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style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">“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
href="http://forums.tentonhammer.com/forumdisplay.php?f=28"
target="_blank">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
href="http://www.wowarmory.com/character-talents.xml?r=Scarlet+Crusade&n=Russell&group=2">Sample
Enhancement Build
style="text-align: left; width: 555px;" border="0"
cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2">
style="background-color: rgb(56, 88, 162); text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">
style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Enhancement
Talents
style="background-color: rgb(76, 108, 192);">Importance
style="background-color: rgb(41, 41, 41); text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">
style="width: 405px; height: 72px;" alt=""
src="http://www.tentonhammer.com/image/view/62201">
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.
style="text-align: center; vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(41, 41, 41);">
style="width: 405px; height: 72px;" alt=""
src="http://www.tentonhammer.com/image/view/62190">
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
href="http://elitistjerks.com/f47/t20765-shaman_enhancement/"
target="_blank">here
explains Weapon Speed to perfection.
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style="width: 387px; height: 160px;" alt=""
src="http://www.tentonhammer.com/image/view/62202">
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.
style="background-color: rgb(255, 204, 204); text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">
style="font-weight: bold;">Supporting Elemental
Talents
style="text-align: center; vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(41, 41, 41);">
style="width: 390px; height: 123px;" alt=""
src="http://www.tentonhammer.com/image/view/62193">
Extra mana reduction
(always good for prolonged battles)
style="text-align: center; vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(41, 41, 41);">
style="width: 387px; height: 88px;" alt=""
src="http://www.tentonhammer.com/image/view/62194">
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
href="http://www.wowarmory.com/talent-calc.xml?cid=7&tal=55013515002133513223013510050500010000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000"
target="_blank">Sample Elemental build: Mostly
Casting DPS
border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">
style="background-color: rgb(56, 88, 162); text-align: center; vertical-align: middle; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Level
style="background-color: rgb(56, 88, 162); text-align: center; vertical-align: middle; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Talent
style="background-color: rgb(56, 88, 162); text-align: center; vertical-align: middle; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Rank
style="background-color: rgb(56, 88, 162); text-align: center; vertical-align: middle; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">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
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cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2">
style="background-color: rgb(56, 88, 162); text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">
style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Elemental
Talents
style="background-color: rgb(76, 108, 192);">Importance
style="background-color: rgb(41, 41, 41); text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">
style="width: 390px; height: 123px;" alt=""
src="http://www.tentonhammer.com/image/view/62193">
It’s not just
for supporting Enhancement
builds. Still reducing that mana usage.
style="text-align: center; vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(41, 41, 41);">
style="width: 387px; height: 142px;" alt=""
src="http://www.tentonhammer.com/image/view/62192">
It helps you and your
group.
style="text-align: center; vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(41, 41, 41);">
style="width: 386px; height: 141px;" alt=""
src="http://www.tentonhammer.com/image/view/62203">
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.
style="background-color: rgb(255, 204, 204); text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">
style="font-weight: bold;">Supporting Enhancement
Talents
style="text-align: center; vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(41, 41, 41);">
style="width: 331px; height: 66px;" alt=""
src="http://www.tentonhammer.com/image/view/62189">
Extra Intellect equals
extra Mana. More Mana
is caster’s best friend. More Intellect you have
the more
your Crit % will go up also.
style="text-align: center; vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(41, 41, 41);">
Restoration
style="text-decoration: underline;">
href="http://www.wowarmory.com/character-talents.xml?r=Scarlet+Crusade&n=Russell&group=2"
target="_blank">Sample Restoration Build.
border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">
style="background-color: rgb(56, 88, 162); text-align: center; vertical-align: middle; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Level
style="background-color: rgb(56, 88, 162); text-align: center; vertical-align: middle; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Talent
style="background-color: rgb(56, 88, 162); text-align: center; vertical-align: middle; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Rank
style="background-color: rgb(56, 88, 162); text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">
style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">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
style="text-align: left; width: 555px;" border="0"
cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2">
style="background-color: rgb(56, 88, 162); text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">
style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Restoration
Talents
style="background-color: rgb(76, 108, 192);">Importance
style="background-color: rgb(41, 41, 41); text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">
style="width: 384px; height: 102px;" alt=""
src="http://www.tentonhammer.com/image/view/62200">
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.
style="text-align: center; vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(41, 41, 41);">
style="width: 385px; height: 73px;" alt=""
src="http://www.tentonhammer.com/image/view/62196">
Chain healing is one of
the best things about being a
Restoration Shaman. No reason not to maximize its effectiveness.
style="text-align: center; vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(41, 41, 41);">
style="width: 391px; height: 75px;" alt=""
src="http://www.tentonhammer.com/image/view/62199">
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.
style="background-color: rgb(255, 204, 204); text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">
style="font-weight: bold;">Supporting Enhancement
Talents
style="text-align: center; vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(41, 41, 41);">
style="width: 331px; height: 66px;" alt=""
src="http://www.tentonhammer.com/image/view/62189">
Do I even need to say it?
style="text-align: center; vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(41, 41, 41);">
style="width: 390px; height: 123px;" alt=""
src="http://www.tentonhammer.com/image/view/62204">
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.
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cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2">
style="background-color: rgb(56, 88, 162); text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">
style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">These
talents
are usually best for only one type of spec and not to be used for cross
builds like........
style="background-color: rgb(76, 108, 192);">Why
Not?
style="background-color: rgb(41, 41, 41); text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">
style="text-align: center; vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(41, 41, 41);">
style="width: 389px; height: 93px;" alt=""
src="http://www.tentonhammer.com/image/view/62191">
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.
style="text-align: center; vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(41, 41, 41);">
style="width: 391px; height: 111px;" alt=""
src="http://www.tentonhammer.com/image/view/62195">
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.