ele = Healing Surge Spam

[Urgalicious]

Lavaburst for the elemental focus charges then use both for two healing surges (usually tops me off).

Seriously, I still have to use them for healing surge at ilvl 845, especially in Suramar. Leveling I had to go the whole nine yards with hexing, earthbind, thunderstorm... every pull that wasn't one enemy was intense. Most I can say is I wasn't really using stormkeeper much while I was leveling for added damage, but aside from that I was constantly in danger.

[Stormspellz]

During my leveling as an elem healing surge was an actual part of my rotation.

the best part is as you are killing one mob, a dh or ww comes along pulls 3 of them and aoe downs them in 1/3 the time as you killed yours.

[Deleted]

Here is what I did:
Lightning bolt --> Frost Shock (few steps back while waiting on GCD) --> Lightning bolt --> Flame shock (few steps back) --> Lava burst --> Frost shock --> lightning bolt --> earthgrab totem (if too close) --> regular rotation.

Normal mobs should be dead by the time they reach you. Elites are harder but you have elementals, hero, ascendance.

This is not the highest dps rotation obviously since I was mostly concerned with keeping myself alive/away from mobs. Furthermore, I think frost shock is actually a really good kite tool for pve. Just have to reapply it to the mob every 6 seconds.

PS. Remember you have defensives like earth elemental, you can hex a target if human/beast, astral shift (40% less DMG)

[Sylfaine]

the best part is as you are killing one mob, a dh or ww comes along pulls 3 of them and aoe downs them in 1/3 the time as you killed yours.

Dude, I leveled a DH (as a tank) after my shaman, I was pulling 5/6 mob at a time and killing them so fast compare to the sham.
Even worst when I hit level 110 with the DH, he was like 800ilvl and my ele already 850, well even there world quests were ten time easier on the dh.

[Deleted]

Just buy fighter chow on any alt you level. Makes it easy. Elemental or not.

Fighter chow was amazing for leveling, and I still use it when I'm put doing world quests. It's easy to get, quick to cook, and it will make your questing experience so much smoother.

---

That said, I remember leveling up as enhancement, and there were times where I felt really squishy. Not so much anymore. These days, I can pull more mobs more confidently, because I know that with 3+ targets I can likely proc a bunch of stormbringer procs and nuke down my targets.

But alas, this is as enhancement. I haven't tried elemental but I can imagine you lack a bit of burst cleave in your kit. So instead you might have to rely on crowd control to keep yourself healthy.

The good news is, it gets better. At least it did for enh. I know that elemental isn't in a very good place at 110, but as you gear up, it will get better. And eventually Blizzard will get around to shamans for the tuning pass and hopefully things should be good by then.

[Talostown]

the best part is as you are killing one mob, a dh or ww comes along pulls 3 of them and aoe downs them in 1/3 the time as you killed yours.

^^^ This. I have leveled as elemental since I starting playing a Shaman back at the end of vanilla for every xpac. Ele was never the greatest DPS spec but it was definitely adequate. This is by far the worst I have ever seen it. No enjoyment at all especially when you see every other class appear to take down mobs with ease when I am struggling with 1 and as someone stated earlier, especially in Suramar. I just stay resto.

- - - Updated - - -

Here is what I did:
Lightning bolt --> Frost Shock (few steps back while waiting on GCD) --> Lightning bolt --> Flame shock (few steps back) --> Lava burst --> Frost shock --> lightning bolt --> earthgrab totem (if too close) --> regular rotation.

Normal mobs should be dead by the time they reach you. Elites are harder but you have elementals, hero, ascendance.

This is not the highest dps rotation obviously since I was mostly concerned with keeping myself alive/away from mobs. Furthermore, I think frost shock is actually a really good kite tool for pve. Just have to reapply it to the mob every 6 seconds.

PS. Remember you have defensives like earth elemental, you can hex a target if human/beast, astral shift (40% less DMG)

I get what you are saying but TBH, if I wanted to play that mechanic, I would have leveled a frost mage.

[Deleted]

I might be in danger of being labelled as not constructive saying this, but it seems like you guys complaining about this must be face tanking the mobs.

I'm not saying Elemental's damage isn't still too low, or that mechanically it needs something extra to make it as efficient, but this whole issue breaks down into two factors that you guys don't seem to be comprehending - otherwise you wouldn't be posting this stuff as you are --



1) Casters are meant to kite adds. You are not meant to sit and face-tank adds unless you have gear, or CC them with stuns etc. You will get rekt as a caster if you try to tank mobs - this is basic stuff and it's been that way since Vanilla. Perhaps Blizzard haven't made it clear enough to those re-rolling or levelling alts who main Melee. It used to be obvious because most had played Everquest etc or just didn't expect everything to keel over with no thought.
- Just because Cataclysm and MoP had pathetic mobs that hit like noodles and died in 2 casts, doesn't make it the norm.


2) Melee have multiple advantages in this regard. No pushback on casts. Rotational CD based abilities, that typically lead to burstier DPS. Instant healing. Better defensives (because they're closer to sources of damage). In return, Ranged should take less damage (kiting) and are able to tag multiple mobs, faster.



Doesn't take a genius to rationale this out. I'm not saying Elemental is fine, it isn't. I'm saying, the above stuff is basic to the game and is being dismissed by simple arguments, not taking the reality of common game mechanics into account.

If you're being hit in the face by mobs as Elemental, you're doing it wrong.


EDIT: Talostown, if you think taking mobs down levelling Elemental was as easy as you seem to suggest in Vanilla, you CLEARLY didn't play it.

And Sylfaine, if you think every melee can tank more than 3 mobs at a time, go play Rogue, or Fury Warrior. They can't. Fury for example relies on bursting down one target in a group to get the healing proc, grouping mobs just makes it more efficient to kill them, not faster. No shit you can watch a Vengeance DH roll past with 6+ packs - they're tanks. Blood DKs can keep themselves alive without a healer in Mythic+ trash - it doesn't make me start crying that I can't do it as Shaman. Facepalm.

[Deleted]

I went for elemental artifact first as well.
Should NOT have done that. Those 2 first levels were a pain.
As someone else stated, Healing Surge is a MAJOR part of the rotation. I couldn't pull 2 mobs without spending every other global on healing surging (Boosted character).

When I finally reached 102, I did my Enha artifact and suddenly I started doing damage. I could actually kill stuff now.
I've started slowly working on my Elemental artifact in 110 after getting resto and enha to 13+, and it's not that bad in max level with some decent gear (846).

I agree there should be done something to elementals damage while leveling, or a passive damage reduction talent, that would make healing surge NOT be the most used spell while leveling. Maybe a 25% damage reduction for 10 seconds after killing a monster, or something like that.

There is a need for some defensive or offensive changes to elemental pre 110 (also at 110, dont get me wrong).

[Deleted]

You're welcome.

[Rotted]

Elemental for me was hard at level 100, fresh boosted character from 60. First time I've ever played one properly. 100 was horrendous, every mob healing surge, one thing at a time. 101 tad bit easier, could still only do 1v1 but I could pick up a second mob straight away. 103 onwards was a piece of cake. At 100-102 I had the healing water elemental but at 103 I just sent it back to missions. 110 Things went back shit until I got to around 805. Now I have very few problems, my last one was that fucking escort quest in suramar when guards spawn and pull the entire street on you

[gambit998]

I might be in danger of being labelled as not constructive saying this, but it seems like you guys complaining about this must be face tanking the mobs.

I'm not saying Elemental's damage isn't still too low, or that mechanically it needs something extra to make it as efficient, but this whole issue breaks down into two factors that you guys don't seem to be comprehending - otherwise you wouldn't be posting this stuff as you are --



1) Casters are meant to kite adds. You are not meant to sit and face-tank adds unless you have gear, or CC them with stuns etc. You will get rekt as a caster if you try to tank mobs - this is basic stuff and it's been that way since Vanilla. Perhaps Blizzard haven't made it clear enough to those re-rolling or levelling alts who main Melee. It used to be obvious because most had played Everquest etc or just didn't expect everything to keel over with no thought.
- Just because Cataclysm and MoP had pathetic mobs that hit like noodles and died in 2 casts, doesn't make it the norm.


2) Melee have multiple advantages in this regard. No pushback on casts. Rotational CD based abilities, that typically lead to burstier DPS. Instant healing. Better defensives (because they're closer to sources of damage). In return, Ranged should take less damage (kiting) and are able to tag multiple mobs, faster.



Doesn't take a genius to rationale this out. I'm not saying Elemental is fine, it isn't. I'm saying, the above stuff is basic to the game and is being dismissed by simple arguments, not taking the reality of common game mechanics into account.

If you're being hit in the face by mobs as Elemental, you're doing it wrong.


EDIT: Talostown, if you think taking mobs down levelling Elemental was as easy as you seem to suggest in Vanilla, you CLEARLY didn't play it.

And Sylfaine, if you think every melee can tank more than 3 mobs at a time, go play Rogue, or Fury Warrior. They can't. Fury for example relies on bursting down one target in a group to get the healing proc, grouping mobs just makes it more efficient to kill them, not faster. No shit you can watch a Vengeance DH roll past with 6+ packs - they're tanks. Blood DKs can keep themselves alive without a healer in Mythic+ trash - it doesn't make me start crying that I can't do it as Shaman. Facepalm.

Actually your 1st point is untrue, we have no proper kiting tools unless talentd for it and the fact that frost shock costs maelstrom. We are supposed to face tank stuff we have been able to do so since forever. We are supposed to be able to take more damage than our enhance brothers because mail and a shield. Even spell caster mobs where easy when we still had grounding. Please dont think that all casters are 'Supposed' to be the same cause they are not.

Side note: I am sure that the artifact shield we have litrally does nothing cause i still feel naked when i am smacked.

[Nzete]

I leveled my shaman second. She is main spec alchemy. My guild leader said "friends don't let friends level elemental", and he is a good elemental. I took his advise and got the enhancement artifact first. I got the elemental and restoration artifacts at 102 for the experience. I put the elemental one in the bank where it won't hurt anyone.

[ydraw]

Just buy fighter chow on any alt you level. Makes it easy. Elemental or not.

This. Heals you to full in a couple of seconds after each pull. Best food buff for leveling by far.

- - - Updated - - -

1) Casters are meant to kite adds. You are not meant to sit and face-tank adds unless you have gear, or CC them with stuns etc. You will get rekt as a caster if you try to tank mobs.

This is only really true for mages and shaman. And mages have high enough damage that they really don't have to bother.

Boomkins, Shadow Priests, Warlocks etc don't have to kite. Boomkins especially are meant to facetank, they have multiple passive abilities that support it.

[melodramocracy]

I avoided the headache and leveled as enhancement.

[waitwutt]

How did you do it? The ones who leveled as an ele .. How can you stand what seems like never ending spam of healing surge after each pull ...

Would it been too much to add a feature that buffed Healing Surge when used on self after killing a mob?

This build is the bastard child of WoW ..

spec into echo of elements and molten earth or w/e its called in the first tier... I almost never need to heal myself unless I pull 3+ mobs which no one should be able to do easily anyway.

[Bugg]

Leveling as elemental wasn't hard at all. Might be easier as Enh

Might be... yes...

[Deleted]

Actually your 1st point is untrue, we have no proper kiting tools unless talentd for it and the fact that frost shock costs maelstrom. We are supposed to face tank stuff we have been able to do so since forever. We are supposed to be able to take more damage than our enhance brothers because mail and a shield. Even spell caster mobs where easy when we still had grounding. Please dont think that all casters are 'Supposed' to be the same cause they are not.

Side note: I am sure that the artifact shield we have litrally does nothing cause i still feel naked when i am smacked.

Maybe keybind Thunderstorm from your spell book. Also talent one of the 3 options on the 45 tier that are all CC based. Frost Shock can be used from 0 maelstrom, I don't see how that is a balanced counter argument.

In low gear levels or against difficult mobs, the Elemental playstyle is to pull several mobs with Flame Shock, strafing and using your Lava Surge procs to nuke things down ST.

It's clear you didn't play Vanilla, since anyone who played Elemental in the first few expacs will remember how much of a "kite around the Earthbind totem" game it was. Thunderstorm was the level 60 talent for a reason.

Also Shadow Priest does not face tank mobs, it relies on either kiting like everyone else, or killing mobs before they reach it under a Mind Flay (the latter being heavily relied on, as I remember things).

Very few classes were able to pull multiple mobs at a time and cleave them down without going tank in Vanilla/TBC. Don't pretend that they could. It's all irrelevant now anyway, that was 9+ years ago.

P.S. Grounding totem didn't do shit? It was a massive cooldown and soaked one spell, hardly enough to make a difference at all while levelling, let alone break the game?

[ydraw]

Also Shadow Priest does not face tank mobs, it relies on either kiting like everyone else, or killing mobs before they reach it under a Mind Flay (the latter being heavily relied on, as I remember things).

Between Vampiric Touch, San'layn, PWS and Shadowform, Shadow Priest can face tank mobs as well as Boomkins can.

No class in the game is expected to kite non-elite quest mobs just to level up, and hasn't been expected to do so since Burning Crusade.

[Holofernes]

yeah its really brutal. had a resto / ele since cata, and jesus leveling or worldquests as ele are just ... The spells hit harder in resto spec (granted its main spec with ap in weapon), than in the dps spec. i do herb farming as resto, because i dont die if i pull 3+ mobs and get dismounted, like it happens in ele spec. my shaman is in 852 gear btw. and i dont use followers, because they randomly attack horde, and horde guys are like "its easier to kill the shaman than his follower"... so they gank me to get rid of my follower to be able to use their teleport.... #just ele things.

[gambit998]

Um dude you just TELL me i didnt play Vanilla which is Classic btw -.- ?? To be honest obviously you didnt, the spec didnt work if you where Elemental you where gimping yourself beyond belief, Elemental only became more or less viable in BC. Oh ye and btw since you apparently know me, i ran icefury while leveling i had 0 problems after the 1st accidental pull of more than 1 mob. We have been able to face tank for ages and now suddenly we couldnt that is a proven FACT.

PPS: Grounding totem was a godsend with our reduced cooldown interupt.....dont sprout stuff you obviously dont understand. I had 0 downtime in BC as Elemental so i dont know what that garbage is about Lightningbolt use to hit like a sodding truck even then. Wrath made it even easier to lvl once you hit 75 and got Lavaburst.

Point is we are a caster that uses mail and a shield, yet for some unknown reason my Oomkin can take more of a hit than my elemental can a sodding chicken form is more resilient than sodding armor .