WoW Forever Restoration Shaman — Guide (Beta Test)
viewsAbout the Class
This guide is based on the World of Warcraft: Forever beta and covers gameplay up to level 20. The talents and combat tips are starting recommendations built on the spells and talents available in the beta. They will be refined as testing continues.
The Restoration Shaman heals allies with the power of the elements, mainly water and earth. In the full toolkit, that means Riptide, 
Healing Wave, and Chain Heal. On top of that, the Shaman has totems with buffs in a small radius and a unique talent, Mana Tide Totem, which restores a lot of Mana to the group on a long cooldown. At level 20, the only heal available is Healing Wave, so the rest here is a preview of what lies ahead.
Strengths
- Totems buff the group while you heal: this is your main contribution to group damage.
- A healer is always in demand in a group.
- You can help with damage through
Lightning Bolt and Fire Nova when there's no one to heal. - In Forever, totems are easier to place and relocate.
Weaknesses
- At level 20, the only heal available is Healing Wave.
- In drawn-out fights, Mana drains faster than it regenerates.
- Key spells and Mana Tide Totem unlock later.
- Air totems only become available at level 30.
Stat Priority
- 1Healing Power
- 2Intellect
- 3Mana per 5
- 4Spirit
- 5Critical Strike
Talents
Talent Notes
- Improved Healing Wave 5/5 — reduces the cast time of Healing Wave.
Mindfulness 3/5 — part of your Mana regeneration continues while casting spells.
Natural Grace 2/3 — less threat from spells.
Water Shield 1/1 — water globes around the Shaman that restore your resource when you take damage.
Ability Priority
- Place all your totems in advance: one at a time before level 20, and through Call of the Elements from level 20 on. Place
Searing Totem last, right before the fight - Heal injured allies with Healing Wave
- If no urgent healing is needed, help with damage: Fire Nova against multiple enemies, Lightning Bolt on a single target
Keep up buff totems like
Strength of Earth Totem if the group has players who benefit from them and nobody is dying. Constant buffs are the healer's main way to raise group damage.
Totems
In Forever, you can quickly place and relocate totems with the new Call of the Elements and Totemic Projection, and they unlock as you level and complete the totem quests for earth, fire, water, and, after level 20, air.
- Earth totems: Strength of Earth Totem,
Stoneclaw Totem, 
Earthbind Totem, 
Tremor Totem. - Fire totems: Searing Totem and Fire Nova, which now explodes around your active fire totem.
- Water totems: at level 20, only
Healing Stream Totem is available. - Air totems unlock at level 30.
Important Abilities
Best in Slot (BiS)
There is no BiS list for the beta yet. Just like at max level, take anything that increases your healing and Mana pool.
Enchants, Gems, Consumables
ConsumablesBest Race
The best choice for a Horde Shaman: Blood Fury is a strong cooldown, Shatter Curse removes curses and briefly reduces magic damage, Hardiness greatly shortens stuns, which is especially valuable in PvP, and Axe Specialization grants 1% crit with an axe.
The only option for the Alliance. Stoneform removes most harmful effects from you and reduces physical damage, the mace specialization grants 1% crit with a mace, the bonus against beasts increases damage to them by 5%, and Find Treasure highlights chests on the map.
Best Professions
Leather from beasts turns into gear that is often better than quest rewards of the same level. On top of that, Leatherworking provides the Camp Chair and Camp Tent for campfires: 2% critical strike chance or 5% Rested experience once per hour.
Herbalism gives an Intellect buff at the campfire, and Alchemy gives a Mana regeneration buff, plus its own potions and elixirs. This pairing provides no gear, but the consumables more than make up for the effort of leveling it.
Author
Fouren
Fouren has been playing World of Warcraft for over 15 years. He is an active player with 12 Cutting Edge achievements under his belt, and has reached the top 1% and 0.1% multiple times on various classes. His main classes are healers, particularly Holy Paladin.
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