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Shaman spec guide

Enhancement Shaman

Everything for Enhancement Shaman on one page: role, talent order by level, Enhancement abilities and recommended gear for each level range. Talent and gear picks are calculated from the tooltip values in official game data plus the assumptions Forever Tool states below.
All Shaman abilitiesOpen the level 60 build in the calculator
Gear focus
Strength melee DPS
Talent calculation
Enhancement (two-handed)
Level 60 build
11/35/5
Estimated DPS
+40.3%

Enhancement Shaman at a glance

Summarized from Blizzard's class deep-dive articles. They were published during the beta, so live numbers and talents may differ.

Shaman as the developers describe it

Totems and weapon imbues are quicker to manage mid-fight, so there's less repeated setup. Totem placement, timing and elemental utility stay at the core, and talents support spellcasting, melee, healing and hybrid play.[1]

Shaman use totems to buff, heal and solve problems, and Mail armor and a shield make them one of the sturdiest classes. But they lack effective crowd control, so allies have to make up for their weaknesses in control and survivability.

Enhancement talents in Forever

  • Shamanistic Focus (11-point gold medal): greatly reduces the mana cost of Shocks and Lightning Shield.
  • Stormstrike moves up to the 16-point gold medal with an 8-second cooldown. It makes your next Lightning Bolt, Chain Lightning or Earth Shock 20% stronger.
  • Maelstrom Weapon (new row 6 talent): melee attacks build charges that shorten the cast time of Lightning Bolt, until it becomes instant.
  • Rage of the Farseer (31-point gold medal): a personal 3-minute cooldown that increases your attack speed by 30% for 25 seconds.

Enhancement talent build

One point per level from level 10, 51 points at level 60. The Enhancement tree is filled to 31 points first, and the remaining points go where they raise estimated DPS the most in the other trees.

The level 60 build uses the same method as the calculator's "Recommended build" (estimated DPS from tooltip values + judgment weights for talents the math can't capture, such as rage, energy and mana talents), with the extra rule "Enhancement tree to 31 points first". The order picks, one point at a time, the talent that raises the score the most on the way to that build. Estimated DPS is a rough "compared with no talents" figure and leaves out the damage of newly learned abilities. Talent point rules (starting at level 10) follow classic, since nothing has been announced officially.

Builds by level

LevelPointsTree splitEst. DPSCalculator
Level 2011 points0/11/0+10.4%Open
Level 3021 points0/21/0+24.9%Open
Level 4031 points0/31/0+28.7%Open
Level 5041 points1/35/5+36.7%Open
Level 6051 points11/35/5+40.3%Open

Talent order by level

Consecutive levels spent on the same talent are grouped on one line.

  1. Levels 10–14Thundering Strikes1→5/5
  2. Levels 15–17Mental Dexterity1→3/3
  3. Levels 18–19Improved Lightning Shield1→2/3
  4. Level 20Shamanistic Focus1/1
  5. Levels 21–23Elemental Weapons1→3/3
  6. Level 24Improved Lightning Shield3/3
  7. Level 25Stormstrike1/1
  8. Levels 26–30Flurry1→5/5
  9. Levels 31–32Mental Quickness1→2/2
  10. Levels 33–34Improved Stormstrike1→2/2
  11. Levels 35–39Maelstrom Weapon1→5/5
  12. Level 40Rage of the Farseer1/1
  13. Levels 41–45Tidal FocusRestoration1→5/5
  14. Levels 46–49Ancestral Knowledge1→4/5
  15. Levels 50–54ConcussionElemental Combat1→5/5
  16. Levels 55–57Elemental DevastationElemental Combat1→3/3
  17. Levels 58–60Call of FlameElemental Combat1→3/3

Key talents of the level 60 build

Talents with a large share of estimated DPS, plus talents that grant abilities or handle resources. Descriptions are the tooltip at the rank taken.

  • Elemental Devastation3/3 · Elemental Combat

    Est. DPS +1.5%

    Your Critical Strikes with direct damage spells increase your chance to get a Critical Strike with melee attacks by 9% for 10 sec.

  • Thundering Strikes5/5 · Enhancement

    Est. DPS +3.8%

    Improves your chance to get a critical strike with all spells and attacks by 5%.

  • Mental Dexterity3/3 · Enhancement

    Est. DPS +6.3%

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

  • Elemental Weapons3/3 · Enhancement

    Est. DPS +1.2%

    Increases the melee attack power bonus of your Rockbiter Weapon by 20%, your Windfury Weapon effect by 40% and increases the damage caused by your Flametongue Weapon and Frostbrand Weapon by 15%.

  • Shamanistic Focus1/1 · Enhancement

    Resource / utility

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

  • Flurry5/5 · Enhancement

    Est. DPS +10.1%

    Increases your attack speed by 25% for your next 3 swings after dealing a melee critical strike.

  • Stormstrike1/1 · Enhancement

    Est. DPS +1.4%Ability

    Instantly strike for normal weapon damage and increase the damage you deal to the target with your next Lightning Bolt, Chain Lightning, or Earth Shock spell by 20% for 12 sec.

  • Maelstrom Weapon5/5 · Enhancement

    Resource / utility

    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 Farseer1/1 · Enhancement

    Est. DPS +3.0%Ability

    Increases your attack speed by 30% for 25 sec.

  • Tidal Focus5/5 · Restoration

    Est. DPS +5.6%

    Reduces the Mana cost of your healing spells by 5% and improves your chance to hit by 5%.

Enhancement abilities

Enhancement abilities in the order you first learn them. The numbers are the levels at which each rank is learned; the description is rank 1 without gear or stats.

Enhancement Shaman gear by level

The 3 highest-scoring items for each slot in every level range. Only items whose required level falls inside the range are compared.

How were these picked?
  • The score is the sum of the item's tooltip lines from official game data (Strength, Stamina, Spell Power, damage per second and so on) multiplied by the weights below. There is no official formula, so the weights are Forever Tool's rough estimates (assumptions). Compare scores only within the same slot.
  • Equip, use and chance-on-hit effects, set bonuses and resistances are not scored. Items without fixed stats (only armor in the tooltip) are left out.
  • Only Uncommon and Rare items, plus craftable Epic items, of item level 65 or lower are included (no raid loot). Items that require a profession to use and crafts that need raid materials are left out.
  • Items without a required level count as item level minus 5. Only armor types a Shaman wears are included, with mail and plate counted from level 40 (classic rules, since nothing has been announced).
  • Sources list only crafting (professions) and quest rewards. Dungeon drops are being collected from player reports; check the item page.

Enhancement weights (assumed)

StatScore per point
Main hand / two-hand damage per second8
Strength1
Hit0.9
Critical Strike0.7
Agility0.6
Expertise0.6
Attack Power0.5
Haste0.5
Stamina0.3
Mana Regeneration per 5 sec0.3
Intellect0.2
Bonus Armor0.02
Armor0.01

Levels 1–20

Hall of Thanes 13–18Ruins of Lordaeron 15–20Level 1–10 quest zonesLevel 11–20 quest zones

Chest

  1. Defender's Leather ArmorScore 11.8

    Req. 15 · Strength +7 · Agility +3 · Stamina +5 · Bonus Armor 33

    Crafted: Leatherworking

  2. Brawler's Leather ArmorScore 11.0

    Req. 15 · Strength +5 · Agility +7 · Stamina +3

    Crafted: Leatherworking

  3. Totemic Leather ArmorScore 9.4

    Req. 15 · Strength +7 · Stamina +3 · Intellect +3

    Crafted: Leatherworking

Waist

  1. Deviate Scale BeltScore 8.3

    Req. 18 · Agility +5 · Strength +3 · Stamina +6

    Crafted: Leatherworking

  2. Brawler's Leather BeltScore 7.8

    Req. 12 · Strength +4 · Agility +4 · Stamina +3

    Crafted: Leatherworking

  3. Defender's Leather BeltScore 6.2

    Req. 12 · Strength +4 · Stamina +4 · Bonus Armor 29

    Crafted: Leatherworking

Levels 21–40

Excavation Site 24–29City of Dalaran 28–33The Drowned City 35–40Krol'dok Stronghold 40–45Level 21–30 quest zonesLevel 31–40 quest zones

Waist

  1. Highlander's Leather GirdleScore 17.7

    Req. 38 · Attack Power +30 · Stamina +4 · Bonus Armor 40

    Reputation required

    Same stats: Defiler's Leather Girdle

  2. Highlander's Chain GirdleScore 17.1

    Req. 40 · Critical Strike +14 · Attack Power +8 · Stamina +6

    Reputation required

    Same stats: Defiler's Chain Girdle

  3. Prowler's Leather BeltScore 15.8

    Req. 30 · Strength +9 · Agility +6 · Stamina +6 · Intellect +4

    Crafted: Leatherworking

Feet

  1. Prowler's Leather ShoesScore 19.2

    Req. 40 · Strength +11 · Agility +7 · Stamina +7 · Intellect +5

    Crafted: Leatherworking

  2. Skulker's Leather ShoesScore 16.6

    Req. 40 · Strength +7 · Agility +11 · Stamina +7

    Crafted: Leatherworking

  3. Warden's Leather ShoesScore 16.4

    Req. 40 · Strength +7 · Agility +7 · Stamina +11 · Bonus Armor 49

    Crafted: Leatherworking

Levels 41–50

Krol'dok Stronghold 40–45Alcaz Prison 48–53Level 41–50 quest zones

Two-hand

  1. Thorium GreatmaceScore 400.2

    Req. 50 · Damage per second 47.4 · Strength +21

    Crafted: Blacksmithing

  2. Feral StaffScore 388.8

    Item level 52 · Damage per second 45 · Strength +17 · Agility +16 · Bonus Armor 110

  3. Bleakwood HewScore 384.5

    Req. 49 · Damage per second 46.5 · Strength +11 · Stamina +5

    Crafted: Blacksmithing

Levels 51–60

Alcaz Prison 48–53Blackmaw Hold 55–60Shaper's Terrace 58–60Level 51–60 quest zones

Head

  1. Outlaw's CollarScore 38.2

    Req. 60 · Critical Strike +21 · Agility +21 · Stamina +31

    Crafted: Leatherworking

  2. Warbear HelmScore 37.8

    Req. 56 · Strength +18 · Stamina +33 · Agility +14

    Crafted: Leatherworking

  3. Black Dragonscale HelmScore 33.2

    Req. 56 · Agility +21 · Critical Strike +14 · Intellect +38

    Crafted: Leatherworking

Chest

  1. Timbermaw TunicScore 55.5

    Req. 56 · Strength +33 · Agility +18 · Critical Strike +14

    Crafted: Leatherworking

  2. Dawn ArmorScore 42.9

    Req. 56 · Agility +37 · Critical Strike +14 · Hit +10

    Crafted: Leatherworking

  3. Breastplate of the ChosenScore 33.1

    Req. 58 · Strength +14 · Agility +14 · Stamina +14 · Intellect +14

Hands

  1. Timbermaw BrawlersScore 33.2

    Req. 56 · Strength +21 · Agility +14 · Stamina +9

    Crafted: Leatherworking

  2. Primal Batskin GlovesScore 27.8

    Req. 60 · Hit +20 · Agility +10 · Stamina +9

    Crafted: Leatherworking

  3. Devilsaur GauntletsScore 27.5

    Req. 53 · Attack Power +28 · Critical Strike +14 · Stamina +9

    Crafted: Leatherworking

Waist

  1. Might of the TimbermawScore 33.0

    Req. 53 · Strength +21 · Agility +14 · Stamina +9

    Crafted: Leatherworking

  2. Highlander's Chain GirdleScore 31.9

    Req. 58 · Attack Power +34 · Critical Strike +14 · Stamina +10

    Reputation required

    Same stats: Defiler's Chain Girdle

  3. Highlander's Leather GirdleScore 31.1

    Req. 58 · Attack Power +34 · Critical Strike +14 · Stamina +7 · Bonus Armor 60

    Reputation required

    Same stats: Defiler's Leather Girdle

Legs

  1. Warbear WooliesScore 43.8

    Req. 52 · Strength +28 · Agility +18 · Stamina +12

    Crafted: Leatherworking

  2. Devilsaur LeggingsScore 37.9

    Req. 55 · Attack Power +46 · Critical Strike +14 · Stamina +12

    Crafted: Leatherworking

  3. Black Dragonscale LeggingsScore 32.6

    Req. 57 · Attack Power +54 · Stamina +8

    Crafted: Leatherworking

More

Other Shaman specs

Elemental Combat Shaman GuideRestoration Shaman Guide

Other class guides

WarriorPaladinHunterRoguePriestMageWarlockDruid

Sources

  1. [1]World of Warcraft: Forever Class Deep Dives — Mage and ShamanBlizzard Entertainment · Oct 7, 2026 · checked Nov 5, 2026
  2. [2]World of Warcraft: Forever Class Deep Dives — Priest and WarriorBlizzard Entertainment · Sep 30, 2026 · checked Nov 5, 2026
  3. [3]World of Warcraft: Forever Class Deep Dives — Hunter and DruidBlizzard Entertainment · Sep 30, 2026 · checked Nov 5, 2026
  4. [4]World of Warcraft: Forever Class Deep Dives — Rogue and WarlockBlizzard Entertainment · Oct 7, 2026 · checked Nov 5, 2026
  5. [5]World of Warcraft: Forever Class Deep Dives — PaladinBlizzard Entertainment · Oct 15, 2026 · checked Nov 5, 2026