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Warriors are one of the most popular classes in World of Warcraft. They are often brought to the raid as a top-tier melee cleaving machine. In order to obtain those insanely high numbers, they'll need to have the right talent and glyph selections as well as equipping the appropriate gear.
While Warriors can also be a great tank, the two main damage-dealing specializations in WoW WotLK Classic are Fury and Arms.
To maximize the damage output of these two DPS specs in Player vs Environment encounters players will need to equip the Best in Slot gear, or simply, "BiS", that is currently available to them. As new content is released, new items may take the lead as BiS and players will want to look to obtain those items.
There is no real difference in stat priority between Arms and Fury Warriors, apart from the weapons they prefer. This post combines the best Gems, Enchants, Weapons, Armor, and Trinkets for DPS Warriors.
Best Gems For DPS Warriors
The best gems choices for Arms are the Red Strength gems. The only time players should choose a yellow or blue gem from the table below is when it is needed to activate the Meta Gem. For those slots, the Prismatic gem is the best for the Blue slot and for the Yellow slot an Inscribed prefix gem or a gem with strength and the secondary stat that you need in order to reach a Hit or Expertise Cap.
Slot | First Choice(s) | Effect | Alternate Choice(s) | Effect |
---|---|---|---|---|
Meta | +21 Agility and +3% Critical Damage | +21 Critical Strike Rating and +3% Critical Damage | ||
Blue | +10 All Stats | +8 Strength and +12 Stamina | ||
+6 All Stats | ||||
Red | +20 Strength | +16 Strength | ||
+14 Strength | ||||
Yellow | +10 Strength and +10 Critical Strike Rating | +8 Strength and +8 Critical Strike Rating | ||
+10 Expertise Rating and +10 Hit Rating | ||||
+20 Hit Rating |
Arms Warriors that have Jewelcrafting (350) should use 3 Bold Cardinal Ruby when possible.
Blacksmithing (400) provides 2 extra sockets with Socket Bracer and Socket Gloves
Best Enchants For DPS Warriors
In the table below, the best enchants and the effect that they provide are shown for every slot. The primary stat of choice is Attack Power followed by Crit and lastly Agility where no better enchant exists. The Ranged Weapon enchant only applies to that weapon equipped, not to the total stats. As it isn't a significant source of regular damage this can largely be omitted.
Slot | Enchant | Effect |
---|---|---|
Main-Hand | Chance to increase Attack Power by 400 | |
Ranged | +40 Crit Rating to this weapon only | |
Head | +50 Attack Power + 20 Crit Rating | |
Shoulders | +40 Attack Power + 15 Crit Rating | |
Back | +22 Agility | |
Chest | +10 All Stats | |
Bracers | +50 Attack Power | |
Gloves | +44 Attack Power | |
Waist | +1 Socket to Belt | |
Legs | +75 Attack Power + 22 Crit Rating | |
Boots | +32 Attack Power | |
Rings | Enchant Ring - Assault (Requires Enchanting 400) | +40 Attack Power |
The more powerful Enchants that require a specific profession should always take precedent over the above, they are as follows:
Profession | Slot | Enchant | Effect |
---|---|---|---|
Inscription (400) | Shoulders | +120 Attack Power + 15 Crit Rating | |
Tailoring (420) | Back | Chance to increase Attack Power by 400* | |
Leatherworking (400) | Bracers | +130 Attack Power | |
Engineering (380) | +Bracers | Throw a Cobalt Frag Bomb every 6 minute | |
Engineering (380) | Back | +23 Agility and slow fall | |
Engineering (400) | Gloves | On Use: +340 haste rating for 12 sec | |
Engineering (405) | Waist | +24 Critical Rate, On Use: Increased Run Speed |
DPS Warrior Best In Slot Pre-Raid BiS Gear
In the tables below we've listed the top choices for gear that can be obtained prior to stepping into a raid. These are typically found in Heroic and Normal Dungeons, crafted by Professions, or purchased with Emblem of Heroism from a number of Weapons and Armor Vendors in Dalaran.
Both Fury Warriors and Arms Warriors look for the same stats and gear with the exception being the weapons.
Best In Slot Weapon For Arms Warrior
As mentioned in both the Arms Warrior Guide, the most important piece of gear is the Two-Handed Weapon. Ideally, for Arms Warriors it will be an Axe or Polearm which shouldn't be hard as there are many options available.
Item | Source | Drop Chance |
---|---|---|
Loken, Halls of Lightning (H) | 25% | |
Moragg, The Violet Hold (H) | 33% | |
Jedoga Shadowseeker, Ahn'kahet: The Old Kingdom (H) | 25% | |
Reputation: Kalu'ak , Revered | - | |
Ley Guardian Eregos, The Oculus (H) | 13% |
Best In Slot Weapons For Fury Warrior
In our Fury Warrior Guide, we explain which stats to look for, like Arms Warriors they also rely heavily on the base weapon damage and this should be the main piece of gear to obtain first. However, counter to Arms Warriors, they are not as limited to Axes or Polearms. Depending on your race's passive trait sword or mace may be better.
Item | Source | Drop Chance |
---|---|---|
Loken, Halls of Lightning (H) | 25% | |
Blacksmithing (440) | ||
Tribunal of Ages, Halls of Stone (H) | 25% | |
Reputation: Knights of the Ebon Blade, Revered | - | |
Reputation: Argent Crusade, Revered | - | |
The Prophet Tharon'ja, Drak'Tharon Keep (H) | 25% |
Ranged Weapon Slot
The Ranged Weapons below aren't generally used except when unable to attack in melee range and are only here to provide stats. While the last option on this list is not the best, if you have surplus Emblems it can still be useful.
Item | Source | Drop Chance |
---|---|---|
Ingvar the Plunderer, Utgarde Keep (H) | 25% | |
Reinforced Junkbox, Rogue: Pickpocket | - | |
Engineering (450) | - | |
Mal'Ganis, Culling of Stratholme (H) | 25% | |
15 Emblem of Heroism, Dalaran | - |
Head Slot
It might be time to upgrade from Crown of Anasterian from Kil-Jaeden with the Blacksmithing helm with its very high strength stat.
Item | Source | Drop Chance |
---|---|---|
Blacksmithing (440) | - | |
Engineering (440) | - | |
Ley Guardian Eregos, The Oculus (H) | 25% | |
Anub'arak, Azjol-Nerub (H) | 25% |
Neck Slot
You'll see that professions craft some powerful items, and Jewelcrafting can create 3 of them, along with the Jeweler's Gems as well!
Item | Source | Drop Chance |
---|---|---|
Jewelcrafting (440) | - | |
25 Emblem of Heroism, Dalaran | - | |
King Ymiron, Utgarde Pinnacle (H) | 25% | |
Quest: The Admiral Revealed | - |
Shoulders Slot
Grinding out reputation with The Sons of Hodir will be the best option here. Note that if you are still rocking Pauldrons of Berserking from TBC that will still be a very strong choice.
Item | Source | Drop Chance |
---|---|---|
Reputation: The Sons of Hodir, Revered | - | |
Quest: Diametrically Opposed | - | |
Ionar, Halls of Lightning | 25% | |
Grand Magus Telestra, The Nexus (H) | 25% |
Back Slot
It might be hard to get the BiS cloak from Heroic Gundrak given that it is a very rare chance to drop from any enemy in the dungeon.
Item | Source | Drop Chance |
---|---|---|
BoE Zone Drop, Gundrak (H) | 2% | |
Maiden of Grief, Halls of Stone | 33% | |
Erekem, Violet Hold (H) | 33% | |
Volkhan, Halls of Lightning (H) | 25% | |
Reputation: Argent Crusade, Revered | - |
Chest Slot
While at a very steep price for Emblem of Heroism, the Tier 7 Chestguard is the best investment to get due to its very high stats.
Item | Source | Drop Chance |
---|---|---|
80 Emblem of Heroism, Dalaran | - | |
Reputation: Knights of the Ebon Blade, Exalted | - | |
Prince Taldaram, Ahn'kahet: The Old Kingdom (H) | 25% | |
Varos Cloudstrider, The Oculus | 25% |
Wrists Slot
The Blacksmithing recipe learned from the trainer is the best option even with its lower rarity. You'll see the last option has Intellect on it, which is useless, but the other stats are only slightly less than the Exalted reputation bracer.
Item | Source | Drop Chance |
---|---|---|
Blacksmithing (420) | - | |
BoE Zone Drop, Violet Hold (H) | 2% | |
Reputation: The Wyrmrest Accord, Exalted | - | |
Keristrasza, The Nexus (H) | 25% |
Hands Slot
Once again the Tier 7 piece is best in slot, while the 2-set bonus isn't that great, the stats are better than anything else here.
Item | Source | Drop Chance |
---|---|---|
60 Emblem of Heroism, Dalaran | - | |
Ley Guardian Eregos, The Oculus (H) | 25% | |
Gal'darah, Gundrak (H) | 25% | |
Cyanigosa, Violet Hold (H) | 25% |
*While there is intellect on this piece, with a Strength gem it becomes a very enticing option.
Waist Slot
Item | Source | Drop Chance |
---|---|---|
40 Emblem of Heroism, Dalaran | - | |
Keristrasza, The Nexus (H) | 25% | |
Ingvar the Plunderer, Utgarde Keep (H) | 25% | |
General Bjarngrim, Halls of Lightning (H) | 25% |
Legs Slot
There are two Leg pieces from Sunwell that you might be considering upgrading from, Leggings of the Immortal Night and Felfury Legplates. But if you can get your hands on either of the top two choices here, either would be a great upgrade.
Item | Source | Drop Chance |
---|---|---|
Ingvar the Plunderer, Utgarde Keep (H) | 25% | |
Reputation: The Wyrmrest Accord, Exalted | - | |
Gal'darah, Gundrak (H) | 25% | |
Varos Cloudstrider, The Oculus (H) | 25% |
Feet Slot
The best boots are no doubt the Death-Inured Sabatons. It will definitely be worthwhile to continue past Revered for the head slot enchant to get these boots.
Item | Source | Drop Chance |
---|---|---|
Reputation: Knights of the Ebon Blade, Exalted | - | |
Anomalus, The Nexus (H) | 25% | |
Zuramat the Obliterator, The Violet Hold (H) | 33% | |
Reputation: Argent Crusade, Exalted | - |
Rings
Certainly, the best ring with the highest stats is Hemorrhaging Circle. The Dalaran Teleport Ring is another great option, but it is very expensive.
Item | Source | Drop Chance |
---|---|---|
Gal'darah, Gundrak (H) | 25% | |
Jewelcrafting (430) | - | |
Purchased from Harold Winston in Dalaran for 8500 Gold | - | |
Jewelcrafting (420) | - | |
Ormorok the Tree-Shaper, The Nexus (H) | 25% | |
Chrono-Lord Epoch, The Culling of Stratholme (H) | 25% |
Trinkets
By far the best Trinket is the one that can be obtained from Inscription (400): Darkmoon Card of the North. It will see use throughout the entire expansion. The other options are great for phase 1 but will be quickly replaced by others.
Item | Source | Drop Chance |
---|---|---|
Darkmoon Faire: Nobles Deck | - | |
40 Emblem of Heroism, Dalaran | ||
Keristrasza, The Nexus (H) | 25% | |
King Dred, Drak'Tharon Keep (H) | 25% | |
King Ymiron, Utgarde Pinnacle (H) | 25% |