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Class guide · Beginner

Shaman

A warrior of the elements. Fight up close with lightning-charged strikes, heal yourself, and drop totems that make you stronger.

Pre-launch · beta info Checked Oct 26, 2026 against Wowhead's Forever database and Icy Veins (updated Oct 17)

The 30-second version

  1. Keep your weapon enchanted and Lightning Shield on. Check before every fight.
  2. Pull with Lightning Bolt, then fight up close. Use Earth Shock (and Stormstrike from 25) whenever they're ready.
  3. Mana is your limit. Heal yourself with Healing Wave after fights and always carry water.
  4. Do your totem quests. They unlock at levels 4, 10, and 20.
At a glance

Is Shaman right for you?

Beginner-friendly3 / 5
More buttons than most, and you'll need to watch your mana.
Playing solo4 / 5
Big hits and self-healing. Gets much easier at level 25.
Wanted in groups4 / 5
Totems help the whole group, and Shamans make great healers.
RolesTwo jobs
HealerDamage
This guide levels you as up-close damage (Enhancement).
The one Shaman idea to learn

Totems

Totems are small objects you place on the ground. They help you (and your group) as long as you stand near them. You can have one of each element at a time. Your first Earth, Fire, and Water totems each come from a class quest.

Earth
Quest at level 4

Stoneskin Totem helps you take less damage.

Level 10: Strength of Earth Totem, for more damage.
Fire
Quest at level 10

Searing Totem shoots at enemies for you.

Level 28: Flametongue Totem.
Water
Quest at level 20

Healing Stream Totem heals you a little every few seconds.

Level 26: Mana Spring Totem, which gives you mana back. Huge for Shamans.
Air
From level 30 (no quest)

Grounding Totem (30) against spellcasters.

Level 32: Windfury Totem, for groups.
When should I drop totems?

Totems cost mana and don't follow you. For quick fights against one normal enemy, you can skip them. For tougher enemies, a group of enemies, or when you'll stay in one spot for a while, drop your totems first. From level 20, Totemic Recall picks them back up and refunds a bit of their mana.

Your action bar

Where every button goes

Each key has the same job for every class, so you always know where to look. The level shows when you get each ability; nothing ever moves once it's placed. (Not sure how to set up your keys? Start Here covers it.)

Keep these on a second bar

Things you use between fights, not during:

Your core loop

How to fight one enemy

Repeat this for every mob. It feels like a lot at first, but the first two steps are things you rarely need to redo.

Check: weapon enchant and Lightning Shield on?If not, cast them from your second bar now
Tough enemy? Drop totems firstSkip this for easy fights to save mana
Lightning Bolt to pull it From far away, so the enemy comes to you
When it reaches you: Stormstrike and Earth Shock Stormstrike from level 25. Use both whenever they're ready.
Is the enemy casting a spell?
YES
Earth Shock to interrupt itEspecially if it's healing itself
NO
Keep hittingYour weapon does most of the damage
Enemy defeatedHeal up with Healing Wave . Low on mana? Drink water.

↺ Then pick the next target and start again.

Shaman's biggest challenge

Running out of mana

Nearly everything a Shaman does costs mana: shocks, heals, totems, and enchants. Running dry is normal while leveling, especially before level 25. It gets much better as you pick up the right talents.

When does it get easier?

Level 20 makes shocks almost half price. Level 30 lets Stormstrike give you mana back while fighting. Levels 33–43 add Restoration talents that keep your mana flowing, ending with Water Shield.

  1. Always carry waterBuy it from innkeepers. Drinking is faster than waiting.
  2. Don't drop totems for easy fightsSave them for tough enemies or groups of enemies.
  3. Heal with Healing Wave, after the fightIt's your most efficient heal. Healing mid-fight costs more.
  4. Mana Spring Totem from level 26Gives you mana back as long as you stand near it.
  5. Look for campfiresNew in Forever: other players' campfires can give you mana bonuses.
Leveling milestones

What changes as you level

Remember to visit your trainer every 2 levels to learn new abilities.

Lv 4

Earth Shock, and the Earth totem quest.

Lv 10

Fire totem quest and your first talent point.

Lv 20

Ghost Wolf (travel faster) and the Water totem quest.

Lv 25

Stormstrike (talent): the game changes here.

Lv 26

Mana Spring Totem: mana back while you fight.

Lv 30

Windfury Weapon and your first Air totem. A huge power boost.

Lv 40

Dual Specialization: save a healing setup alongside your damage one.

Lv 60

Max level. Heal or deal damage in dungeons and raids.

Learn to use two-handed weapons

Enhancement Shamans want a slow two-handed axe or mace. You may need to learn to use them first: visit a weapon master in Orgrimmar (Horde) or Ironforge (Alliance) as early as you can.

Talents · from level 10

Which spec should you pick?

Shamans have three talent trees. For leveling, go Enhancement.

Recommended for leveling

Enhancement

Fight up close with a big weapon, charged with lightning. Tough and self-sufficient.

  • Best for: leveling solo
  • Damage role in groups
Later

Elemental

Stand back and throw lightning, fire, and lava. A spellcaster.

  • Best for: ranged damage at max level
  • Uses a lot of mana while leveling
Later

Restoration

Keep your group alive with heals and support totems.

  • Best for: healing dungeons and raids
  • Always in demand
Talents as you level

Where to put each point

You get 1 talent point every level from 10 to 60. Slide to your level to see where your next point goes. Points marked ★ give you a new button.

How do I spend a talent point?

Press N to open your talents. Click a talent to put a point in it. Trees unlock row by row: you need 5 points in a tree to open the next row. Made a mistake? Your class trainer can reset your talents for a small fee.

Optional: a different start before level 25

Stormstrike can't be reached until level 25. Some players start in the Restoration tree instead (for mana talents), then reset their talents at 25 and follow this path. It's not required; the path above works fine from the start.

Build: 32 Enhancement / 11 Restoration / 8 Elemental Combat, from Icy Veins (updated Oct 17, 2026). Pre-launch; may change.

Gear

What to upgrade

When you get a new item, check it for these stats, in this order. Higher on the list matters more.

What armor can I wear?

Shamans wear leather, and later mail. Leatherworking is a great profession for Shamans; it can make strong gear for you all the way to 60.

  1. A slow two-handed weaponLook for a "speed" of about 3.3 to 3.8. Slow weapons hit harder, which makes Stormstrike and Windfury stronger.
  2. StrengthMakes your weapon hit harder.
  3. IntellectMore mana (your biggest problem), and it adds attack power from level 15.
  4. SpiritMana comes back faster. Even better once you have the right talents.
Learn from others

Top 5 beginner mistakes

Forgetting the weapon enchant

Rockbiter (and later Windfury) is a big part of your damage.

Check for it before every fight. It lasts a long time.

Dropping totems for every fight

You run out of mana after two enemies.

Save totems for tough fights and groups of enemies.

Skipping the totem quests

You miss whole elements of totems.

Do them at levels 4, 10, and 20. Your trainer will point you there.

Using a fast or one-handed weapon

Stormstrike and Windfury hit much weaker.

Get a slow two-hander, and learn the skill from a weapon master.

Walking away from your totems

Totems stay where you put them, so their bonuses stop.

Fight near them, and use Totemic Recall when you move on.

Want more detail?

Go deeper

Ready for advanced builds and min-maxing? These sites go into much more depth.

Mobalytics ↗ Icy Veins ↗ Wowhead ↗ Method ↗