Arms Warrior

Melee damage

The levelling spec: a slow two-hander, Rend and Overpower procs, Victory Rush after every kill, and Mortal Strike at 40.

Arms swings the slowest, hardest-hitting two-hander you can find, because rage now comes from weapon speed and big hits make Overpower, Slam and Mortal Strike hit harder. Keep Rend on the target: Bloodthrill turns your hits on a Rended target into Overpower procs. Improved Tactical Mastery and Anger Management keep rage flowing between stances and pulls, Deep Wounds bleeds on every crit, and Sweeping Strikes at 30 doubles your damage on two targets. Victory Rush heals you after each kill, which is most of your sustain. Mortal Strike arrives at 40. Arms pays the ~5% hybrid tax like Fury.

Strengths and weaknesses

Arms strengths and weaknesses

Strengths	Weaknesses
Strongest levelling spec of the Warrior trees	Rage is scarce before level 20
Victory Rush heals after every kill, which is most of its sustain	Depends on the slowest, hardest-hitting two-hander it can find
Rend and Overpower procs make a simple rotation	Pays about a 5% hybrid tax
Sweeping Strikes doubles damage on two targets from 30	Hit comes entirely from gear
Deep Wounds bleeds on every crit	Mortal Strike needs Sweeping Strikes first

Stat priority

1. Weapon damage
2. Hit
3. Critical strike
4. Strength
5. Agility
6. Stamina

Your two-hander matters more than any other item: a slow, high-damage weapon gives more rage per swing and bigger Overpower, Slam and Mortal Strike hits. Hit is one stat for melee, ranged and spells in Forever, and with Fury's Precision gone it all has to come from gear (Tauren Endurance no longer gives hit). Crit gives 100% more rage on basic attacks and feeds Deep Wounds. Weaponmaster rewards whichever weapon type you carry.