Enhancement shaman itemization and the end boss effect
by Matthew Rossi 
Jun 9th 2011 at 10:00PM
As you may or may not be aware, I've started gearing up my enhancement shaman and have been having a really good time playing him. I enjoy enhancement for a lot of reasons, including how different it feels from playing a warrior or feral druid, the other two melee classes I'm familiar with.
However, finding weapons can be a bit of a pain. The best weapons for me outside of a raid are the two fist weapons in ZG, which drop from a randomly summoned boss. So you may not even get the boss who drops them, and the off-hand doesn't even drop from the same boss as the main-hand -- and in either case, it means I'm leveling archaeology on a fourth toon because half the time, no one can summon any of them.
As annoying as this is, for raiding, it can get even worse. Getting a 2.6 speed agility main-hand weapon from raiding means killing Nefarian and praying that this week he drops your axe. (You can get an off-hand from trash, but you can't use it in your main hand, meaning you need at least one Neffy axe). Blizzard has come out and said it's fine with this for now.
However, finding weapons can be a bit of a pain. The best weapons for me outside of a raid are the two fist weapons in ZG, which drop from a randomly summoned boss. So you may not even get the boss who drops them, and the off-hand doesn't even drop from the same boss as the main-hand -- and in either case, it means I'm leveling archaeology on a fourth toon because half the time, no one can summon any of them.
As annoying as this is, for raiding, it can get even worse. Getting a 2.6 speed agility main-hand weapon from raiding means killing Nefarian and praying that this week he drops your axe. (You can get an off-hand from trash, but you can't use it in your main hand, meaning you need at least one Neffy axe). Blizzard has come out and said it's fine with this for now.
Takralus - Enhancement Shaman Itemization and Loot Drops
In general, we don't set out to provide perfect itemization for every spec in every tier of items, however we try to not neglect anyone either. This sometimes results in situations where, say for example the mainhand slot, is easier to obtain for one spec over another. We have seen some comments from Enhancement Shaman about Nefarian's axe (Crul'korak, the Lightning's Arc) being a harder item to obtain for raiders than different spec counterparts.
While we don't go out of our way to make these differences, we are fine with them happening from time to time. In the above example with Nefarian's axe, we chose to go that route because historically, Nefarian also dropped a similar type axe in Blackwing Lair. We also like the idea of weapons being on an "end boss", as they generally are quite sought after items.
That said, Firelands will be dropping two weapons suitable for Enhancement Shaman that do not involve killing Ragnaros. One of these will even be able to drop from multiple bosses.
While we don't go out of our way to make these differences, we are fine with them happening from time to time. In the above example with Nefarian's axe, we chose to go that route because historically, Nefarian also dropped a similar type axe in Blackwing Lair. We also like the idea of weapons being on an "end boss", as they generally are quite sought after items.
That said, Firelands will be dropping two weapons suitable for Enhancement Shaman that do not involve killing Ragnaros. One of these will even be able to drop from multiple bosses.
Now, I'm not going to go the "hilariously outraged" route here. It's annoying to have almost all of your loot hopes tied to one boss, and it's annoying to end up using a strength weapon on a shaman because your agility options won't drop. It's even more annoying once you start doing heroic raid content that there's exactly one weapon for you.
I'm glad to read that Firelands will have more options for shaman, but I think the experiment of the Claws of Agony/Torment was a mistake; we ended up with a weapon set no one really wanted. Making them both agility weapons would have at least meant that enhancement shamans would have wanted them.
As for the two weapons suitable for enhancement in Firelands, I'd guess Gatecrasher and Shatterskull Bonecrusher will be your new huckleberries. The Shatterskull reminds me of the Syphon of the Nathrezim in looks. Hopefully, one of these two weapons will be fairly easily available. Sadly, I'm not seeing any fists yet, but if we're not going to get what I want at least we'll get what we need.
The news is already rolling out for the upcoming WoW Patch 4.2! Preview the new Firelands raid, marvel at the new legendary staff, and get the inside scoop on new quest hubs -- plus new Tier 12 armor!
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Musashi Blaker Jun 9th 2011 10:02PM
Grammar Error
As you may or may not be aware, I'm* starting to* gear up my enhancement shaman
Durenas Jun 10th 2011 11:05AM
There is nothing wrong with his grammar. He's speaking in the present tense, which is perfectly fine.
dirac Jun 9th 2011 10:10PM
And here I thought I was the only warrior/shaman player in WoW who loved fist weapons!
Matt Jun 10th 2011 4:17AM
Are you kidding me? You're so far from being alone it's mind-boggling.
I'm a Hunter. I don't even use fist weapons. And I still think they're, hands down (pun intended), the best weapon class in the game. Any Warrior/Shaman who thinks otherwise should be ashamed D=
relmatos Jun 10th 2011 8:50AM
I dropped a fully enchanted Mace of the Sacrificed for Arlokk's Claws on my off-hand because it was a fist weapon.
I had to spend more mats on enchant and gold on reforges but I dont regret it one bit.
Draenei Shaman was clearly made to use fist weapons. Maces just look wrong.
WaterRouge Jun 9th 2011 10:23PM
Now you're telling me you have a feral druid?! What's next?! A PALADIN?
Arrohon Jun 9th 2011 10:31PM
I believe he's said that he doesn't like pallys (playstyle mind you). My apologies if I'm wrong.
Darky Jun 9th 2011 11:06PM
What you mean people don't have one of every class?
Cyno01 Jun 9th 2011 10:37PM
The point of the Claws of Agony/Torment is that their stats are over allocated when you count the proc. So warriors are trading useless agility on one of their weapons for the 1k haste proc, and shammys (and hunters) vice versa. The OH is too slow for rogues. Theyre not the best, but theyre pretty easily obtainable.
Angus Jun 9th 2011 11:15PM
1: hunters go for staves/2-handers and they have options.
2: Shaman hate haste now.
Warriors can get much better options than that.
The set sucks for everyone and it is far too reminiscent of the crap in hyjal where fist weapons that were designed to match shaman gear were better for rogues.
Why are there ANY 1 handed agility swords now?
Axes and fit weapons would be useable by 2 classes instead of 1 fir those swords.
zelcor1 Jun 10th 2011 6:41PM
The weapon set would've been so much more desired if it had the "increases by whichever secondary stat is the highest" that way the tradeoff for using some strength would be a 1k increase in mastery which would....wait *droooools*.
Obviously the fact that they picked haste as the set bonus pretty much killed it for enhancers. Right now I'm running a Claw of torment/maimgor's bite setup which is working very well.
thebitterfig Jun 10th 2011 10:00AM
When it comes to the actual value of the stats, they aren't really overbudget. Agility and Strength tend to come in at about three times the value of non-hit/expertise secondary stats, and this holds roughly true for all classes. At about 18% uptime, this comes in at the equivalent of 180 haste. When you add together 180 haste and 146 strength, the value of this is less than the 146 agility you'd have from an equal ilvl weapon.
It's like swapping a quarter for a nickel and a dime. You have more coins, but less money.
jevers Jun 9th 2011 11:11PM
Definitely not a fan of the "end boss effect." It's great that there are BOE drops to make weapons more available for Enhancement shaman who do normal raids, but for those of us who are tackling heroics (and trying to gear up for the task), it is absurd that our ONLY ilvl 372 weapon drops from a boss who is on the more challenging end of the spectrum of heroic raid boss difficulty. I'm glad weapons will be more accessible in Firelands, as I doubt I'll ever see Crul'korak drop. My guild has been farming Nefarian on normal each week for several months now and it has never dropped; even if we do get Heroic Nefarian down, who is to say the same thing won't happen?
stealbeard Jun 9th 2011 11:13PM
While my main is hunter, I played enhancement on a second toon and always feel a certain attachment for it. Right now I have a common plight though. I understand that sometime a certain class/spec may be screwed out of gear choices. But really, in an expansion that's supposed to be the shaman expansion, with crazed elements and primordial upheaval and everything, is shaman really the class you want to be screwing with? Archaeology was also an insult, with ancient treasures revealed, and shamans coming to the forefront of saving the world, and dwarves becoming shamans... there should have been an [Ancient Hammer of Fury This] or [Molten hammer of that], or at least some ancestral orcish axe from the good old days. And it's not like there's ever been a huge glut of agility weapons. And having weapons on the final bosses isn't true, every other spec can get a weapon from the very first bosses, which will be also the first bosses that drop on hard mode - those weapons end up beeing the workhorses of progression. I guess I'm pissed right now, 'cause in a raid that's about FIRE AND BRIMSTONE... there is still no proper gun for a dwarf to use. Damn
snarkygoldfish Jun 10th 2011 10:44AM
The shaman expansion? I've kinda given up hope on that.
Druid faction #9845734 was obviously a lot more important. And why they aren't playing a more central role against an elemental lord, and that druids are ganking elemental powers is just....what.
One of the things I was most excited for in Cata was finally getting more shammy lore / presence...much in the way the Argent Dawn / Crusade seemed to be in the thick of nearly everything during Wrath. (And with the Neptulon storyline sounding like it has been scrapped... I think that ship has sailed, sadly.)
Jack Mynock Jun 10th 2011 12:13AM
Is there some reason you don't consider Claws of Torment a 2.6 speed main-hand agility weapon?
SaintStryfe Jun 10th 2011 12:40AM
Yeah, I have to agree - we get two BoEs - anynoe who's guild is working on BWD will probably get them. Maimgor's Bite is perfectly itemized for an ENH shaman. the Claw of Agony is okay, great when you consider it's got the same stat alocation as the weapon of Nef.
However, when you bump up to heroic it is much worse. Then you have to get to the final boss of a very hard instance. and bump him off.
Hint, Blizz: Your only weapon dropping off of a boss who gives you a title when you beat him is not fun. It would be like if the only weapon choice in Ulduar came off of Algalon.
That said, it looks like we make off better in 4.2. So hell, we get screwed one parch, we get buffed the next. Sunrise, sunset.
Jack Mynock Jun 10th 2011 12:51AM
Yeah, the situation with heroic mode weapons is pretty rough for us. Especially considering the Nef axe is actually awful. I'm just glad my dwarf enh will have a chance to get an agility mace next tier... this one has has zero.
Josh Myers Jun 10th 2011 1:38AM
I see you there Rossi, stealing mah posts!
Matthew Rossi Jun 10th 2011 3:24AM
The grand high editor poobahs commanded it.