subject: Are Your Elemental Shaman Skills Good Enough For The Arena? [print this page] I know how it feels, being an elemental shaman. It feels like there's so much untapped potential within your class. After all, we're the only ones who can shoot lightning bolts at bad guys while healing our teammates. And that's not even including the totems that can buff or debuff as we see fit. So why are we the most inefficient class in PvP as opposed to a Paladin or a Warlock?
Anyone who's played WoW for a limited amount of time knows that elemental shamans do not shine brightly in PvP, and it's true; it's never easy. When someone sees us, it means our time is up. We have to be careful about our own safety, because we can be ripped to shreds at any moment.
This means that a casual player dabbling in elemental shaman PvP will die many, many times. They eventually go back to their Rogues or Druids after trying and failing to understand the spec.
But this doesn't mean that we suck. There are elemental shamans in the top brackets, that's for sure. It just means that the class requires considerable skill to PvP effectively.
I'm sure you've seen what the Warlock can do. I'm also sure that you've wondered at least once after a horrible death, 'why can't I kill people as good as the 'lock can?' But you have to understand that the elemental shaman can do that as well. You just need a lot more practice to be that good.
You should know by now that Shamans have lots of skills for almost any situation. This is both a blessing and a curse, because when a PvP situation arises, you are required to act as fast as possible. This means knowing the right buttons to push, the correct position to stay in (never turn your back on your enemy!), and your surroundings. In WoW, PvP encounters are usually resolved in a matter of seconds, so every single one counts. You cannot spend your time choosing between the varieties of shocks available to you. You cannot panic about what to do when you're hamstringed or slowed. Failure to do so will get you killed, quickly.
However, these impediments will turn into a boon for you when you finally master them, because there is a tool for any situation. Foe with low health getting away? Frost Shock. Group of enemies? Chain Lightning and a Fire Nova Totem. Spellcaster? Use a Wind Shear. There are so many possibilites to counter the opposition that will help you if you know what to do, in as efficient a manner as possible.
