WoW Forever DB

World of Warcraft: Forever · class guide

Arms Warrior: Leveling

Client build 1.60.1.70425 · updated

Level as Arms with the slowest two-hander you can find: the usual pick.

How this works

Rage now comes from weapon speed, so a slow weapon gives big chunks of rage per swing and bigger Overpower and Slam hits. The first 20 levels are the hardest of any class: rage is short and there is no self-heal until Victory Rush at 20, which is the turning point. The XP curve is the same as Classic's, levels 20–30 cost twice all of 1–20, and dungeon quests still pay about 2.2 times Classic's XP. The spells and ranks in each band come straight from the client's trainer data.

How Arms fights is on its rotation page.

Level by level

Your race

31–60: Classic routing on Forever zone levels

1–10Defensive Stance at 10

Charge, Rend and the stance quest

Heroic Strike and Battle Shout from 1, Charge and Rend at 4, Thunder Clap at 6, Hamstring at 8. At 10 the class quest teaches Defensive Stance, Taunt and Sunder Armor, and a follow-up gives a one-handed weapon. Bloodrage at 10 is your rage before a pull.

Where
Human: Northshire Abbey, then Elwynn Forest. At 10, Lyria Du Lac in Goldshire starts A Warrior's Training: Harry Burlguard and Bartleby the Drunk at the Pig and Whistle in Stormwind.
Dwarf: Coldridge Valley, then Dun Morogh. At 10, Granis Swiftaxe in Kharanos sends you to Muren Stormpike in Ironforge, then to kill the troll Vejrek.
Night Elf: Shadowglen, then Teldrassil. At 10, Kyra Windblade in Dolanaar sends you to Elanaria in Darnassus, then to Vorlus Vilehoof.
Gnome: Coldridge Valley, then Dun Morogh. The stance quest is the Dwarf one: Granis Swiftaxe in Kharanos, Muren Stormpike in Ironforge, then Vejrek.
Skyborne (High Order): Zephras Isle (1–12): The Warrior's Path at 2 sends you to Blademaster Ren in Thendal Village. At 10, The Skybreaker Bulwark (Seena Skybreaker) rewards a shield and looks like the Skyborne stance quest, but that is unconfirmed; one guide sends Skyborne to the Bartleby chain in Stormwind instead.
Orc: Valley of Trials, then Durotar. At 10, Tarshaw Jaggedscar in Razor Hill sends you to Veteran Uzzek at Far Watch Post (the Barrens) for Path of Defense.
Undead: Deathknell, then Tirisfal Glades. At 10, Austil de Mon in Brill sends you to Dillinger and then Ulag the Cleaver in the Brill graveyard.
Tauren: Camp Narache, then Mulgore, which has many new Forever quests. At 10, Krang Stonehoof in Bloodhoof Village sends you to Veteran Uzzek in the Barrens.
Troll: Valley of Trials, then Durotar. The stance quest is the Orc one: Tarshaw Jaggedscar, then Veteran Uzzek at Far Watch Post.
Skyborne (Windshaper): Zephras Isle (1–12), as High Order: The Warrior's Path at 2 and possibly The Skybreaker Bulwark at 10 (unconfirmed). One guide sends Horde Skyborne to Sorek in Orgrimmar and Veteran Uzzek instead.
New spells
Battle Stance 1 Heroic Strike 1 Battle Shout 1 Charge 4 Rend 4 Thunder Clap 6 Hamstring 8 Bloodrage 10 Defensive Stance 10 Sunder Armor 10 Taunt 10
New ranks
Heroic Strike 2 8Rend 2 10
Talents
Improved Rend 3/3 10–12
Tips
  • Charge, Rend, then auto-attack; spend rage on Rend and Hamstring before Heroic Strike.
  • Buy or quest the slowest two-hander you can use: rage per swing follows weapon speed.
  • Stand at the edge of melee range: until the known issue is fixed, mobs can parry and block from behind at close range.
11–20Victory Rush at 20

Overpower, Tactical Mastery and Victory Rush

Overpower and Shield Bash at 12, Tactical Mastery (keeps 10 rage on a stance swap), Revenge and Demoralizing Shout at 14, Mocking Blow and Shield Block at 16, Disarm at 18. At 20 you get Victory Rush, Cleave, Slam and Retaliation, and the class quest for a shield. Talents start at 10: Improved Rend first.

Where
Human: Westfall (9–18) or Loch Modan (10–18), then Redridge from about 15.
Dwarf: Loch Modan (10–18), then Westfall and Redridge.
Night Elf: Darkshore (11–19), then Ashenvale from Astranaar.
Gnome: Loch Modan (10–18), then Westfall and Redridge.
Skyborne (High Order): Leave Zephras Isle for Stormwind, then Loch Modan, Westfall and Redridge.
Orc: The Barrens from the Crossroads (10–25), then Stonetalon Mountains.
Undead: Silverpine Forest (10–20) or the Barrens.
Tauren: The Barrens from the Crossroads, then Stonetalon Mountains.
Troll: The Barrens from the Crossroads (10–25), then Stonetalon Mountains.
Skyborne (Windshaper): Leave Zephras Isle for Mulgore and Orgrimmar, then the Barrens and Stonetalon.
Dungeons

Alliance: Hall of Thanes 13–18 (new, under Ironforge; built for the Alliance) · Wailing Caverns 17–24 · Deadmines 17–26

Horde: Ragefire Chasm 13–18 (Horde) · Ruins of Lordaeron 15–20 (new, in Undercity; built for the Horde) · Wailing Caverns 17–24 · Deadmines 17–26

New spells
Overpower 12 Shield Bash 12 Tactical Mastery 14 Demoralizing Shout 14 Revenge 14 Mocking Blow 16 Shield Block 16 Disarm 18 Retaliation 20 Victory Rush 20 Cleave 20 Slam 20
New ranks
Battle Shout 2 12Heroic Strike 3 16Thunder Clap 2 18Rend 3 20
Talents
Improved Rend 3/3 10–12 Deflection 2/5 13–14 Improved Overpower 2/2 15–16 Improved Tactical Mastery 3/5 17–19 Deep Wounds 3/3 20–22
Tips
  • Improved Rend 3/3 by 12, then Deflection and Improved Overpower.
  • Use Bloodrage before a pull and keep rage for Overpower, which you can only use right after a dodge.
  • Corpse Chopper (Ruins of Lordaeron) can chop a Humanoid or Undead corpse for 150 health and 15 rage: a downtime saver.
21–30Beta cap

Sweeping Strikes, Berserker Stance and the beta cap

Intimidating Shout at 22, Execute at 24, Challenging Shout at 26, Shield Wall at 28. At 30 the Fray Island quest gives Berserker Stance, and you learn Intercept and Berserker Rage. Talents: Deep Wounds, Improved Tactical Mastery 5/5 for Anger Management at 25, Two-Handed Weapon Specialization, Spearing Strike and Sweeping Strikes at 30. Levels 20–30 cost 331,800 XP.

Where
Human: Redridge (20–22) → Wetlands from Menethil (22–24) → Duskwood (24–28) → Ashenvale from Astranaar (28–30).
Dwarf: Redridge (20–22) → Wetlands from Menethil (22–24) → Duskwood (24–28) → Ashenvale (28–30).
Night Elf: Stonetalon Peak (20–22) and Astranaar (20–24) before taking the boat, then Wetlands, Duskwood and Ashenvale.
Gnome: Redridge (20–22) → Wetlands from Menethil (22–24) → Duskwood (24–28) → Ashenvale (28–30).
Skyborne (High Order): Redridge (20–22) → Wetlands (22–24) → Duskwood (24–28) → Ashenvale (28–30).
Orc: The Barrens from Camp Taurajo (20–22) → Hillsbrad from Tarren Mill (22–24) → Ashenvale from Splintertree (24–27) → Thousand Needles from Freewind Post (27–30).
Undead: The Barrens from Camp Taurajo (20–22) → Hillsbrad from Tarren Mill (22–24) → Ashenvale from Splintertree (24–27) → Thousand Needles (27–30).
Tauren: The Barrens from Camp Taurajo (20–22) → Hillsbrad from Tarren Mill (22–24) → Ashenvale from Splintertree (24–27) → Thousand Needles (27–30).
Troll: The Barrens from Camp Taurajo (20–22) → Hillsbrad from Tarren Mill (22–24) → Ashenvale from Splintertree (24–27) → Thousand Needles (27–30).
Skyborne (Windshaper): The Barrens from Camp Taurajo (20–22) → Hillsbrad (22–24) → Ashenvale from Splintertree (24–27) → Thousand Needles (27–30).
Dungeons

Alliance: Shadowfang Keep 22–30 · Blackfathom Deeps and the Stockade 24–32 · Excavation Site: Wetlands 26–31 (new) · Razorfen Kraul and Gnomeregan 29–38 · Razorfen Downs (25+) · Uldaman (30+) · City of Dalaran 28–33 (later beta update)

Horde: Shadowfang Keep 22–30 · Excavation Site: Wetlands 26–31 (new) · Razorfen Kraul and Gnomeregan 29–38 · Razorfen Downs (25+) · Uldaman (30+) · City of Dalaran 28–33 (later beta update)

New spells
Intimidating Shout 22 Execute 24 Challenging Shout 26 Shield Wall 28 Berserker Rage 30 Berserker Stance 30 Intercept 30
New ranks
Battle Shout 3 22Sunder Armor 2 22Heroic Strike 4 24Demoralizing Shout 2 24Revenge 2 24Charge 2 26Mocking Blow 2 26Thunder Clap 3 28Overpower 2 28Rend 4 30Cleave 2 30Slam 2 30
Talents
Deep Wounds 3/3 20–22 Improved Tactical Mastery 5/5 23–24 Anger Management 1/1 25 Two-Handed Weapon Specialization 3/3 26–28 Spearing Strike 1/1 29 Sweeping Strikes 1/1 30
Tips
  • Sweeping Strikes at 30 doubles your damage on two targets; open packs with it in Battle Stance.
  • Respawns are faster in Hillsbrad, Ashenvale, Wetlands, Duskwood and Thousand Needles, so crowded quest mobs come back faster. Rend or Sunder tags a mob to you instantly.
  • The Fray Island quest (Klannoc Macleod) also starts the Whirlwind weapon chain, which most players finish nearer 37–40.
31–40Mortal Strike at 40

Thirties: Whirlwind and the Whirlwind weapon

Whirlwind at 36 (Berserker Stance) and Pummel at 38. The Cyclonian chain from Bath'rah the Windwatcher in Alterac ends in a Whirlwind Axe, Warhammer or Sword. Mortal Strike at 40 with your 31st Arms point, plus plate and dual spec at 40.

Where
Arathi Highlands (30–40), Stranglethorn Vale (30–44), Desolace (30–39), Alterac (27–39), then Dustwallow Marsh, Badlands and Swamp of Sorrows (36–45). Riverglades (36–44) is a new contested zone with over 150 quests (announced).
Dungeons
Scarlet Monastery wings · The Drowned City 35–40 (new) · Razorfen Downs · Uldaman
New spells
Whirlwind 36 Pummel 38
New ranks
Heroic Strike 5 32Hamstring 2 32Battle Shout 4 32Execute 2 32Shield Bash 2 32Demoralizing Shout 3 34Sunder Armor 3 34Revenge 3 34Mocking Blow 3 36Thunder Clap 4 38Slam 3 38Heroic Strike 6 40Rend 5 40Cleave 3 40Execute 3 40
Talents
Bloodthrill 5/5 31–35 Improved Slam 2/2 36–37 Impale 2/2 38–39 Mortal Strike 1/1 40
Tips
  • Bloodthrill makes every hit on a Rended target a chance to Overpower; keep Rend up.
  • Dual spec at 40 lets you keep a Protection spec for dungeons.
41–50Recklessness at 50

Forties and fifty: Weaponmaster and Recklessness

Weaponmaster rounds out Arms; Cruelty and Unbridled Wrath from Fury after that. Recklessness at 50.

Where
Tanaris, Feralas, the Hinterlands, Searing Gorge and Azshara.
Dungeons
Krol'dok Stronghold 40–45 (new) · Uldaman · Zul'Farrak · Maraudon · Alcaz Prison 48–53 (new)
New spells
Recklessness 50
New ranks
Battle Shout 5 42Intercept 2 42Overpower 3 44Demoralizing Shout 4 44Revenge 4 44Charge 3 46Mocking Blow 4 46Slam 4 46Sunder Armor 4 46Heroic Strike 7 48Thunder Clap 5 48Execute 4 48Rend 6 50Cleave 4 50
Talents
Weaponmaster 5/5 41–45 Cruelty 5/5 46–50
51–60Last ranks

Fifties: the last ranks

The last trainer ranks of Heroic Strike, Rend, Battle Shout, Revenge, Overpower and the 31-point attacks come between 54 and 60.

Where
Un'Goro Crater, Felwood, Burning Steppes, Western and Eastern Plaguelands, Winterspring and Silithus.
Dungeons
Sunken Temple · Blackrock Depths · Dire Maul · Blackmaw Hold 55–60 (new) · Lower Blackrock Spire · Scholomance · Stratholme · Shaper's Terrace 58–60 (new)
New ranks
Battle Shout 6 52Intercept 3 52Shield Bash 3 52Hamstring 3 54Demoralizing Shout 5 54Slam 5 54Revenge 5 54Heroic Strike 8 56Mocking Blow 5 56Execute 5 56Thunder Clap 6 58Pummel 2 58Sunder Armor 5 58Heroic Strike 9 60Rend 7 60Overpower 4 60Battle Shout 7 60Cleave 5 60Revenge 6 60
Talents
Unbridled Wrath 5/5 51–55 Booming Voice 5/5 56–60

Talents above follow the Arms leveling order. The level-30 Arms talents, with Deep Wounds moved ahead of Anger Management, then the Arms endpoint build for 31–60 (its Fury points minus Raging Blows, and Deflection and Spearing Strike instead of Improved Heroic Strike). With the Talented legacy perk every step comes five levels sooner (26 points at 30). A common alternative takes Cruelty first and Mortal Strike at 45; this order trades five levels of +5% crit for Mortal Strike at 40. Step through it in the talent trees.

Class quests and mounts

  • Level 10, Defensive Stance, Taunt and Sunder Armor: each starting area's Classic chain, unchanged as far as anyone knows: Human Lyria Du Lac (Goldshire) → Bartleby; Dwarf and Gnome Granis Swiftaxe (Kharanos) → Muren Stormpike → Vejrek; Night Elf Kyra Windblade (Dolanaar) → Elanaria → Vorlus Vilehoof; Orc, Troll and Tauren → Veteran Uzzek (Far Watch Post) → Path of Defense; Undead Austil de Mon (Brill) → Dillinger → Ulag the Cleaver. Each has a follow-up for a weak one-handed weapon (about 7.7 dps). Classic
  • Skyborne (new): The Warrior's Path at 2 (Blademaster Ren, Zephras Isle) and The Skybreaker Bulwark at 10 (Seena Skybreaker), which rewards the Stormforged Protector shield and promises "the secrets of the Skybreaker Defense". Whether that is the Skyborne stance quest isn't confirmed; alternatively, Skyborne may use the Bartleby or Uzzek chains. Unconfirmed
  • Level 20, shield quests: Alliance Wu Shen (Stormwind) → The Rethban Gauntlet in Redridge → Furen's Favor; Horde Sorek (Orgrimmar) → Ruga → Trial at the Field of Giants → Ruga's Bulwark. Both are 411 armour, 7 block, +3 Strength. Armour quests follow up to 30. Classic
  • Level 30, Berserker Stance: The Islander from your trainer sends you to Klannoc Macleod on Fray Island (the Barrens); The Affray follows. The stance still needs the quest. Live in beta
  • Levels 30–40, Whirlwind weapon: Klannoc → Bath'rah the Windwatcher (Alterac) → Cyclonian → Essence of the Exile → The Summoning (elite) → Whirlwind Axe (3.60 speed, 35.6 dps, +15 Str +14 Sta), Warhammer or Sword. Same stats as Classic. The axe is the level-30 best in slot, though it is hard going at 30. Classic
  • Mounts: nothing Warrior-specific; riding at 40. Classic

Weapons on the way

  • 13–18, Hall of Thanes (new): Ironforge Greathammer (2H mace, 16.0 dps, fire proc; Alliance quest Old Ironforge Incursion). Live in beta
  • 16–20, Ruins of Lordaeron (new): Corpse Chopper (2H axe, 3.60, 18.2 dps; chop a corpse for health and 15 rage), Forsaken Greataxe (2H axe, 20.5 dps, +8 Str; Horde quest from Brill), Monstrous Cleaver (2H sword, both factions' quest). Live in beta
  • 18–24, Wailing Caverns and Deadmines: Hammerbone (2H mace, 20.4 dps, +10 Str; new Horde quest), Smite's Mighty Hammer (3.50, 19.7 dps, +11 Str). Live in beta
  • 22–28: Arced War Axe (Shadowfang Keep, 21.7 dps, +9 Str +9 Sta), Strike of the Hydra (Blackfathom Deeps, 25.6 dps, needs 26), Graverobber's Shovel (Stockade, new 2H mace, 23.0 dps). Live in beta
  • 26–31, Excavation Site (new): Ironwood Destroyer (2H mace, 3.40, 27.8 dps, +24 AP; Alliance quest) and Heavehammer (3.30, 27.7 dps, +26 AP; follow-up quests reported as bugged). Live in beta
  • 29–30: Corpsemaker (Razorfen Kraul, 2H axe, 28.9 dps, +15 Str) and Manual Crowd Pummeler (Gnomeregan, 2.00 speed, 29.0 dps, on-use +50% attack speed). Live in beta
  • 30–40: the Whirlwind Axe, Warhammer or Sword from the Cyclonian chain; Scarlet Monastery drops. Classic

How to level well

  • Victory Rush after every kill from 20, and Thrill of Adventure (legacy perk: 5% health and mana on a killing blow) when you have legacy points.
  • Rend and Sunder tag instantly: open on a contested quest mob with either.
  • Don't Execute while questing: it eats all your rage; Heroic Strike only with rage to spare.
  • Gear matters more than for any other class. Upgrade your two-hander at every chance; repairs are the highest of any class, and the Reinforce legacy perk cuts durability loss on death by 20% (per its tooltip; check the rank count in game).
  • XP extras: the Cozy Sleeping Bag (+3% for 2 hours), food with +5% kill XP, and the Well Rested and Talented legacy perks.
  • Professions: Mining and Blacksmithing, Skinning for the Camp Chair crit buff, Cooking and First Aid.
  • Fury and Protection can level too: Fury was reworked for levelling but has no tested route yet; Protection levelling is theorycraft.