If you are not sure what class to pick when starting World of Warcraft or if you are looking for a strong alt, you can find a simple analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of each class here. Since the classes are so different, choosing the right character from the start can you save a great deal of time.

WoW Shaman Strengths

• Can use mail as armor at level 40.
• Can use a shield while a hunter cannot.
• Can heal.
• The best combo for a spell caster/fighter.
• Can self-rez and then resurrect the rest of the group.
• Ability to use totems.
• Many choices for weaponry.
• Versatility.
• Powerful buffs, like Spirit Wolf Form, which will increase your run speed by 40% while stealthed.

WoW Shaman Weaknesses

• Totems need to be managed constantly and they may be easily destroyed.
• Due to the great flexibility of the class, it’s hard to focus on just 2 or 3 attributes.
• Can not use weapons like swords and 2 handed axes.
• Can dual wield only if going deep in the Enhancement tree.
• Cannot use ranged weapons.
• Rarely is a shaman “best” at the role they choose.

Time is perhaps one the most precious commodities when it comes to gaming. As such, there are few things in gaming as disappointing as class selection regret. The choice of a hybrid class is one such way of eliminating the regret that comes with choosing a role the player dislikes. Who has the time to create and level a whole new character? (Well most gamers, but I digress). The WoW Shaman is an outstanding selection for players who like variety, or who may have an issue with committing to just one role.

Flavor

To quote William Shatner the WoW Shaman is a ¡°conduit for the ancient forces of nature.” What does that mean, exactly? The WoW Shaman has the ability to wield the mystic forces of nature as either casters or to use nature to increase their physical prowess to act as melee characters. As such, they are a formidable hybrid class. As a hybrid class the WoW Shaman’s role is defined by the selections the player chooses. The WoW Shaman’s three schools of talents are Elemental, Enhancement, and Restoration. Elemental and Enhancement focus on the damage that WoW shaman can produce. It’s up the player to select how they prefer to assault their enemies. What’s your choice? From a long distance with a mystical elemental spell or up close and personal as an enhanced melee? Restoration speaks for itself; it’s the healing abilities that WoW shaman can possess. Speaking of healing abilities, WoW Shamans not only have the ability to resurrect players out of combat, they can also resurrect themselves. A little ability called Reincarnation, a fantastic ability for those times when encounters just don’t go the way you or your party plan. There is a cool down to Reincarnation, so don’t use it as an excuse for reckless game play.

Totems, Totems, Totems

The most distinguishing trait of the WoW shaman is the use of totems. Totems are the physical manifestation of the WoW shaman’s power. Totems are represented by the four classic elements (earth, wind, fire, and air) and as such only one totem of any element may be present at one time. Like the WoW shaman the totems can be used for anything from dealing damage to healing and buffing party members. The totems do not move with the player, so positioning is crucial to the WoW shaman and the players he is looking to assist. The totems each have their own life expectancy depending on their function. Another drawback to these totems is that they may be physically attacked and destroyed. It’s generally not a concern during PvE encounters but savvy PvP players may focus on removing a group’s enhancements by destroying these totems. Well let’s face it, most savvy players will just kill the WoW Shaman, and the totems will dissipate along with the WoW Shaman’s death.

Armor and Weapons

Through leveling Shamans gain the ability to wear the second highest form of armor in the game (mail), granting them tremendous defensive capabilities. Depending on the build of your character, it is not uncommon to see shamans wearing every type of armor from cloth to mail. The armor bonuses and statistics will dictate what the best armor is for your character, not just the material it is made from. As with their armor, the WoW Shamans have a broad range of weapons to select from as well. There are only a few selections unavailable to the Shaman. If your choice is to be a complete melee damage dealer, the ability to dual wield weapons is another trainable option open to the Shaman. Shamans are limited to only melee weapons, guns and bows are not an option for the Shaman.

The end game for the WoW  shaman mirrors the versatility of their leveling. It is player defined; find the role with which you are most comfortable and the gaming sky is the limit. With the in-game option of changing your spec, the WoW Shaman can often fill in the gaps that groups may face. Throughout every major end game encounter, I’ve grouped with Shamans who have acted as both the primary and secondary healers. Additionally I’ve grouped with those who do extensive damage in the role of DPS, and can often off-tank for a bit. This also applies to the WoW shaman’s function in PvP. Their high armor class potential gives them a bit of a longer shelf life then some other classes. With the dynamic motion of PvP, the WoW Shaman’s totems become a little bit more limited.

The bottom line is the WoW Shaman is a versatile class, which is one of their greatest strengths. Be warned, such versatility comes with a price. Having a wide array of choices to select from, you will seldom be number one in the ranking of your choice. That is not the worst fate a gamer can face. However, if topping the meters in competion in is an absolute necessity to you, you may not want to choose the WoW Shaman. If being a well rounded player that can PvP and group with great results, I would highly recommend this class. Keep in mind, Shatner did the World of Warcraft commercial for this class, and that should count for a lot.