Shaman Class Guide
Elemental Shaman Guide created by Liax
Enhancement Shamans For Dummies created by Nezchia
Enhancement Shaman DPS Guide created by Elam
Shamans control the elements of Nature, which are Earth, Air, Water and Lightning. They can focus the powers of nature into powerful totems to benefit them and their group, or hone the power and use it against there enemies. Shamans can fill the role of a Healer, Melee DPS or Caster. None of the Shamans talent trees are more powerful then another since they all fill different rolls.
Shamans have two damage specs, Elemental and Enhancement. Enhancement focuses on Melee Combat and Elemental focuses on Ranged Combat with your shock spells and Lightning spells. Shamans third spec is Restoration, which obviously focuses on your healing spells and totems. Each one of the Shamans specs has different perks and abilities in it to make it better and useful.
Elemental has Totem of Wrath which increases you and your groups spell power by 280. In addition it also increases the critical strike chance of all attacks made against enemies within 40 yards.
Enhancement has Dual Wield which is rather self explanitory. It also has Shamanistic Rage which decreases damage taken by 30% and gives your melee attacks a chance to regenerate mana equal to 30% of your attack power.
Restoration has Mana Tide totem which restores 6% of you and your groups total mana every 3 seconds for 12 seconds. Restoration also has Earth Shield which decreases time lost when you're hit while channeling a spell. It also will heal you everytime you take damage until its charges run out.
Shamans have a slew of totems available to them, it may get confusing when you first start playing the class, on which totem is good when and what each totem does. So below I've compiled a list of each totem a shaman has, what it does and when the best time to use it is.
Earth Totems
Earthbind Totem: Earthbind Totem slows the movement speed of any enemies within 10 yards of it by 50% for 2 seconds. Ever 2 seconds the totem will "Pulse" and refresh the slow. If you are an Enhancement Shaman and you get the Earthen Power talent your Earthbind Totem will have a 100% to remove and slows from you and your group if you are within 10 yards of the totem.
Stoneskin Totem: Stoneskin Totem raises the armor of party members within range of it. This totem is rarely used in PvE and never used in PvP. If you have an exceptionally weak tank for an encounter maybe this totem may benefit him, but it is doubtfull.
Stoneclaw Totem: The Stoneclaw Totem taunts enemies within 8 yards of it to attack the totem. While this totem is being attacked it has a chance to stun an attacker for 3 seconds. Also While this totem is up it will protect all of the shamans other totems absorbing the damage they take.
Strength of Earth Totem: This totem increases the Strength and Agility of all party members within range by 155 (178 with talents). This is one of the best totems you can drop to improve your groups DPS.
Tremor Totem: Tremor totem has a pulse similar to Earthbind. Any party members within 30 yards of the totem will have their Charm, Fear or Sleep removed when it pulses. This totem is great in arenas when you're against a warlock.
Earth Elemental Totem: Summons an Earth Elemental to protect you for 2 minutes. This Earth Elemental does a good deal of damage and is often used to get the little extra DPS you need for some boss encounters. Not usable in Arenas.
Water Totems
Healing Stream Totem: Healing Stream Totem heals all group members in range for 25 health every 2 seconds at it's maximum rank. Spellpower increases the healing this totem does. This totem has its uses in both PvE and PvP, but its not one of the Shamans best totems.
Mana Spring Totem: Mana Spring Totem grants the shaman and his party 34 mana every 2 seconds while they are in range of this totem. This is one of the most common totems used in raids and also has its uses in the Arena.
Poison Cleansing Totem: Poison Cleansing totem will dispell a poison from you or your group if you are within 30 yards of it, it pulses once every 5 seconds. This totem is rarely used in PvE, but its a must in PvP if you're against a Hunter or Rogue.
Disease Cleansing Totem: Disease Cleansing Totem will dispell a disease from you or your group if you are within 30 yards of it, it pulses once every 5 seconds. This totem is good against Death Knights and good for getting some Diseases off in PvE as well.
Mana Tide Totem: Mana Tide totem requires you to have 31 points into restoration. Mana Tide totem restores 6% of you and your groups total mana every 3 seconds for 12 seconds. This is an AMAZING totem to have, in both PvE and PvP. In PvP you'll have to try to hide it from the enemy so they don't know where it is to destroy it.
Fire Resistance Totem: Fire Resistance Totem increases your Resistances to fire based spells by 130 at its maximum rank. It has its uses in PvE but will rarely be used in PvP.
Fire Totems
Searing Totem: Searing Totem has a quick pulse effect that deals 90 to 120 spell damage to all enemies around it. Spell Damage will effect the damage it does. Searing Totem is good for finding Rogues and Druids, Otherwise don't drop this totem since it does break Crowd Control effects.
Fire Nova Totem: Fire Nova totem will send out a wave 10 seconds after it is placed that deals 893 to 997 fire damage to all enemies within 10 yards. Spell Power will effect the damage it does, also similar to Searing Totem in PvP I recommend you shelf this one since it will break CC effects.
Magma Totem: Magma Totem is very similar to Searing Totem, it pulses every 2 seconds and causes 371 damage to any enemies within 8 yards. I'd recommend using Searing Totem to find a Rogue over Magma Totem since it uses dramatically less mana. However while soloing Magma Totem is a good choice.
Frost Resistance Totem: Frost Resistance Totem increases your Resistances to frost based spells by 130 at its maximum rank. It has its uses in both PvE and PvP. Somtimes a Shaman may drop this totem if him and his team are against more then one Frost Mage and there isn't a Paladin to use Frost Resistance Aura.
Flametongue Totem: Flametongue Totem increases the Spell Damage and Healing done by anyone in range by 144. This is a great totem in both PvE and PvP, even though it stands out much more in PvE.
Totem of Wrath: Totem of Wrath requires 41 points into Elemental. Totem of Wrath increases the spell power by you and your party by 280, it also increases the crit chance made against all enemies within 40 yards of the totem. Totem of Wrath is one of the best Shaman Totems for spell casters. It is used a lot in both PvE and PvP by Elemental Shamans. Also something I'd like to note is that the enemy must be within 40 yards of the totem, The crit chance is applied to the enemy, not you.
Fire Elemental Totem: The Fire Elemental Totem summons a Fire Elemental to protect you and your allies for 2 minutes. He does a good deal of damage and is useful for maximizing your DPS. He cannot be used in Arenas.
Air Totems
Windfury Totem: The Windfury Totem increases your melee haste by 16%. This totem is great for groups and raids. It no longer is a must for arenas, but it is still a good DPS increase in the arena.
Grounding Totem: Grounding Totem is one of the best totems a Shaman has. Ground Totem will redirect one harmful spell to it that would hit the Shaman or his group. After taking the hit from the spell, the grounding totem will die.
Sentry Totem: The Sentry totem works as a sentry allowing you to see what the totem sees from up to 100 yards away. This totem is really a "Just for fun" totem.
Nature Resistance Totem: Nature Resistance Totem increases your resistances against Nature spells by 130 at its maximum rank. This totem has its uses for some raid encounters, and is never seen in PvP.
Wrath of Air Totem: Wrath of Air provides 5% spell haste to you and your group. This is a great totem for Raids and Elemental Shamans in PvP.
Shamans are a great class that offer a lot in terms of healing and being able to do damage. They are one of the most versatile classes aside from Druids and Paladins.
Shamans Strengths:
- Very versatile class
- They have a totem for almost any situation
- They have Ghost Wolf which is similar to the Druids travel form, it allows you to move 40% faster.
Shamans Weaknesses:
- The Shamans totems can easily be destroyed
- Enhancement Shamans seem to be almost as squishy as Mages, which makes them a great first target in arenas
- Since you're such a versatile class you'll need multiple sets of armor, which in term will take up a bunch of bag space
Recommended Specs:
Having trouble picking the right spec for your Shaman? Keep on reading to find out which spec would be best for you!
Recommended PvE Shaman Specs:
Shaman PvE Heal Spec
Shaman Elemental Spec
Shaman Enhance Spec
Shaman Leveling Spec