World of Warcraft Correspondent Geoff Grimm writes this guide to the Shaman for beginners, looking to help them make initial choices that will help their characters later in their careers.

Well, I'm back in the game now after a bit of time off and glad to see that not too much has changed. My main (and first) toon is an 80 Troll Shaman (restoration spec). I know, I know... Troll? What was I thinking? Well, I had no idea what I was doing when I made my toon originally but now with the wonderful help of hindsight clarity I would like to help you decide what to do with your shaman! Just a heads up for all of you out there, this article is for someone who is new to the game, I don't get very technical and statistical so it should be easy to understand and evaluate what are the best choices for you and how you can enhance your WoW game experience!

There are three different ways to go with your shaman following your talent tree: Enhancement is a melee shaman, Elemental is a caster (dealing damage from afar) and Restoration is a healer.

Read What to Do With your Shaman

This is the second article in 2 days I've read from the correspondents that have almost 0 info pertaining to the title.

Congratulations, you covered the racials ( though only for the Horde. "What to Do With your Horde Shaman"? ), but you covered almost nothing else.

Professions are great. You can make some decent money, and even have some good profession unique enhancements. But you covered nothing else.

What are the benefits of leveling Ele over Enhance, or vice versa? How about some sample specs? What stats should the individual specs gear for to make leveling easier? How about at level 80? What are the differences in playstyle between Enhance and Ele? Exactly what talents should I "naturally" assign my Shammy in the Resto tree while leveling? You claim this is a beginners guide and yet you have no useful information pertaining to actually playing a Shaman. "Examining Horde Racials and Briefly Looking at Proffessions that I like." would have been a more appropriate title.

A few excerpts that I have problems with:

"Elemental shamen can really pick any profession. Again, jewelcrafting would be nice, as would engineering."

Why? What is nice about engineering that would benefit an Elemental ShamAn?

"Cooking, Fishing and First Aid! People can let these slip away to the sideline but it is very important to keep on top of that as you go."

While I'll give you First Aid, Cooking and Fishing are hardly important. Especially in an article about SHAMAN.

"For enhancement, you can do mining/blacksmithing but a lot of blacksmithing can lead to plate which you will not be able to wear."

I actually saw this in the other article about the Hunter class too, I believe it was called "I have a Hunter, check me out.". Blacksmithing is plate. How about recommending Leatherworking? Shaman wear Mail. Leatherworkers can make Mail. Holy Crap that just might work together pretty well.

Anyways, sorry for being a jerk, but I'm tired of reading these World of Warcraft correspondent posts from people who either don't know how to write, or just really don't know the ins and outs of their class.

Why are you letting these past the editing desk Jon?

I'll have to agree with the other poster on this topic... the article really doesn't offer any information of value.  I mean, there's nothing in this article that brings anything new to the table.

As someone who has played (and continues to play) a Shaman as their main character, I really hoped to see something more from this article.

Suggestions:

Do a deeper dive on the 3 different Shaman builds:  Resto, Elemental, and Enhancement (not enchantment... for the same n00bs that spell rogue "rouge"). 

Discuss some of the key abilities in each tree/build. 

Discuss the key stat's for each build.  Maybe itemization would be good to go over? 

I might also discuss the player perspective on PvE vs PvP with each build.

I would give players an idea of what to expect at cap levels with their shaman. 

Can they top charts on DPS/healing as spec x, y, or z?  Will they perform well in arena's as spec x,y, or z?

Which classes will be toughest to deal with as build x,y, or z in PvP?  Maybe some strats for handling them?

Which Northrend factions/reputations should a player be concerned with capping first?  Which ones give the best benefits?

Which professions really benefit the Shaman most?  OR... which prof's are ideal for build x,y, or z?

There really is a lot that could've been written here.  Maybe a revision is in order?  Or was the goal to give the writer a chance at cutting their teeth on this article?  Either way... more information is required in order for this article to have any kind of hook. 

I m not sure if it s a mistake or something but in the article it says : If you specialize armorsmith though, you will definitely be rewarded with some very nice axes you can make yourself. True that i have nt played WoW in a real long time but dont armorsmith makes armor and not weapons? I could be wrong but it kind of sounded wrong , anyhow if i m wrong my bad and sorry for pointing something that is alright

in response to forsakerr;  yes armorsmiths in bc content make armor rather than weapons. As pertaining to doing any specialization in blacksmithing wrath .. it is useless.

1) no one buys stuff from bc era especially the rare items. by level 75 they are replaced.

2)It is a large waste of gold and time to become a specialist in armorsmith or weaponsmith because there are no recipes or skillups etc dealing with speicalization in wrath at this point. The most bought item is Titansteel products to get ready for heftier instances.

Where is the parts that  crop up the questions on how shaman gear is in terms of drops, what stats to look for.. what stats to bolster higher than others to try and get better dps or hps?

Where is the technique in pve encounters and or pvp? dropping down certain totems. Which ones to use above others for raiding or just oh shi- in a pinch rotation.

This article is missing alot of avenues and boulevards. Consider refining it and including Alliance racial discussio plus the suggested pieces above my post and in my post. More depth above all.

I must say the OP is stoopid, Troll Shaman are the best there is, after that are the moocows.  If you roll an Orc or one of them blue **** ups on the Alliance side you epic fail on so many levels.

Just to recap.  Troll Shaman are GODS!   Tauren Shaman are walking burgers, Orcs are pointless besides Thrall (and only cause he is part of the story line) and Draenei are just plain retarded.

Thank you that is my guide to World of Warcraft Shaman. 

I'm pretty sure when the guy says this is for new players that this info would be good for new players, how about READING before opening your traps. Also these guys never put everything in one post, which irritates me but as usual it's quite obvious he'll put more down later.

Irritating yes, but geeze you all need to stop freaking out over stupid stuff. Or just go back to playing wow and flashing your epeens at your epic knowledge.

I would say a newbie guide to your shaman is a little late? the game has been out for nearly 5 years but hey..

Originally posted by Wookiee6648

I must say the OP is stoopid, Troll Shaman are the best there is, after that are the moocows.  If you roll an Orc or one of them blue **** ups on the Alliance side you epic fail on so many levels.

Just to recap.  Troll Shaman are GODS!   Tauren Shaman are walking burgers, Orcs are pointless besides Thrall (and only cause he is part of the story line) and Draenei are just plain retarded.

 

Thank you that is my guide to World of Warcraft Shaman. 

You obviously have a bias towards the Troll race but have not given any reason as to why.  Being so quick to spit out the much cliched "epic fail" trash towards other people that you yourself have fallen into that category. You said "many levels," which means that you should list at least two.  Two!  Can you not list two reasons?

While i dont play horde (seriously, its not my fault. my friends aleady had alliance chars.) I would think an orc enhancement would be best.  Equip it with some nice axes, if u can find any, and that bloodfury might start to look a lot meaner. For melee anyway.

Originally posted by KaltesHerz

I'm pretty sure when the guy says this is for new players that this info would be good for new players, how about READING before opening your traps. Also these guys never put everything in one post, which irritates me but as usual it's quite obvious he'll put more down later.

 

Irritating yes, but geeze you all need to stop freaking out over stupid stuff. Or just go back to playing wow and flashing your epeens at your epic knowledge.

This, right here, you wont get a better post than this ITT.

I think if you are looking at playing a Shaman and looking at Horde this is useful. It is for beginners  and it is true that many that try out a Shaman already have a lvl 80 character and it is yet another alt. Still there are new people trying and joining the game that have no clue.  Do they research sites and forums before playing ? No clue some will but many won't .

I do however, have to say that after all the years this pretty much says why Horde are better for PvP than Alliance. Their racials are much better and more suited for it. My opinion.  But I noticed this person didn't  research to put up the racials for the Alliance race for Shaman. Course there isn't much to research and certainly not much to mention for any of the Alliance racials in comparison to the Horde.

I  think most of the Blizz staff involved in the working of WoW play Horde and therefore they could care less that the Alliance are not equal in racials. I play Alliance and enjoy it. I don't like PvP  because of the unfair advantage that the Horde have.

I know a bit off the topic but truth is truth. An Alliance Shaman is not as OP as the Horde. But like others have mentioned it really would be useful to give some pro's and con's on the different tree specs. In the end it falls to the play style of the person. I like enchancement for lvling where some prefere Elemental. Duel spec now gives you two specs to play around with. I do think you should try all specs and see which you like. Remember that some specs are gear dependant.