I got a few suggestions for the build Maulurom linked in his first post.
The build I'm currently using is
this. The most important differences are
- I'm not specced for 'Healing way' (3/3 gives 18% more healing from Healing Wave)
In raids I almost only use Earth Shield, Chain Heal, Riptide and LHW. So it's not of any good use for me there. In heroics I tend to use the same spells although I use HW more of course. But I got a glyph for LHW which makes it heal for 30 (?)% more if the target is currently protected by my earth shield. I use riptide a lot for the fast heals and also to keep the tank hotted up. I've never been in need of 30% extra healing from my Healing Wave simply because i don't use it that much. In my opinion the only reason for a shaman to spec for this is when he will be MH (which ofc he'll never be if the RL has brains, God created Disc priests and Holydins for that.)
- I'm not specced for 'Healing Grace' (3/3 gives 15% less threat and 30% less chance of your spells being dispelled.
15% less threat sounds awesome but have u ever seen the threat tanks can put out nowadays? It's tremendous! Must be because dps is insanely high as well. If a healer ever finds himself on high aggro
1) He heald prior to the tank getting aggro.
2) The tank sucks and u should leave the group asap.
In every raid I have been in so far (be that either 10/25 nax 10/25 sarth 10/25 vault) I've never got any aggro from the raidboss. Of course, I had my rough moments when I got healing aggro from an add but that's what tankadins are for. I don't see the pointin sacrificing 3 talentpoints for something that's really not necassary if the raid is organised.
The 30% less chance of your spells being disspelled is, as you probably figured out yourself as well, a pure PvP trick.
- I'm not specced for 'Healing Focus' (3/3 gives 70% chance of not losing cast time when being attacked)
To be fair this is more of a PvP talent. You won't get that much attacked in an heroic or a raid IF everything is going according to the plan. If not, then it will probably be a wipe anyway.
I used the 9 talent points for 5% extra crit in the enhancement tree, 30% more bonus healing on my weapon. Then I had one talent point left which i put in improved ankh.
I really love how Bliz made it possible for shamans to have other means of healing as well. In TBC it was 'haste all the way' now you can also choose to spec/gear for crit. Only thing that's buggering me off atm is that i have 3 sets now, mp5, haste and crit :S. Anyway, easy to make an elem set that way :P
But my point is, getting 5% crit this easy is not only very good for your mana regen (resto talent) it's also very good for your HTS.
In almost every raid I'm in there will be an Enhancement and an Elemental shaman. Therefore I chose to only buff my own healing. Because the 'totem of wrath' will overwrite my 'flametongue totem'. If however you find yourself rarely with an elem shaman you could choose to spec for 'enhancing totems' thereby improving the SP of your whole raid/party.
That makes 8 in total and thus leaves 1. In the build im currently using i put the last remaining point in enhancing totems. But I think i'll put it in imp ankh after my next respec. 10% extra mana is awesome (although don't forget, if u die you can use another mana potion.).
One last suggestion (you probably already figured out by yourself) the Water shield Glyph is a must-have.
Edited, Jan 3rd 2009 3:57am by gnetter