Im currently enhancement, but whenever I join a group for an instance Im usually expected to heal. My question is: are shamans ever wanted as dps in endgame? It seems like a mage or warlock could do better than elemental and a rogue or dps warrior could do better than enhancement.
Any thoughts?
- Forums
- World of Warcraft
- Class Discussion
- What kind of shamans are wanted endgame?
What kind of shamans are wanted endgame?Follow
40 posts
Shamans are indeed wanted to dps endgame. Depending on the guild you're in you may need to respec to resto to fill some of the healing gaps that may be present in your guild.
Well, if you do the math, its not hard to see generally what shaman's are "prefered" to do in endgame play.
9 classes X 3 specs per class = 27 different setups.
Of the 27, Only 3 are tank focused specs, 19, are dps focused and 5 are healer focused specs. Dps is a dime a dozen, and for the most part either of the 19 dps specs are inter-changable between themselves. But, trying to find a healer, or should I say someone that CAN heal...is a much rarer breed. So, due to this fact shaman's get shoe horned into healing, due to the NEED.
Typically, if there's 2 slot left in a party/raid, and there's you (a shaman) and a rogue/lock/(fill in the blank dps spec) to choose from. Guess what the odds are that the party/raid leader is going to pick you as a DPS, and "wait" for a "healer" to show up? :p
You guessed it, they're going to pick you for healing, and grab the dps class (there's ALWAYS dps LFG). Hell, you could have been even a "A" class, top notch DPS, even better than Mr(s). "X" dps class. But DPS person "X" bandages will NEVER come close to the amount of healing that you can do, even when your not "speced" for it as a shaman.
Unlike Druids, we're only a 2 dimentional "hybrid" spec....Healer OR DPS. Druids are a full 3D hybrid...Healer/DPS/Tank. By the #'s, it would be to no surprise that Druids "tend" to tank more simply due to the fact that there's less spec's based on tanking, then even compared to healers, which by default...over shadows the possiblities of their DPS roles.
Shaman's on the other hand, since we can only fill 2 roles in a party/raid...and one of thoughs roles can be easily filled with A LOT of other options...guess what happens :P
Now, this being said...I am a 70 Enh shaman, and have been one for a while now (granted I have played all specs at one time or another for about a year each). But, my choice on Enh is a intentional one, due to the fact that since I play in a "odd" time zone, and difficult time schedual, and of late raiding/partys are nearly impossible. So even if I spec'd resto, it wouldn't be doing me or anyone else any good :P I spend most of my game time farming, and resto SUCKS for that roll. Thus, Enh was a obvious choice for me. Granted I used to raid TONS as a Enh, but I had a more unique situation in my guild that allowed me to do so. Few of the factors was I was formerly a Resto shaman, so I have a nearly complete Epic set of healing gear, and the veteran experiance of a healer role...thus I'm more than compitent to fill that role if/when needed, and I was called upon frequently to do so also.
Secondly, if/when I was able to dps, I tended to be #1-3 on the DPS meters, AS WELL as Top 3 on the healing too. So I proved my worth as being a truly active hybird, taking care of all bases. Not to mention I'm a "nice guy" on TS, and I can shmooze myself into anything with my charm -_0 But thats just me, and my situation...can't speak on behalf of the rest of the shaman lot.
But, generally speaking and looking at the math from what I mentioned above, be ready to heal, and you might have already noticed from playing currently. That situation isn't going to change ever, unless other classes are given more healing roles :p And I don't see that happening anytime soon :p
9 classes X 3 specs per class = 27 different setups.
Of the 27, Only 3 are tank focused specs, 19, are dps focused and 5 are healer focused specs. Dps is a dime a dozen, and for the most part either of the 19 dps specs are inter-changable between themselves. But, trying to find a healer, or should I say someone that CAN heal...is a much rarer breed. So, due to this fact shaman's get shoe horned into healing, due to the NEED.
Typically, if there's 2 slot left in a party/raid, and there's you (a shaman) and a rogue/lock/(fill in the blank dps spec) to choose from. Guess what the odds are that the party/raid leader is going to pick you as a DPS, and "wait" for a "healer" to show up? :p
You guessed it, they're going to pick you for healing, and grab the dps class (there's ALWAYS dps LFG). Hell, you could have been even a "A" class, top notch DPS, even better than Mr(s). "X" dps class. But DPS person "X" bandages will NEVER come close to the amount of healing that you can do, even when your not "speced" for it as a shaman.
Unlike Druids, we're only a 2 dimentional "hybrid" spec....Healer OR DPS. Druids are a full 3D hybrid...Healer/DPS/Tank. By the #'s, it would be to no surprise that Druids "tend" to tank more simply due to the fact that there's less spec's based on tanking, then even compared to healers, which by default...over shadows the possiblities of their DPS roles.
Shaman's on the other hand, since we can only fill 2 roles in a party/raid...and one of thoughs roles can be easily filled with A LOT of other options...guess what happens :P
Now, this being said...I am a 70 Enh shaman, and have been one for a while now (granted I have played all specs at one time or another for about a year each). But, my choice on Enh is a intentional one, due to the fact that since I play in a "odd" time zone, and difficult time schedual, and of late raiding/partys are nearly impossible. So even if I spec'd resto, it wouldn't be doing me or anyone else any good :P I spend most of my game time farming, and resto SUCKS for that roll. Thus, Enh was a obvious choice for me. Granted I used to raid TONS as a Enh, but I had a more unique situation in my guild that allowed me to do so. Few of the factors was I was formerly a Resto shaman, so I have a nearly complete Epic set of healing gear, and the veteran experiance of a healer role...thus I'm more than compitent to fill that role if/when needed, and I was called upon frequently to do so also.
Secondly, if/when I was able to dps, I tended to be #1-3 on the DPS meters, AS WELL as Top 3 on the healing too. So I proved my worth as being a truly active hybird, taking care of all bases. Not to mention I'm a "nice guy" on TS, and I can shmooze myself into anything with my charm -_0 But thats just me, and my situation...can't speak on behalf of the rest of the shaman lot.
But, generally speaking and looking at the math from what I mentioned above, be ready to heal, and you might have already noticed from playing currently. That situation isn't going to change ever, unless other classes are given more healing roles :p And I don't see that happening anytime soon :p
gp speaks the truth, and i have felt the blunt force of stereotyping a class, as my highest levels are a warrior and a priest(Fury and Shadow respectively).
Shadow isn't so much of a problem as we have utility and good dps,
But as a fury warrior i am constantly asked if I can tank an instance, which i am not too fond of or good at.
If you're lucky and get a guild/group of friends that will allow you to raid/partay with them at enhancement well grats to you, but until that happens expect to be stereotyped by every noob that doesn't realise that Shammies can do more than heal-.
Shadow isn't so much of a problem as we have utility and good dps,
But as a fury warrior i am constantly asked if I can tank an instance, which i am not too fond of or good at.
If you're lucky and get a guild/group of friends that will allow you to raid/partay with them at enhancement well grats to you, but until that happens expect to be stereotyped by every noob that doesn't realise that Shammies can do more than heal-.
If you can get good gear and show a guild what kind of damage you can put out, then yes, you're wanted. Unleashed rage, Windfury, and Strength of Earth are all *very* powerful in 25-man raids. You're going to have to get some good gear for that, though, and have to get a guild willing to try you out.
Quote:
It seems like a mage or warlock could do better than elemental and a rogue or dps warrior could do better than enhancement.
DPS Shamans definitely have a place in endgame raiding. While it is true that the true classes can top our DPS if they are geared and specced correctly shaman DPS is not to be underestimated. Having said that the main reason we are wanted for raiding is the buffs we bring to those other classes.
An elemental shammy with WoA and ToW down just gave the caster group 101 Spellpower and 3% Spell hit and crit and can also have MS down for some good mana regen. An enhancement shaman with SoE and WF down just buffed the melee DPS party through the roof also with up to ~200 AP and a chance for an extra attack every swing and if they are totem twisting with Tranquil Air all that DPS generates 20% less threat.
The true power of the shaman is their utility and the buffs they bring to the raid regardless of their spec.
And shamans are actually capable [mind you--> "capable"] of doing dps, healing and buffing at the same time.
Shamans are the best way to learn teamwork, strategy and mana/spell management.
Druids have to change into a roll to do them. now with tree of lulz and Boomkin they specialize even further [which is needed to fill the role in parties] but then lose spell dps/healing abilities respectively.
Sure it only takes a moment to transform. But everyone should know that a moment is for than enough to make it too late to avoid a wipe or save that hunter.
Shamans are all this in one package. My best shaman friends, despite being elemental, enh or resto, use all their available spells. They just focus 20% more on their specialisation.
Your specialisation will depend, in the end, on what your guild wants. But dont limit yourself to just that specialisation.
Shamans are the best way to learn teamwork, strategy and mana/spell management.
Druids have to change into a roll to do them. now with tree of lulz and Boomkin they specialize even further [which is needed to fill the role in parties] but then lose spell dps/healing abilities respectively.
Sure it only takes a moment to transform. But everyone should know that a moment is for than enough to make it too late to avoid a wipe or save that hunter.
Shamans are all this in one package. My best shaman friends, despite being elemental, enh or resto, use all their available spells. They just focus 20% more on their specialisation.
Your specialisation will depend, in the end, on what your guild wants. But dont limit yourself to just that specialisation.
#8REDACTED,
Posted: Oct 17 2007 at 1:54 AM, Rating: Sub-Default, (Expand Post) i helped a raid on UC last night, DPS was #6 in the entire raid when we wiped and went back to SW and were hailed lol. Next time they want me to respec resto and heal, i think because resto heals have great buffs as well, but 50g to respec to resto and back to ele is nothing... outlands FTW
To keep it in short, It will be easiest for you to raid as a resto spec, but any spec would be viable.
Most raid leaders will turn you down for raids as an elemental or enhancement spec because of the pure fact that they would perfer to have a mage/lock or a rogue/hunter.
Most raid leaders will turn you down for raids as an elemental or enhancement spec because of the pure fact that they would perfer to have a mage/lock or a rogue/hunter.
All this is encouraging, as I am just starting shaman. Sounds like you'll be really liked if you keep target of target up, and throw a heal on occasion if it looks like the healers are having trouble keeping up. After all, as enhancement, mana isn't a huge issue with shamanistic rage, from what I keep hearing.
Many people agree that enhancement Shamans are wanted in 25 man raids for their buffs, off healing ability, and other neat stuff.
Just wondering how do Shamans fair in 5 man raids? Both non-heroics and heroics.
Can anyone give me/everyone a bit of detail for each build, Ele/Enh/Restro, and their usefulness in 5 mans?
Just wondering how do Shamans fair in 5 man raids? Both non-heroics and heroics.
Can anyone give me/everyone a bit of detail for each build, Ele/Enh/Restro, and their usefulness in 5 mans?
Well, from an Enhancement perspective, I don't quite have enough rep to start doing heroics, but I always seem to have someone asking me to group with them for a 5 man. The trick (well, it's not much of a trick) is being able to adapt to the situation and play accordingly. Use your totems efficiently, do damage without pulling aggro and always be ready to start healing if the main healer goes OOM, ends up dead or other party members besides the tank start taking damage.
As for Resto, when's the last time you were easily able to find a healer? Healers always get love.
As for Resto, when's the last time you were easily able to find a healer? Healers always get love.
#14REDACTED,
Posted: Oct 21 2007 at 12:54 AM, Rating: Sub-Default, (Expand Post) or you could pull a me and DE your entire 1700 healing and 127 mp resto set so that your guild can never ask you to respec again
#15REDACTED,
Posted: Oct 21 2007 at 12:56 AM, Rating: Sub-Default, (Expand Post) these raid leaders would never make it past gruul's /mags due to their stupidity and narrowsightedness
In my experience what it really comes down to asa a hyvrid class is rep-specing alot, i had to re-spec enhancement last night aafter i got my set because my guild wanted to try and run ZG
Quote:
Just wondering how do Shamans fair in 5 man raids? Both non-heroics and heroics.
Can anyone give me/everyone a bit of detail for each build, Ele/Enh/Restro, and their usefulness in 5 mans?
Can anyone give me/everyone a bit of detail for each build, Ele/Enh/Restro, and their usefulness in 5 mans?
These are just instances, not raids, but to answer your question we can really dominate in standard 5 mans but can often struggle to get spots in heroics, this is because in a normal 5 man our burst damage can really make a difference but in heroics CC is FTW.
Quote:
the highest dps group you will ever see has an enhancement shaman in it as well as a fury warrior and dps specced feral druid, with 2 rogues
no group in a raid even if they outgear that stacked melee dps group by a fair amount will ever touch on their dmg
no group in a raid even if they outgear that stacked melee dps group by a fair amount will ever touch on their dmg
QFT.
Recent Visitors: 21
All times are in CST
Anonymous Guests (21)
- Forums
- World of Warcraft
- Class Discussion
- What kind of shamans are wanted endgame?
© 2024 Fanbyte LLC