Elemental Shaman DPS Guide — Battle for Azeroth (BfA) 8.1
Welcome to our Elemental Shaman guide for World of Warcraft — Battle for Azeroth (BfA) 8.1. Here, you will learn how to play as an Elemental Shaman in both raids and Mythic+ dungeons: from the very beginning to maximizing your DPS.
1. Elemental Shaman Overview
Elemental Shaman is a damage dealing spellcaster with a rich and flexible toolkit. Elemental Shamans can approach a multitude of environments without feeling compromised. Through certain talents, Elemental can also provide very significant burst damage, allowing them to surge ahead during short damage checks or dungeon bosses. Overall, this specialization has a tool or talent for every scenario, although its sustained single target damage might be lacking.
2. Patch 8.1 Changes for Elemental Shaman
Capacitor Totem and
Earthbind Totem now have a range of 40 yards, up from 35.
Earth Shock received a new animation and its Spell power coefficient was lowered from 250% to 210%.
Flame Shock's duration was increased from 18 to 24 seconds. The damage per tick remains the same.
Lava Burst's condition to be a guaranteed critical strike has changed.
Flame Shock now only needs to be present on the target when the spell actually lands.
Lightning Bolt's Spell power coefficient has been increased from 58 to 70.4%.
- The Exposed Elements and High Voltage talents are gone.
Earthen Rage replaces Exposed Elements on the level 15 row.
Master of the Elements replaces High Voltage on thee level 60 row.
- The new talent
Surge of Power replaces Earthen Rage on the level 90 row.
- The new talent
Call the Thunder replaces
Master of the Elements on the level 30 row.
Master of the Elements now also affects
Earthquake.
- When
Elemental Blast overloads, it now always grants a second, different buff.
Wind Rush Totem received a new animation.
Icefury now generates 25 Maelstrom, up from 15, and makes your four next
Frost Shocks hit for 200% more, up from 100% more. These Frost Shocks now generate 8 Maelstrom.
Lightning Bolts empowered by
Stormkeeper now also deal 150% more damage.
Ancient Ankh Talisman is a new Azerite trait.
Tectonic Thunder is a new Azerite trait that replaces Rumbling Tremors.
Ancestral Resonance now gives your spells and abilities a chance to increase your Mastery for 20 seconds, and also increases the duration of
Bloodlust/
Heroism/
Time Warp on you to 60 seconds.
3. Patch 8.0.1 Changes for Elemental Shaman
- Elemental Focus has been removed.
- Maelstrom generation has been lowered across the board.
- The Maelstrom costs of most abilities have been changed significantly.
- Some abilities that were not on the global cooldown now are.
Flame Shock now lasts 18 seconds and does not use Maelstrom to increase its duration, and it also has a 6-second cooldown.
Earth Shock now has a static cost of 60 Maelstrom.
Lava Burst now only generates 10 Maelstrom, down from 12.
Lava Surge now has a 15% chance to proc, up from 10%.
Chain Lightning now only generates 4 Maelstrom per target hit, down from 6.
Earthquake now costs 60 Maelstrom, up from 50.
Fire Elemental now lasts 30 seconds, down from 1 minute. While Fire Elemental is active, each tick of
Flame Shock generates 3 Maelstrom.
Fire Elemental and
Earth Elemental both have a new baseline ability. Their
Primal Elementalist forms also have one.
Frost Shock no longer uses Maelstrom. The damage this ability does has been significantly increased: it now does around 90% of a
Lightning Bolt's damage, but it does not generate Maelstrom and has fewer synergies.
Tremor Totem is back! This ability summons a totem that removes Fear, Charm and Sleep effects from party and raid members within 30 yards. It might see some use in Uldir.
Capacitor Totem is now a baseline ability which is the same as the Legion talent Lightning Surge Totem except it only has a 3-second duration, down from 5, and a 1-minute cooldown, up from 45 seconds.
Many talents have been removed or moved around the tree. Some talents have been changed and some new talents have been added to the game. Path of Flame, Gust of Wind, Voodoo Totem, Ancestral Swiftness, Lightning Rod, and Elemental Fusion have all been removed from the game.
4. Elemental Shaman Strengths
- Current best single-target talent build is very fun and mobile.
- Some talent builds are very straightforward to play.
- Potential for very good burst damage for Single Target and Cleave/AoE.
- Excellent Utility outside of Raids.
- Talent choices allow for excellent flexibility and varied playstyles.
5. Elemental Shaman Weaknesses
- No burst mobility.
- Most survivability tools are talent-related and can be awkward to use properly.
- Tends to be outclassed by other specializations outside of specific situations.
6. Elemental Shaman Viability in the Current Patch
8.1 was a net buff for Elemental Shamans, for numbers, flexibility and fun. This
version of Elemental Shaman is notably more viable for Raid content than the release
version, in part because of the renewed viability of Icefury.
8.1.5 enabled a new, more dynamic single-target build, that is also very strong.
7. Changelog
- 31 Jan. 2019 (talents page): Updated talent recommendations.
- 31 Jan. 2019 (rotation page): Updated generic raid opener.
- 31 Jan. 2019 (FAQ page): Updated multiple sections.
- Updated Recommended talents.
- Updated Haste levels.
- Updated Best race choices.
- Updated State of Elemental in current patch.
- 31 Jan. 2019 (enchants page): Updated recommended food/gems.
- 31 Jan. 2019 (stats page): Updated stat priority.
- 31 Jan. 2019 (simulations page): Updated paragraph about best races.
- 31 Jan. 2019 (Uldir page): Updated talent recommendations.
- 31 Jan. 2019 (azerite traits and gear page): Updated recommended Azerite Traits.
- 31 Jan. 2019 (this page): Updated comments on viability and strengths.
- 31 Jan. 2019 (mythic+ page): Updated recommended talents and traits.
- 31 Jan. 2019 (gear page): Updated recommended Azerite Armor section.
- 31 Jan. 2019 (Battle of Dazar'alor page): Updated talent recommendations, added a couple more tips.
- 29 Jan. 2019 (gear page): Added warning section to the BiS list because of the tuning patch.
- 29 Jan. 2019 (azerite traits and gear page): Updated recommended Azerite Traits, added warning about Echo of the Elementals and Igneous Potential.
- 22 Jan. 2019 (stats page): Updated stat priority.
- 21 Jan. 2019 (azerite traits and gear page): Updated recommended Azerite Traits, added the 4 new Azerite Traits.
- 21 Jan. 2019 (simulations page): Updated best race for Horde.
- 21 Jan. 2019 (FAQ page): Updated recommended talents.
- 21 Jan. 2019 (gear page): Updated recommended Azerite Armor & Trinket sections. Removed obsolete BiS list, added a link to Raidbots' Droptimizer.
- 21 Jan. 2019 (Battle of Dazar'alor page): Added Battle of Dazar'alor advice for Elemental Shaman.
- 21 Jan. 2019 (mythic+ page): Updated recommended talents, added information about the seasonal affix Reaping.
- 21 Jan. 2019 (enchants page): Updated recommended food/gems.
- 21 Jan. 2019 (talents page): Updated some talent information/recommendations.
- 03 Jan. 2019 (azerite traits and gear page): Fixed a couple comments about talent balance.
- 03 Jan. 2019 (simulations page): Updated best race for each faction.
- 18 Dec. 2018 (talents page): Fixed comments on Master of the Elements.
- 18 Dec. 2018 (FAQ page): Added information about Haste, Races and viability in current patch.
- 18 Dec. 2018 (rotation page): Updated Master of the Elements priority. Added note about Meteor usage.
- 18 Dec. 2018 (simulations page): Added a link to Bloodmallet's simulations by race.
- 18 Dec. 2018 (azerite traits and gear page): Updated Ancestral Resonance description, some comments on trait power, updated links to Bloodmallet.
- 10 Dec. 2018 (mythic+ page): Updated talent recommendations for 8.1.
- 10 Dec. 2018 (easy mode page): Updated talent recommendations, stat priority & priority lists for 8.1.
- 10 Dec. 2018 (spells page): Updated description of Frost Shock for 8.1.
- 10 Dec. 2018 (how to improve page): This page has been reviewed for Patch 8.1 and no changes are necessary.
- 10 Dec. 2018 (simulations page): This page has been reviewed for Patch 8.1 and no changes are necessary.
- 10 Dec. 2018 (talents page): Added new 8.1 talents and updated other changed talents. Updated comments on talent strengths and recommendations.
- 10 Dec. 2018 (gear page): This page has been reviewed for Patch 8.1 and no changes are necessary.
- 10 Dec. 2018 (addons page): This page has been reviewed for Patch 8.1 and no changes are necessary.
- 10 Dec. 2018 (azerite traits and gear page): Tectonic Thunder replaces Rumbling Tremors.
- 10 Dec. 2018 (enchants page): Updated for Patch 8.1.
- 10 Dec. 2018 (rotation page): Updated priority lists for 8.1. Added paragraphs on advanced uses of Master of the Elements and Surge of Power.
- 10 Dec. 2018 (stats page): Updated stat priority for 8.1.
- 10 Dec. 2018 (this page): Added Patch 8.1 changes and updated comments on viability and strengths.
- 10 Dec. 2018 (Uldir page): Updated talent recommendations for 8.1 changes.
- 10 Dec. 2018 (FAQ page): Updated talent recommendations for 8.1.
- 27 Sep. 2018 (azerite traits and gear page): Reorganized and updated.
- 10 Sep. 2018 (gear page): Updated trinket section, removed pre-raid "BiS" list.
- 02 Sep. 2018 (rotation page): Updated generic opener.
- 31 Aug. 2018 (Uldir page): Added Uldir guide.
- 31 Aug. 2018 (mythic+ page): Updated recommended neutral traits.
- 31 Aug. 2018 (gear page): Updated trinket section (hotfix reverted).
- 29 Aug. 2018 (gear page): Updated trinket section.
- 20 Aug. 2018 (gear page): Updated trinket section.
- 17 Aug. 2018 (stats page): Added sentence to explain ratios more clearly.
- 13 Aug. 2018 (gear page): Updated for Battle for Azeroth launch.
- 13 Aug. 2018 (rotation page): Updated for Battle for Azeroth launch.
- 13 Aug. 2018 (simulations page): Added page.
- 13 Aug. 2018 (talents page): Updated for Battle for Azeroth launch.
- 13 Aug. 2018 (talents page): Fixed checkmarks on talent tree.
- 13 Aug. 2018 (stats page): Updated for Battle for Azeroth launch.
- 13 Aug. 2018 (enchants page): Updated for Battle for Azeroth launch.
- 13 Aug. 2018 (azerite traits and gear page): Updated for Battle for Azeroth launch.
- 13 Aug. 2018 (how to improve page): Updated for Battle for Azeroth launch.
- 13 Aug. 2018 (addons page): Updated for Battle for Azeroth launch.
- 11 Aug. 2018 (mythic+ page): Page added.
- 11 Aug. 2018 (FAQ page): Page added.
- 11 Aug. 2018 (azerite traits and gear page): Page added.
- 11 Aug. 2018 (Uldir page): Added placeholder page for now.
- 28 Jul. 2018 (enchants page): Reverted recommended flask (nerfed).
- 28 Jul. 2018 (addons page): Added Elemental Prepull Macro.
- 28 Jul. 2018 (easy mode page): Fixed Fire/Earth Elementals' priority in Openers.
- 28 Jul. 2018 (rotation page): Added explanation for legendary boots/shoulders usage on 4-6 targets.
- 20 Jul. 2018 (enchants page): Reverted recommended gems (nerfed).
- 19 Jul. 2018 (enchants page): Updated optimal flask and gem use.
- 19 Jul. 2018 (gear page): Trinket section now links to Bloodmallet's site instead of having a partial list.
- 19 Jul. 2018 (addons page): Added Earth Elemental Harden Skin macro. Added Primal Elementals AoE macro.
- 16 Jul. 2018 (how to improve page): Updated for the Battle for Azeroth pre-patch.
More Shaman Guides
Guides from Other Classes
Raid Guides
This guide has been written by Stormy, Elemental main since Wrath of the Lich King and member of the Storm, Earth and Lava elemental theorycrafting team.

- Question on simming...
- Elemental spell priority
- Ele Shaman in M+
- Ele Shaman Talents don't match game
- Elemental - mastery


- Kul Tiran & Zandalari Troll Dance Animations
- Limit's GM on Progress Streaming
- How to Get Feathers in Patch 8.1.5
- Wintergrasp 8.1.5 PTR Testing: February 19th
- Rextroy's 40 Vs 40 Events
- Patch 8.1 Hotfixes: February 14th
- Patch 8.1.5: Kul Tiran Human Intro Cutscene
- Patch 8.1.5: Zandalari Troll Intro Cutscene
