Warrior

; Warrior
Available to	All playable races (except Dracthyr)
Specializations	Arms (melee DPS); Fury (melee DPS); Protection (tank)
Resource(s)	Rage
Primary attribute	Strength or Stamina
Weapon skills	Bows, Crossbows, Guns, Daggers, Fist weapons, Staves, Polearms, One-handed and Two-handed Swords, Axes and Maces
Armor type	Plate; can also equip Mail, Leather, Cloth.
Signature abilities	[Charge]; [Mortal Strike]; [Whirlwind]; [Ignore Pain]; [Execute]

“Now, watch them attack me. Pitiful! Do they think to take vengeance for their fallen? Do they come to challenge ME? I, who have won a hundred wars? I, who stood alone against thousands and still shouted for my enemies to come? No, these saurok will crumple before me like paper before the flame!”

— Skeer the Bloodseeker

Warriors are melee fighters highly trained in the arts of weaponry. These mighty warriors, strong and quick on the battlefield, depend on their heavy plate armor, shields, and battle prowess to defend themselves and ensure enemies don’t focus on their softer-skinned allies. Weapon mastery is a staple of warrior training, and they are capable of delivering high damage with enormous two-handed weapons or by wielding two weapons. As warriors deal or take damage, their rage grows, allowing them to deliver truly crushing attacks in the heat of battle.^[1]

Warriors are usually leading the charge into battle, tearing across the battlefield and using furious shouts and terrifying banners to rally their allies and intimidate their enemies. Whether striking down opponents with mighty two-handed weapons, tearing into packs of enemies in a whirlwind of steel, or standing firm in the face of death itself, warriors excel at battle with a range of powerful attacks and battlefield maneuvers, as masters of both skillful strikes and devastating blows.

A warrior is a living weapon, an embodiment of burning rage that can take down a hundred enemies in one battle without feeling wounds or fatigue.^[2]

Warriors equip themselves carefully for combat and engage their enemies head-on, letting attacks glance off their heavy armor. They use diverse combat tactics and a wide variety of weapon types to protect their more vulnerable allies. Warriors must carefully master their rage – the power behind their strongest attacks – in order to maximize their effectiveness in combat. Warrior talents can improve their already considerable defenses with a shield, increase their deadliness with two-handed weapons, or bolster their savagery while dual-wielding.

Arms warriors are battle-hardened masters of weapons, using mobility and overpowering attacks to strike their opponents down.
Fury warriors are furious berserkers unleashing a flurry of attacks to carve their opponents to pieces.
Protection warriors are stalwart protectors who use their shield to safeguard themselves and their allies.^[3]

Class overview

Warriors are the quintessential fearless fighters on the battlefield, and their pure martial prowess inspires courage in allies and despair in enemies. Experts in all manner of melee weaponry and possessing incredible physical strength and skill, Warriors are perfectly suited to serve as frontline combatants and battlefield commanders.^[4]

Game guide

For as long as war has raged, heroes from every race have aimed to master the art of battle. Warriors combine strength, leadership, and a vast knowledge of arms and armor to wreak havoc in glorious combat. Some protect from the front lines with shields, locking down enemies while allies support the warrior from behind with spell and bow. Others forgo the shield and unleash their rage at the closest threat with a variety of deadly weapons. The warrior’s battle cries embolden friends and leave foes cowering in fear. With legendary precision, warriors target the smallest gaps in armor and slice at hamstrings in a blur of steel.

Every dragon slain, corrupted tyrant toppled, and demon banished from Azeroth has trembled in the face of these lords of war.^[5]

Creation screen description

Warriors train constantly and strive for perfection in armed combat. Though they come from all walks of life, they are united in their singular commitment to engage in glorious battle. Many warriors serve as mercenary soldiers, while others become adventurers and danger-seeking fortune hunters. A typical warrior is strong, tough, and exceptionally violent.^[6]

Warriors are plate-wearing fighters who strive for perfection in armed combat. As warriors fight they generate rage, which is used to power special attacks.

Classic guide

Combining a mastery of weapons and prowess in battle, Warriors storm fearlessly into the front lines of any fight.^[7]

Background

See also: Warrior races

This section concerns content related to the original World of Warcraft.

The vrykul Heimir of the Black Fist is responsible for the training of the first mortal warriors of Azeroth.^[8]

Notable

See also: List of warriors

Main universe

Name	Role	Affiliation	Status	Location
Anduin Lothar	Knight Champion of Stormwind, Supreme Commander of the armies of the Alliance of Lordaeron	Kingdom of Azeroth, Alliance of Lordaeron	Deceased	Unknown
Baine Bloodhoof	Current chieftain of the Bloodhoof tribe and High Chieftain of the tauren	Horde, Thunder Bluff, Bloodhoof tribe	Alive	Various Locations
Blackhand	First Warchief of the Old Horde	Old Horde, Blackrock clan, Shadow Council	Deceased	Various
Broxigar	Orcish veteran thrown back in time to the War of the Ancients, only known mortal to have wounded Sargeras	Horde, Kaldorei Resistance	Deceased	Unknown
Cairne Bloodhoof	Former chieftain of the Bloodhoof tribe and leader of the united tauren tribes	Horde, Thunder Bluff, Bloodhoof tribe	Deceased	Cremated at Red Rocks in Mulgore
Daelin Proudmoore	Former Lord Admiral of Kul Tiras	Alliance of Lordaeron, Kul Tiras	Deceased	Unknown
Dal'rend Blackhand	Son of Blackhand, Warchief of the Dark Horde	Dark Horde, black dragonflight, Black Tooth Grin clan	Deceased	Formerly Blackrock Stadium, Blackrock Spire
Danath Trollbane	Leader of Stromgarde and Master of Honor Hold, former Force Commander of the Sons of Lothar	Alliance, Sons of Lothar, Stromgarde	Alive	Various
Dranosh Saurfang	Son of Saurfang, commander of the Kor'kron Vanguard, raised as a death knight by the Scourge	Scourge	Deceased-Killable	Various
Durotan	Father of Thrall, former chieftain of the Frostwolf clan	Frostwolf clan	Deceased	Buried in Alterac Valley
Eitrigg	Advisor to Thrall	Horde, Orgrimmar, Argent Crusade	Alive	Various
Galen Trollbane	Fallen prince of Stromgarde	Stromgarde, formerly Forsaken and Horde	Deceased-Killable	Galen's Fall, Arathi Highlands
Garrosh Hellscream	Son of Grom, former Warchief of the Horde, Warchief of the True Horde, traveled to alternate Draenor to create the Iron Horde	Iron Horde, Warsong clan	Deceased	Various
Genn Greymane	King of Gilneas	Alliance, Kingdom of Gilneas	Alive	Various
Overlord Geya'rah	Overlord and representative of the orcish Mag'har Clans	Mag'har, Frostwolf clan, Horde	Alive	Various
Grommash Hellscream	Former chieftain of the Warsong clan, first orc to drink the blood of Mannoroth and the one to redeem them during the Third War	Horde, Warsong clan	Deceased	Buried in Demon Fall Canyon, Ashenvale
Jarod Shadowsong	Leader of the Watchers, last leader of the Kaldorei Resistance, recruiter at the Battle for Darkshore	Watchers, Guardians of Hyjal, Alliance	Alive	Various Locations
Kargath Bladefist	Chieftain of the Shattered Hand clan, Warchief of the Fel Horde	Fel Horde, Illidari, Shattered Hand clan	Deceased-Killable	Hall of Blades, Shattered Halls
Kilrogg Deadeye	Former chieftain of the Bleeding Hollow clan	Horde of Draenor, Bleeding Hollow clan	Deceased	Unknown
Kurdran Wildhammer	Ruler of Highbank, member of the Alliance Expedition	Alliance, Wildhammer clan, Sons of Lothar	Alive	Various Locations
Kur'talos Ravencrest	Lord of Black Rook Hold, first leader of the Kaldorei Resistance	Kaldorei Resistance	Deceased	Various Locations
Llane Wrynn I	Former king of Stormwind	Kingdom of Stormwind	Deceased	Various
Darius Crowley	Leader of Gilneas Liberation Front	Alliance, Kingdom of Gilneas, Gilneas Liberation Front	Alive	Various
Magni Bronzebeard	Speaker of the Azeroth world-soul, former King of Ironforge, eldest of the Bronzebeard brothers	Alliance, Ironforge, Bronzebeard clan	Active	Various Locations
Malkorok	Bodyguard and chief advisor to Garrosh, former leader of the Kor'kron	True Horde, Kor'kron, Blackrock clan	Deceased-Killable	Various
Mayla Highmountain	High Chieftain and representative of the Highmountain tauren	Highmountain Tribe	Alive	Various
Muradin Bronzebeard	Bronzebeard clan representative on the Council of Three Hammers, middle Bronzebeard brother	Alliance, Ironforge, Bronzebeard clan	Alive	Various Locations
Nazgrel	Overseer of Thrallmar	Frostwolf clan, Horde, Thrallmar	Alive	Thrallmar, Hellfire Peninsula
Nazgrim	One of the Four Horsemen of the Ebon Blade, formerly sergeant, legionnaire and general of the Horde	Knights of the Ebon Blade	Active	Various
Orgrim Doomhammer	Warchief of the Horde during the Second War	Old Horde, Blackrock clan	Deceased	Buried in Hammerfall, Arathi Highlands
Marshal Reginald Windsor	Marshal of Stormwind, revealed the true identity of Katrana Prestor	Alliance, Kingdom of Stormwind	Deceased	Detention Block, Blackrock Depths
Thargas Anvilmar	Defender of Thandol Span, last direct descendant of Modimus Anvilmar	Ironforge	Alive	Dun Modr, Wetlands
Thoras Trollbane	One of the Four Horsemen of the Ebon Blade, former king of Stromgarde	Knights of the Ebon Blade, Stromgarde	Active	Various
Varian Wrynn	Former King of Stormwind, High King of the Alliance	Alliance, Kingdom of Stormwind	Deceased	Various
Varok Saurfang	Brother of Broxigar, High Overlord of the Kor'kron, Supreme Commander of the Might of Kalimdor	Horde, Orgrimmar, Warsong Offensive, Kor'kron	Deceased	Various

Alternate universe

Name	Role	Affiliation	Status	Location
Grommash Hellscream	Former Warchief of the Iron Horde, former Warlord of the Warsong clan	Warsong clan, Iron Horde	Unknown	Various
Durotan	Warchief of the Frostwolf Orcs	Frostwolf Orcs, Horde (allied)	Deceased	Various
Draka	Mate of Durotan	Frostwolf Orcs, Horde (allied)	Alive	Various
Kilrogg Deadeye	Warlord of the Bleeding Hollow clan	Bleeding Hollow clan, Shadow Council, Burning Legion	Deceased-Killable	Various
Ga'nar	Brother of Durotan	Frostwolf Orcs	Deceased	Various
Blackhand	Warlord of the Blackrock clan	Blackrock clan, Iron Horde	Deceased-Killable	Various
Kargath Bladefist	Warlord of the Shattered Hand clan	Shattered Hand clan, Iron Horde	Deceased-Killable	Various
Azuka Bladefury	Warlord of the Burning Blade clan	Burning Blade clan, Iron Horde	Deceased-Killable	Various
Orgrim Doomhammer	General of the Grom'kar, second-in-command of Blackhand	Formerly Grom'kar, Blackrock clan, Iron Horde	Deceased	Talador
Commander Tharbek	Commander of the Ironmarch	Ironmarch, Warsong clan, Iron Horde	Deceased-Killable	Blackrock Stadium, Upper Blackrock Spire

Races

Sark Ragetotem, a tauren warrior.

Parvink, a gnome warrior.

Main article: Warrior races

The warrior class can be played by all available races.

		Strength	Agility	Stamina	Intellect	Spirit	Armor	Health
Alliance	Draenei	24	17	22	20	22	34	60
	Dwarf	28	16	23	19	19	32	70
	Gnome	18	22	22	24	20	44	60
	Human	23	20	22	20	20	40	60
	Night elf	19	24	22	20	20	48	60
	Worgen	26	22	22	16	19	98	60
	Void elf	N/A
	Lightforged	N/A
	Dark Iron	N/A
	Kul Tiran	N/A
	Mechagnome	N/A
Neutral	Pandaren	23	18	23	19	22	37	133
Horde	Blood elf	20	22	20	24	19	N/A
	Goblin	20	22	22	23	18	100	60
	Orc	26	17	23	17	22	34	70
	Tauren	28	16	23	16	22	32	71
	Troll	24	22	22	16	21	44	60
	Undead	22	18	22	18	25	36	60
	Nightborne	N/A
	Highmountain	N/A
	Mag'har	N/A
	Zandalari	N/A
	Vulpera	N/A

Racial advantages

Each race comes with unique special abilities or powers, known as racial traits, or simply racials. While each race has its advantages, certain racials are of particular benefit to certain classes. Players may wish to take these advantages into account when selecting which race/class combination to play. Some of the most useful racials for warriors are:

Humans: [Will to Survive], allowing the player to free himself from all effects that impair movement or cause loss of control every 2 minutes. This is a very useful ability for PvP, especially for melee classes such as warriors who rely on staying close to their targets in order to deal damage. This ability's 2 minute cooldown offers a significant advantage over the 5 minute cooldown offered by PvP trinkets up until level 80, as well as freeing the trinket slot usually reserved for them.
Dwarves: [Stoneform] is a very useful 2-minute cooldown ability that removes all poison, disease and bleed effects, and reduces all damage taken by 10% for 8 seconds. Dwarves also gain [Frost Resistance] which is always useful.
Gnomes: [Escape Artist] can be very useful, primarily in PvP situations, but also in PvE. Warriors being the prototypical tank often have to lead mobs and bosses away from the healers and ranged fighters, thus making Escape Artist very useful. Gnomes also benefit from increased [Arcane Resistance] which is always useful. Because of their small size, gnome warriors are useful in PvP environments, posing a difficulty to target. Inexperienced or careless opponents can be quickly hit by Hamstring, Thunder Clap, and Sunder Armor before they have any idea as to what happened.
Night elves: [Quickness] increases the chance for night elves to dodge melee or ranged attacks by 2%, improving tanking and overall survivability. [Nature Resistance] is also increased. [Shadowmeld] adds an interesting element to night elves, who can stealth to avoid mob detection (more useful for solo play). In addition, in PvP settings, Shadowmeld can be devastating. Stealth, Charge, Hamstring, Thunder Clap, etc., and Ta-da! You just became a rogue in heavy armor! An additional bonus to Shadowmeld is the ability to temporarily drop threat in combat, and possibly even save your life (if you're the last person standing).
Draenei: [Gift of the Naaru] allows players to heal a target for 20% of their health over 15 seconds, every 3 minutes. This can act as a useful panic button and is one of the few healing abilities available to warriors, potentially adding 20% to their available health in most encounters, as well as reducing downtime for warriors who are soloing, and helping to conserve a group's mana. Increased [Shadow Resistance] is always welcomed. [Heroic Presence] increases chance to hit by 1%. For a DPS warrior, Heroic Presence will also reduce the amount of gear you need to dedicate to reaching hit caps.
Worgen: [Darkflight] allows a warrior to increase his movement speed by 40% for 10 seconds every 2 minutes, which can be useful for staying close to your target and counteracting snares, or for escaping combat. [Viciousness] grants an extra 1% critical strike chance. Aberration increases both nature and shadow resistance, which is a nice bonus.
Pandaren: [Epicurean] increases the benefits gained from food, useful for PvE, while [Quaking Palm] is an incapacitate effect which can useful for crowd control, or for buying time to bandage or escape. [Bouncy] may come in handy situationally. The other Pandaren racials are useful, but not directly to playing a warrior: [Inner Peace] expedites leveling, while [Gourmand] is a small boon for cooks.
Orcs: [Hardiness] reduces stun duration by 15%, which can save a warrior in PvP settings, or save their group in PvE settings. [Blood Fury] temporarily increases the warrior's attack power, granting 1169 attack power at level 85.
Trolls: [Berserking] can increase attack speed by 20% for 10 seconds every 3 minutes, useful for all warriors, particularly DPS warriors, but can also provide a marginal TPS buff to tanking warriors. [Regeneration] can help keep you alive during PvP fights, or boss battles, and the increased healing can reduce down time for soloing players. [Beast Slaying] grants 5% increased damage against beasts, which can be useful as beasts are located almost everywhere in the world. [Da Voodoo Shuffle] reduces the duration of movement impairing effects by 15%, providing a significant boost to a warrior's mobility, something which is of particular use in PvP.
Undead: The increased [Shadow Resistance] is always useful, as is [Cannibalize], which can reduce down time while soloing, and save your healer's mana. [Touch of the Grave] is very useful, passively dealing damage and healing the warrior in the process. [Will of the Forsaken] is one of the best racials in game, and can be the difference between life and death in both PvP and PvE settings.
Tauren: [War Stomp] is a useful form of crowd control. [Endurance] provides tauren with 5% extra base health, meaning tauren warriors can have the highest possible HP of any warrior tank. The additional [Nature Resistance] is always a plus.
Blood elves: [Arcane Torrent] generates 15 rage and is a great tanking utility. As an Area of Effect silence, It can be used to interrupt and silence the enemy for a while: good for stopping a heal or a devastating attack. [Arcane Resistance] means less arcane damage is taken.
Goblins: [Rocket Jump] is an ability used to escape combat in a dire situation or, if used correctly, can be used as a charge. [Rocket Barrage] is an ability that deals a little damage. [Time is Money] passively increases attack speed by 1%, increasing a warrior's DPS.

Rage

Rage bar.

Main article: Rage

A warrior's attacks and abilities are fuelled by rage. By controlling and focusing their rage, warriors can unleash an array of devastating attacks, harden themselves into unassailable defenders, or even draw strength and healing from their anger. Rage can be generated in a number of ways, depending on the warrior's stance: it can be generated by the warrior's auto-attacks, by taking damage, or simply by being in combat. Certain abilities can also be used to generate rage regardless of the warrior's stance.

By default the rage bar is empty, and when out of combat, rage drains or depletes at a constant rate. Warriors have a maximum of 100 rage, but by choosing [Glyph of Unending Rage] can raise this cap to 120.

Warriors need to be in combat or use a rage-generating ability to generate rage. The longer the battle, the more rage a warrior can accumulate. This often leads the warrior to the strategy of "filling up" their rage bar on a weaker foe before moving on to a more powerful enemy. A warrior with a full rage bar can quickly unload a large amount of damage.

Abilities

Undead warrior charges to an enemy.

A tauren warrior cleaving his foes.

Pummel an instant single target warrior interrupt ability.

For a full list of warrior abilities, see Warrior abilities

Damage dealing

Warriors deal damage almost exclusively through melee attacks. Each spec has one or two primary attacks that generate rage, while most other attacks consume it. Warriors have a few ranged attacks ( [Heroic Throw], [Storm Bolt]) but are largely unable to deal damage or apply crowd control unless within melee range. The majority of a warrior's attacks are intended for single targets, but they also have some options for dealing AoE and multiple-target damage.

Crowd control

Warriors make use of snares and root effects such as [Hamstring] to keep their targets within range, and can use [Intimidating Shout] to fear and disrupt enemy attacks. Warriors can [Pummel] casters into silence, and have a limited choice of stun, root and interrupt effects available via talents. The warrior's main mobility skill [Charge] also stuns enemies.

When targeted by others' crowd control effects, a warrior can transform themselves into an unstoppable [Bladestorm] (if talented), tearing their way out of roots and snares, while [Berserker Rage] can be used to prevent or counteract many forms of crowd control. Warriors can also Taunt enemies away from weaker targets, or mock whole armies with [Mocking Banner].

Buffs and debuffs

Warriors are known for their shouts, whether intimidating and disrupting their enemies, or inspiring and uplifting their allies. [Battle Shout] and [Commanding Shout] are the warrior's main group buffs, while [Rallying Cry] can be life-saving if used at the right time. Warriors can also inspire their allies with their [Skull Banner], or demoralize their enemies with [Demoralizing Banner], similar in effect to their [Demoralizing Shout]. Warrior attacks can also apply [Deep Wounds] to targets, rend their armor with [Colossus Smash] and [Sunder Armor], weaken their enemies with [Thunder Clap] or simply [Disarm] them.

Warriors also have a number of self-buffs that can be used to increase damage dealt or greatly reduce incoming damage. [Enrage], [Berserker Rage] and [Recklessness] significantly increase damage dealt, while various other effects improve specific abilities. The warrior's [Defensive Stance] is also a form of self-buff.

Mobility

Warriors are known as a highly mobile class, charging and leaping about the battlefield, and fiercely intervening between their allies and those that would attack them. To be effective in the heat of PvP combat, warriors may need to use every one of their abilities to stay within range of their targets, as they rely on being in melee range to make use of their abilities.

The warrior's main mobility skill [Charge] stuns opponents and generates rage, and can be improved by talents to be available very frequently. [Intervene] allows the warrior to leap to the defense of an ally, or simply use their teammates (or Banners) to launch themselves back into the fray. [Heroic Leap] allows the warrior to leap down upon their enemies or if necessary to flee quickly out of range of attacks, and additionally deals some AoE damage.

Defence and self-healing

Warriors have a number of debilitating debuffs and crowd control abilities that can be used to weaken or interrupt their enemies' attacks, as well as some defensive cooldowns. Protection warriors are masters of defense, with a range of options for mitigating incoming damage ( [Shield Barrier], [Shield Block]), be it physical or magical, primarily through the use of their shield. While focusing primarily on dealing damage, Arms and Fury warriors are also capable of defending themselves, with abilities such as [Die by the Sword]. Although the mark of a Protection warrior, all warriors can equip a shield to take advantage of abilities like [Shield Wall] and [Spell Reflection]. Talented warriors can achieve [Mass Spell Reflection] without the need for a shield.

Although not the most gifted of healers, warriors can regenerate substantial amounts of health through [Victory Rush] as well as one of the tier 2 talents: [Enraged Regeneration], [Second Wind] or [Impending Victory].

Specializations

For a full list of specialization abilities, see Warrior abilities#Specializations.

"Fury" redirects here. For other uses, see Fury (disambiguation).

There are three Warrior specializations: Arms, Fury, and Protection.

Arms is a DPS spec that deals mighty blows with two-handed weapons
Fury is a DPS spec focusing on whittling opponents down with rapid dual-wielding strikes
Protection is a tanking spec, using shields and one-handed weapons to draw the attention of the party's enemies

Arms

A battle-hardened master of two-handed weapons, using mobility and overpowering attacks to strike <his/her> opponents down.

Arms warriors are seasoned veterans, using might and ponderous weapons to deal colossal blows to their enemies. Preferring power over speed, Arms warriors specialize in powerful burst damage and control, and can become an unstoppable force, tearing opponents down in just a few mighty blows. Smashing opponents with powerful attacks, Arms warriors are capable of dealing immense amounts of damage in a small space of time.

Across culture and kingdom, men and women who demonstrate great physical aptitude are transformed into mighty warriors through tests of strength, endurance, and fighting capability. Their friendships are forged not in the classroom, tavern, or workshop, but in the dueling pits and on the arena floor. As a childhood of sparring defines a warrior’s destiny, so too does one’s choice of weapon determine their role on the battlefield. Arms warriors gravitate toward two-handed weapons instinctively. It’s more than a matter of preference—it speaks to the character of the wielder. Arms warriors are patient in a fight, waiting to capitalize on moments when an opponent is left exposed. Two-handed weapons allow them to deliver devastating, overpowering blows, fully exploiting their enemies’ weaknesses.^[4]

Fury

A furious berserker wielding a weapon in each hand, unleashing a flurry of attacks to carve <his/her> opponents to pieces.

Fury warriors are dual-wielding berserkers, dealing a rapid succession of wild attacks with each weapon. While all warriors rely on rage to fuel their attacks, Fury warriors focus their anger in a different way, allowing the heat of battle to send them into a bloodthirsty rage, empowering them and unleashing their most powerful attacks. Fury warriors' mastery [Mastery: Unshackled Fury] further rewards these crazed berserkers.

On the battlefield and in the arena, the most feared combatants are often the furious berserkers who lust for battle and thirst for blood. Through a lifetime of training and sparring, these merciless warriors have become masters of carnage—often wielding a weapon in each hand to maximize the destruction. Even without the protection of a shield, the fury warrior leaves little opportunity for an opponent to strike without suffering grievous wounds in return—delivered in a whirlwind of blades that dooms anyone its wake. Brute force becomes a breathtaking display when fury warriors relentlessly dive into the fray.^[4]

Protection

A stalwart protector who uses a shield to safeguard <himself/herself> and <his/her> allies.

Protection warriors are stout, dauntless defenders. Using a sturdy shield both to soak up foes' attacks and to dish out damage of their own, Protection warriors can take an immense amount of damage, able to withstand the most powerful of blows. Taunting and demoralizing their enemies with a range of shouts and devastating attacks, Protection warriors are formidable tanks, leading their allies to victory against the mightiest of adversaries.

Like their counterparts, protection warriors are virtually bred for physical dominance, having been raised in the art of close-quarters combat—but their measured approach to battle is what distinguishes them from their comrades-in-arms. They demonstrate an uncanny knack for blade and shield, nullifying an opponent’s advances and creating opportunities for counterattacks. For the protection warrior, being the toughest soldier on the front means nothing if allies are left vulnerable to the enemy’s attack. Stalwart defenders are integral to the success of any military campaign—the protection warrior seeks to be an unbreakable wall.^[4]

Hero talent trees

This section concerns content related to The War Within.

Colossus

Colossus Warriors are the peak of pure physical might and resilience. They are veterans of countless battles and have the scars to show for it. Colossus’ know not only how to take a hit and keep going, but how and where to put their strikes to use to ensure their enemies don’t.^[9]

Mountain Thane

Mountain Thanes embody the strength of the mountains and the power of the storm. They channel thunder and lightning through their reinforced bodies to make them an unstoppable force.^[10]

Slayer

A Slayer has one goal: the execution of their chosen target, and woe betide any who stand between the Slayer and their prey. Slayers are unrelenting in their pursuit and attacks, overwhelming their foes with a furious, unending onslaught of steel. When a Slayer has you in their sights, your days are numbered.^[11]

Stats

This section contains information that is out-of-date.

Karta Foultongue, an orc warrior.

The primary warrior attributes are strength and stamina. Agility is also useful while levelling as critical strike rating on gear is rare until later levels. Warrior-oriented gear found towards end-game provides a wider range of attributes. Gear oriented specifically to damage dealing warriors may include critical strike rating, or haste, while gear oriented to warrior tanks usually includes dodge rating and parry rating.

Hit rating and expertise rating are also commonly found on gear and can be useful for warriors performing either role. It can be difficult to find rings or cloaks with the relevant attributes. As such, warriors may improvise; for example, damage dealing warriors may seek "rogue" items that contain agility and attack power in place of elusive items containing strength.

Normal stats

Stat

Effect

Strength

Increases the warrior's Attack Power, thereby increasing the warrior's damage. Strength also increases the warrior's chance to parry an attack.

1 Strength = 2 Attack Power

1 Strength = 0.25 Parry rating

Stamina

Increases health points. This is critical for warriors due to their melee range restriction and inability to significantly heal themselves while dealing damage, as well as to absorb the large amounts of damage mobs will try and cause against a party while tanking.

1 stamina = 10 health

Mitigation and avoidance stats

Stat	Effect
Armor	Armor augments a character's health to a higher number (if the armor is positive), which represents the amount of physical damage a player can withstand. For instance, a character with 5000 health and 50% armor would be able to absorb 10000 damage before dying.
Dodge	The warrior moves out of the way of the enemy's attack, and takes no damage from it. It is extremely useful to have a trinket which increases dodge rating for a short time to help healers keep up with healing (If you're not getting hit, you don't need heals). A warrior can only dodge frontal attacks. Attacks from behind cannot be dodged.

DPS/Threat boosters

Stat	Effect
Critical strike	Increases the chance for the warrior to critically strike his enemy, dealing double damage. At level 80, 45.91 Critical Strike Rating is required to gain 1% melee crit chance.
Haste	Increases the autoattack speed of the warrior. More commonly used by fury warriors to improve their rage generation. This stat is largely panned by arms warriors as very little of their damage comes from their auto-attack. At level 80, a warrior requires 32.79 Haste Rating to gain a 1% increase in attack speed.

In the RPG

This section contains information from the Warcraft RPG which is considered non-canon.

As long as war is waged on Azeroth, there will be men and women who fight those wars. The warrior is no mere sword-swinger. Warriors are skilled combatants, combining strength of arm, knowledge of weaponry, and practiced maneuvers to slice or bludgeon their foes into little red bits. Warriors are the most versatile of the combat classes, and they supplement their fighting prowess with the ability to rally their allies and spur them to victory. Warriors charge into the heart of the battle, take several lives, and live to tell the tale. All races fight, and all races boast many warriors in their ranks. Warriors are common among dwarves, Forsaken, humans, and orcs, but are less so among the other races. Masters of swords, spears, and weapons of all kinds, warriors share a common way of life on Azeroth. Using their abilities to deal pain and cause bloodshed, warriors are deadly adversaries and welcome friends in violent times (which seem to be all the time in recent decades).^[12]

Videos

Notes

Grunts, footmen, mounted warriors and tauren warriors are some of the warrior units present in the armies of Azeroth.
In the Warcraft RPG, warrior and fighter were separate classes. Warrior was an NPC class, while fighter was a core class.^[13] In the World of Warcraft RPG, the old warrior class was replaced with the soldier class, while fighter was replaced with a new warrior class for gameplay purposes.^[14]
Warriors have the most widely available choices in permanent Legendary weapons, as most are designed (through use or through lore) as melee weapons, which is the warrior's forte. Ones that are never available to warriors are staff legendaries, which are meant for caster classes, like Atiesh, Greatstaff of the Guardian and [Dragonwrath, Tarecgosa's Rest]. Ones like [Val'anyr, Hammer of Ancient Kings] and Fangs of the Father can theoretically be used by a warrior, though the fragments for Val'anyr can only be used by druids, shamans, priests, and paladins, and the Fangs are class-specific weapons, designed only for rogues.
Before the start of The Burning Crusade (which introduced blood elves, who couldn't be warriors initially) and from the start of Cataclysm to the start of Legion, warriors were the only class available to all playable races. Hunters became the second class available to all races in Legion with the addition of gnome hunters.
Warrior stances were a major warrior mechanic that was removed in patch 7.0.3.

Gallery

A dwarf warrior model as originally seen on the official World of Warcraft website.
A dwarf warrior with the Battlegear of Valor set and the sword Quel'Serrar.

Trading Card Game

Katoka Dreadblade, an orc warrior.
Galway Steamwhistle, a gnome warrior.
Lord Benjamin Tremendouson, a dwarf fury-warrior.
Christopher the Devout, a human warrior.
Pappy Ironbane, a dwarf warrior.
Fillet, Kneecapper Extraordinaire, a gnome warrior.
Kavai the Wanderer, a night elf warrior.
Defender Nagalaas, a draenei warrior.
Warmaster Hork, an orc warrior.
Wimbly Tinkerton, a gnome warrior.
A human warrior with Absolute Poise.
Vaerik Proudhoof, a tauren warrior.
Defensive Stance.
Execute.
Drusenna the Vigilant, an orc warrior.
Lionar, Unbound, an orc warrior.
Andiss Butcherson, a human warrior.

Hearthstone

Burly Adventurer

Patch changes

Patch 7.0.3 (2016-07-19): Now begins with plate armor at level 1 instead of mail armor.
Patch 5.2.0 (2013-03-05): The benefit of Haste from items and consumables has been increased by 50% for all Warriors.
Patch 5.0.4 (2012-08-28):
- The design of Rage has changed to function more like a valuable resource. Rage generation is also determined by stance, with different stances causing the warrior to generate Rage through dealing damage, taking damage and/or being in combat. Primary attacks now also generate rage.
- Stances now share a single action bar, rather than changing your action bar, and abilities are no longer restricted by stance.
- Changing stances no longer causes the warrior to lose Rage, and stances now share a 3-second cooldown.
- Ranged slot is being removed. Warriors will now throw their main hand item for their [Throw] ability.
Patch 4.0.1 (2010-10-12): Rage is being normalized so that its generation is no longer based on damage done by auto-attacks. Each auto-attack will provide a set amount of Rage, with off-hand weapons granting 50% of the Rage main-hand weapons do.
Patch 3.3.0 (2009-12-08): Human, night elf, undead, and gnome warriors now start with a [Worn Greatsword], instead of a [Worn Shortsword] and [Worn Wooden Shield].