Arms Warrior DPS Stat Priority — Battle for Azeroth (BfA) 8.1

1. The Basics of Stats for Arms Warrior

The stat priority for Arms Warrior is:

1. Strength;
2. Haste;
3. Critical Strike;
4. Mastery;
5. Versatility.

These sample stat weights represent the general relationship of secondary stats compared to one point of strength, although as usual, individual results may vary. It is highly recommended that you regularly sim your own gear upgrades and/or generate personalized stat weights.

While you can use these weights to math out the value and compare individual items by hand, in-game addons such as Pawn will do so automatically.

1.1. Getting a Better Understanding

1.2. Statistics

Strength is your primary stat, found on plate armor, weapons and trinkets. It provides Attack Power, which contributes to the damage of all abilities and autoattacks.

Haste compresses the rotation, reducing the time between the autoattack swings, the global cooldown, and the cooldown of the rotational abilities Mortal Strike, Skullsplitter, and Cleave, as well as the speed at which Bladestorm, Ravager, Rend, and Deep Wounds deal damage.

Critical Strike increases the damage of attacks and abilities, and also increases Rage generated by autoattack swings by 30%.

Mastery increases the damage done by Deep Wounds, which is applied and maintained by using Mortal Strike, Execute, Bladestorm, and Cleave.

Versatility provides a flat increase to damage dealt and reduces damage taken by half as much.

1.3. Breakpoints

Although there are various breakpoints which allow additional global cooldowns during Colossus Smash, Haste remains a consistently strong stat due to its influence on the cooldown and DoT tick rate of Arms' abilities. The earliest breakpoint is around 20%, while the later breakpoint is around 50% and out of reach with currenty gearing. In For The Kill makes them much easier to reach, so gearing around them is fairly unimportant.

2. Racial Bonuses for Arms Warrior

Racial bonuses have, as a whole, very minimal impact for Arms; anything within 1% of one another is typically considered trivial, and a small enough margin that our recommendation is to simply play what you enjoy the most.

3. Changelog