Protection Warrior Tank Guide & Best Runes – Phase 4 Season of Discovery (SoD)

Welcome to the SoD Phase 4 Protection Warrior Tank Guide!

This guide focuses exclusively on the Protection specialization, exploring key components such as Runes, Talent Trees, Stat Priorities, Rotations & Abilities, Best Professions, BiS (Best in Slot) items, and Race Choices. The new Rune System introduced in the Season of Discovery has improved the overall performance of Protection Warrior Tanks, increasing their overall Threat Generation by a considerable amount while also providing them with new active and passive effects that significantly increase their damage output, utility, and overall survivability.

Talents

Runes

• Helm: Shield Mastery/Vigilance
• Cloak: Shockwave
• Chest: Warbringer
• Wrist: Sword and Board
• Hands: Devastate
• Waist: Focused Rage
• Legs: Furious Thunder
• Feet: Rallying Cry/Enraged Regeneration
• Ring: Defense Specialization
• Ring: Sword Specialization/Mace Specialization/Axe Specialization

Stat Priority

1. Stamina
2. Armor
3. Defense
4. Dodge Chance
5. Parry Chance
6. Hit Chance
7. Strength
8. Block Value
9. Agility
10. Critical Strike Chance
11. Weapon Damage

Rotations & Abilities

Single-Target Rotation

1. Maintain Defensive Stance
2. If you choose the Rallying Cry rune
   • Prioritize Rallying Cry for heavy AoE Damage moments
3. If you choose the Enraged Regeneration
   • Prioritize Enraged Regeneration for moments where you receive heavy Single-Target Damage
4. If you choose the Vigilance rune
   • Place Vigilance on the best performing DPS in the group
5. Prioritize Last Stand for moments where you receive heavy Single-Target Damage
6. Cast Charge as an opener
7. Cast Thunder Clap once at the beginning to debuff the target and generate a high amount of Threat
   • Refresh Thunder Clap‘s effect once its duration runs out
8. Cast Demoralizing Shout
   • Refresh Demoralizing Shout once its duration runs out
9. Cast Shield Block on cooldown
10. Cast Sunder Armor
    • Spam Sunder Armor to deal damage and maintain 5 stacks (Deals Damage thanks to Devastate)
11. Cast Shockwave on cooldown
12. Cast Shield Slam on cooldown
    • Cast Shield Slam whenever it refreshes from casting Sunder Armor or Revenge
13. Cast Revenge on cooldown whenever it becomes available
14. Cast Heroic Strike together with another ability such as Sunder Armor/Revenge as long as you have excess Rage

AoE Rotation

1. Maintain Defensive Stance
2. Cast Thunder Clap on cooldown
3. Cast Demoralizing Shout
   • Refresh Demoralizing Shout once its duration runs out
4. Cast Shockwave on cooldown
5. Spam Cleave
6. Spam Sunder Armor
   • Spam Sunder Armor on as many targets as possible to reach 5 stacks of Sunder Armor
   • Spam Sunder Armor to deal damage
7. Cast Shield Slam on cooldown
   • Cast Shield Slam whenever it refreshes from casting Sunder Armor or Revenge

Best Professions

Blacksmithing

Blacksmithing has long been one of the most iconic professions for Plate-wearing classes and Warriors can fully benefit from this profession. This is by far the best profession that a Warrior can pick, not only for the strong items that can be acquired during the leveling process but also thanks to the new end-game items and special epic items available with the release of the Season of Discovery.

Engineering

Being known as one of the top professions in both PvE and PvP in the Classic Era, Engineering’s reputation remains true in the Season of Discovery as well. It grants access to powerful bombs, various gadgets, and even specially crafted equipment that can be used to enhance your overall performance.

Best Races

Warrior is the only Class that can be picked by any race available to both factions, offering a wide variety of race/class combinations. For the Alliance, the best option for Protection Tank Warrior is a choice between Dwarf and Night Elf because of Stoneform and Quickness. Human is also a decent pick thanks to Sword Specialization and Mace Specialization. For the Horde, the best option is a choice between Tauren and Troll due to Endurance and Berserking. Orc is also a decent option, however, Blood Fury is a double-edged for tanks.

Human

• The Human Spirit, Sword Specialization, Mace Specialization, Perception, Diplomacy

Dwarf

• Stoneform, Frost Resistance, Gun Specialization, Find Treasure

Night Elf

• Nature Resistance, Quickness, Shadowmeld, Wisp Spirit

Gnome

• Expansive Mind, Escape Artist, Engineering Specialization, Arcane Resistance

Orc

• Blood Fury, Command, Hardiness, Axe Specialization

Undead

• Will of the Forsaken, Shadow Resistance, Cannibalize, Underwater Breathing

Tauren

• Nature Resistance, Endurance, Cultivation, War Stomp

Troll

• Berserking, Beast Slaying, Bow Specialization, Throwing Specialization, Regeneration