02-02-2007, 04:24 AM
Don't expect to do well against skillful players in 1v1, unless they're melee or at least largely physical (Rogues, Hunters, Retrinoobs, other Warriors.) Protection is a heavily group-centric spec for PvP (and Warriors are already group-centric as a class, according to Blizzard), though in my experience it becomes stronger faster than Arms or Fury builds when you have others with you. Last Stand combined with potions and even bandages means you can stay up for quite some time, even without healers.
In general, I focus on Warlocks and Priests before most others, since my disruption potential is greatest against them, and they're less able to keep me away than Mages or Hunters might be able to. While Disarm priority generally went to other Warriors in the past, I find it's now on Rogues, especially since every Arms Warrior and their grandmother has built-in Disarm immunity through talents (strange that Improved Disarm does nothing to counter that.) Disarming Hunters can also be effective, in that it prevents them from using Wing Clip and Counterattack, meaning it's going to be much more difficult for them to keep you or anyone else out of range.
Unless Fear is a problem, I prefer to stay in Battle Stance to have access to my most useful abilities (Overpower, Shield Bash, and Thunder Clap), though I'll turtle in Defensive Stance and spam Revenge (Stun) against melee opponents or Hunters whose pets proc it. You can also stancedance for Revenges on Warlocks using melee pets.
Against Priests and Frost Mages, ideally save Rage for a Shield Slam for a chance to counter Power Word: Shield and Ice Barrier. Any Frost Mage worth a damn won't let you get close, so that's somewhat meaningless, but the point remains:)
Sunder everything. Two or three Sunders for cloth and leather, four or five for mail or plate. This is especially important in groups; a cloth class with a couple Sunders on them crumples instantly when a Rogue or Hunter targets them, and even teddytanks can feel some serious pain from the armor reduction. This also sets you up for Devastate spamming. Because Devastate is CTRL+1 for me, I don't often use it in PvP (since I usually don't have the Rage for spamming, and I need to conserve Rage for Shield Slam and Shield Bash), but it can do some pretty nice damage. Addtionally, because it's normalized, weapon speed is less of an issue than most people think it is.
Take up Engineering. The addition of bombs, shrink rays, a rocket launcher or sheep machine, nets, potion injectors, and other nifty tricks significantly enhances your disruption potential as well as your battlefield longevity.
In general, I focus on Warlocks and Priests before most others, since my disruption potential is greatest against them, and they're less able to keep me away than Mages or Hunters might be able to. While Disarm priority generally went to other Warriors in the past, I find it's now on Rogues, especially since every Arms Warrior and their grandmother has built-in Disarm immunity through talents (strange that Improved Disarm does nothing to counter that.) Disarming Hunters can also be effective, in that it prevents them from using Wing Clip and Counterattack, meaning it's going to be much more difficult for them to keep you or anyone else out of range.
Unless Fear is a problem, I prefer to stay in Battle Stance to have access to my most useful abilities (Overpower, Shield Bash, and Thunder Clap), though I'll turtle in Defensive Stance and spam Revenge (Stun) against melee opponents or Hunters whose pets proc it. You can also stancedance for Revenges on Warlocks using melee pets.
Against Priests and Frost Mages, ideally save Rage for a Shield Slam for a chance to counter Power Word: Shield and Ice Barrier. Any Frost Mage worth a damn won't let you get close, so that's somewhat meaningless, but the point remains:)
Sunder everything. Two or three Sunders for cloth and leather, four or five for mail or plate. This is especially important in groups; a cloth class with a couple Sunders on them crumples instantly when a Rogue or Hunter targets them, and even teddytanks can feel some serious pain from the armor reduction. This also sets you up for Devastate spamming. Because Devastate is CTRL+1 for me, I don't often use it in PvP (since I usually don't have the Rage for spamming, and I need to conserve Rage for Shield Slam and Shield Bash), but it can do some pretty nice damage. Addtionally, because it's normalized, weapon speed is less of an issue than most people think it is.
Take up Engineering. The addition of bombs, shrink rays, a rocket launcher or sheep machine, nets, potion injectors, and other nifty tricks significantly enhances your disruption potential as well as your battlefield longevity.
ArrayPaladins were not meant to sit in the back of the raid staring at health bars all day, spamming heals and listening to eight different classes whine about buffs.[/quote]
The original Heavy Metal Cowâ¢. USDA inspected, FDA approved.
The original Heavy Metal Cowâ¢. USDA inspected, FDA approved.