WoW Forever Shaman Build: Compare the Three Trees

What Each Tree Is For

Each tree solves a different problem, so start with the role you want. The "pick this if" column is our reading of the tooltips, not a ranking, and nothing here was tested in play.

Swipe sideways to see all columns.

Our spec guides explain each kit in depth. Use this page to compare the trees, and those to go deeper.

November Changes Every Shaman Build Feels

These changes apply before you spend a single talent point:

• Lightning Bolt base damage rose on every rank.
• Chain Lightning is a 2.5-second cast.
• Shock base damage returned to Classic Era values.
• Totemic Call replaced Totemic Projection.

Chain Lightning's Mana cost rose to about 225% of a comparable Bolt, so Mana talents carry more weight for anyone who casts it often. Totemic Call now teleports your totems to your own position on a 30-second cooldown, so totem plans built on the old targeted version need a rethink.Source: Blizzard: November 2 notes, post 9, Classes > Shaman, checked Nov 8, 2026.

Blizzard also says that, apart from bugs and serious outliers, it doesn't plan big tuning before raids open, and that it may make class changes on Tuesdays.Sources: Blizzard: November 2 notes, post 9, checked Nov 8, 2026; Blizzard: Class Tuning Incoming, November 10, checked Nov 8, 2026.

Talent Points, Dual Spec and Respecs

If you spend every point in one tree, each row opens at a predictable level. Each row needs five more points in that tree than the row above it.

That table is arithmetic from the standard schedule. It isn't a spending order. Blizzard's Legacy perk Talented "allows players to unlock talent points up to 5 levels lower than normal," which we read as earlier access rather than extra points at 60.Source: Blizzard: Legacy system article, checked Nov 8, 2026.

Dual Specialization at level 40 suits Shaman especially well, since one character can keep a healing build beside a damage build.Source: Blizzard: class deep dive, checked Nov 8, 2026. We found a beta respec price of 1 silver that Blizzard called temporary, and no confirmed live price, so check your trainer before you plan on frequent resets.Source: Blizzard: September 24 notes, checked Nov 8, 2026.

Mixing Trees

Points in one tree don't open rows in another, so deep talents ask for commitment. Two Row 7 talents would need at least 60 points in their trees, more than the 51 at level 60. That's arithmetic from the row gates, and it's why you'll choose one tree to go deep in.

The cheapest old mix is gone.

Blizzard's October 7 deep dive also folded several Classic Enhancement talents into baseline, including Enhancing Totems, Improved Weapon Totems and Two-Handed Axes and Maces, and it removed Shield Specialization. A Classic build that spends points on those no longer applies.Source: Blizzard: class deep dive, checked Nov 8, 2026.

You can test any mix in the talent calculator. Compare it with your in-game tooltips, because some of our stored rank text predates November 2.

Leveling and Level 60 Builds Differ

ExpCarry makes Enhancement its default for the first trip to 60, and our own page disagrees.Reported, press or datamine, not confirmedSource: ExpCarry: Shaman Guide, checked Nov 8, 2026. Our Shaman leveling guide follows an Elemental route, and its talent order is withdrawn. We haven't measured either path, so treat this as an open question.

For an in-game route, look at RestedXP or Zygor Guides, and compare them in our Zygor vs RestedXP guide. Leveling Enhancement players should note Blizzard's advice to start collecting Strength and Attack Power gear.Source: Blizzard: Class Tuning Incoming, November 10, checked Nov 8, 2026.

How Published Shaman Builds Differ

Other guides print full point splits. We don't reprint those numbers, because we couldn't test them against the live tree.

Swipe sideways to see all columns.

The pattern helps even without numbers. LePrestore's level 60 plans go deep in one tree, then spend the rest elsewhere.Reported, press or datamine, not confirmedSources: LePrestore: Enhancement Shaman Guide; LePrestore: Elemental Shaman Guide; LePrestore: Restoration Shaman Guide, checked Nov 8, 2026.

Older Plans and Tanking

The Enhancement order on our builds directory is withdrawn. It's a level 30 beta plan that predates the move of Improved Ghost Wolf to Row 4. Treat it as history.

If you're here for tanking, Spirit Weapons is the Enhancement talent to read about, and our Shaman tanking page has Blizzard's wording and what early players reported.

What to Re-Check

• Enhancement stats after the November 10 changes.
• Call of Thunder in the Elemental tree.
• Riptide's tooltip in the Restoration tree.
• Later Tuesday class tuning posts.

Blizzard's November 6 Forever hotfix post has no Shaman section.Source: Blizzard: WoW Forever Hotfixes, November 6, checked Nov 8, 2026.