Protection Warrior Guide for PvP [4.3.4]
This topic was originally posted by Ankarar
Greetings everybody, today I am going to post about Protection Warrior!, one of the most underestimated spec for PvP.
First of all you should know that this role is NOT only for flag carrier or defend bases. In this role you are going to be reducing the damage of your enemies, and supporting your allies with some stuff you will have. And of course you will have a good damage.
In this guide you will find:
Talents, Glyphs, Stat Priority, Rotation, Tips.
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So lets start out with the talents:
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- Protection Talent Tree -
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- Incite -
http://static4.wikia.nocookie.net/__...ior_incite.png
This is really good for your damage. This should be 3/3.
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Here you will decide between Toughness 2/3, or Blood and Thunder 2/2.
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- Toughness -
http://static4.wikia.nocookie.net/__...y_devotion.png
This will give you more armor, but since armor only works against physical attacks, it should be 2/3
- Blood and Thunder -
http://static3.wikia.nocookie.net/__...andthunder.png
Excellent for spreading damage to multiple enemies and refreshing Rend, so you don't have to Rend in order to reset it's duration. 2/2
- Shield Specialization -
http://static4.wikia.nocookie.net/__..._shield_06.png
Good for generating Rage. 3/3
- Shield Mastery -
http://static3.wikia.nocookie.net/__...eldmastery.png
Extra survivavility and reduced cooldowns is always welcome. 3/3
- Hold the Line -
http://static1.wikia.nocookie.net/__...xtowers_av.png
This is great against any melee or anybody who dares to hit your blade, the critical chance boost granted by this talent will be really helpful. 2/2
- Gag Order -
http://static2.wikia.nocookie.net/__...Inv_axe_66.png
This is a must-have talent, Ranged Silence for the win. 2/2
- Last Stand -
http://static4.wikia.nocookie.net/__...hestoashes.png
Not so interesting since you have Rallying Cry. 0/1
- Concussion Blow -
http://static3.wikia.nocookie.net/__...hunderbolt.png
Another must-have talent, no explanation needed. 1/1
- Bastion of Defense -
http://static1.wikia.nocookie.net/__...hieldguard.png
Survivavility and damage. Approved. 2/2
- Warbringer -
http://static3.wikia.nocookie.net/__...warbringer.png
Definitely. 1/1
- Improved Revenge -
http://static3.wikia.nocookie.net/__...or_revenge.png
Good damage boost for this particular ability, and becomes splash damage. 2/2
- Devastate -
http://static2.wikia.nocookie.net/__...v_sword_11.png
No cooldown, applies Sunder Armor, and does damage!. 1/1
- Impending Victory -
http://static2.wikia.nocookie.net/__...ng_victory.png
Very powerful and helpful self-healing in the most though situations. This also saves you some Rage since Victory Rush doesn't cost Rage at all. 2/2
- Thunderstruck -
http://static1.wikia.nocookie.net/__...nderstruck.png
Mix this with Blood and Thunder. Pure ownage. 2/2
- Vigilance -
http://static3.wikia.nocookie.net/__..._vigilance.png
Vengeance granted by this talent is not applied in PvP. 0/1
- Heavy Repercussions -
http://static2.wikia.nocookie.net/__..._shield_01.png
The core talent for Protection's huge crits. Mix with Shield Mastery to enable this more often. 2/2
- Safeguard -
http://static3.wikia.nocookie.net/__..._safeguard.png
This seems helpful on battlegrounds and arenas, but not enough talent points. 0/2
- Sword and Board -
http://static3.wikia.nocookie.net/__...rdandboard.png
Another must-have talent, since you will be using Devastate a lot, this will boost it's crit, has a chance to refresh the cooldown of Shield Slam, and causes it to cost no Rage!. 3/3
- Shockwave -
http://static2.wikia.nocookie.net/__..._shockwave.png
No explanation needed too. 1/1
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- Fury Talent Tree -
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- Blood Craze -
http://static3.wikia.nocookie.net/__..._summonimp.png
Good self-healing, but not enough talents. 0/3
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Here you will decide between Battle Trance 3/3, Cruelty 2/2 (Battle Trance 1/3). Or Second Wind 2/2 (Battle Trance 1/3).
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- Battle Trance -
http://static3.wikia.nocookie.net/__..._helmet_06.png
A lot of Protection Warriors have trouble with the Rage generation, but don't worry anymore, this is the solution. 3/3
- Cruelty -
http://static2.wikia.nocookie.net/__...eviscerate.png
This helps to get those huge Shield Slam crits more often. 2/2
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- Arms Talent Tree -
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- War Academy -
http://static2.wikia.nocookie.net/__...ingassault.png
Devastate and Victory Rush damage boost. Mix with Impending Victory and you will not have trouble to kill enemies. 3/3
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Here you will decide between Field Dressing, or Blitz.
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- Field Dressing -
http://static3.wikia.nocookie.net/__...bandage_05.png
Mix with Impending Victory for pure ownage. 2/2
- Blitz -
http://static2.wikia.nocookie.net/__...icon_blitz.png
If you have trouble generating Rage at start, this will help, and Charge stun also affects nearby targets. 2/2
- Tactical Mastery -
http://static1.wikia.nocookie.net/__...chantarmor.png
Helps a lot to not lose Rage when switching stances. 1/2
- Second Wind -
http://static3.wikia.nocookie.net/__...ter_harass.png
Health and Rage generation. Approved. 2/2
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Ok, now lets get started with the Glyphs:
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- Prime Glyphs -
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Just take all Protection glyphs (Shield Slam, Revenge and Devastate).
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- Major Glyphs -
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- Glyph of Victory Rush -
http://static2.wikia.nocookie.net/__..._devastate.png
Mix with Impending Victory and Field Dressing talents. Damn that's some good healing over there.
- Glyph of Resonating Power -
http://static2.wikia.nocookie.net/__...hunderclap.png
Since you will be using Thunder Clap very often, you will need to reduce it's Rage cost.
- Glyph of Shockwave -
http://static2.wikia.nocookie.net/__..._shockwave.png
More often Shockwaves.
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- Minor Glyphs -
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- Glyph of Enduring Victory -
http://static2.wikia.nocookie.net/__..._devastate.png
Increased duration of Victory Rush and Impending Victory talent.
- Glyph of Battle -
http://static3.wikia.nocookie.net/__...attleshout.png
Increased duration of Battle Shout.
- Glyph of Command -
http://static2.wikia.nocookie.net/__...allyingcry.png
Increased duration of Commanding Shout.
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Now lets begin with the Stat Priority.
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http://static2.wikia.nocookie.net/__..._challange.png http://static1.wikia.nocookie.net/__...gue_ambush.png http://static3.wikia.nocookie.net/__...ensifyrage.png http://static2.wikia.nocookie.net/__...eviscerate.png http://static3.wikia.nocookie.net/__...vechampion.png
Expertise 5% > Hit 5% > Strength > Critical > Mastery
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- Gems -
- Meta -
http://static3.wikia.nocookie.net/__...gemuncut_b.png
should be Strength and 3% Critical damage bonus.
- Red -
http://static4.wikia.nocookie.net/__...epicgem_01.png
should be Strength.
- Purple -
http://static1.wikia.nocookie.net/__...epicgem_05.png
should be Strength and Stamina.
- Orange -
http://static3.wikia.nocookie.net/__...epicgem_04.png
should be Strength and Critical.
- Reforge -
Reforge Mastery and other useless stats such as Haste into Critical.
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And now the Rotation:
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- Beginning -
http://static2.wikia.nocookie.net/__...ior_charge.png http://static3.wikia.nocookie.net/__...lity_gouge.png http://static2.wikia.nocookie.net/__...hunderclap.png http://static2.wikia.nocookie.net/__...v_sword_11.png http://static4.wikia.nocookie.net/__..._shield_05.png
Charge -> Rend -> Thunder Clap -> Devastate -> Shield Slam
- Regular -
http://static2.wikia.nocookie.net/__...v_sword_11.png http://static2.wikia.nocookie.net/__...hunderclap.png http://static2.wikia.nocookie.net/__...v_sword_11.png http://static2.wikia.nocookie.net/__...ity_defend.png http://static4.wikia.nocookie.net/__..._shield_05.png http://static3.wikia.nocookie.net/__...hunderbolt.png http://static2.wikia.nocookie.net/__...hunderclap.png http://static2.wikia.nocookie.net/__...v_sword_11.png http://static4.wikia.nocookie.net/__..._shield_05.png http://static2.wikia.nocookie.net/__..._shockwave.png
Devastate -> Thunder Clap -> Devastate -> Shield Block -> Shield Slam (3 stacks of Devastate) -> Concussion Blow -> Thunder Clap -> Devastate -> Shield Slam -> Shockwave (3 stacks of Thunderstruck).
- One Shot -
http://static3.wikia.nocookie.net/__...attleshout.png http://static2.wikia.nocookie.net/__...ior_charge.png http://static2.wikia.nocookie.net/__...ity_defend.png http://static4.wikia.nocookie.net/__...ial_avatar.png http://static3.wikia.nocookie.net/__...ossussmash.png http://static3.wikia.nocookie.net/__...icalstrike.png http://static3.wikia.nocookie.net/__...vechampion.png http://static4.wikia.nocookie.net/__..._shield_05.png http://s23.postimg.org/vsmin4auf/kaboom_icon.png
Battle Shout (more Rage to start) -> Charge -> Shield Block -> Berserker Stance -> Colossus Smash -> Recklessness + DPS Trinket -> Shield Slam -> Kaboom
Tips:
- Applying Colossus Smash to your rotation will considerably increase your damage.
- Shield Slam dispels a magic effect.
- Use Charge every time it is available to prevent the Rage starved problem.
- Do not use your stuns very often or they will receive the diminishing returns effect (reduced duration of stuns).
- Use Heroic Strike when you have 75 or more Rage, doing this before will cause the Rage starved problem.
- Use Heroic Strike whenever Battle Trance procs (do not follow this when you have 15 Rage or less).
- Heroic Strike hits slighty harder than Devastate while using One Shot.
- Revenge ability helps you to save a lot of Rage.
I hope you enjoy playing Protection Warrior. ;)
