Arms Warrior DPS Rotation, Cooldowns, and Abilities in Battle for Azeroth (BfA) 8.0.1

Table of Contents

• +Introduction
  • 1. Class Overview
  • 2. Battle for Azeroth 8.0.1 Changes for Arms Warrior
    • 2.1. Core Mechanical Changes
    • 2.2. Baseline Abilities Changes
  • 3. Arms Warrior's Strengths
  • 4. Arms Warrior's Weaknesses
  • 5. Viability of Arms Warrior in the Current Patch
  • 6. Contents
  • 7. ChangeLog
• +Easy Mode
  • 1. Foreword
  • 2. The Basics of Arms Warrior
  • 3. Talent Choices for Arms Warriors
  • 4. Stat Choices for Arms Warriors
  • 5. Basic Rotation for Arms Warriors
  • 6. ChangeLog
• +Spell Summary
  • 1. Spell Summary of Arms Warrior
  • 2. Arms Warrior's Main Resource
  • 3. Basic Abilities of an Arms Warrior
  • 4. Important Procs for an Arms Warrior
  • 5. Offensive Cooldowns of an Arms Warrior
• +Builds and Talents
  • 1. Talent Choices for Arms Warrior
  • 2. Talent Cheat Sheet for Arms Warrior
    • 2.1. Open World, Levelling and Questing
    • 2.2. Dungeons and Mythic Plus
    • 2.3. Single Target Raid Encounters
  • 3. Tier 1 (Level 15) Talents for Arms Warrior
  • 4. Tier 2 (Level 30) Talents for Arms Warrior
  • 5. Tier 3 (Level 45) Talents for Arms Warrior
  • 6. Tier 4 (Level 60) Talents for Arms Warrior
  • 7. Tier 5 (Level 75) Talents for Arms Warrior
  • 8. Tier 6 (Level 90) Talents for Arms Warrior
  • 9. Tier 7 (Level 100) Talents for Arms Warrior
  • 10. PvP Talents (War Mode)
    • 10.1. Arms Warrior War Mode Talents
      • 10.1.1. General PvP Talents
      • 10.1.2. Arms Warrior PvP Talents
  • 11. ChangeLog
• +Azerite Traits and Armor
  • 1. Disclaimer
  • 2. Azerite Traits for Arms Warrior
    • 2.1. Outer Ring Traits
    • 2.2. Middle Ring Traits for Arms Warrior
    • 2.3. Inner Ring Traits for Arms Warrior
  • 3. Azerite Trait Ranking for Arms Warrior
    • 3.1. Outer Ring Single-Target
    • 3.2. Outer Ring Multi-Target (Mythic+, etc)
    • 3.3. Middle Ring Single-Target
    • 3.4. Middle Ring Multi-Target (Mythic+, etc)
  • 4. Find Azerite Armor By Trait/Power
  • 5. ChangeLog
• ×Rotation, Cooldowns, and Abilities
  • 1. Single-Target Rotation for Arms Warrior
    • 1.1. Execute Usage
    • 1.2. Opening Rotation for Arms Warrior
  • 2. Multiple-Target Rotation for Arms Warrior
    • 2.1. 2-3 Targets
    • 2.2. 4-5+ Targets
  • 3. Mastering your Arms Warrior
    • 3.1. Aligning Cooldowns
      • 3.1.1. Managing Deep Wounds
  • 4. Azerite Traits
    • 4.1. Tier 1 Talents Rage Generation
    • 4.2. Rage Management
    • 4.3. Heroic Charge
    • 4.4. Movement and Mobility
    • 4.5. Defensive Abilities
    • 4.6. Group Buffs
  • 5. ChangeLog
• +Mythic+ Tips
  • 1. Disclaimer
    • 1.1. Arms Warrior in Mythic+
    • 1.2. Arms Warrior Utility
  • 2. Mythic+ Talents for Arms Warrior
  • 3. Mythic+ Affixes
    • 3.1. Tier One Affixes
    • 3.2. Tier Two Affixes
    • 3.3. Tier Three Affixes
    • 3.4. Seasonal Affix
  • 4. Mythic+ Azerite Traits
  • 5. ChangeLog
• +Common and Worst Mistakes
  • 1. Downtime
  • 2. Overcapping Rage
  • 3. Not Knowing How To Sim Yourself
  • 4. Analyzing Your Own Mistakes
• +Frequently Asked Questions
  • 1. Battle for Azeroth Frequently Asked Questions
    • 1.1. Should I Worry About Rage?
    • 1.2. Should I Only Use Mortal Strike During Execute?
    • 1.3. What Piece of Gear is Better?
    • 1.4. How Much of Each Stat Should I Have?
  • 2. ChangeLog
• +Boss by Boss Strategies
  • 1. ChangeLog
• +Stat Priority
  • 1. The Basics of Stats for Arms Warrior
    • 1.1. Getting a Better Understanding
    • 1.2. Statistics
    • 1.3. Breakpoints
  • 2. Racial Bonuses for Arms Warrior
  • 3. ChangeLog
• +Gems, Enchants, and Consumables
  • 1. Gems for Arms Warrior
  • 2. Enchants for Arms Warrior
  • 3. Consumables for Arms Warrior
  • 4. ChangeLog
• +Macros and Addons
  • 1. Macros for Arms Warriors
    • 1.1. Generic Macros for Warriors
      • 1.1.1. Fervor/Slam Switch
      • 1.1.2. Avatar/Deadly Calm Switch
      • 1.1.3. Cancel Bladestorm Macro
      • 1.1.4. Pummel Macro
      • 1.1.5. Automatic Heroic Leap
      • 1.1.6. Heroic Leap Spam
    • 1.2. Specific Macros for Arms Warriors
      • 1.2.1. Charge Macro
      • 1.2.2. Offensive Cooldown Macro
  • 2. Addons recommended for Arms Warriors
    • 2.1. Generic Addons for Warriors
      • 2.1.1. ElvUI
      • 2.1.2. Boss Mods: Deadly Boss Mods or Bigwigs
      • 2.1.3. GTFO
      • 2.1.4. Parrot or Mik's Scrolling Battle Text
      • 2.1.5. Weak Auras
      • 2.1.6. TellMeWhen
      • 2.1.7. Raeli's Spell Announcer
      • 2.1.8. Recount / Skada / Details!
      • 2.1.9. Omen Threat Meter
    • 2.2. Specific Addons for Arms Warriors
• +Gear and Best in Slot
  • 1. Raid Best in Slot List for Arms Warrior
    • 1.1. Trinkets
    • 1.2. Evaluating Upgrades with Dynamic Item Levels
  • 2. ChangeLog
• +Simulations
  • 1. Disclaimer Page
  • 2. Arms Warrior Talent Comparisons
  • 3. Arms Warrior Racial Bonus Simulations
  • 4. Arms Warrior Stat Weights
  • 5. Arms Warrior Azerite Simulations
    • 5.1. Outer Ring Single-Target
    • 5.2. Outer Ring Multi-Target (Mythic+, etc)
    • 5.3. Middle Ring Single-Target
    • 5.4. Middle Ring Multi-Target (Mythic+, etc)
  • 6. ChangeLog

General Information

On this page, we list your Arms Warrior core abilities and how they should be used together (rotation) in World of Warcraft Battle for Azeroth 8.0.1. We also explain when to use your various cooldowns. Then, we go deeper and present all the subtleties that you will need to know if you want to excel at playing an Arms Warrior.

The other pages of our Arms Warrior guide can be accessed from the table of contents on the right.

About Our Author

This guide has been written by Archimtiros, the Warrior class theorycrafter, and one of the best DPS Warriors in the world, who raids in Infinity. You can follow him on Twitter and you can watch his stream on Twitch.

1. Single-Target Rotation for Arms Warrior

The Arms rotation is a conditional priority list, which can change depending on talent choice. Use the checkboxes below to make the appropriate customizations.

• Skullsplitter
• Rend
• Fervor of Battle
• Warbreaker
• Cleave
• Avatar
• Deadly Calm
• Ravager
• Crushing Assault
• Three Ranks of Seismic Wave

Note that this rotation focuses on the period above 20% health, or 40% health with Massacre talented; when your target reaches this threshold, Execute becomes available and the priority changes, as noted in the following section.

1. Cast Rend if less than 4 seconds remains, outside of Colossus Smash.
2. Cast Skullsplitter when less than 60 Rage.
3. Cast Avatar prior to Colossus Smash.
4. Cast Ravager immediately prior to Colossus Smash.
5. Cast Warbreaker.
6. Cast Colossus Smash.
7. Cast Execute with Sudden Death proc.
8. Cast Overpower only with the Seismic Slam Azerite trait activated in all three pieces of Azerite gear.
9. Cast Mortal Strike to maintain Deep Wounds.
10. Cast Bladestorm during Colossus Smash or Test of Might.
11. Cast Overpower to buff Mortal Strike.
12. Cast Whirlwind.
13. Cast Slam.

When using Test of Might, Rage should only be spent on Slam or Whirlwind when above 60 Rage or during Colossus Smash. Bladestorm should be used during the Test of Might buff, rather than during Colossus Smash.

Keeping Mortal Strike on cooldown to maintain Deep Wounds is the most important part of the rotation. There will always be three global cooldowns between each cast, making it impossible to ever overcap Overpower buff stacks.

1.1. Execute Usage

Execute deals very high damage, maintains Deep Wounds, and refunds 30% of the rage spent if the target does not die, allowing it to be cast more frequently than other abilites. It will become the main Rage spender once available.

1. Cast Skullsplitter when less than 60 Rage.
2. Cast Avatar prior to Colossus Smash.
3. Cast Ravager immediately prior to Colossus Smash.
4. Cast Warbreaker.
5. Cast Colossus Smash.
6. Cast Bladestorm when under 30 Rage.
7. Cast Slam with Crushing Assault proc.
8. Cast Mortal Strike with 2 stacks of Overpower and either Dreadnaught talented or two stacks of Executioner's Precision.
9. Cast Overpower.
10. Cast Execute

Mortal Strike is not used unless two of the three listed conditions are met, otherwise it is less Rage efficient than Execute. Overpower continues to be used regardless, to take advantage of the zero Rage cost.

1.2. Opening Rotation for Arms Warrior

Arms opener is functionally identical to the standard rotation, opening with Charge whenever possible to start with more Rage, and proceeding with the standard priority detailed above.

2. Multiple-Target Rotation for Arms Warrior

Whenever there are more than 2 targets, keep Sweeping Strikes on cooldown, using it to spread Colossus Smash and Rend debuffs onto a second target whenever possible.

2.1. 2-3 Targets

1. Cast Sweeping Strikes whenever there is more than one target.
2. Cast Rend if less than 4 seconds remains, outside of Colossus Smash.
3. Cast Skullsplitter when less than 60 Rage.
4. Cast Avatar prior to Colossus Smash.
5. Cast Ravager immediately prior to Colossus Smash.
6. Cast Warbreaker.
7. Cast Colossus Smash.
8. Cast Bladestorm.
9. Cast Cleave to maintain Deep Wounds.
10. Cast Mortal Strike only with 2 stacks of Overpower and either Dreadnaught talented or two stacks of Executioner's Precision.
11. Cast Execute.
12. Cast Mortal Strike.
13. Cast Whirlwind during Colossus Smash.
14. Cast Overpower.
15. Cast Whirlwind.

Unless solely focused on burst AoE with Bladestorm, Cleave is the priority attack in order to maintain Deep Wounds on multiple targets.

2.2. 4-5+ Targets

1. Cast Sweeping Strikes whenever there is more than one target.
2. Cast Skullsplitter when less than 60 Rage.
3. Cast Avatar prior to Colossus Smash.
4. Cast Ravager immediately prior to Colossus Smash.
5. Cast Warbreaker.
6. Cast Colossus Smash.
7. Cast Bladestorm.
8. Cast Cleave to maintain Deep Wounds.
9. Cast Execute during Sweeping Strikes.
10. Cast Mortal Strike during Sweeping Strikes.
11. Cast Whirlwind during Colossus Smash.
12. Cast Overpower.
13. Cast Whirlwind.

For maximum burst AoE, stack Avatar with Warbreaker, and cast Bladestorm on as many targets as possible.

3. Mastering your Arms Warrior

3.1. Aligning Cooldowns

Because Avatar lasts twice as long as Colossus Smash, it can safely be used up to 10 seconds ahead of time and the cooldowns will still overlap.

3.1.1. Managing Deep Wounds

Primarily maintained by Mortal Strike, Execute, and Cleave, keeping Deep Wounds on the target or targets is paramount to maximizing damage, making up roughly 15-20% of the specs damage on single-target, and up to 50% on multi-target. Because the debuff lasts 6 seconds, this should happen naturally over the course of the rotation, but when facing multiple targets, take care to keep the debuff on as many targets as possible for maximum benefit.

4. Azerite Traits

Most Azerite traits are passive bonuses that do not need to be managed. However, a few can be optimized to improve performance slightly:

• When using Test of Might, pool Rage for Colossus Smash and only spend on Slam or Whirlwind when above 60 Rage in order to maximize the Strength gained during Colossus Smash. Bladestorm can also be used during the Test of Might buff instead of Colossus Smash.
• When using Seismic Wave the projectile will hit all enemies in a line, making it very effective on multi-target. If Overpower hits a second target during Sweeping Strikes, a second wave will also be formed.

4.1. Tier 1 Talents Rage Generation

On average, one target needs to die every 8 seconds for War Machine to keep up with Skullsplitter in sustained combat. For this reason, it tends not to be practical in most raid encounters, and is better reserved for fast-paced dungeons and open world content.

4.2. Rage Management

Arms generates Rage purely from auto-attack swings and Charge casts and nearly all abilities cost Rage to use. Ensuring you always have enough Rage to use Mortal Strike on cooldown or Execute every 6 seconds is paramount, in order to keep Deep Wounds on the target. Choosing not to spend Rage on a filler ability, and letting a global cooldown go unfilled is better than letting the debuff drop off.

4.3. Heroic Charge

A small optimisation can be made by moving out of range of the target and using Charge to generate extra Rage during your rotation. Care should be taken to do this between autoattack swings, when Colossus Smash is not active. Heroic Leap can also be used to create enough room to Charge.

4.4. Movement and Mobility

Warriors have a number of active tools through Charge and Heroic Leap that allow for instant movement across large distances. Finding ways to maximise your uptime on a target through the intelligent use of these is crucial, as downtime is extremely detrimental to the flow of Fury's rotation. The talents Double Time and Bounding Stride are particularly useful in any encounter which demands heavy movement.

4.5. Defensive Abilities

Arms' primary survivability tool is Die by the Sword, which is exceptionally useful for immuning direct physical damage and can even be used to tank raid bosses for a short time. The talent Defensive Stance can be used for more mitigation when expecting more frequent spike damage.

Warriors also have access to Rallying Cry, one of the few defensive group cooldowns in the game. It is typically used to help the group survive key encounter mechanics rather than as a personal cooldown. Keep in mind that it is on the global cooldown, so be ready to use it when needed.

4.6. Group Buffs

Arms also brings Battle Shout, increasing all party and raid members Attack Power by 10%, which should be applied before combat begins.

5. ChangeLog

• 13 Aug. 2018: Updated for Battle for Azeroth launch.

+ show all entries - show only 10 entries