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Step one in your Shamanistic journey is choosing your race. Not a tough
decision for Alliance; you only get one choice, the Draenei. 
As for the Horde, you get three choices.  Give some of the
racial traits a gander.  Each one has its own benefit;
I’ve always been partial to the Tauren war stomp. Although
the Troll Beserking can be a useful as well. Of course there is always
something to be said for just making a cool looking toon as well,
don’t over think it too much.


cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2">
style="background-color: rgb(38, 44, 132); color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> style="font-weight: bold;">Race style="background-color: rgb(38, 44, 132); text-align: center; vertical-align: middle; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"
colspan="1" rowspan="1"> style="font-weight: bold;">Zone style="background-color: rgb(38, 44, 132); text-align: center; vertical-align: middle; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"
colspan="1" rowspan="1"> style="font-weight: bold;">Perks style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Draenei Azuremyst
Isle style="font-style: italic;">Gift of the Naaru:
Bonus healing

Heroic Presence:
Increased Chance to Hit style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Orc Durotar style="font-style: italic;">Blood Fury:
Increased Melee and Spell Damage

Axe Specialization:
Nice perk for that eventual dual wield style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Tauren Mulgore style="font-style: italic;">War Stomp: Stuns up
to 5 enemies within 8 yds for 2 secs, gives you an extra mement to get
a spell off. style="background-color: rgb(58, 64, 162); vertical-align: middle;"> style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Troll Durotar style="font-style: italic;">Berserking:
Increases your casting and attack speed

Regeneration:
Health regeneration increased



Now, that you’ve selected your Shaman it’s time to
begin leveling.  No matter where you start the first ten
levels are pretty straight forward.  In fact you will most
likely hit a level within a few minutes. Remember that leveling sound,
you’ll take it for granted now, but as you keep progressing,
you’ll crave that sound. YOU WILL NEED IT. 



Quest helper and Carbonite are two recommend add-ons. I lean towards
Carbonite. If it’s good enough for Boba Fett to trap
Solo; it’s good enough for you.  Let’s
face it; none of us are as cool as the Fett. If
this is your first WoW character, I recommend not using any
add-ons. There is a lot to enjoy in the game, so enjoy it.
Don’t be in such a rush to finish. However, if this an alt?
Do
whatever it takes to level quickly, you’ve earned the right.



A quick note about questing. Let the quests be your guide. Follow your
quest log; it will lead you to the zones most advantageous to you.
Since this is a solo guide, stick to the green and yellow quests. They
will be easy enough for you to manage on your own. Avoid group quests
and dungeon quests. More often than not it will take you more time to
find a group to complete them then it would take for you to solo level.
That’s not to say don’t group with others, just
don’t rely on other folks. The name of the game is solo
leveling.



Levels 1- 10



Stick to your starting zones; there will be ample quests
to get you moving along.  Additionally if you are on a PvP
server you will be nice and safe.  There will be no pesky
opposition running around and making your life miserable.
We’ll save that for the later contested zones. 



target="_blank"> style="border: 0px solid ; width: 200px; height: 118px; float: left;"
alt="" src="http://www.tentonhammer.com/image/view/63241"
hspace="3">Level 4 comes with your first Shaman
quest, Call of Earth. Completion
of this quest will grant your first Totem, the Earth Totem.
It’s a fairly straight forward quest for both Horde and
Alliance. One thing to be mindful while questing as a Shaman, is to
keep an eye on that bag space. At low levels you will have virtually
none to spare.  All the totem quests require the collection
and use of materials, provided by the quest giver or sought out by the
player. There was nothing more frustrating than working my way to
another continent, and killing my way to the quest location; just to
find out I was missing my quest item.  Upon completion of a
Totem quest, you will be granted a Totem representing an element. There
is a total of four by level forty, so make sure you have the inventory
room for it.  Level 4 also introduces href="http://www.tentonhammer.com/wow/guides/classes/shaman/spells1-40#Earth_Shock"
target="_blank">Earth Shock as a spell. 
Earth shock will be one of the most useful spells you come
across.  Not only does it deal damage, it interrupts casters.
TAKE THAT YOU PAIN IN THE ASS SELF HEALING MOBS! C’mon we all
know how much we all hate getting a mob close to zero life, and just
before that killing blow lands - oh how convenient, they manage to heal
themselves full.  No longer with Earth Shock.



Levels 10-20



Level 10 kicks off your next Totem quest, Call of Fire.
“Say hello to my little friend” the Searing
Totem.  The Searing Totem acts as an extra damage dealing
assistant for the Shaman.  The damage is not overwhelming, but
sometimes that little extra is all that’s needed to turn the
tide of battle.  Bring on the next shock spell.  href="http://www.tentonhammer.com/wow/guides/classes/shaman/spells1-40#Flame_Shock"
target="_blank">Flame Shock deals initial damage,
as well as damage over time.



These levels are fairly uneventful for the Shaman.  You do
however start to accumulate href="http://www.tentonhammer.com/wow/guides/classe/shaman/talents"
target="_blank">Talent Points, so now is the time
to focus on you build.


cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2">
style="background-color: rgb(38, 44, 132); color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> style="font-weight: bold;">Type style="background-color: rgb(38, 44, 132); text-align: center; vertical-align: middle; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"
colspan="1" rowspan="1"> style="font-weight: bold;">Pros style="background-color: rgb(38, 44, 132); text-align: center; vertical-align: middle; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"
colspan="1" rowspan="1"> style="font-weight: bold;">Cons style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Elemental Caster
DPS Mana
burns quickly style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Enhancement Enhanced
Melee Damage Up
close fighting in leather armor, not ideal style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Restoration Increased
Healing You're
soloing, so the only one you are healing is yourself. Skip this build
for end game.



I would lean towards either Elemental or Enhancement build for
leveling.  I leaned in favor of enhancement. It just seemed to
work out much better for myself. As mentioned in the cons for
Restoration, it’s just not worth it for leveling.



Levels 20-30



target="_blank"> style="border: 0px solid ; width: 200px; height: 197px; float: right;"
alt="" src="http://www.tentonhammer.com/image/view/63242"
hspace="3">At level 20 the Shaman gains a travel
form, href="http://www.tentonhammer.com/wow/guides/classes/shaman/spells1-40#Ghost_Wolf"
target="_blank">Ghost Wolf.  This ability
increases movement by 40%, which means close to 40% quicker leveling.
Well, maybe not that much faster leveling, but you do get to move
around quicker. Especially useful for escaping mobs or just avoiding
them. Sure, maybe that makes you a coward, but it makes you a live
coward. Living = Good.



Well, it has been ten levels, soooo, that’s right folks,
another Totem Quest - Call of Water. The water element in WoW equals
regeneration for both health and mana.  A fantastic
spell comes along at 20 - Water Shield. It acts as mana
regeneration.  Keep that Water Shield active all the time.
With the extra mana influx, you will be able to self heal during and
after battle and minimize your down time. To quote my
namesake, it “don’t cost nothing.” There
is no reason for a Shaman not to constantly have a shield active.
During the 20s the Shaman gains Lesser Healing Wave, it
doesn’t heal for as much as big brother Healing Wave, but it
does cast in half the time, which is good for getting out of pinch.



Levels 30-40



MMMM, I wonder what could happen at level 30. Could it be
another Totem quest?  If you guessed yes, put a gold star on
your screen. Call of Air will grant you your final elemental
Totem. Once in possession of the Air Totem, you will be able
to utilize the Windfury Totem - a great bonus for Enhancement Shamans
let the melee carnage begin.



With a little luck in the auction house, or perhaps just dancing on
mailboxes in cities, you will have earned enough money to train the
Apprentice Riding Skill, you will earn the achievement Giddy Up and
have the opportunity to purchase a mount.  A mount not only
increases your non combat movement, it just looks cool. 



Oh, and at level 40, you get to wear mail and dual wield, but
we’ll chat about that at a later date.



Sample Battle Rotation

  • Pre Battle Checklist, Shields to Full? Weapon Enhancement
    on? FIGHT!!!
  • Shock du jour (6 second cool down) - Flame or Frost for
    melee or Earth Shock for casters
  • Lightning Bolt (2.5 cast time)
  • Physical Attack, for the down time between spells
  • Healing Wave if needed (3 second cast time)
  • Wash, Rinse, Repeat until enemy is dead.

*note, I realize that lightning has a bit more range, but I think
reversing the shock with lightning, helps get your next shock ready
quicker*



Other Leveling Concerns:



While leveling your character is your primary concern, try
to keep some of these professions in mind.  It’s
much easier to level them as you progress.  The majority of
professions can be used as a significant source of income. It may be a
little more time consuming, the real question you need to ask yourself
is “Do I spend the time now, or do I spend it
later?”  Unless of course you don’t care
at all about professions, then just disregard.


cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2">
style="background-color: rgb(38, 44, 132); color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> style="font-weight: bold;">Recommended Professions style="background-color: rgb(38, 44, 132); text-align: center; vertical-align: middle; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"
colspan="1" rowspan="1"> style="font-weight: bold;">Pros style="background-color: rgb(38, 44, 132); text-align: center; vertical-align: middle; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"
colspan="1" rowspan="1"> style="font-weight: bold;">Cons style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">First Aid Adidtional
healing for you and others You're
a Shaman. Use your mojo to heal. style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Cooking Plenty
of enhancing foods out there, as well as healing after a fight. Can
be a bit tedious style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Fishing Supports
Cooking Holy
freakin' boring style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Herbalism Supports
Alchemy

Herbs in demand Gather
skill, very hit or miss style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Alchemy Potions
are a good source of income

Healing and Mana Potions GOOD Relies
on Herbalism, or buying materials style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Skinning Supports
Leatheworking

Mo Money, Mo Money, Mo Money (Auction House a-go-go) Only
found on beast kills, too bad you'll be killing so much more style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Leatherworking Armor
patches

Leather and Mail Armor for Shamans Not
much in the resale department



Well, there you have the first forty levels. Just remember you're only
halfway there. Fear not; the next forty get really interesting.



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Last Updated: Mar 13, 2016

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