Arms Warrior DPS Guide — The War Within (11.1.5)

Although not announced in the Patch 11.1.5 development notes, there was an undocumented buff dramatically increasing the damage of Wrecking Throw. Although it seldom has use in PvE content, this opens up a handful of new opportunities, while also coming in as a significant buff in PvP.

• Wrecking Throw damage has been increased by 600%.
• The Warbreaker animation has been updated to remove the phantom weapons.

With Patch 11.1.0, Arms Warriors recieved significant tuning across most of their core rotational abilities. Additionally, the Class Talent Tree has undergone a few changes to increase survivability and support better choices in the bottom section of the tree.

• Overwhelming Rage is now a single point talent, still increasing maximum Rage by a 30.
• Reinforced Plates is now a two point talent, and now increases stamina by 5% per point.
• Endurance Training has been removed.
• Two-Handed Weapon Specialization is now a two point talent, increasing damage by 3% and reducing AoE damage taken by 2% per point. It has also swapped positions with Cruel Strikes, now pathing into Dragon Roar.
• Thunderous Words increased bleed damage has been reduced from 30->25%.
• Colossus Smash and Warbreaker now have new animations.
• Martial Prowess damage bonus has been reduced from 30->15%.
• Bloodsurge now only triggers from Deep Wounds, and its chance to proc no longer increases with the number of bleeding targets.
• Fatality now benefits from damage increasing effects such as Deep Wounds, Colossus Smash, and Avatar.
• Mortal Strike, Overpower, Dreadnaught, Slam, Execute, Cleave, Whirlwind, and Demolish damage have all been increased by 30-40%.
• Imminent Demise now requires Sudden Death to be talented.
• Opportunist Overpower damage bonus buffed from 20->25%.
• Arterial Bleed bleed damage bonus buffed from 3->5%.
• Practiced Strikes Mortal Strike and Cleave damage bonus buffed from 15->20%.
• Execute no longer triggers Colossal Might.

The Patch 11.0.5 changes were aimed at reducing AoE capability of Warriors, they are not particularly detrimental to Arms, since Warbreaker is primarily used to debuff targets and the majority of Thunderous Roar damage comes from its DoT rather than the initial hit.

• Champion's Spear icon has been updated.
• Thunderous Roar now deals reduced damage beyond 5 targets (was 8). This does not apply to the DoT damage.
• Warbreaker radius increased to 10 yards (was 8 yards).
• Warbreaker now deals reduced damage beyond 5 targets. This does not apply to debuff application.
• Overwhelming Blades now stacks up to 10 times (was 12).

On October 25th, Arms Warriors were buffed significantly via hotfix, increasing average power by 8-9% across the board.

• Execute damage increased by 10%.
• Mortal Strike damage increased by 15%.
• Overpower damage increased by 15%.
• Dreadnaught damage increased by 15%.
• Cleave damage increased by 20%.
• Demolish single-target damage increased by 15%.
• Reap the Storm damage increased by 25%.
• Slayer's Strike damage increased by 15%.

On November 22nd, another hotfix buffed Arms Warrior survivability.

• Demolish now reduces the damage dealt by afflicted enemies from 5 to 10%.
• Mountain of Muscle and Scars passive damage reduction buffed from 2.5 to 5%.

Arms Warrior Rage economy has been significantly altered in The War Within, reducing the amount generated per swing and reducing the Rage cost of Slam, Whirlwind, Rend, Thunder Clap, and Ignore Pain to a consistent 20 Rage. As a result, Rage is generated and spent in smaller chunks, leading to smoother pacing and less time bouncing between a full or empty resource bar.

The Warrior Class Tree has received a moderate rework, rearranging the pathing of several talents and removing some of the less desirable ones outright. Overall, the tree has become smaller and more streamlined, with focus on improving access to important crowd control and early leveling abilities, most notably relocating Shockwave to the middle of the tree. Below, you can see some of the most important changes that will affect your gameplay, decision-making, and power in The War Within.

• Berserker Rage is now automatically learned at level 12.
• Titanic Throw, Sonic Boom, and Furious Blows have been removed.
• Blood and Thunder is now baked into Thunder Clap.
• Second Wind now restores health while below 35%.
• Honed Reflexes now reduces the cooldown of most defensive and utility cooldowns by 5%.
• Champion's Might now affects targets hit by Spear, instead of the player standing inside it.
• Thunderous Words has been buffed from 15 to 30%, but only increases the damage targets take from bleeds during its effect.
• Crushing Force now affects Mortal Strike instead of Slam.
• Endurance Training has gained a second point.
• Warlord's Torment no longer affects Colossus Smash, and the bonus Rage generated during Recklessness is reduced to +25%.
• Blademaster's Torment now triggers Sweeping Strikes and and reduces the cooldown of Cleave whenever Avatar is used.

The Arms Warrior Spec Tree has undergone only minor changes, condensing and reworking a few of its talents, though retaining the same general pathing. Several abilities have received tuning or minor adjustments, with the major highlights detailed below.

• Cleave now replaces Whirlwind.
• Fervor of Battle, Collateral Damage, Seismic Reverberation and Barbaric Training now apply to Cleave.
• Tide of Blood has been baked into Skullsplitter.
• Storm of Swords now grants Whirlwind a chance to make your next Cleave or Whirlwind free.
• Sudden Death can now stack twice.
• Improved Overpower now grants a second charge of Overpower.
• Strength of Arms effects have been split into two talents Finishing Blows, and now shares a choice node with Dreadnaught.
• Tactician and Deft Experience proc rates have been reduced.
• In For The Kill now lasts the full duration of Colossus Smash.
• Battlelord no longer increases Overpower damage.
• Ravager is now a choice alongside Bladestorm.
• Hurricane has been removed.
• Dance of Death has been completely redesigned with separate effects for Bladestorm and Ravager.