World of Warcraft at Ten Ton Hammer

Level 40, well you can finally purchase your mount and travel in style. Oh wait, that was back in 2004, well really 2005 and 2006 as well.  You dang kids and your fancy level 30 mounts; you don't know how good you have it. Why in my day we would [insert cantankerous old timer statement of choice here] 

Level 40 is a significant point in your current World of Warcraft career. Most obvious, you're halfway to 80. Kudos all around. Give yourselves all a collective pat on the back. Since you've made it this far, there's no reason to stop now. Fine, there may be many of those pesky real life issues to make you stop, but you're committed to the program. 

Level 40 grants the Shaman a significant change in their character - the ability to wear Mail armor. This increase in your armor goes a long way to increasing the life expectancy of your Shaman. Especially if you have followed my previous humble advice and gone the Enhancement route. You'll be going toe to toe, or hoof to toe, or claw, or ethereal mass. No matter what build you've decided to level with, Mail armor is where it's at for you now. I would go as far to say that while leveling a shaman you shouldn't even bother looking at any other armor but Mail, until you are level 80, you can fine tune your character's abilities then. It helps with choosing those armor quest rewards. Save that gray matter for questing. 

As Enhancement Shaman you will have gained the ability to dual wield. Not only will you be able to increase the amount of damage you can inflict, you also get an extra item. More items mean more stats. This fact also holds true if you decide to go weapon and shield. Since you are wearing Mail at this point, ditch the shield and kill kill kill. The faster you opponent dies, the less damage you take. It’s simple gamers’ math. 

Combat

In the previous level 1-40 guide, I recommended using s shock spell to pull. Well, I’ve changed my tune quite a bit. Sure I thought I was being avant-garde, turns out I was just foolish.  You gain an extra bit of distance on your target. Additionally you increase your odds of managing a well timed single target pull. If somehow it turns into a multiple pull, you’ll have some extra time to evaluate whether this will be a fight or flight situation. That extra distance will give you a head start on running away. Remember he who fights and runs away lives to fight another day, or at the very least avoids running back to your corpse from the graveyard. I suggest using Lesser Healing Wave on yourself during combat, the shorter cast time can be the difference between life and death. The secret is to keep yourself alive as such I would like to quote Queen

“Keep yourself alive
Keep yourself alive
it’ll take you all your time and a money
Honey you’ll survive”

It was suggested I quote something classier, but let us not forget they did sing both the Highlander and AND Flash Gordon themes.  Speaking of keeping yourselves alive, make sure to keep a supply of Ankhs available. There are times, in my case many times, that no matter how well you plan or fight you just can’t seem to live. The Shaman’s Reincarnation is the perfect solution. Reincarnation is an absolute necessity for raiding. What the hell? Treat yourselves to it in solo play as well. 

Spell Rotation

The following is a general guide for Shaman’s to follow. Feel free to mix things up a bit. I’ve tried to keep things as streamlined as possible. Feel Free to throw a Lava Burst into the mix as well. Additionally I’ve kept the Totems to a minimum as well. While soloing, you will be moving a lot. Sometimes it can be a head ache to keep up with them. 

Single Target Pull

1.    Searing Totem

2.    Lightning

3.    Lightning

4.    Storm Strike (as Enhancement Shaman)

5.    Shock of choice (Earth against casters, Frost against most others

6.    Melee until able to repeat steps 3 & 4

7.    Lesser Healing Wave as necessary

Multiple Target Pull

1.    Magma Totem

2.    Chain Lightning

3.    Lightning

4.    Storm Strike

5.    Shock

6.    Chain Lightning

7.    Melee until able to repeat steps 4-6

8.    Lesser Healing Wave as necessary

Class Specific Quests

At level 52, there is a Shaman specific quest line that players can pick up from the Shaman trainer in Orgrimmar. The Elemental Mastery quest will ultimately yield a decent blue item for players. I feel that this quest takes you off the path to quicker leveling. By all means do it to enjoy the story and become a more educated Shaman. Or, just skip it and keep on leveling.

Zones

Almost without exception (like the area around a town) leveling zones will be in contested zones. For those on role playing servers this fact is of small significance, other than seeing on opposing faction player pass by. For those on a PvP server, the game can become quite frustrating and hellish. The type of frustration that can make a man want to start a fight while online at the Burning Crusade midnight release. Well, maybe that’s just me. Now not only must you concentrate on killing mobs, you need to be wary of that stealthed rogue or the inevitable polymorph. You may come to dread the sounds associated with your opposition’s abilities. I still get chills listening to a rogue come out of stealth. It’s not all doom and gloom on a PvP server, this is your chance to hand out some punishment to your opposition. Some may call it griefing, I call it payback. Treat yourself to a nice gank once and a while.

 

 

The above is a general guide to the zones to level. As mentioned in the level 1-40, let your quests be your guide. Quests yield greater experience and generally level appropriate gear for your character.  

In Closing

Well you’re level 60. Bask in the glory that you have attained the highest level you could achieve in WoW. Well pre January 16, 2007 at any rate. Hopefully you will have enjoyed the journey to 60 enough to make your way to Outland and The Burning Crusade. Although technically players could head to Outland at 58. Sure it will cost you the price of the expansion but I think it’s well worth the investment. Otherwise you’re going to miss out on all the future action packed 60-80 leveling guides