Best Shaman Build in Azeroth Survivors

How it plays

Shaman damage is a camp. Flame Shock leads, 10 damage plus 4 damage over time for 9 seconds, two applications, range 20, cooldown 3, clear score 31.0. Magma Totem is the campfire. 8 damage, radius 7, 8 targets, but the totem lasts 14 seconds and the cooldown is 16, which leaves a 2 second gap, clear score 29.4. The old totem is gone before the next one is ready. Chain Lightning hits 3 times for 18 in a chain, range 20, the chain radius is 9, cooldown 3, and the model counts 4 targets for a clear score of 20.1.

Lightning Shield orbits at radius 4 for 12 damage on a 0.9 second cooldown and scores 14.0. It is the "they are already on me" button, not a totem you place at range. Lightning Bolt is the starter, 15 damage, range 24, cooldown 1.3, clear score 12.1. Searing Totem has no radius, 9 damage for 14 seconds, cooldown 14, clear score 9.5. It is in the six as a single-target turret. Earth Shock is 22 damage on a 2.5 second cooldown and scores 9.2, just outside. Frost Shock is the slow, half speed for 4 seconds, 16 damage, cooldown 3, clear score 5.6, also outside.

Shaman health stops at 135 and the walk is speed 7. That is too slow to kite and too light to tank, so the gap between totems is the problem Ghost Wolf exists to cover.

Early and late

Lightning Bolt is the starting skill at range 24, and it remains fifth in the six at 12.1. Flame Shock scores 31.0 and does not need a totem on the ground. Magma Totem is scored without a learned level. Once it is on the bar, it is a 14 second patch of floor on a 16 second cooldown.

Ghost Wolf is learned at level 5. Speed times 1.6 for 6 seconds, cooldown 15. Blessing of Freedom uses the same 1.6 multiplier and lasts 5 seconds, 1 second shorter than Ghost Wolf. Magma Totem will not travel during the Ghost Wolf window of 6 seconds, and Searing Totem will not either. Both stay on the ground where they were dropped.

The shock cooldowns are the fast half of the bar. Flame Shock returns every 3 seconds and the dot keeps going for 9, so one cast covers three waits of ticking. Chain Lightning also returns every 3, with no duration, and the chain counts 4 targets. Lightning Bolt returns every 1.3 at range 24. Earth Shock returns every 2.5 for 9.2 and sits just outside the six. Frost Shock returns every 3 for a 4 second slow and 5.6. Searing Totem lasts 14 seconds on a 14 second cooldown, a turret with no gap. Magma Totem is the button with the 2 second gap.

Tradeoffs

Paladin is the neighbor in B tier, 118.3 against 116.0. Paladin Consecration is stronger than Magma Totem, 52.3 against 29.4, and Paladin has 160 health. Shaman Flame Shock plus Chain Lightning is the part Paladin does not have, and Shaman can wolf for 6 seconds. Consecration does not follow the Paladin. It is a ground spell that stays on the patch where it was placed, the same way Magma Totem stays.

Druid Hurricane is also a ground spell, radius 8, clear score 41.2, inside a 147.2 total. Magma Totem lasts 14 seconds, against Hurricane ticking as a recast every 10. Druid can root for 4 seconds inside the six. Shaman slow is Frost Shock at 5.6 and it is not in the six. Different hold, different score.

Recommended Shaman build

Flame Shock, Magma Totem, Chain Lightning, Lightning Shield, Lightning Bolt, and Searing Totem total 116.0, with tier power at 118.4. Earth Shock and Frost Shock are the bench. Promote Frost Shock when a 4 second slow is worth more than Searing Totem at 9.5.

1. 1
   Flame Shock

   • Strike
   • 3s cooldown
   • clear score 31.0
2. 2
   Magma Totem

   • Totem
   • 16s cooldown
   • clear score 29.4
3. 3
   Chain Lightning

   • Chain
   • 3s cooldown
   • clear score 20.1
4. 4
   Lightning Shield

   • Orbit
   • 0.9s cooldown
   • clear score 14.0
5. 5
   Lightning Bolt

   • Bolt
   • 1.3s cooldown
   • clear score 12.1
6. 6
   Searing Totem

   • Totem
   • 14s cooldown
   • clear score 9.5

Passives

Three passives move a Shaman six. Arcane Intellect at level 5 is the large one at +77.4, Blessing of Might is +58.0, and Blessing of Kings is +21.9. Area never joins them. Level haste first anyway. The totem cooldown is long, and haste is what brings Flame Shock and Chain Lightning back.

Mistakes

Replacing Magma Totem with Frost Shock because the slow feels safer. You trade 29.4 and a 14 second radius 7 for 5.6 and a 4 second snare.

Standing in Lightning Shield range on purpose. Radius 4 and clear score 14.0 is the emergency orbit. The lead tools are at range 20.

Ghost Wolf

Ghost Wolf is 1.6 times speed for 6 seconds, cooldown 15, learned at level 5. Use those 6 seconds to place the next Magma Totem on a new pack. The current totem will not follow you, and the next one is on a 16 second cooldown.

Skill numbers

Other classes

• S Warlock
• S Warrior
• A Mage
• A Druid
• A Hunter
• B Paladin
• C Priest
• C Rogue

Same tier

• Paladin

FAQ