| The path to level 80 is long, but what is after is even | | | | important for Elemental Shamans and you will never |
| longer until the next expansion World of Warcraft: | | | | see sprit on mail armor gear; however you do see |
| Cataclysm comes out. Right now, most of the game | | | | spirit on some rings, cloaks and other cross class |
| content is at level 80 - Heroic Dungeons, Raids, | | | | items. |
| Arenas, daily and weekly quests and such. Reaching | | | | |
| level 80 is an important point in everyone's game | | | | Enhancement shamans (melee damage dealer spec) |
| play, as at level 80 it is time to choose a spec, make | | | | are very different from Elemental and Restoration as |
| your enchants and work towards obtaining the | | | | it does not depend on spell power and intellect so |
| proper gear for your class. | | | | much. Instead, Enhancement shamans are treated like |
| | | | | melee dps and should focus on agility, hit rating and |
| The shaman class is one of the so-called hybrid | | | | attack power. This puts Enhancement shamans into |
| classes and as such can be very versatile - a shaman | | | | same items pool as rogues and hunters. |
| can fill the role of ranged dps (Elemental Shaman), | | | | |
| melee dps (Enhancement Shaman), or a healer | | | | Gearing up your character once you reach level 80 is |
| (Resto Shaman). This means that you will benefit | | | | very easy now with some changes in professions |
| from various items with different statistics for your | | | | implemented as well as the Emblems of Triumph and |
| different specs, however it is normal to focus at one | | | | Emblems of Frost system. As soon as you reach |
| primary spec at least at the beginning - trying to gear | | | | level 80 you can start using the Random Heroic |
| up for all 3 specs can be complicated especially if you | | | | Dungeon tool and collect emblems while at the same |
| are playing with other people who are not your close | | | | time getting (hopefully) some gear upgrades. Before |
| friends or members of your guild. Once you have | | | | you start joining Heroics though, it is a good idea to |
| decided which your main spec will be, it is time to get | | | | check the Auction House for some craftable items |
| some heroics going and gather Emblems of Triumph | | | | you can afford to buy. Such items will help you |
| for some gear you can buy with them. | | | | perform better in heroics and speed up your gearing |
| | | | | process. |
| Even though shamans are mail armor wearing classes, | | | | If you can afford it, buy dual specialization - it costs |
| the armor type is not so important at this point and | | | | 1000 gold to buy it, but after the initial expenses you |
| some shamans can choose leather or cloth as well | | | | can unlimitedly switch between 2 specializations which |
| depending on the statistics such items provide. | | | | proves very useful. For shamans it will be easiest to |
| However, as Blizzard has stated, this is about to | | | | gear up for Resto and Elemental at the same time, |
| change come Cataclysm, but at least for now | | | | as some items are suitable for both specs, while for |
| gearing up from other armor pools is a viable option. | | | | enhancement you will need totally different items. |
| | | | | Having dual specialization will help you find a group |
| Depending on the chosen primary spec, different | | | | easier and joining raids will also be easier - especially if |
| statistics become important for the shaman and the | | | | you can play both specs equally well. |
| players should focus on obtaining more from specific | | | | |
| statistic as follows: | | | | Once you have decided which one (or more) specs |
| | | | | you will be focusing on, choose your glyphs for these |
| Restoration Shamans (healer spec) will benefit most | | | | specs and the proper enchants. For example |
| from items with spell power, mp5 and intellect. | | | | Restoration Shamans should get enchants that |
| Additionally it is nice to have crit and haste as well, | | | | improve their spell power, intellect, mp5, crit rating |
| but the first 3 statistics are most important. | | | | and haste, while Enhancement Shamans should get |
| Restoration Shamans have little use of spirit and no | | | | enchants that improve their hit rating, agility and |
| use of hit rating, so such items should be avoided | | | | attack power. |
| and only taken for off spec if no one else in the | | | | |
| group wants them. | | | | Once you are done with making all these choices, it is |
| | | | | time to join the fun and start doing Heroics for |
| Elemental Shamans (ranged damage dealer spec) will | | | | Emblems and gear and once you have gathered a |
| benefit most from items with spell power, intellect, | | | | decent gear kit - it is time for Raids! |
| mp5, hit rating and crit rating. Spirit is not really | | | | |