Protection Warrior Tank Rotation & Cooldowns

Tank Rotation & Cooldowns

This rotation offers a general priority list for Protection 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. Updated for the latest patch in World of Warcraft: The War Within (11.1.5).

Single Target

Start with Taunt and Charge to engage.

Use on cooldown.
Use on cooldown (with Booming Voice).
Use on cooldown.
Use on cooldown.
Use on cooldown.
Use on cooldown.
Use on cooldown.
Use when it procs.
Use on cooldown. Watch for resets and Burst Of Power procs.
Use on cooldown.
Use if Rage is not needed for survivability.
Use if enemy is above Execute threshold and Rage is not needed for survivability.

Maintain Rage generation with abilities like Shield Slam and Thunder Clap. Use Avatar and Demoralizing Shout for damage boosts, and prioritize Thunder Blast when it procs.

AoE

Open with Ravager and Charge to establish threat.

Use on cooldown.
Use on cooldown (with Booming Voice).
Use on cooldown.
Use on cooldown.
Use on cooldown.
Use on cooldown.
Use on cooldown.
Use on cooldown.
Use on cooldown.
Use on cooldown.
Use to spread Deep Wounds or gain aggro.

For AoE, prioritize Ravager and Thunder Clap to maintain threat. Use Revenge early to spread Deep Wounds and Avatar for burst damage.

Cooldowns

Use to extend Shield Block uptime or as an emergency cooldown.
Use for high damage or non-blockable damage phases.
Use for damage reduction or delay for heavy damage phases.
Use for magic damage reduction or to reflect specific spells.
Use to block spells and reduce magic damage.

Use Last Stand and Shield Wall for survivability during high damage phases. Demoralizing Shout and Spell Reflection provide additional defensive options.