Elemental Shaman DPS Easy Mode

Table of Contents

• +Introduction
  • 1. Class Overview
  • 2. Patch 7.3 Changes for Elemental Shaman
  • 3. Patch 7.2.5 Changes for Elemental Shaman
  • 4. Elemental Shaman Strengths
  • 5. Elemental Shaman Weaknesses
  • 6. Elemental Shaman Viability in the Current Patch
  • 7. Contents
  • 8. ChangeLog
• ×Easy Mode
  • 1. The Basics for Elemental Shaman
  • 2. Talent Choice for Elemental Shaman
    • 2.1. Single Target
    • 2.2. Multitarget
  • 3. Stat Priority for Elemental Shaman
  • 4. Basic Priority List for Elemental Shaman
  • 5. ChangeLog
• +Spell Summary
  • 1. Elemental Shaman Spell Summary
  • 2. Main Resource for Elemental Shaman
  • 3. Basic Abilities for Elemental Shaman
  • 4. Important Procs for Elemental Shaman
  • 5. DPS Cooldowns for Elemental Shaman
  • 6. Artifact Ability for Elemental Shaman
  • 7. ChangeLog
• +Builds and Talents
  • 1. Talent Choices
  • 2. Talent Cheat Sheets for Elemental Shaman
    • 2.1. The "Gambler"
    • 2.2. Icefury Build
    • 2.3. Lightning Rod Build
    • 2.4. Ascendance Build
    • 2.5. Mythic+
  • 3. Tier 1 (Level 15) Talents for Elemental Shaman
  • 4. Tier 2 (Level 30) Talents for Elemental Shaman
  • 5. Tier 3 (Level 45) Talents for Elemental Shaman
  • 6. Tier 4 (Level 60) Talents for Elemental Shaman
  • 7. Tier 5 (Level 75) Talents for Elemental Shaman
  • 8. Tier 6 (Level 90) Talents for Elemental Shaman
  • 9. Tier 7 (Level 100) Talents for Elemental Shaman
  • 10. ChangeLog
• +Artifact Traits and Relics
  • 1. Artifact Progression for Elemental Shaman — First 35 Points
    • 1.1. Early Point Investment
    • 1.2. Second Golden Trait
    • 1.3. Final Point Investment
    • 1.4. Patch 7.2: 35+ Trait Path for Elemental Shaman
  • 2. Relic Priority for Elemental Shaman
    • 2.1. Single Target
    • 2.2. Intermittent Cleave and AoE
  • 3. ChangeLog
• +Netherlight Crucible Relic Paths
  • 1. General Optimization Advice for Elemental Shaman
  • 2. Single Target Priority for Elemental Shaman
  • 3. Intermittent Cleave and AoE Priority for Elemental Shaman
  • 4. ChangeLog
• +Rotation, Cooldowns, and Abilities
  • 1. Rotation for Elemental Shaman
    • 1.1. Single Target Rotation — Ascendance Build
    • 1.2. Single Target Rotation — Lightning Rod Build
    • 1.3. Single Target Rotation — Icefury Build
      • 1.3.1. Icefury Optimization
    • 1.4. Multiple Target Rotation
      • 1.4.1. 2 Targets
      • 1.4.2. 3 Targets
      • 1.4.3. 4 Targets
  • 2. Cooldown Usage for Elemental Shaman
    • 2.1. Ascendance
    • 2.2. Fire Elemental
    • 2.3. Stormkeeper
  • 3. Playing with Smoldering Heart as Elemental Shaman
  • 4. Managing Movement for Elemental Shaman
  • 5. Academic Information for Elemental Shaman
    • 5.1. Maelstrom Management
    • 5.2. Lava Burst and Flame Shock
  • 6. Opening Sequence for Elemental Shaman
    • 6.1. Ascendance Opener
    • 6.2. Icefury Opener
  • 7. ChangeLog
• +Boss by Boss Strategies
  • 1. Elemental Shaman Boss Advice: Antorus, the Burning Throne
    • 1.1. Garothi Worldbreaker
    • 1.2. Felhounds of Sargeras
    • 1.3. Antoran High Command
    • 1.4. Eonar the Life-Binder
    • 1.5. Portal Keeper Hasabel
    • 1.6. Imonar the Soulhunter
    • 1.7. Kin'garoth
    • 1.8. Varimathras
    • 1.9. The Coven of Shivarra
    • 1.10. Aggramar
    • 1.11. Argus the Unmaker
  • 2. Elemental Shaman Boss Advice: Trial of Valor
    • 2.1. Odyn
    • 2.2. Guarm
    • 2.3. Helya
  • 3. Elemental Shaman Boss Advice: Emerald Nightmare
    • 3.1. Nythendra
    • 3.2. Ursoc
    • 3.3. Elerethe Renferal
    • 3.4. Dragons of Nightmare
    • 3.5. Il'gynoth, Heart of Corruption
    • 3.6. Cenarius
    • 3.7. Xavius
  • 4. ChangeLog
• +Stat Priority
  • 1. Stat Priority for Elemental Shaman
    • 1.1. Gambler Build
    • 1.2. Ascendance Build
    • 1.3. Lightning Rod
    • 1.4. Icefury Build
  • 2. Statistics Explanations for Elemental Shaman
  • 3. ChangeLog
• +Gems, Enchants, and Consumables
  • 1. Gems for Elemental Shaman
  • 2. Enchants for Elemental Shaman
  • 3. Consumables for Elemental Shaman
  • 4. ChangeLog
• +Macros and Addons
  • 1. Addons for Elemental Shaman
    • 1.1. ElvUI
    • 1.2. Weak Auras
    • 1.3. Boss Mods
      • 1.3.1. BigWigs Bossmods
      • 1.3.2. Deadly Boss Mods
    • 1.4. Name Plates
      • 1.4.1. KUI Nameplates
      • 1.4.2. TidyPlates
    • 1.5. Damage Meters
      • 1.5.1. Skada
      • 1.5.2. Details
    • 1.6. Extra AddOns
      • 1.6.1. Mik's Scrolling Battle Text
      • 1.6.2. Death Note
      • 1.6.3. Doom CooldownPulse
      • 1.6.4. Angry Assignments
  • 2. Macros for Elemental Shaman
    • 2.1. Wind Shear
    • 2.2. Purge
      • 2.2.1. Mouseouver Earthquake
      • 2.2.2. Stopcast Gust of Wind
  • 3. ChangeLog
• +Gear, Legendaries, and Best in Slot
  • 1. Tier Set Bonuses for Elemental Shaman
    • 1.1. Tier 21 Set Bonus for Elemental Shaman
    • 1.2. Tier 20 Set Bonus for Elemental Shaman
    • 1.3. Tier 19 Set Bonus for Elemental Shaman
  • 2. Trinket Notes for Elemental Shaman
  • 3. Legendary Items for Elemental Shaman
  • 4. Best legendary combos for Elemental Shaman
    • 4.1. Single-target combos
    • 4.2. AoE combo
    • 4.3. Survavibility combo
  • 5. Loot Competition for Elemental Shaman
  • 6. ChangeLog

This section is intended for players who are new to the game or class, have no intentions of raiding Mythic difficulty, or simply want a more straightforward way to play their specialization without being overwhelmed by the numerous priorities and active abilities that need to be taken into consideration for optimal play.

1. The Basics for Elemental Shaman

Elemental is a straightforward specialization that can easily adapt to most situations comfortably. The amount of keybinds required to effectively play this specialization is relatively low, making it a great choice for less seasoned players. In this section we will be focusing on a setup that minimizes the amount of buttons and reactivity necessary without unduly compromising overall damage output.

2. Talent Choice for Elemental Shaman

These choices are optimized for ease of use. Although some talents might offer marginally higher gains when played perfectly, these same talents often result in damage losses when utilized by many players. These talents aim to present the best setup that has very little punishment for unfamiliarity or mistakes.

2.1. Single Target

• Level 15: Totem Mastery
• Level 30: Gust of Wind
• Level 45: Lightning Surge Totem
• Level 60: Ancestral Swiftness
• Level 75: Elemental Blast
• Level 90: Echo of the Elements
• Level 100: Ascendance

Take Aftershock instead of Ancestral Swiftness if you have obtained the Tier 21 4-piece bonus.

2.2. Multitarget

• Level 15: Totem Mastery
• Level 30: Gust of Wind
• Level 45: Lightning Surge Totem
• Level 60: Ancestral Swiftness
• Level 75: Elemental Blast
• Level 90: Liquid Magma Totem
• Level 100: Lightning Rod

3. Stat Priority for Elemental Shaman

Currently, you will want to prioritize secondary stats as follows:

1. Intellect;
2. Critical Strike;
3. Mastery = Haste;
4. Versatility.

4. Basic Priority List for Elemental Shaman

1. Keep Flame Shock applied to up to the main target, ideally spending 20 Maelstrom for the increased duration.
2. Keep your Totem Mastery buff active at all times.
3. Use Fire Elemental whenever available.
4. Cast Elemental Blast whenever available.
5. Spend Maelstrom on Earth Shock if Maelstrom is 117 or greater and there are 1-2 targets present.
6. Spend Earthquake if there are 3+ targets in the zone.
7. Use Ascendance on cooldown (if talented) and spam Lava Burst.
8. Use Liquid Magma Totem on cooldown (if talented). Delay the usage if 2+ targets will be present in the near future.
9. Stormkeeper whenever available.
10. Cast Lava Burst whenever available and Flame Shock is applied to the target.
11. Cast Lightning Bolt as a filler to generate Maelstrom on a single target.
12. Cast Chain Lightning to generate Maelstrom if there are 2+ stacked targets.

About Our Author and Reviewers

This guide has been written by Furty, who has an illustrious history in the World of Warcraft raiding scene and race for World First. He has been a member of guilds such as Serenity, Midwinter, and many more, and is currently raiding in Future. He plays most classes at the highest level. You can follow him on Twitter and watch him play on Twitch.

This guide has been written in collaboration with the team at Storm Earth and Lava, a group of Elemental theorycrafters that includes top players and prominent theorycrafters such as Stormy, Sadozai from Wizards IRL, and Gistwiki from Indestructible.

5. ChangeLog

• 18 Feb. 2018: Updated Talents, Stats, and Priority List.
• 24 Jun. 2017: Updated stat priority.
• 09 Jan. 2016: Updated easy mode talent build.
• 09 Dec. 2016: Added easy mode for Elemental Shaman.

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