Question for you expierenced Shamans....Follow

Well depending on which you enjoy more (assuming ranged from your post), I'd say go elemental. Elemental is more of a ranged spec (since you pretty much spam Lightning Bolts), Enhancement is more melee. Although, many people (along with the FAQ) says enhancement is the quickest to level with, do what you want. Honestly, I felt that both Enh and elem levelled about the same. Take a look here for some specs you can use.

If you plan on going Resto later on in the game, I'd suggest just waiting until you hit 70. I managed to gather a bit of healing gear along the way while in Outlands and healed just fine specced as elemental.

Since you mentioned

I would suggest going enhance. You can level faster this way and have less downtime. it is the easiest of the 3 builds to lvl fast, with resto being the hardest.
But as an OP mentioned, pick which one you will enjoy
elemental-ranged DPS
enhance-melee
resto-heals plan on doing alot of instances to lvl as this is harder going solo

The whole "good melee and ranged" thing is going to wear off at about level 20. At that point, if you're trying to do both, you're going to be much less effective and slower leveling than if you focus on one or the other.

As for which one to go with, there are two routes you can take:

1. The "I want to have fun route". Do whichever you want. If you prefer the ranged caster aspects of the Shaman, then go Elemental. If you prefer the up-close melee aspects of Shaman, go Enhancement. If you like healing, go Resto.

2. The "fast, efficient, effective route". Enhancement. In order to keep up with Enhancement's damage output, Elementals will have to drink constantly throughout the entire game, even after you get Water Shield. Because of that, Enhancement grinds/levels faster, especially after you reach 40.

If you're looking to have fun, do whatever you want. If you want to get to 60 or 70 as fast as possible, go Enhancement.

Enhancement is generally the better spec for leveling, but at some levels you will find the gear selection sucks (a lot of leather does not have the stats an enhance sham needs - like + spirit is useless). I did level as elemental for a while, and it was painful at times. You have time to cast a CL/LB or maybe a LB/LB but then the mob will be in your face and you will have to kill it with melee and shocks. I'd reccomend just going enhance all the way to 70, unless you can find a group or guild to instance run you then you could level resto.

Agreed, Eots is more for PvP, and does not have synergy with Elemental shields later in the tree. It's a fact that enhancement is a better leveling build at later levels than elemental.

Earlier (pre-level 40) elemental may work ok, but enhancement is far better for leveling after 40, no question. I still think I would just level a shammy all the way as enhancement, then there is no need to re-spec or re-gear at 40.

Everything Gaudion said and everything DarkRein said, but in my experience the tale DarkRein tells can be altered a bit:

- totem dropping only when needed (which is hardly ever with everything dying incredibly fast, mostly stoneclaw on add or grounding against spells)
- shocks only when the focus-talent procs or needed to catch a runner/ stop a spell (which is often when dual wielding)
- stormstrike only once per fight (only use a second one if the mob just won't die or barely lives and almost finishes a spell)
- shields only when on full mana / with your last mana just before drinking
- quick bandages whenever possible instead of healing spells (keep that first aid skill up!)
- other mana goes to healing when bandage is on cooldown

You can last LOOOONG like this...

Edit: removed an ugly error (spelling)

Edited, Jun 24th 2008 5:56am by Immunios