Overview
This is the tank whose role changed the least since Classic, even though almost its whole tree was rebuilt. Threat now comes from talents: 
Defiance raises your threat in Defensive Stance while you wear a shield, and 
Revenge scales with attack power so you stay ahead of well-geared DPS. Sword and board is the expected style again.
Thunder Clap works in Defensive Stance. With the rage talents, you hold several mobs without spending your time tab-targeting for 
Sunder Armor. Stance dancing becomes optional, but it is still worth learning.
At level 20 in the beta, Protection sits in A tier among tanks, thanks to abilities that generate a lot of threat and to Thunder Clap in Defensive Stance.
Strengths and weaknesses
Strengths
- Full defensive kitShield Wall, Retaliation, Last Stand: the most complete defensive toolkit of any tank.
- Always in contactCharge and Intercept bring you back fast.
- Battle ShoutA buff for the whole group.
Weaknesses
- Tight rageStill short while leveling.
- No ThornsNo passive damage at low level: a Paladin or a Druid helps you a lot.
- Area threatA notch below the Paladin at level 20.
Read the details
You have the most complete defensive abilities of any tank: 
Shield Wall, 
Retaliation, 
Last Stand. 
Charge and 
Intercept bring you back into melee fast, and your 
Battle Shout benefits the whole group.
On the other hand, rage stays tight while leveling. You are the only tank without Thorns-style passive damage: a Paladin with Retribution Aura or a Druid with Thorns helps you a lot. At level 20, your area threat is still a notch below the Paladin’s.
Key spells
Key talents
Shield Specialization (5 ranks)+5% block and 5 rage on every block. With it, Shield Block costs almost nothing and Revenge becomes reliable.- +50% rage from Bloodrage.
- Thunder Clap costs 6 less rage.
- Up to +60% Revenge damage.
- 30% more maximum health for 20 sec.
- 5 rage when you dodge or parry with a shield. Weak at level 20, with around 10% avoidance.
Vanguard (level 25)Charge becomes usable in Defensive Stance.- +10% damage with a shield.
Focused Rage: your offensive abilities cost 3 less rage. 
Shield Slam at the bottom of the tree, whose damage follows your block value.
Rotation and priorities
Single target:
Multiple targets: Charge, Bloodrage, Thunder Clap first, Shield Block for Revenge, Demoralizing Shout, then Heroic Strike or 
Cleave with spare rage.
In the beta, Sunder Armor generates very little threat and Demoralizing Shout generates none: do not spam them for threat. Avoid Heroic Strike without spare rage, since it costs rage and removes the rage from your auto attack.
Stats
- 1Stamina
- then 2Defense
- then 3Hit
- then 4Block value
- 4 Block value
- Shield Slam damage scales with it
Order to be confirmed: the exact priority is not settled yet.
No list is established. Look for Stamina, defense, hit and block value, which Shield Slam damage scales with. The order is still to be confirmed.
Leveling
At level 20: Shield Specialization 5/5, 
Improved Bloodrage 2/2, 
Improved Thunder Clap 3/3, and the last point in Improved Revenge. Last Stand is an option. With up to 3 Legacy points, add 2 points to Improved Revenge, then Master of Defense or Last Stand.
Set up stance macros: Charge needs Battle Stance until Vanguard at level 25, and Intercept, at level 30, needs Berserker Stance. Use Shield Block freely. Wailing Caverns and The Deadmines have useful tanking pieces.
Changes compared to Classic
- New talents.
- Battle or Defensive Stance, 20% attack speed slow, 6 sec cooldown.
- 7 sec and 2 blocked attacks (5 sec and 1 attack before).
- 60% reduction for 12 sec, 15 min cooldown.
- +20 defense instead of +10.
- +50% of all the rage from Bloodrage.
- +60% damage instead of a chance to stun.
- +15% threat in Defensive Stance with a shield.
- Now reduce cooldowns.
