Help with my melee build...Follow

I normally don't like posts like this, but after getting to 70 on druid, and finding out how off I was on my build than, and seeing how off I was with my priest the first....6....times, I want to ask what people think of my shaman build before I start really using it to level. http://www.worldofwarcraft.com/info/classes/shaman/talents.html?0523015001300000000005052301050013053115100000000000000000000

I plan on filling out the first 41 points on enhancement, building up to the rage, than going for elemental devastation. The big thing I'm wondering is if devastation is worth it, or if I'd be better off putting the left over points in resto. My style is as much damage as fast as possible, so I'll be mostly focusing on dual wielding to get the biggest effect from +crit (I know it's silly, but I like the fact that with said strategy, I'm relying on being lucky with crits...guess I'm a bit of a gambler).

I guess the big thing I want to know for leveling, if this build isn't crazy of course, is if I'm better of going straight for rage, or if it'd be better to get to the dual wield talents, than work on Devastation before going to the rage talents?

Edited because my second question was answered by another post.

Edited, Oct 20th 2007 4:36am by CrimsonNeko

This is the build I'm working on. I'd love to spend a few more points in Resto, but oh well.

Your build is OK for an Enh/Elem build, what we like to call a suicide build, awesome burst damage with very little survivability, great for PvP but weaker for PvE.

Having said that I would suggest some changes.

First off lose Shield Spec and take Ancestral Knowledge, you will probably never equip a shield again after you get 2 handers so it's just a waste of points to take the spec.

Second we'll move some Elem points around, lose Elem Devastation, this is a trick talent that requires more sacrifice of melee stat than it returns. Use those points to fill out Eye of the Storm.
Lose Elem Warding and Earth's Grasp and take Convection for cheaper shocks.

That leaves you one point you can put wherever. However for PvE viability I would also lose the 3 points in Imp Lightning Shield and along with that point fill out Enhancing Totems and Imp Weapon Totems. Final build looks like this.

If you are really wanting to focus on PvE I would move all the elemental points to resto and do something like this. For pure raiding you can lose the 5 points in Healing Focus and max out Totemic Focus then sink the last 3 points in Mental Quickness (Enhance).

For PvP lose everything after Stormstrike (including dual wield) and either go for NS in Resto or buff out your shocks to the max. Let me know if you want some PvP builds (though there should be a couple of threads with some already).

Not sure if I quite understand the question, but we'll see...

Enhance/Elem can definitely be made to work but generally only for PvP, it's what we call a suicide build and the idea is maximum burst at the expense of survivability. However I personally feel that Enhance/Resto is the better option for PvP.

For PvE Enhance/Elem is simply not viable IMO, especially if you want to get into endgame where you really need to focus on a particular style. Resto offers far more to the PvE enhancement shaman than Elem ever will.

"helps to read the question! Saw Resto and posted my resto build,"

Here's my Enhancement Build. Imp Ghost Wolf is a lovely talent, makes running away so much easier.

Edited, Oct 30th 2007 11:15am by Wulelendamuwi

Yes, I've healed all regular 5 mans as Enhance. Just make sure you have a decent healing set and aren't trying to heal in your dps gear.

I haven't tried healing a heroic instance as Enhance, but I doubt it'd be possible without a very good group.

Its possible and I do it quite often actually (tho frankly I don't "prefer" to do it, its just that I get "stuck" doing it)

Granted, before some non-resto spec sham tries to slap on some green quality healing set, and head off to H Slave Pens to main heal, there's some criteria that MUST be met (or at least emulated from me)

#1- I spent at least 1 year playing a pure Resto! So, that means I am more than capable to the main-healing situation, and playing the healing roll is 2nd nature. THIS is by far the BIGGEST factor! Skill>Gear>Spec Healing skills is its own specialization, and a skill that requires depth. If you don't go skillz, then theres no amount of epic gear thats going to make you better! Period!

#2- Thanks to my above statement. While playing Resto for a extended amount of time, its without surprise that I aquired some pretty PIMP healing set. Basically with the exception of my trinkets and hands and gloves, everything I wear is of Epic quality.

Heroic instances are scaled soo high, that frankly even a Pure Resto shaman isn't going to last if they are sporting all greens (or even a few blues and greens)! SO thinking that a non-resto with similar gear is going to get "exceptional" results.

Granted as I've already said it IS possible to MH heroics as a non-resto...its safe to say your going to need some VERY exceptional gear to do so.

Now, I'm sure having 21 points into resto "helps" some, and having a FULL supply of pots and drums of resto from LW on hand all the time, tips things in my favor. But the 2 biggests things I mentioned above are KEY, but the fact does remain...yes you CAN MH heroics as a non-resto.