Rokk Talk

Cataclysm doesn’t drop until December 7, but things are pretty chaotic in Azeroth right now.

Broken addons, bugged UI’s, brand new trees… quite frankly it’s enough to give a guy a throbbing migraine.  But I’m here to help, so here’s some class help for those who are spinning their wheels.  First, of course, is the new Warrior for 4.0.

General

Q: Will Plate Specialization and Mastery be available with the patch?
A: Yes, you can learn them from your trainer.

Q: Will Agility Amulets/Rings/Cloaks/Ranged Weapons break Plate Specialization?
A: No, as those items don’t have an armor type. You still want to replace them with Strength items if you can.

Q: Where the heck did all my Armor Penetration/Block Value/Block Rating/Defense go?
A: Blizzard converted them all into other stats. Depending on the item Armor Penetration became Haste or Crit while Block Value/Block Rating/Defense became Parry or Dodge.

Arms

Q: What is the best Arms spec?
A: Some variation of 31/4/1. You have a lot of leeway on Major and Minor glyphs.

Q: What about Blood and Thunder?
A: If you want more AoE damage go for it, take the points out of Battle Trance to get it.

Q: Why did you skip Sudden Death?
A: It doesn’t proc Execute anymore, only Colossus Smash,

Q: What rotation should I be using?
A: Maintain Rend, prioritize Mortal Strike > Overpower > Slam. Execute is only better than Slam at high levels of AP and when there’s a full 30 rage available. Don’t Slam or Execute if it will delay MS, and use Heroic Strike at 60+ rage.

Q: When do I use Bladestorm?
A: When you need to AoE. It’s not worth using for single targets.

Q: What good is Shattering Throw?
A: It can increase raid DPS during Bloodlust if there are a number of other physical DPS present. However, it’s a personal DPS loss.

Q: What are my stat priorities?
A: Get 8% Hit. After that, Strength > Crit > Mastery = Expertise > Haste.

Q: What should I reforge my Haste into?
A: Hit if you’re below the cap, otherwise Crit.

Q: What should I use to enchant my weapon?
A: Berserking.

Q: My raid leader wants me to use Sunder Armor, I don’t want to lose DPS.
A: Do it. It’s a DPS gain for the raid, and for you as well if no one else is willing/able. Screw your rotation and the DPS race; stack it immediately to full. No, it isn’t a better idea for the Rogues to use Expose Armor.

Fury

Q: What is the best Fury spec?
A: Some variation of 3/31/2. You have a lot of leeway regarding Major and Minor glyphs.

Q: What about Single Minded Fury?
A: There aren’t any one-handers with Strength on them currently which hurts Single Minded Fury significantly. Feel free to play around with it, but it won’t really take off until Cataclysm.

Q: I don’t like Rude Interruption, it sucks on bosses without interrupts.
A: If you’re dying for some specific utility elsewhere that’s your prerogative, but there are no other DPS talents to take.

Q: What rotation should I be using for Titan’s Grip?
A: Prioritize like so: Bloodthirst > Raging Blow (use Berserker Rage to activate if necessary) > Slam > Shouts. Use Heroic Strike at 60+ rage.

Q: Should I use Slam when I don’t have a Bloodsurge proc?
A: No.

Q: What about when I can Execute?
A: Execute to stack your Executioner talent, then resume your rotation replacing Slam with Execute when you need to maintain your stack.

Q: When do I use Death Wish and Recklessness?
A: Use Death Wish on cooldown, but try to line it up with Bloodlust whenever possible. Recklessness should only be used when Slam or a shout isn’t available and preferably during Death Wish or a confluence of procs.

Q: What good is Shattering Throw?
A: It can increase raid DPS during Bloodlust if there are a number of other physical DPS present. However, it’s a personal DPS loss.

Q: What are my stat priorities?
A: Get 8% Hit (including Precision), 26 Expertise. After that, Strength > Hit > Crit > Haste > Mastery.

Q: What should I reforge my Haste into?
A: Hit.

Q: What should I use to enchant my weapon?
A: Berserking.

Q: What about my offhand?
A: Still Berserking.

Q: My raid leader wants me to use Sunder Armor, I don’t want to lose DPS.
A: Do it. It’s a DPS gain for the raid, and for you as well if no one else is willing/able. Screw your rotation and the DPS race; stack it immediately to full.

Protection

Q: What spec should I use?
A: Some variation on 2/3/31. You have a lot of leeway regarding Major and Minor glyphs.

Q: Your build is terrible, I prefer-
A: Protection is less set in stone, depending on whether you’re running heroics are raiding. The prior build is a general raiding setup.

Q: What’s my maximum threat rotation?
A: Prioritize Shield Slam > Revenge > Victory Rush (with Impending Victory) > Devastate. Heroic Strike at 60+ rage.

Q: What about AoE packs?
A: Rend (if you took Blood and Thunder), Thunderclap and Shockwave become your top priorities. Use Cleave instead of Heroic Strike. Shield Block will greatly reduce your incoming damage.

Q: What are my stat priorities?
A: Stamina, Dodge and Mastery.

Q: Should I reforge Dodge for Mastery?
A: No.

Q: What about Parry?
A: Maybe. If you do, go all out as Mastery gets better the more of it you have. Just don’t reforge Dodge.

Q: My threat sucks, what should I do?
A: Expertise is your best single target threat stat before you hit 26 expertise, it gets more confusing after that. Strength is the best all around threat stat and for AoE. Look for tanking gear with these stats, or reforge some Parry for Expertise.

Q: I keep dying. What I am doing wrong?
A: You are probably still adjusting to the new changes, as are your healers. In addition, you may be undergeared, using a wrong strategy, standing in the fire, failing to use/time your survival cooldowns or have too few/bad healers.

Q: Who should get my Vigilance?
A: Your offtank in a raid. Whoever keeps pulling threat in heroics.

– Information via Elitist Jerks

Edit:  I have changed the Talent Calculator to the WowTal version.  That way, you can import the tree directly from the site to your character.

How easy, not to mention cool, is that!