WoW Shaman Guide
If you are new to WoW or just new to shamans in general, you need a WoW shaman guide to help you figure out this unique class.
Originally, only the Horde could play shamans, but with the introduction of the Burning Crusade expansion the Alliance now also has the ability to play shamans through the Draenei race.
Here is an introductory WoW shaman guide that can give you some starting information for playing this class.
A general WoW shaman guide
The shaman is a hybrid class, meaning that the talent tree specialization a player chooses will determine where their character’s strengths lie.
Shamans can be healers or provide damage, as well as having the capability of buffing the group.
Much of the shaman’s strengths come from the use of totems. Totems can bring extra help to the battlefield, helping with healing, mana regeneration, increasing damage, and other useful skills. Shamans can place up to four totems at a time, though the totems do remain fixed to the spot where they are placed.
Besides totems, shamans are also able to place pseudo-enchants on their own weapons to allow for even greater damage. Enhancement shamans in particular, with their ability to dual-wield weapons; can do a lot of damage in a group or soloing.
The Best WoW Shaman Guide Is Right Here
Properly specced shamans can also make for beneficial healers. With the healing totems and chain heal spell, they work well in groups for instances and raids and can act as the primary healer with the proper gear and talent specialization.
WoW shaman guide on trade skills
Often, your goals will determine what trade skills you learn. Are you hoping to make money, get gear, or do both? Unlike other classes, shamans do not have a huge benefit from a particular trade skill.
Skinning and leatherworking are useful trades to have, since leather working will provide mail armor after level 40 and nearly all beast mobs can be skinned, but if you are looking to power level your shaman it may not be worth the time and effort it takes to get leatherworking up to that level.
Skinning is always a money maker, since many leatherworkers are too lazy to go and farm the materials themselves. Mining and herbalism also provide valuable materials that can earn you gold at the Auction House. First aid is always a useful backup skill even as a healer and cooking can provide valuable food buffs. Fishing is another secondary skill you can learn, and while boring to level up can provide you with fish needed to level your cooking skills.
WoW shaman guide to using your talents
Just like every other class, shamans have access to three separate talent trees – elemental, enhancement, and restoration. While initially you will need to have a main focus, thanks to the dual specialization you can choose two main talent trees and switch back and forth as the situation calls for it. A full WoW shaman guide will give you more details on the best choices for your game style.
- Elemental – this talent tree allows the shaman to be a ranged caster, similar to the druid’s balance tree. It covers all of the shocks, which can be quite useful, particularly for shamans who want to PVP.
This talent tree is ok for leveling solo, but be prepared to have to stop for mana replenishment quite frequently, at least until you reach a high enough level that your mana regeneration improves. - Enhancement – this talent tree focuses on improving the damage you do, and is very effective for soloing since mana is only needed for buffs and heals. Combine with windfury weapon buff and you’ll be able to blow through mobs quite quickly. When it comes to leveling, this talent tree will be the quickest and easiest for solo play.
- Restoration – this talent tree focuses on healing, and is useful for the shaman who wants to join the end game instances and raids. With the totems able to provide various support and the chain heal able to heal multiple players at once, the restoration shaman becomes a valuable asset to group.
This tree does not usually do well in PVP. This talent tree can also take the longest to level if you are going solo. If you plan on using this tree from the start, then you should look into leveling with a group so that mobs are killed quicker.
