Filed under: Shaman, Patches, Analysis / Opinion, Talents, (Shaman) Totem Talk
The most recent patch notes for the PTR are among us. As promised, quite a few changes for shamans, especially elemental shamans, are included in this patch. First off, let's look at the specific changes to shamans.Shaman
Fire Nova Totem: Now no longer generates threat.
Healing Way: Now only one application is required to reach full benefit. No longer stacks.
Improved Water Shield: Lesser Healing Wave now has a reduced chance to trigger this talent.
Magma Totem: The damage and scaling has been increased and no longer generates threat.
Mental Quickness and Static Shock have switched positions in the talent tree.
Mental Quickness: Reduces the mana cost of instant cast Shaman spells by 2/4/6% and increases spell power by an amount equal to 10/20/30% of your attack power.
Searing Totem (Rank 4) now does the proper damage for its rank.
Tremor Totem's duration has been increased from 2 minutes to 5 minutes.
The changes to Fire Nova and Magma Totem are aimed at shaman AoE issues: it seems the Blizzard designers are really set on shaman AoE coming from totems or Chain Lightning. While I'm still not sold on losing either Flametongue or Totem of Wrath just to do some AoE, hopefully the removal of threat on these totems will help.
The Imp WS change keeps you from using up a charge on a relatively low mana cost LHW, which I can see even if I won't be happy if I have no mana left and am using LHW because it's the only healing spell I have the mana for. The change to Healing Way is probably due to the fact that a lot of resto shamans don't bother to take it anymore since they have a more varied spell rotation with Riptide and Chain Heal still the standouts. I honestly don't know if this change will really accomplish much: it may encourage people to put a Healing Wave into the rotation just to keep the buff up, but if you're doing 90% of your healing with riptide and CH anyway, you may just not bother and keep not spending the talent points on it.
Continue reading Totem Talk: 3.0.8, The Rise of Shamanism
Totem Talk: 3.0.8, The Rise of Shamanism originally appeared on World of warcraft Insider on Thu, 08 Jan 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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