Elemental Shaman Class Guide - MoP Classic

Welcome to our Mists of Pandaria Classic (MoP Classic) Elemental Shaman Class Guide for Phase 1, it focuses on getting you up to speed with the Spec for PvE content, Dungeons and Raiding. The guide includes key information for what has changed going into MoP, the best Talent builds, Major Glyphs, your Rotation, Gearing and Consumables for Ele Shaman.

Table of Content:

• Changes from Cataclysm to MoP
• Talents
• Rotation & Abilities
• Gearing & Consumables

What’s New for Elemental Shaman in Mists of Pandaria Classic

Mists of Pandaria as an expansion is the first step in the age of modernity for WoW, and with that, a lot of classes get changed. One of the things targeted by MoP is what we could call roleplaying mechanics: mechanics that make sense in the world, like carrying your Totems in your bags but that are a pain gameplay wise. In MoP Totems are completely revamped, and other things are changing as well. Here are the highlights:

• You can move while casting Lightning bolt.
• Ghost wolf is instant by default.
• Enhancement Shaman loses Lava Burst.
• Healing Stream Totem only heals 1 target.
• Stoneskin Totem, Strength of the Earth Totem, Mana spring Totem, Totem of the Tranquil Mind, Elemental Resistance Totem, Stoneclaw Totem, Flametongue Totem, Windfury Totem, Wrath of Air Totem are removed.
• Healing Tide Totem, Stormlash Totem, Capacitor Totem, are new Totems added.
• Ascendance is your new big burst cooldown.
• Unleashed Rage increases party and raid member ranged and attack speed by 10%.
• Burning Wrath increases spell power by 10%.
• Grace of Air increases Mastery.

Is Elemental Shaman Good?

Shamans are always welcomed in every raid, dungeon and PvP group. The number of passive buffs you give to everyone is simply unmatched, without considering your Totems. So you don’t have to worry about finding a place in a group. Now, if you want to know how your damage will look, Elemental shamans aren't so great in the early phases of MoP. There are better casters and Enhancement tends to deal a bit more, but they still bring a lot to the table while looking very cool.

Best Talents & Glyphs for Elemental Shaman in MoP Classic

In this section, you will find two talent builds: one for raids and one for dungeons. However, you might want to change individual choices depending on the encounter or dungeon you are doing.

Elemental Shaman Raiding Talent Build

Regarding your utility choices in the Raiding Talent Build, you have some flexibility, but most of your choices are locked in. Astral Shift is the best defensive option, Windwalk Totem can be swapped with Earthgrab Totem depending on the encounter. Call of the Elements and Totemic Projection can also be swapped around, if you have to move a lot, then Totemic Projection is a better choice. Ancestral Guidance is unmatched.

There are 2 DPS rows in this talent tree, at level 60 and 90. Echo of the Elements and Elemental Mastery are very close, pick one or the other as you prefer. In the last row, Elemental Blast is the best choice available for Single Target and Primal Elementalist is the best choice in AoE.

Best Elemental Shaman Raid Glyphs

Regarding Major Glyphs, only Glyph of Lightning Shield is really mandatory. You can also pick Glyph of Flame Shock. In AoE, Glyph of Chain Lighting and Glyph of Thunder are worth considering. Other glyphs are good but aren’t as strong. Glyph of Spirit Walk helps you with movement, and Glyph of Healing Stream Totem is a good raid CD if you need more damage reduction.

Elemental Shaman Dungeons & Challenge Mode Talent Build

In Dungeons, the Talent Build doesn’t change too much. As you will be moving a lot more, Totemic Projection will be more useful. And as said in the raiding talent build, Primal Elementalist is better in AoE Situations.

Best Elemental Shaman Dungeon Glyphs

Regarding Major Glyphs for Dungeons, only Glyph of Lightning Shield is really mandatory. You can also pick Glyph of Flame Shock. In AoE, Glyph of Chain Lighting and Glyph of Thunder are worth considering. Other glyphs are good but aren’t as strong. Glyph of Spirit Walk helps you with movement, and Glyph of Healing Stream Totem is a good group CD if you need more damage reduction.

Rotation for Elemental Shaman in MoP Classic

Elemental Shamans use Energy to generate Combo points, and spend Combo points to cast strong and unique abilities. The following lists are a priority, and not a straight rotation.

Single Target Rotation & Priority

1. Maintain Lighting Shield.
2. Maintain Flametongue Weapon.
3. Maintain Flame Shock.
4. Use Fire Elemental on Cooldown.
5. Use Stormlash Totem on Cooldown.
6. Use Ascendance on Cooldown with no Lava burst charge.
7. Use Elemental Mastery on Cooldown.
8. Cast Lava Burst when you get a free cast through Lava Surge.
9. Cast Elemental Blast on Cooldown.
10. Cast Earth Shock to consume Lighting Shield stacks when you have more than 6 through Fulmination.
11. Without Fire Elemental Totem, maintain Searing Totem.
12. Cast Lighting Bolt.

Elemental Shaman Opener

Regarding openers, you don’t have to prepare a lot of things: just pre-cast lighting bolt 2.5 seconds before pull, cast Flame Shock, Fire Elemental Totem, Stormlash Totem, Ascendance, Elemental Blast, and spam Lava Burst. When Ascendance ends, proceed with Single target rotation.

AoE Rotation & Priority

• Replace Lighting bolt with Chain Lighting.
• On 6+ Targets, use Earthquake in place of Earth Shock.

Best Gear & Stats for Elemental Shaman in MoP Classic

Best in Slot (BiS Gear) aren’t as big in Mists of Pandaria Classic. Reforging is the new hype, so you can tailor your gear better than before.

Elemental Shaman Best in Slot (BiS) Gear in MoP Classic (Pre-Raid)

The best weapons you can find pre-raid in the first phase are:

• Inscribed Crane Staff, from Inscription.
• Je’lyu, Spirit of the Serpent, from Sha of Doubt, Temple of the Jade Serpent.
• Headmaster’s Will, Darkmaster Gandling, Scholomance.

The best off-hands you can find pre-raid in the first phase are:

• Inscribed Red Fan, from Inscription.
• Bottle of potent potables, from Hoptallus in Stormstout Brewery.
• Scroll of Whispered Secrets, a BoE.

The best pre-raid trinkets are:

• Relic of Yu’lon, from Inscription.
• Vision of the Predator, from Striker Gad’ok, Gate of the Setting Sun.
• Ghost Iron Dragonling, from Engineering.
• Flashfrozen Resin Globule, from Vizier Jin’bak, Siege of Niuzao Temple.

Elemental Shaman Best in Slot (BiS) Gear in MoP Classic (Tier 14)

Upgrading your character with the best gear is an important part of increasing your damage, healing and tanking.

Below is a BiS Gear List containing your theoretical Best in Slot (BiS) Gear for Elemental Shaman. This information is based on the MoP original release and PTR data, and so is subject to change. But this list should give you a good target for gearing.

There can be some key stat breakpoints and targets that you need to hit for maximum performance. You can find those in the Stats Section below, and use reforging to adjust your gear stats to achieve them.

MoP Classic Elemental Shaman Stat Priority

Your best stat is Intellect, which should be your first priority. Then, Hit Rating, Spirit and Expertise to reach a 15% chance to hit.

After that, you want a lot of Mastery, then Haste, then Critical Strike Chance. I would advise you to get a good Haste amount and then dump everything in Mastery.

Best Consumables, Enchants & Gems for Elemental Shaman in MoP Classic

The following tables outline the recommended Consumables, Enchants and Gems for Elemental Shaman in Raiding and Dungeon content.

Consumables

Enchants

Gems

We hope this guide helped you improve your Elemental Shaman Gameplay and better understand the spec. To check out all of our MoP Classic content, such as Class Guides, Tier Lists and more, you can browse our full library of MoP Classic Guides.