05-23-2007, 02:04 AM
Time to start up a separate post for talent discussion! Especially now that there are specific forums for each class. *grin*
Anyhow...
This is my current talent build:
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.worldofwarcraft.com/info/classes/shaman/talents.html?0000000000000000000050052021250013053115150005351000000000000">http://www.worldofwarcraft.com/info/cla ... 0000000000</a><!-- m -->
My previous talent build:
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.worldofwarcraft.com/info/classes/shaman/talents.html?0000000000000000000050252021050013053115105005351000000000000">http://www.worldofwarcraft.com/info/cla ... 0000000000</a><!-- m -->
Enhancement
First Tier
Back before BC and the new post-31 talents, I used SS in favor of AK. At the time, my smaller mana pool (which was, IIRC, around 5200-5400) didn't benefit from it as much, plus I would often switch between using a two-hander and my Hand of Edward the Odd and a shield. For an enhancement shaman, that weapon was godly - you'd be able to get instant heals, chain lightnings and shocks. Factoring that in versus the pure DPS of a two-hander, it fared quiet well, and the fast attack speed and higher armor when using a shield helped quite a bit. The extra 5% chance to block helped against getting critted, and later on the extra amount blocked helped to a small degree as well.
Post-BC/new talents, I've stuck with AK. I never use a shield anymore, so it's pointless to have it, and extra mana is extra mana, heh.
Second Tier
TS is a must, of course.
IGW I've always had simply because I'm a speed demon. I love having the ability to switch to ghost wolf in a second and be able to go faster - either to get away from enemies, or chase them down. Obviously, this has nice use for PvP as well.
Guardian Totems I only very recently switched away from, for the time being. The Stoneskin/Windwall improvement didn't hold my interest, but the cooldown on grounding did. Now, this is quite nice in PvP situations as well as PvE, and the two seconds can make a difference.
Third Tier
Enhancing Totems is useful due to the decent increase of agility and strength you end up getting, assuming you use both GoA and SoE often, which I do!
2-handed spec I still keep in the event I get a really nice two-handed. Besides, what's an orc without the ability to wield a massive battleaxe? *grin*
Anticipation I only recently decided to invest into from the two points I had in Guardian Totems. I'm currently determining whether the 2% extra dodge chance will benefit me more than the 2-second cooldown on grounding (not to mention the minor increase of protection against physical/ranged damage via SS/WW).
Fourth Tier
Flurry. More speed!
Fifth Tier
SW - obvious (Parry and reduced threat from melee damage! Wee!)
EW - Increased weapon buff effects; again, obvious
Sixth Tier
WM was an obvious choice.
Seventh Tier
SS, DW and DWS also all obvious. I've vastly enjoyed dual-wielding.
Eighth Tier
UR, another obvious choice.
Ninth Tier
Shamanistic Rage is more useful than some may think. Assuming you're dual-wielding, you'll almost always get a nice return from utilizing it. If you're an orc, even more so with Blood Fury. *flex* At any rate, sometimes you'll get lucky and have it proc with nearly ever hit, and sometimes you... don't. Regardless, it's nifty for those of us enhancement shamans with smaller mana pools.
Restoration
First Tier
I just recently switched from Tidal Focus to Imp. Healing Wave. I'm testing to see exactly how it affects me personally and to gauge which ends up benefiting me more - considering how much of a jump there is now between LHW and HW as far as healing done as well as mana efficiency, I figure that if I end up using HW more regularly instead of LHW, I'll end up saving more mana in the long run even without Tidal Focus. Besides, it's not like I constantly heal or anything - only spot!
Second Tier
I consider myself extremely adept with my totems. Considering how I'll always utilize them, Totemic Focus is the best choice for me.
Third Tier
Healing Focus is a must for survivability. Being in melee all the time yet also being able to heal yourself or others fairly well while under attack is a godsend, both in PvP and PvE. Your healers in instance groups will definitely be happy if you are able to spot-heal effectively.
Totemic Mastery is another must, especially considering the stationary nature of totems. You'll have a bit more freedom with fighting mobs/players, and being able to drop a grounding totem just in time before a mob/player gets a spell off directed at a group member that may be 21-30 yards away is quite nice, too! Hee.
Finally, Nature's Guidance, purely for the increased chance to hit. I can put all +hit effects to use when dual wielding. Heh.
Anyhow...
This is my current talent build:
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.worldofwarcraft.com/info/classes/shaman/talents.html?0000000000000000000050052021250013053115150005351000000000000">http://www.worldofwarcraft.com/info/cla ... 0000000000</a><!-- m -->
My previous talent build:
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.worldofwarcraft.com/info/classes/shaman/talents.html?0000000000000000000050252021050013053115105005351000000000000">http://www.worldofwarcraft.com/info/cla ... 0000000000</a><!-- m -->
Enhancement
First Tier
Back before BC and the new post-31 talents, I used SS in favor of AK. At the time, my smaller mana pool (which was, IIRC, around 5200-5400) didn't benefit from it as much, plus I would often switch between using a two-hander and my Hand of Edward the Odd and a shield. For an enhancement shaman, that weapon was godly - you'd be able to get instant heals, chain lightnings and shocks. Factoring that in versus the pure DPS of a two-hander, it fared quiet well, and the fast attack speed and higher armor when using a shield helped quite a bit. The extra 5% chance to block helped against getting critted, and later on the extra amount blocked helped to a small degree as well.
Post-BC/new talents, I've stuck with AK. I never use a shield anymore, so it's pointless to have it, and extra mana is extra mana, heh.
Second Tier
TS is a must, of course.
IGW I've always had simply because I'm a speed demon. I love having the ability to switch to ghost wolf in a second and be able to go faster - either to get away from enemies, or chase them down. Obviously, this has nice use for PvP as well.
Guardian Totems I only very recently switched away from, for the time being. The Stoneskin/Windwall improvement didn't hold my interest, but the cooldown on grounding did. Now, this is quite nice in PvP situations as well as PvE, and the two seconds can make a difference.
Third Tier
Enhancing Totems is useful due to the decent increase of agility and strength you end up getting, assuming you use both GoA and SoE often, which I do!
2-handed spec I still keep in the event I get a really nice two-handed. Besides, what's an orc without the ability to wield a massive battleaxe? *grin*
Anticipation I only recently decided to invest into from the two points I had in Guardian Totems. I'm currently determining whether the 2% extra dodge chance will benefit me more than the 2-second cooldown on grounding (not to mention the minor increase of protection against physical/ranged damage via SS/WW).
Fourth Tier
Flurry. More speed!
Fifth Tier
SW - obvious (Parry and reduced threat from melee damage! Wee!)
EW - Increased weapon buff effects; again, obvious
Sixth Tier
WM was an obvious choice.
Seventh Tier
SS, DW and DWS also all obvious. I've vastly enjoyed dual-wielding.
Eighth Tier
UR, another obvious choice.
Ninth Tier
Shamanistic Rage is more useful than some may think. Assuming you're dual-wielding, you'll almost always get a nice return from utilizing it. If you're an orc, even more so with Blood Fury. *flex* At any rate, sometimes you'll get lucky and have it proc with nearly ever hit, and sometimes you... don't. Regardless, it's nifty for those of us enhancement shamans with smaller mana pools.
Restoration
First Tier
I just recently switched from Tidal Focus to Imp. Healing Wave. I'm testing to see exactly how it affects me personally and to gauge which ends up benefiting me more - considering how much of a jump there is now between LHW and HW as far as healing done as well as mana efficiency, I figure that if I end up using HW more regularly instead of LHW, I'll end up saving more mana in the long run even without Tidal Focus. Besides, it's not like I constantly heal or anything - only spot!
Second Tier
I consider myself extremely adept with my totems. Considering how I'll always utilize them, Totemic Focus is the best choice for me.
Third Tier
Healing Focus is a must for survivability. Being in melee all the time yet also being able to heal yourself or others fairly well while under attack is a godsend, both in PvP and PvE. Your healers in instance groups will definitely be happy if you are able to spot-heal effectively.
Totemic Mastery is another must, especially considering the stationary nature of totems. You'll have a bit more freedom with fighting mobs/players, and being able to drop a grounding totem just in time before a mob/player gets a spell off directed at a group member that may be 21-30 yards away is quite nice, too! Hee.
Finally, Nature's Guidance, purely for the increased chance to hit. I can put all +hit effects to use when dual wielding. Heh.