WoW Forever Shaman Talents and Changes: Totems, Lava Burst and Tanking

WoW Forever keeps the Shaman’s three specs, Elemental, Enhancement and Restoration, but makes totems far less of a chore and hands each spec new spells. Totems now last 5 minutes, you can drop four at once with a single cast and move them with the fight, and Shamans pick up Lava BurstLava BurstTalent ability · Elemental · 1 rankYou hurl molten lava at the target, dealing 120 Fire damage. If your Flame Shock is on the target, Lava Burst deals 20% increased damage., Lightning OverloadLightning OverloadTalent · Elemental · 3 ranksGives 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., Maelstrom WeaponMaelstrom WeaponTalent · Enhancement · 5 ranksWhen 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. and RiptideRiptideTalent ability · Restoration · 1 rankHeals a friendly target for 509, an additional 445 over 15 sec, and increases the effectiveness of your Chain Heal casts directly on that target by 25%..

Below is every Shaman change from Blizzard’s official class preview, the talents that matter in each tree, whether a Shaman can tank, and the best races for the class.

Totem changes in WoW Forever

Totems are the biggest change for every Shaman. Three new spells, Call of the ElementsCall of the ElementsAbilitySimultaneously places up to 4 totems specified in the Totem Bar., Call of the AncestorsCall of the AncestorsAbilitySimultaneously places up to 4 totems specified in the Totem Bar. Can call different totems than Call of the Elements. and Call of the SpiritsCall of the SpiritsAbilitySimultaneously places up to 4 totems specified in the Totem Bar. Can call different totems than Call of the Elements or Call of the Ancestors., each summon a set of four totems with a single cast, and the totem bar lets you choose which four totems belong to each call. That means you can keep one setup for dungeons, one for questing and one for PvP, and swap between them instantly.

Totemic ProjectionTotemic ProjectionAbilityTotemic Projection25% of base mana · 30 yd range · Instant · 1 min cooldownRelocates your active totems to the specified location. moves your active totems to a new spot, so you don’t have to recast them when the fight moves, and totems now last 5 minutes instead of 2. Restoration’s Totemic FocusTotemic FocusTalent · Restoration · 5 ranksReduces the Mana cost of your totems and any spells that summon or move them by 25%. talent cuts the mana cost of your totems and of the spells that summon or move them by 25%.

Elemental Shaman changes

Fire NovaFire NovaAbilityLevel 60 · 520 Mana · 30 yd range · Instant · 10 sec cooldownInstantly inflicts 413 to 459 fire damage to enemies within 10 yd of your active Fire totem. is now a spell instead of a totem, and it deals fire damage to enemies near your current fire totem, so where you drop the totem matters. Elemental Shamans also get Lava BurstLava BurstTalent ability · Elemental · 1 rankYou hurl molten lava at the target, dealing 120 Fire damage. If your Flame Shock is on the target, Lava Burst deals 20% increased damage. as the tree’s capstone, and it deals 20% more damage if Flame ShockFlame ShockAbilityLevel 60 · 410 Mana · 20 yd range · Instant · 6 sec cooldownInstantly sears the target with fire, causing 181 Fire damage immediately and 176 Fire damage over 12 sec. is already on the target, which gives the spec a proper Flame ShockFlame ShockAbilityLevel 60 · 410 Mana · 20 yd range · Instant · 6 sec cooldownInstantly sears the target with fire, causing 181 Fire damage immediately and 176 Fire damage over 12 sec. into Lava BurstLava BurstTalent ability · Elemental · 1 rankYou hurl molten lava at the target, dealing 120 Fire damage. If your Flame Shock is on the target, Lava Burst deals 20% increased damage. rotation.

Lightning OverloadLightning OverloadTalent · Elemental · 3 ranksGives 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. gives Lightning BoltLightning BoltAbilityLevel 60 · 220 Mana · 30 yd rangeCasts a bolt of lightning at the target for 191 to 213 Nature damage. and Chain LightningChain LightningAbilityLevel 60 · 485 Mana · 30 yd range · 2 sec cast · 6 sec cooldownHurls a lightning bolt at the enemy, dealing 120 to 134 Nature damage and then jumping to additional nearby enemies.  Each jump reduces the damage by 30%.  Affects 3 total targets. a 10% chance to cast a second copy at no cost that deals half damage and no threat. Elemental AlacrityElemental AlacrityTalent · Elemental · 3 ranksReduces the cast time of your Lightning Bolt, Chain Lightning, and Lava Burst spells by 0.50 sec. takes 0.5 sec off the cast time of Lightning BoltLightning BoltAbilityLevel 60 · 220 Mana · 30 yd rangeCasts a bolt of lightning at the target for 191 to 213 Nature damage., Chain LightningChain LightningAbilityLevel 60 · 485 Mana · 30 yd range · 2 sec cast · 6 sec cooldownHurls a lightning bolt at the enemy, dealing 120 to 134 Nature damage and then jumping to additional nearby enemies.  Each jump reduces the damage by 30%.  Affects 3 total targets. and Lava BurstLava BurstTalent ability · Elemental · 1 rankYou hurl molten lava at the target, dealing 120 Fire damage. If your Flame Shock is on the target, Lava Burst deals 20% increased damage., and Improved Fire NovaImproved Fire NovaTalent · Elemental · 2 ranksIncreases the damage done by your Fire Nova spell by 20% and reduces its cooldown by 4 sec. adds 20% damage and cuts its cooldown by 4 sec.

Enhancement Shaman changes

Enhancement didn’t feature in the preview video, but its Forever talent tree has plenty that’s new. Maelstrom WeaponMaelstrom WeaponTalent · Enhancement · 5 ranksWhen 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. gives your melee hits a chance to make your next Lightning BoltLightning BoltAbilityLevel 60 · 220 Mana · 30 yd rangeCasts a bolt of lightning at the target for 191 to 213 Nature damage. 20% faster and cheaper, stacking up to 5 times, and the capstone Rage of the FarseerRage of the FarseerTalent ability · Enhancement · 1 rankIncreases your melee attack speed and spell casting speed by 30% for 25 sec. increases your melee and casting speed by 30% for 25 sec.

Can Shamans tank in WoW Forever?

Enhancement has the tools to tank in Forever. Spirit WeaponsSpirit WeaponsTalent · Enhancement · 1 rankGives 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. gives you a chance to parry and increases all threat you generate by 30% while Rockbiter WeaponRockbiter WeaponAbilityLevel 60Imbue the Shaman's weapon, increasing melee attack power by 50 and allowing melee attacks to cause additional threat when using that weapon.  Lasts for 60 minutes. is active, and Improved StormstrikeImproved StormstrikeTalent · Enhancement · 2 ranksWhen you Stormstrike, you have a 100% chance to gain 100% mana regeneration while casting spells for 15 sec, and Stormstrike's cooldown has a 100% chance to reset each time you Dodge or Parry. resets StormstrikeStormstrikeTalent ability · Enhancement · 1 rankInstantly strike for normal weapon damage and increase the damage you deal to the target with your next Lightning Bolt, Chain Lightning, or Earth Shock spell by 20% for 12 sec.‘s cooldown every time you Dodge or Parry. Add AnticipationAnticipationTalent · Enhancement · 3 ranksIncreases your chance to dodge by an additional 6%.‘s extra dodge and ToughnessToughnessTalent · Enhancement · 5 ranksIncreases your Stamina by 10%.‘s 10% Stamina, and a Shaman tank with a shield and RockbiterRockbiter WeaponAbilityLevel 60Imbue the Shaman's weapon, increasing melee attack power by 50 and allowing melee attacks to cause additional threat when using that weapon.  Lasts for 60 minutes. has a real threat and mitigation kit for dungeons.

Restoration Shaman changes

Restoration keeps its Chain HealChain HealAbilityLevel 60 · 260 Mana · 40 yd rangeHeals the friendly target for 246 to 281, 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. and totem identity, and it gains RiptideRiptideTalent ability · Restoration · 1 rankHeals a friendly target for 509, an additional 445 over 15 sec, and increases the effectiveness of your Chain Heal casts directly on that target by 25%., an instant heal that keeps healing over time. Casting Chain HealChain HealAbilityLevel 60 · 260 Mana · 40 yd rangeHeals the friendly target for 246 to 281, 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. directly on a target with RiptideRiptideTalent ability · Restoration · 1 rankHeals a friendly target for 509, an additional 445 over 15 sec, and increases the effectiveness of your Chain Heal casts directly on that target by 25%. makes that Chain HealChain HealAbilityLevel 60 · 260 Mana · 40 yd rangeHeals the friendly target for 246 to 281, 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. 25% more effective, which gives Resto a simple and strong combo.

Water ShieldWater ShieldTalent ability · Restoration · 1 rankThe 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 healing 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. restores 2% of your maximum mana when you’re hit or land a critical heal, and Restorative TotemsRestorative TotemsTalent · Restoration · 5 ranksIncreases the effect of your Mana Spring Totem by 25% and increases the effect of your Healing Stream Totem by 50%. boosts Mana Spring TotemMana Spring TotemAbilitySummons a Mana Spring Totem with 5 health at the feet of the caster for 5 min that restores 10 mana every 2 seconds to group members within 30 yards. by 25% and Healing Stream TotemHealing Stream TotemAbilitySummons 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. by 50%. Mana Tide TotemMana Tide TotemTalent ability · Restoration · 1 rankSummons a Mana Tide Totem with 5 health at the feet of the caster for 12 sec that restores 88 mana every 3 seconds to group members within 30 yards. is still there for the long fights.

Best race for a Shaman in WoW Forever: Tauren

Tauren is our best in slot race for a Shaman. EnduranceEndurancePassive racial · TaurenTotal Health increased by 5% and chance to hit increased by 1%. adds 5% to your total Health and 1% to your chance to hit, which helps every spec, and War StompWar StompActive racial · Tauren0.5 sec cast · 2 min cooldownStuns up to 5 enemies within 8 yds for 2 sec. stuns up to 5 enemies for 2 sec, so you can interrupt a caster or buy time to heal. Both racials are exactly what an Enhancement Shaman who wants to tank needs.

Plainsrunning also builds up to 30% movement speed while you keep moving, which speeds up questing. On the Alliance, Dwarf is the only Shaman option, and it’s a good one thanks to StoneformStoneformActive racial · DwarfInstant · 3 min cooldownInstantly removes and grants immunity to all Bleed, Poison, and Disease effects, and reduces all Physical damage taken by 10% for 8 sec.. Our races and classes tool has our verdict on every Shaman race, and the racials guide covers each racial in full, while our WoW Forever class tier list ranks all 9 classes.

More WoW Forever class guides: Warrior, Paladin, Hunter, Rogue, Priest, Mage, Warlock and Druid. For a short summary of every class, see all WoW Forever class changes.

WoW Forever Shaman FAQ