World of Warcraft at Ten Ton Hammer

“Hide not your talents, they for use were made. What's a sun-dial in the shade?" - Benjamin Franklin

I thought I would try and sound a little more upscale and classy this round of discussion. I wouldn’t get used to it. As you can tell by now this article is all about the Shaman’s talents. 

Let us for example take identical twins of sorts. Two Troll Shamans, both have the identical starting statistics, both will follow the almost identical path of leveling. So what is that can turn one into a well oiled healing machine and the other into a rampaging engine of destruction?  Or, what could take two identical twins, and have one grow up to be a premier ballet dancer and the other well, let’s say it’s still dancing…..  (And you were worried, I may have become classy)  Ding Ding Ding Ding, that’s right folks - talents. 

At level 80, players will have a total of 71 talent points to distribute. Ah, but how to distribute them is the true trick. “What’s there to figure out?” that was my original thought on talent builds when I was first starting in WoW. If you are for example, an Enhancement Shaman, why not just throw all seventy one talent points into your Enhancement tree?  Surely that would create the best Enhancement Shaman? On some levels you may be right. Although if you sacrifice some of those Enhancement points and add them to the Elemental tree, you can increase your Enhancement build. Just one the many subtleties to the talent trees. I also favor passive Talents to some of the more active Talents; it’s just easier on my brain.

To be honest I don’t think I’ve figured out all the tricks to it myself, but let’s look at some talent builds out there and see what we can learn. Readers please jump into the Ten Ton Hammer Forums and correct or expound on anything you read here. 

I’ve chosen a sample build for each of the Shaman’s builds. I’d like to discuss what talents I think make a successful Shaman of your choice. Keep in mind this is an overview and as such, I have decided to focus on three primary tree Talents and two supporting tree Talents.  As a rule, I have decided not to discuss the top two talents of each tree. The top two are the best Talents you can achieve, and as such, really there is no doubt about you learning them.   They are all very powerful, and very useful to your build, and let’s not forget how cool some of them can be.

Enhancement
Sample Enhancement Build

Enhancement Talents

Importance

Almost speaks for itself. Mana conservation is always a concern. Even though focus is on melee DPS, getting some well timed Shocks never hurt anybody, well maybe your target.

If you’re going to be a melee DPS, no reason not to use two weapons.  Plus two weapons increases statistic bonuses.  With the ability of Windfury Weapon this makes this talent for a Enhancement Shaman a no brainer.  Windfury procs + Duel Wield + Weapon Speed (the slower the weapon the better to maximize DPS) is the Enhancement Shaman's best source of DPS a great article here explains Weapon Speed to perfection.

If you’re going to wield two weapons, you may as well have the ability to attack with them both at once.  Plus the added nature damage bonus will allow you to follow up with nice Shock.  I personally would not put talent points into Improved Stormstrike because with Water Shield, Improved Shield, and Shamanistic Rage, mana should not be an issue.

Supporting Elemental Talents

Extra mana reduction (always good for prolonged battles)

Extra damage, even better.  What I like about this talent, especially in raids, it increases the damage of your Searing Totem which will increase your over all DPS.

Maelstrom Weapon is one of the best talents for a Enhancement Shaman.  The 5 stack insta cast happens very often, in my experience while soloing it will stack 5 times on every mob and even more often during a boss fight while raiding.  This can be used as DPS with a insta cast Lightening Bolt or give you a insta cast Healing Wave to bail you out if your going to die. Your mana tends to drain more quickly, but if you keep Water Shield up and use Shamanistic Rage going on every 2 min cooldown, you will have no downtime.

On a side note for an Enhancement Shaman spell rotation will be:

Lightning Bolt if Maelstrom Weapon is at 5 stacks
Stormstrike if available
Earth Shock if available
Lava Lash if available


Elemental
Sample Elemental build: Mostly Casting DPS

Level	Talent	Rank	School
10	Concussion	1	Elemental
11	Concussion	2	Elemental
12	Concussion	3	Elemental
13	Concussion	4	Elemental
14	Concussion	5	Elemental
15	Elemental Devastation	1	Elemental
16	Elemental Devastation	2	Elemental
17	Elemental Devastation	3	Elemental
18	Convection	1	Elemental
19	Convection	2	Elemental
20	Elemental Focus	1	Elemental
21	Elemental Fury	1	Elemental
22	Elemental Fury	2	Elemental
23	Elemental Fury	3	Elemental
24	Elemental Fury	4	Elemental
25	Elemental Fury	5	Elemental
26	Reverberation	1	Elemental
27	Reverberation	2	Elemental
28	Reverberation	3	Elemental
29	Reverberation	4	Elemental
30	Call of Thunder	1	Elemental
31	Elemental Reach	1	Elemental
32	Elemental Reach	2	Elemental
33	Reverberation	5	Elemental
34	Unrelenting Storm	1	Elemental
35	Lightning Mastery	1	Elemental
36	Lightning Mastery	2	Elemental
37	Lightning Mastery	3	Elemental
38	Lightning Mastery	4	Elemental
39	Lightning Mastery	5	Elemental
40	Elemental Mastery	1	Elemental
41	Storm, Earth and Fire	1	Elemental
42	Storm, Earth and Fire	2	Elemental
43	Storm, Earth and Fire	3	Elemental
44	Elemental Precesion	1	Elemental
45	Elemental Oath	1	Elemental
46	Elemental Oath	2	Elemental
47	Booming Echoes	1	Elemental
48	Booming Echoes	2	Elemental
49	Lightning Overload		Elemental
50	Lava Flows	1	Elemental
51	Lava Flows	2	Elemental
52	Lava Flows	3	Elemental
53	Lightning Overload	4	Elemental
54	Lightning Overload	5	Elemental
55	Shamanism	1	Elemental
56	Shamanism	2	Elemental
57	Shamanism	3	Elemental
58	Shamanism	4	Elemental
59	Shamanism	5	Elemental
60	Thunderstom	1	Elemental
61	Ancestral Knowledge	1	Enhancement
62	Ancestral Knowledge	2	Enhancement
63	Ancestral Knowledge	3	Enhancement
64	Ancestral Knowledge	4	Enhancement
65	Ancestral Knowledge	5	Enhancement
66	Thundering Strikes	1	Enhancement
67	Thundering Strikes	2	Enhancement
68	Thundering Strikes	3	Enhancement
69	Thundering Strikes	4	Enhancement
70	Thundering Strikes	5	Enhancement
71	Shamanistic Focus	1	Enhancement
72	Improved Shields	1	Enhancement
73	Improved Shields	2	Enhancement
74	Improved Shields	3	Enhancement
75	Totem of Wrath	1	Elemental
76	Elemental Warding	1	Enhancement
77	Elemental Warding	2	Enhancement
78	Elemental Warding	3	Enhancement
79	Astral Shift	1	Enhancement
80	Astral Shift	2	Enhancement

Elemental Talents

Importance

It’s not just for supporting Enhancement builds. Still reducing that mana usage.

It helps you and your group.

The top of the Elemental Talent tree.  It should go without saying this is your goal.  But really read the definition. YOU ARE CALLING DOWN LIGHTNING. Sometimes you just need to have fun with a game and worry less about numbers. Take that Raiden.

Supporting Enhancement Talents

Extra Intellect equals extra Mana.  More Mana is caster’s best friend.  More Intellect you have the more your Crit % will go up also.

Restoration

Sample Restoration Build.

Level	Talent	Rank	School
10	Totemic Focus	1	Restoration
11	Totemic Focus	2	Restoration
12	Totemic Focus	3	Restoration
13	Totemic Focus	4	Restoration
14	Totemic Focus	5	Restoration
15	Tidal Focus	1	Restoration
16	Tidal Focus	2	Restoration
17	Tidal Focus	3	Restoration
18	Tidal Focus	4	Restoration
19	Tidal Focus	5	Restoration
20	Improved Water Shield	1	Restoration
21	Improved Water Shield	2	Restoration
22	Improved Water Shield	3	Restoration
23	Tidal Force	1	Restoration
24	Ancestral Healing	1	Restoration
25	Tidal Mastery	1	Restoration
26	Tidal Mastery	2	Restoration
27	Tidal Mastery	3	Restoration
28	Tidal Mastery	4	Restoration
29	Tidal Mastery	5	Restoration
30	Nature's Swiftness	1	Restoration
31	Restorative Totems	1	Restoration
32	Restorative Totems	2	Restoration
33	Restorative Totems	3	Restoration
34	Restorative Totems	4	Restoration
35	Purification	1	Restoration
36	Purification	2	Restoration
37	Purification	3	Restoration
38	Purification	4	Restoration
39	Purification	5	Restoration
40	Cleanse Spirt	1	Restoration
41	Healing Focus	1	Restoration
42	Healing Focus	2	Restoration
43	Healing Focus	3	Restoration
44	Restorative Totems	5	Restoration
45	Nature's Blessing	1	Restoration
46	Nature's Blessing	2	Restoration
47	Nature's Blessing	3	Restoration
48	Imroved Chain Healing	1	Restoration
49	Imroved Chain Healing	2	Restoration
50	Blessing of the Eternals	1	Restoration
51	Blessing of the Eternals	2	Restoration
52	Ancestral Awakening	1	Restoration
53	Ancestral Awakening	2	Restoration
54	Ancestral Awakening	3	Restoration
55	Tidal Waves	1	Restoration
56	Tidal Waves	2	Restoration
57	Tidal Waves	3	Restoration
58	Tidal Waves	4	Restoration
59	Tidal Waves	5	Restoration
60	Riptide	1	Restoration
61	Ancestral Knowledge	1	Enhancement
62	Ancestral Knowledge	2	Enhancement
63	Ancestral Knowledge	3	Enhancement
64	Ancestral Knowledge	4	Enhancement
65	Ancestral Knowledge	5	Enhancement
66	Thundering Strikes	1	Enhancement
67	Thundering Strikes	2	Enhancement
68	Thundering Strikes	3	Enhancement
69	Thundering Strikes	4	Enhancement
70	Thundering Strikes	5	Enhancement
71	Improved Shields	1	Enhancement
72	Improved Shields	2	Enhancement
73	Improved Shields	3	Enhancement
74	Elemental Weapons	1	Enhancement
75	Elemental Weapons	2	Enhancement
76	Elemental Weapons	3	Enhancement
77	Earth Shield	1	Restoration
78	Improved Earth Shield	1	Restoration
79	Improved Earth Shield	2	Restoration
80	Mana Tide Totem	1	Restoration

Restoration Talents

Importance

Anything instant cast is good.  Having a handy macro like /cast Nature's Swiftness followed by /cast Healing Wave(Rank 14)  can be used as a emergency heal for anyone in the raid.

Chain healing is one of the best things about being a Restoration Shaman. No reason not to maximize its effectiveness.

As a healer you never want to run out of mana. So here’s a little assistance. With so many intellect boosting items out there, Shamans’ mana pools have greatly increased.  Increasing your Intellect will also increase your Crit % which can lead to big heals which is always a good thing.

Supporting Enhancement Talents

Do I even need to say it?

The 10% increase to the healing and mana generation is a good end game bonus. There are generally some area effect spells that hit the entire party. You might as well benefit from the attacks.  For Restoration Shamans this has twice the benefit, increase your Water Shield for more mana and increases your Earth Shield which will help your tank out.

Unfortunately to all the great talents out there, there are some I wonder why they are even in the game. As such, I give you my list of top three most useless Shaman Talents. I kept it down to three, one from each Talent tree. 

These talents are usually best for only one type of spec and not to be used for cross builds like........

Why Not?

Elemental builds are essentially casters at this point. Start acting like one.  Stay the hell away from mobs. Though this is great for an Enhancement Shaman.

This one is best for Restoration Shamans.  Anytime, as a healer, you can reduce your threat of any kind it is a good thing.  Elemental and Enhancement specs should not bother with this particular talent.

If the UFC has taught us anything is that mixed martial arts kick ass. Mixed Talent builds in my opinion are no different.  So get out there and show the world (of Warcraft) how talented you all can be.