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World of Warcraft: Forever · class guide

Restoration Shaman: Races

Every race Restoration Shaman can be, ranked against each other: best first, with how much the choice matters.

Best races for Restoration Shaman

Best races for Restoration Shaman in PvE

Race matters some

Race matters only a little for Restoration Shaman, about 1 to 2% in healing. Orc and Skyborne tie at the top, and Tauren is close behind with Endurance and War Stomp. Dwarf is the best Alliance pick. Orc and Skyborne (Windshaper) tie as the best Horde pick.

  1. Orc S tier

    Shatter Curse gives Orc a lead on safety and ties it for the best pick for Restoration Shaman.

    Why S, and its scores

    Blood Fury adds spell power for 15 seconds, but whether it helps healing is unconfirmed. Savage adds 1% crit. Hardiness cuts stun duration 20%, and Shatter Curse removes Curses and Banes and cuts magic damage taken 5% for 8 seconds, every 3 minutes. The class has no curse removal of its own, which makes Shatter Curse worth having. Safety scores 4 of 5 for Restoration Shaman. Hardiness helps against stuns, and little else helps leveling. Leveling scores 2 of 5.

    Skyborne (Windshaper) ties it at 2.5, so the pick between them is a matter of taste: Orc leads on safety (Shatter Curse), and Skyborne (Windshaper) leads on healing (Wind Blessed) and leveling (Skysight).

    Scores for Orc for Restoration Shaman
    CriterionWeightScore
    The spec's job55 2
    Survival and utility25 4
    Leveling and downtime20 2

    Weighted score 2.50, the best for this spec, which is S tier.

    What would move it: It would lose first place if testing showed Wind Blessed on Skyborne (Windshaper) worth more than the estimate for Restoration Shaman now, or if Blood Fury were cut in a patch.

    The Orc race page

  2. Skyborne Windshaper S tier

    Wind Blessed gives Skyborne (Windshaper) a lead on healing and ties it for the best pick for Restoration Shaman.

    Why S, and its scores

    Wind Blessed adds 3% cast speed on Healing Wave and Chain Heal, an estimated 1 to 2% more healing, and it burns mana faster. Walk on Air is a 10 second glide on a 90 second cooldown, and that is the whole safety kit. Safety scores 1 of 5 for Restoration Shaman. Skysight adds 10% movement speed for 30 seconds, or 15 minutes at an elemental convergence. Leveling scores 3 of 5.

    It ties Orc at the top weighted score and trails by 0.00.

    Scores for Skyborne (Windshaper) for Restoration Shaman
    CriterionWeightScore
    The spec's job55 3
    Survival and utility25 1
    Leveling and downtime20 3

    Weighted score 2.50, the best for this spec, which is S tier.

    What would move it: It would take sole first place if a test showed Wind Blessed worth more for Restoration Shaman than the estimate now, or if Blood Fury on Orc lost value.

    The Skyborne race page

  3. Tauren S tier

    Tauren's Endurance trails Orc's Blood Fury on healing.

    Why S, and its scores

    Endurance adds 2% to the crit bonus of healing, about 0.2% more healing, and 5% health. War Stomp stuns up to 5 enemies for 2 seconds on a 90 second cooldown, and Endurance adds 5% health. Safety scores 4 of 5 for Restoration Shaman. Plainsrunning adds up to 30% movement speed while moving, and Endurance adds 5% health. Leveling scores 3 of 5.

    Ahead of it: Orc and Skyborne (Windshaper). The best, Orc, is 0.35 ahead because it is stronger on healing (Blood Fury, 2 of 5 against 1). This race wins on leveling (Plainsrunning) but not by enough. That is within 0.50 of the best, so it stays in tier S.

    Scores for Tauren for Restoration Shaman
    CriterionWeightScore
    The spec's job55 1
    Survival and utility25 4
    Leveling and downtime20 3

    Weighted score 2.15, 0.35 behind the best race for this spec, which is S tier.

    What would move it: It would lead outright if a test showed Endurance worth more than the estimate now, or if Blood Fury on Orc lost value.

    The Tauren race page

  4. Dwarf A tier

    Dwarf's Earth Fury trails Orc's Blood Fury on healing.

    Why A, and its scores

    Earth Fury adds 2% to the crit bonus, about 0.1 to 0.4% more output, an estimate. That is close to nothing for this spec's job. Stoneform removes bleed, poison and disease, grants immunity to them and cuts physical damage taken 10% for 8 seconds, every 3 minutes. Safety scores 4 of 5 for Restoration Shaman. Big Game Hunter helps only against Beasts, and Stoneform handles poison. Leveling scores 2 of 5.

    Ahead of it: Orc, Skyborne (Windshaper) and Tauren. The best, Orc, is 0.55 ahead because it is stronger on healing (Blood Fury, 2 of 5 against 1). Tier A covers up to 0.83 behind; tier S needs 0.50 or less.

    Scores for Dwarf for Restoration Shaman
    CriterionWeightScore
    The spec's job55 1
    Survival and utility25 4
    Leveling and downtime20 2

    Weighted score 1.95, 0.55 behind the best race for this spec, which is A tier.

    What would move it: Closing about 0.05 of weighted score, through a higher tested value for Earth Fury or a change to Blood Fury on Orc, would lift it to tier S.

    The Dwarf race page

  5. Troll B tier

    Troll's Berserking trails Orc's Blood Fury on healing.

    Why B, and its scores

    Berserking adds 10% speed for 10 seconds per 3 minutes, about 0.6% on average and up to about 1% on a short fight (an estimate). Rapid Regeneration heals 50% of maximum health over 6 seconds, but any movement, action or damage cancels it. Regeneration adds 20% health regen. Safety scores 2 of 5 for Restoration Shaman. Regeneration adds 20% health regen (20% of it works in combat), and Beast Slaying adds 5% damage to Beasts. Leveling scores 3 of 5.

    Ahead of it: Orc, Skyborne (Windshaper), Tauren and 1 more. The best, Orc, is 0.85 ahead because it is stronger on healing (Blood Fury, 2 of 5 against 1) and safety (Shatter Curse, 4 of 5 against 2). This race wins on leveling (Regeneration) but not by enough. Tier B covers up to 1.17 behind; tier A needs 0.83 or less.

    Scores for Troll for Restoration Shaman
    CriterionWeightScore
    The spec's job55 1
    Survival and utility25 2
    Leveling and downtime20 3

    Weighted score 1.65, 0.85 behind the best race for this spec, which is B tier.

    What would move it: Closing about 0.02 of weighted score, through a higher tested value for Berserking or a change to Blood Fury on Orc, would lift it to tier A.

    The Troll race page

How these are ranked

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.

For each of the 28 specs, every race that can play it, ranked against each other for that spec: what the race's racials give it in PvE, leveling 1 to 60 and then in dungeons and raids at 60. It answers one question per spec: which race should I pick for it?

A tier says how far a race trails the best race for the same spec, never how it compares with another spec's races: an S Dwarf Protection Warrior and an S Undead Fire Mage are each the best for their own spec. The best race of every spec is S. Each spec also says how much the choice matters: on some specs the best and worst races are a few percent apart, on others one racial decides it.

The scores are the racials' worth on fixed anchors (1 to 5). The tier comes from the weighted score's gap to the spec's best: 5 minus 1.5 times the gap, against the thresholds, so S is within 0.50 of the best and F more than 1.83 behind.

The racials are rated from their tooltips and the client's numbers; none has been measured in play. The percentages are estimates, and no racial is worth more than about 3% of a spec's output, so a damage spec's races are often close and its pick is a matter of a few percent.

Where a racial answers something a spec cannot do without, the gap is larger: Stoneform for a tank, a mana return for a healer, a fear break for a melee spec. Those specs say race matters a lot.

The rubric: each criterion scored 1 to 5
CriterionWeightWhat it measures
The spec's job55What the racials add to what the spec is for at 60: damage for a damage spec, healing and mana for a healer, survival and threat for a tank. 5: about 3% or more of the spec's output, or one racial the role leans on most fights (a tank's Stoneform, a healer's large mana return). 3: about 1 to 1.5%, or a role racial that helps on some fights. 1: nothing that adds to the spec's job.
Survival and utility25Racials that keep this spec alive or help its group, beyond its main job: removing or ignoring a common danger (fear, poison, disease, curse, stun), a damage cut, a threat drop, an interrupt or stun the spec lacks. 5: helps on most fights. 3: one racial that helps on some fights. 1: nothing.
Leveling and downtime20Makes leveling this spec quicker or easier: less eating and drinking, more health, speed, a strong solo cooldown. 5: a large help throughout. 3: helps a little, or helps some of the levels. 1: nothing.
S 0.50 or less behind the best
The best race for this spec, or as good as makes no difference.
A 0.83 or less behind the best
A little behind the best; a fine pick if you prefer it.
B 1.17 or less behind the best
Behind the best, but nothing you will notice most nights.
C 1.50 or less behind the best
Clearly behind the best on what this spec needs.
D 1.83 or less behind the best
Well behind the best; pick it for other reasons.
F more than 1.83 behind
The furthest behind for this spec.

What the ratings assume:

  • Racials as of the stated build: the client's tooltips, cooldowns and numbers, after the 15–16 Oct racial rework.
  • The spec played as its class guide sets it out, in its usual group role at 60, and leveled as that spec.
  • Gear: leveling gear, then pre-raid blues at 60.
  • No Legacy perks and no world buffs.
  • Faction is not rated. Both factions' races sit on one scale; each spec names the best pick on each side.
  • The game rules of the stated build. A patch that changes a racial makes a new version.

Best races for Restoration Shaman in PvP

Race matters some

Restoration has the best sustain and the lowest burst, with Tremor Totem for fear and charm. Curses and stuns are what end it, and curses are the one thing the class cannot cleanse. Two races sit within 0.30 of each other. The spread is 0.95, so the choice matters some. Dwarf is the best Alliance pick. Orc is the best Horde pick.

  • Best Alliance pick: Dwarf B tier
  • Best Horde pick: Orc S tier

  1. Orc S tier

    Orc leads Restoration Shaman: Hardiness gives it the best breaks.

    Why S, and its scores

    Breaks scores 4 of 5: Hardiness cuts stun duration 20% at all times, and Shatter Curse removes curses. Shatter Curse answers Curse of Tongues, Curse of Exhaustion and Curse of Weakness, the curses that shut a healer down. Burst scores 2 of 5: Blood Fury adds 10% attack power and spell power for 15 seconds on a 3 minute cooldown, and Savage adds 1% crit. Defensives scores 2 of 5: Shatter Curse cuts magic damage 5% for 8 seconds. Mobility scores 1 of 5: Orc has nothing here.

    No race is ahead of it. The next race, Tauren, is 0.30 behind and sits in tier S. It falls short on breaks (Hardiness, 4 of 5, against 1 here) and burst (Blood Fury, 2 of 5, against Endurance, 1).

    Scores for Orc for Restoration Shaman
    CriterionWeightScore
    Breaks and escapes30 4
    Burst25 2
    Defensives25 2
    Mobility and detection20 1

    Weighted score 2.40, the best for this spec, which is S tier.

    What would move it: It would lose first place if testing whether Blood Fury's cooldown is 3 minutes (older notes say 2) went against it, or if its Hardiness were cut in a patch. Tauren is 0.30 behind, so a small change could close it.

    The Orc race page

  2. Tauren S tier

    Tauren stays close to Orc for Restoration Shaman: War Stomp keeps it in tier S, short on breaks and burst.

    Why S, and its scores

    Breaks scores 1 of 5: Tauren has no break from control. Burst scores 1 of 5: Endurance adds a 2% crit bonus. Defensives scores 3 of 5: Endurance adds 5% health. Mobility scores 4 of 5: War Stomp stuns five enemies within 8 yards for 2 seconds (0.5 second cast, 90 second cooldown, and a stun or interrupt cuts it), and Plainsrunning adds speed while moving.

    It is 0.30 behind Orc, the best race for this spec, and sits in tier S. The gap comes from breaks (Hardiness, 4 of 5, against 1 here) and burst (Blood Fury, 2 of 5, against Endurance, 1). It does lead on defensives (3 of 5 against 2) and mobility (4 of 5 against 1).

    Scores for Tauren for Restoration Shaman
    CriterionWeightScore
    Breaks and escapes30 1
    Burst25 1
    Defensives25 3
    Mobility and detection20 4

    Weighted score 2.10, 0.30 behind the best race for this spec, which is S tier.

    What would move it: Reaching Orc means making up 0.30. One more point on mobility is worth 0.20, so settling whether War Stomp's 0.5 second cast lands before a stun or interrupt cuts it would not be enough by itself. It would take a patch to its racials.

    The Tauren race page

  3. Dwarf B tier

    Dwarf trails Orc for Restoration Shaman on breaks and burst, and Stoneform does not make up the difference.

    Why B, and its scores

    Breaks scores 2 of 5: Stoneform cleanses Bleed, Poison and Disease, a narrow family. Burst scores 1 of 5: Earth Fury adds a tiny 2% crit bonus. Defensives scores 2 of 5: Stoneform cuts Physical damage 10% for 8 seconds. Mobility scores 1 of 5: Dwarf has nothing here.

    It is 0.85 behind Orc, the best race for this spec, and sits in tier B. The gap comes from breaks (Hardiness, 4 of 5, against Stoneform, 2) and burst (Blood Fury, 2 of 5, against Earth Fury, 1).

    Scores for Dwarf for Restoration Shaman
    CriterionWeightScore
    Breaks and escapes30 2
    Burst25 1
    Defensives25 2
    Mobility and detection20 1

    Weighted score 1.55, 0.85 behind the best race for this spec, which is B tier.

    What would move it: Reaching Orc means making up 0.85. One more point on defensives is worth 0.25, so settling the real size of Stoneform's 10% Physical cut would not be enough by itself. It would take a patch to its racials.

    The Dwarf race page

  4. Troll B tier

    Troll trails Orc for Restoration Shaman on breaks, and Berserking does not make up the difference.

    Why B, and its scores

    Breaks scores 1 of 5: Troll has no break from control. Burst scores 2 of 5: Berserking adds 10% attack and casting speed for 10 seconds on a 3 minute cooldown. Defensives scores 2 of 5: Rapid Regeneration heals 50% over 6 seconds but any damage, action or movement cancels it, so it works only out of combat. Mobility scores 1 of 5: Troll has nothing here.

    It is 0.90 behind Orc, the best race for this spec, and sits in tier B. The gap comes from breaks (Hardiness, 4 of 5, against 1 here).

    Scores for Troll for Restoration Shaman
    CriterionWeightScore
    Breaks and escapes30 1
    Burst25 2
    Defensives25 2
    Mobility and detection20 1

    Weighted score 1.50, 0.90 behind the best race for this spec, which is B tier.

    What would move it: Reaching Orc means making up 0.90. One more point on burst is worth 0.25, so settling how much Berserking's 10% adds in a real fight (an estimate) would not be enough by itself. It would take a patch to its racials.

    The Troll race page

  5. Skyborne Windshaper B tier

    Skyborne (Windshaper) trails Orc for Restoration Shaman on breaks and defense, and Wind Blessed does not make up the difference.

    Why B, and its scores

    Breaks scores 1 of 5: Skyborne has no break from control. Burst scores 2 of 5: Wind Blessed adds 3% haste at all times. Defensives scores 1 of 5: Skyborne has nothing in combat. Mobility scores 2 of 5: Skysight adds 10% speed for 30 seconds and can be cast while moving, and Walk on Air is a 10 second glide on a 90 second cooldown.

    It is 0.95 behind Orc, the best race for this spec, and sits in tier B. The gap comes from breaks (Hardiness, 4 of 5, against 1 here) and defensives (Shatter Curse, 2 of 5, against 1 here). It does lead on mobility (2 of 5 against 1).

    Scores for Skyborne (Windshaper) for Restoration Shaman
    CriterionWeightScore
    Breaks and escapes30 1
    Burst25 2
    Defensives25 1
    Mobility and detection20 2

    Weighted score 1.45, 0.95 behind the best race for this spec, which is B tier.

    What would move it: Reaching Orc means making up 0.95. One more point on mobility is worth 0.20, so settling how useful Walk on Air and the new regeneration racial prove in real fights would not be enough by itself. It would take a patch to its racials.

    The Skyborne race page

How these are ranked

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.

For each of the 28 specs, every race that can play it, ranked against each other for that spec in PvP: what the race's racials give it at level 60 in open-world fights and battlegrounds, against players of similar level and gear. It answers one question per spec: which race should I pick for it in PvP?

A tier says how far a race trails the best race for the same spec, never how it compares with another spec's races. The best race of every spec is S. Each spec also says how much the choice matters.

The scores are the racials' worth on fixed anchors (1 to 5). The tier comes from the weighted score's gap to the spec's best: 5 minus 1.5 times the gap, against the thresholds, so S is within 0.50 of the best and F more than 1.83 behind.

The racials are rated from their tooltips and the client's numbers; none has been measured in play, and diminishing returns on control in this build are not yet confirmed.

A break from the control a spec suffers most weighs most: a stun break for a melee spec that must stay on its target, a fear break for a spec that can't answer fear itself. Where a spec already has its own answer, the racial is worth less to it.

The rubric: each criterion scored 1 to 5
CriterionWeightWhat it measures
Breaks and escapes30Racials that free this spec from the control it suffers most. 5: an on-use break from a whole family of control (all stuns, or all fears and charms) on a cooldown of 2 to 3 minutes, or an always-on cut to control that works every fight. 3: a break for a narrower family (roots and slows, or one effect type such as curses or poisons), or one that only partly fits how this spec is controlled. 1: nothing.
Burst25Racials that raise this spec's damage (or a healer's healing) against players in its burst window. 5: about 10% or more, lined up with its own cooldowns, or an always-on gain the spec uses fully. 3: a smaller gain, or one the spec only partly uses (a physical bonus on a mostly spell spec). 1: nothing.
Defensives25Racials that keep this spec alive against players. 5: one that turns a losing fight: a large damage cut or immunity on use, more health, or healing in combat that a player can't stop. 3: a small or narrow one: a few % cut against one school, a small health or dodge gain, a heal that damage interrupts. 1: nothing.
Mobility and detection20Tools that win fights outside the numbers. 5: an area stun or interrupt the spec lacks, stealth or stealth detection that changes its fights, a lasting speed boost that works in combat. 3: one such tool, or several small ones (a short sprint, a safe fall). 1: nothing.
S 0.50 or less behind the best
The best race for this spec, or as good as makes no difference.
A 0.83 or less behind the best
A little behind the best; a fine pick if you prefer it.
B 1.17 or less behind the best
Behind the best, but nothing you will notice most nights.
C 1.50 or less behind the best
Clearly behind the best on what this spec needs.
D 1.83 or less behind the best
Well behind the best; pick it for other reasons.
F more than 1.83 behind
The furthest behind for this spec.

What the ratings assume:

  • Racials as of the stated build: the client's tooltips, cooldowns and numbers, after the 15–16 Oct racial rework.
  • The spec in a PvP-minded build, as its class's open-world PvP research sets it out.
  • Gear: pre-raid blues. No honor gear yet.
  • Opponents of any class and race, so a racial is worth what it does against the whole field, not one matchup.
  • Faction is not rated: population, queue times and which faction's classes are stronger are not part of the score. Each spec names the best pick on each side.
  • The game rules of the stated build. A patch that changes a racial makes a new version.