Restoration Shaman Class Guide - MoP Classic

Welcome to our Mists of Pandaria Classic (MoP Classic) Restoration Shaman Class Guide for Phase 1, it focuses on getting you up to speed with the Spec for PvE content, Dungeons and Raiding. The guide includes key information for what has changed going into MoP, the best Talent builds, Major Glyphs, your Rotation, Gearing and Consumables for Resto Shaman.

Table of Content:

• Changes from Cataclysm to MoP
• Talents
• Rotation & Abilities
• Gearing & Consumables

What’s New for Restoration Shamans in Mists of Pandaria Classic

Mists of Pandaria as an expansion is the first step in the age of modernity for WoW, and with that, a lot of classes get changes. One of the things they are targeting with MoP is what we could call roleplaying mechanics: mechanics that make sense in the world, like carrying your Totems in your bags but that are a pain gameplay wise. In MoP Totems are completely revamped, and other things are changing as well. Here are the highlights:

• You can move while casting Lightning bolt.
• Ghost wolf is instant by default.
• Enhancement Shaman loses Lava Burst.
• Healing Stream Totem only heals 1 target.
• Stoneskin Totem, Strength of the Earth Totem, Mana spring Totem, Totem of the Tranquil Mind, Elemental Resistance Totem, Stoneclaw Totem, Flametongue Totem, Windfury Totem, Wrath of Air Totem are removed.
• Healing Tide Totem, Stormlash Totem, Capacitor Totem, are new Totems added.
• Ascendance is your new big burst cooldown.
• Unleashed Rage increases party and raid member ranged and attack speed by 10%.
• Burning Wrath increases spell power by 10%.
• Grace of Air increases Mastery.

Is Restoration Shaman Good?

Yes, Restoration Shamans are very good. Despite losing a lot of Totems, they still have a number of great raid buffs with Grace of Air, Stormlash Totem and Burning Wrath. They have a unique type of raid CDs in Spirit Link Totem and their gameplay has been improved in MoP Classic. But that’s not all, they also have an incredible healing output. Chain Heal, Healing Stream Totem, Healing Rain are incredible for healing groups.

Best Talents & Glyphs for Restoration Shaman in MoP Classic

In this section, you will find two talent builds: one for raids and one for dungeons. However, you might want to change individual choices depending on the encounter or dungeon you are doing.

Restoration Shaman Raiding Talent Build

This is a standard Raid Talent Build for Restoration Shaman. You can change a few things around depending on the fight and your play style.

Change Windwalk Totem for Earthgrab Totem if you need a Mass Root. Totemic Projection can be picked in a fight with a lot of movement, where you need to relocate your Totems often. Ancestral Swiftness and Elemental Mastery are both good choices. Ancestral Swiftness offers better emergency heals and a nice boost to your haste, but if you need a big cooldown to keep the raid topped up, choose Elemental Mastery.

Conductivity vs Rushing Streams is the biggest point of discussion here, but in raids and with Call of the Elements I would encourage you to take Rushing Streams. For Conductivity to be efficient, you need the whole raid group to play together. Rushing Streams is easier to play around in raids.

The Primal Elementalist Talent is the best choice in the last row.

Best Restoration Shaman Raid Glyphs

Regarding Major Glyphs, take Glyph of Telluric Currents and Glyph of Healing Stream Totem. Other noticeable major glyphs are Glyph of Chaining, and Glyph of Spirit Walker’s Grace.

The only minor glyph worth mentioning is Glyph of the Lakestrider.

Restoration Shaman Dungeons & Challenge Mode Talent Build

In Dungeons, it’s easier to have everyone together in the raid, therefore the Dungeon Talent Build selects Conductivity, which can be easier to play around. But it’s the only noticeable change, the other choices follow the same logic as the raid talent build.

Best Restoration Shaman Dungeon Glyphs

Regarding Major Glyphs, take Glyph of Telluric Currents and Glyph of Healing Stream Totem. Other noticeable major glyphs are Glyph of Chaining, and Glyph of Spirit Walker’s Grace.

The only minor glyph worth mentioning is Glyph of the Lakestrider.

Rotation for Restoration Shaman in MoP Classic

Single Target & AoE Rotation & Priority

Healers don’t really have a rotation, but some spells have a higher priority than others. Here’s what you should know:

1. Maintain Earthliving Weapon.
2. Maintain Water Shield.
3. Maintain Earth Shield on the Tank.
4. Maintain Riptide on the active tank.
5. Use Stormlash Totem on Cooldown if assigned.
6. Use Healing Stream Totem on Cooldown. Don’t use it if nothing is happening.
7. Use Spiritwalker’s Grace every time you have to move.
8. Use Earth Elemental Totem on Cooldown. Use Reinforce when Earth Elemental is up.
9. Use Fire Elemental Totem on Cooldown. Use Empower when the Fire Elemental is up.
10. Use Unleash Elements on Cooldown. Spend it on Healing Rain.
11. Maintain Healing Rain.
12. For AoE Healing, use Chain Heal. Target someone with Riptide.
13. Spend Tidal Waves with 2 charges on Healing Wave during low damage and Greater Healing wave during High Damage.
14. If you need emergency healing, use Healing Surge.
15. Spam Lighting Bolt when you don’t have anything to heal. If you play with Conductivity, it will extend Healing Rain. If you play with Glyph of Telluric Currents, it will give you mana back.

During high damage phases, use Healing Tide Totem, Ascendance, Spirit Link Totem. If you need mana, use Mana Tide Totem.

Best Gear & Stats for Restoration Shaman in MoP Classic

Best in Slot (BiS Gear) aren’t as big in Mists of Pandaria Classic. Reforging is the new hype, so you can tailor your gear better than before.

The gear you should aim for are: Trinkets, Weapons & Tier Sets.

Restoration Shaman Best in Slot (BiS) Gear in MoP Classic (Pre-Raid)

The best weapons you can find pre-raid in the first phase are:

• Inscribed Crane Staff, from Inscription.
• Je’lyu, Spirit of the Serpent, from Sha of Doubt, Temple of the Jade Serpent.
• Headmaster’s Will, Darkmaster Gandling, Scholomance.

The best off-hands you can find pre-raid in the first phase are:

• Inscribed Red Fan, from Inscription.
• Bottle of potent potables, from Hoptallus in Stormstout Brewery.
• Scroll of Whispered Secrets, a BoE.

The best pre-raid trinkets are:

• Relic of Chi-ji if you have Inscription.
• Vial of Ichorous Blood, from General Pa'valak, Scholomance.
• Ghost Iron Dragongling, From Engineering.

Restoration Shaman Best in Slot (BiS) Gear in MoP Classic (Tier 14)

Upgrading your character with the best gear is an important part of increasing your healing.

Below is a BiS Gear List containing your theoretical Best in Slot (BiS) Gear for Restoration Shaman. This information is based on the MoP original release and PTR data, and so is subject to change. But this list should give you a good target for gearing.

There can be some key stat breakpoints and targets that you need to hit for maximum performance. You can find those in the Stats Section below, and use reforging to adjust your gear stats to achieve them.

MoP Classic Restoration Shaman Stat Priority

Your best stat is Intellect, which should be your first priority. Then, Hit Rating, Spirit and Expertise to reach a 15% chance to hit.

After that, aim for the first Haste soft cap of around 5676 Haste with a Haste buff. Then, you want Critical Strike Chance, Mastery, and Haste in that order of importance.

Best Consumables, Enchants & Gems for Restoration Shaman in MoP Classic

The following tables outline the recommended Consumables, Enchants and Gems for Restoration Shaman in Raiding and Dungeon content.

Consumables

Enchants

Gems

We hope this guide helped you improve your Restoration Shaman Gameplay and better understand the spec. To check out all of our MoP Classic content, such as Class Guides, Tier Lists and more, you can browse our full library of MoP Classic Guides.