Elemental Combat Shaman guide

Rotation and opener

Place the group’s agreed Earth and Air totems alongside Searing Totem and Mana Spring. Apply Flame Shock before using Lava Burst.

Combat priority

1. 
   Call of the Elements

   Place the assigned totem set before sustained casting. Use Mana Spring and the agreed Earth and Air buffs; unnecessary duplication wastes your group’s utility.

2. 
   Flame Shock

   Keep Flame Shock on the primary target. Refresh it during movement where possible, leaving stationary globals for your cast-time spells.

3. 
   Lava Burst

   Use Lava Burst with Flame Shock already on the target once the ability is available. Do not cast first and apply the supporting effect afterward.

4. 
   Chain Lightning

   Use Chain Lightning for targets close enough to benefit from its bounce. On a long single-target encounter, control its use rather than exhausting Mana early.

5. 
   Lightning Bolt

   Use Lightning Bolt as the reliable filler. Finish a safe cast before moving; cancel promptly when remaining stationary would kill you.

6. 
   Earth Shock

   Keep Earth Shock available when you are assigned an interrupt. Avoid spending the shared shock opportunity immediately before a dangerous cast.

Multiple targets and dungeon pulls

Chain Lightning is the important cleave spell. Choose an initial target whose position allows the bounces to reach the rest of the pack.

Use the appropriate fire totem once enemies are grouped. Place it near the pack without standing in melee attacks simply to keep the totem in range.

Resources and cooldowns

Call of the Elements places a totem set, while Totemic Projection moves it. Reposition the set when the group moves; a totem left at the previous pull does not support the new one. Chain Lightning on one target is a mana decision, not an automatic filler.

• Use Elemental Mastery for a meaningful spell window once the build unlocks it. Put Flame Shock in place before the Lava Burst sequence.
• Use Totemic Projection when the encounter moves so the party remains covered. Call of the Elements prepares the set without manually rebuilding four individual totems.
• Reserve Earth Shock for an assigned interrupt. A slightly earlier damage shock is a poor trade if it leaves a dangerous cast unanswered.

Specialization mechanics and group play

Totemic Projection moves the set when the fight relocates. Move the existing utility rather than spending several individual globals rebuilding the same placement.

Keep Purge ready against removable enemy buffs. Removing a dangerous shield or offensive buff can have more value than one additional Lightning Bolt.

PvE talent choices

Important talent effects

Convection

Reduces the mana cost of your Shock, Lightning Bolt, Lava Burst, and Chain Lightning spells by 2%.

5 ranks

Elemental Focus

Gives you a 10% chance to enter a Clearcasting state after casting any Fire, Frost, or Nature damage spell. The Clearcasting state reduces the mana cost of your next damage spell by 100%.

1 rank

Elemental Fury

Increases the critical strike damage bonus of your Searing and Magma Totems and your Fire, Frost, and Nature spells by 20%.

5 ranks

Lightning Overload

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.

3 ranks

Elemental Alacrity

Reduces the cast time of your Lightning Bolt, Chain Lightning, and Lava Burst spells by 0.17 sec.

3 ranks · Requires Call of Thunder

Lava Burst

You hurl molten lava at the target, dealing 158 to 187 Fire damage. If your Flame Shock is on the target, Lava Burst deals 20% increased damage.

1 rank · Requires Lightning Overload

PvP talent choices and play

Use Earthbound and range to create a casting window. Interrupt important spells and preserve a Shock opportunity for control when needed instead of spending every instant attack on damage.

Recommended gear & upgrades

Forever beta equipment options. Compare level requirements and sources; these are not final launch rankings.

Head

Source / location

Embalmed Shroudcloth · Level 30

Fallen ChampionScarlet Monastery

Enchanter's Cowlcloth · Level 28

TailoringCrafted

Enduring Capleather · Level 28

World drop

Filigreed Pristine Circletcloth · Level 25

TailoringCrafted

Holy Shroudcloth · Level 27

World drop

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Chest

Source / location

Beguiler Robescloth · Level 29

Trash dropScarlet Monastery

Bristle Hills Mystic Robecloth

Ceremonial Gowncloth

Dro'zem's Tuniccloth · Level 20

Green Silk Armorcloth · Level 28

TailoringCrafted

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Main Hand

Source / location

Clever Expeditionary's Spellbladedagger · Level 28

Theramore Expeditionary Force - ReveredReputation

Darkspear Insurgent's Spellbladedagger · Level 28

Darkspear Raiders - ReveredReputation

Death Prophet Spinestaff · Level 26

Aggem ThorncurseRazorfen Kraul

Fallen Dragon's Scepterstaff

Stopping the CycleQuest (Alliance)

Glimmering Staffstaff · Level 25

EnchantingCrafted

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Off Hand

Source / location

A Lesson in Destruction

Farseer's Forgotten Shieldshield

Forcestone Bucklershield

Compendium of the FallenQuest (Horde)

Irradiated Shieldshield · Level 29

GrubbisGnomeregan

Omega Orb

Compendium of the FallenQuest (Horde)

Show 5 more

View equipment for every slot

Stats and equipment decisions

Enchanting equipment

For inexpensive leveling preparation, Enchant Bracer - Inferior Stamina and Enchant Chest - Inferior Stamina add survival to equipment you expect to keep. Prioritize an important weapon or role-specific item upgrade before spending heavily on temporary armor.

Consumables and preparation

Healing Potion

Carry a level-appropriate Healing Potion for an emergency. Use it before the next unavoidable hit kills you rather than waiting for a healer who is already occupied.

Mana Potion

Use the appropriate learned-level version for resource recovery. Higher-level consumables are preparation for later content, not a requirement for an early beta character.

Heavy Silk Bandage

A First Aid recovery option for characters who meet its requirement. Use it during a safe break between attacks; incoming damage interrupts bandaging.

Useful profession pairings

Engineering offers active tools for dangerous pulls and PvP. Bind the devices you actually carry; selecting the profession without using its consumables supplies no practical benefit.

Alchemy supports a regular potion supply, while Herbalism funds that supply during leveling. Buy only the consumables you can use at your present level.

Herbalism · Alchemy · Skinning · Leatherworking · Recipe database · Camping buffs

Races and racial abilities

Dwarf provides an Alliance Shaman option. Stoneform is especially practical when a physical defensive response matters.

Horde choices include Orc, Tauren, Troll and Windshaper Skyborne. Tauren War Stomp supports emergency control; Troll Berserking can be aligned with a sustained casting window.

Leveling and solo play

1. Lightning Bolt provides reliable ranged damage, while shocks offer additional damage and utility. Manage your Mana carefully during longer fights, and use your available totems to support your role. Prioritize spellcasting abilities that benefit from your chosen Elemental talents.
2. Enhancement supports a weapon-based solo route. Keep the imbue active and place totems where several fights will occur; rebuilding the full set for every nearly dead enemy wastes Mana.
3. Carry an Intellect-oriented healing set if you plan to heal leveling dungeons. Use Healing Wave for predictable damage and Lesser Healing Wave for urgent hits instead of insisting on one spell for every situation.

Leveling routes and preparation · Dungeon entrances and level ranges

Useful macros

#showtooltip Earth Shock
/cast [@focus,harm,nodead][] Earth Shock

Strengths and weaknesses

Common mistakes

• Casting Lava Burst without Flame Shock
• Leaving totems behind after moving
• Spending mana on Chain Lightning against a target about to die

Full Elemental Combat talent reference

Exact rank text and prerequisites from the calculator’s existing talent data. Use the interactive tooltip for additional ranks.

View every Elemental Combat talent

Convection

Passive · Tier 1 · 5 ranks

Reduces the mana cost of your Shock, Lightning Bolt, Lava Burst, and Chain Lightning spells by 2%.

Concussion

Passive · Tier 1 · 5 ranks

Increases the damage done by your Lightning Bolt, Chain Lightning, and Earth Shock spells by 1%.

Elemental Warding

Passive · Tier 2 · 3 ranks

Reduces damage taken from Fire, Frost, and Nature effects by 3%.

Reverberation

Passive · Tier 2 · 5 ranks

Reduces the cooldown of your Shock spells by 0.2 sec.

Call of Flame

Passive · Tier 2 · 3 ranks

Increases the damage done by your Fire Totems and by your Flame Shock, Fire Nova, and Lava Burst spells by 5%.

Elemental Devastation

Passive · Tier 2 · 3 ranks

Your offensive spell critical strikes will increase your chance to get a critical strike with melee attacks by 3% for 10 sec.

Elemental Focus

Passive · Tier 3 · 1 ranks

Gives you a 10% chance to enter a Clearcasting state after casting any Fire, Frost, or Nature damage spell. The Clearcasting state reduces the mana cost of your next damage spell by 100%.

Elemental Fury

Passive · Tier 3 · 5 ranks

Increases the critical strike damage bonus of your Searing and Magma Totems and your Fire, Frost, and Nature spells by 20%.

Improved Fire Nova

Passive · Tier 4 · 2 ranks

Increases the damage done by your Fire Nova spell by 10% and reduces its cooldown by 2 sec.

Eye of the Storm

Passive · Tier 4 · 3 ranks

Reduces the pushback suffered from damaging attacks while casting Lightning Bolt, Chain Lightning, and Lava Burst by 23%.

Call of Thunder

Passive · Tier 4 · 1 ranks

Increases the critical strike chance of your Lightning Bolt and Chain Lightning spells by 3%.

Requires Elemental Fury

Elemental Reach

Passive · Tier 5 · 2 ranks

Increases the range of your Lightning Bolt, Chain Lightning, Fire Nova, and Lava Burst spells by 3 yards, and increases the range of your Flame Shock spell by 8 yards.

Lightning Overload

Passive · Tier 5 · 3 ranks

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.

Earthbound

Passive · Tier 5 · 1 ranks

Your Earthbind Totem immobilizes nearby targets for 5 sec when cast.

Elemental Alacrity

Passive · Tier 6 · 3 ranks

Reduces the cast time of your Lightning Bolt, Chain Lightning, and Lava Burst spells by 0.17 sec.

Requires Call of Thunder

Lava Burst

Active · Tier 7 · 1 ranks

165 Mana | 30 yd range | 2.5 sec cast | 10 sec cooldown

You hurl molten lava at the target, dealing 158 to 187 Fire damage. If your Flame Shock is on the target, Lava Burst deals 20% increased damage.

Requires Lightning Overload

Changes from Classic