World of warcraft Shaman guide - The totem wielding warrior mage

While looking through a world of warcraft guide on Shamans you might end up wondering whether you are reading a medley of world of warcraft guides involving warriors, mages or any healer class. You might even confuse Shamans for Druids, for the easy reason that just like Druids, Shamans are a hybrid class capable of healing, tanking and casting.

Then you might go and peruse forums and the plethora of wow sites that discuss world of warcraft Shamans guides who describe them as being able to do these capabilities but not as well as classes that are specialized in them. That’s a narrow minded view. If you take the Druid, they are praised for how they have the ability to tank admirably when shape shifting into bears or heal while in tree form and give damage in cat form. But they can never do all three at the same time. The Shaman can without the need to shape shift. Though they have the ability to indeed shape shift as wolves but only to help them travel faster.

The one thing that makes Shamans stand out is the fact they use totem, which when planted in nearby ground give them and fellow nearby party members various benefits while in combat. Totems and the way they are used are what makes it challenging and enjoyable to play a shaman.

There are four kinds of totems : Water, Fire, Earth and Air. Each of these totems needs to be carefully implemented during group combat or solo play, needing split timing decisions in the heat of battle. Their asset to a group includes having the spell of Reincarnation which allows them to resurrect themselves or other members once each played hour to 40 minutes if you assign more talent points to this capability.

Thanks to the Burning Crusade expansion Shamans is no longer restricted as being a Horde only class. The Dranei race in the Alliance faction can also play Shaman, and of all the classes for them to choose this is arguably the best one for them to choose thanks to various attributes very special to this new race.

At end game (level 60 and 70 and beyond) you can specialize as either as an Elemental, Restoration or Enhancement Shaman each having their own specialized capabilities. Elementals focus on high damage casting capabilities and as such are regarded as the ideal choice for power levelling quickly. While Restoration Shamans have higher healing abilities and later in the game are useful healers and back up casters.

We’ve barely scratched the surface of what shamans can do in the game. It would require a far longer world of warcraft guide on shamans to list them all. Due to the fact that they are multi skilled, Shamans are often times regarded as a jack of all trades class. They are a very versatile class that allows the player to get a fuller experience in the game. Playing a shaman you’ll be able to tank, heal and tank as well as the more specialized classes making you effectively this 3 times as powerful if you exploit their abilities. Quite simply, Shamans are no pushovers.