Totem Talk: What's right with Shamans
by Robin Torres 
Jul 5th 2007 at 9:02PM
Every other week, Robin Torres investigates Shaman issues, interviews experienced Shamans and reports her findings in Totem Talk.
This week on Totem Talk, I ask Onnix the Shaman what's RIGHT with the Shaman class since that is the question he actually wanted to answer in our first interview. There's a lot of belly-aching going on about the Shaman being the least balanced class in the game and Warcraft Realms is still showing them as the least played class -- though honestly, I don't know how often their census is updated. But Onnix maintains that the Shaman class is a blast to play, even with all the limitations.
So, what is right about about the Shaman class?
Onnix: We are a Jack-Of-All-Trades class -- I think the most fun one. The versatility of our class allows us to be instantly flexible in a variety of situations as opposed to the druid class, who have to shift forms to access limited skill sets.
Why should a shaman be invited to a heroic instance run?
From a resto perspective, contrary to popular belief, the shaman can main heal or even solo heal just fine in Heroics, but they require a competent group -- tanks that can hold aggro, DPS that don't pull aggro. A competent group is always the ideal, but with a priest healing, there is a larger margin of error within the group. I believe priest heals generate less threat (not positive) but if they pull healing aggro, they can fade, they can also Power Word: Shield targets to give them a chance to catch up on heals. Also, their heals are so much more efficient that they don't run out of mana as much.
What about the other specs? Do they have a place in heroic instances?
Elemental and enhance shaman, can do great DPS, but will have to fight the prevailing opinion of having to have crowd control classes in heroics. Most groups will want to find at least two CC classes, typically mages, hunters, or rogues, before picking up a DPS shaman.
So, in fact, there is more room for a DPS shaman in large raids than in small groups?
More flexibility certainly, but more room? It depends on the raid leader.
What is the most fun aspect of your level 70 Shaman?
PvE solo-ability. Resto shamans can take a lot of abuse, and can solo fairly tough elites. Elemental and enhance shamans are great DPSers that can heal. They are just a very versatile class to play.
You had your most fun with Onnix from 60 to 70?
I had a blast leveling to 70. It was a fantastic break from raiding, and I just had a great time with all of the new content. It was really great seeing things from a fresh perspective again -- almost like being brand new to the game.
What spec were you from 60 to 70? I know previous to TBC, you were resto for raiding.
Elemental. I was pretty well geared at 60, which made getting started pretty easy.
What are the most fun skills you have as a 70 Shaman?
Hmm, Ghost Wolf is pretty fun. I consider Improved Ghost Wolf a must-have while leveling up on a PvP server. And our new elementals are pretty cool, even though the 20 minute cooldown limits their usefulness. Oh, and there's nothing quite like seeing a Grounding Totem eat a mage's Pyroblast.
What about Earth Shield?
Earth Shield is cool, but i don't know about fun. It just adds survivability to a spec that has horrible DPS.
In a heroic instance, what are the totems you use most?
It depends on the group make-up, but totems for the tank generally take priority. Strength of Earth and Grace of Air both help with damage mitigation, but if it's a caster heavy group, i may throw down Wrath of Air. And I use Mana Spring for myself, always.
What about raids?
Tank groups get Strength of Earth and Grace of Air. Melee DPS groups get Strength of Earth and Windfury. Caster DPS groups get Wrath of Air and Mana Spring totems.
What totems do you use in your arena group?
Depends on the group you are fighting, but Tremor and Grounding totems are super important. Poison cleansing are required to help cleanse rogue and hunter debuffs. And for a little extra DPS, I use Fire Nova or Searing totems.
Overall, would you recommend that someone play the shaman class?
Definitely. Shamans are fun. Just don't expect to do crazy DPS and don't expect to be the best healer. It takes more effort to excel in any given area than it does for other classes. You'll have a lot of fun leveling up, but don't expect to do anything but heal in the endgame.
Are you a level 70 Shaman with interesting experiences or insightful opinions or inside knowledge that you would like to share? Please email Robin.Torres AT weblogsinc DOT com for a possible interview.
This week on Totem Talk, I ask Onnix the Shaman what's RIGHT with the Shaman class since that is the question he actually wanted to answer in our first interview. There's a lot of belly-aching going on about the Shaman being the least balanced class in the game and Warcraft Realms is still showing them as the least played class -- though honestly, I don't know how often their census is updated. But Onnix maintains that the Shaman class is a blast to play, even with all the limitations.So, what is right about about the Shaman class?
Onnix: We are a Jack-Of-All-Trades class -- I think the most fun one. The versatility of our class allows us to be instantly flexible in a variety of situations as opposed to the druid class, who have to shift forms to access limited skill sets.
Why should a shaman be invited to a heroic instance run?
From a resto perspective, contrary to popular belief, the shaman can main heal or even solo heal just fine in Heroics, but they require a competent group -- tanks that can hold aggro, DPS that don't pull aggro. A competent group is always the ideal, but with a priest healing, there is a larger margin of error within the group. I believe priest heals generate less threat (not positive) but if they pull healing aggro, they can fade, they can also Power Word: Shield targets to give them a chance to catch up on heals. Also, their heals are so much more efficient that they don't run out of mana as much.
What about the other specs? Do they have a place in heroic instances?
Elemental and enhance shaman, can do great DPS, but will have to fight the prevailing opinion of having to have crowd control classes in heroics. Most groups will want to find at least two CC classes, typically mages, hunters, or rogues, before picking up a DPS shaman.
So, in fact, there is more room for a DPS shaman in large raids than in small groups?
More flexibility certainly, but more room? It depends on the raid leader.
What is the most fun aspect of your level 70 Shaman?
PvE solo-ability. Resto shamans can take a lot of abuse, and can solo fairly tough elites. Elemental and enhance shamans are great DPSers that can heal. They are just a very versatile class to play.
You had your most fun with Onnix from 60 to 70?
I had a blast leveling to 70. It was a fantastic break from raiding, and I just had a great time with all of the new content. It was really great seeing things from a fresh perspective again -- almost like being brand new to the game.
What spec were you from 60 to 70? I know previous to TBC, you were resto for raiding.
Elemental. I was pretty well geared at 60, which made getting started pretty easy.
What are the most fun skills you have as a 70 Shaman?
Hmm, Ghost Wolf is pretty fun. I consider Improved Ghost Wolf a must-have while leveling up on a PvP server. And our new elementals are pretty cool, even though the 20 minute cooldown limits their usefulness. Oh, and there's nothing quite like seeing a Grounding Totem eat a mage's Pyroblast.
What about Earth Shield?
Earth Shield is cool, but i don't know about fun. It just adds survivability to a spec that has horrible DPS.
In a heroic instance, what are the totems you use most?
It depends on the group make-up, but totems for the tank generally take priority. Strength of Earth and Grace of Air both help with damage mitigation, but if it's a caster heavy group, i may throw down Wrath of Air. And I use Mana Spring for myself, always.
What about raids?
Tank groups get Strength of Earth and Grace of Air. Melee DPS groups get Strength of Earth and Windfury. Caster DPS groups get Wrath of Air and Mana Spring totems.
What totems do you use in your arena group?
Depends on the group you are fighting, but Tremor and Grounding totems are super important. Poison cleansing are required to help cleanse rogue and hunter debuffs. And for a little extra DPS, I use Fire Nova or Searing totems.
Overall, would you recommend that someone play the shaman class?
Definitely. Shamans are fun. Just don't expect to do crazy DPS and don't expect to be the best healer. It takes more effort to excel in any given area than it does for other classes. You'll have a lot of fun leveling up, but don't expect to do anything but heal in the endgame.
Are you a level 70 Shaman with interesting experiences or insightful opinions or inside knowledge that you would like to share? Please email Robin.Torres AT weblogsinc DOT com for a possible interview.
Filed under: Shaman, Analysis / Opinion, (Shaman) Totem Talk
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Esfand Jul 5th 2007 9:10PM
first lawl
=j Jul 5th 2007 9:28PM
Lets see. Resto Shaman do just fine healing. So long as eveyone else in the instance DOES THEIR FUCKING JOB. Neat one. Then when the group wipes, you can just lrn2play the DPS or tanks or whoever.
someone Jul 5th 2007 9:52PM
"And our new elementals are pretty cool"
someone Jul 5th 2007 9:54PM
"And our new elementals are pretty cool"
someone Jul 5th 2007 9:55PM
For whatever reason its editing out my post after the quotes, GG wowinsider, ps onnix is a noob.
Hutch Jul 5th 2007 10:20PM
Well if he's susch a noob why don't you do the next interview? If you won't then just shut up and stop flaming.
KuruptedOne Jul 5th 2007 10:55PM
**HUGS**
psdavies Jul 5th 2007 11:04PM
Resto PvP is funny when you're fighting a melee class. Earth shield + jump around and earth shock + Fire nova + /rofl = Fun.
Quoc Jul 5th 2007 11:27PM
lawl "Melee DPS groups get Grace of Air and Windfury."
Robin Torres Jul 5th 2007 11:28PM
Quoc, you're right. That is pretty lawl. My bad. I will fix the typo.
Wulfhere Jul 5th 2007 11:43PM
The new elementals ARE pretty cool. What's wrong with saying so?
My shaman's full enhance but has been stockpiling healing gear when possible. I'd want to respec him before I healed seriously, but he's tolerable at it now, and he can whip out some fairly nice DPS. With the EE to tank for him he can solo group quests pretty easily, something my warrior could never have done.
johnnyamerika Jul 6th 2007 12:41AM
I think his sentiment about resto shamans being "fine to heal heroics" is really ill-conceived. In my opinion, well-geared resto shamans are the best healing class for heroics, and only behind paladins for raid healing. The interviewee does not mention chain heal, which is probably the most powerful and mana efficient raid heal in the game. Earth shield is simply stunning - it's better than any HOT but does not register as the shaman's healing on healing meters, so many players overlook it for the sheer numbers generated by paladin heals.
Shaman are fine resto-wise, except for the issue of mana tide. That spell needs to be trainable, end of story. That would effectively solve any elemental problems as well, leaving enhancement to be looked at by blizzard.
phestona Jul 6th 2007 1:59PM
It amuses me greatly that people seldom remember that the second part of the expression "Jack of All Trades" is "Master of none".
bearskunk Jul 6th 2007 2:36AM
to explain the above bemusement
"Melee DPS groups get Grace of Air and Windfury."
both are air totems. only one totem for each element may be active at a time. thus the above is not possible.
Barker Jul 6th 2007 4:05AM
A resto shaman with decent gear can main heal any heroic. True we pull more aggro than any priest but we can escape and get the mob back on the tank. Earthbind totem the mob and jump around a bit. You're gonna be wearing a shield aswell so you can usually take one or two hits from most mobs.
psdavies Jul 6th 2007 4:16AM
"Shaman are fine resto-wise, except for the issue of mana tide. That spell needs to be trainable, end of story. That would effectively solve any elemental problems as well, leaving enhancement to be looked at by blizzard."
Agreed. Make resto have a shorter CD on it, but give it to all 3 specs.
Etheral Jul 6th 2007 5:50AM
As a Warrior tank i have to say that i Looovee the Grace Of Air totem.:-D
Lunada Jul 6th 2007 7:18AM
A question i have is that Onnix deems shamans a more versatile class than druids, however, are not shamans just as gear and talent dependent as druids? If u are not geared with +healing and not speced restro u'll have a hard time main healing as much as druids in the same situation (perhaps even more so). And the act of shapeshifting is instant so its hardly a hinderence on our abilities.
But dont get me wrong, im not attacking anyone or feel im being attacked (obviously my main is a druid)
im just curious about the shaman ways for i have only gotten a shaman up to 17 =P
Mac Jul 7th 2007 3:51PM
Well guys, this Shaman is an elemental so of course he cant really talk about healing in raid and Heroic.
I m a Drenai Shammie and i m fully geared Karazhan, got some T4 but nothing huge. Still i can tell ya the Shammie is really the best healing class i' ve played (i ve 2 priests).
The only thing is that you have to learn how to heal with him coz its completly different from a Pal or Priest or even a druid.
We have the best efficency heal spell in game, Chain Heal. This spellis just awesome and until you know how to use it you ll find your Shammie weak in healing.
When i first hit 70 i didnt use much chain heal and of course i was always oom before the paladins and the priests.
Then i started to use it and know i can tell you, in raid every resto Shammie ll be loved.
Just spam Chain heal, one time on the main tank he will heal the melee around, one time on the melee it ll help the main healer on the main tank, the casters are a bit low just throw them your magic Chain heal.
Earthshield on Main tank or people getting heavy dmg, like fury warrior for example.
About the totems, if you are resto better go with the melee and use windfury + strengh. If you have no shadow priest in raid the go with the healers and use mana tide to regen their mana.
Now about heroic the Shammie here again excel at it, first reason is the self rez. Just for this Shammie is loved in any heroic, if u do an heroic where the boss do an AOE u ll need a skilled paladin to keep everyone alive with the Shammie u just use Chain heal to keep everyone alive pretty simple.
So stop QQ about Shaman, this is actually the best healing class in game.
And for elemental well its just awesome in PVE you do awesome dps, mana isnt a problem even on long fight like Gruul and your wrath totem is jsut incredible, the only problem with the shammie elemental is that you cant really PVP as any class own you.
Chad Jul 6th 2007 9:53AM
No mention of the virtue of chain heal? Still, it's a good article.