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).

Single Target

Ensure Battle Stance is active before engaging.

• RendView detailsApply or refresh if < 4s remaining.
• Thunderous Roar
• RavagerView detailsUse before Colossus Smash.
• AvatarView detailsUse with or just before 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.
• Skullsplitter
• ExecuteView detailsUse to consume Sudden Death procs.
• Overpower
• SlamView detailsUse as a filler.

Maintain Rend and prioritize Colossus Smash windows with abilities like Demolish and Mortal Strike. Use Execute strategically 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 < 4s remaining.
• Thunder ClapView detailsApply or refresh Rend if < 4s 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, prioritize Cleave and Thunder Clap to maintain debuffs, and use Ravager and Bladestorm for burst. Keep Demolish active during Colossus Smash windows and fill gaps with Overpower or Slam.

Cooldowns

Ensure Colossus Smash and Deep Wounds are active before cooldowns.

• AvatarView detailsUse with Colossus Smash for burst.
• RavagerView detailsPreferred for AoE or Rage generation.
• BladestormView detailsUse for AoE or single-target burst with Unhinged.
• SkullsplitterView detailsUse to amplify Rend and Deep Wounds during burst windows.
• Sweeping StrikesView detailsActivate for cleave scenarios.

Align Avatar and Colossus Smash for burst, and use Ravager or Bladestorm based on the situation. Skullsplitter enhances DoTs during burst windows, while Sweeping Strikes is key for cleave.

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.