As Patch 3.3.3 continues to wrap up and looks to be almost complete it is time to review and discuss the changes Elemental Shamans will be looking at after the patch goes live. There are not many changes but the Flame Shock changes do have an impact on rotations and therefore need to be discussed.
- Flame Shock: The damage-over-time component of this ability can now produce critical strikes and is affected by spell haste.
Flame Shock the base spell of elemental rotations very important because of the ability for shamans to produce guaranteed critical strikes from our Lava Burst spell. With the changes to Flame Shock this patch it is important to note that the use of Glyph of Flame Shock is no longer mandatory and which Glyph should replace it is up for discussion. Now that Flame Shock can produce critical strikes without the glyph we can use either Glyph of Totem of Wrath or Glyph of Lava as a replacement depending on which glyph you left out of your set. It should be mentioned that use of Wrath and Lava with Lightning Bolt are the glyphs you should be using post 3.3.3.
The most important change to Flame Shock is the dot portion of the spell is now effected by haste and depending on your level of haste will determine how many Lava Bursts you can fire off during your rotation. Also remember there is no preset rotation that can be used by all shamans, your rotation is and has to be a priority rotation that must take into account Flame Shock falling off and Lava Burst extensions. Basically it has not changed refresh Flame Shock when needed and do not miss Lava Burst casts when they come off cooldown to maximize DPS. You will be casting Flame Shock more and less Lightning Bolts but the hasted dot with be more dps than the loss of firing off less Lightning Bolts.
- Talents
- Elemental Combat
- Elemental Oath: This ability is now always on as a passive aura.
The changes to Elemental Oath will give a passive 5% crit at all times which is awesome and help some shamans that have a hard time finding a raid spot give their raid leaders another reason to take them.
