The WoW Forever beta is live · level cap 20 (30 announced for later in the beta)

Beta guide
The short answer

Totems, shocks and chain heals: a flexible hybrid that can heal, cast or fight in melee. In WoW Forever the Shaman has three talent trees (Elemental, Enhancement, Restoration); 17 of its 50 talents are new compared with Classic and 26 were changed. 5 race options can play it, including new ones: Dwarf, Windshaper Skyborne.

Recommended Shaman leveling build

Enhancement leveling (0/37/14)

Two-handed or dual-wield melee leveling · capstone at level 60 · Theorycraft

Go down Enhancement for Flurry, Stormstrike and Maelstrom Weapon, then spend the rest on Restoration for cheaper totems and faster self-heals.

  • Thundering Strikes and Flurry are the core melee damage talents.
  • Improved Ghost Wolf helps you move between quests before a mount.
  • Stormstrike and Maelstrom Weapon give Enhancement burst and faster casts.
  • Totemic Focus and Improved Healing Wave keep you topped up between fights.

Shaman talent trees

Elemental

16 talents · 6 new

Capstone: Lava Burst — You hurl molten lava at the target, dealing 164 Fire damage. If your Flame Shock is on the target, Lava Burst deals 20% increased damage.

Enhancement

18 talents · 7 new

Capstone: Rage of the Farseer — Increases your attack speed by 30% for 25 sec.

Restoration

16 talents · 4 new

Capstone: Riptide — Heals a friendly target for 480, an additional 445 over 15 sec, and increases the effectiveness of your Chain Heal casts directly on that target by 25%.

New Shaman talents in WoW Forever

Talents that do not exist in Classic Era, from beta build 70009 (Sep 24, 2026).

Elemental Alacrity · Elemental, row 3, 3 ranks

Reduces the cast time of your Lightning Bolt, Chain Lightning, and Lava Burst spells by 0.50 sec.

Improved Fire Nova · Elemental, row 4, 2 ranks

Increases the damage done by your Fire Nova spell by 20% and reduces its cooldown by 4 sec.

Elemental Reach · Elemental, row 5, 2 ranks

Increases the range of your Lightning Bolt, Chain Lightning, Fire Nova, and Lava Burst spells by 6 yards, and increases the range of your Flame Shock spell by 15 yards.

Lightning Overload · Elemental, row 5, 3 ranks

Gives your Lightning Bolt and Chain Lightning spells a 10% chance to cast a second, similar spell on the same target at no additional cost that causes half damage and no threat.

Earthbound · Elemental, row 5, 1 rank

Your Earthbind Totem Immobilizes nearby targets for 5 sec when cast.

Lava Burst · Elemental, row 7, 1 rank

You hurl molten lava at the target, dealing 164 Fire damage. If your Flame Shock is on the target, Lava Burst deals 20% increased damage.

Mental Dexterity · Enhancement, row 2, 3 ranks

Increases your Attack Power by an amount equal to 100% of your Intellect.

Shamanistic Focus · Enhancement, row 3, 1 rank

Reduces the mana cost of your Shock and Lightning Shield spells by 45%.

Spirit Weapons · Enhancement, row 5, 1 rank

Gives a chance to parry enemy melee attacks, reduces all threat generated by your attacks by 30% while Rockbiter Weapon is not active, and increases all threat generated by 30% while Rockbiter Weapon is active.

Mental Quickness · Enhancement, row 5, 2 ranks

Increases your spell damage and healing by up to 30% of your Intellect.

Improved Stormstrike · Enhancement, row 5, 2 ranks

When you Stormstrike, you have a 100% chance to gain 50% mana regeneration while casting spells for 15 sec, and Stormstrike's cooldown has a 100% chance to reset each time you Dodge or Parry.

Maelstrom Weapon · Enhancement, row 6, 5 ranks

When you deal damage with a melee attack, you have a chance to reduce the cast time and Mana cost of your next Lightning Bolt spell by 20%. Stacks up to 5 times. Lasts 30 sec.

Rage of the Farseer · Enhancement, row 7, 1 rank

Increases your attack speed by 30% for 25 sec.

Mindfulness · Restoration, row 2, 3 ranks

Allows 50% of your Mana regeneration to continue while casting.

Natural Grace · Restoration, row 2, 3 ranks

Reduces the threat generated by your spells by 15%.

Water Shield · Restoration, row 3, 1 rank

The caster is surrounded by 3 globes of water. When a spell, melee, or ranged attack hits the caster or when one of the caster's healing spells gets a critical result, 2% of maximum mana is restored to the caster, expending one water globe. Only one globe will activate every few seconds. Lasts 10 min. Only one Elemental Shield can be active on the Shaman at any one time.

Riptide · Restoration, row 7, 1 rank

Heals a friendly target for 480, an additional 445 over 15 sec, and increases the effectiveness of your Chain Heal casts directly on that target by 25%.

See all 26 changed talents with their Classic versions

Which races can play Shaman?

RaceFactionRacial abilities
DwarfNEWAllianceFind Treasure, Stoneform, Mace Specialization, Big Game Hunter
OrcHordeBlood Fury, Hardiness, Axe Specialization, Shatter Curse
TaurenHordeWar Stomp, Endurance, Cultivation, Plainsrunning
TrollHordeBerserking, Regeneration, Beast Slaying, Rapid Regeneration
Windshaper SkyborneNEWHordeRead Ley Line, Walk on Air, Elemental Insight, Wind Blessed, Skysight

Shaman FAQ

What races can be Shamans in WoW Forever?

Dwarf (Alliance), Orc (Horde), Tauren (Horde), Troll (Horde), Windshaper Skyborne (Horde).

What are the Shaman capstone talents?

Lava Burst (Elemental), Rage of the Farseer (Enhancement), Riptide (Restoration). Each needs 30 points spent in its tree first.

Is Shaman good for leveling in WoW Forever?

Totems, shocks and chain heals: a flexible hybrid that can heal, cast or fight in melee. The recommended build below is a theorycraft starting point from the beta talent data; we will update it with tested advice after launch.

Next steps