Tank As a Warrior in World of Warcraft

Need to tank an instance but don't know how? Tanking is the primary role that warriors play in a party, and it is probably the most important one too. They protect the other less durable players from deadly attacks. For this reason, an experienced and knowledgeable tank who knows what they're doing is the best thing a party can have--and you can learn how to be that here.

Steps

  1. Use Defensive Stance - Although all skilled tanks should spec into Tactical Mastery and switch stances when necessary, (like using Mocking Blow or Intercept) it is important that your main and most common stance when tanking is the Defensive Stance. Here you will get a +10% damage reduction rate, as well as more threat generated towards you (and not your other fragile party members!).
  2. Use a shield - Make sure you have a shield and a one-hander. Too many warriors try to tank with a two-handed weapon, or dual wielding, and, except for certain circumstances in low level instances, it generally does not work very well or causes much un-needed work for the healer. Your job is not to deal damage, but to prevent damage from being dealt to others. Besides, there are much needed abilities that can only be used with a shield, as well as the crucial damage reduction and blocking.
  3. Build Some Threat! - Now that you've got everything else down, it's time to make the enemies hate you so that they attack you, or build up what some call "aggro". To do this, use the abilities you have that create this "threat". Abilities like Devastate (if protection), Sunder Armor, Revenge, Heroic Strike, and Shield Block / Shield Bash (if protection) and Thunderclap, among others. Always be spamming heroic strike if you have around 40+ rage; it does not start the global cool down so it can be spammed in between abilities, helping you generate much more threat. If your group is inpatient, you may want to open with Bloodrage to get some initial rage for that opening strike.
  4. Keep The Threat! - Good, you've got the threat, but you don't want to lose it! Be persistent! On a single target, make sure to keep using abilities like Sunder Armor/Devastate to hold threat, and of course Revenge when you can. If you're fighting multiple enemies, maybe alternate creatures when you use Sunder Armor, and cast Thunderclap when you can. Try to make sure you are always on top of the global cool down, so every time you can cast an ability make sure you do. Recently warriors have gotten some nice shiny new talents and abilities, like shockwave. Thunderclap now affects all targets in range so don't refrain from spamming it when aoe tanking. Tanking many enemies may take some practice, as it gets tricky, but, when slip ups happen (and they will), you can always taunt the target back to you, mocking blow is now usable in defensive stance so you won't need to switch to battle stance. This ability can be a life saver if taunt is resisted or is on cool down; use Challenging Shout if things really get out of hand.



Tips

  • If you have a lot of rage and don't know how to use it all, you may want to throw in Heroic Strikes in-between attacks, as it does not contribute to the global cool down timer, and can be used in-between sunders. However, beware, you do not want to rage starve. Be smart.
  • Get a ranged weapon. In instances, you will find that most of the time you will not be able to charge the enemy without drawing other unwanted foes. Also, by having yourself pull, and not someone else, your increasing and establishing your initial threat as well as having more control over the pull. Rarely, however, some pulls are best left to skilled hunters, as they can shoot instantly and run fast.
  • Be aware! Always keep a watch on your party members, make sure that no one else is being attacked (unless directed otherwise). Especially the healer, most healers are very fragile (like Priests) and won't last long against powerful elite monsters. If this happens, just taunt the target back to you and hold them.
  • Putting your talents in to Protection will help you to become a better tank, but it will limit other things you can do. If you mainly just want to be able to tank, however, being Protection will make it a much easier thing to do.
  • Do not feel limited to Sunder Armor and Revenge. In fact, you shouldn't at all. Use Thunderclap and Demoralizing Shout to keep the enemies weak, and angry, and make sure to use Shield Block to interrupt spells, or even just to build threat when you can.

Warnings

  • Don't get too cocky--just because you're wearing plate (or mail) doesn't mean you're invincible. You should try to only pull what is necessary, unless you and your group agree that you're strong enough to do otherwise. You don't want to die, and you also don't want to put too much pressure on the healer, their job is just as hard as yours.

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