Levels 7-10

If anyone noticed on the Levels 1-6 post, you only gain new skills on the even levels. So we will start at lv 8 here.

Level 8

Hamstring
Rank 1
10 Rage
5 yd rangeInstant
Requires Melee WeaponRequires Battle Stance, Berserker StanceMaims the enemy, causing 5 damage and slowing the enemy's movement by 40% for 15 sec.

Like BRK's Wingclip, this skill allows us to slow down those who would run from us... and aggro their friends. How many people here have died because that darn Murloc ran off into the entire town of Murlocs just because he was getting his butt handed to him? /Raise hand
Use this when the mob is roughly above 20% in health and you are set. He may run, but it won't be fast or far.

A slight recant

This ability supersedes Battleshout for PvP situations. If you are charging in after a toon and they are anything but another Warrior or a Paladin you Hamstring them. Only Warriors and Paladins play the stand up fight. I know, but what about Rogues? I hit Rogues with Rend so they can't stay stealthed then I hit them with Hamstring. I don't know about you, but when I get into a fight with a Rogue... they have this odd tendancy to jump around like a fool. Remember you only have to pivot with them to keep them from your back.


Heroic Strike
Rank 2
15 Rage
5 yd rangeNext melee
Requires Melee WeaponA strong attack that increases melee damage by 21 and causes a high amount of threat.

An upgrade!!! We now do 10 more points of damage for the same amount of rage!

Level 10

Welcome to your first Talent point and Defensive Stance!


Defensive Stance
Instant
1 sec cooldown
A defensive combat stance. Decreases damage taken by 10% and damage caused by 10%. Increases threat generated.

This is where the tank part of being a warrior comes into play. Not only do you have more armor than most, you can also keep a mobs attention better than most. ( I will not get into the debate of who is a better tank i.e. Pally, Warr, or Druid. This blog is about warriors only.)
For leveing and grinding, I really do not go into Defensive Stance. I understand there are some people that have leveled Protection tree, but I hear that they were uinder the influence of strong mushrooms.


Rend
Rank 2
10 Rage
5 yd rangeInstant
Requires Melee WeaponRequires Battle Stance, Defensive StanceWounds the target causing them to bleed for 28 damage plus an additional [0.02972 * ((MWB + mwb) / 2 + AP / 14 * MWS)] (based on weapon damage) over 12 sec.

Upgrade again!!! More Damage


Sunder Armor
Rank 1
15 Rage
5 yd rangeInstant
Requires Melee WeaponSunders the target's armor, reducing it by 90 per Sunder Armor and causes a high amount of threat. Can be applied up to 5 times. Lasts 30 sec.

This skill is the tanks Bread and Butter so to speak. When you are tanking and you hit a mob you hit it with Sunders until you get to 5. Period. You can then hit it with Heroic Strike at this level or Revenge when you get higher up.


Taunt5 yd range
Instant
10 sec cooldown
Requires Defensive Stance: Taunts the target to attack you, but has no effect if the target is already attacking you

This skill is used when you LOSE aggro. You hit a mob first then you are at the top of it's aggro list. When the Rogue behind it hits it for 500crit and the mob turns... you either let it hit the rogue or taunt it off. It's really your choice. What you don't do is run up to something and taunt it.

Talent Point

Which Tree?! Ok, it has been pointed out that not everyone respecs the way I did as not everyone went double gatherer. The best way to go with minimal respec is Cruelty in the Fury tree. Fill it up too. So now you know what to do with the first 5 points.

Thanks to "For the Pie" and Ragnar for pointing out that Cruelty first is the better spec for the less than willing to part with the gold.

Talent Points post is up next.

See ya then