Elemental Shaman DPS Rotation, Cooldowns, and Abilities (Legion 7.3)

Table of Contents

• +Introduction
  • 1. Class Overview
  • 2. Patch 7.3 Changes
  • 3. Patch 7.2.5 Changes
  • 4. Strengths
  • 5. Weaknesses
  • 6. Viability in the Current Patch
  • 7. Contents
  • 8. ChangeLog
• +Easy Mode
  • 1. The Basics
  • 2. Talent Choice
  • 3. Stat Choice
  • 4. Basic Priority List
  • 5. ChangeLog
• +Spell Summary
  • 1. Spell Summary
  • 2. Main Resource
  • 3. Basic Abilities
  • 4. Important Procs
  • 5. DPS Cooldowns
  • 6. ChangeLog
• +Builds and Talents
  • 1. Talent Choices
  • 2. Talent Cheat Sheets
    • 2.1. The "Gambler"
    • 2.2. Ascendance Build
    • 2.3. Lightning Rod Build
    • 2.4. Icefury Build
    • 2.5. Mythic+
  • 3. Tier 1 (Level 15) Talents
  • 4. Tier 2 (Level 30) Talents
  • 5. Tier 3 (Level 45) Talents
  • 6. Tier 4 (Level 60) Talents
  • 7. Tier 5 (Level 75) Talents
  • 8. Tier 6 (Level 90) Talents
  • 9. Tier 7 (Level 100) Talents
  • 10. ChangeLog
• +Artifact Traits and Relics
  • 1. Artifact Progression — 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
  • 2. Relic Choice
    • 2.1. Ascendance Build
    • 2.2. Lightning Rod Build
    • 2.3. Icefury Build
  • 3. ChangeLog
• +Netherlight Crucible Relic Paths
  • 1. General Optimization Advice
  • 2. Tier 2 Upgrade Priority
  • 3. Tier 3 Upgrade Priority
  • 4. ChangeLog
• ×Rotation, Cooldowns, and Abilities
  • 1. Rotation
    • 1.1. Single Target Rotation - Ascendance Build
    • 1.2. Single Target Rotation - Lightning Rod Build
    • 1.3. Single Target Rotation - Icefury Build
    • 1.4. Multiple Target Rotation
      • 1.4.1. 2 Targets
      • 1.4.2. 3 Targets
      • 1.4.3. 4 Targets
  • 2. Important Notes
    • 2.1. Stormkeeper
    • 2.2. Lava Burst and Flame Shock
  • 3. Core Concepts
    • 3.1. Maelstrom Management
    • 3.2. Cooldown Usage
    • 3.3. Movement Management
      • 3.3.1. Quiet Movement
  • 4. Opening Sequence
    • 4.1. Icefury Opener
    • 4.2. Ascendance Opener
  • 5. ChangeLog
• +Boss by Boss Strategies
  • 1. Odyn
  • 2. Guarm
  • 3. Helya
  • 4. Nythendra
  • 5. Ursoc
  • 6. Elerethe Renferal
  • 7. Dragons of Nightmare
  • 8. Il'gynoth, Heart of Corruption
  • 9. Cenarius
  • 10. Xavius
  • 11. ChangeLog
• +Stat Priority
  • 1. Basics
    • 1.1. Gambler Build
    • 1.2. Ascendance Build
    • 1.3. Lightning Rod
    • 1.4. Icefury Build
  • 2. Getting a Better Understanding
  • 3. ChangeLog
• +Gems, Enchants, and Consumables
  • 1. Haste vs Critical Strike
  • 2. Gems
  • 3. Enchants
  • 4. Consumables
  • 5. ChangeLog
• +Macros and Addons
  • 1. Addons
    • 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
    • 2.1. Generic Macros for Shamans
    • 2.2. Wind Shear
    • 2.3. Purge
    • 2.4. Macros for Elemental Shamans
      • 2.4.1. Mouseouver Earthquake
      • 2.4.2. Stopcast Gust of Wind
  • 3. ChangeLog
• +Gear, Legendaries, and Best in Slot
  • 1. Tier 20 Set Bonus
  • 2. Best in Slot List
    • 2.1. Trinket Notes
  • 3. Legendaries
  • 4. Loot Competition
  • 5. ChangeLog

General Information

On this page, we list your Elemental Shaman core abilities and how they should be used together (rotation) in World of Warcraft Legion 7.3. We also explain when to use your various cooldowns. Then, we go deeper and present all the subtleties that you will need to know if you want to excel at playing an Elemental Shaman.

The other pages of our Elemental Shaman guide can be accessed from the table of contents on the right.

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.

1. Rotation

The rotation of an Elemental Shaman revolves around the following priority list.

1.1. Single Target Rotation - Ascendance Build

1. Apply Flame Shock if:
   • It is absent
   • It will expire in 9 seconds or less, your Maelstrom is 20 or higher, and you have a stack of Elemental Focus.
2. Cast Fire Elemental if it is off cooldown. Always pair your elemental with Haste buffs (e.g. Bloodlust) if possible, but do not sacrifice an extra usage by delaying your elemental.
3. Maintain the Totem Mastery buff.
4. Cast Elemental Blast whenever available.
5. Cast Earth Shock if Maelstrom is 117 or greater.
6. Cast Lava Burst when Lava Surge is active, or if you have 2 charges of Lava Burst.
7. Cast Ascendance when available, providing you will not have to move during its duration.
8. Cast Lightning Bolt if Power of the Maelstrom is active and Lava Burst has fewer than 2 charges available.
9. Cast Earth Shock if Maelstrom is 111 or greater and Lava Surge is not available.
10. Cast Stormkeeper if you will be able to use all 3 charges of Power of the Maelstrom.
11. Cast Lava Burst.
12. Cast Lightning Bolt as a filler on a single target.

For more information on your opening sequence, please refer to our dedicated section.

1.2. Single Target Rotation - Lightning Rod Build

1. Apply Flame Shock if:
   • It is absent
   • It will expire in 9 seconds or less, your Maelstrom is 20 or higher, and you have a stack of Elemental Focus.
2. Cast Fire Elemental if it is off cooldown. Always pair your elemental with Haste buffs (e.g. Bloodlust) if possible, but do not sacrifice an extra usage by delaying your elemental.
3. Maintain the Totem Mastery buff.
4. Cast Elemental Blast (if talented) whenever available.
5. Cast Earth Shock if Maelstrom is 117 or greater.
6. Cast Lava Burst whenever available.
7. Cast Liquid Magma Totem whenever available.
8. Cast Stormkeeper whenever available.
9. Cast Lightning Bolt as a filler on a single target.

For more information on your opening sequence, please refer to our dedicated section.

1.3. Single Target Rotation - Icefury Build

1. Apply Flame Shock if:
   • It is absent
   • It will expire in 9 seconds or less, your Maelstrom is 20 or higher, and you have a stack of Elemental Focus.
2. Cast Fire Elemental if it is off cooldown. Always pair your elemental with Haste buffs (e.g. Bloodlust) if possible, but do not sacrifice an extra usage by delaying your elemental.
3. Maintain the Totem Mastery buff.
4. Cast Elemental Blast whenever available.
5. Cast Earth Shock if Maelstrom is 117 or greater.
6. Cast Icefury when available if:
   • You are below 101 Maelstrom
   • You will be able to use all 4 Frost Shocks before they expire.
7. Cast Lava Burst when Lava Surge is active, or if you have 2 charges of Lava Burst.
8. Cast Frost Shock if your Maelstrom is 20 or higher and you have a stack of Icefury.
9. Cast Stormkeeper whenever available.
10. Cast Lava Burst.
11. Cast Lightning Bolt as a filler on a single target.

For more information on your opening sequence, please refer to our dedicated section.

1.4. Multiple Target Rotation

If Lightning Rod is being used, every cast of Lightning Bolt or Chain Lightning should be used on a target not yet affected by the Lightning Rod debuff, or the target with the lowest duration on their debuff. This will allow you to fully realize the effectiveness of this talent and maximize your damage output.

Once Static Overload has been unlocked, Maelstrom generation can be very spiky depending on your RNG, so beware Maelstrom capping by accident.

1.4.1. 2 Targets

1. Cast Liquid Magma Totem (if talented).
2. Apply and maintain Flame Shock on both targets.
3. Cast Earthquake at 50+ Maelstrom if the targets will remain in the zone for its duration. If you have BOTH The Deceiver's Blood Pact and Echoes of the Great Sundering, you should instead spend Maelstrom on Earth Shock.
4. Follow the single target priority, however, replace any filler casts of Lightning Bolt with Chain Lightning if it will hit both targets.

1.4.2. 3 Targets

1. Cast Liquid Magma Totem (if talented).
2. Apply and maintain Flame Shock on all targets.
3. Only cast Lava Burst when Lava Surge is available.
4. Cast Earthquake at 50+ Maelstrom (multiple instances of this spell overlap) if the targets will remain in the zone for its duration. If you have BOTH The Deceiver's Blood Pact and Echoes of the Great Sundering, you should instead spend Maelstrom on Earth Shock.

1.4.3. 4 Targets

1. Cast Liquid Magma Totem (if talented).
2. Spend all Maelstrom on Earthquake.
3. Cast Chain Lightning to generate Maelstrom.

2. Important Notes

2.1. Stormkeeper

Stormkeeper is your Artifact cooldown. It has a 1.5-second cast time, causes your next 3 Lightning Bolt OR Chain Lightning casts to deal 200% increased damage, and makes them instant cast spells. It also affects Lava Beam. This ability is used more or less on cooldown as it does not greatly affect the rotation. You can save it for up to 30 seconds to deal increased cleave or priority target damage if the fight requires it, and it can also be useful to sit on the cooldown for a few seconds if you know you will need to move, as the instant cast spells aid greatly in mobility. You should not delay it if it will cost you overall usages of the spell in the encounter, however.

2.2. Lava Burst and Flame Shock

The reason why Flame Shock should always be up on your target is because:

• each tick has a chance to proc Lava Surge, which resets the cooldown of Lava Burst;
• your Lava Burst will always critically hit if Flame Shock is on the target. This is very important due to your Elemental Focus and Elemental Fury passives.

You should only cast Lava Burst when Flame Shock is active on the target, or the target will live for less than 6 seconds. Flame Shock ticks every 2 seconds without accounting for Haste, meaning that you have to take advantage of Lava Surge within one global cooldown to avoid potentially wasting a new Lava Surge proc from the next Flame Shock tick. By the same token, casting Lava Burst immediately as it comes off cooldown is also imperative so that Lava Surge is not wasted while Lava Burst is off cooldown.

Flame Shock's duration is based off of Maelstrom. While it technically costs no Maelstrom to cast, you will spend up to 20 Maelstrom applying it if it is available. Flame Shock lasts 15 seconds when you have 0 Maelstrom, and 30 seconds when you have 20 Maelstrom. For every additional point of Maelstrom you have above 0 your Flame Shock will be extended by 5%, up to a maximum of 100% extension at 20 Maelstrom.

Flame Shock benefits from Pandemic, meaning that you can refresh it any time that it has less than 30% of its original maximum duration remaining and the remaining duration will be added to the new debuff. Therefore, if you apply a Flame Shock with the maximum value of 20 Maelstrom (30-second duration), you will be able to refresh it without wasting any duration when it has 9 seconds or less remaining, and it will be extended by 30 seconds. For example, if your Flame Shock had 6 seconds left, and you refreshed it with a 20 Maelstrom Flame Shock, your new Flame Shock would last 36 seconds.

Always try to re-apply Flame Shock with an Elemental Focus buff if possible.

3. Core Concepts

Elemental Shaman is a very straightforward specialization, however, it offers a dizzying amount of flexibility. Understanding the fundamentals so that you can confidently make the correct choices in a variety of situations is the key to success. There are 3 major concepts that form the essential trinity of optimizing for success:

1. Maelstrom management;
2. cooldown usage;
3. movement management.

Managing movement is a fundamental skill shared by all the caster classes in World of Warcraft, and is of critical importance to conquering your spec. Elemental in particular does not have many tools at its disposal to handle heavy movement, so achieving a level of comfort with dealing damage on the move will heavily bolster your damage output.

3.1. Maelstrom Management

You should avoid casting Lava Burst above 113 Maelstrom and Icefury above 101 Maelstrom. These limits are the maximum Maelstrom you can have before casting those spells to not overcap Maelstrom without an overload proc (Mastery). It is likely these spells will overload at raid levels of gear, therefore, if you cast Lava Burst at 113 Maelstrom or Icefury at 101 Maelstrom it is likely you will overcap Maelstrom and waste valuable resources. In practice, it is safer to cast these spells at lower Maelstrom than their limits to avoid wasting your overload procs. The key to success is managing all of your separate procs without overcapping Maelstrom.

3.2. Cooldown Usage

Setting up for your cooldowns is very important, as they are responsible for a large percentage of your damage output and have lengthy recharge times. If you have Ascendance talented, it is important you do the following before activating it:

• ensure Flame Shock will last at least 20 seconds;
• check boss timers to ensure you will not have to move much for at least 20 seconds;
• clear your Maelstrom with Earth Shock;
• clear Lava Surge if active, and any remaining Lava Burst charges;
• cast Elemental Blast immediately before activating Ascendance.

You should re-cast Elemental Blast when it comes off of cooldown inside of Ascendance. You should Maelstrom dump with Earth Shock while Ascendance is active.

Whenever possible, it is more efficient to spend your time in Ascendance casting Lava Burst instead of Lava Beam, so try to use Ascendance for single target damage wherever possible.

It is important to use Fire Elemental when you will gain the maximum benefit from it. It is recommended to use this in conjunction with your Potion of Prolonged Power and Bloodlust — even if it means holding the spell for a while. You should never sacrifice an extra usage of this cooldown by holding it too long, however, so pay careful attention to the length of the current encounter.

It can be beneficial to save Stormkeeper for add spawns to increase your Chain Lightning output. You should delay Stormkeeper no longer than 25 seconds after it comes off of cooldown, regardless of cleave opportunities, as the extra usages will be more valuable.

Never delay Elemental Blast unless you are Maelstrom capped, in which case you should cast Earth Shock.

You should also endeavour to buff your instant spells with Elemental Focus when available. Flame Shock refreshes should always be buffed.

3.3. Movement Management

While it is difficult to describe the best ways to position and move during a dungeon or raid encounter, it is essential to your success as an Elemental Shaman. If your movement is not urgent, try to take steps every time you cast Earth Shock or reapply Flame Shock. Lava Surge procs also present good opportunities to take stutter steps. Icefury allows great opportunities to move while casting Frost Shock. Finally, always try to position yourself in a location central to fight movement. For example, if the boss is being moved in a circle, try to stay on the inside of the kite path to ensure minimal movement.

3.3.1. Quiet Movement

Many players will unconsciously move during fights, despite it being unnecessary. For example, sometimes the boss or adds will be moved by the tank a couple yards, and though you are still in range to cast, you subconsciously mirror that movement, costing you global cooldowns. Consciously work to "quiet" your movement, and reduce unnecessary movement to a minimum. The best way to see this in action is to take a video of your raid, then watch yourself play. Most players will be surprised by the amount of wasted movement they commit. When you are forced to move, make use of the tips above, and make your path as direct and decisive as possible.

4. Opening Sequence

4.1. Icefury Opener

1. Cast Totem Mastery 4.5 seconds before the pull.
2. Cast Fire Elemental 3 seconds from the pull.
3. Use Potion of Prolonged Power.
4. Pre-cast Elemental Blast at 2s from the pull.
5. Cast Lava Burst.
6. Apply Flame Shock.
7. Activate and racial abilities or on use trinkets.
8. Proceed with normal priority.

4.2. Ascendance Opener

1. Cast Totem Mastery 4.5 seconds before the pull.
2. Cast Fire Elemental 3 seconds from the pull.
3. Use Potion of Prolonged Power.
4. Pre-cast Lightning Bolt at 2s from the pull.
5. Apply Flame Shock.
6. Cast Lava Burst.
7. Cast Lava Burst.
8. Cast Elemental Blast.
9. Apply Flame Shock again.
10. Activate and racial abilities or on use trinkets.
11. Activate Ascendance and spam Lava Burst. Re-cast Elemental Blast when it comes off of cooldown. Cast Earth Shock when you Maelstrom cap.
12. Use Earth Shock when Ascendance ends.
13. Proceed with normal priority.

5. ChangeLog

+ show all entries - show only 10 entries

• 29 Aug. 2017: Small change for Patch 7.3: Added Earthquake to 2-target rotation.
• 24 Jun. 2017: Updated Maelstrom Management section slightly.
• 21 Jun. 2017: Updated openers, action priority lists, and cooldown usage.
• 14 Jun. 2017: Removed mention of Earthquake on single-target as it no longer gains ticks based on Haste.
• 19 Apr. 2017: Added Earthquake on single-target section based on new theorycraft. Modified rotations based on the new builds we present in the talents page.
• 27 Mar. 2017: No changes needed for Patch 7.2.
• 09 Jan. 2017: Fully updated rotation page for Patch 7.1.5.
• 01 Dec. 2016: Split guide into single & multi target sections for clarity. Added two separate opening sequences for different Tier 7 talents.
• 25 Oct. 2016: Updated Stormkeeper section to note that it now has a 1.5-second cast and affected spells are now instant in Patch 7.1.
• 29 Aug. 2016: Updated for Legion's launch.
• 18 Jul. 2016: Updated for the Legion pre-patch.