Why You Should Play Elemental Shaman in Dragonflight (And Why You Shouldn't)

Live Posted 2022/11/21 at 3:00 AM by HawkCorrigan

Need help choosing a new Class in Dragonflight? Check out all the released articles in the 'Why You Should Play a Spec' series below:
Why You Should Play a Spec in Dragonflight (and Why You Shouldn't) Series

Blood DKFrost DK
Unholy DK
Havoc DH
Vengeance DH
Balance Druid
Feral Druid
Guardian DruidRestoration Druid
Devastation Evoker
Preservation Evoker
Beast Mastery Hunter
Marksmanship HunterSurvival HunterArcane MageFrost MageFire Mage

Brewmaster Monk
Mistweaver Monk
Windwalker MonkHoly Paladin

Protection PaladinRetribution Paladin
Discipline PriestHoly Priest
Shadow Priest
Assassination RogueOutlaw RogueSubtlety Rogue
Elemental ShamanEnhancement Shaman
Restoration Shaman
Affliction Warlock
Demonology Warlock
Destruction Warlock

Arms Warrior
Fury Warrior
Protection Warrior

Storm, Earth and LavaWhy You Should Play Elemental Shaman in Dragonflight (and Why You Shouldn't)you

Why You Should

Why You Shouldn't

Why You Should Play Elemental Shaman in DragonflightPrimordial SurgeElemental BlastMountains Will FallWindspeaker's Lava ResurgenceDeeply Rooted ElementsFurther BeyondLava BurstIcefuryFlux MeltingSurge of PowerStormkeeperLava BurstDeeply Rooted ElementsAscendancePrimordial WaveSplintered ElementsLiquid Magma TotemTotemic RecallFlame ShockFlame ShockMagma ChamberAscendanceMagma ChamberEarthquakeAscendanceFurther BeyondWindspeaker's Lava ResurgenceEchoes of Great SunderingElemental EquilibriumElemental BlastMountains Will FallLiquid Magma TotemTotemic RecallAncestral GuidancePoison Cleansing TotemEarthbind TotemCapacitor TotemHexEarthgrab TotemThunderstormTremor TotemPoison Cleansing TotemCleanse SpiritPurgeGreater PurgeAncestral GuidanceHealing Stream TotemEarth ShieldMana SpringGust of WindWind Rush TotemNature's GuardianAstral ShiftReincarnationChain LightningLava BeamAftershockLava BurstPrimordial WaveAscendanceWhy You Shouldn't Play Elemental Shaman in DragonflightMana SpringInnervateWind Rush TotemStampeding RoarEarthgrab TotemMass EntanglementBloodlustPoison Cleansing TotemTranquil Air TotemStoneskin TotemPoison Cleansing TotemSkyfury TotemPower InfusionImproved Flametongue WeaponFlametongue WeaponImproved Flametongue WeaponPower of the MaelstromLava BurstLightning BoltChain LightningLightning BoltLightning BoltLava Burst

Comment by zynklu'Why you should play Shadow Priest' in writing I presume?Comment by Rulke1104I would love to be able to bring utility to the raid team in Dragonflight. I don't think a watered down elesham mastery for everyone else is the best choice, but it would be better than nothing.
Alternately we could have some kind of boon of the elements which just gives a random raid buff from the pool so you can fill any missing slotsComment by roldy27I have not yet seen a compelling argument by blizzard on why every class except for three (shaman, dk & hunter) are getting some strong unique and required pieces of utility or a raidbuff. I have seen them dance arround the question repeatedly but it never lessened my concerns.

I like how Ion brought up that not every class should be in on every fight then why did they give almost every class some piece of utility that guarentees that they are required on every fight? You're not benching your only druid if they give your whole raid 3% damage and 1.5% dr.

I also always love how it is being brought up by devs or players that having all buffs is not a requirement for anything outside of the top5 guilds. And while that is a fair point and probably true, first of all people still like to be optimal and do the most amount of damage (see how covenants played out) and second of all the world first race is being broadcasted to hundreds of thousands of people and if we see no shamans/dks/hunters (tuning dependant) the perception of those classes while change drastically.Comment by cheinii'Why you should play Shadow Priest' in writing I presume?Comment by ReciTerokkarcant wait for why you shouldnt and shouldnt play ret pallyComment by VSozonov and if we see no shamans/dks/hunters (tuning dependant) the perception of those classes while change drastically.Comment by MadHatt0rPlease, WoWhead, if you do this kind of article for the Enhancer, just name it
Why you shouldnt play Enhancement Shaman (just dont)Comment by EzyahThe only valid reason is you wanted to play a range and it was either ELE or SPComment by roldy27 and if we see no shamans/dks/hunters (tuning dependant) the perception of those classes while change drastically.Comment by Selaflaffy'Why you should play Shadow Priest' in writing I presume?Comment by SelaflaffyPlease, WoWhead, if you do this kind of article for the Enhancer, just name it
Why you shouldnt play Enhancement Shaman (just dont)Comment by JakoGreat article. I still plan on playing elemental but some of this is true, balance druid and mages literally would be a better pick for DPS. Elemental still needs work and blizzard won't do anythingComment by ScaryfoxPlease, WoWhead, if you do this kind of article for the Enhancer, just name it
Why you shouldnt play Enhancement Shaman (just dont)Comment by ScaryfoxI actually played an Elemental Shaman before the new talent trees came in. It was pretty fun until there was a lot of things to remember. The new UI probably wouldn't help albeit there's at least guides for it.Comment by orca2017I really wanted a fire elemental shaman. But they changed the build to lighting build .was really excited then my hopes were dashed..I'm going to play my destro warlock instead..sorry.. sad pandaComment by SlimTimDoWorkEle looks sick this xpac. Can't wait to read the "Why you DEFINITELY SHOULD NOT play Hunter in Dragonflight" article.Comment by robertmfrostIf you did a chart of "what utilities does each class bring", most all of the Shaman's utilities can be provided by another class (and the other class might have a better version of it too). HOWEVER, you could bring just ONE Shaman instead of MULTIPLE other classes to gain access to those utilities.

That's the biggest win as far as their utility is concerned. They might not have many "unique" utilities, but they have a LOT of utilities.Comment by zymanskihEnh had a guaranteed spot throughout Shadowlands because of windfury totemComment by MewlyzI know it breaks the lore, but I'm super attached to my main character (ele sham) and wish that I could be other classes on that same character like FFXIV allows lol.Comment by DcvicksI really wanted a fire elemental shaman. But they changed the build to lighting build .was really excited then my hopes were dashed..I'm going to play my destro warlock instead..sorry.. sad panda