TBC Classic Arms Warrior Pre-Raid Gear
On this page, you will find the best pre-raid gear for Arms Warrior in TBC Classic.
Arms Warrior Pre-Raid Best in Slot Gear
In this guide we go over the different gear available for Arms Warriors before entering raids. We will offer multiple different pieces, as some can be rather expensive or very rare to find. Some slots have multiple "best" items that can change depending on your current gear and Hit Rating needs.
For the most part we will exclude PvP gear choices. While PvP gear can be a very powerful option for some slots, the gear will require many hours of battlegrounds or weeks of arena point farming to obtain while not being a "best" choice. We recommend only investing time into farming a couple of these pieces at most as the lack of fully PvE focused stats can leave you lacking in certain aspects (such as hit rating or crit rating).
Head
| Rank | Item | Gems | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best | 3 x |
Teron Gorefiend, I am... / Teron Gorefiend, I am... | |
| Best | 1 x |
(H)Epoch Hunter - Old Hillsbrad Foothills | |
| Easy | Blacksmithing |
Your best head piece somewhat depends on your other gear. Pick either
Wastewalker Helm or
Ragesteel Helm if it's the second item
needed for the 2 set bonus.
Necklace
| Rank | Item | Gems | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best | G'eras - 25 x |
||
| Best | (H)Quagmirran - The Slave Pens | ||
| Easy | The Hound-Master |
You have a few options for the necklace slot. Choose the one that fits your hit rating needs.
Shoulder
| Rank | Item | Gems | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best | 2 x |
Doom-Lord Kazzak | |
| Recommended | 2 x |
(H)Avatar of the Martyred - Auchenai Crypts | |
| Recommended | 2 x |
(H)The Black Stalker - The Underbog |
Ripfiend Shoulderplates are very good shoulders, but very rare since
they come from a world boss. Your shoulder options are somewhat similar to your
head choices, pick whichever one you can use to get the 2 set bonus.
Back
| Rank | Item | Gems | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best | Doomwalker | ||
| Recommended | 1 x |
Tailoring | |
| Option | Warp Splinter - The Botanica | ||
| Option | Blackheart the Inciter - Shadow Labyrinth |
Black-Iron Battlecloak is very slightly better than your second best
option, but will be nearly impossible to get as it drops from a world boss.
Vengeance Wrap is a great alternative that can be made by a tailor.
Chest
| Rank | Item | Gems | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best | 1 x |
Doomwalker | |
| Option | BoE World Drop | ||
| Recommended | 3 x |
Harbinger Skyriss - The Arcatraz | |
| Easy | Blacksmithing |
As you can see, you have quite a few different chest options. While
Terrorweave Tunic is by far your best, it drops from a world
boss, so it will be very hard to get.
Chestguard of Exile is a BoE world
drop, but a strong second option. Lastly,
Ragesteel Breastplate is
a great option, and if you are using 2 pieces of the Ragesteel set this chest
becomes your second best option for the set bonus.
Wrist
| Rank | Item | Gems | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best | Blacksmithing | ||
| Option | 1 x |
Honor |
Black Felsteel Bracers are very strong crafted wrists and are
your best option to grab before entering raids.
General's Linked Bracers
can be gotten by farming honor.
Hands
| Rank | Item | Gems | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best | 1 x |
Leatherworking | |
| Option | 2 x |
Blacksmithing | |
| Easy | Blacksmithing | ||
| Easy | The Flesh Lies... |
Fel Leather Gloves are amazing, cheap gloves that you can easily pick
up.
Felfury Gauntlets are much more expensive, but better if you do not
need hit rating.
Ragesteel Gloves will be your second best option if
using the 2 set bonus.
Waist
| Rank | Item | Gems | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best | 2 x |
Talon King Ikiss - Sethekk Halls | |
| Option | (H)Aeonus - Black Morass |
Deathforge Girdle will be your ideal pre-bis belt, but you can use
Girdle of the Deathdealer if you need hit badly.
Legs
| Rank | Item | Gems | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best | 3 x |
Doom-Lord Kazzak | |
| Recommended | 3 x |
(H)Quagmirran - Slave Pens | |
| Easy | 1 x |
Leatherworking | |
| Easy | Showdown | ||
| Easy | Special Delivery to Shattrath City |
Scaled Greaves of the Marksman another great but, but very rare as it
drops from a world boss. Besides those you have
Midnight Legguards
which are great, and a few easy to obtain legs to choose from.
Clefthoof Hide Leggings and
Shattrath Leggings are also amazing
for how easy and early they can be obtained.
Feet
| Rank | Item | Gems | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best | 1 x |
Leatherworking | |
| Best | 2 x |
Into the Heart of the Labyrinth - Shadow Labyrinth |
Fel Leather Boots are a cheap, very strong boot option. If you don't
need the hit rating, you can use
Sha'tari Wrought Greaves.
Finger
| Rank | Item | Gems | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best | Doom-Lord Kazzak | ||
| Best | Lower City - Exalted | ||
| Best | 25 x |
||
| Best | Shutting Down Manaforge Ara | ||
| Easy | Terrokar Forest PvP Vendor |
You have many different choices for the rings you wear.
Shapeshifter's Signet is a great ring as you'll most likely have little
to no expertise early on.
Trinket
| Rank | Item | Gems | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best | 41 x |
||
| Best | Temporus - Black Morass | ||
| Option | (H)Keli'dan the Breaker - Blood Furnace | ||
| Option | Pathaleon the Calculator - Mechanar | ||
| Easy | Ar'kelos the Guardian | ||
| Easy | Cruel's Intentions / Overlord | ||
| Easy | Torgos! / Torgos! |
You have quite a few options when it comes to trinkets as there are many
different ones easily accessible early on.
Bloodlust Brooch is very
good and recommended that you pick this one up early on. Your second trinket
can be used to fill in missing hit rating or with one of the easy quest trinkets
till you can upgrade it.
Two-Hand Weapon
| Rank | Item | Gems | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best | Blacksmithing | ||
| Option | (H)Aeonus - Black Morass | ||
| Easy | Nexus-King Salhadaar |
Blacksmithing is highly recommended for Arms Warriors for the
amazing 2-handed weapons it offers. Swords are ideal, but maces are good enough
to use in PvE as well as PvP.
The Burning Crusader is a great, easy
pickup in the meantime.
Ranged
| Rank | Item | Gems | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best | 2 x |
Doomwalker | |
| Recommended | Declawing Doomclaw | ||
| Easy | Blacksmithing | ||
| Option | Thrallmar or Honor Hold - Exalted |
Barrel-Blade Longrifle yet another great piece of gear from a world
boss, making it nearly impossible to get.
Mama's Insurance is an amazing
alternative and extremely easy to get. There are also a few hit rating options
here depending on your needs.
Recommended Enchants
For a list of recommended enchants, check out our Arms Warrior Enchants guide.
Changelog
- 31 Dec. 2025: Updated for TBC Anniversary.
- 06 May 2022: Updated for Phase 5.
- 11 Jun. 2021: Added Meta gem and Ragesteel Shoulders.
- 26 May 2021: Guide added.
This guide has been written by Abide, TBC veteran for nearly a decade. Abide is a Warrior tank and multi-class expert currently playing on Faerlina as Horde. You can find him in the the Icy Veins Discord. You can also see him live on Twitch.
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