World of Warcraft: Forever · class guide
Enhancement Shaman: PvP
How Enhancement Shaman fights other players in the open world: where it ranks on the PvP tier lists, and why.
Forecast. Rated from the client data and our research, before anyone has played it at this level on this build. Where the data stops, the write-up says what it assumed. Rated as of , build 1.60.1.70450.
Battlegrounds are not rated yet; builds, matchups and battleground roles are being written for this spec. Honor, ranks, gear and the battlegrounds themselves are on PvP in World of Warcraft: Forever.
Verdict
- At 60
- Ranked 19 of 28 on Open-World PvP
A single-weapon melee Shaman with Windfury and
Stormstrike, and instant 
Ghost Wolf as its one reliable way to leave. - While leveling
- Ranked 11 of 28 on Open-World PvP Leveling
Thundering Strikes early, then Frostbrand and instant Ghost Wolf at 20, with Stormstrike at 25 and Windfury at 30 arriving late. - Battlegrounds
- Not rated yet.
Profile
The rubric the lists score on, 1 to 5 on each line, with the weight each line carries. The class’s other specs are shown at 60 for comparison.
| Criterion | Weight | At 60 | While leveling | Elemental | Restoration |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Burst and kill pressure | 25 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 |
| Survival and escapes | 20 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 4 |
| Control | 15 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Fighting outnumbered | 15 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 |
| Choosing the fight | 10 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 2 |
| Sustain between fights | 10 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 4 |
| Group fights | 5 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 5 |
| Weighted score | 3.00 | 2.95 | 2.55 | 2.80 |
Strengths and weaknesses
At 60
| Strengths | Weaknesses |
|---|---|
| Instant Ghost Wolf with +40% speed, usable indoors | Single weapon, no dual wield |
| Windfury and Stormstrike melee burst | No hard crowd control |
| Sturdiest of the three Shaman | Poor against two |
 Shamanistic Focus and  Improved Stormstrike mana | Mail only from 40 |
 Earth Shock interrupt |
Why it ranks where it does on Open-World PvP
Windfury Weapon gives a 20% chance of two extra attacks, and Stormstrike on an 8 s cooldown makes the next 
Lightning Bolt, 
Chain Lightning or Earth Shock do 20% more. 
Flurry, Thundering Strikes and 
Rage of the Farseer (+30% attack speed for 25 s, 3 minute cooldown) add to it. This is a melee burst on one weapon, since Shaman cannot dual wield. Control is the Earth Shock interrupt, 
Frost Shock, Earthbind and a 25% Frostbrand slow chance, none of it hard.
Anticipation gives 6% dodge, 
Spirit Weapons adds parry, 
Toughness gives 10% Stamina and mail arrives at 40, which makes it the sturdiest Shaman, though it has no panic button. Improved Ghost Wolf makes the wolf instant, +40% speed and usable indoors, so it can chase or leave. Against two it has 
Lightning Shield and 
Magma Totem and has to stay in melee. Shamanistic Focus cuts shock costs by 45% and Improved Stormstrike returns mana, and 
Tremor Totem helps a group.
It is not B because it scores 2 on outnumbered and only 3 on burst, survival, control and sustain. Its burst is a single weapon, its control has nothing hard in it and its one escape breaks on a hit. 3.00 is 0.25 short of B.
While leveling
| Strengths | Weaknesses |
|---|---|
| Instant Ghost Wolf from 20 | Damage tools arrive late |
| Frostbrand slow from 20 | Poor against two |
| Stormstrike at 25 and Windfury at 30 | Must stay in melee |
| Anticipation, Toughness and Spirit Weapons | Little for objectives |
| Shamanistic Focus mana |
Why it ranks where it does on Open-World PvP Leveling
Thundering Strikes and 
Ancestral Knowledge come early in the tree, Lightning Shield at 8, and Stormstrike arrives at 25 from the guide with Windfury Weapon at 30. 
Frostbrand Weapon at 20 adds a 25% slow chance, and Earth Shock is the interrupt. Maelstrom at 35 and Rage of the Farseer at 40 are beyond the beta, and all of it is done with one weapon.
Anticipation at 20, Toughness at 25 to 30 and Spirit Weapons at 30 give it some toughness on the way. Improved Ghost Wolf, a level-15 talent, is usable from 20 as an instant +40% run, which lets it choose and end fights. Against two it has only Lightning Shield, and it has to stay in melee. Shamanistic Focus at 20 eases its mana, and Ghost Wolf at 20 is its only objective tool.
It is not B because outnumbered is 2, objectives is 2, and its burst only comes together at 25 to 30. The instant wolf carries the list score. 2.95 is 0.30 short of B.
Leveling timeline
The level each of Enhancement’s PvP tools arrives. A talent shows at the earliest level a point can reach it; the Talented Legacy perk brings talents 5 levels sooner.
- Level 4 Earth Shock
- Level 6
Earthbind Totem - Level 8 Lightning Shield
- Level 12
Purge - Level 16
Cure Poison - Level 18 Tremor Totem
- Level 20 Ghost Wolf, Frost Shock
- Level 22
Poison Cleansing Totem - Level 25 Stormstrike (talent)
- Level 30
Grounding Totem
Races
The Shaman’s races as Races PvP ranks them, best first.
Dwarf
StoneformHorde
Orc: 
Blood Fury is the strongest burst cooldown of any race, and 
Hardiness and 
Shatter Curse give some breaks and defense, but no mobility.
Tauren: 
War Stomp and 
Plainsrunning give the best mobility and 
Endurance adds health, but it breaks nothing and has the weakest burst.
Skyborne (Windshaper): 
Wind Blessed gives steady haste and 
Skysight a 30 second sprint, but it has no control break and no defensive.
Troll: 
Berserking is a burst for seven classes, but Troll has no control break or mobility and 
Rapid Regeneration works out of combat.
What we don’t know yet
At 60
Rated on assumptions:
- Everything at level 60 is projected from client data and the spec's own talent tree; nobody has played past the beta cap of 30.
- Rage of the Farseer at 40 and
Maelstrom Weapon are projected from the own tree and client data. - Mail armor at 40 is client data, not played.
- Diminishing returns on stuns, fears and silences are not documented for Forever.
- Whether a hit breaks Ghost Wolf is Classic Era behavior; no Forever source says so.
What would move it: Level-60 play showing whether a single weapon keeps up in burst, or documentation of diminishing returns that make its slows more useful.
While leveling
Rated on assumptions:
- Levels past the beta cap of 30 are projected from client data and the spec's own talent tree; nobody has played past 30.
- Stormstrike at 25 is from the guide; Maelstrom at 35 and Rage of the Farseer at 40 are projected.
- Talent arrival levels past 30 are derived, not played.
- Whether a hit breaks Ghost Wolf is Classic Era behavior; no Forever source says so.
What would move it: Play at 25 to 40 showing Stormstrike and Windfury carrying fights, or Improved Ghost Wolf turning out to be available before 20.