Elemental Shaman DPS Guide in Battle for Azeroth (BfA) 8.0.1

Table of Contents

• ×Introduction
  • 1. Class Overview
  • 2. Patch 8.0.1 Changes for Elemental Shaman
  • 3. Elemental Shaman Strengths
  • 4. Elemental Shaman Weaknesses
  • 5. Elemental Shaman Viability in the Current Patch
  • 6. Contents
  • 7. Changelog
• +Easy Mode
  • 1. Foreword
  • 2. The Basics for Elemental Shaman
  • 3. Talent Choice for Elemental Shaman
  • 4. Stat Priority for Elemental Shaman
  • 5. Single Target Priority List for Elemental Shaman
  • 6. Multi-Target Priority List for Elemental Shaman
  • 7. Azerite Traits
  • 8. 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. Defensive Abilities for Elemental Shaman
  • 7. Crowd Control Abilities for Elemental Shaman
  • 8. Additional Utility abilities for Elemental Shaman
• +Builds and Talents
  • 1. Talent Choices for Elemental Shaman
  • 2. Talent Cheat Sheets for Elemental Shaman
    • 2.1. Single Target
    • 2.2. AoE/Cleave
  • 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. PvP Talents (War Mode)
    • 10.1. Elemental Shaman War Mode Talents
      • 10.1.1. General PvP Talents
      • 10.1.2. Elemental Shaman PvP Talents
  • 11. Changelog
• +Azerite Traits and Armor
  • 1. Choosing Azerite Gear as an Elemental Shaman
  • 2. Choosing Azerite Traits as an Elemental Shaman
    • 2.1. Outer Ring
    • 2.2. Middle Ring
    • 2.3. Inner Ring
  • 3. Azerite Traits Rotation Changes and Details for Elemental Shaman
  • 4. Full list of Outer Ring Traits for Elemental Shaman
    • 4.1. Spec-Specific Outer Ring Traits
  • 5. Full List of Middle Ring Traits for Elemental Shaman
  • 6. Full List of Inner Ring Traits for Elemental Shaman
  • 7. Find Azerite Armor By Trait/Power
  • 8. Changelog
• +Rotation, Cooldowns, and Abilities
  • 1. Single-Target Rotation for Elemental Shaman
  • 2. Multiple Target Rotation for Elemental Shaman
    • 2.1. 2-3 Targets
    • 2.2. 4+ Targets
  • 3. Cooldown Usage for Elemental Shaman
    • 3.1. Ascendance
    • 3.2. Fire Elemental
    • 3.3. Stormkeeper
  • 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. Generic Opener with Primal Elementalist
  • 7. Changelog
• +Mythic+ Tips
  • 1. Elemental Shaman in Mythic+
    • 1.1. Elemental Shaman Mythic+ Rotation
    • 1.2. Elemental Shaman Utility
  • 2. Mythic+ Talents for Elemental Shaman
  • 3. Mythic+ Affixes
    • 3.1. Tier One Affixes
    • 3.2. Tier Two Affixes
    • 3.3. Tier Three Affixes
    • 3.4. Seasonal Affix
  • 4. Mythic+ Azerite Traits
  • 5. Changelog
• +Common and Worst Mistakes
  • 1. Having High Downtime
  • 2. Not Using All Your Abilities
  • 3. Overcapping Maelstrom
  • 4. Not Knowing How To Sim Yourself
  • 5. Analyzing Your Mistakes as an Elemental Shaman
• +Frequently Asked Questions
  • 1. Battle for Azeroth Frequently Asked Questions
    • 1.1. What Piece is Better, X or Y?
    • 1.2. How Much of X Stat Should I Have?
    • 1.3. What Talents Do I Use in Dungeons?
    • 1.4. What Talents Do I Use in Raids?
    • 1.5. What Trinkets Am I Looking to Get for Raiding?
    • 1.6. Is Elemental Viable?
    • 1.7. What is this I hear about 8.1?
    • 1.8. What Flasks/Pots/Food/Enchants/Gems should I use?
    • 1.9. How many targets should I cast Flame Shock on?
    • 1.10. Do Multiple Earthquakes stack?
    • 1.11. How many targets make Earthquake worth using over Earth Shock?
  • 2. Changelog
• +Boss by Boss Strategies
  • 1. Talent Cheatsheet for Elemental Shaman in Uldir
  • 2. Taloc
  • 3. M.O.T.H.E.R.
  • 4. Fetid Devourer
  • 5. Zek'voz, Herald of N'Zoth
  • 6. Vectis
  • 7. Zul, Reborn
  • 8. Mythrax the Unraveler
  • 9. G'huun
  • 10. Changelog
• +Stat Priority
  • 1. The Basics of Stats for Elemental Shaman
    • 1.1. Generic Stat Priority
  • 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
    • 2.3. Wind Rush Totem
    • 2.4. Mouseouver Earthquake
    • 2.5. Harden Skin on the same key as Earth Elemental
    • 2.6. Primal Elementals AoE macro
    • 2.7. Elemental Prepull Macro
  • 3. Changelog
• +Gear and Best in Slot
  • 1. The Importance of "Simming Yourself"
  • 2. Evaluating Upgrades
  • 3. Azerite Gear for Elemental Shaman
    • 3.1. Helms
    • 3.2. Shoulders
    • 3.3. Body Armors
  • 4. Trinkets for Elemental Shaman
  • 5. Pre-Raid Best in Slot Items for Elemental Shaman
  • 6. Changelog
• +Simulations
  • 1. Disclaimer
  • 2. A note on Racial Bonuses
  • 3. Changelog

General Information

Welcome to our Elemental Shaman DPS guide for World of Warcraft Battle for Azeroth (BfA) 8.0.1. Here, you will learn everything you need to know about playing an Elemental Shaman in a raid environment and in Mythic+ dungeons.

About Our Author

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.

1. Class 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 8.0.1 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.

3. Elemental Shaman Strengths

• Fairly straightforward playstyle
• Potential for very good burst damage for Single Target and Cleave/AoE
• Excellent Utility
• Talent choices allow for excellent flexibility and varied playstyles

4. 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

5. Elemental Shaman Viability in the Current Patch

Elemental's toolkit greatly suffered from the BfA changes. Losing Gust of Wind and Stormkeeper not being baseline anymore, as well as being much weaker hurt the spec significantly. In return, it received better utility and survivability tools. The trade-off is still a net negative, but most specs also suffered from the transition. To summarize, Elemental is looking about middle of the pack for most situations, although it can have either excellent Single Target or AoE burst (not both). The spec remains very flexible. Tuning is constantly in flux, so it is hard to judge definitely what Elemental's place will be in Mythic Raiding and High Mythic+.

6. Contents

To make it easy to navigate the guide, we have split it into 14 pages:

• Easy Mode: Simple breakdown and build for those just getting started;
• Spell Summary: see a summary of all your useful spells;
• Builds and Talents: learn how to choose your talents;
• Azerite Traits and Armor: discover your best azerite traits and the gear that sports them;
• Rotation, Cooldowns, and Abilities: master your rotation and your cooldowns;
• Mythic+ Tips: learn how to adapt your playstyle for Mythic+;
• Common and Worst Mistakes: avoid making common mistakes;
• Frequently Asked Questions: find the answers to the most common questions for your spec;
• Boss by Boss Strategies: find out how to defeat current content bosses;
• Stat Priority: read up on the respective values of your statistics;
• Gems, Enchants, and Consumables: choose the best gems, enchantments, etc.;
• Macros and Addons: step up your game with useful macros and addons;
• Gear and Best in Slot: find the best gear you can wear;
• Simulations: if you are interested in simulations results from SimulationCraft.

7. Changelog

• 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 (bosses page): Added Uldir guide.
• 31 Aug. 2018 (gear page): Updated trinket section (hotfix reverted).
• 31 Aug. 2018 (mythic+ page): Updated recommended neutral traits.
• 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 (simulations page): Added page.
• 13 Aug. 2018 (gear page): Updated for Battle for Azeroth launch.
• 13 Aug. 2018 (addons page): Updated for Battle for Azeroth launch.
• 13 Aug. 2018 (enchants page): Updated for Battle for Azeroth launch.
• 13 Aug. 2018 (stats page): Updated for Battle for Azeroth launch.
• 13 Aug. 2018 (rotation page): Updated for Battle for Azeroth launch.
• 13 Aug. 2018 (azerite traits and gear page): Updated for Battle for Azeroth launch.
• 13 Aug. 2018 (talents page): Updated for Battle for Azeroth launch.
• 13 Aug. 2018 (talents page): Fixed checkmarks on talent tree.
• 13 Aug. 2018 (this page): Updated for Battle for Azeroth launch.
• 11 Aug. 2018 (FAQ page): Page added.
• 11 Aug. 2018 (azerite traits and gear page): Page added.
• 11 Aug. 2018 (bosses page): Added placeholder page for now.
• 11 Aug. 2018 (mythic+ page): Page added.
• 28 Jul. 2018 (addons page): Added Elemental Prepull Macro.
• 28 Jul. 2018 (enchants page): Reverted recommended flask (nerfed).
• 28 Jul. 2018 (rotation page): Added explanation for legendary boots/shoulders usage on 4-6 targets.
• 28 Jul. 2018 (easy mode page): Fixed Fire/Earth Elementals' priority in Openers.
• 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 (this page): Updated for the Battle for Azeroth pre-patch.

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