Level 60 · Tank · Dungeons and crafting

Protection Warrior Pre-Raid Gear

The best Protection Warrior gear you can farm before your first raid in WoW Forever, slot by slot. Every item is still in the Forever client, uses its Forever stats, and has a known way to get it: a level 60 dungeon drop or a crafting recipe.

Last checked Nov 12, 2026 · Rankings are ours, from the stat weights listed below.

Dungeons to farm first

Stratholme (Undead): Band of Flesh, Husk of Nerub'enkan, Carapace Spine Crossbow
Blackrock Depths: Verek's Collar, Shalehusk Boots
Dire Maul North: Band of the Ogre King
Scholomance: Vigorsteel Vambraces
Upper Blackrock Spire: Spaulders of Valor

Craft or buy

blacksmithing: Enchanted Thorium Helm (300), Enchanted Thorium Breastplate (300), Heavy Thorium Gauntlets (300), Sentinel's Waistguard (250), Azerothium Legplates (300), Blackguard (300)
leatherworking: Shifting Cloak (300)

Bind on equip pieces can be bought from crafters or the Auction House.

Gear by slot

Slot	Best known-source item	Alternatives
Head	Enchanted Thorium HelmiLvl 62 · Plate · BoE +12 Strength, +25 Stamina, +9 DefenseCrafted: Blacksmithing 300, from a recipe item	Helm of Valor (+9 Agility, +15 Strength, +27 Stamina, +8 Health per 5 sec) · Drops in Scholomance (Classic drop list) Helm of the Executioner (+15 Strength, +23 Stamina, +15 Hit) · Drops in Stratholme (Undead) (Classic drop list)
Neck	Verek's CollariLvl 56 +6 Strength, +7 Stamina, +3 Defense, +12 DodgeDrops in Blackrock Depths (Classic drop list)	Talisman of Evasion (+8 Agility, +6 Defense, +12 Dodge) · Drops in Lower Blackrock Spire (Classic drop list) Anastari Heirloom (+15 Stamina, +2 Spell Penetration, +11 Shadow Spell Damage) · Drops in Stratholme (Undead) (Classic drop list)
Shoulder	Spaulders of ValoriLvl 60 · Plate +9 Agility, +11 Strength, +17 Stamina, +4 DefenseDrops in Upper Blackrock Spire (Classic drop list)	Darksoul Shoulders (+24 Stamina, +10 Hit) · Crafted: Blacksmithing 300, from a recipe item Ebonsteel Spaulders (+9 Agility, +8 Strength, +16 Stamina, +90 Armor) · Drops in Blackrock Depths (Classic drop list)
Back	Shifting CloakiLvl 62 · Cloth · BoE +17 Agility, +8 Stamina, +12 DodgeCrafted: Leatherworking 300, from a recipe item	Redoubt Cloak (+15 Stamina, +7 Defense) · Drops in Dire Maul North (Classic drop list) The Emperor's New Cape (+8 Agility, +16 Stamina) · Drops in Blackrock Depths (Classic drop list)
Chest	Enchanted Thorium BreastplateiLvl 63 · Plate · BoE +12 Strength, +26 Stamina, +9 DefenseCrafted: Blacksmithing 300, from a recipe item	Darksoul Breastplate (+32 Stamina, +10 Hit, +60 Armor) · Crafted: Blacksmithing 300, from a recipe item Icebane Breastplate (+12 Strength, +24 Stamina, +8 Defense, +42 Frost Resistance) · Crafted: Blacksmithing 300, from a recipe item
Wrist	Vigorsteel VambracesiLvl 62 · Plate +7 Agility, +17 Stamina, +3 HitDrops in Scholomance (Classic drop list)	Icebane Bracers (+6 Strength, +13 Stamina, +5 Defense, +24 Frost Resistance) · Crafted: Blacksmithing 300, from a recipe item Black Steel Bindings (+10 Strength, +10 Stamina, +7 Agility) · Drops in Blackrock Depths (Classic drop list)
Hands	Heavy Thorium GauntletsiLvl 65 · Plate · BoE +14 Stamina, +21 Strength, +12 DefenseCrafted: Blacksmithing 300, from a recipe item	Stronghold Gauntlets (+18 Stamina, +15 Parry, +14 Critical Strike) · Crafted: Blacksmithing 300, from a recipe item Sentinel's Gloves (+16 Stamina, +9 Strength, +11 Defense) · Crafted: Blacksmithing 250, from a recipe item
Waist	Sentinel's WaistguardiLvl 55 · Plate +14 Stamina, +13 Strength, +10 DefenseCrafted: Blacksmithing 250, from a recipe item	Deathbone Girdle (+11 Intellect, +15 Stamina, +9 Defense) · Drops in Scholomance (Classic drop list) Warder's Waistguard (+15 Spell Power, +14 Stamina, +10 Defense) · Crafted: Blacksmithing 250, from a recipe item
Legs	Azerothium LegplatesiLvl 65 · Plate · BoE +24 Strength, +18 Agility, +27 StaminaCrafted: Blacksmithing 300, from a recipe item	Enchanted Thorium Leggings (+20 Strength, +21 Stamina, +8 Defense) · Crafted: Blacksmithing 300, from a recipe item Enriched Thorium Leggings (+14 Spell Power, +26 Stamina, +9 Defense) · Crafted: Blacksmithing 300, from a recipe item
Feet	Shalehusk BootsiLvl 58 · Plate +10 Stamina, +18 Dodge, +100 ArmorDrops in Blackrock Depths (Classic drop list)	Boots of Valor (+5 Agility, +9 Strength, +20 Stamina, +2 Defense) · Drops in Scholomance (Classic drop list) Grimy Metal Boots (+17 Strength, +7 Stamina, +12 Dodge, +100 Armor) · Drops in Dire Maul North (Classic drop list)
Rings	Band of FleshiLvl 60 +3 Agility, +6 Strength, +16 Stamina, +40 ArmorDrops in Stratholme (Undead) (Classic drop list) Band of the Ogre KingiLvl 63 +14 Strength, +13 StaminaDrops in Dire Maul North (Classic drop list)	Naglering (+10 Stamina, +5 Defense, +60 Armor) · Drops in Blackrock Depths (Classic drop list) Ring of Demonic Potency (+10 Stamina, +7 Defense, +12 Health per 5 sec) · Drops in Dire Maul East (Classic drop list)
One-hand weapon	BlackguardiLvl 70 · Sword · BoE +12 Stamina, +15 Parry · 51.6 dpsCrafted: Blacksmithing 300, from a recipe item	Ebon Hand (+9 Stamina, +7 Fire Resistance, 51.6 dps) · Crafted: Blacksmithing 300, from a recipe item Greenhammer (+8 Agility, +12 Stamina, +10 Hit, 47.3 dps) · Crafted: Blacksmithing 300, from a recipe item
Shield	Husk of Nerub'enkaniLvl 61 +10 Stamina, +2 Defense, +15 Nature ResistanceDrops in Stratholme (Undead) (Classic drop list)	—
Ranged (stats only)	Carapace Spine CrossbowiLvl 61 · Crossbow +5 Agility, +9 Stamina · 31.4 dpsDrops in Stratholme (Undead) (Classic drop list)	Willey's Portable Howitzer (+9 Stamina, +10 Attack Power, 31.4 dps) · Drops in Stratholme (Live) (Classic drop list) Hyper Deluxe Sniper Rifle Mk XVII (+8 Stamina, +6 Spirit, +21 Ranged Attack Power, 36.9 dps) · Crafted: Engineering 300, from a recipe item

Raid prep

Hyjal Summit, Barrow Deeps and Onyxia's Lair open on December 9, 2026. Have these ready for the first night, on top of the gear above:

Flask

First choice: Flask of Natural Precision. Fewer dodged and parried attacks means steadier threat on the pull. Use: Increases your Stamina by 60. While in Mount Hyjal, Hyjal Summit, and the Barrow Deeps, you also gain 5% reduced chance to be dodged or parried.Alchemy 300, from a recipe item · 1 Death Lotus, 12 Marefoil, 9 Dreamfoil, 1 Imbued Vial
Second choice: Flask of Natural Accuracy. Hit, for the same reason. Use: Increases your Stamina by 60. While in Mount Hyjal, Hyjal Summit, and the Barrow Deeps, you also gain 5% Hit Chance.Alchemy 300, from a recipe item · 1 Death Lotus, 12 Demonsage, 9 Golden Sansam, 1 Imbued Vial
Onyxia's Lair: Flask of the Titans. The Classic tank flask, for Onyxia's Lair where the Natural flasks give only Stamina.Alchemy 300, unchanged from Classic · 30 Gromsblood, 10 Stonescale Oil, 1 Black Lotus, 1 Crystal Vial

You can only have one flask at a time, and each lasts two hours. All recipes: alchemy recipes.

Onyxia: attunement and fire resistance

Every raid member needs the Drakefire Amulet from the faction attunement chain (steps for Alliance and Horde), and Blizzard's raid overview tells raids to stack fire resistance. The most fire resistance this spec can wear in each slot, from known-source gear:

Dark Iron Helm (Plate): +35 Fire Resistance · Crafted: Blacksmithing 300, from a recipe item
Dark Iron Leggings (Plate): +30 Fire Resistance · Crafted: Blacksmithing 300, from a recipe item
Dark Iron Gauntlets (Plate): +28 Fire Resistance · Crafted: Blacksmithing 300, from a recipe item
Dark Iron Plate (Plate): +19 Fire Resistance · Crafted: Blacksmithing 260, from a recipe item
Dark Iron Bracers (Plate): +18 Fire Resistance · Crafted: Blacksmithing 270, from a recipe item
Onyxia Scale Cloak (Cloth): +16 Fire Resistance · Crafted: Leatherworking 300, from a recipe item
Frozen Heart of the Mountain (Trinket): +7 Fire Resistance · Crafted: Enchanting 265, from a recipe item

Barrow Deeps

The Brooch of the Wardens is a key: "Grants access to the Vord'anaar Prison within Barrow Deeps." How you get it is not in the client data yet. Raid pages: Hyjal Summit · Barrow Deeps · Onyxia's Lair.

Consumables, potions and the spec's rotation are in the Protection Warrior PvE guide.

Professions for this spec

Our pick: blacksmithing and alchemy, from the crafted pieces in the table above, with the bind-on-pickup ones counting double.

Only if you craft them yourself (bind on pickup)

blacksmithing: Sentinel's Waistguard (250)

Buy from a crafter, or make your own (bind on equip)

blacksmithing: Enchanted Thorium Helm, Enchanted Thorium Breastplate, Heavy Thorium Gauntlets, Azerothium Legplates, Blackguard
leatherworking: Shifting Cloak

Alchemy makes the raid flasks above; a gathering pair (Herbalism with Mining or Skinning) pays for them. Gold-making builds: Legacy for gold · gold guide · profession guides.

Stat weights we used

Each item's score is its Forever stats times these weights, plus weapon damage per second for the weapons this spec swings. One point of the stat on the left is worth this much next to one point of the top stat. They are rough and ours, adapted from Classic stat values; they decide the order on this page and nothing else.

Stamina 1.5 · Defense 1.5 · Dodge 1.4 · Parry 1.3 · Block 0.8 · Agility 0.7 · Hit 0.6 · Expertise 0.6 · Strength 0.5 · Block Value 0.4 · Attack Power 0.2 · Armor 0.05

Items need required level 50 or higher and rare quality or better.

Other Warrior specs: Arms Warrior · Fury Warrior · all specs