Post by Modibybob
*Note: This is a continuation of the "3.3 PvE Elemental Guide" in the Helpful Threads section. It is being updated for Cataclysm.Originally developed in patch 3.0, this is intended to be a baseline guide covering PvE for the elemental shaman. Since Cataclysm, there have obviously been drastic changes which I hope I will cover the the fullest extent possible. It will be a mix of information from Elitist Jerks, existing Elemental Shaman guides elsewhere and input from members here. As always, insight and constructive criticism is welcome.
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This is considered to be the current "cookie-cutter" spec (glyphs included) for both pre raid and raid specced elemental shaman. Some of you may be asking how increasing movement speed increases DPS. Moving out of the 'bad stuff' or where you need to be at a particular time in a raid allows you to spend less time running and more time casting, thus increasing DPS. Additionally, this opens up the option to put +50 mastery on your boots, an alternative to
Lavawalker.-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
General Rules:
- Always maintain
Flametongue Weapon and
Lightning Shield buffs.
- When casting, a common error is that players assume they cannot cast a spell before their cast bar is 100% done. Due to latency, this is not the case. When casting, try beginning your next cast when your cast bar is around 80% full. This will also maximize the effectiveness of the haste you have.
Trash/adds:The tactic for approaching trash has changed in Cataclysm. No longer is it common for a tank to pull an entire group of mobs and mass-AoE. Make good use of your hex/bind elemental talents.
On adds during bossfights, Earthquake is your best friend. Due to the somewhat costly mana of this spell, consider casting it only when
clearcasting is up.
Thunderstorm is also a viable option. Another good tactic to use is during an add phase (take the Magmaw leeches for example) is to plant an Earthbind totem, then thunderstorm the adds into the range of that totem followed by an earthquake. This is just one of many examples.
Bosses/single target:Against a single target, you want your rotation to be one of the following:
Flame Shock DoT -> Lava Burst (on CD) -> Earth Shock (7-9 Lightning Shield charges) -> Lightning Bolt
Elemental Mastery: Try and time this spell for when you obtain a particular proc from a trinket, or something similar in nature. This is our own mini-BL/Her. Increasing haste while under the effect of something like "
Now is the Time!" will maximize the benefit of this talent. Try to avoid casting this during bloodlust/heroism, since you will not be able to gain much DPS, if any since you will be global cooldown capped.
Fire Nova. Fire nova is an extremely situational spell, especially due to the massive mana cost. It is mostly useful for add AoE with Earthquake, and a worthy spell to cast if movement is required on a boss fight, but not at the expense of refreshing your flame shock debuff if it's about to run out. In all other circumstances, this spell is not worth casting in a standard single target rotation, so don't go out of your way for it.
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Gearing in Cataclysm if you haven't noticed is quite different than what we're used to in the past. Mainly because spirit now provides us with hit rating. The intention of this is to harmonize elemental with a resto offspec/mainspec in case you own a high level resto piece.
- Gemming
Aim for as many
Intellect gems as possible, as this will provide you with your greatest DPS boost. The meta you should be using for now should be
Ember Shadowspirit Diamond until Blizzard fixes the gemming issues on the PTR. Since it has a requirement of at least two yellow gems, throw 2x
Reckless Ember Topaz in your yellow sockets.
Regarding socket bonuses, in most cases it is better to put a pure
Int gem in the off-color socket than try and get the socket bonus.
*This guide is currently being updated for Cataclysm, and any information here may be temporarily incomplete. The rest of it should be finished by the end of today or tomorrow. Make sure to check back for updates!
Post by brrobid
Hey Bob! Welcome back. As always, good job overall, with a couple of nitpicks :)
Last thing I read,
Chaotic Shadow Spirit diamond is still a slightly better choice than Ember, even with the weird activation requirements. With our new use of spirit (as hit rating) and reforging, the weird gemming requirement isn't as debilitating as it once was. It takes a bit more contortions to get right, making the ember far easier; but still. I wouldn't complain about the Ember (until 4.0.6, see below), as it's a very close #2, and easier, but ... ok, you're not wrong, most people should just take the easy route :)
And, in 4.0.6 we're getting Burning Shadowspirit Diamond which will become our meta of choice .. by a long shot. +54 Int + 3% increased crit dmg.
Regarding socket bonuses, have you seen any recent stat weightings for us yet? I haven't; point me at them if you have. Those dictate whether socket bonuses are useful or not. And again with reforging, foregoing free stats is not something to be done lightly.
As for chain casting, Quartz is still my addon of choice, with it's built-in latency calculations.
Should also discuss our new
Unleash Elements spell. It doesn't appear in your rotations, which is correct.
However, some discussion of why it's not there is usually a good idea. We don't use it in a standing rotation, but a good thing to cast while on the move (after earth shock, refreshing flame shock and reseting totems, of course). The damage it does plus the bonus it provides to Lava Burst doesn't out weigh simply casting another lightning bolt in that spot. But if you're on the move, and your totems and flameshock are relatively fresh, and you only have 3 or 4 stacks of lightning shield, and you're still moving at that point, it then becomes a good idea to cast. Of course, if you're still moving, you probably should have just cast
Spiritwalker's Grace.
And finally (at least, for now *smile*), last I read haste came in ever so slightly above mastery in value, which makes putting
50 haste on your shoes a very slightly better option than the mastery enchant.
