- Author: Nevermore
- Date: September 27, 2022
- Updated: September 27, 2022
- Expansion: WotLK Classic
Welcome to Warcraft Tavern’s Restoration Shaman PvE guide for World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King! Restoration Shamans are often considered to be leaders of their tribes, bringing peace between their people and the natural world. Those kind souls use nature magic and the guidance of the Elements in order to heal even the most grievous wounds and soothe the spirits of all around them.
In gameplay terms, Restoration Shamans can be considered one of the most desirable healing specializations, especially when talking about raiding. They can provide huge Single-Target healing, extraordinary Area of Effect healing, and on top of that, extreme utility through the use of both their spells and their unique mechanic, totems.
Restoration Shaman Strengths & Weaknesses
Strengths
- Simple rotation
Unlike other healing specializations in the game that need to use a lot of spells in order to be effective, Restoration Shamans have only a few spells in their arsenal they need to spam to provide insane amounts of healing.
- Balanced healing capabilities
Other healing classes tend to specialize in either single target healing or raid healing. Some can do both, but usually not equally well. Restoration Shamans are the only healer that can do both effectively, which means they can fit into any healing role.
- Solid utility
Shamans may no longer be the monsters of utility that they were in TBC, but they still have some very solid utility, offering a few unique buffs. Restoration in specific is the only specialization in the game that can offer the Mana Tide Totem, a very crucial spell that can prevent your healers from running out of mana in a longer fight, thus potentially preventing a wipe.
Weaknesses
- Mana-Hungry Specialization
Restoration Shamans have access to a unique mana regeneration effect, however, they can still quickly burn through their entire mana pool. You will experience these mana issues throughout the entirety of the expansion, forcing you to always keep an eye on your mana pool.
- Highly reliant on gear
Since Restoration Shamans can quickly burn their entire mana pool, they are highly dependent on their gear to off-set this vulnerability. Not only will you be highly reliant on your gear in order to maintain a healthy mana pool, but you will also need strong equipment to be efficient with your abilities.
Restoration Shaman Utility
- General Shaman Specific Totems
Shamans have access to a large variety of totems that can grant different buffs or effects to their allies. Those totems can range from Cleansing Totems that remove negative effects to Earthbind Totems that slow their enemies, and even totems such as Windfury Totems and Wrath of Air Totems that provide haste to both melee and caster allies.
- Mana Tide Totem (Restoration Only)
Restoration Shamans have access to a unique totem that can greatly aid both them and their allies by restoring a considerable amount of mana. One of the reasons why Restoration Shamans are usually placed in the same group together with the other healers is because of this ability. You can also create a powerful combo by having the group’s Holy Priest use Hymn of Hope at the same time you are using Mana Tide Totem.
- Earth Shield
Restoration Shamans have access to a special elemental shield that provides several interesting effects. It can reduce any pushback damage or channeling time lost by up to 30% while it’s active on the target, while also granting the target a healing effect whenever it receives damage. A very powerful tool to have on your tanks and casters!
- Cleanse Spirit
Restoration Shaman’s prayers have finally been answered with this new addition to their kit in WotLK. As a Restoration Shaman, you now finally have access to a targeted dispel for curse effects!
- Reincarnation
Reincarnation is a very powerful utility tool when used correctly. As a Resto Shaman, you can choose to use it in a variety of ways, either sacrificing yourself to take one deadly mechanic from an enemy, knowing full well that you will revive yourself just after, or, it can be used as a wipe-prevention tool. This means that you can keep it for the eventuality of a wipe and use it to save everyone’s time, preventing them from having to run all the way back inside the raid or dungeon.
- Heroism/Bloodlust
All Shamans have access to Heroism/Bloodlust. This is one of the most powerful buffs in the entire game that can affect a whole raid group, providing it with a 30% increase in attack speed and casting speed by up to 40 seconds. This buff is extremely powerful and should only be used in critical moments, as it places a 10-minute debuff that prevents you from gaining the effect again.
Conclusion
We hope this guide has been able to help you decide if Restoration Shaman is the class / spec for you. Make sure to check out our other sections, such as talents, gear, gems etc, to get more information on how to improve your performance as a Fury Warrior in WotLK! You can find these sections by clicking the buttons at the top of the guide.
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About the Author
Nevermore
Hey there folks, I am Nevermore and have been deeply passionate about WoW for more than a decade. Whether we talk about the hidden mysteries of Azeroth or the otherworldly Outland, my journey brought me here to share the things that I have experienced with you all.
“whenever it receives damage.” This is not correct. Earth shield has a 3.5sec cooldown, just like Water Shield and doesn’t proc on almost all damage that is AoE.
Weakness;
The least mobile healer of the expansion.Requires 1 talent point to be able to remove curses, at the expense of an other good talent.Strengths;
Chain Heal and Ancestral Awakening are smart heals, they heal the players with the lowest HP. Synergize well with a Nature’s Swiftness + Tidal Force macro when too many players go low HP at the same time.Ancestral Healing (although it doesn’t stack with Inspiration from Disco Priests). Healing Wave (Rank 1) can be used on tanks before a pull to apply the buff, and it also saves some mana compared to their other heals and ranks.