[MOP](Shaman) What talents will you pick?

[Barky]

Enhance PvE
Stone Bulwark Totem or Astral Shift, not sure yet
Frozen Power, bad tier IMO
Totemic Restoration, what DPS talents?
Echo of Elements, Haste=garbage and double attacks=win
Ancestral Guidance, can't hurt to help Healers
Elemental Blast, only good DPS for Enhance IMO

Haste is garbage at the moment but they're looking at making it better so we'll have to wait and see to see if tier 4 is viable. As for Tier 6 Unleashed Fury is also good for Enhancement dps.

Tier 2 is nice as it gives us a lot of movement options, it could be a lifesaver depending on what the bosses in pve mechanics do.

[Vijaya]

I think many of the talents are very situational. There's various encounters where different talents will have a greater effect. I'll mainly be talking from a PvE Resto Shaman aspect.

As for tier 1 I'd go with SBT if the fight is somewhat like ultraxion, i.e. damage being taken constantly throughout the entire fight, this will indeed prove to be more useless as it'll absorb much more damage in comparison to the damage reduction granted from Astral Shift. Astral Shift on the other hand could prove to be usefull on encounter like Spine and Madness of Deathwing Heroic prenerfs. Popping AS when the amalgamation reaches 9 stacks or when the meteor is about to hit can prove to be a great advantage when you want to lower the risk of dying. I wouldn't consider Nature's Guardian for any encounters currently, as I think the other two will be more usefull in the long run.

In Tier 2 would I prefer Windwalk totem for fights with some sort of slow, like Hagara and the frost patches as an example. Though Earthgrab Totem can have its use if there's an encounter with slowable adds, much like the kiting of the adds on the nature platform of The Conclave of Wind encounter.

For Tier 3 I would almost definately pick Call of the Elements. That'll reset the cooldown on a lot of usefull totems which have gotten a CD with the changes in MoP. Mana Tide Totem, Healing Tide Totem, Healing Stream Totem, Capacitator Totem and I could go on. This can be used both defensively and offensively and in my opinion have the greatest benefit on by far the majority of encounters.

Tier 4 consist of some interesting choices. I would most definately pick Nature's Swiftness without a doubt if we had no other +5% spell haste buff in the raid group. I'm not quite sure if I like the RNG-element of Echo of the Elements talent - I guess it really depends on how much AoE healing (I'd like a few Chain Heal procs rather than overhealing Greater Healing Waves on the tank!) there's in an encounter. Speaking of AoE healing though, Elemental Mastery can be used for periods where the raid takes a lot of damage - this'll give you a few more ticks on Healing Rain as well as having you weave in a lot of Chain Heals. I would probably go with Elemental Mastery the majority of times.

I would go with Healing Tide Totem in Tier 5 because I quite like the 'Divine Hymn' effect of it and it heals for not only a great deal, but the most injured also. I'm really not happy about the talent Conductivity as resto simply because if you can afford using Healing Rain you should - in the vast majority of scenarioes - be casting Chain Heal as well because you'll have a big, tight group of people requiring healing. An exception of this could be you're a designated tank healer on fights like Ultraxion.

Elemental Blast will be my talent of choice in Tier 6. It is so because I find it to be an interesting change for the playstyle of a resto shaman - not only have we got to keep an eye out for our many totem cooldowns, here's also a great benefit in DPSing the boss. This will increase the healing done - due to increased secondary stats - as well as help the DPS out on the hopefully tight Enrage timers in the new content. Unleashed Fury can prove to be usefull in situations with heavy tank damage - precasting UE followed by an enhanced Greater Healing Wave can change the fate of a dying tank. A good example for this is Madness Heroic with the tank eating impales from the corruptions.

These were my thoughts of the talents as a resto shaman.

[CHRONIClinex]

for pvp enhance (playing enh/rogue/disc RPS):


nature's guardian (though rotating sham rage, astral shift, and PS would be hilarious)
windwalk totem (no earthen power, 8 second dispel CD? yep)
call of the elements (prep stormlash totem for burst to kill after first drop to force CDs)
elemental mastery (kinda banking on haste being buffed for enh, but otherwise echo)
healing tide totem (because dot cleaves will surely still be obnoxious)
elemental blast (because all the other options honestly blow)

[morphosys]

http://mop.wowhead.com/mists-of-pand...calculator#s^j is the way I went with my shaman for pve enhancement.

I choose EB over UF because for WF auto attacks CAN trigger static shock meaning its probably still 45% chance per swing, if it was a 100% trigger on swing then perhaps it would be slightly better. Playing with EB i've had it crit for over 200k and it can be used with MSW procs and has a chance to grant more mastery(even though that proc is random between mastery, haste, crit) it can also proc echo of the elements if you so choose it, however you don't get a second buff from the mirror'd proc.

[PizzaSHARK]

for pvp enhance (playing enh/rogue/disc RPS):


nature's guardian (though rotating sham rage, astral shift, and PS would be hilarious)
windwalk totem (no earthen power, 8 second dispel CD? yep)
call of the elements (prep stormlash totem for burst to kill after first drop to force CDs)
elemental mastery (kinda banking on haste being buffed for enh, but otherwise echo)
healing tide totem (because dot cleaves will surely still be obnoxious)
elemental blast (because all the other options honestly blow)

Unleashed Fury is the only option for PvP. None of the other choices come anywhere near it. Combined with the Healing Storm glyph, I don't really see us using MW5 for anything but heals anymore. Even if you wanted to use a nuke, UF's Flametongue LB boost would outweigh any gains from EB without requiring you to sacrifice Frostbrand/Windfury/Rockbiter buffs. Rockbiter buff in particular is going to be interesting, with being able to unleash it on someone up to 40 yd away to basically give yourself Shield Wall vs them for 5 sec every 15 sec.

EDIT: Call of the Elements needs a clearer tooltip. By the way it's written, it's sounding like it won't have any effect on a totem with a cooldown longer than 4:59.

I'm wondering about Conductivity. Seems like it'd be a powerful skill for an Enhancement shaman, especially in BGs, now that we don't have to worry about winding up a big GHW, especially combined with Healing Storm. Drop a Healing Rain and continue to drop Healing Surges with your MW stacks, and contributing more healing via Stormstrike and Earth Shock. Too bad Static Shock isn't included.

It'd also mean one less button you have to find space for on the skill bar.

[binkenstein]

Bink, if they nerf UF like you think they will to bring it in line with the rest of the talents. What would you choose? Right now on Beta I would say its easier to meld EB in with the current rotation than it would be to get UF/UE into it. Having to pop a 2nd instant cast every 15 seconds seems like it'd be to much rather than just hitting a new casted spell and not losing time waiting for the GCD from UE? Or are you just using UE/UF whenever you move?

If they nerf UF I'd be going with PE, as it'll be a simpler rotation, and I'd keep UE for movement.

[Endus]

If they nerf UF I'd be going with PE, as it'll be a simpler rotation, and I'd keep UE for movement.

My current estimation there is that unless UF is hands-down inferior, I'll take it just for the extra utility, as Ele/Enh. Primal Elementalist is pretty passively beneficial, and Elemental Blast's cast time for a relatively boring static buff boost just seems less appealing than UF, unless it's noticably better DPS than the other options.

[Northy]

My Elemental Shaman PvP build, enjoy:

http://mop.wowhead.com/mists-of-pand...calculator#sYJ

[Protoman]

My current estimation there is that unless UF is hands-down inferior, I'll take it just for the extra utility, as Ele/Enh. Primal Elementalist is pretty passively beneficial, and Elemental Blast's cast time for a relatively boring static buff boost just seems less appealing than UF, unless it's noticably better DPS than the other options.

I find it interesting you look at EB as negative for it's cast time and boring buff for dps specs, yet have been defending it as good for Resto even though they feel the exact same way about EB plus they get no benefit from the damage portion which is the only exciting part for a dps spec. I guess you still won't understand the point of giving it a heal component for Resto to atleast make it somewhat attractive for both the initial effect and secondary buff.


I doubt they will nerf ULF considering I have not seen any real balance adjustments at all to Shaman, it will prob go under the radar like a bunch of other things. EB seems interesting as Enhance but if we have to sync it with ULE could be annoying even though I think we might be able to use both EB and FLS and both benefit from buff (taking advantage of travel time). ULF seems like the simplest talent as far as rotation goes, and equally useful in PVE or PVP. Although I think the FB sprint won't be that great and I might actually consider EB for PVP burst....it's more feasible for Enhance to use this in PVP then the other 2 specs because of the punishing multi school lockout if interrupted mid cast. Primal Ele is a bit disappointing, I wish they were true pet cd's and no longer tied to totems so we were free to use other earth totems with Earth elem out.

[Endus]

I find it interesting you look at EB as negative for it's cast time and boring buff for dps specs, yet have been defending it as good for Resto even though they feel the exact same way about EB plus they get no benefit from the damage portion which is the only exciting part for a dps spec. I guess you still won't understand the point of giving it a heal component for Resto to atleast make it somewhat attractive for both the initial effect and secondary buff.

There's a significant difference between what I enjoy and what I think is mechanically sound.

I don't enjoy playing a Shadow Priest very much because I don't enjoy juggling DoTs. That doesn't mean I think Shadow Priests are mechanically unsound and in need of a change to fit my subjective preferences.

[Nitwit]

What % of elemental's damage comes from lightning bolt and lava burst at level 90 (estimated)? Would removing lava burst from the Unleashed Fury buff cut the gap between talents down to a reasonable level? That's the easiest way they could tune it for elemental without affecting enhancement.

[Galaen]

This is pretty offtopic but does anyone else miss the old totem system? My action bars are completely filled with all spells and totems on beta now and I just don't have space anymore >.<

On topic the only talent tier I haven't decided yet is the last one. I am doubting between PE and UF.

[Nekobe140]

PvP - Elemental

Tier 1: Stone Bulwark Totem
Tier 2: Frozen Power (Take that, you pesky warriors and paladins!)
Tier 3: Totemic Restoration
Tier 4: Echo of Elements
Tier 5: Healing Tide Totem
Tier 6: Elemental Burst

[Irisel]

9 times out of 10, HTT over the other two. Never would I choose Conductivity, or at least I can never see why I would, tbh.

[binkenstein]

My current estimation there is that unless UF is hands-down inferior, I'll take it just for the extra utility, as Ele/Enh. Primal Elementalist is pretty passively beneficial, and Elemental Blast's cast time for a relatively boring static buff boost just seems less appealing than UF, unless it's noticably better DPS than the other options.

If there's no difference between UF and PE in terms of DPS output, my reasoning for PE is that it would enhance an ability I would be using anyway rather than making me use an ability regularly that I would otherwise hardly ever use (I don't think the minor model dps bonus gained via using UE will continue into the practical world)

[Endus]

If there's no difference between UF and PE in terms of DPS output, my reasoning for PE is that it would enhance an ability I would be using anyway rather than making me use an ability regularly that I would otherwise hardly ever use (I don't think the minor model dps bonus gained via using UE will continue into the practical world)

Yes, PE would be the "right" choice if DPS contributions were equal, since you use the Fire Elemental anyway so it doesn't complicate your rotation with an extra button. I'd probably go with UE for the added utility options that I'll barely ever use and because complexity keeps me engaged. I'm not really talking about statistical advantage there, just personal preference.

It's kind of like Rogues who play PvE Subtlety and can pull it off. They don't gain much, if anything, for doing so, and it's apparently much more difficult to execute (I don't play my Rogue, really), but they enjoy the gameplay more.

[PizzaSHARK]

9 times out of 10, HTT over the other two. Never would I choose Conductivity, or at least I can never see why I would, tbh.

Conductivity seems like a situationally powerful talent, especially since it doesn't require you to find another keystroke and a spot for it on your action bars. When I've already got 40+ keybinds, I consider it a serious concern if I have to add more.

I'd be completely happy with Conductivity if it also spread Static Shock procs as healing. When their concept is lightning effects providing healing, it seems odd that Static Shock isn't one of them.

I dunno. It just seems like Conductivity could be a really powerful talent for Enhancement, especially with Healing Storm. Conductivity effectively has no cooldown, so in a way it's kind of like Anti-Magic Zone for Shamans - stand here and be much harder to kill as long as you're standing here.

And seriously, not having ANOTHER damn button to keybind will be really nice.

[Skeletroll]

I dont raid/pvp so i'm going to use mainly passive/general use talents on all my chars.
T1: Astral shift
T2: Earth grab
T3: Call of the elements
T4: Echo of the elements
T5: Healing tide
T6: Unleashed fury

[CHRONIClinex]

Unleashed Fury is the only option for PvP. None of the other choices come anywhere near it. Combined with the Healing Storm glyph, I don't really see us using MW5 for anything but heals anymore. Even if you wanted to use a nuke, UF's Flametongue LB boost would outweigh any gains from EB without requiring you to sacrifice Frostbrand/Windfury/Rockbiter buffs. Rockbiter buff in particular is going to be interesting, with being able to unleash it on someone up to 40 yd away to basically give yourself Shield Wall vs them for 5 sec every 15 sec.

EDIT: Call of the Elements needs a clearer tooltip. By the way it's written, it's sounding like it won't have any effect on a totem with a cooldown longer than 4:59.

I'm wondering about Conductivity. Seems like it'd be a powerful skill for an Enhancement shaman, especially in BGs, now that we don't have to worry about winding up a big GHW, especially combined with Healing Storm. Drop a Healing Rain and continue to drop Healing Surges with your MW stacks, and contributing more healing via Stormstrike and Earth Shock. Too bad Static Shock isn't included.

It'd also mean one less button you have to find space for on the skill bar.

I don't get it, but these are based around my experience and playstyle, so maybe we can agree to disagree here.. but

The healing storm glyph is to make up for healing surge being our only heal now, so honestly, its a glyph to make up for what we already had.

Did you use MW5 on anything but heals before anyway? I lightning bolt in a 3s match less than 5 times a game, being generous there too. only when im popping dps trinket and lightning bolt + earth shock after a storm strike or my entire team is topped and im really not going to regret needing to heal myself in the next 10 seconds. usually i scream FUCK in my head loudly when i lightning bolt anyway. It does pathetic damage now, and 25% more on top of that is bullshit.

yes the rockbiter buff is cool, and the long arm of the law sprint is too, but you have to go through so many globals to make that shit worth it. every global you waste staying alive/gap closing is more counter pressure you are losing.

conductivity sounds stupid. not going to get kicked on a healing rain when healing tide totem is 10x easier to use

elemental blast is my choice because it does a ton of damage, more than lava burst, it scales with enh mastery, can be MW5'd, and the damage is buffed by unleash. plus the stat buff for your real damage, your melee attacks.

as ele, my clear choice is UF, but definitely not for enh.

the last of my concerns is the state of my action bars. enhance pushes 3 buttons as it is, one more is a welcome sight.

---------- Post added 2012-06-20 at 01:59 PM ----------

PvP - Elemental

Tier 1: Stone Bulwark Totem
Tier 2: Frozen Power (Take that, you pesky warriors and paladins!)
Tier 3: Totemic Restoration
Tier 4: Echo of Elements
Tier 5: Healing Tide Totem
Tier 6: Elemental Burst

in my opinion, while the skillcap possibilities are awesome for frost nova (as enh have been demonstrating for a while) i would always go with roots because when a cleave is on you, rooting jsut one doesnt exactly get you into the clear.

i would go with totem prep here. ele is meant to burst, and why not burst twice with a prepped stormlash totem? RNG is funny, but it leaves me with a bad taste in my mouth when i get a kill because of a mastery proc. reliance on insta RNG gibs isnt really my thing. I would go elemental mastery here. spammable lava burst 30% faster seems a no brainer to me.

im going with unleashed fury here. currently, bursting with no CDs, my unleash > lava burst > chain lightning > fulmination rotation has the capability to get someone dangerously low as it is, and an even hard hitting lava burst can ensure more classic ele shammy one shots am i right?

my personal preference and playstyle however.

[Bavol]

PvE Resto / Enhance

15: Astral Shift
30: Earthgrab Totem
45: Call of the Elements
60: Ancestral Swiftness / Undecided
75: Healing Tide Totem / Ancestral Guidance
90: Elemental Blast