2h Axes and Maces might be free for Shamans
by Mike Schramm 
Aug 8th 2007 at 3:31PM
While we were at BlizzCon, Eliah did a great job of catching something even I missed (and I played-- and respecced-- my Shaman on the event server, although I don't have any points in Enhancement, so that's probably why I missed it). Shaman are very likely picking up some serious buffs in an upcoming patch. And now, Drysc has confirmed that if one of those buffs, Shamanistic Focus, goes through, then Shaman will get 2h Axes and Maces as a baseline ability, no talent points needed.Pretty darn sweet-- now, I can use my healing mace to heal, my spell damage dagger to DPS, and my 2h mace (haven't found one yet, but I will) to melee. And think of the itemization in the future-- a 2h mace with uber spell damage and Windfury on it? Hawt!
The original thread that brought about Drysc's comment was asking for Shaman swords, and I do agree that even if 2h talent doesn't get made free, Shaman should be able to pick up 1h swords-- we're already at enough of a disadvantage with our low mana efficiency to have to pass on those swords to Mages and Warlocks (sure, the lore doesn't really fit, but this is Shamans we're talking about!). But I'm more than willing to trade those away for free 2h Axes and Maces (and the promise of itemization for us in WotLK). Because what I really want to wield as a Shaman is one of those gigantic 2h totems, and Maces are just a step away from that.
Filed under: Shaman, Items, Analysis / Opinion, Blizzard, News items, Classes, Talents
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Ryan Aug 8th 2007 3:52PM
The real jewel was the improved mental focus talent, which gave 33% of your attack power back as spell damage & healing.
Cosmina Aug 8th 2007 3:55PM
I'd kill for a Tauren totem.
Argent Aug 8th 2007 4:11PM
yech. if you're gonna go for a 2h spelldmg mace, hold out for hammer of the naaru, not that PoS.
Deuce Aug 8th 2007 8:11PM
This is brings up an issue i have. Why cant pally's(argueably the best healers) wield staffs(many of which have good healing stats). Mages wield swords.
Am I way off of base here - please comment.
Thallid Aug 9th 2007 1:12AM
@3:
It's hard to compare a world drop BoE (assuming that it will be that way should Blizz decide to add it.) to an item from a 25-man raid.
@4:
I may as well add to the question as to why Paladins are the only class unable to use daggers. A huge amount of daggers give a good amound of spell damage/healing which could be useful to us, just like staves.
georgeasmith Aug 9th 2007 5:56AM
@4&5 Paladins are a hybrid class, the original intention of the class was not as a main healer/tank/dps but as a secondary. They should not be seen as a caster but more like a Warrior that can heal. I play the three "healing" hybrid classes (Shaman, Paladin, Druid). I try to play these as Jack-of-all-trades. Not focusing on just one aspect (we'll say healing), there is so much more they can do well.
That being said, im so happy to hear some Shammie love. I've been waiting since BC.
Angus Aug 9th 2007 11:28AM
@4: You have access to polearms for damage, maces for healing, swords for spell damage. What more do you need? Staves are nice, but you are a holy warrior. I only have a staff because I haven't gotten a better drop for a shield and mace combo. You don't need a staff to have a great combo. You were never meant to be the best healer. Single target you are, but you are still not better than a priest in most situations. They need the help and don't need to compete for those staff drops.
@5: See above. I don't see why someone that can get the best spellcaster weapons out there has issues not getting daggers. Ret wouldn't want them, since they aren't pumping out as much dps and as caster weapons would be capped at 41.5 DPS. Prot wouldn't want them as they are too fast for reckoning and are a sword anyway. Holy is going for healing maces or spell damage swords.
@6: If you are playing them as jack of all trades, you suck at everything. It's not your fault, but it is Blizzard's Devs fault. Itemization sucks for hybrid gear. We have a ret/holy paladin in my guild. She's a great player but she's actually come in behind me in a damage chart. I'm a resto Shaman. Me dropping a searing totem and applying a flame shock while healing a tank got me barely above her on dps because she heals too, casts spells and does melee. Her gear can't do any of them extremely well and so they all suffer. WoW wants you to be a specialist. If you are not, you end up not being a good enough contribution to be more than a support character that hopes to never get used.
@ Mike Schramm: Did you even read those comments on the weapon you posted? I'll sum it up: IT SUCKS. Seriously, it does nothing well. Lots of stam and okay spell damage with crappy DPS for a 2-hander at that level.
You can get better DPS with a crafted 1 hander. Look up any of the weaponsmith specialty crafted weapons. Windfury does not go on a weapon if you have AP less than 500, which you will as a resto. So you are better off going with an ACTUAL spellcasting weapon and flametongue at that point.
http://www.wowhead.com/?item=30832. If you really NEED to DPS, I suggest getting an actual 2-hander that won't suck for hitting things.
http://www.wowhead.com/?item=23543 Or just buy this on AH, they are everywhere: http://www.wowhead.com/?item=31291
Windfury is for HIGH DPS weapons and when you have GOOD attack power. That isn't easy as a resto shaman and having a caster weapon just gimps it. Flametongue is for high spell damage and cruddy DPS weapons. As an enhance shaman I saw too many other people screwing this up.
I see the free 2-handers as a chance for a resto shaman to use a moderate gear switch in order to farm. instead of having to respec for a few days in order to get anything fast, they have a chance to double or triple their farming speed with just a few items changed. That's the real point of this change. Enhance shaman get a useful skill at 11pts instead of a joke.
bluebottleblues Aug 10th 2007 2:37PM
I am pretty sure that Druids also you like to be able to use swords as well as shamen :P
If shamen get 1hed swords... can druids get duel wield? :) Clawkin