Wowpedia

We have moved to Warcraft Wiki. Click here for information and the new URL.

READ MORE

Wowpedia
Register
Advertisement
Defensive Stance
Ability warrior defensivestance
  • Defensive Stance
  • Warrior ability
  • 1 sec cooldown
  • Instant
  • A defensive combat stance. Decreases damage taken by 10%. Increases threat generated by 200%.
Properties
Class Warrior
School Physical
Cooldown 1 sec
Improvements Ability warrior shieldguard [Bastion of Defense], Spell nature enchantarmor [Stance Mastery], Spell nature enchantarmor [Tactical Mastery]

[[Category:warrior abilities]][[Category:warrior abilities]]

Defensive Stance is a defensive stance for the Warrior, decreasing damage taken by 10% and increasing threat generated by 200%. It is learned at level 10 for 6s 46c.

Information

Defensive stance is the second stance available to a warrior. Previously, it was obtained via a level 10 class quest (see below). However, with the changes in Patch 4.0.1, it can now be learned at level 10 for 6s 46c. It is used primarily for tanking, providing 10% damage reduction and increasing threat 200%. In combination with the Ability warrior shieldguard [Bastion of Defense] talent, the warrior's change to be critically hit is reduced by 6%, enough to tank even Boss level mobs without the fear of being critically struck. A number of tanking oriented abilities are available solely in Defensive Stance as well. As always, however, the warrior is able to switch stances to access abilities that might be infrequently needed for special situations.

Defensive Stance heavily favors usage of a shield and one handed weapon; many of the abilities available in Defensive Stance require shield usage. For instance, Ability warrior shieldbash [Shield Bash] (Defensive Stance only), the interrupt counterpart to Inv gauntlets 04 [Pummel] (Battle and Berserker Stances), requires a shield to be equipped. Ability defend [Shield Block] and Ability warrior shieldwall [Shield Wall] provide temporary reductions to incoming damage.

Defensive Stance is unsuitable for DPS, given lack of damage increase associated with the other two stances, increased threat generation and inability to use a number of critical DPS abilites.

Exclusive Abilities

These abilities are only usable when the warrior is in Defensive Stance.

Icon Name Level Stance(s) Description
Spell Nature Reincarnation Taunt 10 Defensive Taunts the target to attack you, but has no effect if the target is already attacking you.
Ability Defend Ability defend [Shield Block] 28 Defensive Increases your chance to block by 100% for 10 sec.
Ability Warrior Disarm Ability warrior disarm [Disarm] 34 Defensive Disarm the enemy's main hand and ranged weapons for 10 sec.
Ability Warrior Revenge Ability warrior revenge [Revenge] 40 Defensive Instantly counterattack an enemy for X to Y damage. Revenge is only usable after the warrior blocks, dodges or parries and attack.
Ability Warrior ShieldWall Ability warrior shieldwall [Shield Wall] 48 Defensive Reduces all damage taken by 60% for 12 sec.
Ability Warrior VictoryRush Ability warrior victoryrush [Intervene] 72 Defensive Run at high speed towards a party member, intercepting the next melee or ranged attack made against them as well as reducing their total threat by 10%. (Usable in all stances with a point in the Ability warrior warbringer [Warbringer] talent.)

Unavailable Abilities

These abilities are not usable when the warrior is in Defensive Stance.

Icon Name Level Stance(s) Description
Ability Warrior Charge Charge 3 Battle Charge an enemy, generate 15 rage, and stun it for 1.50 sec. (Usable in all stances with a point in the Ability warrior warbringer [Warbringer] talent.)
INV Sword 48 Inv sword 48 [Execute] 16 Battle
Berserker
Attempt to finish off a wounded foe, causing X physical damage and consumes up to 20 additional rage to deal up to Y additional damage. Only usable on enemies that have less than 20% health.
INV Sword 05 Ability meleedamage [Overpower] 22 Battle Instantly overpower the enemy, causing weapon damage. Only usable after the target dodges. The Overpower cannot be blocked, dodged or parried.
Ability ShockWave Ability shockwave [Hamstring] 26 Battle
Berserker
Maims the enemy, reducing movement speed by 50% for 15 sec.
Ability Whirlwind Ability whirlwind [Whirlwind] 36 Berserker In a whirlwind of steel you attack all enemies within 8 yards, causing 50% weapon damage from both melee weapons to each enemy.
INV Gauntlets 04 Inv gauntlets 04 [Pummel] 38 Battle
Berserker
Pummel the target, interrupting spellcasting and preventing any spell in that school from being cast for 4 sec.
Ability Rogue Sprint Ability warrior victoryrush [Intercept] 50 Berserker Charge an enemy, causing X damage (based on attack power) and stunning it for 3 sec. (Usable in all stances with a point in the Ability warrior warbringer [Warbringer] talent.)
Ability Warrior Challange Ability demonhunter demonspikes2 [Retaliation] 62 Battle Instantly counterattack any enemy that strikes you in melee for 12 sec. Melee attacks made from behind cannot be counterattacked. A maximum of 20 attacks will cause retaliation.
File:Ability CriticalStrike.png Warrior talent icon innerrage [Recklessness] 64 Berserker Your next 3 special ability attacks have an additional 100% to critically hit but all damage taken is increased by 20%. Lasts 12 sec.
Ability Warrior ShatteringThrow Ability warrior shatteringthrow [Shattering Throw] 74 Battle Throws your weapon at the enemy causing X damage (based on attack power), reducing the armor on the target by 20% for 10 sec or removing any invulnerabilities.
Ability smash Ability warrior colossussmash [Colossus Smash] 81 Battle
Berserker
Smashes a target for weapon damage plus X and weakens their defenses, allowing your attacks to entirely bypass their armor for 8 sec.
Inv mace 62 Throw Down Talent Battle Knocks the target to the ground and stuns it for 5 sec.
Ability hunter swiftstrike Warrior wild strike [Raging Blow] Talent Berserker A mighty blow that deals 100% weapon damage from both melee weapons. Can only be used while Enraged.

Quests

Previously, Defensive Stance was granted to the warrior via one of a number of equivalent warrior class quests as listed below. With the changes in Patch 4.0.1, these quests no longer need to be completed, however. Defensive Stance is available from the warrior trainer at level 10.

Patch changes

  • Cataclysm Patch 4.0.1 (2010-10-12): Now increases threat by 200% and damage taken by 10%. Available at level 10 for 6s 46c.
  • Wrath-Logo-Small Patch 3.1.0 (2009-04-14): Now reduces damage caused by 5%. (Was 10%.)
  • Wrath-Logo-Small Patch 3.0.2 (2008-10-14): Now increases threat by 45%.

External links

Template:Warrior Stances

Advertisement