Do you want to optimize your character to level as fast as possible? Get the most out of every skill? Maximizing your Shaman’s endgame potential is all using every opportunity. And one very important step is to choose the optimal race for your Shaman with the help of this Shaman leveling guide.
Let’s take a look at all the available races…
Orc
Blood Fury – Instant – 2 min cooldown
“Increases attack power by (Level*4)+2 and your spell power by (Level*2)+3. Lasts 15 seconds. “
For a hybrid class like the Shaman, this racial is incredible! Plus 322 attack power and 163 spell damage at level 80 is probably the strongest racial ever. If properly used this grants an average of +40 attack power and +20 spell damage all the time.
Command – passive
“Damage dealt by Death Knight, Hunter and Warlock pets increased by 5%. “
Useless for Shamans.
Axe Specialization – passive
“Expertise with Axes, Two-Handed Axes and Fist Weapons increased by 5.”
If you are going to engage in melee combat – and you are going to when leveling – chances are you will find this racial very attractive. Especially Enhancement Shamans will profit from this.
Hardiness – passive
“Duration of Stun effects reduced by an additional 15%.”
Useful if you prefer PvP but hardly necessary in raids. A plus nonetheless.
Our Opinion
Blood Fury and Axe Expertise makes the Orc probably the most effective choice for damage dealers as it both increases melee and spell damage – and constantly dealing more damage also makes you level faster! If you aim for an offensive Shaman or just want to level faster we recommend choosing an Orc.
Tauren
War Stomp – instant – 0,5 sec cast – 2 min cooldown
“Stuns up to 5 enemies within 8 yds for 2 sec.”
This neat racial greatly enhances the Shamans survivability – low on health, trying to cast the life-saving healing spell but the mob bothers you? The 2 second break can save your life many times. Of course it can also be used in PvP to stun up to 5 foes.
Endurance – passive
“Base Health increased by 5%”
Another enhancement of your survivability. It’s the 1 more hit you can take without dying.
Cultivation – passive
“Herbalism skill increased by 15.”
Excellent if you aim for an alchemy/herbalism combination or just want the gathering profession. The Shamans spells are less mana effective as the spells of other classes and making your own mana potions can come in handy.
Nature Resistance – passive
“Reduces the Chance you will be hit by Nature spells by 2%”
Only a small bonus and too unpredictable to be of real use.
Our Opinion
The Tauren Shaman is the most able survivor of all Shamans. A racial stun ability and 5% more health makes the Tauren hard to kill. The best Choice if you favor a more defensive playing-style. On the other hand, the racials do not add much to your ability to level faster.
Trolls
Berserking – instant – 3 min cooldown
“Activate to increase attack and casting speed by 20% for 10 seconds. 3 minute cooldown.”
Berserking statistically increases your damage (melee and spells) by 1,11% which is only a small enhancement. However, if used properly you can create massive burst damage or spam heal spells in a critical situation!
Regeneration – passive
“Health regeneration increased by 10%. 10% of total Health regeneration may continue during combat. “
Regeneration is a useful racial to decrease the downtime while leveling. However, since the Shaman can heal himself it’s only a little plus.
Beast Slaying – passive
“Damage dealt versus Beasts increased by 5%. “
Another viable racial to increase your leveling speed as you will likely kill hundreds and thousands of animals on your way to hit 80. Synergizes with Skinning because you will want to kill even more Beasts.
Throwing Weapon Specialization- passive
“Your chance to critically hit with Throwing Weapons is increased by 1%”
Useless for Shamans.
Bow Specialization – passive
“Your chance to critically hit with Bows is increased by 1%. “
Useless for Shamans.
Da Voodoo Shuffle – passive
“Reduces the duration of all movement impairing effects by 15%. Trolls be flippin’ out mon!”
Da Shuffle is skill you might want to have for arena and battlefields as there are many situations where you are slowed or unable to move. On the other hand, 15% shouldn’t be overestimated.
Our Opinion
The Troll – like the Orc – has the ability to increase the overall damage or create burst damage. However the enhancement is less frequent than the Orcs. The Trolls efficiency varies a lot on the foe: Great against Beasts but average against everything else. All in all, the Troll is a viable choice to level faster, just not as good as an Orc.
Draenei
Gift of the Naaru – instant – 1.5 sec cast – 3 min cooldown
“Activate to heal the target 50 + 15/Level over 15 sec – 40 yd range. The amount healed is increased based on the caster’s Spell Power or Attack Power (whichever is higher). This ability does not lose casting time from taking damage. (At level 1 it heals 50 health, and 1235 at level 80) “
The Shaman can heal himself without the help of this racial which makes it less viable. But it can still come in handy to save the mana for other spells and abilities.
Heroic Presence
“Increases chance to hit by 1% for you and all party members within 30 yards. (Now applicable to all classes). “
The Dreaneis right to exist in groups: An enhancement for your whole party is a great plus. It might be only 1% but many classes depend on it.
Gemcutting – passive
“Jewelcrafting skill increased by 5.”
Good for Gemcutters since it also raises the cap by 5 at each level of jewelcrafting.
Shadow Resistance – passive
“Reduces chance to be hit by Shadow spells by 2%. “
Too unreliable to be of real use – it’s a small bonus.
Our Opinion
Draenei are the only choice if you want to play Alliance. Still they are a good choice for players that want to play in groups so more than one person can benefit from their Heroic Presence. Draenei aren’t meant for soloing since they enhance others more than they enhance themselves. Definitely not our recommended choice to ding 80 ASAP.
The Next Step – Get Your Shaman To Level 80 As Fast As Possible!
If you want to level as fast as possible, we recommend you to choose the Orc Shaman, but Trolls are also viable.
On the other hand, if you want to be an able survivor you will want to pick the Tauren and if you are more a group player and don’t want to play offensively, Draenei will give a bonus to your whole party.
You see, to choose the optimal race for you, you have to know what you want to do with your character when you ding 80.
You can specialize in PvP, dominate your opponents on the battlefield or in the arena.
You can visit and raid endgame instances with your friends and guild mates.
Or you can use your Shaman to farm gold or master a profession.
My guess is, you can already imagine how it will be like when you get to level 80, how your character will look like and what you will do. And you want to get there as soon as possible!
There is a great way to save hours (and days) of your time: Getting a first-class WoW leveling guide add-on.
A leveling guide add-on will tell you which quests are most rewarding – and which quests are junk-quests that would only waste your time. You should only to the quests that give you big rewards for little time!