The Forever Era beta build 1.60.1.70205
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The Forever Era
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Forever guide

2
ChangesEvery change with the Classic value next to it
ClassesAll nine classes, spec by spec

World

8
ZonesA page per zone: map, levels, dungeons and flights
DungeonsAll 29 dungeons on a level chart
RaidsBarrow Deeps, Hyjal Summit and Onyxia, with a countdown to December 9
RacesSkyborne, racials and who can be what
SystemsLegacy, camping, realmless and more
PvPBattleground, factions, Honor and rewards
HardcoreRelease window, death and Legacy
New itemsMounts, pets, toys and everything new in the client

Beta and launch

9
Server statusWhere to check outages and queues, and Blizzard’s notices
LaunchDates, editions and day-one content
The beta: how to joinHow to get in and when it ends
Level 30What changes from 20 to 30 in the beta
Beta errorsWhat Blizzard has said about each error
Name reservationDates and rules to reserve your name
Launch dayFirst hours: time, queues and where to start
BuildsBuild history and known issues
RoadmapFrom the beta to summer 2027

Guides

9
All guidesQuick, class, profession and leveling guides
All about WoW ForeverRelease date, beta, editions, rulesets and what’s new
Which class to pickWhich class suits you in Forever
Which race to pickRaces, racials and which classes each can be
Class guidesHow to play and level every class in Forever
Leveling by zonesWhich zone to do from 1 to 60, Alliance and Horde
Professions1-300 leveling with the beta client recipes
Which professionsThe best professions for your class
Price and editionsSubscription, packs and what each one includes

Community

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NewsEvery Blizzard post about Forever in one feed
Patch notesEvery beta patch note, the latest on top
Blue trackerBlizzard posts and new builds, updated automatically
Official forumsBlizzard’s WoW Forever forums, US, EU and beta
DiscordOur Discord server: Blizzard news the moment it lands and chat in four languages
Community buildsTalent and Legacy builds voted by players
GuildsFind a guild or recruit for yours
Forever Open tournamentThe Raider.IO tournament: dates and prizes

Tools

9
Legacy calculator16 points, three trees and the 65 challenges
SpellbookEvery class ability and rank compared with Classic
Hunter petsPet families, diets and abilities
Druid formsWhat you can cast in each form, and its looks
CampingCampfires, camp objects and blueprints
Name translatorSpells, items and zones in English and Spanish
Tier listsBuild and share your tier list
Launch checklistEverything to do before November 4
Countdown widgetFree for your site, your blog or your OBS stream
Launch in …
Best in slot (BiS) · Level 40

WoW Forever Protection Warrior BiS at level 40

Tank
role
8/17
new in Forever
11/17
with a known source

Summary

This is the site’s suggestion for Protection Warrior at level 40, not an official list: we use our Protection stat weights to score every item a Warrior can use with a required level of 40 or lower, and pick the best one for each slot. The beta does not reach this level yet (the current cap is 30): it is a forecast, and items and their sources may change.

Stat priority of the list, per point: Defense > Stamina > Agility > Strength. Percentage stats count too, per 1%: dodge and parry. On weapons, main-hand DPS matters most. Armour adds to the score too.

The highest-scoring pieces:

8 of the 17 pieces are new in Forever and 11 have a known source.

Gear by slot

For each slot, the suggested piece and the next two on the list.

Head

Top pickSouthsea Head Bucket
Item level 45 · no level requirement · Plate
+15 Stamina · +4 Defense · +6 Strength
Quest Southsea Shakedown (level 45) in Tanaris (Classic data)
Alternatives
Horned Viking HelmetClassic data (not in the beta client)
Item level 42 · requires level 40 · Plate
Drops from Eric \"The Swift\" (50%) in Uldaman (Classic data)
Icemetal BarbuteChangedForever values from WoWSims
Item level 44 · requires level 40 · Plate
Drops from Amnennar the Coldbringer (20%) in Razorfen Downs (Classic data)

Neck

Top pickSouvenir Sea ShellNew in Forever
Item level 35 · requires level 30 · Miscellaneous
+13 Stamina · +5 Health per 5 sec
Unknown source
Alternatives
Amulet of VengeanceNew in Forever
Item level 43 · no level requirement · Miscellaneous
Unknown source
Scout's MedallionUnique
Item level 43 · requires level 38 · Miscellaneous
Vendor Kelm Hargunth — Warsong Supply Officer (Classic data)

Shoulders

Top pickPauldrons of VindicationNew in Forever
Item level 45 · no level requirement · Plate
+10 Stamina · +10 Strength · +0.7% Critical Strike
Unknown source
Alternatives
Clacking Carapace SpauldersNew in Forever
Item level 43 · no level requirement · Mail
Unknown source
Ornate Mithril ShouldersChanged
Item level 45 · requires level 40 · Plate
Crafted Blacksmithing

Back

Top pickCorpsefeeder's SheddingNew in Forever
Item level 43 · no level requirement · Cloth
+11 Stamina · +4 Agility · +4 Strength
Unknown source
Alternatives
Wing of the WhelplingClassic data (not in the beta client)
Item level 38 · requires level 33 · Cloth
World drop (0.003%) (Classic data)
Sergeant Major's CapeUnique
Item level 45 · requires level 40 · Cloth
Unknown source

Chest

Top pickEnduring Chain VestNew in Forever
Item level 45 · requires level 40 · Mail
+127 Health per 5 sec · +5 Mana per 5 sec
Unknown source
Alternatives
Carapace of Tuten'kashClassic data (not in the beta client)
Item level 42 · requires level 40 · Plate
Drops from Tuten'kash (33.3%) in Razorfen Downs (Classic data)
Scarlet ChestpieceChain of the Scarlet CrusadeClassic data (not in the beta client)
Item level 39 · requires level 34 · Mail
Drops from Trash in Scarlet Monastery

Wrists

Top pickBerserker BracersUnique
Item level 45 · requires level 40 · Plate
+8 Stamina · +14 Strength · +6 Agility
Vendor Illiyana Moonblaze — Silverwing Supply Officer (Classic data)
Alternatives
Windtalker's Wristguards
Item level 45 · requires level 40 · Mail
Vendor Illiyana Moonblaze — Silverwing Supply Officer (Classic data)
Crushridge BindingsClassic data (not in the beta client)
Item level 41 · requires level 36 · Mail
World drop (0.003%) (Classic data)

Hands

Top pickPlated Fist of HakooClassic data (not in the beta client)
Item level 45 · requires level 40 · Plate
+10 Stamina · +10 Agility · +10 Strength
World drop (0.003%) (Classic data)
Alternatives
Sentinel's GauntletNew in Forever
Item level 40 · requires level 35 · Mail
Crafted Blacksmithing
Warder's GauntletNew in Forever
Item level 40 · requires level 35 · Mail
Crafted Blacksmithing

Waist

Top pickSentinel's BeltNew in Forever
Item level 35 · requires level 30 · Mail
+10 Stamina · +7 Defense · +6 Strength
Crafted Blacksmithing
Alternatives
Warder's BeltNew in Forever
Item level 35 · requires level 30 · Mail
Crafted Blacksmithing
Highlander's Plate GirdleUnique
Item level 43 · requires level 40 · Plate
Vendor Samuel Hawke — League of Arathor Supply Officer (Classic data)

Legs

Top pickGuard's Silvered Chain LeggingsNew in Forever
Item level 30 · requires level 25 · Mail
+11 Stamina · +8 Defense · +7 Strength
Crafted Blacksmithing
Alternatives
Double-Plated LegplatesNew in Forever
Item level 45 · requires level 40 · Plate
Unknown source
Ornate Mithril Pants
Item level 44 · requires level 40 · Plate
Crafted Blacksmithing

Feet

Top pickBoots of AvoidanceClassic data (not in the beta client)
Item level 45 · requires level 40 · Plate
+2% Dodge · +11 Stamina · +14 Agility
World drop (0.001%) (Classic data)
Alternatives
Sentinel's BootsNew in Forever
Item level 45 · requires level 40 · Plate
Crafted Blacksmithing
Warder's BootsNew in Forever
Item level 45 · requires level 40 · Plate
Crafted Blacksmithing

Ring 1

Top pickOgre Horn RingNew in Forever
Item level 45 · no level requirement · Miscellaneous
+10 Stamina · +3 Defense · +4 Strength · …
Unknown source
Alternatives
Suspicious Spare PartNew in Forever
Item level 45 · requires level 40 · Miscellaneous
Unknown source
Theramore SignetNew in ForeverUnique
Item level 43 · requires level 38 · Miscellaneous
Unknown source

Ring 2

Top pickSuspicious Spare PartNew in Forever
Item level 45 · requires level 40 · Miscellaneous
+11 Stamina · +7 Strength
Unknown source
Alternatives
Theramore SignetNew in ForeverUnique
Item level 43 · requires level 38 · Miscellaneous
Unknown source
Insurgent's BandNew in ForeverUnique
Item level 43 · requires level 38 · Miscellaneous
Unknown source

Trinket 1

Top pickDefiler's TalismanChanged
Item level 43 · requires level 38 · Miscellaneous
+8 Stamina
Vendor Rutherford Twing — Defilers Supply Officer (Classic data)
Alternatives
Talisman of ArathorChanged
Item level 43 · requires level 38 · Miscellaneous
Vendor Samuel Hawke — League of Arathor Supply Officer (Classic data)
Rune of PerfectionChanged
Item level 45 · requires level 40 · Miscellaneous
Vendor Illiyana Moonblaze — Silverwing Supply Officer (Classic data)

Trinket 2

Top pickTalisman of ArathorChanged
Item level 43 · requires level 38 · Miscellaneous
+8 Stamina
Vendor Samuel Hawke — League of Arathor Supply Officer (Classic data)
Alternatives
Rune of PerfectionChanged
Item level 45 · requires level 40 · Miscellaneous
Vendor Illiyana Moonblaze — Silverwing Supply Officer (Classic data)
Rune of DutyChanged
Item level 45 · requires level 40 · Miscellaneous
Vendor Illiyana Moonblaze — Silverwing Supply Officer (Classic data)

Main hand

Top pickArdent CustodianClassic data (not in the beta client)
Item level 43 · requires level 38 · One-Hand Mace
+5 Defense
World drop (0.001%) (Classic data)
Alternatives
Hammer of ExpertiseUnique
Item level 50 · requires level 40 · One-Hand Mace
Unknown source
Swampspine CrusherNew in Forever
Item level 45 · requires level 40 · One-Hand Mace
Unknown source

Off hand

Top pickAegis of the Scarlet CommanderChangedForever values from WoWSims
Item level 44 · requires level 39 · Shield
+8 Stamina · +7 Strength
Drops from Scarlet Commander Mograine (40%) in Scarlet Monastery (Classic data)
Alternatives
The Green TowerClassic data (not in the beta client)
Item level 41 · requires level 36 · Shield
World drop (0.001%) (Classic data)
Collection Plate
Item level 44 · no level requirement · Shield
Quest Cracking Maury's Foot (level 44) in Stranglethorn Vale (Classic data)

Ranged

Top pickIronweaverChangedForever values from WoWSims
Item level 34 · requires level 29 · Gun
+4 Stamina · +3 Defense
World drop (0.003%) (Classic data)
Alternatives
Outrider's Bow
Item level 43 · requires level 38 · Bow
Vendor Kelm Hargunth — Warsong Supply Officer (Classic data)
Outrunner's Bow
Item level 43 · requires level 38 · Bow
Vendor Illiyana Moonblaze — Silverwing Supply Officer (Classic data)

More on Protection Warrior

Reasoning: Shield-wearing tank. 1 stamina = 10 health and is the baseline; each point of defense grants 0.04% dodge, parry, block and enemy miss (0.16% avoidance) and reduces crits taken, which is why it is worth more than stamina. Dodge and parry are worth ~12 and ~10 stamina per 1%; block less since it only absorbs the block value. Armour counts (100 armour ≈ 3 stamina), so the shield and mail/plate always win. Strength and hit are there for threat, not damage.

Heads up: the beta is capped at level 30 and the weights are indicative, tuned for level 60 with no simulations behind them. Sources come from the WoWSims Forever database and, for items that already existed in Classic, from the Classic 1.12 database (CMaNGOS Classic-DB, marked "Classic data": they may change in Forever); an item without a source may not be obtainable yet. Set bonuses and procs are not scored. Everything will change with each build.

Treat these lists as a starting point: your talents, enchants and play style may make another piece the better pick.

Updated