Shamans Resto Spec with improved Shields

[Dommino]

Ok,

Since the days of down-ranking chain heals and chain-chugging mana pots is over, I've decided to poke around with the "Improved Shields" spec. This spec has great utility in that it offers added mana return through mana shield, but also offers added health returns for the earth shield.

White ticks (in battle ground testing) of my earth shield were ticking on me for 1375. This is up from the ~1050/1150 white ticks without the improved shield spec.

I've not tested enough to determine the mana return gains, but from a playability standpoint the return of mana (gain) is noticeable.

Adding improved shields could be especially useful at level 80 since there doesn't seem to be a new MP5 food being introduced with WotLK. Additionally, the Mana Oils will no longer work on items specified for level 80.

(I put two points into Ghost Wolf because I love this talent for pvp. You can easily take those two points and put them into improved totems)

feel free to post questions & thoughts.

Resto Spec with Improved Shields

[Hibernicus]

Originally Posted by Dommino

...there doesn't seem to be a new MP5 food being introduced with WotLK.

Not quite true, Domm. There's a hell of a lot of new food buffs out there in Northrend, and Blizz certainly didn't leave you spirit-spurning healers out in the cold. You'd got lots to choose from, including [Spicy Fried Herring], [Mighty Rhino Dogs], and [Pickled Fangtooth].

The 16 MP5 foods are the "superior" type of food buff in wrath, which require a [Northern Spices] to cook up. Northern Spices are relatively rare, as the only source of them is through doing the cooking dailies in Dalaran. Each time you complete one of the dailies (which are very quick and easy and require no killing, or fishing), you get a random amount of Northern Spices (up to 6 I think) as well as a "fun" spice ([Baby Spice], [Old Spices]) and a [Dalaran Cooking Award]. The cooking awards are used to buy cooking recipes that require Northern Spices, but they can also be used to buy 10 of said spices.

The "regular" food buffs provide a bit less value, but don't require limited-supply spices to create. In the early months of Wrath, I expect that the "superior" foods will be used only for the final pushes on progression boss kills, at least until northern Spices become more readily available.

[Dommino]

Thanks for posting Hiber. I look forward to the new food recipes and the new cooking daily quests. I must have been looking at an older post when I was reviewing the new food items because I didn't see an MP5 one on the list. I am really glad to hear there is one!

[BlackElite]

I've not tested enough to determine the mana return gains, but from a playability standpoint the return of mana (gain) is noticeable.

I have had improved shields for some time now IMO it's stupid not too 15% compared too 10% improved earth shields. once hitting 80 you can have all the toy's in both spec's. Also having Crit will help alot if you rotate your spells after a chain heal you will get a faster heal Plus if you crit you will get mana return. But this also goes hand and hand with Improved water shields. My guess and still stands once hitting 80 crit is going to be the key here for many reasons in the resto talent tree IMO.

right now the mana return on water shields is 234 per tick (with improved) do the math crit will also give u many mana gains over a coarse of a boss fight.

also IMO the way the talents are setup and with Tidal force leaving you with crit base spells to a degree while you will still need mana per 5 but i think if you can get some what base amount of crit it will effectively give you mana return on your shields and a proper spell rotation after crit will be a bonus.

i have a setup ready for lvl 80 and could only get better as time goes on after raiding in the new Xpac

Totem of the Thunderhead - WoWWiki - Your guide to the World of Warcraft is worth a try since the improved water shields came into effect not sure whats on the loot table for wrath though for a replacement. don't know what you guys have but the inscription passive mana on shields is a bonus also giving you 60 mana per 5.

these are my thought anyway


Mr.Black

[Dommino]

Great post Black, thanks!

I intend on taking advantage of all the spell crit I can effectively get at 80, because I agree that its going to make a big difference. Naturally we will have to see how it scales, but on the surface it looks like its going to be a big help on mana return.

I'll post any and all spec's i mess with in this thread. Hopefully everyone will so that we can see how people are using their talents and figure out what's working and what's not.

keep the posts coming!

dom

[BlackElite]

ya once the Xpac hits we will know for sure exactly were these points are going to fall. But this post will be a great idea dom for sharing our idea's to get the best build

Mr.Black

[Dommino]

This will be the first spec I try at level 80. I am stacking points into the improved shields (as we discussed earlier in the thread) as well as picking up "enhancing totems" (for obvious reasons) and "thundering strikes" to buff my crit an additional 5%.

I am also going back and maxing out "tidal mastery" and "blessing of eternals" for a total of +14% to crit. I want to see how efficient it is for both HPS and mana return. If it doesn't pan out, then i'll start moving points around to see how best to maximize my HPS and mana return.

level 80 test spec

I avoided "healing way" because I don't throw many "healing waves" during raids. its just not that mana efficient. I sacrificed "natures guardian" since this build is a raid spec and I shouldn't be taking that much damage anyway.

Once I get to 80 and have a chance to play with the build, i'll post my comments here.

[BlackElite]

Yup good stuff Dom also if you didn't know there is a inscription that you also could try out once spec'ing into totems this inscription will also give you an addition 2% crit check it out :P Thats for Flametongue

Mr.Black

[Dommino]

I think your refering to Glyph of Flametongue Weapon

It does grant an additional +2% to crit, but only when flametongue weapon is active 8-(

[BlackElite]

I thought i seen one for totems but maybe that was a dream hehe PEW PEW

Mr.Black