WARNING: Since this guide was first written, additional items have been added to the game, and S1 Gladiator gear has been rolled down to honor point attainable, so this info is a little dated. Also, Expertise Rating and Haste Rating are showing up on more and more attainable gear now, and neither was mentioned (or widely available) at the time this was originally written.
The Burning Crusade has not been kind to DPS warriors, especially Dual Wield Fury Warriors. Your best bets for Warrior DPS gear are really Arena gear and Heroic drops, and perhaps some crafted epics. Out of those options, only crafted gear will be immediately available upon reaching level 70.
This guide is going to focus more on gear for Arms/Fury and 2H Fury spec Warriors. The reason for this is that there is a pretty severe lack of plate gear for dual wielding warriors leveling up and just hitting 70. This is because in addition to Attack Power/STR, Critical Strike Rating/AGI, and Stamina, dual wielders also need to consider Hit Rating. Hit Rating on plate is hard to come by without slotting a lot of +hit rating gems and sacrificing other important stats. If your only concern is doing DPS in a group, and never being able to offtank on the fly to pull loose mobs off of casters and healers, then a good suit can be built up using some Leather pieces for +Hit. Also, the Ragesteel set gives good DPS stats at the cost of STA.
I don't like to sacrifice Armor or STA for DPS stats, and the gear in this guide will reflect that bias. The items presented will be good starter gear for warriors stepping into PVP and who wish to DPS in instances while maintaining the ability to take a hit from an elite. Now on to a basic discussion of stats.
STATS
For damage output you will need to balance Attack Power, Critical Strike Rating, and have about 5.6% Hit. Some target numbers to look at with this level of gear would be around 1400-1500 Attack Power (not impressive compared to epic gear, but doable with blues), 25% or more Crit, and the aforementioned 5.6% Hit. (Note: For your specials not to miss on raid bosses, you need +9% Hit)
Attack Power comes from STR and Attack Power equip bonus on items. For a Warrior, 1 STR = 2 AP. 14 Attack Power = 1 DPS. If you regularly run with a Paladin with Blessing of Kings, you should try to get most of your AP from STR.
Critical Strike % comes from Critical Strike Rating at a rate of 22.1 Crit Rating per 1% Crit, and from AGI at a rate of 33 AGI per 1% Crit. So, 1 AGI = .66 Crit Rating and 1 Crit Rating = 1.5 AGI. Keep that in mind when comparing AGI items and Crit Rating items.
Hit % comes from Hit Rating and talents. 15.8 Hit Rating = +1% chance to hit. So, for 2H warriors having 79 Hit Rating (+5%) is good, but you probably won't see it on this level of gear.
Weapon Skill really isn't relevant to this level of gear, and as none of this gear adds Weapon Skill, it's not germane to the discussion, however WoWiki has info for the curious.
WEAPON STATS
The DPS for blue level weapons at level 70 is pretty uniform. It is the additional stats and equip bonuses that set them apart. For level 70 blue 2H weapons, the norm is 93.x DPS, and for level 70 blue 1H weapons, the norm is 71.x DPS.
Your basic white damage comes from weapon dps + attack power + any talents that increase weapon damage, such as two handed spec or one handed spec. This is why your damage range on your character sheet is always much higher than your weapon's actual damage range.
Your attack power always increases your white DPS.
As a result, your attack power increases the AVERAGE damage PER SWING of your weapon.
ALL of your instant attack skills are based on the damage you do per swing, plus a normalized weapon speed coefficient.
Therefore, given the same weapon DPS, A SLOWER WEAPON ALWAYS YIELDS MORE BURST DAMAGE, AND WEAPON SPEED NORMALIZATION FOR SPECIAL ATTACKS DOES NOT AFFECT THIS.
Slow weapons of the same dps HIT HARDER.
Since all of the level 70 blue weapons are the same basic DPS, you will want a weapon with a slow speed, from 3.5 up. Keep in mind, a slightly faster weapon with a lot more AP on the weapon may actually hit harder, or a slightly faster weapon with a lot of Crit on it may add more damage from crits, but you want the attack speed to be on the slow end of things for both a MS build and a 2H fury build. In the Burning Crusade, this means 3.5-3.6, with the occasional 3.7 weapon tossed in.
For a 2H wielding Warrior, slow is best due to our damage from special attacks, and especially considering the need for burst damage in PVP.
For a Dual Wield Fury Warrior, the weapon speed is less of a consideration, so long as both weapons have a high DPS and contribute Attack Power, Hit, and/or Crit. The general consensus is that a slow mainhand weapon is good, due to Whirlwind and Overpower damage, while there is a split between those who favor a faster offhand versus a slower offhand. On the side of a faster offhand, rage generation is cited as the benefit, while on the side of a slower offhand, the weaker offhand swings consuming less of your flurry charges is the reason cited. In my opinion, both are valid concerns, but rage generation is rarely an issue with a fury build and with a high enough crit rate, along with macroing to overpower with improved overpower keeps flurry up quite well. My advice here: get the highest DPS offhand you can find, but given a choice go for a slower weapon if the DPS is equal. NOTE: Since the change to Whirlwind hitting with both weapons, two SLOW weapons of the SAME SPEED (yields an extra hit from flurry) are preferred. (Slow/Fast still isn't much behind though in overall damage output.)
Now on to a gear list. Again, this is stuff you can pick up on your way to 70 or right after turning 70, and is in no way the best gear you can get. That stuff will take considerable time and effort, this stuff is what can you use while expending that time and effort.
I am not including craftable epics (save one, since Warriors are highly unlikely to be tailors) on this list. If you have engineering or blacksmithing, you have some nice epics available and you should be taking advantage of that.
HEAD:
Overlord's Helmet of Second Sight (Quest Reward) Great choice for 2H Warriors. The questline for this starts in Shadowmoon Valley, and you'll need a flying mount or a friendly warlock with a flying mount to complete the chain. This is available to both factions.
Hope Bearer Helm (Auchinai Crypts drop) This is a great DPS helm you can get at level 65. It doesn't make it on to a lot of Warrior DPS gear lists because the name, the gem socket bonus and the graphics all scream "Paladin," but if you take a close look you'll see that the only stats on the helm are generous amounts of STR, AGI and STA, plus it has 3 sockets. You do NOT have to use gems of the matching color for your Red/Yellow/Blue slots, you just don't get the bonus (no loss here). With three yellow +Hit gems, this becomes one of the best options for a DW Warrior for a very long time, and, of course it can be slotted for 2H use as well. Worth farming for DWing.
Exorcist's Plate Helm (Costs 18 Spirit Shards) You can use this at level 66, and it is obtained from a vendor in either Stonebreaker Hold (Horde) or Allerian Stronghold (Ally) for 18 Spirit Shards. While the Meta slot and the small amount of Resilience make the helm look attractive as an early PVP option, I'd advise you to save your Spirit Shards for a Band of the Exorcist, and use the next option until you get Hope Bearer to drop (or until you get your Overlord's).
Clefthoof Helm (Quest in Nagrand) From the Clefthoof Mastery quest in Nagrand. Nice stats with some Hit Rating. A really solid helm for a green. Obtainable at level 64with a group.
NECK
Natasha's Choker (Quest in Blade's Edge Mountains) As a warrior, you'll want a partner for this quest chain, but it's worth the effort. This is one of the few pieces of gear on the list with no STA, because the DPS stats are the best you'll see pre-raid or pre-heroic. In fact, it's so good, it's the only DPS neck on the list. It's obtainable at 65, and even if you don't luck out on a Garrote String Necklace or Pendant of Battle Lust from Hellfire Citadel runs in your early 60s, you can easily make do for five levels and get this.
Talon Lord's Collar (Quest in Sethekk Halls) This one is a tough call. You have to give up your Mark of the Ravenguard for it, which is a very good tanking neck. However, the 21 Hit Rating is nice for DW Warriors trying to maximize +hit. Natasha's choker loses 11 hit to it, but gains 12 AP and 15 Crit Rating, so is still superior for DPS IMO, even for DW.
BACK
Vengeance Wrap (Crafted - Tailoring) This is simply an incredible DPS cape, better than other pre-raid epics for pure damage output. It's a tailoring item, and it requires a Primal Nether to make, so it will cost you, but it's worth the price.
Cloak of the Inciter (Shadow Labyrinth Drop) Great choice, especially for DW Warriors due to the +hit. Worth farming.
Delicate Green Poncho (Easy quest in Nagrand) Great DPS cloak for the effort involved, obtainable at level 64. Hide Cloak option may be best whith this thing, though, as the graphic is...lacking.
Cloak of Impulsiveness (Durnholde, CoT Drop) Decent AP cloak for the level. Not worth farming.
SHOULDERS
Sylvanaar Champion's Shoulders (Quest in Blade's Edge, Alliance Only) These are green but they have the best DPS stats of any shoulders before you hit heroics. Unfortunately, the quest line is Alliance-only.
Pauldrons of the Crimson Flight (Black Morass Drop) Nice high-STR shoulders.
Overmaster's Shoulders (Quest in Netherstorm) Decent green shoulders, not as good as Sylvanaar shoulders but available to both factions. Only drawback is low STA.
Jade Warrior Pauldrons (Quest in Hellfire Citadel) While these lack the DPS stats of the Overmaster's Shoulders above, Horde Warriors may chose to use them for the STA until they get an upgrade.
CHEST
Doomplate Chestguard (Arcatraz Drop) A pretty solid DPS chest, this is part of the Doomplate Battlegear Dungeon 3 DPS plate set. The nice thing about this set is that the two piece bonus is +35 Hit Rating (+2.21% Hit). The drawback is that the other four pieces of the set are all heroic drops.
Chestplate of A'dal (Questline in Netherstorm) Obtainable at 67 from a questline in Netherstorm. This is the same line that leads to the Arcatraz Key quest that gives Sha'tari Vindicator's Waistguard from the Tanking Gear Guide. You may as well get both. Excellent choice for DW warriors, probably the best on this list.
Blackened Chestplate (Quest in Blade's Edge) A very nice DPS chest you can get as low as level 65. The +25 Hit Rating makes it a clear winner for DW warriors.
Adamantite Breastplate (Crafted) Useable at level 67, the Stamina on this and the sockets make it a solid choice for starter PVP gear.
Durotan's Battle Harness (Durnholde, CoT Drop) Obtainable at level 66. This is a very decent crit chest for Arms Warriors. Will do quite well until you get something higher up the list.
WAIST
Deathforge Girdle (Sethekk Halls Drop) Worth farming, especially for Fury warriors, who can use the slots for +hit gems. Fortunately, Sethekk Halls is a very fast run and probably your best choice to farm for Spirit Shards, so that eases the pain of getting one of these.
Rubium War Girdle (Arcatraz Drop) Kind of sad that the runner up to a belt from an easy non-70 instance is from the hardest 70 five man, but there you have it.
Borak's Belt of Bravery (Questline in SMV) Decent belt that you can get from the questline to get your Grom'tor's Charge for your tank set. It will do the job until you can get better.
WRIST
Bands of Syth (Sethekk Halls Drop) Another good reason to farm Sethekk Halls a bit. Best DPS bracers you'll see for a while.
Adamantite Plate Bracers (Crafted) Another piece of the set. Again, nice starter PVP bracers if you want AP and STA.
Nexus Bracers of Vigor (Mana Tombs Drop) Your earliest blue DPS plate bracers. Usable at level 64.
LEGS
Legguards of the Shattered Hand (BoE World Drop, usually available on AH) On most servers, these can be had for a reasonable price. They are the second item on this list with no STA, which is a big loss for the leg slot, but this can be made up for with a Clefthide Leg Armor for PVP, or for PVE you can boost the DPS stats even further with a Cobrahide Leg Armor. Simply the best blue DPS legs available at this time, especially for DW Warriors.
Greaves of the Iron Guardian (Underbog Drop) These are the runner up for DW warriors, even though they are usable at level 63, mainly due to the sockets. They are good enough to use from 63 to 70, though some green quest legs at higher levels offer more DPS.
Midrealm Leggings (Netherstorm Quest) Very nice green quest reward legs. Obtainable at level 68.
Runed Sketh'lon Legplates (Questline in SMV) Awesome legs if you're looking to boost your crit. Obtainable at level 69.
Inkling's Leggings (Questline in Blade's Edge) Nice AP/Crit legs obtainable at level 65.
HANDS
Gauntlets of Cruel Intention (Botanica Drop) Very nice DPS gloves, and a fairly common drop from the easiest of the Tempest Keep instances.
Gauntlets of the Vanquisher (Scryer-Only Quest in Netherstorm) Nice DW gloves, though Scryer only.
Adamantite Plate Gloves (Crafted) Last piece of the set, makes the list again due to AP/STA.
Ironblade Gauntlets (Ramparts Drop) These are here simply for their two sockets. DW warriors may want to keep these to socket for +hit if they are looking to maximize +hit. Worth using until you get Gauntlets of the Vanquisher or Gauntlets of Cruel Intention, if you're DWing.
FEET
Obsidian Clodstompers (Botanica Drop) Another reason for a trip to Botanica. Very nice DPS boots that you can socket with either Crit or Hit and retain a small STR socket bonus.
Sha'tari Wrought Greaves (Quest Reward) Also featured on the Tanking Gear Guide, these can just as easily be slotted for DPS use.
RINGS
Lightwarden's Band (Aldor - Revered)
Conquerer's Band / Naliko's Revenge (Horde/Alliance Quest in Shattered Halls)
Ravenclaw Band (Sethekk Halls Drop) +Hit on this one
Ring of Umbral Doom (Botanica Drop)
Longstrider's Loop (Mana Tomb Drop) Not unique, has +hit
Ring of the Exarchs (Auchinai Crypts Drop)
Band of Triumph (Blue PVP DPS Ring)
Ogre Slayer's Band (Quest Reward, Nagrand)
Band of the Exorcist (50 Spirit Shards) Only epic on the list, because it's easy to obtain. Can use at 67.
TRINKETS
Blackhand's Breadth (Quest Reward UBRS) Why is this here? Because it's still good and it's not a drop.
Bladefist's Breadth (Quest Reward, Hellfire)
Abacus of Violent Odds (Mechanar Drop) Worth farming.
Hourglass of the Unraveller (Black Morass Drop) Worth farming.
Figurine-Felsteel Boar (Jewlecrafting, Bind on Pickup) Nice AP trinket if you happen to be a Jewel Crafter, and the little piggy can put out some damage as long as it isn't getting hit.
TWO-HANDED WEAPONS:
As previously stated, crafted BoP epics are the best here, followed by other crafted epics if you can afford them. Below are some standard DPS blues suitable for Arms or 2H Fury.
Apexis Cleaver (BoE) This can be had from AH or you can farm a Depleted Two-Handed Axe and some Apexis Crystals and make one yourself. This is from the new content in 2.1.
Hellscream's Will (Ma'har Exalted - Horde) OR
Arechron's Gift (Kurenai Exalted - Ally) These are the Talbuk mount factions in Nagrand, really easy to raise faction with.
Plasma Rat's Hyper Scythe (Mechanar Drop) Pretty common drop from first boss in Mechanar.
Sonic Spear (Shadow Labyrinth Drop) While it's a decent Warrior weapon, I'd advise you to not run with a Hunter if you want this. You'll make him a very sad Hunter if you outroll him on the Sonic Spear as it is about the best hunter weapon available for a long time, while you have a lot more options available.
Greatsword of Forlorn Visions (Botanica Drop)
Illidari Bane Claymore (Questline in SMV) Super slow, with nice high end damage range.
Firemaul of Destruction (Shattered Halls Drop) Only 90.3 DPS but has a huge top end damage due to the slow speed, tons of STA and Resilience. A nice mace spec pvp weapon.
