[Shaman] Builds / Thoughts on new Shaman mechanic?

[Hauntoo]

Surprised there isn't a post on this yet.

How are people feeling with the new update? Anyone have any solid DPS mastery builds that they feel perform better than others?

[anstalt]

Honestly, I'm mostly enjoying the changes. I've spent most of my time in DPS spec and mostly solo.

The Good:

As DPS spec, i spend a lot of time kiting, and therefore cast a lot of DoTs and HoTs. Bubble and Heal Debuff count in the DoT category, which makes it very easy to get up to 5 waaagh. That then opens up some really good options, like:

Instant Cast FodG!
Extra Damage on Big Waaaghh, with 5s of +10% DPS
Extra Strikethrough and 40% Slow on Bunch o' Waaagh

Those changes alone feel pretty powerful to me. On top of that, I've been experimenting with 2 of the new tactics: Burst of Waaagh is quite fun, +50% critical damage has given me some big crits! But, I don't have a crit build, so it works very infrequently.

The other one I've been enjoying is Waaagh! Frenzy. Gives me a lot more self-healing in DPS spec, plus another direct damage skill that i can use whilst kiting. And all it costs me is some damage from 1 DoT. I haven't had many 1v1s yet but i feel like it's gonna help a lot, as well as in small scale roaming.

Something I intend to try out is the tactic Look at Dem. This gives us another DoT, on top of the debuff it provides (which i never seem to have time to use lol).

I also really like the change to 'Scuse Me. The 65ft range and 10s cooldown means I use it a lot now! At 5 waaagh, it can pack a punch, so it's great for when you're blob surfing.



The Bad:

Previously, I would spam my HoT to build up to 5 waaagh, so that when i unloading my DoTs on enemies, they'd be supercharged and really melt people. That feels a lot harder to do now, especially as once you hit 5 waagh, it immediately resets you when you use ur first DoT. I think this is somewhat balanced out by extra bonuses on skills, but im still finding it annoying.

I'd like Gork'll Fix It to be classed as a HoT. The fact it's classed as direct heal means I now have to use it a lot less, or i risk resetting my waaagh.

[anstalt]

On the healer front, I've not done a huge amount yet, though i have run HV twice and done a few SCs and a fort defence.


The main thing I've noticed is that FodG now feels useless. Being a direct heal, I never have the waaagh mechanic high enough to make it instant cast, and rarely even the 25% reduced cast time. So, with it being 2s cast basically all the time, I may as well just use my regular group heal.

Maybe if I spend more time in PvP as a healer i might feel different, as I'd be kiting more.


I do like the new Shrug it Off mechanic. I've been running with the Pass it On tactic and this has basically been acting as a replacement for FodG. I seem to do a lot of AoE healing with that tactic on, especially in forts or keeps when there's a lot of people close together.


I also like the new skill, Morks Gift. I'm really happy to finally have an instant cast biggish heal!


I'm curious to try out Waaagh Frenzy tactic with a heal build. I'm not sure what tactic I'd give up to use it though.

[Neznan]

Surprised there isn't a post on this yet.

How are people feeling with the new update? Anyone have any solid DPS mastery builds that they feel perform better than others?

DD Shaman become garbage. I have even stop playing my beloved 82 Shaman due to recent patch.
I play glass canon build and.... no damage at all after patch. Before patch it was much better.

From the other hand, what I see - AM become even stronge.

If you think I am just another cry baby - just checkout monthly/weekly killboard - I am 100% guarantee you will not find Shamans there, I would say - never from now on. While AM will be rising more often than before.

[anstalt]

Surprised there isn't a post on this yet.

How are people feeling with the new update? Anyone have any solid DPS mastery builds that they feel perform better than others?

DD Shaman become garbage. I have even stop playing my beloved 82 Shaman due to recent patch.
I play glass canon build and.... no damage at all after patch. Before patch it was much better.

From the other hand, what I see - AM become even stronge.

If you think I am just another cry baby - just checkout monthly/weekly killboard - I am 100% guarantee you will not find Shamans there, I would say - never from now on. While AM will be rising more often than before.

I'm curious where you feel you having been losing damage.

The only direct nerf to damage I can see was on 'Scuse Me, but I feel that balances out nicely with much shorter CD and greater range.

For everything else, I'm guessing it's related to the mechanic change? Though im not sure what you mean by glass cannon build, so its possible we're using different setups and priorities.

I feel that personally, im losing a bit of damage on my DoTs at the start of a fight (but only in situations where i was able to prepare in advance by stacking 5 waaagh before fight started) but gaining more damage and utility in any fight that lasts longer than 15s.

[Murador]

Surprised there isn't a post on this yet.

How are people feeling with the new update? Anyone have any solid DPS mastery builds that they feel perform better than others?

DD Shaman become garbage. I have even stop playing my beloved 82 Shaman due to recent patch.
I play glass canon build and.... no damage at all after patch. Before patch it was much better.

From the other hand, what I see - AM become even stronge.

If you think I am just another cry baby - just checkout monthly/weekly killboard - I am 100% guarantee you will not find Shamans there, I would say - never from now on. While AM will be rising more often than before.

Hmm - but why did AM get stronger? I feel like both AM and shaman heal for basically nothing with the willpower heals now - somewhat making them alot less fun. Maybe there is a strong build but I think they somewhat destroyed hybrid playstyle.

[Nameless]

on paper at least for me it is strange that shrug it off version of AM buff their most potent ST heal - funnel essence, while shamans doesnt have any secondary effect on any spell on the friendly target with shrug it off. Thats bizarre and make the unique FE even more powerful.

Prolly DSU (or the new insta heal to match FE place at the tree) should got some additional effect while ruining on shrug it off member.

Heal AM just feels more whole and completed than heal shaman

[Hauntoo]

I've been playing with Look At Dem! For the last few days, and it feels pretty decent while roaming the lakes. I am however struggling to actually come up with cohesive tactics builds.

Anyone have any input?

[BluIzLucky]

I wish we would stop calling solo spec for DPS, you probably won't use a tactic slot on Waaagh Freenzy or cast very week heals just for mechanic if you were actually a DPS.

on paper at least for me it is strange that shrug it off version of AM buff their most potent ST heal - funnel essence, while shamans doesnt have any secondary effect on any spell on the friendly target with shrug it off. Thats bizarre and make the unique FE even more powerful.

Prolly DSU (or the new insta heal to match FE place at the tree) should got some additional effect while ruining on shrug it off member.

Heal AM just feels more whole and completed than heal shaman

Not sure what you mean? The 3s out of 13s of 10% rcttb on the nerfed FE?
Is better than Pass It On at a time when out-party AoE heal is also greatly nerfed?

I've been playing with Look At Dem! For the last few days, and it feels pretty decent while roaming the lakes. I am however struggling to actually come up with cohesive tactics builds.

Anyone have any input?

Assuming you are going for AoE dps, try this:
Shaman 0-13-13

If you don't have +2, this looks fun with the M4:
Shaman 0-15-8

[Hauntoo]

My smooth little git brain wouldn't have come up with that AoE build, that looks really nice.
Would you be able to recommend a single target variant?