got really tired of playing my hunter last night, so I went and made an orc shaman... now I think I'm hooked. soooo nice to be able to do melee effectively, though I find myself a bit weak against ranged attacks since I run out of mana after a bit and have to run in. I'm definitely gonna stick with it for awhile, maybe take a long break from the hunter.
anyway, I have a couple of questions about how to play a shaman--fyi, I'm at level 12 right now, and haven't finished the fire totem quest yet.
first, is there a certain strategy that works best when fighting mobs? what I've been doing so far is to try and get as much damage in using spells as possible, while making sure I have enough mana left to heal myself and/or cast earth shock as needed.
Here's what I've been doing:
--flametongue weapon and lightning shield (all the time)
--pull the mob to me with lightning bolt--I can usually get 2-3 of these off, sometimes more
--switch to melee as soon as it gets close enough to interrupt casting lightning bolt
--either flame shock (for non-caster mobs), or save earth shock for when they start casting a spell
--if it brings friends, I use stoneclaw totem and try to get to range and use lightning bolt
--if they try to run away, earth shock if possible, otherwise drop a earthbind totem and hit them with a lightning bolt (would it be better to run after them?)
So far, this has worked pretty well, but I have a lot of trouble with multiple mobs close to my level, and I have to work pretty hard to bring down anything higher level than I am. Earthbind totem seems to be useful when running away, though...
Anyway, if I've been going about this entirely wrong, by all means feel free to yell at me (so long as you give advice after).
Second question: I'm trying to figure out which way I want to spec... I've done some reading on the pros and cons of the different talent trees, and it sounds like unless you're Restoration it's really hard to get into groups. And a little healing is nice, but I mostly like just killing things, or at least doing significant damage...really having trouble deciding on just one, though. What I'm thinking I want to do is take a few things from Elemental and Restoration, but mainly go Enhancement... would that be a bad idea? Is it better to just pick one and stick with it?
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You should decide if you want to be elemental (caster) or enhance (melee) and then spec and gear accordingly.
If you decide to go elemental you will want to do as little melee as possible since your spells will do more damage.
If you decide to go enhance you will want to do as little long-range casting as possible since you will be a beast in melee, especially once you have Windfury and can dual-wield.
Edit: You really should pick either enhance or elemental and just go straight down to at least the 31 point talent before dabbling in another tree. With enhance you will actually want 34/5 points in enhance before taking anything anywhere else. Theoretically with enhance you could put your first 45 talent points in that tree before putting your last 16 in resto and be just fine.
You will be able to heal Azerothian instances just fine as enhance spec as long as you have a set of int gear for a larger mana pool.
Edited, Feb 22nd 2008 5:57pm by Bigdaddyjug
If you decide to go elemental you will want to do as little melee as possible since your spells will do more damage.
If you decide to go enhance you will want to do as little long-range casting as possible since you will be a beast in melee, especially once you have Windfury and can dual-wield.
Edit: You really should pick either enhance or elemental and just go straight down to at least the 31 point talent before dabbling in another tree. With enhance you will actually want 34/5 points in enhance before taking anything anywhere else. Theoretically with enhance you could put your first 45 talent points in that tree before putting your last 16 in resto and be just fine.
You will be able to heal Azerothian instances just fine as enhance spec as long as you have a set of int gear for a larger mana pool.
Edited, Feb 22nd 2008 5:57pm by Bigdaddyjug
I think I do want to go mostly Enhancement, since I prefer melee--the reason I want a bit from Elemental is to help with Shock spells. The three things from Elemental that I want seem as if they'd be the most immediately helpful for me, but like I said I don't have much experience with this class.
I'm still tweaking it a bit, but here's what I was thinking of:
http://www.wowhead.com/?talent=hE00xZxVczE0sAuoom
I'm still tweaking it a bit, but here's what I was thinking of:
http://www.wowhead.com/?talent=hE00xZxVczE0sAuoom
Well, I suppose that build might work if you have no plans on ever raiding or joining a group. If you do intend to do those things...it really isn't very good.
For one thing, you took none of the improved totem talents (we are a support class, after all). Secondly, you didn't pick up Nature's Guidance, which means you're going to need to find a lot more +hit or miss a lot, which means your DPS will be terrible, as most of an enhancement shamans damage is white damage. Thirdly, you don't have unleashed rage. That right there would keep me from ever inviting you to any group. Heck, it even helps when soloing, as you will crit a lot if geared properly, and that extra 10% attack power is really nice.
You'd be better off with something like this. The 2 points in Guardian Totems are a personal thing, and pretty much solely for the shorter cooldown on grounding totem. Though, if the 2 second ghost wolf goes through (and thereby instant ghost wolf with improved ghost wolf) I might take that instead, at least at low levels. The 2 points in improved reincarnation are personal preference as well, you can pretty much put those 2 points anywhere you like.
For one thing, you took none of the improved totem talents (we are a support class, after all). Secondly, you didn't pick up Nature's Guidance, which means you're going to need to find a lot more +hit or miss a lot, which means your DPS will be terrible, as most of an enhancement shamans damage is white damage. Thirdly, you don't have unleashed rage. That right there would keep me from ever inviting you to any group. Heck, it even helps when soloing, as you will crit a lot if geared properly, and that extra 10% attack power is really nice.
You'd be better off with something like this. The 2 points in Guardian Totems are a personal thing, and pretty much solely for the shorter cooldown on grounding totem. Though, if the 2 second ghost wolf goes through (and thereby instant ghost wolf with improved ghost wolf) I might take that instead, at least at low levels. The 2 points in improved reincarnation are personal preference as well, you can pretty much put those 2 points anywhere you like.
I would agree that you should go right down the enhancement tree before starting to dabble in the other trees. At lower leves, if I knew that I were going to be facing multiple mobs, I would drop a fire nova totem just before they go to me. Heck, I would do this against single mobs that were higher level than me. This would help burn them down that much faster. I also liked to open with flame shock and watch their health drop as they neared on me.
It looks like you are planning on DWing. When you get enough points to put into resto, definitely put points into nature's guidance. The +6% to hit from improved dual wield added to the +3% from nature's guidance is awesome. +9% to hit from talents alone is invaluable.
Definitely put points into unleashed rage. The benefit in ap to yourself and others if you are partied really helps. Besides boosting your melee, you will see an increase in your spell damage through mental quickness.
I am a fan of enhancing totems and guardian totems. The increase in str and agi will help when you are fighting multiple mobs, as well as helping others when you group with them.
BTW Vaeliorin, you didn't put any points into unleashed rage in the build that you linked.
It looks like you are planning on DWing. When you get enough points to put into resto, definitely put points into nature's guidance. The +6% to hit from improved dual wield added to the +3% from nature's guidance is awesome. +9% to hit from talents alone is invaluable.
Definitely put points into unleashed rage. The benefit in ap to yourself and others if you are partied really helps. Besides boosting your melee, you will see an increase in your spell damage through mental quickness.
I am a fan of enhancing totems and guardian totems. The increase in str and agi will help when you are fighting multiple mobs, as well as helping others when you group with them.
BTW Vaeliorin, you didn't put any points into unleashed rage in the build that you linked.
Scholar
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I normally used a build like this.
http://www.wowhead.com/?talent=hEM0h0hZxVcdV0siuqo
Its nice to have the extra spell dam and healing and reduced mana from mental quickness but the points can be moved somewhere else easily. The points in mental quickness and elemental devestation can be moved to tidal focus in the resto tree or call of thunder in the ele tree if you like to cast more lightning spells.
Also the points in elemental warding and reverberation can be moved between the two talents depending on how much you pvp. The reduced cool down on shocks is more of a pvp thing than a pve thing but is helpfull with pve as well.
This is just how I liked using it.
http://www.wowhead.com/?talent=hEM0h0hZxVcdV0siuqo
Its nice to have the extra spell dam and healing and reduced mana from mental quickness but the points can be moved somewhere else easily. The points in mental quickness and elemental devestation can be moved to tidal focus in the resto tree or call of thunder in the ele tree if you like to cast more lightning spells.
Also the points in elemental warding and reverberation can be moved between the two talents depending on how much you pvp. The reduced cool down on shocks is more of a pvp thing than a pve thing but is helpfull with pve as well.
This is just how I liked using it.
Kellindross wrote:
BTW Vaeliorin, you didn't put any points into unleashed rage in the build that you linked.
Grr...that's because it wasn't the build I meant to link.
This is what I meant to link.
Edited, Feb 26th 2008 10:06pm by Vaeliorin
1 post
isyris wrote:
first, is there a certain strategy that works best when fighting mobs? what I've been doing so far is to try and get as much damage in using spells as possible, while making sure I have enough mana left to heal myself and/or cast earth shock as needed.
This is what I've been doing...and I seem to cut through things nicely.
*Cast Lightning Shield and have 3 orbs ready.
*Pull the target with Lightning Bolt.
*Then drop all of the useful Totems, or atleast the ones that may fade soon, and are nearby.
*In most cases I'll now be in Melee.
*When the Lightning Shield has gone away...recast. And keep on swinging.
Lightning shield is an instant cast and it does damage to things that decide to melee you back. If you're trying to go Melee, why blast 2 or 3 lightning bolts when the mob is charging you? That mana is better served healing yourself at the end of combat, or casting the instant 'Lightning Shield'.
Vaeliorin wrote:
Kellindross wrote:
BTW Vaeliorin, you didn't put any points into unleashed rage in the build that you linked.
Grr...that's because it wasn't the build I meant to link.
This is what I meant to link.
Edited, Feb 26th 2008 10:06pm by Vaeliorin
Ah, now that I can -see- it...
it makes me go "oh man, what was I thinking?" and "I'm totally doing that". Thanks for showing me, I think that's definitely what I'll be going with as soon as I have the spare gold to fix what I've already put into Ele. :)
HagerHobbit wrote:
If you're trying to go Melee, why blast 2 or 3 lightning bolts when the mob is charging you? That mana is better served healing yourself at the end of combat, or casting the instant 'Lightning Shield'.
You have a very good point. So far, I haven't had much trouble with running out of mana, but I really shouldn't make a habit of being careless with it. And I... didn't realize I could cast Lightning Shield in combat. So, thanks for telling me. (I'm learning, at least!)
Def go enhancement, you say you like smashing things and doing significant damage, while elemental does more damage in the long run, enhancement brings much more to groups. Especially when youre put in a melee group for raids.
Just know this, pvp will be a breeze as a shaman period until 70, thats when the class's flaws start coming out since every other class has a CC to make enhancement especially flawed for pvp.
Enjoy playing your shaman!!!!!!
Edited, Feb 28th 2008 9:22am by Draeneipally
Just know this, pvp will be a breeze as a shaman period until 70, thats when the class's flaws start coming out since every other class has a CC to make enhancement especially flawed for pvp.
Enjoy playing your shaman!!!!!!
Edited, Feb 28th 2008 9:22am by Draeneipally
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