Arms Warrior Guide: Midnight Season 2 Builds, Rotation, Stats

This Arms Warrior guide covers Midnight Season 2 on patch 12.1.5: Slayer or Colossus, the opener, the full single-target, Execute and AoE priorities, Rage and uptime, stats, gems, enchants and trinkets, and how Arms plays in Mythic+ and PvP. Blizzard's October 27 class tuning hotfixes made no Warrior changes (Icy Veins hotfix summary), so the priorities below still apply. Builds and priorities follow Icy Veins' Arms Warrior guide and Method, cited inline.

Quick summary

• Hero tree: Slayer for almost everything in Season 2. Icy Veins puts it ahead in single target and now in AoE. Colossus still has higher multi-target burst.
• Core loop: Rend up, Avatar and Colossus Smash together, burst (Bladestorm or Demolish) inside Smash, Mortal Strike on cooldown, Execute with Sudden Death procs, then Overpower and Slam.
• Stats: item level first, then Crit > Haste > Mastery > Versatility (Icy Veins and Method agree).
• Best trinkets: Zul'jin's Guillotine Technique, Voracious Heart of Ula'tek and Gebbo's Bottomless Bag are S tier on Icy Veins.
• Mythic+: steady sustained damage, Battle Shout, Rallying Cry, Spell Reflection and two stuns.

Arms Warrior strengths and weaknesses

Strengths	Weaknesses
One of the stronger Mythic+ damage dealers this season (Icy Veins)	"Only excels in a couple of raid encounters," though still above average overall
Frequent cooldowns thanks to Anger Management (Icy Veins, Method)	Very sensitive to downtime, because auto-attacks generate Rage
Battle Shout gives melee and Hunters 5% damage, and Rallying Cry is 50% stronger outside raid	Rage starvation during dry proc streaks (Method)
Spell Reflection, Die by the Sword and high mobility	Few on-use trinkets this season

Best Arms Warrior build: Slayer or Colossus

Content	Pick	Why (Icy Veins)
Single-target raid	Slayer Single-Target	"Significantly ahead in single-target and most raid encounters." Sweeping Strikes and Bladestorm cover small add counts
Raid with adds	Slayer Multi-Target, or Colossus Multi-Target for big add waves	Colossus brings Cleave and Demolish for "large or frequent waves of adds"
Mythic+ and Delves	Slayer Dungeons and Delves	Slayer is "pulling ahead for the first time in several seasons" with more Sudden Death and Reap the Storm procs
Mythic+ if you prefer it	Colossus Mythic+	"Very strong multi-target damage" and slightly better crowd control, but weak boss damage

Slayer revolves around Execute, Sudden Death and Bladestorm. Consuming Sudden Death reduces Bladestorm's cooldown based on Executioner stacks. Colossus revolves around Mortal Strike, bleeds and Demolish. Mortal Strike lowers Demolish's cooldown.

Flexible talents:

• Wrecking Throw when there are shielded targets.
• Javelineer turns Wrecking Throw into a ranged silence, at the cost of Stance Mastery.
• Stance Mastery is strong if you actually use Defensive Stance.
• On frequent two-target fights, swap Just Warming Up for Broad Strokes and Cleave for Powerful Momentum.
• Overwhelming Rage is a good flex pick, since Arms rarely caps Rage.
• In heavy AoE, Crushing Force is usually the best talent to drop for Colossus.

Take the apex talent and Folio runes

Master of Warfare:

1. Point 1 adds a proc that makes Heroic Strike replace Slam at higher priority, plus a small armor-penetration buff.
2. Points 2 and 3 strengthen the buff without changing the rotation.
3. Point 4 makes Heroic Strike buff Colossus Smash.

The stacks decay on their own and are consumed when you cast Colossus Smash. Players average 2–3 per cycle, so you can treat it as passive.

Omnium Folio: Rune of Unleashed Fire, Rune of Void-Tainted Shell, Rune of Lingering, Rune of Masterful Cunning and Rune of Echoes.

Arms Warrior opener

Always open with Charge. Keep Battle Stance on.

Single-target opener (Icy Veins, both hero trees combined; skip abilities you don't have):

1. Mortal Strike.
2. Cleave or Rend to apply Rend.
3. Ravager just before Colossus Smash.
4. Avatar.
5. Colossus Smash.
6. Bladestorm (Slayer).
7. Heroic Strike.
8. Mortal Strike.
9. Demolish (Colossus).
10. Overpower, Mortal Strike, Execute with Sudden Death, Overpower, Mortal Strike, then the normal priority.

Method's shorter versions:

• Slayer: Charge, Rend, Colossus Smash, Avatar and Execute, Bladestorm.
• Colossus: Charge, Rend, Avatar and Colossus Smash, Mortal Strike, Demolish.

Multi-target opener (Icy Veins). Precast Sweeping Strikes if you can, then:

1. Cleave.
2. Ravager.
3. Avatar.
4. Colossus Smash.
5. Bladestorm.
6. Cleave, repeating with Crushing Combo.
7. Mortal Strike.
8. Demolish.
9. Cleave, Overpower, Execute, Cleave, then the multi-target priority.

Arms Warrior rotation and priority

Each time you cast something, start again from the top (Icy Veins).

Single target, target above 35%:

1. Mortal Strike.
2. Rend (or Cleave) when it has under 10 seconds left and Colossus Smash is ready.
3. Ravager just before Colossus Smash.
4. Avatar and Colossus Smash on cooldown.
5. Demolish during Colossus Smash.
6. Heroic Strike.
7. Execute with two Sudden Death stacks.
8. Execute to apply Imminent Demise's damage buff when Bladestorm is ready and you have fewer than 3 stacks.
9. Bladestorm during Colossus Smash.
10. Overpower with two Opportunist stacks.
11. Mortal Strike.
12. Execute with Sudden Death.
13. Overpower.
14. Rend or Cleave when Rend has under 5 seconds left.
15. Slam.

Execute phase, target below 35%:

1. Ravager, Avatar and Colossus Smash as above.
2. Heroic Strike.
3. Demolish during Colossus Smash.
4. Mortal Strike.
5. Bladestorm during Colossus Smash.
6. Mortal Strike when Rend has under 3 seconds left or Fierce Followthrough is up.
7. Overpower with two Opportunist stacks.
8. Execute with Sudden Death or above 40 Rage.
9. Overpower.
10. Execute.
11. Slam.

Method's Execute list (with Executioner's Precision) adds:

• Execute at 4 Executioner stacks (Slayer).
• Mortal Strike at 2 Executioner's Precision stacks.
• Overpower only below 40 Rage.

Multi-target. There's no separate Execute phase with several targets.

1. Sweeping Strikes on cooldown.
2. Cleave early to apply Rend.
3. Ravager, then Avatar with Colossus Smash.
4. Cleave at 3 Collateral Damage stacks.
5. Bladestorm.
6. Execute at 2 Sudden Death stacks.
7. Cleave.
8. Mortal Strike below 10 Colossal Might stacks.
9. Demolish.
10. Overpower at 2 charges.
11. Execute with Sudden Death.
12. Overpower, Execute, Mortal Strike, Slam.

Tier set:

• 2-piece: Mortal Strike and Execute deal 10% more damage, and Slam also hits enemies within 8 yards of the target.
• 4-piece: Overpower deals 15% more damage, and Mortal Strike and Overpower increase your next Slam's damage by 20%, stacking up to 5 times.

You don't need to track the stacks.

Rage and uptime

• Rage. Most Rage comes from auto-attacks, so Rage gain and ability cooldowns don't always line up. Skipping a Slam matters less than missing a Mortal Strike. Skyfury from a Shaman adds extra swings and Rage (Icy Veins).
• Uptime. Keep attacking until the last moment, Heroic Leap out of a mechanic, then Charge back in.
• Charge weaving. Step to minimum Charge range and Charge back for an extra 20 Rage. Do it between swings, never during Colossus Smash (Icy Veins, Method).
• Pooling. Outside Colossus Smash, let Rage build, but only as long as it won't delay your next Mortal Strike.

Example. A boss casts a raid-wide circle that you have to run out of. Keep swinging until about a second before it lands, Heroic Leap out, then Charge back. You lose almost no auto-attacks, and Charge refunds some Rage.

Arms Warrior cooldowns

Cooldown	How to use it
Colossus Smash	On cooldown. Its real cooldown is much shorter because of Anger Management. Only delay it for add waves or damage phases (Icy Veins)
Avatar	Also reduced by Anger Management. Now a minor cooldown, so press it with Smash. Method: make sure you get full value before using it
Bladestorm (Slayer)	Early in Smash. Generates Rage through auto-attacks. Three Imminent Demise stacks make the button glow, but that isn't a cue to use it
Ravager	Mostly multi-target. Pair it with Smash for Crushing Combo. It gets no cooldown reduction
Demolish (Colossus)	With Smash. A channel that makes you immune to most stuns and knockbacks. Charge, Intervene, Heroic Leap, Die by the Sword and Spell Reflection all work during it
Wrecking Throw	Does 500% damage against absorb shields, so cast it right after Smash on shielded targets
Die by the Sword	Immunity to direct physical damage. Save it for each fight's dangerous moment (Icy Veins, Method)
Spell Reflection	25-second cooldown with 20% damage reduction for 5 seconds. Can reflect some casts (Method)

Slayer can Pummel during Bladestorm. Storm Bolt during Bladestorm adds a tiny bit of damage when the stun isn't needed.

Arms Warrior stat priority, gems and enchants

Source	Order
Icy Veins (updated October 12 for 12.1.5)	Item level > Crit > Haste > Mastery > Versatility. Weights converge at high gear
Method	Crit > Haste > Mastery > Versatility. Crit matters more for Colossus

There is no hard Haste cap (Icy Veins). Diminishing-returns breakpoints:

Stat	10%	20%	30%
Crit and Mastery	1380	1840	2300
Haste	1320	1760	2200
Versatility	1620	2160	2700

Gems: Indecipherable Eversong Diamond is the simple choice. Powerful Eversong Diamond can be slightly stronger if you use gems of several colors: one Garnet, Peridot and Amethyst, no Lapis. Fill the rest with Flawless Quick Garnet or Flawless Deadly Peridot.

Slot	Icy Veins	Method
Weapon	Rite of the Hash'ey + Thalassian Phoenix Oil	Rite of the Hash'ey + Thalassian Phoenix Oil
Helm	Empowered Hex of Leeching	Empowered Rune of Avoidance
Shoulders	Akil'zon's Swiftness	Nature's Grace
Chest	Mark of the Worldsoul	Mark of the Worldsoul
Legs	Blood Knight's Armor Kit	Blood Knight's Armor Kit
Boots	Lynx's Dexterity	Lynx's Dexterity
Rings	Eyes of the Eagle	Eyes of the Eagle

Icy Veins says Leech, Speed and Avoidance are "largely interchangeable."

Consumables:

• Flask: Flask of the Blood Knights or Flask of the Shattered Sun.
• Potion: Potion of Recklessness is best, but it needs Crit as your highest stat and Versatility as low as possible. Light's Potential or Liquid Luster are simpler.
• Health potion: Concentrated Silvermoon Health Potion.
• Food: Harandar Celebration feast.
• Rune: Void-Touched Augment Rune.

(Icy Veins; Method also lists Potion of Recklessness.)

Races: Icy Veins says racials are within about 1%, so pick what you like. Method lists Tauren for Horde and Dwarf or Void Elf for Alliance.

Professions: no profession is required, but crafted embellishments are part of most Season 2 setups; our crafted gear guide and professions guide cover the options.

Arms Warrior BiS gear and trinkets

Dungeons to farm (Icy Veins):

• Altar of Fangs: the most pieces, including the best weapon.
• Den of Nalorakk: several pieces.
• Murder Row: a very good ring.

Our dungeon guides for Altar of Fangs, Den of Nalorakk and Murder Row cover routes and loot tables. Finishing your tier bonuses matters more than perfect itemization. For crests and upgrade tracks, see our Season 2 gearing guide, and use the Great Vault guide to pick weekly rewards.

Tier	Trinkets
S	Zul'jin's Guillotine Technique, Voracious Heart of Ula'tek, Gebbo's Bottomless Bag
A	Vile Vial of Volatile Venom, Idol of the War Loa, Keeper's Seething Core, Seed of the Devouring Wild, Sapling of the Dawnroot
B	Ruby Whelp Shell, Resonant Bellowstone, Blazebinder's Hoof, Font of Venomous Rage
C	Tattered Amani War Banner, Sszorak's Ferocity, Coiled Fangstone, Merektha's Fang

Icy Veins notes that most Season 2 trinkets are random procs that don't benefit from Avatar or Colossus Smash.

Arms Warrior in Mythic+

Icy Veins describes Arms as a sustained damage dealer "very sensitive to downtime." Think ahead about where the tank will move mobs and when the next pack will be pulled.

• Pummel with a focus-then-mouseover macro: /cast [@focus,exists,nodead][@mouseover,exists,nodead][] Pummel.
• Spell Reflection deflects many spells cast on you.
• Wrecking Throw with Javelineer is a ranged silence.
• Storm Bolt and Shockwave are your single-target and AoE stops. Both are core in Mythic+ builds.
• Intimidating Shout is an optional AoE fear. Feared mobs can run off and pull more enemies.
• Battle Shout should always be up. Rallying Cry is 50% stronger outside raid.
• Berserker Rage removes fear and disorient. Fearless can remove some dangerous debuffs that also slow you.

Plan routes with our Season 2 dungeon guide and the interrupt coordination guide. Our addons guide covers interrupt and cooldown trackers.

Arms Warrior in PvP

Arms is one of the strongest PvP specs this season. Our PvP tier list has it at S tier: on Murlok's October 28 ladders it's seventh of 27 DPS specs in Solo Shuffle, sixth in 3v3, third in 2v2 and fifth in Battleground Blitz, so it's a top-seven pick in every bracket. It wins 50.5% of Shuffle rounds on ArenaCoach's ladder. The October 27 PvP tuning didn't change Warriors (Blizzard hotfixes via Icy Veins). The tools that matter most in arena are the ones covered above: Mortal Strike's healing reduction, Spell Reflection, Die by the Sword, Storm Bolt and Charge or Heroic Leap for uptime.

If you're new to rated play, our Solo Shuffle beginner guide is the place to start.

Tips for returning and alt players

• Returning players: Avatar lost its follow-up talents. Heroic Strike from Master of Warfare now replaces some Slams. Rage was "significantly reduced in Midnight" (Icy Veins).
• Boosted characters: item level first. Import the Slayer Dungeons and Delves build and learn Charge and Heroic Leap uptime.
• Alts: Method's short Slayer opener is enough to start. Add Charge weaving later. Our 12.1.5 catch-up guide is the fastest gear route.
• Planning ahead: the 12.1.7 PTR notes have no Warrior tuning so far; see the 12.1.7 Echoes of the Worldcore guide. Other Season 2 spec guides include Arcane Mage and Assassination Rogue.

For services and our other Midnight guides, see the World of Warcraft hub.

Want a hand with this?

If you would rather not grind this part yourself, World of Warcraft coaching services are listed on FullBoosts. Read Blizzard's End User License Agreement before you buy any service from anyone, FullBoosts included — a marketplace listing isn't publisher permission.

FAQ

Is Arms Warrior good in Midnight Season 2?

Yes. Icy Veins calls it one of the stronger Mythic+ damage dealers this season, it's above average in raid with a few standout fights, and it's near the top in PvP. The October 27 hotfixes didn't change it.

Slayer or Colossus for Arms Warrior?

Slayer in almost all content. Take Colossus only for raid fights with big add waves, or if you prefer its playstyle in keys.

What is the Arms Warrior stat priority in 12.1.5?

Item level first, then Crit > Haste > Mastery > Versatility (Icy Veins). Method agrees and notes Crit matters more for Colossus.

When does the Arms Warrior Execute phase start?

When a single target drops below 35% health. With multiple targets, there's no separate Execute phase.

Is Arms Warrior good in PvP?

Yes. It's S tier on our PvP tier list, ranked in the top seven DPS specs in Solo Shuffle, 3v3, 2v2 and Blitz on the October 28 ladders, thanks to Mortal Strike, Spell Reflection and strong uptime tools.

What are the best Arms Warrior trinkets?

Zul'jin's Guillotine Technique, Voracious Heart of Ula'tek and Gebbo's Bottomless Bag are S tier on Icy Veins.

Related guides

• Midnight Season 2 Mythic+ dungeons and rewards
• WoW Mythic+ tier list
• Midnight PvP tier list
• Season 2 gearing guide
• Assassination Rogue guide
• Arcane Mage guide