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 (3 yellow hits during the debuff), 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 but this can be simplified by macroing together the abilities and their corresponding stances.

Opener

1. Pre-cast
   Battle Shout
   or
   Commanding Shout
   .
2. Pre-pot
   Golemblood Potion
   .
3. Cast
   Charge
   .
4. Cast
   Rend
   .
5. Cast
   Mortal Strike
   and
   Heroic Strike
   .
6. Cast
   Deadly Calm
   . Use
   Heroic Strike
   on cooldown during the buff.
7. Cast
   Colossus Smash
   .
8. Cast
   Heroic Leap
   (Off GCD).
9. Cast
   Overpower
   .
10. Cast
    Mortal Strike
    .
11. Cast
    Overpower
    .
12. Proceed with single target rotation.

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
   Shattering Throw
   if assigned.
5. Use
   Inner Rage
   when high on Rage.
6. Use
   Deadly Calm
   when low on Rage.
7. Use
   Recklessness
   .
8. Use
   Colossus Smash
   as long as the target doesn't currently have the
   Colossus Smash
   debuff. Watch out for
   Sudden Death
   procs.
9. Use
   Mortal Strike
   .
10. Use
    Overpower
    with
    Taste for Blood
    procs.
11. Use
    Heroic Strike
    with
    Battle Trance
    proc or if you have excess Rage.
12. Use
    Execute
    to dump Rage for targets below 20% HP.
13. Use
    Slam
    to dump Rage.
14. 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
,
Command

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. The rest of the professions are very close in power, with Blacksmithing becoming better with epic gems in T13.