Shaman Tank Build Limitations (and other related stuff)
-
So, I've been playing around with a shaman tank build just for fun, and I've been finding that although there are some, there seems to be very few options for actually enabling that. Not that there aren't options(Echoing Power, Wind Slam, and Stormhammer come to mind), but they're few, and it feels like they're mostly wind/lightning themed, whereas I'd want to make something more neutral or earth-themed (because themes are half the fun of build making for me,) and
I think the idea of a tank focused on using Maelstrom Weapon is very fun, but that's pretty much impossible to make work without Windfury. I think one potentially fun alternative would be to add some way to gain maelstrom by blocking- maybe tied to Rockbiter so that you can't stack it up with Windfury maelstrom gains and actually giving that spell some use. I think something else that would be nice is a convenient way to add Earth Shield charges to yourself, maybe tied to a melee ability or something.
And aside from all that, maybe just some more earth-themed spells for shamans! With the introduction of spells and abilities from the live game, maybe Sundering could make it in somehow. Maybe also some mitigation in the form of a totem with a good chunk of health that redirects damage from the caster to itself. Otherwise, some ways to turn shaman spells/abilities into personal mitigation would be nice!
I think it'd also be nice to have a unique tank stance, but I don't think that's particularly likely, so instead I'll advocate for changes to the existing ones. Right now you basically have the choice between going for Defensive Stance, or one of several stances with very thematic spells and abilities tied to them. There isn't really a generic stance for caster-melee hybrid tanks, since Mana-Forged Barrier and Righteous Fury gives you access to arcane and holy abilities respectively, with Defensive Stance being the only really generic one. Having a more generic stance focused on combining spells and melee abilities would make it a lot easier to make thematic tank builds drawing from classes that aren't traditionally tanks.
Now, it wouldn't surprise me if I'm alone in my desire for this, but I wanted to get it out there anyways. What do other people think? Should we have more options to integrate shaman spells into tank builds?
-
@TheScrunkly What about shaman specifically is it that is missing? Im playing Righteous Fury + Mental Quickness Thunder Slam, and im loving it; I feel like im getting everything out of enhancement shaman, and I focus on spell damage, str mainstat, and the rotation feels great.
-
I agree with Lauste that righteous fury doesnt lock you into holy themes. There is still a fun brainstorming session on what new RE could bring to a shaman themed tank. For me, retail has trained me to see shamans as 60% lightning, 20% water, and 10% fire/earth. I dont feel wind themed from windfury or windshock aa much as hurricane and typhon. So lets look at possible earth re interactions.
Instead of using block, lets interact with some kind of new earth shield that does damage mitigation and make earthbiter a requirement to trigger it, for parry and mfb shaman. This RE would increase threat while earth biter is on or still use rightfury and earth biter lowers your dps so that when you smash your enemies with stone, fragments that fly off and surround you for a small barrier bubble
-
When your earth shield triggers, gain (Blank). Maelstorm with rockbiter? Could barrow some dk bone shiwld mechanics
-
Muddy earth, dmg with earth spells apply a minor slow or reduce attack power. we could theme earth shamans around making temporary hazardous terrain, kiting, debuffs, with stone wall moments at the cost of dmg output.
-
Totem golems: stationary elementals that cost your earth shield charges, refreshing earthshield dismisses the totems. up to three totems active at once. We can make these elementals improved version of earth totems. One generates aoe threat, earth shock it to taunt nearest 2 mobs. One generates aoe barrier bubbles. one slows in aoe.
Earth shocking any totem pulses that 2 person taunt and totems return fheir earth shield cost on death or range leash.
Obviously the idea isnt balance, id more like to hear about how youd theme a shaman or earthbender tank. Also yes, sundering is fun
Edit for funny idea and not my spelling errors:
Imagine if you could create temporary walls in a V formation, open at the bottom. On demand bottle neck and line of sight pulling. Dont know if our game engine can even do that and plenty of negative use cases for player griefing. Still fun to think about. Maybe instead we just take torgasts los cloud as a shaman dust cloud... -
-
I play a defensive stance Thunderslam (actually only the Lightning Blade part) tank and it gives me all the feel of an enhancement shaman tank.
You can use Reckoning and Unfair Advantage to get in more attacks that would generate more Maelstrom stacks. With Righteous Fury, you can have the Divinity talent so you have more healing. You can do Sheath of Light for more nature healing as well even though the capstone is holy focused.
An epic enchant that made Healing Wave work with Maelstrom instead of just lesser healing wave would let you utilize Earth's Blessing enchant but you get into problems when your healer is using Earth Shield since it only adds stacks to yours and theirs is more powerful and would overwrite yours. It would also be really powerful due to the Low Tide legendary enchant which is why I don't think it would be implemented.
Today you can use Lesser Healing Wave with Maelstrom Weapon and the Frugal Disposition enchant and try to get LHW crits to trigger Ancestral Healing (and you may as well go all the way and get Ancestral Awaking too). If you are using Mending Tide for your legendary enchant and Water Shield and a water elemental healing you should feel very water oriented.
If you are unable to sign in, please set your Display Name.