Patch 4.3: Shaman tier 13 armor revealed
by Anne Stickney 
Sep 14th 2011 at 9:53PM
Continuing with the trend of patch 4.3 tier 13 previews, today shaman get to see what their upcoming tier set looks like. As with the warrior, warlock, and druid sets before it, the shaman set is incredibly detailed. In fact, I'd highly suggest checking out the full-size image in the gallery below to get a closer look at it. The set is called Spiritwalker's Vestments -- pretty aptly named.
Blizzard Entertainment
So what do you think? I like it, myself -- so far, tier 13 seems to be embracing the heart of what makes a class. Warriors have battle-hardened armor taken from their greatest kill, warlocks embrace the dark and tainted magics through robes reminiscent of the Old Gods, druids literally wear nature, and now shaman are a hail to the primal days of shaman past. It definitely makes me curious as to what's next.
Blizzard Entertainment
The best shaman sets are a mix of the animal and the elemental. This tier combines huge wolf-skull shoulder pads, bone fetishes, and fur with glowing shards of amber crystal. The entire set is lashed together with lengths of rope and heavily stitched leather, which lends the set a savage bearing.
So what do you think? I like it, myself -- so far, tier 13 seems to be embracing the heart of what makes a class. Warriors have battle-hardened armor taken from their greatest kill, warlocks embrace the dark and tainted magics through robes reminiscent of the Old Gods, druids literally wear nature, and now shaman are a hail to the primal days of shaman past. It definitely makes me curious as to what's next.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 5)
Joerendous Sep 14th 2011 9:56PM
That armor is BEASTLY.
cmsonfire Sep 15th 2011 1:22AM
Great Odins raven that set looks magnificent! These past 2 weeks ive been worried as to what the shaman T13 would look like. I was planning on being let down but sweet mother of god was i proven wrong
HalcyonGT Sep 14th 2011 9:58PM
Sweet Infant Christ! Those shoulders are full of win! Way to go on the set Blizz. So far, this set looks to be the winner of Tier 13.
Firestyle Sep 14th 2011 10:01PM
brb, have to vomit.
Drakkenfyre Sep 14th 2011 10:03PM
I am glad to see armor which isn't just "All red, and rocks and random pointy stuff slapped together."
MusedMoose Sep 14th 2011 10:17PM
Seconded. I wasn't too familiar with the shaman sets, but looking at the retrospective... Blizzard has not always been kind to the shaman. @_@ This and tier 1 are my favorites by a long shot.
Fletcher Sep 15th 2011 1:19AM
You may like the T1 recolour found in BC dungeons - it's dark blue/black where T1 is vibrant purple.
Mornash Sep 14th 2011 10:04PM
Fuck yeah! I love this. Can't wait to earn this set!
Christopher Sep 14th 2011 10:04PM
this is outstanding. so epic. so glad i made my shaman my main once he hit level cap.
Gaurisk Sep 14th 2011 10:05PM
That is how it is done. That right there.
restodr00d Sep 14th 2011 10:08PM
You know its kind of weird but i love it, although it looks kind of trollish with al the bones if you ask me, either way awesome set.
Ametrine Sep 14th 2011 10:11PM
The shoulders alone make this set epic.
Tom Sep 14th 2011 10:12PM
Hm... I'm mixed about this set.
I will always wear this on my Orc, but I'll never wear this on my Draenei.
Cassie Sep 14th 2011 10:25PM
Agreed. I might skip this tier on my shaman... as a woman, I'm not a huge fan. But as far as the art is concerned, I do think it looks incredible. Blizzard is doing a fantastic job this time around.
(However... Thank goodness for mogging, I suppose I can always just farm up something prettier to wear... haha)
ravyncat Sep 15th 2011 3:51AM
That was my thought too.
It looks very cool...but nothing my pretty shaman would ever want to wear. I think it might look odd on even a male Draenei...but on Dwarves (of either gender) probably ok.
On the other hand I think it will look awesome on all the Horde shaman races. Maybe that is what they were going for since they were the original ones?
Luotian Sep 15th 2011 7:54AM
Oh yes, my Orc Shaman (female) is extremely excited. My female dwarf Shaman? Less so, although I'd like to see it on her when WoWHead gets a hold of it before I completely make up my mind. Absolutely epic on my orc, though.
Muse Sep 15th 2011 8:55AM
Yeah, I genuinely cannot see this working out for a Draenei, no matter how "back to the roots" they are. Dwarf... maybe, possibly. Still quite the stretch. It's not just a miss-match of races, it's a miss-match of approach to shamanism. To the Draenei, the elements come side-by-side with the light as a revered source of strength, a connection to existence. Dead animal bones... not so much.
Ice Sep 15th 2011 9:02AM
Yeah I can imagine how the shoulders would look on tiny goblin female. Remember those bear shoulders from ZA and how they look on goblin fem? Yeah I get the feeling they will be as small as those. I mean, theres no way they could get any more massive shoulders to not look unnatural or "they are bigger than my head!?".
snarkygoldfish Sep 15th 2011 10:55AM
I don't like the "as a woman" excuse for not liking it. What does gender have to do with it? Because, hey, I'M a woman and I think it's a really, REALLY awesome set.
I'm an RPer with a female draenei enhance shaman. She went "native" up in Northrend. Her teachers have been Taunka and trolls, Tuskarr and Tauren. She is seen as extremely 'savage' to other members of the Alliance...and the tier sets just don't always reflect that. Shaman are the wild mystics and spiritual representatives of a tribal, hunter-based society.
Too many of our sets are "GLOWY LAVA AND SPIKY" -- and hell, our t11 looked like a druid set they decided to give to us instead. I'd rather look like a wild woman than a spiky domesticated warrior. :)
Lolz Sep 14th 2011 10:12PM
Wth are those skulls??!!