Reprinted Articles

So you are reading a world of warcraft guide on shamans and wonder if it is actually a bundle of guides about warriors, mages, or other healing classes in wow. On the other hand you might even wonder if you are reading a wow guide on Druids who like Shamans can also tank, heal and cast.

Then you might go and peruse forums and the plethora of wow sites that discuss world of warcraft Shamans guides who describe them as being able to do these abilities but not as well as classes that are specialized in them. That is a narrow minded view. If you take the Druid, they are praised for how they can tank admirably when shape shifting into bears or heal while in tree form and give damage in cat form. But they can never do all three at the same time. The Shaman can without the need to shape shift. Though they can indeed shape shift as wolves but only to help them travel faster.

There is one feature that makes the world of warcraft Shaman stand out, and this is their use of totems which when planted into nearby ground gives them and fellow members various benefits such as healing and aid in fighting opponents. It’s the use of these totems which is what makes playing a Shaman a challenging experience.

There are four kinds of totems : Water, Fire, Earth and Air. Each of these totems needs to be carefully implemented during group combat or solo play, needing split timing decisions in the heat of battle. Their asset to a group includes having the spell of Reincarnation which allows them to resurrect themselves or other members once every played hour to 40 minutes if you assign more talent points to this ability.

With the release of the burning crusade expansion kit being a shaman is not only a class that is specific to the Horde. The new Dranei class in the alliance can also play as shamans, having attributes that makes them particularly adept at playing this class; some would argue that this is the best class to choose for this alliance race.

Any world of warcraft shaman guide worth its salt will tell you that when you reach the maximum level it is time for your shaman to specialize as either an Enhancement, Elemental or Restoration shaman. The directive of elemental shamans is to deal out high damage, something which comes in useful when you are levelling up. The restoration shamans are more adept at being able to heal effectively, making them worthy back up healers in group play.

It would take a very long world of warcraft guide on Shamans to list the many other features this very versatile class possesses. They are a class that thanks to their hybrid status allow players to experience 3 classes in one allowing you to decide whether casting, tanking or healing is something you enjoy doing. In fact Shamans can do all 3 or each one as well as the more specialized classes making them, in the right hands, a class that is potentially 3 times as powerful as other classes and one that should be respected if you ever cross their path.

• World of warcraft shaman guide: secrets of the totem mage warrior - July 16th, 2008

Tags: Computers