Arms Warrior Leveling Guide

Two-handed burst, heavy bleed synergy, and efficient cleave for questing and dungeons. Covers Classic, TBC, and WotLK with talents, rotations, weapons, and routing tips from 1-80.

Updated 2026 2H Melee DPS Supports Classic / TBC / WotLK

Why Arms in Classic?

Powerful two-handed burst, strong cleave with Sweeping Strikes + Whirlwind, and consistent Mortal Strike pressure. Great for mixed questing/dungeons with weapon-dependent spikes.

Strengths

Big weapon upgrades feel massive (Whirlwind Axe, Bonebiter).
Reliable cleave: Sweeping Strikes + Whirlwind/ Cleave.
Victory Rush reduces downtime after kills.

Weaknesses

Rage starved on poor weapons or low hit.
No real self-heal beyond Victory Rush/consumables.
Stance dancing for Overpower/Intercept can be punishing if misplayed.

Talents by Level (Classic 1-60)

Early (10-29)

5/5 Deflection; 5/5 Improved Overpower for crits.
Tactical Mastery 3/3 for stance switches.
Deep Wounds 3/3 for bleed damage.

Mid (30-44)

Sweeping Strikes 2/2; Mortal Strike at 40 (core).
Improved Hamstring (optional) for control.
Fill Anger Management, Deep Wounds/Blood Frenzy path.

Late (45-60)

Fury off-tree: Cruelty 5/5, Enrage 5/5, Flurry 5/5.
Improved Battle Shout for party DPS (dungeons).
Optional: Improved Execute if weapon is strong.

Weapon path: Whirlwind Axe at 30 → SM/BRD upgrades → Ice Barbed Spear/AV weapon at 51+. Keep hit on gear to smooth rage.

Rotation & Playstyle

Single Target

Maintain Battle Shout; use Rend only if Blood Frenzy spec.
Mortal Strike on cooldown; Overpower on dodges.
Execute sub 20%; use Slam cautiously (don’t clip autos).

Cleave

Sweeping Strikes → Whirlwind → Cleave filler.
Retaliation for large packs; Demoralizing Shout if needed.
Use Thunder Clap (Battle Stance) on 3+ mobs for safety.

Survival

Keep a shield for emergencies (Shield Block + Retaliation).
Bandage between pulls; use food instead of wasting rage.
Hamstring kite elites; use Intimidating Shout reset if needed.

Zone Route (Classic)

Bracket	Zones	Notes
1-20	Starter → Barrens/Westfall	Early 2H upgrades; get First Aid.
20-30	Stonetalon/Ashenvale/Duskwood	Deadmines/Stockades/SM Lib for weapons.
30-40	Thousand Needles → Desolace → STV	Whirlwind Axe quest at 30; SM Arm/Cath farm.
40-50	Tanaris/Feralas/Hinterlands	ZF/BRD for upgrades; Engi bombs help cleave.
50-60	Un’Goro/Felwood/WPL/EPL	BRD/Strat/Scholo for hit/STR gear.

Why Arms in TBC?

Blood Frenzy boosts party/raid damage; Endless Rage helps resource flow. Great for dungeons/quests when you have a strong 2H. Slam builds excel with slow, hard-hitting weapons.

Spec: Arms 41+ for Blood Frenzy, Endless Rage; Fury off-tree for Flurry/Cruelty. Consider Improved Slam build with slow 2H.

Talents by Level (TBC 60-70)

Early (60-64)

Deep Wounds/Impale; Sweeping Strikes; Mortal Strike.
Tactical Mastery and Anger Management for rage control.

Mid (65-67)

Blood Frenzy 2/2 (bleed uptime mandatory: Rend/Deep Wounds).
Endless Rage for smoother rotations.
Improved Slam (if weapon supports) or Improved Hamstring utility.

Late (68-70)

Fury off-tree: Cruelty 5/5, Enrage 5/5, Flurry 5/5.
Commanding Presence/Imp Battle Shout if grouping.

Rotation (TBC)

Single Target

Keep Rend up for Blood Frenzy; Mortal Strike on CD.
Slam after white swings (don’t clip); Overpower on procs.
Execute at sub 20%; Sweeping Strikes + MS for cleave pairs.

Cleave/Dungeons

Sweeping Strikes → Whirlwind (even in Arms) → Cleave.
Thunder Clap + Demo Shout for safety if tanking short pulls.
Use Bloodrage/Endless Rage to keep rage high between packs.

Survival

Shield for Spell Reflect/Shield Block when needed.
Use Intercept/Intervene for mobility and peel.
Health pots/bandages; Engi bombs to stun dangerous casters.

Zone & Dungeon Path (TBC)

Level	Zone/Dungeon	Notes
60-62	Hellfire / Ramparts / BF	Hellreaver/Terokk’s Quill huge upgrades.
62-65	Zangarmarsh / SP / UB	Lots of STR/Hit blues; stable rage.
65-68	Terokkar / Sethekk / Old Hillsbrad	OHB weapons; Arathi event good XP.
68-70	Nagrand / Netherstorm / Mech	Badge farm in Mech; Netherstorm 2H rewards.

Why Arms in WotLK?

Sudden Death executes, Taste for Blood Overpower procs, and Bladestorm for massive AoE. Strong leveling with 2H and great control via Hamstring/Throwdown (PvP).

Spec: Deep Arms to Bladestorm, picking Taste for Blood, Sudden Death, Wrecking Crew; Fury off-tree for Armored to the Teeth/Impale/Flurry.

Talents by Level (70-80)

Early (70-74)

Taste for Blood (Overpower procs off Rend), Sudden Death.
Improved Overpower, Impale, Deep Wounds.
Mortal Strike core; Weapon Mastery for control.

Mid (75-77)

Wrecking Crew for enrage buff; Strength of Arms.
Bladestorm (70+) huge AoE/CC immunity.
Fill Trauma for bleed synergy (if grouping with physical).

Late (78-80)

Fury off-tree: Armored to the Teeth, Cruelty, Flurry.
Optional: Improved Hamstring for PvP utility.
Execute talents (Improved Execute) if weapon is very strong.

Rotation (WotLK)

Single Target

Keep Rend up (for Taste for Blood); Overpower on proc.
Mortal Strike on CD; Slam as filler (don’t delay MS/OP).
Sudden Death Execute whenever available; Berserker Rage for rage.

AoE

Bladestorm on big packs; Sweeping Strikes + Cleave/Whirlwind.
Thunder Clap + Shockwave (if Protection offspec talents taken in group).
Demoralizing Shout for safety; Retaliation on overpulls.

Survival

Die by the Sword (Retaliation) style CDs; Enraged Regeneration (if talented via Fury).
Use Intercept/Charge to control casters; stance dance as needed.
Carry a shield for Spell Reflect/Shield Wall emergencies.

Zone & Dungeon Path (WotLK)

Level	Zone/Dungeon	Notes
70-72	Howling Fjord / Borean Tundra	Quest hubs dense; UK/Nexus for 2H upgrades.
72-75	Dragonblight / AN/OK	Fast badges; good plate drops.
75-77	Grizzly Hills / Zul'Drak	Quest density; Drak'Tharon for XP/gear.
77-80	Sholazar / Storm Peaks / Icecrown	Gundrak/HoL/HoS badge farms; Titansteel weapon crafted.

Gear, Weapons, and Enchants (All Versions)

Stat Priority

Strength > Hit (6-9% leveling target) > Crit > Armor Pen (WotLK) > Haste.
Stamina for safety; Agility leather/mail if upgrades STR/crit.

Weapons

Always prioritize 2H upgrades; slow weapons for bigger Slams.
Classic: Whirlwind Axe, Bonebiter, Ice Barbed Spear.
TBC: Hellreaver, Terokk’s Quill; WotLK: Titansteel Destroyer/Colossal Cleaver.

Enchants

Classic: Crusader/STR to weapon; +Hit/+STR where possible.
TBC: Savagery weapon; +Str to bracers; +Hit to gloves if needed.
WotLK: Berserking/Massacre to weapon; Icewalker on boots if low hit.

Pro Tips & Safety

Leveling Speed

Bandage between pulls; eat after big burns to keep rage for next pull.
Engineer grenades for AoE stuns; use mobility (Charge/Intercept) aggressively.
Carry multiple weapon oils/sharpening stones.

Control & Survival

Hamstring kite; use Piercing Howl (if Fury points) on packs.
Shield swap for Spell Reflect/Shield Wall vs casters/elites.
Intimidating Shout to reset bad pulls; use LOS pulling.

Group Utility

Battle/Commanding Shout; Demo Shout/Thunder Clap for tanking short pulls.
Sunder Armor/Expose Armor equivalent help party DPS.
Intervene saves allies; Rallying Cry (later expansions) not present, rely on shouts.

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