Elemental Shaman DPS Spell Summary (Legion 7.3.5)

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

General Information

On this page, we list the spells that you will often use as 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. Elemental Shaman Spell Summary

If you are new to Elemental, it is recommended you read this before proceeding! In this section we will discuss what abilities you have, what they are used for within the specialization, and how they interact with important cooldowns. If you have played this spec before or have already achieved a level of comfort playing this spec in a practical environment, it is recommended you skip this section and move on to the rest of the guide.

2. Main Resource for Elemental Shaman

Maelstrom Power is the primary resource of Elemental Shamans. Maelstrom is essentially a clone of the Rage resource Warriors use. It is generated by casting spells and using specific abilities, while other abilities covert Maelstrom into powerful damage. Maelstrom is generated and consumed fairly slowly for Elemental, which makes the rotational priority very easy to predict and contributes to a fluid state of play.

3. Basic Abilities for Elemental Shaman

These abilities are available no matter what talents you chose, and form the bread and butter of this specialization.

Lightning Bolt is your main filler. It deals weak damage and generates 8 Maelstrom Power.

Lava Burst is your Maelstrom generating nuke. It deals strong damage, has a short cooldown, and is a guaranteed critical strike if your Flame Shock is active on the target. Lava Burst generates 12 Maelstrom Power.

Earth Shock is your Maelstrom consuming nuke. It deals powerful instant damage, has no cast time, and deals more damage the more Maelstrom you currently have available. Earth Shock costs a minimum of 10 Maelstrom, but can use up to 100 Maelstrom.

Flame Shock is a debuff you should keep applied to your primary target at all times. It deals weak damage over time but has an important interaction with your Lava Burst. Not only does it guarantee that all Lava Burst casts will be critical hits, but each tick also has 10% chance to proc Lava Surge (see next section). Flame Shock costs between 0 and 20 Maelstrom, with the duration being extended by 5% per point of Maelstrom. It will consume the maximum amount of Maelstrom available.

4. Important Procs for Elemental Shaman

Lava Surge is the main proc to watch out for. Your Flame Shock has a 10% chance to activate Lava Surge, which resets the cooldown of your Lava Burst and makes it an instant cast.

5. DPS Cooldowns for Elemental Shaman

Elemental has no baseline cooldowns, but frequently talents into powerful abilities, which are listed below.

Elemental Mastery is a 2-minute cooldown that increases your Haste by 25% for 20 seconds.

Ascendance is a powerful cooldown responsible for the bulk of your burst. Ascendance resets and removes the cooldown on Lava Burst and increases its damage by a percentage equal to your Critical Strike chance. It also replaces Chain Lightning with a more powerful version, Lava Beam.

6. Artifact Ability for Elemental Shaman

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.

7. ChangeLog

• 19 Feb. 2018: Added Stormkeeper. Removed spell description from Rotation page.
• 29 Aug. 2016: Updated for Legion's launch.
• 18 Jul. 2016: Updated for the Legion pre-patch.

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