World of Warcraft™

Hello fellow healers, I'm in great need of some healing tips and/or help!

So, I just got off a hiatus from wow, and i've been gearing my shaman through HoT, and I just cleared my second LFR. However, I don't feel like I'm doing the best heals that i can do.

I averaged about 10-11k HPS in LFR, but I oom a lot, even when I'm using TC. I don't know if its my gearing, my spec, or something else that is keeping me from performing well.

I know mana management on shaman is hard, but i use my Mana Tide basically on CD, and i LB when i can. Other shaman in the LFR group do a lot moer HPS than me, and they don't oom like i do!

So, should i get more spirit? more haste? more crit? more mastery? im lost in the whats good VS whats not, and viability for this fight but not this one, etc.

Anything you guys can provide helps, i appreciate it in advance!

(Also, does anyone have a good healing addon? I'm gettin tired of healbot, i have to reconfigure it way to often, and it doesn't like my computer, bugs alot -__-)

If you're having mana issues just keep piling on the spirit, will want to replace that Alchy stone with another regen trinket if you're still going oom.

A lot of it has to do with the fact that it's LFR, too. Players in LFR are prone to ignoring mechanics, causing extra damage - and that's in addition to other healers who are still learning healing or aren't quite as well geared that aren't putting out much healing either.

It depends on the group but also how familiar you are with the fights and knowing when you'll actually need to heavy heal or when it just feels like it.

Also I hate TC and refuse to ever spec or use it and I'm glad it's going away in MoP, but that's irrelevant to my above advice >_>

I can't really give you tips on Shamans as I've never gotten one very high but I can give you suggestions on Trinkets. I really wish you wouldn't of spent your Valor on Reflection of the Light as it's pretty bad. Core of Ripeness is honestly better and you can purchase that with JP. I would try my best if I were you to buy the JP healing trinket (to replace the Alchemist trinket with) and replace the Valor Trinket with Foul Gift of the Demon Lord

02/21/2012 11:35 AMPosted by Ninetales

Also I hate TC and refuse to ever spec or use it and I'm glad it's going away in MoP

shhhhhhhh

question what is TC

02/21/2012 02:56 PMPosted by Ainvar

question what is TC

Telluric Currents.

alright thanks. i love that spell. i use it all the time. but there could be a better way to regain mana

02/21/2012 03:02 PMPosted by Ainvar

alright thanks. i love that spell. i use it all the time. but there could be a better way to regain mana

There could be. I just don't trust Blizzard enough with the shaman class to rely on them to actually fix regen.

Just curious, people that have Telluric Currents to dps the boss or to dps adds (which are lower level than the boss)? If is to dps the boss, you reforge/talent to increase the hit rating or your just miss a lot regardless?

02/22/2012 12:03 AMPosted by Aghator

Just curious, people that have Telluric Currents to dps the boss or to dps adds (which are lower level than the boss)? If is to dps the boss, you reforge/talent to increase the hit rating or your just miss a lot regardless?

I dps the boss unless the adds will live for a while. There's nothing more frustrating to have a mob die while your lightning bolt is traveling to the add :[ In addition, many bosses in DS have a debuff where the damage you do to them decreases over time, so dpsing the boss would be better for you.
TC is mana-positive without any hit rating. The chance to miss is low anyway. Even with a few misses, you'll be fine. So no, do not talent/reforge to hit cap.

I made this thread several months ago to help newer shaman healers out:

http://us.battle.net/wow/en/forum/topic/3341769281

It's pretty straightforward on how to shammy heal effectively. It's mainly a 5 man guide, but a lot of the basics can be applied to raids.

Ok, first off- you are missing 5 enchants, part of healing efficiently is gearing correctly- this includes chanting your gear.

Shaman stat priority is:

Int>spirit>916 haste>mastery>crit

Spell usage: do not spam healing surge...I see this a lot in LFR. It isn't close to being an effective heal (I mainly use it as an emergency heal- and even then riptide +GHW is better in my opinion). I once did an LFR group on one of my healers that had 2 resto shammies that managed a whole 3K HPS: they were spamming chain heal and healing surge mainly (and both were resto; I did check). What I like to do is wait until people are taking enough damage to where it's worth me throwing out a heal (75-80%). I use healing rain on the melee groups when the melee are taking damage (since they are grouped up); chain heal when at least 4 people are taking damage. Clumped up phases, throw down spirit link/HR. I just found that's a lot more effective for me. I also try to keep riptide going on 3 people at all times.

I also use weak auras to yell at me to throw down MTT/LB when I'm at 50% mana (TC spec).

Personally, I don't bother looking at healing numbers as a measure of how good I am- healing numbers are dependent on the amount of damage that's going out + if you can get the heals off before someone else heals that person. You don't read them like you would a dps meter. There are healers out there that tend to not get this.

Last night, for example, I ran into an issue on this one in which I was grouped up with 2 priests and 2 pallies. Well one of them decided to spam the healing meters and I was sitting at just over 8K. I can normally dish out a lot more. The problem? Too many AoE heals/snipe healers for me to heal effectively. By the time my heal would go out, these people were already healed. My numbers aren't going to be my normal amount if people are already healed. Needless, it was pretty annoying when they decided to spam it (instead of pointing out WHY my numbers were low, I dropped- I don't like people like that).

I can't really give you tips on Shamans as I've never gotten one very high but I can give you suggestions on Trinkets. I really wish you wouldn't of spent your Valor on Reflection of the Light as it's pretty bad. Core of Ripeness is honestly better and you can purchase that with JP. I would try my best if I were you to buy the JP healing trinket (to replace the Alchemist trinket with) and replace the Valor Trinket with Foul Gift of the Demon Lord

Alchemist trinket is fine- not only does it give you reforgeable stats to play with (especially when you need those stats), it gives you a 4 hour flask and better mana pots. If anything, I'd replace that VP trink he's got with either of the 2 you linked.

I've been using mine since this one could make it- I haven't seen another trinket yet that I'd want to replace it with- that aren't drops that is.

02/22/2012 12:03 AMPosted by Aghator

Just curious, people that have Telluric Currents to dps the boss or to dps adds (which are lower level than the boss)? If is to dps the boss, you reforge/talent to increase the hit rating or your just miss a lot regardless?

Depends on the fight. On Yor, I tend to use it on the slimes phases (I save my MTT's for mana voids). You don't need hit for TC- I used to make that misconception myself.

02/22/2012 07:53 AMPosted by Jujubiju

I can't really give you tips on Shamans as I've never gotten one very high but I can give you suggestions on Trinkets. I really wish you wouldn't of spent your Valor on Reflection of the Light as it's pretty bad. Core of Ripeness is honestly better and you can purchase that with JP. I would try my best if I were you to buy the JP healing trinket (to replace the Alchemist trinket with) and replace the Valor Trinket with Foul Gift of the Demon Lord

Alchemist trinket is fine- not only does it give you reforgeable stats to play with (especially when you need those stats), it gives you a 4 hour flask and better mana pots. If anything, I'd replace that VP trink he's got with either of the 2 you linked.

I've been using mine since this one could make it- I haven't seen another trinket yet that I'd want to replace it with- that aren't drops that is.

Is it really? Well, thank you for the helpful correction. Looks like I ought to be unlazy and actually level my alchemy on this toon, tyvm.

I'm pretty new to shaman healing myself, but I gotta say I have absolutely no problems with mana (and hell I still have a green helm). To be honest, I think it's because I'm reforging crit. The more crit I get the less I seem to go oom, and I'm pretty sure this is due to the whole improved watershield thing. I would try reforging away from mastery and more into crit if anything. Also TC generally shouldn't be used imo. In LFR it's fine, but once you get into raiding there really shouldn't be any chance to use it. You could use those points to increase your healing (even if only by a little) by maxing out Elemental weapons and getting at least 1 point into the improved range on totems.

Also, on a side note like I've read others already say, don't depend on healing surge. I don't think I've ever seriously used it. If people are getting pumled then Riptide>GHW>GHW>Natures Swiftness>GHW. I think it's virtually impossible for anyone to die with that combo. ALSO REMEMBER TO ALWAYS BE USING UNLEASH LIFE! It works with chain heal.

If you're still starving for mana refrain from using healing rain too much. And also have Mana Spring totem up at all times. Also make sure watershield is always up. (I always see shamans without it because of adds hitting them or boss effects or whatever.)

That's all I really can say about this...I haven't been healing for long, but I hope this helps!

Your gemming and reforging is really odd. Into spirit in one spot, out of spirit in others. Your gemming is weird too. Int / mastery in yellow sockets, haste won't help you at all if you're ooming, you'll just oom faster.

You're missing enchants, too. Every little bit helps.

Make sure you're putting water shield on yourself (it falls off in LFR a lot) and using mana tide when you get to about 50% mana, don't wait until you're already oom, then use it on CD.

The people in your LFRs could just be stupid / doing it wrong / undergeared for the content.

I'm pretty new to shaman healing myself, but I gotta say I have absolutely no problems with mana (and hell I still have a green helm). To be honest, I think it's because I'm reforging crit. The more crit I get the less I seem to go oom, and I'm pretty sure this is due to the whole improved watershield thing. I would try reforging away from mastery and more into crit if anything. Also TC generally shouldn't be used imo. In LFR it's fine, but once you get into raiding there really shouldn't be any chance to use it. You could use those points to increase your healing (even if only by a little) by maxing out Elemental weapons and getting at least 1 point into the improved range on totems.

Also, on a side note like I've read others already say, don't depend on healing surge. I don't think I've ever seriously used it. If people are getting pumled then Riptide>GHW>GHW>Natures Swiftness>GHW. I think it's virtually impossible for anyone to die with that combo. ALSO REMEMBER TO ALWAYS BE USING UNLEASH LIFE! It works with chain heal.

If you're still starving for mana refrain from using healing rain too much. And also have Mana Spring totem up at all times. Also make sure watershield is always up. (I always see shamans without it because of adds hitting them or boss effects or whatever.)

That's all I really can say about this...I haven't been healing for long, but I hope this helps!

Please stop giving bad and incorrect advice, especially if you are new to shaman healing and don’t know what you are talking about. Your advice will cause more harm than good
Crit is to RNG to gem, enchant reforge to. Your acuity and raid buffs will provide a comfortable level with out having to do so.

“I would try reforging away from mastery and more into crit if anything”

You never want to reforge out of mastery…ever! Get to a haste plateau and reforge the rest to mastery, reforg eout of crit next.

“Also TC generally shouldn't be used imo. In LFR it's fine, but once you get into raiding there really shouldn't be any chance to use it”
Wrong again, TC is awesome in DS, at times can give you unlimited mana. Plenty of times to use it in normal and as well as heroics. OP on the beginning of Ultaxion, on Spine and causes mana to be after thought on Madness

“ALSO REMEMBER TO ALWAYS BE USING UNLEASH LIFE!”
It has been stated using this is a HPS loss. Only should be used if you need to supercharge a RT or when you are moving.

“And also have Mana Spring totem up at all times.”

No, no , no, a Pally’s Might can cover this. Should you find yourself in a situation where you do not have Might, the healing done from your healing stream will healing people in your party will cause you to expend less mana than what the mana spring totem will ever provide you

Now addressing your concerns


You have 2 piece t 12 with a glyphed RT, you should never have any mana problems if you are keeping three RT’s rolling at all times. Are you, do you have a method to track your RT’s?
Are you insensibly casting HR and not hitting a lot of people, are you casting GHW with no tidal waves up( references back to low RT uptime)?
Make better use of TC during down time. IN LFR you should be able to go all out then LB during down time to regen

Run a log and post it, curious to see what your RT uptime and your spell usage is. Items which could cause your mana problems

Outside of that, as previous posters mentioned, you can tweak a few things on your toon to improve your performance, you have a lot of unenchanted and incorrectly enchanted items. You can fix your spec a bit and could of made smarter decision towards buying valor pieces. Those VP bracers and trinket are trash, the cloak is your BIS and you could of picked up the belt and boots as better options.

You are well above the first hast plateau of 916, why are you gemming and enchanting toward haste on top of it? Put mastery to your gloves, mastery to boots or Lava walker to the 397 ones if you are not going to spec in Ancestral Swiftness.

Tweek your stuff, dump the dps ring, , change your meta to the INt and increased crit effect and then work on better managing your RT uptime, spell usage.

I'm pretty new to shaman healing myself, but I gotta say I have absolutely no problems with mana (and hell I still have a green helm). To be honest, I think it's because I'm reforging crit. The more crit I get the less I seem to go oom, and I'm pretty sure this is due to the whole improved watershield thing. I would try reforging away from mastery and more into crit if anything. Also TC generally shouldn't be used imo. In LFR it's fine, but once you get into raiding there really shouldn't be any chance to use it. You could use those points to increase your healing (even if only by a little) by maxing out Elemental weapons and getting at least 1 point into the improved range on totems.

Also, on a side note like I've read others already say, don't depend on healing surge. I don't think I've ever seriously used it. If people are getting pumled then Riptide>GHW>GHW>Natures Swiftness>GHW. I think it's virtually impossible for anyone to die with that combo. ALSO REMEMBER TO ALWAYS BE USING UNLEASH LIFE! It works with chain heal.

If you're still starving for mana refrain from using healing rain too much. And also have Mana Spring totem up at all times. Also make sure watershield is always up. (I always see shamans without it because of adds hitting them or boss effects or whatever.)

That's all I really can say about this...I haven't been healing for long, but I hope this helps!

This just is not true. There is ALWAYS time for TC in any fight.

I am not even overstating this. Nearly Each fight has a "downtime" phase or an "increased damage taken phase" meaning TC shines here. Think about the alternative. What else are you doing when yorsahj is doing his ooze dance? Or Morchok during black blood? Zonozz after a black phase, and especially after the second one where he takes a crapton of extra damage (so much free mana). hagara during feedback? Ultraxion pretty much any time before healing gets rough? Spine on the amalgmation when there are not too many bloods up (though not sure about heroic). Madness during cataclysm? I can maybe get blackhorn and that's only a maybe. you should be able to weave bolts in here all the time.

In raids, you really need your HST out. Though I agree a lot of the healing it produces would be covered anyway, this is not true during specific phases of many fights. Plus, if you have it glyphed its even better. Warlocks / paladins can provide the mp5 buff.

The GHW thing is pretty much true. We stopped using healing surge early on after it got nerfed. Directly using unleash life, however, is not a direct HPS increase. You can, however, precast it before a big hit (say before a bolt hits etc.). Alternatively, you can do the glitch that is still present where you cast UE. Then you cast either HW, GHW, or HS and immediately after cast a riptide. Both your direct heal (one of those 3) and riptide will get the unleashed life bonus.

thank you langoor... if i hear another new/OS healer saying to not take telluric currents when this issue has been BEATEN into the ground about how incredibly OVERPOWERED the talent is for a heroic raider... i might throw something through my screen.

I also got bored on my old server and leveled a fresh shaman, just into 4.3... sure I have the advantage of playing this class for a long time and know exactly how to use the buttons I am given... but I found telluric currents to be a big part of my arsenal from gearing up in greens through reg DS in 375 ilvl.

I also have noticed the above... a lot of shamans with very POOR mana management that struggle in LFR. Do yourself a favor, learn the fight... learn when you REALLY NEED big heals and then practice "floating" lesser heals during the times you don't. If you are spam casting on people at 90%+ as a shaman and then complaining about going OOM you are doing it wrong... and I see this happen all the time. Use that time to lightning bolt, drop a healing rain to keep your ELW procs going and health buff up... and you can regen a good chunk of mana for the time that you NEED big heals.

And... mana management is just something you have to learn to handle as a shaman. I can easily OOM myself in LFR and my ilvl is a lot higher than what it needs to be in there. Doesn't mean I go OOM though and also doesn't mean that my HPS suffers because I casted a few lightning bolts... I frequently am at or near the top on any fight that isn't completely handled with absorbs.

thank you langoor... if i hear another new/OS healer saying to not take telluric currents when this issue has been BEATEN into the ground about how incredibly OVERPOWERED the talent is for a heroic raider... i might throw something through my screen.

I also got bored on my old server and leveled a fresh shaman, just into 4.3... sure I have the advantage of playing this class for a long time and know exactly how to use the buttons I am given... but I found telluric currents to be a big part of my arsenal from gearing up in greens through reg DS in 375 ilvl.

I also have noticed the above... a lot of shamans with very POOR mana management that struggle in LFR. Do yourself a favor, learn the fight... learn when you REALLY NEED big heals and then practice "floating" lesser heals during the times you don't. If you are spam casting on people at 90%+ as a shaman and then complaining about going OOM you are doing it wrong... and I see this happen all the time. Use that time to lightning bolt, drop a healing rain to keep your ELW procs going and health buff up... and you can regen a good chunk of mana for the time that you NEED big heals.

And... mana management is just something you have to learn to handle as a shaman. I can easily OOM myself in LFR and my ilvl is a lot higher than what it needs to be in there. Doesn't mean I go OOM though and also doesn't mean that my HPS suffers because I casted a few lightning bolts... I frequently am at or near the top on any fight that isn't completely handled with absorbs.

This for sure. Knowing the fights and when you have to put out big heals will be vital in knowing how often and when you should TC. Even in some normals, if I get lazy and stop using TC for a period of time where it really shines, I can find myself dangerously low on mana at the end of the fight (reforging outta a ton of spirit will do that to ya).