How to Tank Dungeons as Arm Warrior in WoW Classic

Leveling a Warrior in World of Warcraft: Classic can be a grind, but if you're equipped with Arms and want to jump into dungeons as a tank, you're in luck. Arms is a powerhouse for leveling, and with a few tweaks it's more than capable of tanking low-level dungeons with ease. No need to respec into Prot or Fury - Arms gets the job done, while keeping you versatile for solo play. This guide will take you through the essentials, from add-ons to rotations, so you can hold aggro, keep your group safe, and still enjoy that sweet two-handed DPS vibe. Let's dive in!  

Arms is the go-to spec for levelling Warriors thanks to its beefy damage and survivability. Sure, Prot provides mitigation and Fury provides threat, but Arms strikes a balance that allows you to quest efficiently and tank dungeons without swapping talents. Groups don't care what your spec is as long as you can pull mobs, maintain threat, and keep the flow going - and Arms can do all of that with the right approach.  

A few extras can make tanking a breeze:  

Threat Classic 2 add-on: This handy tool tracks threat like a damage meter. It's great for you to monitor aggro and for DPS to ease off when they're about to steal mobs. A must for any tank.  

Tank Announces Weak Aura: Alerts your party when a taunt misses or you're grabbing a mob with an AOE taunt. Keeps everyone in the loop without you having to type in the middle of a fight. 

Engineering Profession: Grenades and dynamite stun packs, interrupt casters and add AOE threat. Not required, but a nice perk if you've already leveled it for PvP or utility.  

Target Markers: Bind Skull, X, and other markers to keys (like F5-F12). Call out a kill order - Skull first, X second - to focus DPS and make it easier to maintain threat.  

Ammo: Stock up on arrows, bullets, or throwing weapons. Pulling mobs safely with a ranged attack will prevent accidental overpulls, especially in tight spots.

Tanking as Arms is all about using your DPS toolkit as a threat. You're not a shield-wielding wallflower - you're a whirlwind of pain. Here's how to roll:  

Charge in: Start with Charge in Battle Stance for 15-18 rage (depending on talents). It's your opener for most pulls.  

Sweeping Strike + Hurricane: At 55 rage, this combo is your AOE threat king. Save the rage from the last pack - aim for 30-50 rage before pulling - so you can use it immediately. If you don't have Whirlwind yet, use Sweeping Strikes with Cleave and Tab Target to spread the damage.  

Ranged pulls: For crowded areas, use a bow or gun to pull mobs back to a safe spot. Get 50-55 Rage on them before they reach you, then unleash Sweeping Strikes and Whirlwind.

AOE Packs: After your opener, tab through mobs with Cleave or Auto Attack to keep the threat even. If one peels off, use Taunt or Mocking Blow to knock it back. Grenades also help here - stun and extra threat in one throw.  

Single targets: Use Mortal Strike, Heroic Strike, or Sunder Armour to lock in the threat. These hit hard and keep mobs on you.  

Rage Management: End fights in Battle Stance with one or two mobs left to bank rage for the next turn. Starting with zero rage is your biggest hurdle - DPS won't wait, so use your saved rage to frontload your threat.

Battle stance: Your default position for charging and building rage. Stay here when packs thin out to prepare for the next move.  

Berserker Stance: Use for Whirlwind, but switch back after - it's a menacing beast, but leaves you squishier.  

Defensive Stance: Only switch if you need to taunt or interrupt with a shield and one-hander. Avoid with high rage (over 25) unless desperate - you will lose the overage.

No Pummel yet? Switch to a one-hander and shield for Shield Bash casters. If you've got a Shaman or Rogue in the party, let them handle interrupts - you focus on maximum damage and threat. Every half hour, Retaliation gives you the flexibility to make big pulls. Pair it with Sweeping Strikes, Whirlwind, and a grenade for a crazy AOE snap threat - perfect when your group is rolling strong.  

You don't need a fancy tank set for leveling. Stick to your weapon gear - strength, stamina and agility are key. Carry a one-handed weapon and shield for emergencies (like interrupting or surviving a bad pull), but your two-handed weapon does the heavy lifting for threats. Keep your weapon skills on an even keel - nothing is worse than missing a swing because you neglected your one-handed.  

Threat Classic 2: Already mentioned, but it's essential to see if you're losing aggro.  

Tank Announcements: Keeps your party informed - less blame, more teamwork.  

DBM or BigWigs: Basic dungeon awareness - timers for patrols or boss mechanics save wipes.

Arms brings an AOE threat from Sweeping Strikes and Whirlwind that Prots can't match early on. They're not as tanky, but low-level dungeons don't hit hard enough to need full mitigation. Your damage keeps mobs glued to you, and smart rage management means you'll rarely lose aggro. It's fast, it's fun, and it lets you get back to questing without missing a beat. 

This is your crash course in tanking dungeons as an Arms Warrior in WoW Classic. From charging in, to conserving your rage, to smashing packs with Sweeping Strikes, you'll be the tank every party wants. Got any questions or tips to share? Leave them below. Now go lead some runs and show those mobs who's boss!