Updated Nov 4, 2026

Protection Warrior

PvE guide, updated for Patch 12.1.5

Tank Rotation & Cooldowns

How to play Protection Warrior in each rotation style: the full rotation SimulationCraft sims play by default, and the game’s Assisted Highlight and One Button rotations beside it.

Rotation style comparison

How Protection Warrior’s DPS compares when using the game’s assisted modes instead of the full rotation, based on Single Target simulations.

  • Full rotationBaseline
  • Assisted Highlight-5.6%
  • One Button-18.6%
Compare in rankings

The full rotation is the one SimulationCraft’s sims play by default. Its priority list is SimC’s own for the spec, read here for one build and one kind of fight.

Rotation

Beta19 abilities
Beta. This view is new. Some specs’ steps still read as long chains of conditions, and we’re working on making them simpler to follow.
  1. 1Charge
  2. 2Avatar
  3. 3Shield WallWhen ready
  4. 4Racial abilityWhen ready
  5. 5Ignore Pain
  6. 6RavagerWhen ready
  7. 7Demoralizing ShoutWhen ready
  8. 8Champions LeapWhen ready
  9. 9Champion's SpearWhen ready
  10. 10Demolish
  11. 11Shield ChargeWhen ready
  12. 12Shield Block
  13. 13Shield SlamWhen ready
  14. 14Thunder ClapWhen ready
  15. 15ExecuteWhen ready
  16. 16RevengeWhen ready
  17. 17Wrecking ThrowWhen ready
  18. 18Shattering ThrowWhen ready
  19. 19DevastateWhen ready

Every step also needs the ability off cooldown and affordable. Range checks are left out. A blank Targets cell means any number of targets.

Before the pull

Things to do before entering combat.

  1. 1Battle Stance

Cooldowns

When each cooldown was used across the sample fight, so you can see how often each comes back and which ones line up.

  • ChargeCharge: 1 cast, at 0:001
  • Liquid LusterLiquid Luster: 1 cast, at 0:001
  • On-use itemsOn-use items: 3 casts, at 0:00, 1:30, 3:003
  • AvatarAvatar: 5 casts, at 0:00, 0:52, 1:43, 2:39, 3:275
  • Demoralizing ShoutDemoralizing Shout: 8 casts, at 0:00, 0:31, 1:04, 1:39, 2:14, 2:47, 3:23, 3:578
  • Shield ChargeShield Charge: 6 casts, at 0:01, 0:46, 1:31, 2:17, 3:02, 3:476
  • DemolishDemolish: 9 casts, at 0:07, 0:37, 1:07, 1:37, 2:07, 2:37, 3:08, 3:38, 4:099

Sample opener

One simulated fight from the start, played by this list on the profile in the Gear section with that profile’s own talents, whichever build the list above is read for. Procs and timing change the order from fight to fight, so use it to get a feel for the start rather than as a script.

Time
Ability
New
Gone
Up
Pre-pull
0:00.000
Battle Stance
Pull
0:00.000
Charge
0:00.000
On-use items
0:00.000
Avatar
0:00.000
Shield Wall
0:00.000
Liquid Luster

The full priority list

simc@ff0d07f

Everything above is read from this SimulationCraft list, including the steps the page hides (the potion and on-use items) and the branches your build and fight leave out.

warrior_protection.simc, 85 lines

Is this rotation built for your talents?

The rotation follows your talent build. Sim your highest-DPS build on your own gear, for the mode and rotation style you play.