sub-portal: SHAMAN

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Updated Fri, Jan 02, 2009 by Shayalyn

by Ralsu

The Shaman is first and foremost a healer. The Shaman's choice of patron (which is quested for at level 15) greatly influences the flavor of this class. Her patron grants her many unique abilities and a pet. Shamans along with Necromancers are the two primary pet classes in Vanguard. Shamans are quite versatile; they can cause damage with spells or melee. They are arguably the best soloing class of the healer classes.

Official Description

Shamans are able to utilize the powers of ancestral spirits to perform great feats of healing and protection. They can also form bonds with powerful animalistic spirits in order to gain access to new and powerful spells. The Shaman is a potent healer and has moderately powerful melee skills.

Shaman at a Glance

Races: Lesser Giant, Varanjar, Vulmane, Goblin, Orc, Wood Elf, Mordebi, Varathari

Armor: Medium
Weapons: Two-handed Piercing, Two-handed Blunt, One-handed Blunt, Hand to Hand

Quick Links

Spells

Class News & Information:

PATRONS

At level 15, a Shaman embarks on a quest to choose his patron. The player gains a pet, new spells, and new skills. Keep in mind that the selection is permanent. Tuurgin grants melee buffs and
The Spirit Walk culminates with the Shaman learning a skill specific to yher patron. Every level thereafter, she can Spirit Walk with her patron by using this skill to see if she learns new spells and abilities. This allows the Shaman to learn some things without have to stop the grind to visit a trainer!

Patrons:

Hayatet

Favors players who like to nuke a lot or who want to add damage through a pet.
Eventually learn buffs that increase energy regeneration.
Allows the player to remain at a safe distance from battles.
The pet provides good damage.

Rakuur

Solid choice for mobility and melee haste.
Can go into stealth mode to explore or retrieve corpses.
Provides benefits to all melee characters in the group.
The pet provides decent damage.
Rakurr Skills

Tuurgin

Provides a pet thank can tank in a pinch.
Eventually learn buffs that increase endurance regeneration.
Provides benefits to all melee characters in the group.
The pet makes soloing a viable option.

SPIRIT BONDS

Shamans can form temporary bonds with spirits to gain extra powers. These can be toggled on and off at will but will last an hour or until the player logs off once toggled. They affect only the Shaman.

Skamadiz
Increases melee damage by a small percentage.

Krigus
Reduces the energy and endurace costs of spells by a small percentage.

Nag-Suul
Increases spell damage by a medium percentage.

WARDS

shamans learn special warding spells that provide a decent healing burst up front and then help mitigate incoming damage by healing for a small amount each time damage is taken up to the duration of the spell or by blocking incoming damage for a brief time.

Panacea

This line of spells starts in the early teens. It provides a medium heal for the target and then blocks incoming damage for 4 seconds.

Life Ward

This line of wards starts in the late teens and heals for a decent amount up front and then heals a small amount each time damage is taken. The ward dissipates after a certain amount of damage is taken or after 1 hour, whichever comes first.

Aegis of Life

A spell line that first shows up in the early 30s, Aegis of Life is a beefed up version of the Life Ward line. It heals for a large amount up front and then heals for a medium amount each time the target takes damage. The limit to the damage taken before the aegis dissipates is much higher than with Life Ward.

TYPES OF SPELLS

Damage Spells & Abilities

Shamans primarily deal damage through DoTs. Every Shaman learns cold and disease DoTs. Hayatet Shamans also learn some fire-based spells.

Shamans also learn a spiritual-based direct damage spell, but the DoTs tend to be more efficient.

All Shamans learn a few melee skills that can damage opponents and add a DoT. Rakuur and Tuurgin Shamans learn even more damage abilities.

Debuffs

The Shaman's primary debuff is Lethargy, a spell that reduces the attack rate of enemies. Patron spells can further add to the debuff repertoire.

Buffs

All Shamans can buff AC, hitpoints, energy pool, cast time, movement speed, and underwater breathing. Depending on the patron chosen, Shamans get other buffs to melee speed, endurance regeneration, and energy regeneration.