Why we love Enhancement Shamans
Posted 03-16-2008 at 04:07 PM by Kaganda
Enhancement shamans are a DPS Warriors best friend, with their massive amount of group buffs pushing your damage to very high levels. With my friendly neighborhood shaman, I get about 20-25% higher DPS than I do without. Other classes get a benefit from them as well, but not to the extent that a Warrior will. Here's a list of the reasons why we love Enhancement shamans.
1. Strength of Earth Totem:
A properly talented SoE totem gives the whole group 99 Strength. This is multiplied by Kings, and the resulting AP is then multiplied by Imp. Berserker Stance and...
2. Unleashed Rage:
A 10% bonus to melee AP for everyone in the group, which procs when the shaman crits and lasts 10 seconds. Since they will have ~30% crit unbuffed, this will be up nearly the entire fight, giving another substantial bonus to DPS.
3a. Windfury Totem:
This is the big one, giving you extra damage and, most importantly, rage. This enchants your MH with a 20% chance to proc an extra swing that has an additional 579 AP, with talents.
3b. Tranquil Air Totem:
A 20% reduction in threat, which multiplies with Salvation. Situationally useful, but I prefer it on Loot Reaver since rage isn't an issue and it keeps me from getting aggro longer.
3c. Grace of Air Totem:
This is what your shaman drops to get the Feral druid and hunter in the group to stop complaining. Even though 88 Agi gives you a crit boost, it comes nowhere near the power of a WF totem. A very, very good shaman can totem flip, since the buff from WF lasts 10 secs, and keep both of these up. This is not easy, however, so don't get frustrated if your shaman can't pull it off. Instead, make the argument that the added benefit to you and the rogue from WF more than covers the loss of the group benefit of GoA.
4. Bloodlust/Heroism
This is one of the greatest group buffs they added to the game. For 40 seconds your attack speed is increased by 30%, which results in a significant DPS boost during that time. Saving CD's for this buff is very beneficial, pushing your output even higher. Since this is available from all shamans, you can get it multiple times during a fight with timely player swapping.
These abilities make Enhancement shamans the must-have class for melee groups. No other class can bring this much to the group, and to DPS warriors in particular. So, be sure to thank yours often, and don't let anyone talk them into going Resto.
1. Strength of Earth Totem:
A properly talented SoE totem gives the whole group 99 Strength. This is multiplied by Kings, and the resulting AP is then multiplied by Imp. Berserker Stance and...
2. Unleashed Rage:
A 10% bonus to melee AP for everyone in the group, which procs when the shaman crits and lasts 10 seconds. Since they will have ~30% crit unbuffed, this will be up nearly the entire fight, giving another substantial bonus to DPS.
3a. Windfury Totem:
This is the big one, giving you extra damage and, most importantly, rage. This enchants your MH with a 20% chance to proc an extra swing that has an additional 579 AP, with talents.
3b. Tranquil Air Totem:
A 20% reduction in threat, which multiplies with Salvation. Situationally useful, but I prefer it on Loot Reaver since rage isn't an issue and it keeps me from getting aggro longer.
3c. Grace of Air Totem:
This is what your shaman drops to get the Feral druid and hunter in the group to stop complaining. Even though 88 Agi gives you a crit boost, it comes nowhere near the power of a WF totem. A very, very good shaman can totem flip, since the buff from WF lasts 10 secs, and keep both of these up. This is not easy, however, so don't get frustrated if your shaman can't pull it off. Instead, make the argument that the added benefit to you and the rogue from WF more than covers the loss of the group benefit of GoA.
4. Bloodlust/Heroism
This is one of the greatest group buffs they added to the game. For 40 seconds your attack speed is increased by 30%, which results in a significant DPS boost during that time. Saving CD's for this buff is very beneficial, pushing your output even higher. Since this is available from all shamans, you can get it multiple times during a fight with timely player swapping.
These abilities make Enhancement shamans the must-have class for melee groups. No other class can bring this much to the group, and to DPS warriors in particular. So, be sure to thank yours often, and don't let anyone talk them into going Resto.
Total Comments 7
Comments
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Much love to enhancement shamans who drop WF for me
Posted 03-17-2008 at 01:22 AM by Arrivan 
- You know its possible to get both windfury and an Air totem :P its a bit of a mana drain for the shaman but totem twisting is very possible...http://www.theoryspot.com/forums/joa...-twisting.html
Posted 03-17-2008 at 05:15 AM by Nicki - Does Tranquility really stack with Salvation?
I didn't think it did.Posted 03-17-2008 at 08:10 AM by Atank - It does stack
Posted 03-17-2008 at 09:41 AM by Ceravantes - Totem flipping = Totem twisting. It is possible, but not easy, which is why I don't worry if a shaman can't pull it off.
Posted 03-17-2008 at 05:11 PM by Kaganda - Only 1 of those group buffs you mention is an enhancement shaman thing. The others are totems that all shaman have regardless of build.
Posted 03-18-2008 at 05:16 AM by Leytur - That is true, but in practice it's much better to have an Enhancemnet shaman dropping the totems. The Enhancement tree has two talents to improve their totems. Also, Resto or Elemental shamans will bring more utility to caster/healer groups, so putting them with melee isn't the best use of them. There is also the problem of caster shamans keeping totems down in range of the melee.
Posted 03-18-2008 at 01:11 PM by Kaganda
