Protection Warrior PvP Guide — The War Within (11.1.5)

Protection Warrior and tanks, in general, are often considered niche specializations for PvP, and especially arena, with very few regular players. However, Protection Warrior has seen high ratings in the past and is currently capable of dealing high amounts of damage while averting great pressure from enemy melees. The main struggle is magic damage-dealing specializations, as you have little passive sustain or defense against this type of damage.

Protection Warrior plays primarily as a bodyguard, averting dangers off of a serious damage dealing teammate and trying to stall out a game long enough for the enemy team to run dry on Mana. By using powerful damage-reducing abilities such as Bodyguard, Morale Killer, Shield Bash and Shockwave, Protection Warrior can single-handedly ruin the enemy team's chances of killing your team.

1. Warrior has had a redesign to PvP talents. Warpath has been removed.
2. Dragon Charge now replaces Heroic Leap.
3. Rallying Cry is now 100% more effective in PvP, and Master and Commander has lost this effect.
4. Berserker Roar has been added.
5. Many talents have been changed to either be merged, move position or include one more or less point

The talent tree received multiple changes to the placements of the talents, with some minor tweaks, but overall, most of the talents are the same as in Dragonflight.

Two new Hero Talent specializations have been added, which are Mountain Thane and Colossus.

Strengths

• Incredible peeling abilities.
• Great damage for a tank.
• Almost impervious to enemy melees.
• Strong utility.

Weaknesses

• Struggles to keep up with consistent ranged slows.
• Vulnerable to magic damage.
• Lack of Bladestorm means high vulnerability to being hit with CC.
• Tanks sustain 50% more damage from all sources in PvP.