Gear
Tier Sets:
The Protection Warrior's tier set is fairly strong.
The 2-set bonus provides a 15% damage increase to shield slam and provides 2s of CDR to Last Stand on every use, with both effects being doubled during the Last Stand buff itself.
The 4-set gives us a 20s buff after our Last Stand ends that gives us an AOE damage proc on our shield slams, as well as making the enemies hit do 5% less damage to you for 5s.
Trinkets
Beacon to the Beyond
The Beacon to the Beyond trinket currently inflicts a substantial amount of damage. It provides mastery as a base stat, which greatly benefits warrior's defensive capabilities. The on-use effect involves channeling a massive amount of cosmic damage that is then distributed among all nearby enemies, with the damage further amplified for each enemy struck (up to 5). Obtaining this trinket from Scalecommander Sarkareth may prove challenging, but given its current tuning, it is the best damage trinket obtainable from the raid.
Elementium Pocket Anvil
Elementium Pocket Anvil is easily your 2nd best trinket option from the raid. Its damage ramps hard and inflicts a large amount of both single target and AoE damage currently. It’s damage splashes within an area around you, so you need to position yourself near the boss or mobs when using it.
Ominous Chromatic Essence
The Ominous Chromatic Essence trinket provides a substantial amount of secondary stat, which is further increased by the number of individuals with the same trinket attuning to the same stat as you. It is a reliable trinket, and if you have the opportunity to utilize it, I would highly recommend doing so, particularly in organized group settings where you can maximize the benefits for both yourself and others.
You can read about how to attune the trinket in our Dragonflight Oathstones Locations and Resonance Stat Buffs guide.
Neltharion’s Call to Chaos
Neltharion’s Call to Chaos is a massive main stat proc, with roughly 30% uptime. The increased damage taken is generally offset by the main stat boost you receive. However, the issue lies in its rarity as it is a rare drop from the raid, making it challenging to obtain.
Zaqali Chaos Grapnel
Zaqali Chaos Grapnel is a decent trinket for damage, its effect is split into two parts: the first part being direct damage and the second part being AoE. One notable thing to keep in mind is that it moves your character towards your target.
Vial of Animated Blood (Underrot)
Vial of Animated Blood is a decent trinket for damage when paired with Avatar. It has flat mastery as its stat, which is strong defensively, as well as providing a large main stat gain on use.
Treemouth’s Festering Splinter
This absorb on the Treemouth’s Festering Splinter trinket on a 1 minute 30s cooldown is of extreme value defensively. You take a small hit of Nature damage on use, but provide yourself an extremely large absorb which protects you from 50% of damage taken. You’ll have to be careful when using it, but if you play proactively, this trinket can be very strong.
Best Embellishments for Protection Warrior
- Shadowflame-Tempered Armor Patch (2x is BiS)
- Unstable Frostfire Belt (if you still have access to Eranog ring from previous tier)
- Elemental Lariat (If you have 5+ sockets on your gear)
Notable Items
Voice of the Silent Star
Voice of the Silent Star drops from Scalecommander Sarkareth. This cloak has massive value providing a large amount of secondary stats through the effect, as well as the base stats being decent for Warrior. It’s definitely a must have if you can get your hands on it.
Forgestorm
Forgestorm is easily the best weapon we can find as a Protection Warrior, coming straight from the depths of Neltharus. Your attacks have a chance to trigger Forgestorm for 12s, causing your attacks to explode for fire damage split between all nearby enemies. This effect is very strong right now, having been buffed, it’s easily our bis weapon doing massive damage.
The Onyx Annulet ring and Primordial Stones
Note: These stones were nerfed in patch 10.1.5 by 40%, and aren’t particularly great to use anymore unless you have low item level and poorly statted rings.
With Patch 10.0.7 we were introduced to the Onyx Annulet ring that utilizes a few different and unique gems, called Primordial Stones. It’s worth noting that some stones provide players with a new way of triggering the raid rings from Vault of the Incarnates, but it’s not something I’d worry about much as there is a very strong effect loop that’s a must use right now.
Unfortunately the defensive stones are under-tuned right now in comparison to their damaging counterparts, and with that in mind, here is my suggestion for what to use for Protection Warrior.
Raiding: Desirous Blood Stone + Prophetic Twilight Stone + Freezing Ice Stone
Mythic Plus: Desirous Blood Stone + Prophetic Twilight Stone + Storm Infused Stone