• Added Phase 2 BiS Equipment
• Added Phase 3 BiS Equipment
• Reviewed Talent Builds, Consumables, and Rotations

• Weapon Stats -  Warrior's DPS and Threat generation depends primarily on his Weapons. Weapon DPS, Attack Speed, and Damage Range are what makes the biggest difference when it comes to keeping Boss's attention.

• Weapon Skill - Increases your chance to Hit, decreases enemy's chance to Block, Dodge, and Parry, and counteracts Glancing Blow Penalty. You should aim to get 308 Weapon Skill (if you pick Orc/Human, all you'll need is 3 additional points).

• Hit Chance - Increases your chance to Hit a Target, which positively affects your DPS and, because of that, Threat generation.

• Critical Strike -  Gives you a chance to deal additional (critical) Damage with all your attacks. It also increases the uptime of the Dual Wield Tank's Flurry.

• Agility - Increases Critical Strike chance, providing offense-oriented tanks with higher Flurry uptimes and generally increasing their DPS and Threat generation. Agility also affects Warrior's Dodge chance and Armor which makes it great for both offense and defense.

• Attack Power/Strength -  Increases Damage dealt to enemies. Warrior's Strength to Damage proportion is calculated as follows: 1 Str = 2 AP, and 14 AP = 1 Weapon DPS (so, 7 Str = 1 Weapon DPS). Strength also increases Warrior's Block chance which makes it good for both defense and offense (if he is using a Shield).

• Stamina - Increases the Warrior's health pool. This is a primary statistic for defense-oriented Tanks as stacking it allows them to survive heavy punishment.

• Armor - Reduces Damage taken from physical attacks (it does not affect spell resistances). This is what makes Tanks survive heavy blows to their face; it should not be overlooked, especially if you plan on running the Sword & Board build.

• Defense - Decreases enemy's chance to land a Crushing Blow, Critical Strike or a Hit on the Warrior, which increases his survivability.

• Dodge/Parry - So-called avoidance stats. They let Warrior avoid Damage completely.

• Block - Increases Warrior's chance to block an attack with a Shield. Blocked attacks deal less Damage (damage reduction depends on the Block Value).

Statistic Priority for Threat-oriented Tanks:

Weapon Stats ⇒ Weapon Skill ⇒ Hit Chance ⇒ Critical Chance ⇒ Agility ⇒ Attack Power/Strength

Statistic Priority for Survivability-oriented Tanks:

Stamina ⇒ Armor ⇒ Dodge/Parry ⇒ Defense ⇒ Agility ⇒ Strength ⇒ Block

Sword & Board Warrior PvE Tank Build

Arms Tree:

• 5/5 Deflection - Parried Attacks deal no Damage.
• 5/5 Tactical Mastery - As a Warrior, you are changing stances to use some of your Stance-specific abilities. This Talent singlehandedly enables Stance-Dancing which makes it essential for most of Warrior Builds.
• 1/1 Anger Management - This talent might surprise you because it has a property that is not shown in the tooltip. It generates 1 point of Rage every 3 seconds, making it one of the strongest Warrior Talents. It also synergizes well with Bloodrage, allowing you to stack on Rage before combat starts.

Fury Tree:

• 5/5 Cruelty - Simple Critical-Chance-boosting Talent. It allows you to generate more Threat by dealing more damage. Win-win.

Protection Tree:

• 5/5 Shield Specialization - This Talent boosts your defense (by increasing block chance) and offense (by making you generate Rage each time you Block an attack) and versatile Talents tend to be solid choices.
• 5/5 Anticipation - Gives you 10 additional Defense. This will help you compensate for lackluster Gear and/or missing Consumables. If your Gear is already decent and solid Consumables are not a problem, you might want to put these Talent points into Improved Revenge, Improved Taunt, and Improved Shield Wall instead.
• 2/2 Improved Bloodrage - 5 additional Rage from your Bloodrage ability lets you start encounters with a solid Rage pool, especially when combined with Anger Management from the Arms Tree.
• 5/5 Toughness - 10% extra Armor value from items considerably improves your mitigation, especially when you have a Shield equipped.
• 1/1 Last Stand - Very strong defensive Cooldown that allows you to face-Tank attacks of enraged Bosses. It synergizes strongly with your Stamina and Health-increasing consumables.
• 1/3 Improved Shield Block - 1 Point here is enough to make your Shield Block ability block an additional Attack which is enough.
• 5/5 Defiance - Signature Protection Talent. It makes you generate 15% more Threat while in Defensive Stance.
• 3/3 Improved Sunder Armor - It is your job as a Warrior Tank to apply Sunder Armor stacks to the Target and this Talent allows you to save 15 Rage in the process.
• 1/2 Improved Taunt - 1 Point in Improved Taunt is enough to make the Taunt ability work well in tandem with the Mocking Blow (it enables you to use the Taunt ⇒ Mocking Blow ⇒ Taunt sequence without ever losing enemy's attention, which enables you to effectively Tank 2 Targets at once). 
• 1/1 Concussion Blow - 5-second Stun on a 45-second Cooldown. Great for controlling adds. If your group's DPS is high enough, it enables you to Stun one Target, forget about it (it should die before the Stun fades) and start generating Threat on a second Target.
• 5/5 One-Handed Weapon Specialization - Extra Damage from your 1H Weapon = extra Threat generation. 
• 1/1 Shield Slam - Solid offensive ability that doubles up as a soft Taunt (it generates a high amount of Threat) and a dispell.

Dual Wield Warrior PvE Tank Build

Fury Tree:

• 5/5 Cruelty. 
• 5/5 Unbridled Wrath - Gives you a chance of generating a bonus Rage point after landing a melee hit. Signature Talent of all Dual-Wield Builds (it works with both your Weapons)
• 5/5 Improved Battle Shout - Makes your Battle Shout 25% better which allows you to deal more damage and generate more threat.
• 5/5 Dual Wield Specialization - This decreases Off-Hand weapon Damage penalty, making it deal 62,5% damage instead of standard 50% which is great for DPS and Threat generation.
• 5/5 Enrage - Talent that DPS Fury players are forced to take and Dual Wield Tanks love. It gives you a massive 25% melee Damage bonus for 12 swings after a mob crits you. As a Tank, you are attacked constantly and with this build mobs will crit you which makes Enrage trigger very often. DPS and Threat that this Talent can provide are unbelievable.
• 1/1 Death Wish -  Strong offensive Cooldown that also lowers your defenses. Finding the right moment to use it might be challenging and using it in a bad one is destined to end up badly. It is great for fights like Onyxia, where Fear immunity comes in very handy.
• 5/5 Flurry - If you have a decent Critical Strike chance, this will significantly boost your performance. After gearing up in higher Raid Tiers, you'll be able to maintain Flurry at all times which will skyrocket your Threat generation and DPS.
• 1/1 Bloodthirst - Powerful instant ability on a short Cooldown and a strong DPS contributor with a very minor Health regen effect attached. This is one of your main Rotation abilities (yes, as a Dual Wield Tank, you will be using a standard Dual Wield Fury Rotation).

Protection Tree:

• 5/5 Shield Specialization - While focused on Dual Wielding, you are still a Tank and a Tank should know how to handle a Shield.
• 2/2 Improved Bloodrage. 
• 5/5 Toughness. 
• 1/1 Last Stand. 
• 1/3 Improved Shield Block - This Talent comes in handy when you are forced to swap weapons into a defensive setup.
• 5/5 Defiance - This is where this Talent really shines - it turns the Dual Wield Warrior Tank into an undisputed king of Threat.

• Pre-Raid - Ironfoe (Drop from Emperor Dagran Thaurissan, Blackrock Depths) / Mirah's Song (Quest Reward from "Kirtonos the Herald", Scholomance)
• Phase 1 - Perdition's Blade (Drop from Ragnaros, Molten Core) / Quel'Serrar (Reward from "The Forging of Quel'Serrar", Obtained from Foror's Compendium of Dragon Slaying) / Thunderfury, Blessed Blade of the Windseeker (Quest Reward from Rise, Thunderfury, Molten Core) / Quel'serrar (Quest Reward from "The Forging of Quel'Serrar, Dire Maul) 
• Phase 2 - Thunderfury, Blessed Blade of the Windseeker /  Quel'serrar / Grand Marshal's Swiftblade/Grand Marshal's Dirk (Rank 14 PvP Reward) 
• Phase 3 - Thunderfury, Blessed Blade of the Windseeker Quel'serrar / Grand Marshal's Swiftblade/Grand Marshal's Dirk 
• Phase 4 - TBA
• Phase 5 - TBA
• Phase 6 - TBA

• Pre-Raid - Draconian Deflector (Drop from General Drakkisath, Upper Blackrock Spire) / Skullflame Shield (BoE World Drop)
• Phase 1 - Drillborer Disk (Drop from Garr, Molten Core) / Draconian Deflector
• Phase 2 - Grand Marshal's Aegis (Rank 14 PvP Reward) 
• Phase 3 - Grand Marshal's Aegis / Elementium Reinforced Bulwark (Drop from Chromaggus, Blackwing Lair) 
• Phase 4 - TBA
• Phase 5 - TBA
• Phase 6 - TBA

• Pre-Raid - Felstriker / Dal'Rend's Tribal Guardian (Both drop from Warchief Rend Blackhand, Upper Blackrock Spire) 
• Phase 1 - Mirah's Song (Quest Reward from "Kirtonos the Herald", Scholomance) / Core Hound Tooth (Contained in Cache of the Firelord, Molten Core)
• Phase 2 - Grand Marshal's Longsword/Grand Marshal's Dirk/Grand Marshal's Handaxe (Rank 14 PvP Reward) 
• Phase 3 - Grand Marshal's Longsword/Grand Marshal's Dirk/Grand Marshal's Handaxe / Maladath, Runed Blade of the Black Flight (Drop from Broodlord Lashlayer, Blackwing Lair) 
• Phase 4 - TBA
• Phase 5 - TBA
• Phase 6 - TBA

• Pre-Raid - Blackcrow (Drop from Shadow Hunter Vosh'gajin, Lower Blackrock Spire) / Satyr's Bow (Drop from Zevrim Thornhoof, Dire Maul East)
• Phase 1 - Blastershot Launcher (Drop from Golemagg the Incinerator, Molten Core)
• Phase 2 - Blastershot Launcher 
• Phase 3 - Blastershot Launcher / Dragonbreath Hand Cannon (Drop from Ebonroc, Blackwing Lair) 
• Phase 4 - TBA
• Phase 5 - TBA
• Phase 6 - TBA

• Pre-Raid - Hand of Justice (Drop from Emperor Dagran Thaurissan, Blackrock Depths)
• Phase 1 - Hand of Justice
• Phase 2 - Hand of Justice 
• Phase 3 - Drake Fang Talisman (Drop from Ebonroc, Blackwing Lair) / Styleen's Impending Scarab (Drop from Flamegor, Blackwing Lair) / Lifegiving Gem (Drop from Broodlord Lashlayer, Blackwing Lair) 
• Phase 4 - TBA
• Phase 5 - TBA
• Phase 6 - TBA

• Pre-Raid - Blackhand's Breadth (Quest Reward from "For the Horde!" / "General Drakkisath's Demise", Upper Blackrock Spire) / Mark of the Chosen (Quest Reward from "The Pariah's Instructions, Maraudon)
• Phase 1 - Mark of the Chosen / Blackhand's Breadth
• Phase 2 - Mark of the Chosen / Blackhand's Breadth 
• Phase 3 - Drake Fang Talisman / Styleen's Impending Scarab / Lifegiving Gem 
• Phase 4 - TBA
• Phase 5 - TBA
• Phase 6 - TBA

• Pre-Raid - Mark of Fordring(O) (Quest Reward from "In Dreams", Western Plaguelands) / Medallion of Grand Marshal Morris(D) (BoE World Drop)
• Phase 1 - Onyxia Tooth Pendant(O) (Quest Reward from "For All To See" / "Celebrating Good Times", Onyxia's Lair)
• Phase 2 - Onyxia Tooth Pendant 
• Phase 3 - Onyxia Tooth Pendant / Master Dragonslayer's Medallion (Quest reward from "The Lord of Blackrock" / "The Lord of Blackrock", Blackwing Lair) 
• Phase 4 - TBA
• Phase 5 - TBA
• Phase 6 - TBA

• Pre-Raid - Blackstone Ring (Drop from Princess Theradras, Maraudon) / Myrmidon's Signet (BoE World Drop)
• Phase 1 - Myrmidon's Signet / Blackstone Ring
• Phase 2 - Don Julio's Band (Alterac Valley Reputation Reward - Exalted) 
• Phase 3 - Don Julio's Band / Circle of Applied Force (Drop from Flamegor, Blackwing Lair) 
• Phase 4 - TBA
• Phase 5 - TBA
• Phase 6 - TBA

• Pre-Raid - Painweaver Band (Drop from General Drakkisath, Upper Blackrock Spire) / Tarnished Elven Ring (Contained in Gordok Tribute, Dire Maul)
• Phase 1 - Band of Accuria (Drop from Ragnaros, Molten Core) / Tarnished Elven Ring
• Phase 2 - Band of Accuria 
• Phase 3 - Band of Accuria / Circle of Applied Force
• Phase 4 - TBA
• Phase 5 - TBA
• Phase 6 - TBA

• Pre-Raid - Lionheart Helm(O) (Created by Blacksmithing) / Golem Skull Helm(D) (Drop from Phalanx, Blackrock Depths)
• Phase 1 - Lionheart Helm(O) / Helm of Wrath(D) (Drop from Onyxia, Onyxia's Lair)
• Phase 2 - Helm of Wrath / Field Marshal's Plate Helm (Rank 13 PvP Reward) 
• Phase 3 - Helm of Wrath / Field Marshal's Plate Helm / Helm of Endless Rage (Drop from Vaelestrasz the Corrupt, Blackwing Lair) 
• Phase 4 - TBA
• Phase 5 - TBA
• Phase 6 - TBA

• Pre-Raid -  Savage Gladiator Chain(O) (Drop from Gorosh the Dervish, Blackrock Depths) / Ornate Adamantium Breastplate(D) (Quest Reward from "In Dreams", Western Plaguelands)
• Phase 1 - Savage Gladiator Chain(O) / Breastplate of Might(D) (Drop from Goleemagg the Incinerator, Molten Core)
• Phase 2 - Savage Gladiator Chain / Breastplate of Might / Field Marshal's Plate Armor 9Rank 13 PvP Reward) 
• Phase 3 - Field Marshal's Plate Armor / Breastplate of Wrath (Drop from Nefarian, Blackwing Lair) 
• Phase 4 - TBA
• Phase 5 - TBA
• Phase 6 - TBA

• Pre-Raid - Cloudkeeper Legplates(O) (BoE World Drop) / Warmaster Legguards(D) (Drop from Warchief Rend Blackhand, Upper Blackrock Spire)
• Phase 1 - Legplates of Might(D) (Drop from Magmadar, Molten Core) / Legplates of Wrath(O) (Drop from Ragnaros, Molten Core)
• Phase 2 - Legplates of Wrath / Knight-Captain's Plate Leggings (Rank 8 PvP Reward) / Marshal's Plate Legguards (Rank 12 PvP Reward) 
• Phase 3 - Legplates of Wrath / Knight-Captain's Plate Leggings / Marshal's Plate Legguards 
• Phase 4 - TBA
• Phase 5 - TBA
• Phase 6 - TBA

• Pre-Raid - Voorne's Vice Grips(O) (Quest Reward from "Warlord's Command" / "Maxwell's Mission", Lower Blackrock Spire) ) / Boneclenched Gauntlets(D) (Drop from Ras Frostwhisper, Scholomance))
• Phase 1 - Aged Core Leather Gloves(O) (Drop from Magmadar, Molten Core) / Gauntlets of Might(D) (Drop from Lucifron, Molten Core)
• Phase 2 - Gauntlets of Might / Marshal's Plate Gauntlets (Rank 12 PvP Reward) 
• Phase 3 - Gauntlets of Might / Marshal's Plate Gauntlets / Gauntlets of Wrath (Drop from Ebonroc, Flamegor, and Firemaw, Blackwing Lair) 
• Phase 4 - TBA
• Phase 5 - TBA
• Phase 6 - TBA

• Pre-Raid - Bloodmail Boots(O) (Drop from Side Bosses, Scholomance) / Ribsteel Footguards (Drop from Urok Doomhowl, Lower Blackrock Spire)
• Phase 1 - Sabatons of Might(D) (Drop from Gehennas, Molten Core)
• Phase 2 - Marshal's Plate Boots (Rank 12 PvP Reward) 
• Phase 3 - Marshal's Plate Boots / Chromatic Boots (Drop from Chromaggus, Blackwing Lair) / Sabatons of Wrath (Drop from Broodlord Lashlayer, Blackwing Lair) 
• Phase 4 - TBA
• Phase 5 - TBA
• Phase 6 - TBA

• Pre-Raid - Spaulders of Valor(D) (Drop from Warchief Rend Blackhand, Upper Blackrock Spire) / Stockade Pauldrons(D) (BoE World Drop)
• Phase 1 - Spaulders of Valor(D) / Pauldrons of Might(D) (Drop from Sulfuron Harbinger, Molten Core)
• Phase 2 - Field Marshal's Plate Shoulderguards (Rank 13 PvP Reward) 
• Phase 3 - Field Marshal's Plate Shoulderguards / Drake Talon Pauldrons (Drop from Ebonroc, Flamegor, and Firemaw, Blackwing Lair) 
• Phase 4 - TBA
• Phase 5 - TBA
• Phase 6 - TBA

• Pre-Raid - Bracers of Valor(D) (BoE Trash Drop, Blackrock Spire) / Fel Hardened Bracers (Drop from Lord Hel'nurath, Dire Maul West)
• Phase 1 - Wristguards of True Flight(O) Contained in Cache of the Firelord, Molten Core) / Bracers of Might(D) (BoE Trash Drop, Molten Core)
• Phase 2 - Berserker Bracers (Warsong Gulch Reputation Reward - Exalted) 
• Phase 3 - Berserker Bracers / Bracers of Wrath (Drop from Razorgore the Untamed, Blackwing Lair) 
• Phase 4 - TBA
• Phase 5 - TBA
• Phase 6 - TBA

• Pre-Raid - Brigam Girdle(O) (Drop from General Drakkisath, Upper Blackrock Spire) / Handcrafted Mastersmith Girdle (Drop from Goraluk Anvilcrack, Upper Blackrock Spire)
• Phase 1 - Onslaught Girdle(O) (Drop from Ragnaros, Molten Core) / Belt of Might(D) BoE Trash Drop, Molten Core)
• Phase 2 - Onslaught Girdle / Belt of Might
• Phase 3 - Onslaught Girdle / Belt of Might / Waistband of Wrath (Drop from Vaelestrasz the Corrupt, Blackwing Lair) 
• Phase 4 - TBA
• Phase 5 - TBA
• Phase 6 - TBA

• Pre-Raid - Stoneskin Gargoyle Cape (Drop from Stonespine, Stratholme) / Redoubt Cloak(D) (Contained in Gordok Tribute, Dire Maul)
• Phase 1 - Dragon's Blood Cape(D) (Drop from Ragnaros, Molten Core) / Cloak of the Shrouded Mists(O) (Drop from Ragnaros, Molten Core)
• Phase 2 - Dragon's Blood Cape / Cloak of the Shrouded Mists 
• Phase 3 - Dragon's Blood Cape / Cloak of the Shrouded Mists 
• Phase 4 - TBA
• Phase 5 - TBA
• Phase 6 - TBA

Rumsey Rum Black Label

1. Execute if Target below 20% Health

2. Bloodthirst on Cooldown

3. Whirlwind on Cooldown

4. Heroic Strike to dump excess Rage

5. Hamstring to dump excess Rage

6. Stack Sunder Armor to full if it is about to fade

1. Whirlwind on Cooldown

2. Execute on priority Target if it is below 20% Health

3. Bloodthirst on Cooldown

4. Cleave to dumb excess Rage

5. Hamstring to dump excess Rage

1. Shield Block on Cooldown if you are Tanking enemy that is using physical attacks

2. Bloodrage on Cooldown if your current Health allows it

3. Apply and Maintain Sunder Armor stacks

4. Maintain Battle Shout

5. Revenge whenever available

6. Shield Slam/Bloodthirst (if Talented) as the main Threat and Damage source

7. Sunder Armor as a Threat generator

8. Heroic Strike to dump excess Rage

1. If you want to generate more Threat and withstand more Damage than your competition, Stack Consumables. Spending some additional Gold or a few extra hours grinding might secure you a spot in a Raid. Raid leaders prefer dedicated and well-prepared players.

2. Use Macros. You should add a /startattack macro to all your offensive abilities. Other macros, like /cancelaura "x", Weapon/Shield Swaps (/equip "WeaponName") and even mouseovers (/cast [target=mouseover, exists] AbilityName; AbilityName) are worth considering as well.

3. Pool your Rage. Always having enough Rage for the key abilities (like Shield Block, for example) is paramount for your survival and success as a Tank.

4. Collect and use Resistance Gear and Resistance Consumables (Greater Fire Protection Potion, for example). This will make you much more resilient against Bosses that use magic/elemental attacks.

4. Always try to improve. Get an addon that tracks your performance and try to optimize your equipment and rotation.

END NOTE

This Guide should help you to prepare yourself for that legendary Vanilla  Raiding Experience and allow you to progress through Raid Tiers efficiently and with a good amount of fun.

We hope that you have found this guide useful and informative.  If we have missed a piece of information that is important to you, please let us know! 

Please do note that this is an early version of our guide, and we will be happy to receive constructive criticism, that will help us improve it, so leave your suggestions in the comments section below.