This is probably a stupid question but I have to ask it. Is it unrealistic to want ToW combined with fire dps totems (searing and magma)? My DPS is fine when using dps totems but weak when I buff the raid with ToW.

I agree that Totem of Wrath's implementation is unfortunate to say the least; when I joined a new raid group with an existing elemental shaman, that shaman was immediately wowed by my dps, and I explained to him it was because I didn't have to drop Wrath and was therefore squeezing out an extra 500 with searing/magma.

I really do hope they take the time to make Totem of Wrath a more intelligent talent point, rather than one that obsoletes a significant chunk of our spellbook. ie. make the talent give the "of Wrath" aura to all fire totems.

Fire totems would also ideally get an overhaul to make them more useful in raids. Even on fights where we run 2 Ele Shamans (Vezax, Hodir) I don't use an offensive/damaging totem because it's just too much of a pain to keep it within 20 yards of the boss and active.

Would be nice if they gave us a 3-point imp Searing Totem in 1-2nd tier elemental that would bring its range/spell power coefficient up 33/66/100% (roughly), making it the ele go-to totem and have the ToW effect proc off fire spells.

I digress though as this is not the "beg for class changes on a forum blizz doesn't read" thread.

I'm just now really wondering where the SP break-even is for

GToW + ToH
v.
GoL + Thunderfall

assuming 4pc T9, given the emphasis change from LB in T8.

BRB Math.

Can some one make a breakdown for the new troll berserking (20% haste at all times) vs the orc blood fury?
Which is better for ele ?

Troll is better, and was better when used correctly pre 3.2...

Troll : 20% haste =~650 hasterating (3min cd)

Ork : 163 sp (2min cd)

so Troll dps is 650/(180/10)*1,2 ~ 44 Dps
and Ork is 163/(120/15)*1,4 ~ 29 Dps


but can be used with bloodlust together.. but berserking is on elemental mastery cd so you can always have both up.. this improves viability of Berserking a bit.
On the other hand you'll ba at the gcd with berserking an bloodlust.. but berserking is still better.

How does that make sense? You assume that you have 520 haste rating at the beginning and that with berserking you add 130 haste rating. Your calculs should use 130 haste rating gained and not your total to calculate how much DPS you gain from the ability. I really think the orc racial is better, especially since you gain an actual 179.3 sp on lightning bolt and 195,6 on Lava Burst. You'd have to explain to me how you did your maths here.

are you adding total item stats of just base shaman stats while compering blood fury and berserking?i mean having at least 500+ haste 2500+ sp or base stats.

In ulduar most cases caster dps are mobile.so
we have
*Bloodlust
*Elemental Mastery
*Haste or sp/crit pot
and
blood fury or berserk

may be on paper with some maths we can find which one is better but fights,reflexes and playing styles are not same for everyone.Becouse of that there will be never a fixed rotation and timings for spell that have long cds.

in ulduar we can find good places in dps meters cos of buffs that come from most boss fights.as playing a shaman makes me more smarter that other casters,if i want to catch them in dps meters i must .
In 3.2 if shamans will not take some buffs i think it will be our last moths for good days. they still trying to fix pvp

I thought the consensus was do not go over 550 haste because of the elemental rotation? Are you saying that shamans should focus on hit>sp>haste even if it takes you to 650+ haste?

There is no haste cap, soft or otherwise, just some weird fixation that some shaman have for fitting in 5 LBs in the first half of their rotation irrespective of what it does to the second half and irrespective of the fact that it is unsustainable in mobile fights. There has certainly been no consensus (or even suggestion as far as I can remember) on these boards that shaman should stop gathering haste at 550. Indeed, the numbers presented show continual DPS increases far beyond that level.

It's not so much an aversion to high levels of haste, it's mostly that spellpower is the best single stat once you're hit capped and there's just not a huge amount of haste on the gear most Shamans find themselves using. Also, the T8 set bonuses (not to mention several mechanics in Ulduar fights) make crit more valuable so there's not the same incentive to avoid crit.

Honestly, I think the typical set of high-end raiding Elemental gear just happens to sit around the mid-500s for haste rating. I'm fully aware that there's no cap on haste, and I have about the same amount.