Cleave – Term Explanation in World of Warcraft

Definition & Purpose

• Secondary Splash Damage: “Cleave” deals damage to the primary target and adjacent or nearby enemies. It’s a partial AoE, often limited in number of extra targets.
• Example Usage: “Melee, watch your positioning—this boss has a frontal cleave!”

Cleave Mechanics

• Player Abilities: Warriors have Cleave or Whirlwind that strikes multiple targets.
• Boss Abilities: Many large mobs have frontal or conal cleave attacks, punishing poor positioning.

References

• Positioning Guides (Raid Mechanics) – Learning to stand behind a boss to avoid cleave is a common raiding rule.
• Class Ability Tooltips – Read your ability descriptions to see if they provide a cleave effect.