Enhancement Shaman WotLK Guide
Enhancement Shaman DPS guide for WotLK 3.3.5a: rotation, cooldowns, the 19/52/0 talent build, glyphs, stat priority and BiS gear for ICC and Ruby Sanctum.
Enhancement is the melee Shaman, and it is a spec that gives a raid a lot. It has strong damage, a group of totems that make the whole melee group stronger, and the Unleashed Rage buff that raises attack power for everyone. It is also a spec with two ways to play, a physical build and a spell-heavy build (Spellhance) that uses Maelstrom Weapon for Lightning Bolts.
This guide covers the rotation for both builds, the cooldowns and totems, the talents and glyphs we run, the stats to reach and the mistakes that cost the most. It is written for Icecrown Citadel 25 and Ruby Sanctum on 3.3.5a. The short overview is in the class guide.
1.How the Enhancement Shaman plays
The physical build presses Stormstrike first, then Lava Lash, alternates Flame Shock and Earth Shock, and adds Fire Nova when it is ready. The Spellhance build puts spells higher: Stormstrike first while the debuff is not on the target, then Lightning Bolt at five stacks of Maelstrom Weapon, then the shocks, then Fire Nova, then Lava Lash.
The important part of both is the proc: with five stacks of Maelstrom Weapon, you cast Lightning Bolt for free and instantly, and with more than one target you cast Chain Lightning. Ignoring those procs is one of the most common mistakes in the spec.
2.Rotation and priorities
- StormstrikeOn cooldown. It also increases the nature damage the target takes.
- Lava LashOn cooldown.
- Flame Shock and Earth ShockAlternate them so that your shock cooldown is always in use.
- Fire NovaWhen it is ready, and it is very good on cleave fights.
- Lightning BoltAt five stacks of Maelstrom Weapon, as an instant. On multiple targets, use Chain Lightning.
On the Spellhance build, spells go above Lava Lash, and you use Lightning Bolt at five stacks of Maelstrom Weapon first. Refresh Magma Totem when it has one or two seconds left, and keep Lightning Shield charges going when everything else is on cooldown.
3.Cooldowns and raid utility
Enhancement has a few burst tools and a lot of totems.
Summons two wolves that fight for you for a short time. Use it on cooldown, together with your other burst.
A large haste increase for the group. Use it in the opener, after your totems are down.
Reduces the damage you take and gives you mana. It pairs well with Engineering gloves for burst.
A long cooldown that lasts a fixed time. It has its own global cooldown.
Gives melee haste to the group. Keep it up.
Interrupts a cast. Learn which fights ask for it.
4.Talents and glyphs
Our recommended Enhancement build is the 19/52/0 in the calculator, built around Feral Spirit, Maelstrom Weapon, Stormstrike, Lava Lash, Unleashed Rage and Shamanistic Rage. There is a Spellhance version in the calculator too, for the spell-heavy playstyle.
The major glyphs we run are Stormstrike, Feral Spirit and Windfury Weapon. The Fire Nova glyph is a strong pick on cleave fights, and at the best gear levels the guides we read swap the Feral Spirit glyph for Windfury.
Summons two Spirit Wolves under the command of the Shaman, lasting 45 sec.
When you deal damage with a melee weapon, you have a chance (higher than rank 4) to reduce the cast time of your next Lightning Bolt, Chain Lightning, Lesser Healing Wave, Chain Heal or Healing Wave Spell by 20%. Stacks up to 5 times. Lasts 30 seconds.
Requires Melee Weapon. Instantly attack with both weapons. In addition, the next 4 sources of Nature damage dealt to the target from the Shaman are increased by 20%. Lasts 12 sec.
You charge your off-hand weapon with lava, instantly dealing 100% off-hand Weapon damage. Damage is increased by 25% if your off-hand weapon is enchanted with Flametongue.
Increases your expertise by 9, and increases all party and raid members' attack power by 10% while within 100 yards of the Shaman.
Reduces all damage taken by 30% and gives your successful melee attacks a chance to regenerate mana equal to 15% of your attack power. This spell is usable while stunned. Lasts 15 sec.
Increases the Nature damage bonus from your Stormstrike ability by an additional 8%.
Your spirit wolves gain an additional 30% of your attack power.
Increases the chance per swing for Windfury Weapon to trigger by 2%.
5.Stats, gems and gear
The priority is hit, then expertise, then haste, then critical strike, then armor penetration. The numbers depend on your race and your build, and they are in the caps section.
Engineering is a very good profession for the spec: the gloves fit with Shamanistic Rage, and the Nitro Boosts help with mobility.
- Hit
- Expertise
- Agility
- Haste
~13-14% melee, 17% spell (practical end-game target)
Dual-wielding with both melee and spell components (Stormstrike, Windfury, white attacks) pushes the practical target well above the 8% melee minimum.
26 expertise (214 rating base)
Has value but is not a stack-to-1400 stat
Enhancement deals significant elemental damage, which weakens pure ArP value compared to a pure-physical spec.
Enhancement gets the most from it — Blood Fury scales both attack power and spell power, and Axe Specialization gives +5 expertise if you run axes (common for Enh). Elemental and Restoration prefer Troll for Berserking haste.
Gift of the Naaru for Restoration, and Heroic Presence hands the raid +1% hit — useful from an Elemental or Enhancement shaman.
Royal Scepter of Terenas II
Havoc's Call, Blade of Lordaeron Kings *
Bizuri's Totem of Shattered Ice
Phylactery of the Nameless Lich
Charred Twilight Scale
Sanctified Frost Witch's Faceguard
Carapace of Forgotten Kings
6.Common mistakes
• Ignoring your Maelstrom Weapon procs.
• Forgetting Fire Nova on cleave fights.
• Using Lava Lash in place of your shocks in a way that wastes the shock cooldown.
• Not taking advantage of the Engineering profession.
• Dropping the totems too late, or not refreshing them.
7.On the bosses
Enhancement is strong on most fights, and the totems matter. A few notes:
Use Fire Nova and Chain Lightning on the add waves, and keep your totems close to the group.
Stay on the target you are assigned, and interrupt with Wind Shear where the plan says so.
Use your mobility tools, and use Bloodlust when the raid plan calls for it.
Use your interrupts and your Fire Nova on the adds in the first phase. See the Lich King guide.
8.Questions people ask
Both are viable. Spellhance puts more of your damage into Lightning Bolt with Maelstrom Weapon, and depends on haste and critical strike more.
It is a very good choice: the gloves fit with Shamanistic Rage, and the boots help with movement.
Windfury Totem, Strength of Earth and Wrath of Air, adjusted for the other Shamans in your raid.
Stormstrike, Feral Spirit and Windfury Weapon, with Fire Nova as a strong choice on cleave fights.