Arms Warrior PvP Guide — The War Within (11.0.5)
This guide will walk you through everything you need to know to play Arms Warrior in a PvP environment. The guide will cover everything from talent choices, PvP talents, gameplay and rotation, and useful racial bonuses. It is most applicable to Arena content, but most talents and racial bonuses will work in Rated Battlegrounds and skirmishes.
If you were looking for TBC Classic content, please refer to our TBC Warrior PvP guide.
Arms Warriors in the Current Meta
Arms Warrior currently serves as a heavy-hitting melee fighter capable of delivering high amounts of sustained damage in quick bursts to single targets and cleave. Arms Warrior has a broad amount of utility through Intervene, War Banner, Duel and more. The War Within is shaping Arms Warrior up to be a heavy-hitting juggernaut, using Demolish to deliver powerful burst damage and increase survivability.
Arms Warrior is currently shaping up to be a mediocre melee for the first season of The War Within. It is outshined by Fury Warrior by a large margin but is still a solid specialization for anyone trying to push Gladiator.
Changes in Patch 11.0.5
There are no changes to Arms Warrior, except for a minor nerf to Overwhelming Blades being capped at 10 stacks instead of 12.
Changes in The War Within
The majority of abilities and talents are the same as in Dragonflight, but the Hero Talents Colossus and Slayer have been added.
Arms Warrior Strengths and Weaknesses
- Strong, consistent damage and powerful burst windows.
- Can effectively fight any number of enemies.
- Multiple stuns through Storm Bolt and Shockwave
- Strong mobility.
- Sharpen Blade is the strongest healing reduction in the game.
- Adaptable kit able to respond to almost any situation.
- Strong defensive kit.
- Struggles to keep up with consistent ranged slows.
- Talent lineup has you sacrifice either sustained or burst damage for the other.
Changelog
- 21 Oct. 2024 (races): Reviewed for Patch 11.0.5.
- 21 Oct. 2024 (macros): Reviewed for Patch 11.0.5.
- 21 Oct. 2024 (playstyle): Reviewed for Patch 11.0.5.
- 21 Oct. 2024 (comps): Reviewed for Patch 11.0.5.
- 21 Oct. 2024 (blitz): Reviewed for Patch 11.0.5.
- 21 Oct. 2024 (gear): Reviewed for Patch 11.0.5.
- 21 Oct. 2024 (talents): Reviewed for Patch 11.0.5.
- 21 Oct. 2024 (this page): Updated for Patch 11.0.5.
- 21 Oct. 2024 (this page): Updated for Patch 11.0.5.
- 09 Sep. 2024 (races): Reviewed for The War Within Season 1.
- 09 Sep. 2024 (macros): Reviewed for The War Within Season 1.
- 09 Sep. 2024 (playstyle): Reviewed for The War Within Season 1.
- 09 Sep. 2024 (comps): Reviewed for The War Within Season 1.
- 09 Sep. 2024 (blitz): Page added.
- 09 Sep. 2024 (gear): Reviewed for The War Within Season 1.
- 09 Sep. 2024 (talents): Updated for The War Within Season 1.
- 09 Sep. 2024 (this page): Updated for The War Within Season 1.
- 09 Sep. 2024 (this page): Updated for The War Within Season 1.
- 21 Aug. 2024 (races): Updated for The War Within
- 21 Aug. 2024 (macros): Updated for The War Within
- 21 Aug. 2024 (playstyle): Updated for The War Within
- 21 Aug. 2024 (comps): Updated for The War Within
- 21 Aug. 2024 (gear): Updated for The War Within
- 21 Aug. 2024 (talents): Updated for The War Within
- 21 Aug. 2024 (this page): Updated for The War Within
- 21 Aug. 2024 (this page): Updated for The War Within
- 23 Jul. 2024 (races): Updated for The War Within Pre-Patch.
- 23 Jul. 2024 (macros): Updated for The War Within Pre-Patch.
- 23 Jul. 2024 (playstyle): Updated for The War Within Pre-Patch.
- 23 Jul. 2024 (comps): Updated for The War Within Pre-Patch.
- 23 Jul. 2024 (gear): Updated for The War Within Pre-Patch.
- 23 Jul. 2024 (talents): Updated for The War Within Pre-Patch.
- 23 Jul. 2024 (this page): Updated for The War Within Pre-Patch.
- 23 Jul. 2024 (this page): Updated for The War Within Pre-Patch.
- 07 May 2024 (races): Reviewed for 10.2.7.
- 07 May 2024 (macros): Reviewed for 10.2.7.
- 07 May 2024 (playstyle): Reviewed for 10.2.7.
- 07 May 2024 (comps): Reviewed for 10.2.7.
- 07 May 2024 (gear): Reviewed for 10.2.7.
- 07 May 2024 (talents): Reviewed for 10.2.7.
- 07 May 2024 (this page): Reviewed for 10.2.7.
- 07 May 2024 (this page): Reviewed for 10.2.7.
- 22 Apr. 2024 (races): Updated for Season 4
- 22 Apr. 2024 (macros): Updated for Season 4
- 22 Apr. 2024 (playstyle): Updated for Season 4
- 22 Apr. 2024 (comps): Updated for Season 4
- 22 Apr. 2024 (gear): Updated for Season 4
- 22 Apr. 2024 (talents): Updated for Season 4
- 22 Apr. 2024 (this page): Updated for Season 4
- 22 Apr. 2024 (this page): Updated for Season 4
- 19 Mar. 2024 (races): Updated for Patch 10.2.6
- 19 Mar. 2024 (macros): Updated for Patch 10.2.6
- 19 Mar. 2024 (playstyle): Updated for Patch 10.2.6
- 19 Mar. 2024 (comps): Updated for Patch 10.2.6
- 19 Mar. 2024 (gear): Updated for Patch 10.2.6
- 19 Mar. 2024 (talents): Updated for Patch 10.2.6
- 19 Mar. 2024 (this page): Updated for Patch 10.2.6
- 19 Mar. 2024 (this page): Updated for Patch 10.2.6
- 15 Jan. 2024 (races): Updated for Patch 10.2.5
- 15 Jan. 2024 (macros): Updated for Patch 10.2.5
- 15 Jan. 2024 (playstyle): Updated for Patch 10.2.5
- 15 Jan. 2024 (comps): Updated for Patch 10.2.5
- 15 Jan. 2024 (gear): Updated for Patch 10.2.5
- 15 Jan. 2024 (talents): Updated for Patch 10.2.5
- 15 Jan. 2024 (this page): Updated for Patch 10.2.5
- 15 Jan. 2024 (this page): Updated for Patch 10.2.5
- 06 Nov. 2023 (races): Updated for Patch 10.2
- 06 Nov. 2023 (macros): Updated for Patch 10.2
- 06 Nov. 2023 (playstyle): Updated for Patch 10.2
- 06 Nov. 2023 (comps): Updated for Patch 10.2
- 06 Nov. 2023 (gear): Updated for Patch 10.2
- 06 Nov. 2023 (talents): Updated for Patch 10.2
- 06 Nov. 2023 (this page): Updated for Patch 10.2
- 06 Nov. 2023 (this page): Updated for Patch 10.2
- 04 Sep. 2023 (races): Reviewed for Patch 10.1.7
- 04 Sep. 2023 (macros): Reviewed for Patch 10.1.7
- 04 Sep. 2023 (playstyle): Reviewed for Patch 10.1.7.
- 04 Sep. 2023 (comps): Updated for Patch 10.1.7.
- 04 Sep. 2023 (gear): Updated for Patch 10.1.7
- 04 Sep. 2023 (talents): Updated for Patch 10.1.7.
- 04 Sep. 2023 (this page): Updated for Patch 10.1.7.
- 04 Sep. 2023 (this page): Updated for Patch 10.1.7.
- 10 Jul. 2023 (races): Reviewed for Patch 10.1.5
- 10 Jul. 2023 (macros): Reviewed for Patch 10.1.5
- 10 Jul. 2023 (playstyle): Reviewed for Patch 10.1.5
- 10 Jul. 2023 (comps): Reviewed for Patch 10.1.5
- 10 Jul. 2023 (gear): Updated for Patch 10.1.5
- 10 Jul. 2023 (talents): Reviewed for Patch 10.1.5
- 10 Jul. 2023 (this page): Updated for Patch 10.1.5
- 10 Jul. 2023 (this page): Updated for Patch 10.1.5
- 09 May 2023 (races): Updated for Dragonflight Patch 10.1.
- 09 May 2023 (macros): Updated for Dragonflight Patch 10.1.
- 09 May 2023 (playstyle): Updated for Dragonflight Patch 10.1.
- 09 May 2023 (comps): Updated for Dragonflight Patch 10.1.
- 09 May 2023 (gear): Updated for Dragonflight Patch 10.1.
- 09 May 2023 (talents): Updated for Dragonflight Patch 10.1.
- 09 May 2023 (this page): Updated for Dragonflight Patch 10.1.
- 09 May 2023 (this page): Updated for Dragonflight Patch 10.1.
- 21 Mar. 2023 (races): Reviewed for Patch 10.0.7.
- 21 Mar. 2023 (macros): Reviewed for Patch 10.0.7.
- 21 Mar. 2023 (playstyle): Updated for Patch 10.0.7.
- 21 Mar. 2023 (comps): Updated for Patch 10.0.7.
- 21 Mar. 2023 (gear): Updated for Patch 10.0.7.
- 21 Mar. 2023 (talents): Updated for Patch 10.0.7.
- 21 Mar. 2023 (this page): Updated for Patch 10.0.7.
- 21 Mar. 2023 (this page): Updated for Patch 10.0.7.
- 30 Jan. 2023 (races): Reviewed for Patch 10.0.5.
- 30 Jan. 2023 (macros): Reviewed for Patch 10.0.5.
- 30 Jan. 2023 (playstyle): Reviewed for Patch 10.0.5.
- 30 Jan. 2023 (comps): Reviewed for Patch 10.0.5.
- 30 Jan. 2023 (gear): Reviewed for Patch 10.0.5.
- 30 Jan. 2023 (talents): Reviewed for Patch 10.0.5.
- 30 Jan. 2023 (this page): Reviewed for Patch 10.0.5.
- 30 Jan. 2023 (this page): Reviewed for Patch 10.0.5.
- 11 Dec. 2022 (races): Reviewed for Dragonflight Season 1.
- 11 Dec. 2022 (macros): Reviewed for Dragonflight Season 1.
- 11 Dec. 2022 (playstyle): Updated for Dragonflight Season 1.
- 11 Dec. 2022 (comps): Updated for Dragonflight Season 1.
- 11 Dec. 2022 (gear): Updated for Dragonflight Season 1.
- 11 Dec. 2022 (talents): Updated for Dragonflight Season 1.
- 11 Dec. 2022 (this page): Updated for Dragonflight Season 1.
- 11 Dec. 2022 (this page): Updated for Dragonflight Season 1.
- 22 Nov. 2022 (races): Updated for Dragonflight pre-patch.
- 22 Nov. 2022 (macros): Updated for Dragonflight pre-patch.
- 22 Nov. 2022 (playstyle): Updated for Dragonflight pre-patch.
- 22 Nov. 2022 (comps): Updated for Dragonflight pre-patch.
- 22 Nov. 2022 (gear): Updated for Dragonflight pre-patch.
- 22 Nov. 2022 (talents): Updated for Dragonflight pre-patch.
- 22 Nov. 2022 (this page): Updated for Dragonflight pre-patch.
- 22 Nov. 2022 (this page): Updated for Dragonflight pre-patch.
- 31 Jul. 2022 (playstyle): Updated for Shadowlands season 4.
- 31 Jul. 2022 (comps): Updated for Shadowlands season 4.
- 31 Jul. 2022 (gear): Updated for Shadowlands season 4.
- 31 Jul. 2022 (talents): Updated for Shadowlands season 4.
- 31 Jul. 2022 (this page): Updated for Shadowlands season 4.
- 31 Jul. 2022 (this page): Updated for Shadowlands season 4.
- 31 May 2022 (races): Reviewed for Patch 9.2.5.
- 31 May 2022 (macros): Reviewed for Patch 9.2.5.
- 31 May 2022 (playstyle): Reviewed for Patch 9.2.5.
- 31 May 2022 (comps): Reviewed for Patch 9.2.5.
- 31 May 2022 (gear): Reviewed for Patch 9.2.5.
- 31 May 2022 (talents): Reviewed for Patch 9.2.5.
- 31 May 2022 (this page): Reviewed for Patch 9.2.5.
- 31 May 2022 (this page): Reviewed for Patch 9.2.5.
- 09 Apr. 2022 (talents): Updated to reflect the changing meta.
- 28 Feb. 2022 (races): Page reviewed and approved for Patch 9.2.
- 28 Feb. 2022 (macros): Page reviewed and approved for Patch 9.2.
- 28 Feb. 2022 (playstyle): Page reviewed and approved for Patch 9.2.
- 28 Feb. 2022 (comps): Page updated for Patch 9.2.
- 28 Feb. 2022 (gear): Page updated for Patch 9.2.
- 28 Feb. 2022 (talents): Page reviewed and approved for Patch 9.2.
- 28 Feb. 2022 (this page): Page updated for Patch 9.2.
- 28 Feb. 2022 (this page): Page updated for Patch 9.2.
- 08 Nov. 2021 (races): Page reviewed for Patch 9.1.5.
- 08 Nov. 2021 (macros): Page reviewed for Patch 9.1.5.
- 08 Nov. 2021 (playstyle): Page reviewed for Patch 9.1.5.
- 08 Nov. 2021 (comps): Page reviewed for Patch 9.1.5.
- 08 Nov. 2021 (gear): Page reviewed for Patch 9.1.5.
- 08 Nov. 2021 (talents): Page reviewed for Patch 9.1.5.
- 08 Nov. 2021 (this page): Updated for Patch 9.1.5.
- 08 Nov. 2021 (this page): Updated for Patch 9.1.5.
- 13 Oct. 2021 (playstyle): Mentioned the importance of maintaining Hamstring.
- 13 Oct. 2021 (gear): Added mention of Unchained Gladiator's Shackles.
- 13 Oct. 2021 (talents): Adjusted recommended talents.
- 02 Jul. 2021 (races): Reviewed and approved for Patch 9.1.
- 02 Jul. 2021 (macros): Reviewed and approved for Patch 9.1.
- 02 Jul. 2021 (playstyle): Updated for Patch 9.1.
- 02 Jul. 2021 (comps): Reviewed and approved for Patch 9.1.
- 02 Jul. 2021 (gear): Updated for Patch 9.1.
- 02 Jul. 2021 (talents): Updated for Patch 9.1.
- 02 Jul. 2021 (this page): Updated for Patch 9.1.
- 02 Jul. 2021 (this page): Updated for Patch 9.1.
- 18 May 2021 (macros): Added many new macros.
- 16 May 2021 (gear): Revised stat priority for current meta.
- 16 May 2021 (talents): Updated Mandatory PvP Talents.
- 26 Mar. 2021 (gear): Updated stat priority to reflecct the current meta.
- 12 Mar. 2021 (this page): Updated for 9.0.5
- 12 Mar. 2021 (this page): Updated for 9.0.5
- 27 Dec. 2020 (races): Rewritten by Karanze for Shadowlands season 1
- 27 Dec. 2020 (macros): Rewritten by Karanze for Shadowlands season 1
- 27 Dec. 2020 (playstyle): Rewritten by Karanze for Shadowlands season 1
- 27 Dec. 2020 (comps): Rewritten by Karanze for Shadowlands season 1
- 27 Dec. 2020 (gear): Rewritten by Karanze for Shadowlands Season 1.
- 27 Dec. 2020 (talents): Rewritten by Karanze for Shadowlands Season 1
- 27 Dec. 2020 (this page): Rewritten by Karanze for Shadowlands season 1
- 27 Dec. 2020 (this page): Rewritten by Karanze for Shadowlands season 1
- 06 Dec. 2020 (gear): Added BiS gear list for Shadowlands.
- 05 Dec. 2020 (playstyle): Updated Burst Rotation to include Covenant Ability.
- 29 Nov. 2020 (playstyle): Removed outdated Traits and Essences.
- 29 Nov. 2020 (gear): Removed outdated Traits and Essences.
- Removed outdated gear.
- Added gems section.
- 29 Nov. 2020 (talents): Removed outdated Traits and Essences.
- 29 Nov. 2020 (this page): Updated for Shadowlands release.
- 29 Nov. 2020 (this page): Updated for Shadowlands release.
- 26 Oct. 2020 (talents): Updated Talent Table.
- 22 Oct. 2020 (playstyle): Updated Defensives section.
- 14 Oct. 2020 (races): Updated for Shadowlands pre-patch.
- 14 Oct. 2020 (macros): Updated for Shadowlands pre-patch.
- 14 Oct. 2020 (playstyle): Updated for Shadowlands pre-patch.
- 14 Oct. 2020 (comps): Updated for Shadowlands pre-patch.
- 14 Oct. 2020 (gear): Updated for Shadowlands pre-patch.
- 14 Oct. 2020 (talents): Updated for Shadowlands pre-patch.
- 14 Oct. 2020 (this page): Updated for Shadowlands pre-patch.
- 14 Oct. 2020 (this page): Updated for Shadowlands pre-patch.
Other PvP Guides
This guide has been written by Karanze, an experienced Gladiator Warrior player who has been a Stormforged/trusted member in the popular Warrior class discord Skyhold. You can watch his stream on Twitch.
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