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For related articles, see Category:Warriors.
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.
Fail:Warrior crest.png

Warriors are melee fighters highly trained in the art of weaponry. They are strong and quick on the battlefield. Depending on their specialization, a warrior can often deal very high damage or be tough to kill. Warrior abilities depend on rage generation. This is different to all but one melee class, the bear form druid. Rage is generated through damage being dealt to and by the warrior and is capped at 100.

Warriors can change between three combat stances: [Battle Stance], [Defensive Stance], and [Berserker Stance]. Stances give the class a fluid play style, allowing the player a variety of responses to any given PvE or PvP situation. Warriors can wear any type of armor, although they receive a bonus from [Plate Specialization] for wearing plate armor beginning at level 50, although they can wear Plate starting at level 40. They are able to use shields and can wield any weapon with the exception of wands.

Background[]

See also: List of warriors

As long as war is waged on Azeroth, there will be men and women who fight those wars. Warrior are no mere sword-swingers; they 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. They charge into the heart of the battle and survive the most grievous of wounds. Warriors are common in dwarf, Forsaken, human, and orc societies, but many other species also fill their ranks with warriors. 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).[1] Anyone willing to take up arms to defend their people can be classed as a warrior. A knight is the warrior elite among humans.

Notable warriors[]

Races[]

Main article: Warrior races

The warrior class can be played by the following races:

Race Strength Agility Stamina Intellect Spirit Armor Health
Horde Blood elfBlood elf Blood elf TBC 20 22 20 24 19 ? ?
Horde ForsakenForsaken Forsaken 22 18 22 18 25 36 60
Horde GoblinGoblin Goblin Cataclysm 20 22 22 23 18 ? ?
Horde OrcOrc Orc 26 17 23 17 22 34 70
Horde TaurenTauren Tauren 28 16 23 16 22 32 71
Horde TrollTroll Troll 24 22 22 16 21 44 60
Alliance DraeneiDraenei Draenei TBC 24 17 22 20 22 34 60
Alliance DwarfDwarf Dwarf 28 16 23 19 19 32 70
Alliance GnomeGnome Gnome 18 22 22 24 20 44 60
Alliance HumanHuman Human 23 20 22 20 20 40 60
Alliance Night elfNight elf Night elf 19 24 22 20 20 48 60
Fail:Both 15.png PandarenPandaren Pandaren Mists of Pandaria 23 18 23 19 22 37 133
Alliance WorgenWorgen Worgen Cataclysm 26 22 22 16 19 98 60

Before the release of Cataclysm, blood elf players were the only race that could not be warriors. Blood elf warriors are a standard class for blood elves in the RPG. Some blood elves become warriors (or scouts or hunters) — especially those seeking to be spell breakers, demon hunters, and rangers.[2] In addition, there were High Elf Swordsmen in the Undead campaign in Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos, so Elven warriors have technically always been justified.

With the release of Cataclysm, warriors are the first non-hero class to be available to all races.

Alliance Alliance races
  • Draenei: [Gift of the Naaru] heals 20% of the caster's health over 10 seconds, giving draenei warriors a healing ability. Extremely useful for high level PvP and PvE. The extra [shadow resistance] is always welcomed. [Heroic Presence] can help Off tanks or the Main tank perform better.
  • Dwarves: [Stoneform] removes poison, disease, and bleed effects, and decreases damage taken by a short period of time. Both of these can be very useful in PvE and PvP fights. The additional [Frost Resistance] is always useful, as a warrior's sworn enemy is the frost mage. Increased expertise with [maces] provides additional threat generation when using them.
  • Gnomes: [Escape Artist] can be very useful, primarily in PvP situations, but also in PvE situations. Warriors, the prototypical tank, often have to lead mobs and bosses away from 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 before they have any idea as to what happened.
  • Humans: [Sword] and [Mace] specializations increase expertise with swords and maces by a small amount, which are two very popular warrior weapons. Humans also gain the "racial PvP trinket" – [Every Man for Himself] – effectively freeing up a trinket slot which warriors might find more useful.
  • Night elves: [Quickness] adds an extra layer of survivability to night elf warriors. The enhanced [nature resistance] is always nice. [Shadowmeld] provides an interesting element to night elves, allowing them to stealth to avoid mob detection (more useful for solo play), or to get out of combat when about to die. In PvP settings Shadowmeld can be devastating, for the night elf warrior can operate as a rogue, attacking from a stealthed position! An additional bonus to Shadowmeld is the ability to temporarily drop threat in combat.
  • Worgen: The worgen's [Darkflight] is very useful in chasing down a fleeing opponent in PvP, to avoid being kited, and for just saving time moving when you cannot use a mount. The additional [shadow resistance] is a nice addition, as well as the small buff to [critical strike chance].
Neutral races (before faction choice)
  • Pandaren: The pandaren [love of food] allows them to gain a larger benefit from well fed buffs. These versatile fighters also take [less falling damage]. To add to their deadly warrior abilities, they also have a [natural stun].
Horde Horde races
  • Blood elves: Their racial abilities focus on magic and its disruption. Spell casters, especially healers, will learn to loathe the blood elf warrior. [Arcane Resistance] provides them defense against arcane-based attacks, while [Arcane Torrent] silences any spell caster within range.
  • Forsaken: The increased [shadow resistance] is always useful, as is [Cannibalize], which can rapidly increase your health, thereby saving your healer's mana. [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; it removes charm, fear, and sleep effects. Forsaken also have a passive [damaging ability] that strips health from the enemy.
  • Goblins: Tinkers at heart with an affinity for things that explode, goblin warriors fill a niche only an engineer could be jealous of. They use their rockets to not only [leap], but also to fire off a [barrage] into the faces of their enemies. And when they need to repair their armor, they always get the [Best Deals Anywhere]. Their [Time is Money] ability increases attack speed, helpful for any warrior.
  • Orcs: [Axe Specialization] increases expertise by a nominal amount when wielding an axe or fist weapon. This reduces players' chance to be dodged or parried. [Hardiness] reduces stun duration, which can save a warrior in PvP settings, or save their group in PvE settings. [Blood Fury] increases attack power.
  • Tauren: [War Stomp] is very important in providing an early stun to young warriors, especially useful against casters or other enemies that may have a long-cast attack. [Endurance] provides tauren with extra health, meaning tauren warriors can have the highest possible HP of any warrior. The additional [nature resistance] is always a plus.
  • Trolls: [Berserking] increases attack speed by 20% for 10 seconds, useful for all warriors. [Health regeneration] in combat can help keep you alive during PvP fights or boss battles, and the increased healing can reduce down time for soloing players. [Da Voodoo Shuffle] reduces the duration of movement impairing effects by 15%. [Beast Slaying] gives a small boost against beasts.
Since the release of Cataclysm and Mists of Pandaria, worgen, goblins, blood elves, and pandaren are able to become warriors, giving every race in the game access to warriors.

Mechanics[]

Fail:ArtTaurenWarrior.jpg

A tauren warrior in art.

Rage[]

Main article: Rage

By default, a Warrior's rage bar is empty. Warriors can gain rage by being struck in combat, dealing damage, drinking rage potions, or using certain abilities. Most of their abilities require a certain amount of rage in order to be activated. When a Warrior exits combat, any left-over rage slowly decays until the bar returns to empty.

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. A Warrior with a full rage bar can quickly unload a large amount of damage.

Stances[]

Main article: Stance

The warrior has different stances for different situations.

  • [Battle Stance]: The standard stance for all warriors. An aggressive combat stance. Generates high rage from normal melee attacks.
  • [Defensive Stance]: A tanking combat stance. Decreases damage taken. Increases Threat generated and generates rage.
  • [Berserker Stance]: A reckless combat stance. Generates rage from normal melee attacks and also from damage taken.

Specializations/stats[]

Battle-hardened masters of two-handed weapons, using mobility and overpowering attacks to strike their opponents down.
- Official description
Stat priority
  • Hit (until 7.5%)
  • Expertise (until 7.5%)
  • Strength
  • Critical Strike
  • Mastery
  • Haste
Fail:MortalStrikeTCG.JPG

Mortal Strike

Fail:Slam1TCG.jpg

Slam

Icon Ability Min Level
Fail:Ability warrior savageblow.png [Mortal Strike] 10
Fail:Inv axe 09.png [Seasoned Soldier] 10
Fail:Ability warrior decisivestrike.png [Slam] 18
Fail:Ability rogue hungerforblood.png [Taste for Blood] 20
Fail:Ability whirlwind.png [Whirlwind] 26
Fail:Ability meleedamage.png [Overpower] 30
Icon Ability Min Level
Fail:Warrior talent icon bloodandthunder.png [Blood and Thunder] 46
Fail:Ability warrior challange.png [Die by the Sword] 56
Fail:Inv axe 2h orcwarrior c 01.png [Unbridled Wrath] 56
Fail:Ability rogue slicedice.png [Sweeping Strikes] 60
Fail:Ability warrior punishingblow.png [Mastery: Strikes of Opportunity] 80
Fail:Ability warrior colossussmash.png [Colossus Smash] 81
Fail:Ability warrior improveddisciplines.png [Sudden Death] 81

Furious berserkers wielding a weapon in each hand, unleashing a flurry of attacks to carve their opponents to pieces.
- Official description
Stat priority
  • Hit (until 7.5%)
  • Expertise (until 7.5%)
  • Critical Strike
  • Strength
  • Mastery
  • Haste
  • Hit (until 26.5%)
Fail:WhirlwindTCG.jpg

Whirlwind

Fail:RagingBlowTCG.jpg

Raging Blow

Icon Ability Min Level
Fail:Spell nature bloodlust.png [Bloodthirst] 10
Fail:Ability warrior rampage.png [Crazed Berserker] 10
Fail:Spell warrior wildstrike.png [Wild Strike] 18
Fail:Ability whirlwind.png [Whirlwind] 26
Fail:Warrior wild strike.png [Raging Blow] 30
Fail:Warrior talent icon singlemindedfury.png [Single-Minded Fury] 38
Icon Ability Min Level
Fail:Ability warrior titansgrip.png [Titan's Grip] 38
Fail:Ability warrior bloodsurge.png [Bloodsurge] 50
Fail:Ability warrior challange.png [Die by the Sword] 56
Fail:Inv axe 2h orcwarrior c 01.png [Unbridled Wrath] 56
Fail:Warrior talent icon mastercleaver.png [Meat Cleaver] 58
Fail:Ability ghoulfrenzy.png [Flurry] 60
Fail:Ability warrior endlessrage.png [Mastery: Unshackled Fury] 80
Fail:Ability warrior colossussmash.png [Colossus Smash] 81

Stalwart protectors who use a shield to safeguard themselves and their allies.
- Official description
Stat priority
  • Hit (until 7.5%) / Expertise (until 15%)
  • Mastery
  • Parry / Dodge
Fail:ShieldSlamTCG.jpg

Shield Slam

Fail:ShieldBlockTCG.jpg

Shield Block

Icon Ability Min Level
Fail:Inv shield 05.png [Shield Slam] 10
Fail:Inv helmet 21.png [Unwavering Sentinel] 10
Fail:Spell shadow charm.png [Vengeance] 10
Fail:Ability defend.png [Shield Block] 18
Fail:Inv sword 11.png [Devastate] 26
Fail:Ability warrior revenge.png [Revenge] 30
Fail:Spell holy ashestoashes.png [Last Stand] 38
Icon Ability Min Level
Fail:Warrior talent icon bloodandthunder.png [Blood and Thunder] 46
Fail:Ability warrior swordandboard.png [Sword and Board] 50
Fail:Ability warrior warcry.png [Demoralizing Shout] 56
Fail:Ability warrior stalwartprotector.png [Ultimatum] 58
Fail:Ability warrior shieldguard.png [Bastion of Defense] 60
Fail:Ability warrior criticalblock.png [Mastery: Critical Block] 80
Fail:Inv shield 07.png [Shield Barrier] 81

Skills/Glyphs[]

Fail:HeroicStrikeTCG.jpg

Heroic Strike

Fail:ChargeTCG.jpg

Charge

Fail:VictoryRushTCG.jpg

Victory Rush

Icon Ability Min Level
Fail:Ability warrior offensivestance.png [Battle Stance] Starts with
Fail:Ability rogue ambush.png [Heroic Strike] Starts with
Fail:Ability throw.png [Throw] Starts with
Fail:Ability parry.png [Parry] Starts with
Fail:Ability warrior charge.png [Charge] 3
Fail:Ability warrior devastate.png [Victory Rush] 5
Fail:Inv sword 48.png [Execute] 7
Fail:Ability warrior defensivestance.png [Defensive Stance] 9
Fail:Spell nature reincarnation.png [Taunt] 12
Fail:Ability racial bloodrage.png [Enrage] 14
Fail:Ability warrior sunder.png [Sunder Armor] 16
Fail:Spell nature thunderclap.png [Thunder Clap] 20
Fail:Inv axe 66.png [Heroic Throw] 22
Fail:Inv gauntlets 04.png [Pummel] 24
Fail:Ability warrior disarm.png [Disarm] 28
Fail:Ability backstab.png [Deep Wounds] 32
Fail:Ability racial avatar.png [Berserker Stance] 34
Icon Ability Min Level
Fail:Ability shockwave.png [Hamstring] 36
Fail:Ability warrior battleshout.png [Battle Shout] 36
Fail:Ability warrior cleave.png [Cleave] 44
Fail:Ability warrior shieldwall.png [Shield Wall] 48
Fail:Inv chest plate13.png [Plate Specialization] 50
Fail:Ability golemthunderclap.png [Intimidating Shout] 52
Fail:Spell nature ancestralguardian.png [Berserker Rage] 54
Fail:Ability criticalstrike.png [Recklessness] 62
Fail:Ability warrior shieldreflection.png [Spell Reflection] 66
Fail:Ability warrior rallyingcry.png [Commanding Shout] 68
Fail:Ability warrior victoryrush.png [Intervene] 72
Fail:Ability warrior shatteringthrow.png [Shattering Throw] 74
Fail:Ability toughness.png [Rallying Cry] 83
Fail:Ability heroicleap.png [Heroic Leap] 85
Fail:Demoralizing banner.png [Demoralizing Banner] 87
Fail:Mocking banner.png [Mocking Banner] 87
Fail:Warrior skullbanner.png [Skull Banner] 87

Level Icon Ability
15 (Choose one) Fail:Ability warrior bullrush.png [Juggernaut]
Fail:Inv misc horn 04.png [Double Time]
Fail:Ability warrior warbringer.png [Warbringer]
30 (Choose one) Fail:Ability warrior focusedrage.png [Enraged Regeneration]
Fail:Ability hunter harass.png [Second Wind]
Fail:Spell impending victory.png [Impending Victory]
45 (Choose one) Fail:Ability bullrush.png [Staggering Shout]
Fail:Spell shadow deathscream.png [Piercing Howl]
Fail:Warrior disruptingshout.png [Disrupting Shout]
Level Icon Ability
60 (Choose one) Fail:Ability warrior bladestorm.png [Bladestorm]
Fail:Ability warrior shockwave.png [Shockwave]
Fail:Ability warrior dragonroar.png [Dragon Roar]
75 (Choose one) Fail:Ability warrior shieldbreak.png [Mass Spell Reflection]
Fail:Ability warrior safeguard.png [Safeguard]
Fail:Ability warrior vigilance.png [Vigilance]
90 (Choose one) Fail:Warrior talent icon avatar.png [Avatar]
Fail:Ability warrior bloodbath.png [Bloodbath]
Fail:Warrior talent icon stormbolt.png [Storm Bolt]

Key
Tag Source
Book of Glyph Mastery [Book of Glyph Mastery] (requires 425 inscription skill)
T:# Learned from a trainer with # Inscription skill
M:# Minor Inscription Research (requires # Inscription skill)
N Northrend Inscription Research (requires 385 Inscription skill)
V:# Vendor (requires # Inscription skill)


Major Glyph Source Major Glyph Source
Fail:Inv glyph majorwarrior.png [Glyph of Blitz] N Fail:Inv glyph majorwarrior.png [Glyph of Bloodthirst] Fury T:285
Fail:Inv glyph majorwarrior.png [Glyph of Bull Rush] T:250 Fail:Inv glyph majorwarrior.png [Glyph of Colossus Smash] ArmsFury V:465
Fail:Inv glyph majorwarrior.png [Glyph of Death From Above] Book of Glyph Mastery Fail:Inv glyph majorwarrior.png [Glyph of Die by the Sword] ArmsFury T:170
Fail:Inv glyph majorwarrior.png [Glyph of Enraged Speed] T:85 Fail:Inv glyph majorwarrior.png [Glyph of Furious Sundering] ArmsFury Book of Glyph Mastery
Fail:Inv glyph majorwarrior.png [Glyph of Gag Order] T:95 Fail:Inv glyph majorwarrior.png [Glyph of Hamstring] T:110
Fail:Inv glyph majorwarrior.png [Glyph of Heavy Repercussions] Protection (Warrior) N Fail:Inv glyph majorwarrior.png [Glyph of Hindering Strikes] T:240
Fail:Inv glyph majorwarrior.png [Glyph of Hoarse Voice] T:140 Fail:Inv glyph majorwarrior.png [Glyph of Hold the Line] Protection (Warrior) T:190
Fail:Inv glyph majorwarrior.png [Glyph of Incite] Protection (Warrior) Scroll of Wisdom Fail:Inv glyph majorwarrior.png [Glyph of Long Charge] T:75
Fail:Inv glyph majorwarrior.png [Glyph of Mortal Strike] Arms N Fail:Inv glyph majorwarrior.png [Glyph of Raging Wind] Fury T:345
Fail:Inv glyph majorwarrior.png [Glyph of Rude Interruption] T:125 Fail:Inv glyph majorwarrior.png [Glyph of Shield Slam] Protection (Warrior) N
Fail:Inv glyph majorwarrior.png [Glyph of Shield Wall] Book of Glyph Mastery Fail:Inv glyph majorwarrior.png [Glyph of Spell Reflection] Book of Glyph Mastery
Fail:Inv glyph majorwarrior.png [Glyph of Sweeping Strikes] Arms T:320 Fail:Inv glyph majorwarrior.png [Glyph of Unending Rage] T:75
Fail:Inv glyph majorwarrior.png [Glyph of Victory Rush] N Fail:Inv glyph majorwarrior.png [Glyph of Whirlwind] ArmsFury Book of Glyph Mastery
Minor Glyph Source Minor Glyph Source
Fail:Inv glyph minorwarrior.png [Glyph of the Blazing Trail] Scroll of Wisdom Fail:Inv glyph minorwarrior.png [Glyph of Bloodcurdling Shout] M:75
Fail:Inv glyph minorwarrior.png [Glyph of Bloody Healing] M:75 Fail:Inv glyph minorwarrior.png [Glyph of Burning Anger] Scroll of Wisdom
Fail:Inv glyph minorwarrior.png [Glyph of Crow Feast] Scroll of Wisdom Fail:Inv glyph minorwarrior.png [Glyph of Gushing Wound] M:75
Fail:Inv glyph minorwarrior.png [Glyph of Intimidating Shout] ?? Fail:Inv glyph minorwarrior.png [Glyph of Mighty Victory] M:75
Fail:Inv glyph minorwarrior.png [Glyph of Mystic Shout] M:75 Fail:Inv glyph minorwarrior.png [Glyph of Thunder Strike] M:75

Notes[]

Fail:Dwarfwar.jpg

Dwarven warrior

  • In the Warcraft RPG, warrior and fighter were separate classes. Warrior was an NPC class, while fighter was a core class.[3] 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.[4]
  • 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. The only one that was never available to warriors was Atiesh, Greatstaff of the Guardian (only magi, warlocks, druids, and priests could obtain it). Val'anyr, Hammer of Ancient Kings can theoretically be used by a warrior, though the fragments, which are needed to make the weapon can only be used by druids, shamans, priests, and paladins.

Videos[]

See also[]

  • Warrior twinking guide for details on making a warrior twink.
  • Warrior instance grouping guide for tips in Instances.

References[]

  1. World of Warcraft: The Roleplaying Game, 54, 88
  2. Monster Guide, 65
  3. Warcraft: The Roleplaying Game, 54
  4. World of Warcraft RPG Conversion Document, 1

External links[]

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