DPS Rotation & Cooldowns

This rotation offers a general priority list for Arms Warrior abilities, along with key cooldowns at the bottom. It's based on a standard build and is here to help while we work on a smarter, build-aware system. If you are very new to the game or this class, we added info on the new assisted rotation features at the bottom of this guide. Updated for the latest patch in World of Warcraft: The War Within (11.2.5).

Single Target

Ensure Battle Stance is active before engaging.

• RendView detailsApply or refresh if < 4 seconds remaining.
• Thunderous Roar
• RavagerView detailsUse before Colossus Smash.
• AvatarView detailsUse before or with Colossus Smash.
• Champions SpearView detailsUse with Colossus Smash.
• Colossus Smash
• Warbreaker
• DemolishView detailsUse during Colossus Smash.
• Mortal StrikeView detailsUse with 2 stacks of Executioners Precision.
• ExecuteView detailsUse with 3 stacks of Marked For Execution or to refresh Juggernaut.
• OverpowerView detailsUse with Opportunist active.
• Mortal Strike
• Bladestorm
• Storm BoltView detailsUse during Bladestorm.
• Demolish
• Skullsplitter
• ExecuteView detailsUse to consume Sudden Death procs.
• Overpower
• SlamView detailsUse as a filler.

Maintain Rend and prioritize Colossus Smash and Mortal Strike. Use Execute to refresh Juggernaut or consume procs, and fill gaps with Overpower or Slam.

AoE

Activate Sweeping Strikes for 2 targets or focus on Cleave for 3+ targets.

• CleaveView detailsApply or refresh Deep Wounds if < 4 seconds remaining.
• Thunder ClapView detailsApply or refresh Rend if < 4 seconds remaining.
• Thunderous Roar
• Ravager
• Warbreaker
• Sweeping Strikes
• Colossus Smash
• Champions Spear
• Avatar
• DemolishView detailsUse with 10 stacks of Colossal Might.
• Cleave
• ExecuteView detailsUse with 3 stacks of Marked For Execution or to refresh Juggernaut.
• Bladestorm
• Mortal Strike
• Skullsplitter
• OverpowerView detailsUse during Sweeping Strikes with Opportunist active.
• ExecuteView detailsUse during Sweeping Strikes with Marked For Execution.
• Thunder Clap
• SlamView detailsUse as a filler.

For AoE, maintain Deep Wounds and Rend, prioritize Cleave and Colossus Smash, and use Bladestorm or Ravager for burst. Fill gaps with Overpower or Slam.

Cooldowns

Ensure Colossus Smash and Deep Wounds are active before cooldowns.

• AvatarView detailsUse before or with Colossus Smash.
• BladestormView detailsUse for AoE or with Unhinged.
• RavagerView detailsUse for AoE or Rage generation.
• SkullsplitterView detailsUse to amplify Rend and Deep Wounds.
• Sweeping StrikesView detailsUse for cleaving 2 targets.

Align Avatar and Colossus Smash for burst. Use Bladestorm or Ravager for AoE, and Skullsplitter to enhance DoTs. Activate Sweeping Strikes for cleave scenarios.

New to Class? Try Assisted Rotation

Patch 11.1.7 introduced new features that make it eaiser to pick and play new characters. These new settings can be enabled from settings » gameplay enhancements:

• Single-Button Assistant
• Assisted Highlight
• Cooldown Manager

If you are new to World of Warcraft or a certain class, enabling Assisted Highlight and Cooldown Manager can help you learn which abilities to prioritize and use.

While the Single-Button Assistant can be a much easier and more accessible way to play the game, it does come with a slight performance hit due to a small GCD penalty, as you will have to wait 25% longer in between spells and abilities.

To see which specs are best with the Single-Button Assistant feature, you can check out our DPS Rankings which uses SimC to sim every class using this feature.