Dwarves and the Horde’s Windshaper Skyborne can be Shamans in Forever, and all three Shaman trees end in new 31-point talents: Lava Burst, Rage of the Farseer and Riptide.
Official changes come from Blizzard's Deep Dive, What's Next and Found Photos panels; talent facts come from the same talent data as our calculator (where it comes from); hands-on reports are marked. Last reviewed: .
A Shaman does a little of everything: heals, casts, fights in melee and drops totems for the group. In Classic it was Horde-only and asked for a lot of totem upkeep. In Forever, Dwarves bring Shamans to the Alliance, the Horde’s Windshaper Skyborne join them, Enhancement and Restoration end in new 31-point talents (Rage of the Farseer, Riptide), Elemental gains Lava Burst at tier 5, and the beta client makes totems last five minutes and adds a totem bar that drops four at once.
You’ll enjoy it if
You want to do every job: heal a dungeon, then switch to damage, with the same spell book.
You like buffing your group from the ground: Windfury, Strength of Earth and Mana Spring totems still shape a party.
You want less totem busywork: totems last five minutes in the beta client, Call of the Elements drops up to four at once, and Totemic Projection moves them.
You want to cheat death: Reincarnation still brings you back on your own.
Think twice if
You want to master one thing: a Shaman’s strength is covering gaps, and each spec leans on the others’ tools.
You mind mana: Enhancement fights in melee but pays for shocks, totems and heals from a mana bar.
You want Classic’s Elemental Mastery: it is still the Elemental 31-point talent, but it now speeds up Lightning Bolt and Lava Burst instead of guaranteeing a crit.
What groups want from you
Totems for the party: Windfury or Strength of Earth for melee, Mana Spring for casters, Tremor against fear.
Healing with Chain Heal and, at 31 points in Restoration, Riptide.
Purge and Earth Shock, which interrupts, on caster pulls.
Earthbind Totem to slow, or with Earthbound (Elemental) root, the extra enemies the tank can’t hold.
Solo play and gold
Solo, a Shaman casts Lightning Bolt as the enemy comes in, then melees with a weapon imbue, shocks and a totem or two, and heals itself when needed. Lightning Bolt casts half a second faster and costs less in the beta client, so opening with two bolts is realistic. With kills taking 10–15 seconds from about level 10–15, self-healing is what keeps Shaman downtime low.
Mail armor and a mana bar pair well with Mining and Engineering or with Herbalism and Alchemy. The Alchemy Mana Well camp object restores mana at camp.
02 Three ways to play a Shaman
Enhancement and Restoration end in new 31-point talents, while Elemental keeps Elemental Mastery. Totemic Mastery and Call of Thunder are gone, Parry lives on as Spirit Weapons, and the weapon, shield and totem talents that left the Enhancement tree are baseline now, by Blizzard’s October 7 deep dive. The icons show the talents in the Shaman Talent Calculator; hover or tap one for its full tooltip.
Elemental Combat
Caster damage
Lava Burst sits at tier 5 with no prerequisite since the October 15 beta build, so a leveling Shaman has it at 20 points (level 29), and it hits harder on a target with your Flame Shock: the rotation is Flame Shock, Lava Burst on its 10-second cooldown (Blizzard’s figure), then Lightning Bolt. Elemental Mastery is back as the 31-point talent behind it, now 15 seconds of faster Lightning Bolt and Lava Burst and no Chain Lightning cooldown. Lightning Overload gives Lightning Bolt and Chain Lightning a chance to cast a free half-damage copy, and Elemental Alacrity, Classic’s Lightning Mastery moved up from tier 6 to tier 2 where a leveling Shaman can take it, shortens Lightning Bolt, Chain Lightning and Lava Burst by up to half a second (it was a full second) on top of the faster trainer spells.
Elemental Reach adds range to your bolts and Fire Nova and shortens Totemic Projection’s cooldown, Trial by Fire makes Fire Nova stronger and Magma Totem last longer, and Earthbound makes Earthbind Totem root nearby enemies when you drop it, a real escape for a caster. Elemental in Classic was a burst spec that ran out of mana; Forever gives it a proper rotation.
Forever talents to know
Lava Burst
Elemental Combat · tier 5 · max rank 1
★ New in Forever
You hurl molten lava at the target, dealing 113 to 146 Fire damage. If your Flame Shock is on the target, Lava Burst deals 20% increased damage. level 60 reference
Lava Burst
Elemental Mastery
Elemental Combat · tier 7 · max rank 1
Gain mastery over Fire and Lightning, reducing the cast time of Lightning Bolt and Lava Burst by 0.5 sec, and removing the cooldown from Chain Lightning. Lasts 15 sec.
Elemental Mastery
Lightning Overload
Elemental Combat · tier 5 · max rank 3
★ New in Forever
Gives your Lightning Bolt and Chain Lightning spells a 3% chance to cast a second, similar spell on the same target at no additional cost that causes half damage and no threat.
Rank 3: Gives your Lightning Bolt and Chain Lightning spells a 10% chance to cast a second, similar spell on the same target at no additional cost that causes half damage and no threat.
Lightning Overload
Elemental Alacrity
Elemental Combat · tier 2 · max rank 3
Reduces the cast time of your Lightning Bolt, Chain Lightning, and Lava Burst spells by 0.17 sec.
Rank 3: Reduces the cast time of your Lightning Bolt, Chain Lightning, and Lava Burst spells by 0.5 sec.
Elemental Alacrity
Elemental Reach
Elemental Combat · tier 5 · max rank 2
★ New in Forever
Increases the range of your Lightning Bolt, Chain Lightning, Fire Nova, and Lava Burst spells by 3 yards and reduces the cooldown of Totemic Projection by 10 sec.
Rank 2: Increases the range of your Lightning Bolt, Chain Lightning, Fire Nova, and Lava Burst spells by 6 yards and reduces the cooldown of Totemic Projection by 20 sec.
Elemental Reach
Earthbound
Elemental Combat · tier 4 · max rank 1
★ New in Forever
Your Earthbind Totem Immobilizes nearby targets for 5 sec when cast.
Earthbound
Enhancement
Melee and spells together
Maelstrom Weapon makes melee hits stack a buff that shortens and cheapens your next Lightning Bolt, up to five times, so Enhancement fights in melee and throws bolts between swings; with all five ranks, five stacks make the bolt instant and free. Stormstrike is no longer the last talent but the 16-point one, yours from level 25, with an 8-second cooldown instead of 20 by Blizzard’s deep dive, and it makes your next Lightning Bolt, Chain Lightning or Earth Shock on the target hit 20% harder. Rage of the Farseer, the new 31-point talent, speeds up your attacks by 30% (since beta build 1.60.1.70009 no longer your casts) on a 3-minute cooldown; Blizzard says Heroism and Bloodlust inspired it, but it stays personal. Mental Dexterity turns Intellect into Attack Power and Mental Quickness into spell damage and healing, so mail with Intellect is Enhancement gear now.
Improved Stormstrike keeps mana regeneration going after Stormstrike and resets it on a dodge or parry. Spirit Weapons, Classic’s Parry under a new name, keeps the parry chance and lowers your threat by 30%, or raises it by 30% while Rockbiter Weapon is on: Blizzard says it lets Enhancement manage threat now that its damage is competitive, and still tank for a while in a small group. Two-handed axes and maces need no talent any more. Elemental Devastation, in the Elemental tree, moved up to tier 2, which Blizzard says is meant to draw Enhancement points there.
Forever talents to know
Maelstrom Weapon
Enhancement · tier 6 · max rank 5
★ New in Forever
When you deal damage with a melee attack, you have a chance to reduce the cast time and Mana cost of your next Lightning Bolt spell by 4%. Stacks up to 5 times. Lasts 30 sec.
Rank 5: When you deal damage with a melee attack, you have a chance to reduce the cast time and Mana cost of your next Lightning Bolt spell by 20%. Stacks up to 5 times. Lasts 30 sec.
Maelstrom Weapon
Rage of the Farseer
Enhancement · tier 7 · max rank 1
★ New in Forever
Increases your attack speed by 30% for 25 sec.
Rage of the Farseer
Mental Dexterity
Enhancement · tier 2 · max rank 3
★ New in Forever
Increases your Attack Power by an amount equal to 33% of your Intellect.
Rank 3: Increases your Attack Power by an amount equal to 100% of your Intellect.
Mental Dexterity
Mental Quickness
Enhancement · tier 5 · max rank 2
★ New in Forever
Increases your spell damage and healing by up to 15% of your Intellect.
Rank 2: Increases your spell damage and healing by up to 30% of your Intellect.
Mental Quickness
Improved Stormstrike
Enhancement · tier 5 · max rank 2
★ New in Forever
When you Stormstrike, you have a 50% chance to gain 50% mana regeneration while casting spells for 15 sec, and Stormstrike's cooldown has a 50% chance to reset each time you Dodge or Parry.
Rank 2: When you Stormstrike, you have a 100% chance to gain 50% mana regeneration while casting spells for 15 sec, and Stormstrike's cooldown has a 100% chance to reset each time you Dodge or Parry.
Improved Stormstrike
Spirit Weapons
Enhancement · tier 5 · max rank 1
Gives a chance to parry enemy melee attacks, reduces all threat generated by your attacks by 30% while Rockbiter Weapon is not active, and increases all threat generated by 30% while Rockbiter Weapon is active.
Spirit Weapons
Restoration
Healer
Riptide is an instant heal on a 6-second cooldown (Blizzard’s figure) with a heal over time that also makes your next Chain Heal on that target stronger, so Restoration starts each Chain Heal with a Riptide. Water Shield surrounds you with globes that return mana when you are hit or land a critical heal, and Mindfulness keeps part of your mana regeneration going while casting.
Natural Grace, Classic’s Healing Grace renamed, lowers the threat of all your spells; Blizzard says it and Mindfulness sit in tier 2 so that Elemental can reach them. Totemic Mastery and Nature’s Guidance are gone, though Tidal Focus now adds hit chance. Mana Tide Totem is the 16-point talent instead of the last one, and Totemic Focus also makes Totemic Projection and the Call spells cheaper.
Forever talents to know
Riptide
Restoration · tier 7 · max rank 1
★ New in Forever
Heals a friendly target for 484 to 535, an additional 445 over 15 sec, and increases the effectiveness of your Chain Heal casts directly on that target by 25%. level 60 reference
Riptide
Water Shield
Restoration · tier 3 · max rank 1
★ New in Forever
The caster is surrounded by 3 globes of water. When a spell, melee, or ranged attack hits the caster or when one of the caster's spells gets a critical result, 2% of maximum mana is restored to the caster, expending one water globe. Only one globe will activate every few seconds. Lasts 10 min. Only one Elemental Shield can be active on the Shaman at any one time.
Water Shield
Mindfulness
Restoration · tier 2 · max rank 3
★ New in Forever
Allows 17% of your Mana regeneration to continue while casting.
Rank 3: Allows 50% of your Mana regeneration to continue while casting.
Mindfulness
Natural Grace
Restoration · tier 2 · max rank 3
Reduces the threat generated by your spells by 5%.
Rank 3: Reduces the threat generated by your spells by 15%.
Natural Grace
Dual Specialization opens at level 40, Blizzard’s class deep dives say; you change talents at a class trainer in a major city.
Shaman talent trees at a glance
Each tree’s 31-point talent and how many talents changed. The full list, with every rank, is in the talent calculator.
Elemental Combat
Elemental Mastery
Elemental Combat · tier 7 · max rank 1
Gain mastery over Fire and Lightning, reducing the cast time of Lightning Bolt and Lava Burst by 0.5 sec, and removing the cooldown from Chain Lightning. Lasts 15 sec.
Elemental Mastery
Same 31-point talent as Classic
4 new
2 renamed or reworked
2 removed
5 moved
Earthbound
Elemental Combat · tier 4 · max rank 1
★ New in Forever
Your Earthbind Totem Immobilizes nearby targets for 5 sec when cast.
Elemental Reach
Elemental Combat · tier 5 · max rank 2
★ New in Forever
Increases the range of your Lightning Bolt, Chain Lightning, Fire Nova, and Lava Burst spells by 3 yards and reduces the cooldown of Totemic Projection by 10 sec.
Rank 2: Increases the range of your Lightning Bolt, Chain Lightning, Fire Nova, and Lava Burst spells by 6 yards and reduces the cooldown of Totemic Projection by 20 sec.
Lava Burst
Elemental Combat · tier 5 · max rank 1
★ New in Forever
You hurl molten lava at the target, dealing 113 to 146 Fire damage. If your Flame Shock is on the target, Lava Burst deals 20% increased damage. level 60 reference
Lightning Overload
Elemental Combat · tier 5 · max rank 3
★ New in Forever
Gives your Lightning Bolt and Chain Lightning spells a 3% chance to cast a second, similar spell on the same target at no additional cost that causes half damage and no threat.
Rank 3: Gives your Lightning Bolt and Chain Lightning spells a 10% chance to cast a second, similar spell on the same target at no additional cost that causes half damage and no threat.
Enhancement New
Rage of the Farseer
Enhancement · tier 7 · max rank 1
★ New in Forever
Increases your attack speed by 30% for 25 sec.
Rage of the Farseer
Replaces Stormstrike
6 new
1 renamed or reworked
0 removed
6 moved
Mental Dexterity
Enhancement · tier 2 · max rank 3
★ New in Forever
Increases your Attack Power by an amount equal to 33% of your Intellect.
Rank 3: Increases your Attack Power by an amount equal to 100% of your Intellect.
Shamanistic Focus
Enhancement · tier 3 · max rank 1
★ New in Forever
Reduces the mana cost of your Shock and Lightning Shield spells by 45%.
Mental Quickness
Enhancement · tier 5 · max rank 2
★ New in Forever
Increases your spell damage and healing by up to 15% of your Intellect.
Rank 2: Increases your spell damage and healing by up to 30% of your Intellect.
Improved Stormstrike
Enhancement · tier 5 · max rank 2
★ New in Forever
When you Stormstrike, you have a 50% chance to gain 50% mana regeneration while casting spells for 15 sec, and Stormstrike's cooldown has a 50% chance to reset each time you Dodge or Parry.
Rank 2: When you Stormstrike, you have a 100% chance to gain 50% mana regeneration while casting spells for 15 sec, and Stormstrike's cooldown has a 100% chance to reset each time you Dodge or Parry.
Maelstrom Weapon
Enhancement · tier 6 · max rank 5
★ New in Forever
When you deal damage with a melee attack, you have a chance to reduce the cast time and Mana cost of your next Lightning Bolt spell by 4%. Stacks up to 5 times. Lasts 30 sec.
Rank 5: When you deal damage with a melee attack, you have a chance to reduce the cast time and Mana cost of your next Lightning Bolt spell by 20%. Stacks up to 5 times. Lasts 30 sec.
Rage of the Farseer
Enhancement · tier 7 · max rank 1
★ New in Forever
Increases your attack speed by 30% for 25 sec.
Restoration New
Riptide
Restoration · tier 7 · max rank 1
★ New in Forever
Heals a friendly target for 484 to 535, an additional 445 over 15 sec, and increases the effectiveness of your Chain Heal casts directly on that target by 25%. level 60 reference
Riptide
Replaces Mana Tide Totem
3 new
1 renamed or reworked
2 removed
5 moved
Mindfulness
Restoration · tier 2 · max rank 3
★ New in Forever
Allows 17% of your Mana regeneration to continue while casting.
Rank 3: Allows 50% of your Mana regeneration to continue while casting.
Water Shield
Restoration · tier 3 · max rank 1
★ New in Forever
The caster is surrounded by 3 globes of water. When a spell, melee, or ranged attack hits the caster or when one of the caster's spells gets a critical result, 2% of maximum mana is restored to the caster, expending one water globe. Only one globe will activate every few seconds. Lasts 10 min. Only one Elemental Shield can be active on the Shaman at any one time.
Riptide
Restoration · tier 7 · max rank 1
★ New in Forever
Heals a friendly target for 484 to 535, an additional 445 over 15 sec, and increases the effectiveness of your Chain Heal casts directly on that target by 25%. level 60 reference
Up to 10 a Shaman is Lightning Bolt, Healing Wave, Rockbiter Weapon and Earth Shock. Flame Shock and your first Fire totems come at 10, and Fire Nova at 12 is now a spell that explodes your active Fire totem instead of a totem of its own. At 20 the beta client adds Call of the Elements and Totemic Recall; at 22 Totemic Projection. In Classic, Shamans got their totems through class quests; Blizzard hasn’t said whether those quests stay.
Dungeon enemies give much less experience in Forever and dungeon quests much more; a Shaman that heals finds groups quickly (the WoW Forever dungeons guide lists all 9). The experience needed to reach 60 is the same as in Classic: Wowhead retracted its datamine of a lower curve after Blizzard explained the file isn’t used by the game (see the WoW Forever leveling guide).
Shaman key levels
The levels where the abilities in the table below arrive. Hover, focus or tap a level to see everything a Shaman trainer teaches that is new at it; every icon has its tooltip.
Healing Wave
Healing Wave
Rank 1 · level 1
Cost 25 Mana
Cast time 1.5 sec
Heals a friendly target for 34 to 44.
Lightning Bolt
Lightning Bolt
Rank 1 · level 1
Cost 15 Mana
Cast time 1.5 sec
Casts a bolt of lightning at the target for 14 to 16 Nature damage.
Rockbiter Weapon
Rockbiter Weapon
Rank 1 · level 1
Cost 15 Mana
Cast time instant
Imbue the Shaman's weapon, increasing melee attack power by 29 and allowing melee attacks to cause additional threat when using that weapon. Lasts for 60 minutes.
New at level 1: 3
Healing Wave
Healing Wave
Rank 1 · level 1
Cost 25 Mana
Cast time 1.5 sec
Heals a friendly target for 34 to 44.
Lightning Bolt
Lightning Bolt
Rank 1 · level 1
Cost 15 Mana
Cast time 1.5 sec
Casts a bolt of lightning at the target for 14 to 16 Nature damage.
Rockbiter Weapon
Rockbiter Weapon
Rank 1 · level 1
Cost 15 Mana
Cast time instant
Imbue the Shaman's weapon, increasing melee attack power by 29 and allowing melee attacks to cause additional threat when using that weapon. Lasts for 60 minutes.
Earth Shock
Earth Shock
Rank 1 · level 4
Cost 30 Mana
Cast time instant
Cooldown 6 sec
Instantly shocks the target with concussive force, causing 17 to 19 Nature damage. It also interrupts spellcasting and prevents any spell in that school from being cast for 2 sec. Causes a high amount of threat.
New at level 4: 2
Earth Shock
Earth Shock
Rank 1 · level 4
Cost 30 Mana
Cast time instant
Cooldown 6 sec
Instantly shocks the target with concussive force, causing 17 to 19 Nature damage. It also interrupts spellcasting and prevents any spell in that school from being cast for 2 sec. Causes a high amount of threat.
Stoneskin Totem
Stoneskin Totem
Rank 1 · level 4
Cost 30 Mana
Cast time instant
Summons a Stoneskin Totem with 5 health at the feet of the caster. The totem protects party members within 30 yards, reducing Physical damage taken by 4. Lasts 5 min.
Flame Shock
Flame Shock
Rank 1 · level 10
Cost 55 Mana
Cast time instant
Cooldown 6 sec
Instantly sears the target with fire, causing 20 Fire damage immediately and 28 Fire damage over 12 sec.
Strength of Earth Totem
Strength of Earth Totem
Rank 1 · level 10
Cost 25 Mana
Cast time instant
Summons a Strength of Earth Totem with 5 health at the feet of the caster. The totem increases the strength of party or raid members within 30 yards by 7. Lasts 5 min.
New at level 10: 4
Flame Shock
Flame Shock
Rank 1 · level 10
Cost 55 Mana
Cast time instant
Cooldown 6 sec
Instantly sears the target with fire, causing 20 Fire damage immediately and 28 Fire damage over 12 sec.
Flametongue Weapon
Flametongue Weapon
Rank 1 · level 10
Cost 30 Mana
Cast time instant
Imbue the Shaman's weapon with fire. Each hit causes 3 to 13 additional Fire damage, based on the speed of the weapon. Slower weapons cause more fire damage per swing. When applied to main hand, disables any benefit you personally receive from Flametongue Totem. Lasts for 60 minutes.
Searing Totem
Searing Totem
Strength of Earth Totem
Strength of Earth Totem
Rank 1 · level 10
Cost 25 Mana
Cast time instant
Summons a Strength of Earth Totem with 5 health at the feet of the caster. The totem increases the strength of party or raid members within 30 yards by 7. Lasts 5 min.
Fire Nova
Fire Nova
Rank 1 · level 12
Cost 65 Mana
Cast time instant
Cooldown 10 sec
Instantly inflicts 30 to 36 fire damage to enemies within 10 yd of your active Fire totem.
New at level 12: 3
Ancestral Spirit
Ancestral Spirit
Fire Nova
Fire Nova
Rank 1 · level 12
Cost 65 Mana
Cast time instant
Cooldown 10 sec
Instantly inflicts 30 to 36 fire damage to enemies within 10 yd of your active Fire totem.
Purge
Purge
Call of the Elements
Call of the Elements
Level 20
Cast time 3 sec
Simultaneously places up to 4 totems specified in the Totem Bar.
Ghost Wolf
Ghost Wolf
Totemic Recall
Totemic Recall
Level 20
Cast time instant
Returns your totems to the earth, giving you 25% of the mana required to cast each totem destroyed by Totemic Recall.
New at level 20: 7
Call of the Elements
Call of the Elements
Level 20
Cast time 3 sec
Simultaneously places up to 4 totems specified in the Totem Bar.
Frost Shock
Frost Shock
Rank 1 · level 20
Cost 115 Mana
Cast time instant
Cooldown 6 sec
Instantly shocks the target with frost, causing 64 to 68 Frost damage and slowing movement speed by 50%. Lasts 8 sec.
Frostbrand Weapon
Frostbrand Weapon
Rank 1 · level 20
Cost 60 Mana
Cast time instant
Imbue the Shaman's weapon with frost. Each hit has a chance of causing 32 additional Frost damage and slowing the target's movement speed by 25% for 8 sec. Lasts for 60 minutes.
Ghost Wolf
Ghost Wolf
Healing Stream Totem
Healing Stream Totem
Rank 1 · level 20
Cost 40 Mana
Cast time instant
Summons a Healing Stream Totem with 5 health at the feet of the caster for 5 min that heals group members within 30 yards for 5 every 2 seconds.
Lesser Healing Wave
Lesser Healing Wave
Rank 1 · level 20
Cost 105 Mana
Cast time 1.5 sec
Heals a friendly target for 142 to 164.
Totemic Recall
Totemic Recall
Level 20
Cast time instant
Returns your totems to the earth, giving you 25% of the mana required to cast each totem destroyed by Totemic Recall.
Totemic Projection
Totemic Projection
Level 22
Cost 25% of base mana
Cast time instant
Cooldown 1 min
Relocates your active totems to the specified location.
New at level 22: 4
Cure Disease
Cure Disease
Poison Cleansing Totem
Poison Cleansing Totem
Level 22
Cost 10% of base mana
Cast time instant
Summons a Poison Cleansing Totem with 5 health at the feet of the caster that attempts to remove 1 poison effect from party members within 30 yards every 5 seconds. Lasts 5 min.
Totemic Projection
Totemic Projection
Level 22
Cost 25% of base mana
Cast time instant
Cooldown 1 min
Relocates your active totems to the specified location.
Water Breathing
Water Breathing
Reincarnation
Reincarnation
Level 30
Cast time instant
Cooldown 1 hr
Allows you to resurrect yourself upon death with 20% health and mana.
Windfury Weapon
Windfury Weapon
Rank 1 · level 30
Cost 90 Mana
Cast time instant
Imbue the Shaman's weapon with wind. Each hit has a 20% chance of granting you 2 extra attacks with 46 extra melee attack power. When applied to main hand, disables any benefit you personally receive from Windfury Totem. Lasts for 60 minutes.
New at level 30: 6
Astral Recall
Astral Recall
Call of the Ancestors
Call of the Ancestors
Level 30
Cast time 3 sec
Simultaneously places up to 4 totems specified in the Totem Bar. Can call different totems than Call of the Elements.
Grounding Totem
Grounding Totem
Nature Resistance Totem
Nature Resistance Totem
Rank 1 · level 30
Cost 75 Mana
Cast time instant
Summons a Nature Resistance Totem with 5 health at the feet of the caster for 5 min that increases the nature resistance of party and raid members within 30 yards by 30.
Reincarnation
Reincarnation
Level 30
Cast time instant
Cooldown 1 hr
Allows you to resurrect yourself upon death with 20% health and mana.
Windfury Weapon
Windfury Weapon
Rank 1 · level 30
Cost 90 Mana
Cast time instant
Imbue the Shaman's weapon with wind. Each hit has a 20% chance of granting you 2 extra attacks with 46 extra melee attack power. When applied to main hand, disables any benefit you personally receive from Windfury Totem. Lasts for 60 minutes.
Chain Lightning
Chain Lightning
Rank 1 · level 32
Cost 145 Mana
Cast time 2 sec
Cooldown 6 sec
Hurls a lightning bolt at the enemy, dealing 82 to 94 Nature damage and then jumping to additional nearby enemies. Each jump reduces the damage by 30%. Affects 3 total targets.
New at level 32: 2
Chain Lightning
Chain Lightning
Rank 1 · level 32
Cost 145 Mana
Cast time 2 sec
Cooldown 6 sec
Hurls a lightning bolt at the enemy, dealing 82 to 94 Nature damage and then jumping to additional nearby enemies. Each jump reduces the damage by 30%. Affects 3 total targets.
Windfury Totem
Windfury Totem
Rank 1 · level 32
Cost 115 Mana
Cast time instant
Summons a Windfury Totem with 5 health at the feet of the caster. The totem enhances the melee attacks of all party or raid members within 30 yards. Each main hand hit has a 20% chance of granting the attacker 1 extra attack with 95 extra melee attack power. Lasts 5 min.
Chain Heal
Chain Heal
Rank 1 · level 40
Cost 260 Mana
Cast time 2.5 sec
Heals the friendly target for 233 to 269, then jumps to heal additional nearby targets. If cast on a party member, the heal will only jump to other party members. Each jump is 50% as effective as the previous target. Heals 3 total targets.
New at level 40: 2
Call of the Spirits
Call of the Spirits
Level 40
Cast time 3 sec
Simultaneously places up to 4 totems specified in the Totem Bar. Can call different totems than Call of the Elements or Call of the Ancestors.
Chain Heal
Chain Heal
Rank 1 · level 40
Cost 260 Mana
Cast time 2.5 sec
Heals the friendly target for 233 to 269, then jumps to heal additional nearby targets. If cast on a party member, the heal will only jump to other party members. Each jump is 50% as effective as the previous target. Heals 3 total targets.
New trainer abilities per level band
Each ability counted once, at the level its first rank is trained in the Forever beta client; abilities the beta removed are left out. Pick a bar to list them.
Every raceSome races only
New at levels 1–9: 8
Healing Wave
Healing Wave
Rank 1 · level 1
Cost 25 Mana
Cast time 1.5 sec
Heals a friendly target for 34 to 44.
Lightning Bolt
Lightning Bolt
Rank 1 · level 1
Cost 15 Mana
Cast time 1.5 sec
Casts a bolt of lightning at the target for 14 to 16 Nature damage.
Rockbiter Weapon
Rockbiter Weapon
Rank 1 · level 1
Cost 15 Mana
Cast time instant
Imbue the Shaman's weapon, increasing melee attack power by 29 and allowing melee attacks to cause additional threat when using that weapon. Lasts for 60 minutes.
Earth Shock
Earth Shock
Rank 1 · level 4
Cost 30 Mana
Cast time instant
Cooldown 6 sec
Instantly shocks the target with concussive force, causing 17 to 19 Nature damage. It also interrupts spellcasting and prevents any spell in that school from being cast for 2 sec. Causes a high amount of threat.
Stoneskin Totem
Stoneskin Totem
Rank 1 · level 4
Cost 30 Mana
Cast time instant
Summons a Stoneskin Totem with 5 health at the feet of the caster. The totem protects party members within 30 yards, reducing Physical damage taken by 4. Lasts 5 min.
Earthbind Totem
Earthbind Totem
Lightning Shield
Lightning Shield
Rank 1 · level 8
Cost 45 Mana
Cast time instant
The caster is surrounded by 3 balls of lightning. When a spell, melee or ranged attack hits the caster, the attacker will be struck for 13 Nature damage. This expends one lightning ball. Only one ball will fire every few seconds. Lasts 10 min.
Stoneclaw Totem
Stoneclaw Totem
New at levels 10–19: 9
Flame Shock
Flame Shock
Rank 1 · level 10
Cost 55 Mana
Cast time instant
Cooldown 6 sec
Instantly sears the target with fire, causing 20 Fire damage immediately and 28 Fire damage over 12 sec.
Flametongue Weapon
Flametongue Weapon
Rank 1 · level 10
Cost 30 Mana
Cast time instant
Imbue the Shaman's weapon with fire. Each hit causes 3 to 13 additional Fire damage, based on the speed of the weapon. Slower weapons cause more fire damage per swing. When applied to main hand, disables any benefit you personally receive from Flametongue Totem. Lasts for 60 minutes.
Searing Totem
Searing Totem
Strength of Earth Totem
Strength of Earth Totem
Rank 1 · level 10
Cost 25 Mana
Cast time instant
Summons a Strength of Earth Totem with 5 health at the feet of the caster. The totem increases the strength of party or raid members within 30 yards by 7. Lasts 5 min.
Ancestral Spirit
Ancestral Spirit
Fire Nova
Fire Nova
Rank 1 · level 12
Cost 65 Mana
Cast time instant
Cooldown 10 sec
Instantly inflicts 30 to 36 fire damage to enemies within 10 yd of your active Fire totem.
Purge
Purge
Cure Poison
Cure Poison
Tremor Totem
Tremor Totem
Level 18
Cost 60 Mana
Cast time instant
Summons a Tremor Totem with 5 health at the feet of the caster that shakes the ground around it, removing Fear, Charm and Sleep effects from party members within 30 yards. Lasts 5 min.
New at levels 20–29: 18
Call of the Elements
Call of the Elements
Level 20
Cast time 3 sec
Simultaneously places up to 4 totems specified in the Totem Bar.
Frost Shock
Frost Shock
Rank 1 · level 20
Cost 115 Mana
Cast time instant
Cooldown 6 sec
Instantly shocks the target with frost, causing 64 to 68 Frost damage and slowing movement speed by 50%. Lasts 8 sec.
Frostbrand Weapon
Frostbrand Weapon
Rank 1 · level 20
Cost 60 Mana
Cast time instant
Imbue the Shaman's weapon with frost. Each hit has a chance of causing 32 additional Frost damage and slowing the target's movement speed by 25% for 8 sec. Lasts for 60 minutes.
Ghost Wolf
Ghost Wolf
Healing Stream Totem
Healing Stream Totem
Rank 1 · level 20
Cost 40 Mana
Cast time instant
Summons a Healing Stream Totem with 5 health at the feet of the caster for 5 min that heals group members within 30 yards for 5 every 2 seconds.
Lesser Healing Wave
Lesser Healing Wave
Rank 1 · level 20
Cost 105 Mana
Cast time 1.5 sec
Heals a friendly target for 142 to 164.
Totemic Recall
Totemic Recall
Level 20
Cast time instant
Returns your totems to the earth, giving you 25% of the mana required to cast each totem destroyed by Totemic Recall.
Cure Disease
Cure Disease
Poison Cleansing Totem
Poison Cleansing Totem
Level 22
Cost 10% of base mana
Cast time instant
Summons a Poison Cleansing Totem with 5 health at the feet of the caster that attempts to remove 1 poison effect from party members within 30 yards every 5 seconds. Lasts 5 min.
Totemic Projection
Totemic Projection
Level 22
Cost 25% of base mana
Cast time instant
Cooldown 1 min
Relocates your active totems to the specified location.
Water Breathing
Water Breathing
Frost Resistance Totem
Frost Resistance Totem
Rank 1 · level 24
Cost 75 Mana
Cast time instant
Summons a Frost Resistance Totem with 5 health at the feet of the caster for 5 min. The totem increases party and raid members' frost resistance by 30, if within 30 yards.
Far Sight
Far Sight
Magma Totem
Magma Totem
Rank 1 · level 26
Cost 230 Mana
Cast time instant
Summons a Magma Totem with 5 health at the feet of the caster for 20 sec that causes 20 Fire damage to creatures within 8 yards every 2 seconds.
Mana Spring Totem
Mana Spring Totem
Rank 1 · level 26
Cost 40 Mana
Cast time instant
Summons a Mana Spring Totem with 5 health at the feet of the caster for 5 min that restores 4 mana every 2 seconds to group members within 30 yards.
Fire Resistance Totem
Fire Resistance Totem
Rank 1 · level 28
Cost 75 Mana
Cast time instant
Summons a Fire Resistance Totem with 5 health at the feet of the caster for 5 min that increases the fire resistance of party or raid members within 30 yards by 30.
Flametongue Totem
Flametongue Totem
Rank 1 · level 28
Cost 90 Mana
Cast time instant
Summons a Flametongue Totem with 5 health at the feet of the caster. The totem enchants all party or raid members' main-hand weapons with fire if they are within 30 yards. Each hit causes 6 to 22 additional Fire damage, based on the speed of the weapon. Slower weapons cause more fire damage per swing. Lasts 5 min.
Water Walking
Water Walking
New at levels 30–39: 11
Astral Recall
Astral Recall
Call of the Ancestors
Call of the Ancestors
Level 30
Cast time 3 sec
Simultaneously places up to 4 totems specified in the Totem Bar. Can call different totems than Call of the Elements.
Grounding Totem
Grounding Totem
Nature Resistance Totem
Nature Resistance Totem
Rank 1 · level 30
Cost 75 Mana
Cast time instant
Summons a Nature Resistance Totem with 5 health at the feet of the caster for 5 min that increases the nature resistance of party and raid members within 30 yards by 30.
Reincarnation
Reincarnation
Level 30
Cast time instant
Cooldown 1 hr
Allows you to resurrect yourself upon death with 20% health and mana.
Windfury Weapon
Windfury Weapon
Rank 1 · level 30
Cost 90 Mana
Cast time instant
Imbue the Shaman's weapon with wind. Each hit has a 20% chance of granting you 2 extra attacks with 46 extra melee attack power. When applied to main hand, disables any benefit you personally receive from Windfury Totem. Lasts for 60 minutes.
Chain Lightning
Chain Lightning
Rank 1 · level 32
Cost 145 Mana
Cast time 2 sec
Cooldown 6 sec
Hurls a lightning bolt at the enemy, dealing 82 to 94 Nature damage and then jumping to additional nearby enemies. Each jump reduces the damage by 30%. Affects 3 total targets.
Windfury Totem
Windfury Totem
Rank 1 · level 32
Cost 115 Mana
Cast time instant
Summons a Windfury Totem with 5 health at the feet of the caster. The totem enhances the melee attacks of all party or raid members within 30 yards. Each main hand hit has a 20% chance of granting the attacker 1 extra attack with 95 extra melee attack power. Lasts 5 min.
Sentry Totem
Sentry Totem
Level 34
Cost 65 Mana
Cast time instant
Summons an immobile Sentry Totem with 100 health at your feet for 5 min that allows vision of nearby area and warns of enemies that attack it. Right-Click on buff to switch back and forth between totem sight and Shaman sight.
Windwall Totem
Windwall Totem
Rank 1 · level 36
Cost 115 Mana
Cast time instant
Summons a Windwall Totem with 5 health at the feet of the caster. The totem protects party members within 30 yards, reducing ranged damage taken by 32. Lasts 5 min.
Disease Cleansing Totem
Disease Cleansing Totem
Level 38
Cost 10% of base mana
Cast time instant
Summons a Disease Cleansing Totem with 5 health at the feet of the caster that attempts to remove 1 disease effect from party members within 30 yards every 5 seconds. Lasts 5 min.
New at levels 40–49: 3
Call of the Spirits
Call of the Spirits
Level 40
Cast time 3 sec
Simultaneously places up to 4 totems specified in the Totem Bar. Can call different totems than Call of the Elements or Call of the Ancestors.
Chain Heal
Chain Heal
Rank 1 · level 40
Cost 260 Mana
Cast time 2.5 sec
Heals the friendly target for 233 to 269, then jumps to heal additional nearby targets. If cast on a party member, the heal will only jump to other party members. Each jump is 50% as effective as the previous target. Heals 3 total targets.
Grace of Air Totem
Grace of Air Totem
Rank 1 · level 42
Cost 155 Mana
Cast time instant
Summons a Grace of Air Totem with 5 health at the feet of the caster. The totem increases the agility of party or raid members within 30 yards by 49. Lasts 5 min.
New at levels 50–60: 0
Shaman abilities by level
The trainer abilities that shape a Shaman’s leveling, in the order you learn them. The middle column is read from the Forever beta client against Classic Era, so it can still change.
Ability
Learned
In the Forever beta
Why it matters
Lightning Bolt
Lightning Bolt
Rank 1 · level 1
Cost 15 Mana
Cast time 1.5 sec
Casts a bolt of lightning at the target for 14 to 16 Nature damage.
Level 110 ranks, levels 1–56
Cost: changed on 7 ranks
Cast time: 3 sec → 2.5 sec (7 ranks)
Growth per level: changed on 10 ranks
Tooltip numbers changed (10 ranks)
Casts in 2.5 seconds instead of 3 and costs less in the beta client; your opener in every spec.
Healing Wave
Healing Wave
Rank 1 · level 1
Cost 25 Mana
Cast time 1.5 sec
Heals a friendly target for 34 to 44.
Level 110 ranks, levels 1–60
Tooltip numbers changed (8 ranks)
Your first heal, and what keeps solo downtime low.
Rockbiter Weapon
Rockbiter Weapon
Rank 1 · level 1
Cost 15 Mana
Cast time instant
Imbue the Shaman's weapon, increasing melee attack power by 29 and allowing melee attacks to cause additional threat when using that weapon. Lasts for 60 minutes.
Level 17 ranks, levels 1–54
Tooltip numbers changed (7 ranks)
Your first imbue; with Spirit Weapons (Enhancement) it also raises your threat.
Earth Shock
Earth Shock
Rank 1 · level 4
Cost 30 Mana
Cast time instant
Cooldown 6 sec
Instantly shocks the target with concussive force, causing 17 to 19 Nature damage. It also interrupts spellcasting and prevents any spell in that school from being cast for 2 sec. Causes a high amount of threat.
Level 47 ranks, levels 4–60
Growth per level: changed on 5 ranks
Tooltip numbers changed (5 ranks)
Instant damage that interrupts spellcasting.
Flame Shock
Flame Shock
Rank 1 · level 10
Cost 55 Mana
Cast time instant
Cooldown 6 sec
Instantly sears the target with fire, causing 20 Fire damage immediately and 28 Fire damage over 12 sec.
Level 106 ranks, levels 10–60
Growth per level: changed on 5 ranks
Tooltip numbers changed (6 ranks)
Burns the target so Lava Burst (Elemental) deals more damage.
Strength of Earth Totem
Strength of Earth Totem
Rank 1 · level 10
Cost 25 Mana
Cast time instant
Summons a Strength of Earth Totem with 5 health at the feet of the caster. The totem increases the strength of party or raid members within 30 yards by 7. Lasts 5 min.
Level 105 ranks, levels 10–60
Duration: 2 min → 5 min (5 ranks)
Tooltip numbers changed (5 ranks)
Strength for melee; totems last five minutes in the beta client.
Fire Nova
Fire Nova
Rank 1 · level 12
Cost 65 Mana
Cast time instant
Cooldown 10 sec
Instantly inflicts 30 to 36 fire damage to enemies within 10 yd of your active Fire totem.
Level 125 ranks, levels 12–52
Instantly inflicts 30 to 36 fire damage to enemies within 10 yd of your active Fire totem.
Now a spell that detonates your active Fire totem, replacing Fire Nova Totem.
Ghost Wolf
Ghost Wolf
Level 20
Unchanged
Faster travel; Improved Ghost Wolf (Enhancement) makes it usable indoors.
Call of the Elements
Call of the Elements
Level 20
Cast time 3 sec
Simultaneously places up to 4 totems specified in the Totem Bar.
Level 20
Simultaneously places up to 4 totems specified in the Totem Bar.
New: drops up to four totems from your totem bar at once.
Totemic Recall
Totemic Recall
Level 20
Cast time instant
Returns your totems to the earth, giving you 25% of the mana required to cast each totem destroyed by Totemic Recall.
Level 20
Returns your totems to the earth, giving you 25% of the mana required to cast each totem destroyed by Totemic Recall.
New: picks your totems back up and refunds part of their mana.
Totemic Projection
Totemic Projection
Level 22
Cost 25% of base mana
Cast time instant
Cooldown 1 min
Relocates your active totems to the specified location.
Level 22
Relocates your active totems to the specified location.
New: moves your active totems to a spot you choose.
Windfury Weapon
Windfury Weapon
Rank 1 · level 30
Cost 90 Mana
Cast time instant
Imbue the Shaman's weapon with wind. Each hit has a 20% chance of granting you 2 extra attacks with 46 extra melee attack power. When applied to main hand, disables any benefit you personally receive from Windfury Totem. Lasts for 60 minutes.
Level 304 ranks, levels 30–60
Tooltip numbers changed (4 ranks)
Extra attacks on the weapon, the Enhancement staple; on your main hand it switches off Windfury Totem for you.
Reincarnation
Reincarnation
Level 30
Cast time instant
Cooldown 1 hr
Allows you to resurrect yourself upon death with 20% health and mana.
Level 30
Duration: until cancelled → none
Brings you back to life on your own, as in Classic.
Chain Lightning
Chain Lightning
Rank 1 · level 32
Cost 145 Mana
Cast time 2 sec
Cooldown 6 sec
Hurls a lightning bolt at the enemy, dealing 82 to 94 Nature damage and then jumping to additional nearby enemies. Each jump reduces the damage by 30%. Affects 3 total targets.
Level 324 ranks, levels 32–56
Cost: changed on 4 ranks
Cast time: 2.5 sec → 2 sec (4 ranks)
Growth per level: changed on 4 ranks
Tooltip numbers changed (4 ranks)
Casts in 2 seconds instead of 2.5 and costs less in the beta client.
Chain Heal
Chain Heal
Rank 1 · level 40
Cost 260 Mana
Cast time 2.5 sec
Heals the friendly target for 233 to 269, then jumps to heal additional nearby targets. If cast on a party member, the heal will only jump to other party members. Each jump is 50% as effective as the previous target. Heals 3 total targets.
Level 403 ranks, levels 40–54
Tooltip numbers changed (3 ranks)
Your group heal; Riptide makes it stronger on its target.
Dwarves are the Alliance’s only Shamans. Artisan’s Precision adds 1% hit with spells and attacks (the October 26 notes put it in place of Earth Fury), and Stoneform removes poisons, diseases and bleeds. Orcs no longer have Savage; Blood Fury now adds Spell Power, a cooldown for every spec, and Command is back for Hunter and Warlock pets.
Tauren Endurance is 5% Health only, and War Stomp stuns around you every 90 seconds; Trolls have Berserking for attack and casting speed. The Horde’s Windshaper Skyborne are new Shamans too: Skysight is 15% movement speed for 15 seconds (30% while Charged at a convergence) and Wind Blessed is 2% Haste.
Races for Shamans
Every race that can be a Shaman in Forever and what it brings to the class.
New in ForeverWindshaper only: Skysight run speed; Wind Blessed Haste.
05 Coming from Classic
The biggest change is totem upkeep. In the beta client most totems last five minutes instead of one or two, Call of the Elements and its two siblings drop four at a time from a totem bar, Totemic Recall refunds mana, and Totemic Projection moves totems instead of recasting them. Lightning Bolt and Chain Lightning cast faster and cost less, and Blizzard says their spell power coefficients were lowered to match. Together that turns a lot of Classic’s mana and global cooldowns back into damage and healing.
Alliance players can be Shamans as Dwarves, which in Classic was Horde-only. Every changed trainer ability is in WoW Forever Shaman abilities.
What changes for Shamans
Game data
All three 31-point talents are new: Lava Burst, Rage of the Farseer and Riptide.
Game data
Water Shield and Maelstrom Weapon appear in the trees.
Blizzard
Windshaper Skyborne, on the Horde side, follow elemental traditions and can be Shamans.
Game data
The Enhancement talent Improved Ghost Wolf lets Ghost Wolf be used indoors.
Blizzard
Healing power also adds a third as much damage, and hit and crit are merged across spells and attacks.
Blizzard
October 1 beta build: Totemic Recall restores Mana as intended (Blizzard’s October 7 deep dive still lists the missing refund as a beta bug) and Disease Cleansing Totem lasts its full 5 minutes.
Blizzard
Ghost Wolf is easier to see in well-lit areas.
Blizzard
On the WoW Forever Podcast episode 2, the developers said totem twisting is gone for good and Maelstrom Weapon stays on Lightning Bolt only; making Leader of the Pack and Moonkin Aura raid-wide is being discussed.
Blizzard
Blizzard’s Shaman deep dive (October 7): totems are on a 1-second global cooldown instead of 1.5, a totem tracker shows which are up and for how long (right-click one to dismiss it), and resistance totems cover the whole raid.
Blizzard
Weapon imbues (Frostbrand, Flametongue, Rockbiter and Windfury Weapon) last 60 minutes instead of 5 and work alongside sharpening stones, weightstones and wizard oils.
Blizzard
Windfury Totem and Flametongue Totem are party buffs instead of weapon enchantments. Windfury Weapon or Flametongue Weapon on your main hand switches off the matching totem for you, and a party can’t benefit from Windfury Totem together with Grace of Air Totem or Flametongue Totem. Tranquil Air Totem is removed.
Blizzard
Call of the Elements casts in 3 seconds and costs the Mana of its four totems together, and two more totem sets open at 30 and 40: the deep dive names Call of the Spirits at 30 and Call of the Ancestors at 40, while the beta client teaches Call of the Ancestors at 30 and Call of the Spirits at 40. Totemic Projection moves your totems up to 30 yards for 25% of base Mana, once a minute.
Blizzard
Shield Specialization, Two-Handed Axes and Maces, Weapon Mastery, Enhancing Totems and Improved Weapon Totems are baseline now instead of talents.
Blizzard
Elemental Mastery and Nature’s Guidance are removed talents, Blizzard’s corrected deep dive confirms. Blizzard calls Elemental Mastery a signature Elemental talent, especially in PvP, but says it couldn’t raise Elemental’s damage to where PvE needs it and keep the talent, which would have been much too strong in PvP; Elemental gets new spells and capabilities instead.
Blizzard
October 8 beta build: Flametongue Totem uses a shapeshifted ally’s own attack speed instead of the equipped weapon’s, Elemental Focus is no longer used up by Fire Nova, and the low ranks of Lightning Bolt were retuned so that every new rank is an upgrade.
06 Before you log in
Alliance? Dwarf is your only Shaman race; on the Horde, compare Orc, Tauren, Troll and Windshaper Skyborne in the race cards above.
Set up the totem bar early. Call of the Elements at 20 uses it; plan which four totems you want for solo play and for groups.
Spend Legacy Points on Reagent Economy if you rely on Reincarnation. In Classic it needed an Ankh; Reagent Economy removes the vendor reagents of class abilities. The WoW Forever Legacy guide has the perk.
Pick a spec to heal in if you want groups. Compare Restoration and Enhancement in the WoW Forever Talent Calculator.
Hardcore? Self-heals, Earthbind and Ghost Wolf give a Shaman several ways out of a bad pull; read the rules on the WoW Forever Hardcore page before counting on Reincarnation.
WoW Forever Shaman FAQ
Can Alliance players be Shamans in WoW Forever?
Yes, as Dwarves. Skyborne Shamans are Horde only: the Alliance’s High Order Skyborne are Mages instead.
Can Ghost Wolf be used indoors?
With the Enhancement talent Improved Ghost Wolf, yes, as players who tried the demo reported: one point lets Ghost Wolf be used indoors and takes a second off its cast, and the second makes it instant.
Which races can be a Shaman in WoW Forever?
Dwarf, Orc, Tauren, Troll, and Skyborne. Dwarf and Skyborne are new to the class in Forever.
What are the Shaman 31-point talents in WoW Forever?
Elemental Combat: Elemental Mastery; Enhancement: Rage of the Farseer (new, replacing Stormstrike); Restoration: Riptide (new, replacing Mana Tide Totem).
Can Alliance play Shaman in WoW Forever?
Yes, as Dwarves. The Horde’s Windshaper Skyborne can also be Shamans; the Alliance’s High Order Skyborne can’t.
Do Shaman totems last longer in WoW Forever?
Yes, in the beta client most totems last five minutes instead of one or two, and new spells drop up to four at once (Call of the Elements), refund them (Totemic Recall) and move them (Totemic Projection).
What replaces Fire Nova Totem in WoW Forever?
Fire Nova is a spell at level 12 in the beta client: it deals Fire damage to enemies near your active Fire totem. Trial by Fire (Elemental), called Improved Fire Nova until the October 15 beta build, raises its damage, shortens its cooldown and makes Magma Totem last longer.
Still unconfirmed
Final talent values: they can still change before launch
