After trying (and failing) to enjoy Rogue, Hunter, and Druid, I gave Shaman a whirl not too long ago. Fell in love with it. However, I'm having a couple issues and I don't know if it's something I'm doing wrong or just a rough patch for Shaman in general.
First, when fighting multiple mobs or when I get an add, I find it very difficult to stay alive. I don't have a main to feed this character money so I'm not twinked in any way, just making do with what I can get my hands on. Usually, I plop down my Strength of Earth before a fight and if I get an add, I toss down Healing Stream and Searing to help me mitigate the damage and burn down the enemy. I'm leveling Enhancement, I've got Windfury pumping out some serious damage, but oftentimes it just doesn't proc fast enough or the enemies are hitting too hard or something of the sort. Should I be using 1H/Shield instead of a 2H? Do I simply need to regear myself? Should I be using some other totems?
Second, and this has to do with the first somewhat, I run out of mana quick. Between my shocks and my Lightning Bolts to pull, I'm generally pretty low after four fights. Normally I'll take the fifth, sixth, seventh in straight melee to regen my mana and hope for Windfury procs but when they don't, I take quite a beating and end up needing to spend about the same amount of time to rest up. This is mitigated somewhat by my pots from Alchemy, but not to any major extent. Is this normal?
Third, I am running low on hotbar space. I am using the default UI and I have both the bottom left and bottom right actionbars, as well as the first right actionbar enabled. I can only play at 800x600 so real estate on my screen is somewhat limited. How do you guys organize your bars?
Lastly, am I gearing right? Right now I'm going for Strength/Agility/Stamina, in that order, as it's pretty much 100% PvE right now and the crits are useful for Flurry. Should I be switching that up at all?
EDIT: Forgot the Armory link: http://www.wowarmory.com/character-sheet.xml?r=Mal%27Ganis&n=Modika
Edited, Aug 19th 2008 2:04am by ModicaSolis
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Link to Armory would be nice... Having to eat/drink after 4 mobs isn't so bad if you are taking 2-3 right at the start, but if you are able to pull them closer to one or two at a time then maybe you are just trying to finish too fast? I went shield and one hand too. If you are 40-49 I can't see how you would ever get low on mana with DW/SS... Beyond 40 I only have an Elem Sham that has issues of their own.
I just reread your post and I think you are higher than 50 so please disregard my opinion post on the early levels... I would venture to say that if you are running enhancement but not dual weild than that is an issue covered at length in this forum.
Edited, Aug 19th 2008 3:07am by Carport
I just reread your post and I think you are higher than 50 so please disregard my opinion post on the early levels... I would venture to say that if you are running enhancement but not dual weild than that is an issue covered at length in this forum.
Edited, Aug 19th 2008 3:07am by Carport
20 posts
I just saw your armory and have to say that having just reached 40 with my Tauren Shaman today that running a 1H/Sheild is the answer to you dilemma. Many of the really good minds in this forum seem to be end-game so getting early information is tough. I'm 100% in the sheild camp and haven't heard anyone contradict it yet in my (short) time on the forum. At level 39 I was rolling with a 1300 armor shield in the badlands and I could just sit and take hits while I watched WF proc and mixed it up with FS/ES as the situation demanded. I have Corpsemaker and never use it.
Ok, first let me say that hang in there matie! Since at 40/41 you won't know your shammy anymore. He will be like newborn killing machine.
But before that I would just go with slow 2hander for the damage. Of course by using shield you would get a huge amount of armor but then you really slow down the speed. Problem with slow 2hander is that it's slow, thus some mobs dont go down fast unless wf procs. But when u get few procs on 1 mob, it's time to move to next mob in no time.
I used to have str totem down if I planned to pull few mobs (separately) to same spot but if I had adds I would drop stoneclaw cos fighting just one mob is so much faster and safer. I didn't use too much shocks before stormstrike due to mana issues but when u hit ss/dw levels it wont be a problem so much anymore.
Shammy is rather slow to level in beginning but after 40/41 it all changes. Like druid is the worst to lvl from 1 to 10 and after 20 it's a cake. And about your hotbars, Shammy is really using all slots with all those totems and spells.
Ps. if ya have some gold maybe ya wanna respecc those 2 points away from lightning shield?
But before that I would just go with slow 2hander for the damage. Of course by using shield you would get a huge amount of armor but then you really slow down the speed. Problem with slow 2hander is that it's slow, thus some mobs dont go down fast unless wf procs. But when u get few procs on 1 mob, it's time to move to next mob in no time.
I used to have str totem down if I planned to pull few mobs (separately) to same spot but if I had adds I would drop stoneclaw cos fighting just one mob is so much faster and safer. I didn't use too much shocks before stormstrike due to mana issues but when u hit ss/dw levels it wont be a problem so much anymore.
Shammy is rather slow to level in beginning but after 40/41 it all changes. Like druid is the worst to lvl from 1 to 10 and after 20 it's a cake. And about your hotbars, Shammy is really using all slots with all those totems and spells.
Ps. if ya have some gold maybe ya wanna respecc those 2 points away from lightning shield?
Heya ModicaSolis, welcome to a REAL class! /wink
Not going into the shield + one hander against two hander argument here. Personally I used a shield too, but meh, whatever. Until 40 that is, then it is dual wield for god-mode. No arguments to be raised.
Few things before then (and after then too) regarding issues you mention in your post:
* Handling adds:
You say you drop Strength of Earth totem, which is all good and well. _Until you get adds!_ Try to replace that SoE totem with a good old Stoneclaw totem when the add arrives: it is a masterful taunting totem which more often than not will let you kill off the first target before the add kills the totem. I use that one on almost every add(s) I get (yes, up till level 70 even). Often enough it even allows you to slip in a lesser healing wave before starting on the add.
* Handling mana issues:
First of all: you pull with lightning bolt. This is NOT needed most of the time. Just standing close enough to body-pull or even a shock if you still have the talent procced (Shamanistic Focus) from the previous fight will do the trick for 90% of the mobs. Against caster mobs: stand close enough and Earth Shock the first cast, it will come running towards you as if you are handing out free chocolate ice.
Next: while until you are 40 or after you are 60 it is arguable, you almost never need to drop totems, save for elites/bosses/group fights. They are cheap in mana, but dropping some every fight (or every few fights even) consumes your TINY mana pool.
Lastly: only shock when the Shamanistic Focus buff is up (you DID get that talent, right? Right?). Stuff will die quick enough anyways. At your level, mana is for healing in between fights. Addition to that last remark: keep your First Aid Skill up!!
* Hotbar space:
Not my kind of thing, there are others who can aid you a LOT more with that. Mine's fine, nothing special though. Just to note in general: shamans have tons of different spells and abilities (most of all I think with all different totems) and try to use them all. Notice what each can do and try to find situations where they are appropriate. There are not many spells/abilities I NEVER use.
* Gearing:
Yeah pretty much. 1. Str for sure and I would say 2. Agi/Sta. Both needed equally though opinions might vary there. Spirit is wasted on ANY gear. Intellect is ok to have, but only if it is a bonus stat on a good item.
Have fun and look forward to 40. Your character will never be the same...
Not going into the shield + one hander against two hander argument here. Personally I used a shield too, but meh, whatever. Until 40 that is, then it is dual wield for god-mode. No arguments to be raised.
Few things before then (and after then too) regarding issues you mention in your post:
* Handling adds:
You say you drop Strength of Earth totem, which is all good and well. _Until you get adds!_ Try to replace that SoE totem with a good old Stoneclaw totem when the add arrives: it is a masterful taunting totem which more often than not will let you kill off the first target before the add kills the totem. I use that one on almost every add(s) I get (yes, up till level 70 even). Often enough it even allows you to slip in a lesser healing wave before starting on the add.
* Handling mana issues:
First of all: you pull with lightning bolt. This is NOT needed most of the time. Just standing close enough to body-pull or even a shock if you still have the talent procced (Shamanistic Focus) from the previous fight will do the trick for 90% of the mobs. Against caster mobs: stand close enough and Earth Shock the first cast, it will come running towards you as if you are handing out free chocolate ice.
Next: while until you are 40 or after you are 60 it is arguable, you almost never need to drop totems, save for elites/bosses/group fights. They are cheap in mana, but dropping some every fight (or every few fights even) consumes your TINY mana pool.
Lastly: only shock when the Shamanistic Focus buff is up (you DID get that talent, right? Right?). Stuff will die quick enough anyways. At your level, mana is for healing in between fights. Addition to that last remark: keep your First Aid Skill up!!
* Hotbar space:
Not my kind of thing, there are others who can aid you a LOT more with that. Mine's fine, nothing special though. Just to note in general: shamans have tons of different spells and abilities (most of all I think with all different totems) and try to use them all. Notice what each can do and try to find situations where they are appropriate. There are not many spells/abilities I NEVER use.
* Gearing:
Yeah pretty much. 1. Str for sure and I would say 2. Agi/Sta. Both needed equally though opinions might vary there. Spirit is wasted on ANY gear. Intellect is ok to have, but only if it is a bonus stat on a good item.
Have fun and look forward to 40. Your character will never be the same...
What they said.
Running out of mana is part of being an enhancement shaman, especially at lower lvls. If you are dropping totems at all, your first one should be mana spring. That will help somewhat. Normally you don't need to drop totems if it's 1v1 or even 1v2.
Don't forget to heal yourself; if the fight is getting tough, stoneclaw and x2 LHW is usually enough to turn the tide. And for optimal grinding, use a two-hander and only shock with SF is up. The downtime you save from not drinking/faster kills will compensate for the one or two times you may die because you didn't have a shield.
Also, dont be afraid to run away. Stoneclaw or EB + GW is a pretty good escape mechanism.
And just wait til 40. Really, til 44 -- when you have stormstrike, dual-wield and dual-wield specialization. You will become unstoppable.
Running out of mana is part of being an enhancement shaman, especially at lower lvls. If you are dropping totems at all, your first one should be mana spring. That will help somewhat. Normally you don't need to drop totems if it's 1v1 or even 1v2.
Don't forget to heal yourself; if the fight is getting tough, stoneclaw and x2 LHW is usually enough to turn the tide. And for optimal grinding, use a two-hander and only shock with SF is up. The downtime you save from not drinking/faster kills will compensate for the one or two times you may die because you didn't have a shield.
Also, dont be afraid to run away. Stoneclaw or EB + GW is a pretty good escape mechanism.
And just wait til 40. Really, til 44 -- when you have stormstrike, dual-wield and dual-wield specialization. You will become unstoppable.
Most people have had some great suggestions. The Shaman class is different to all other classes in game play.
For mana efficiency, and this sucks but it's for efficiencies sake, auto attack. Only shock when you get a focused buff. I love to drop a Searing Totem for every mob, or every other depending on how fast they die. Now that I'm past 41 though things die so quickly it's not even funny, and I'm extremely mana efficient. So hang in there, you're close to the goal.
Handling adds is tricky on a shaman. Lie down a Stoneclaw totem. This should make two mobs easy as ever. If it's three to four mobs that you pull, you have a choice. I drop the Stoneclaw totem, and all my other totems (Strength of Earth, Grace of Air, Searing Totem) and I go all out. I burn through my mana fast, but dropping each mob as quickly as possible is your best bet for survival.
Lastly, on my shaman I try to mainly do quests that are yellow or green. I can handle Orange quests, but I believe shamans have more trouble with those than other classes. Green quests we simply steam roll through, and yellow are pretty easy as well. Oh, and I went 2h to 41 (picked up Stormstrike before dual wield), but it's all a matter of preference.
For mana efficiency, and this sucks but it's for efficiencies sake, auto attack. Only shock when you get a focused buff. I love to drop a Searing Totem for every mob, or every other depending on how fast they die. Now that I'm past 41 though things die so quickly it's not even funny, and I'm extremely mana efficient. So hang in there, you're close to the goal.
Handling adds is tricky on a shaman. Lie down a Stoneclaw totem. This should make two mobs easy as ever. If it's three to four mobs that you pull, you have a choice. I drop the Stoneclaw totem, and all my other totems (Strength of Earth, Grace of Air, Searing Totem) and I go all out. I burn through my mana fast, but dropping each mob as quickly as possible is your best bet for survival.
Lastly, on my shaman I try to mainly do quests that are yellow or green. I can handle Orange quests, but I believe shamans have more trouble with those than other classes. Green quests we simply steam roll through, and yellow are pretty easy as well. Oh, and I went 2h to 41 (picked up Stormstrike before dual wield), but it's all a matter of preference.
Your gear looks pretty good for your level, strength, agil/stam again as has been said is the correct order.
As far as adds I think that's been covered well. The biggest thing you can do to help yourself is if you think you will pull adds, drop your totems before you even start. Do just like you would if you were going to setup camp to pull mobs consecutively and put down the totems you prefer and begin pulling. That way your mana has already had time to start recouping before you even make the first pull. Sometimes things happen, if I pulled more than 3 I usually just ran away to fight another day. You'll level faster running and coming back than dying to make the run from GY.
As far as bar space goes I recommend Bongos 2 if you feel like using an addon. The versatility and amount of bars are great for classes such as shamans and druids who use a lot of different abilities and spells.
Everything else that has been covered I agree with so I won't repeat it.
Have fun
As far as adds I think that's been covered well. The biggest thing you can do to help yourself is if you think you will pull adds, drop your totems before you even start. Do just like you would if you were going to setup camp to pull mobs consecutively and put down the totems you prefer and begin pulling. That way your mana has already had time to start recouping before you even make the first pull. Sometimes things happen, if I pulled more than 3 I usually just ran away to fight another day. You'll level faster running and coming back than dying to make the run from GY.
As far as bar space goes I recommend Bongos 2 if you feel like using an addon. The versatility and amount of bars are great for classes such as shamans and druids who use a lot of different abilities and spells.
Everything else that has been covered I agree with so I won't repeat it.
Have fun
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