World of Warcraft Shamans are a popular, and without doubt, a powerful class to play. They are often seen as a commander of all skills, as they have a wide variety of abilities at their disposal. This guide will discuss the various aspects to playing one, as well as teach you tips & tricks to the best ways of leveling your Shaman.
Shamans can heal, fight, support, - heck, they can do it all. Unfortunately, although they have great versatility, they can never perform as well as other classes specialized in their respective tasks. For example, they cannot hope to out-heal a Priest, or are unlikely to deal more concentrated damage compared to classes like Rogues. However, the fact that they can heal themselves, cast spells, as well as deal melee damage, makes them ideal for leveling, and Shamans command plenty of respect from the other classes.
If you are starting an Alliance character, you can only choose the Draenei race if you wish to play a Shaman. For the Horde faction, you can choose between Taurens, Orcs, or Trolls. Choosing to play a Tauren or Orc is recommended as these races have greater survivability, and combined with your Shaman s ability to self-heal, makes for a lethal combination.
In the initial leveling levels, it is essential to learn all the spells available from your trainer. Lightning Bolt should be used unrestrained to cause damage and death. Earth Shock can be used to catch the runners. Stoneskin Totem can be utilized to polish defenses before a fight.
At level 10, you have access to your talent tree. There are three trees of Shaman talents - Elemental, Enhancement, and Restoration. Spending points on the Elemental tree helps to improves offensive spells and totems; the Enhancement tree improves melee skills; and Restoration helps with healing. If your priority is to level your Shaman as quick as possible, spend points on talents that will increase your damage. Whether you prefer to kill enemies with ranged spells, or up close with brutal melee, is entirely up to you.
You will soon have to complete your Shaman class quests, the first being the Call of the Earth . Orcs and Trolls will be able to get this quest from Canaga Earthcaller in the Valley of the Trials, and Tauren players from Seer Ravenfeather on Red Cloud Mesa. If you are Draenei, Call of the Earth is available from the Shaman trainer in Ammen Vale.
The trick to quick leveling is to have a good combination of gear. A mix of green Eagle gear and Falcon gear provides a good balance of Stamina, Strength and Agility; this is certainly the best for grinding and leveling. It is necessary to maintain a good balance between agility and strength; this helps you to attack with a high attack power (AP). The key behind the Enhancement build used to level is to cause as much physical damage as possible. Mana should be used sparingly in between fights for the purpose of healing. This kind of style will also require the use of frequent Lighting Shields and the occasional Shocks, when appropriate.
Lastly, consider using a Shaman Class Guide, or even a World of Warcraft Leveling Guide. Good guides will teach you advanced tips and tricks to leveling your Shaman, such as specific armor and weapons to use, exact talent builds, and even which professions you should be undertaking. Leveling guides will help by telling you which quests you should be doing, and exactly how to go about completing them, enabling you to level your character as quickly as possible.