Arms Warrior PvE Guide - Cataclysm Classic

Cataclysm Classic Arms Warrior Rotation

Arms Warriors have a simple priority system, but as with any class that uses Rage or Energy, managing your resources properly will be critical to perform well. Making sure you make the most out of your
Colossus Smash
windows, and proper usage of
Inner Rage
and
Deadly Calm
will make a huge impact on your DPS. Another complexity of the Arms Warriors rotation is Stance Dancing. Performed correctly, Stance Dancing will result in a small DPS increase, but if done incorrectly, it will result in a DPS loss compared to just staying in
Battle Stance
100% of the time. The talent
Tactical Mastery
allows for an additional 50 Rage to be retained when switching stances, which is what allows this technique to be possible. The abilities you need to be in
Battle Stance
for are
Rend
and
Overpower
. In most single target scenarios, you will only be using 1
Rend
, so the main problem here is
Overpower
. Like we mention in the rotation section,
Overpower
is only used when
Taste for Blood
procs, which can only occur once every 5 seconds so you dont have to use it immediately once it procs. To maximize your time in
Berserker Stance
, you should wait to until the end of the 5 second window, switch to
Battle Stance
, use
Overpower
,
Taste for Blood
will proc again right after, use
Overpower
a second time, and then switch back to
Berserker Stance
. You will be in
Berserker Stance
for about 10 seconds, since the next
Taste for Blood
proc won't happen for 5 seconds, and you won't use that proc for about 4 seconds. It is recommended to make a macro for each of your skills with it's corresponding stance.

Single Target

1. Use and maintain 3 stacks of
   Sunder Armor
   if assigned.
2. Maintain
   Battle Shout
   or
   Commanding Shout
   if assigned.
3. Maintain
   Rend
   .
   Mortal Strike
   will take care of this thanks to
   Lambs to the Slaughter
   .
4. Use
   Bloodrage
   .
5. Use
   Shattering Throw
   .
6. Use
   Inner Rage
   when high on Rage.
7. Use
   Deadly Calm
   when low on Rage and avoid using during
   Bloodlust
   /
   Heroism
   .
8. Use
   Recklessness
   .
9. Use
   Mortal Strike
   .
10. Use
    Colossus Smash
    from
    Sudden Death
    procs as long as the target doesn't currently have the
    Colossus Smash
    debuff.
11. Use
    Colossus Smash
    . Ideally have a
    Taste for Blood
    proc before casting so you can fit in 2
    Overpower
    casts inside the debuff window.
12. When
    Taste for Blood
    procs, wait 4 seconds and use
    Battle Stance
    and
    Overpower
    . Wait for another
    Taste for Blood
    proc and use
    Overpower
    again before switching back to
    Berserker Stance
    .
13. Use
    Heroic Strike
    with
    Battle Trance
    proc or if you have excess Rage.
14. Use
    Execute
    to dump Rage for targets below 20% HP.
15. Use
    Slam
    to dump Rage.
16. Use
    Battle Shout
    or
    Commanding Shout
    to generate Rage.

AoE

2 targets:

1. Use
   Sweeping Strikes
   .
2. Proceed with single target rotation. When
   Sweeping Strikes
   runs out, replace
   Heroic Strike
   with
   Cleave
   .

3+ targets:

3. If running the talent
   Blood and Thunder
   , use
   Rend
   and spread it with
   Thunder Clap
   .
4. Use
   Bladestorm
   .
5. Use
   Sweeping Strikes
   .
6. Proceed with single target rotation. When
   Sweeping Strikes
   runs out, replace
   Heroic Strike
   with
   Cleave
   .
7. For 4+ targets, replace
   Colossus Smash
   with
   Whirlwind
   .

Cataclysm Classic Arms Warrior Talents

Standard Build

Cataclysm Classic Arms Warrior Glyphs

Prime:
Mortal Strike
,
Overpower
,
Slam
Major:
Sweeping Strikes
,
Cleaving
Optional:
Colossus Smash
or
Rapid Charge
Minor:
Berserker Rage
,
Battle
,
Bloody Healing

Cataclysm Classic Arms Warrior Best Consumables

Flasks and Elixirs

Best:
• Flask of Titanic Strength

Food

Best:
• Seafood Magnifique Feast
  ,
• Beer-Basted Crocolisk
  ,
• Fortune Cookie

Alternatives:
• Broiled Dragon Feast
  ,
• Hearty Seafood Soup

Potions

Best:
• Golemblood Potion

Cataclysm Classic Arms Warrior Best Races

Alliance

1. Worgen:
   Viciousness
   and
   Darkflight
2. Human:
   Sword Specialization
   and
   Mace Specialization
3. Dwarf:
   Mace Specialization
4. Draenei:
   Heroic Presence

Horde

1. Orc:
   Axe Specialization
   and
   Blood Fury
2. Goblin:
   Time is Money
   ,
   Rocket Barrage
   , and
   Rocket Jump
3. Troll:
   Berserking

Cataclysm Classic Arms Warrior Best Professions

1. Engineering:
   Synapse Springs
   .
2. Tailoring:
   Swordguard Embroidery
   .
3. Blacksmithing:
   Socket Bracer
   and
   Socket Gloves
   . Becomes 2nd best in T13.
4. The rest of the Crafting Professions provide nearly identical benefits.