a Paladin's bubble, the Paladin will try to either stun you or use Repentance. Swapping to 1H + Shield and activating Spell Reflection prior to casting Shattering Throw will protect you from interrupting the cast. (This may be at the price of one heal though)

Last Stand

Code:

---

#showtooltip Last Stand
/cast Last Stand
/cast Bloodrage
/cast Enraged Regeneration

---

This macro can be used with Last Stand spec talents.

Bladestorm

Code:

---

#showtooltip Bladestorm
/cast Bloodrage
/equip Shadowmourne
/cast Bladestorm

---

Shield Slam

Code:

---

#showtooltip Shield Slam
/equipslot 16 Wrathful Gladiator's Handaxe
/equipslot 17 Wrathful Gladiator's Shield Wall
/cast Shield Slam
/script UIErrorsFrame:Clear()

---

Disarm

Code:

---

#showtooltip Disarm
/cancelaura Bladestorm
/cast [stance:1/3] Defensive Stance
/cast Disarm
/script UIErrorsFrame:Clear()

---

Shield Slam

Code:

---

#showtooltip Shield Slam
/equipslot 16 Wrathful Gladiator's Handaxe
/equipslot 17 Wrathful Gladiator's Shield Wall
/cast Shield Slam
/script UIErrorsFrame:Clear()

---

Simple Shield Slam Macro. It costs 1 GCD if you are using 2H at the time of using it.

Duels

Rogues

Use Standard talents and Set 2.

Stay in Defensive Stance and keep your 1H and Shield up during the entire fight.

Try to jump around as some rogues do not Sap and open with Cheap Shot immediately. If they sap you, let them open.

Spam Intimidating Shout so you can fear them right after Kidney shot falls down. Try to go behind them and use Rend and Piercing Howl.

It is important to keep up Rend and slow them the entire time because they will be unable to Stealth and will be harder to deadzone you.

Be prepared to use Berseker Rage if they use Gouge or Trinket if they use Blind. They will immediately Vanish so be prepared to use Demoralizing shout in order to reveal them and Charge/Intercept right after.

The Rogues will be forced to fight you at this stage so activate Shield Block and change to Battle Stance, activate Retaliation and start spamming Overpower. They will be procing it a lot because their hits will be blocked. Overpower can not be dodged/parried/blocked. Make sure to use Thunder Clap as well.

If playing against Combat rogue, pop Skeleton key when they use Killing Spree.

Paladins

Holy Paladins:

Use Standard Talents build and set 1. Use DBW instead of WFS.

Start duel in Berserking Stance > Bloodrage > Intercept > Hamstring > Recklessness > Rend Macro > Move away from the Pala > Charge back in > Mortal Strike > Heroic Strike > Bladestorm immediately. They will try to panic heal as much as they can. Try to use Overpower macro right before Bladestorm ends because and try to do it while they are casting. This will reduce their healing with 50% due to Unrelenting assault talent. Use Mortal Strike after for additional 50% and finish off with Heroic Strike and Overpower/Execute.

Note! This rotation is applicable for any healer, however, I personally prefer using WFS vs clothers because STS and WFS share the same CD.

Protection Paladins:
Cry.

Retribution and Preg Paladins.

Use Last Stand build and set 2. Use DBW and STS trinkets and Shadowmourne.

Paladins Type 1.
They will let you charge, try to stun you and pop wings. Pop Retaliation a second before the duel starts, charge in Rend and Bladestorm immediately. They will be unable to stun you if you are fast enough. If they succeed Trinket right away and Bladestorm. Make sure you face them so they don't hit you from the back. Spam Last Stand Macro and stay with 2H (You have 20 seconds to finish them). Use Disarm Macro and apply Hamstring and Mortal Strike. Keep Bursting them until they die or if it is close fight, try to save Shield Wall as long as possible. If you need to use it, spam Revenge until they die.

Be prepared to Shattering Throw the bubble.
You may need to cancel Enraged Regeneration because good Paladins will repentance you and heal up.

Paladins type 2.
They will never let you open. They will run close to you and use Divine Protection when you BS. That is fine. Use Retaliation and start with Rend and pop Bladestorm Macro. The rest of the duel goes the same way as Paladins type 1.

Death Knights

Use Last Stand build and set 2. Use DBW and STS trinkets and Shadowmourne.

Pop Retaliation right before duel starts. Charge in and Hamstring( !This is super important, else they will kite you till death), then use Rend, Mortal Strike and Bladestorm. Start spamming the Last Stand macro and then use Disarm macro. Switch back to Battle Stance and equip2H. Keep Hamstring, Mortal Strike and Rend up. Keep Bursting them until they die or if it is close fight, try to save Shield Wall as long as possible. If you need to use it, spam Revenge until they die.

Hunters

Shamans

Druids

Mages

Shadow Priests

To be continued...

P.S. I am open for criticism, suggestions and discussion.

Amazing guide, keep updating and improving it, I'm sure you've helped many people that didn't say anything but I can't get this precious info without thanking you for it.

I'm wondering how much resilience you have in set number two.
I guess you are way over the resilience soft cap of 1414. After reaching that point I think it's better to stack Stamina gems because Arms has a enormous self heal which scales with your HP.
I also think that it's worth to use Smourne even with the defensive set. The sheer amount of stats that you gain with Smourne make up it's lower def stats and you can switch to 1h weapon+shield anyway if you want more defensive.

I'm curious about others ppl experience in terms of full stam/resilience stacked Awarr.
Once I thought a warr in such gear with my 100%arp geared Pwarr and that guy simply outhealed my dmg.
I feel like that gear has huge potential in duels and the self heal seems to be close to a blood DK. Maybe it's even stronger because the self heal comes passively while the DK can barely heal when kited.

Nice even though I can’t translate well to my language