Arms Warrior DPS Spell Summary (BfA 8.0.1)

Table of Contents

• +Introduction
  • 1. Class Overview
  • 2. Battle for Azeroth 8.0.1 Pre-Patch 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
• ×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
  • 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
• +Artifact Traits and Relics
  • 1. Artifact Changes in 8.0
• +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
      • 3.1.2. Weight of the Earth
    • 3.2. Tier 1 Talents Rage Generation
    • 3.3. Rage Management
    • 3.4. Heroic Charge
    • 3.5. Movement and Mobility
    • 3.6. Defensive Abilities
    • 3.7. Group Buffs
  • 4. Tier 21 Set Bonuses for Arms Warrior
• +Common and Worst Mistakes
  • 1. Downtime
  • 2. Overcapping Rage
  • 3. Not Knowing How To Sim Yourself
  • 4. Analyzing Your Own Mistakes
• +Stat Priority
  • 1. The Basics of Stats for Arms Warrior
    • 1.1. Getting a Better Understanding
    • 1.2. Statistics
    • 1.3. Breakpoints
• +Gems, Enchants, and Consumables
  • 1. Gems for Arms Warrior
  • 2. Enchants for Arms Warrior
  • 3. Consumables for Arms Warrior
• +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, Legendaries, 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. Racial Bonuses for Arms Warrior
  • 3. Legendary Items for Arms Warrior
    • 3.1. Recommended Legendaries
  • 4. Loot Competition for Arms Warrior
  • 5. ChangeLog
• +Simulations
  • 1. Disclaimer Page
  • 2. Arms Warrior Talent Comparisons
  • 3. Arms Warrior Legendary Comparisons
  • 4. Arms Warrior Racial Bonus Simulations
  • 5. Arms Warrior Stat Plots
  • 6. ChangeLog

General Information

On this page, we list the spells that you will often use as 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. Spell Summary of Arms Warrior

If you are new to Arms, this is a great place to start to get an understanding of how the spec works. In this section, we will discuss what abilities you have, what they are used for, and how they interact with each other. If you have prior experience with Arms or are already comfortable with the spec in Battle for Azeroth, it is recommended you skip this section and move on to the rest of the guide.

2. Arms Warrior's Main Resource

Rage is your primary resource, generated through autoattacks and a select few abilities. It is used to fuel nearly all of your special attacks, including Mortal Strike and Execute, so managing it effectively is vital to maintaining a stable rotation.

3. Basic Abilities of an Arms Warrior

These are the innate skills that are available regardless of talents, which form the foundation of the specialization's gameplay.

Mortal Strike is the centerpoint of Arms gameplay, inflicting high damage, Deep Wounds core ability, and synergizing with Overpower.

Overpower's main purpose is in buffing Mortal Strike, but it also serves an important purpose in filling global cooldowns with a free attack, delaying Rage expenditure and giving time for autoattacks to generate more. The cooldown is reset by Tactician, adding a dynamic flow to the rotation.

Execute serves as the most powerful Rage spender, only usable on targets under 20% health. In addition, it inflicts Deep Wounds, allowing it to supplement or replace Mortal Strike entirely. It is the main ability used once the enemy enters a weakened state, with the Rage refund mechanic allowing you to maintain pressure until the target is defeated.

Slam is your main filler, typically used only when nothing else is available, giving it an important role in Rage management. Recognizing when to use it and when to save that Rage for more important abilities is a crucial part of playing Arms effectively.

Whirlwind primarily fills the multitarget role, dealing low damage, but to all nearby targets instead of only one or two. Like Slam, knowing when and when not to use this is paramount to managing Rage and maintaining a smooth rotation.

Charge is a combat initiator and mobility tool, which generates Rage to help enable the rotation and roots the target to prevent escape. Use it to start combat, stay on target, and close gaps whenever necessary.

4. Important Procs for an Arms Warrior

Tactician grants a 1.40% chance per Rage spent to reset the cooldown of Overpower. This can trigger from any Rage spending ability, allowing you to both fill more global cooldowns with a free attack and buff Mortal Strike more often.

5. Offensive Cooldowns of an Arms Warrior

Bladestorm deals massive damage and inflicts Deep Wounds on single and against multiple targets. Paired with Colossus Smash it can be a devastating ability, which is both free and allows you to continue autoattacking, banking Rage for follow-up attacks.

Colossus Smash is a high damage offensive cooldown which causes the target to take increased damage, creating a burst window that serves as the linchpin of Arms' damage. Anticipating its cooldown and saving Rage can greatly improve your ability to fill global cooldowns and overall output during the debuff.

Sweeping Strikes is a secondary cooldown which enables two target damage. Most importantly, it also causes your attacks to inflict any debuffs on both targets, making it easier to maintain bleeds and create burst windows.