The Post 3.02 Ideal Team Build, has it changed?

[offive]

Just wondering (since my server did the uber fail thing yesterday) how many boxers are happy about the shaman teams now that the patch has hit.

I still have one month left on my RAFs, which is enough time to push a new team build up to 60.

Any other DPS team builds like Hunters, Warlocks, Mages, or even Boomkin on the radar to replace the popular Shaman teams?

So chime in with your first impressions.

[Crucial]

Absolutely loving the shaman x 5 (elemental) team, even more than before. Lot's of complaints about the burst dmg output it seems, but with thunderstorm x 5 and an earthbind combo, you can wind up and blast them out of the park while they crawl back to you. I tried Kara (now that the HP is nerfed) and cleared all the trash up to opera without any problems.

[puppychow]

What were the reasons why 5 shamans were so powerful?

- ability to heal
- ranged DPS (easier than melee)
- self-rez when things go bad
- either stacking ToW (+12-15% crit/hit) or natures swiftness (insta cast next spell)
- chain bloodlust
- 15 min hearthstone (great when leveling)
- good DPS

Patch 3.0.2 has removed chain bloodlust (or reduced it to 5 mins between each one), and replaced stacking ToW with a single +spell dmg totem (and air now grants haste instead of spell dmg). The other benefits really haven't changed, although other classes do imo do more DPS than shamans at 80 - hunters, rogues, boomkins specifically, not sure about others.

imo 4-5 shamans still make a great time for 70-80, which is going to be harder than TBC was since we won't be outgearing instances anymore (TBC PVP gear is iLevel 136-156, 20-40 levels above heroics). I think many people will want a tank, as a lot of mobs in WOTLK are going to take longer to kill and be hard to kite/etc like TBC, esp in heroics. Its an open question on what the best team makeup is, taking into consideration synergies (moonkins/warlocks giving shamans DPS buffs, etc) and of course you have to consider melee Deathknights as well.

[Jaws5]

If you go by what last 2 days have resulted in go 4 healers and 1 ret paladin. Shoot make them all dins ret arua stacks. should be able to AOE the hell out of it all

just make a team of each before RAF ends

[Multibocks]

ret aura stacks? lol damn.

[Sam DeathWalker]

I mean really. Shaman

A class that heals, does good solid range dps, has rez, AND NOW has an aoe knockback AND if yur tarun you get the stomp thing also. And isnt a cloth class ... AND AND

the healing targets the lowest hit point person in range LOL AND AND CL will hit more then one target.

LOL.

And me Ill have 24 - 34 knockbacks and stomps and a Prot Pal for aoe agro. .... ....

Somehow I think all the theorycrafting I did before I started is paying off.

[Hor]

For pure PVE, I think the Pali, Druid, Shaman group is going to have an edge. Still catching my Druid up with the rest so I don't have much in the way of numbers to back it up, but I think it's the theorycraft winner. Still, Pali + Shamans is definitely strong, it's just not 100% optimal. As has been said previously, self rez, heals AND damage, etc. I went Orcs on my Shamans, just because what nuker doesn't want a built in, scaling ToEP ability? I do really want to play around with a DK alongside my Shamans now though, Thunderstorm + Death Grip could be interesting fun.

[Drakkun]

I plan to go with a new team comprised of 1 DK + 3 moonkins + 1 ele shaman. This is purely for PVE. In heroics, I can dual spec a druid to resto and still have an incredible team.

[krum]

For pure PVE, I think the Pali, Druid, Shaman group is going to have an edge. Still catching my Druid up with the rest so I don't have much in the way of numbers to back it up, but I think it's the theorycraft winner. Still, Pali + Shamans is definitely strong, it's just not 100% optimal. As has been said previously, self rez, heals AND damage, etc. I went Orcs on my Shamans, just because what nuker doesn't want a built in, scaling ToEP ability? I do really want to play around with a DK alongside my Shamans now though, Thunderstorm + Death Grip could be interesting fun.

I'm very curious as to what role your Druid plays?

[Hor]

Initially, I had a decision when I saw the Shaman changes, to add a Lock or a Druid. And thanks to RAF I had one of each sitting around at 61 collecting dust. So, all I had to do was make a decision. I've played, literally played a lock of every race in the game. So he was already a strong contender, since I'm well versed in how to play one. However, the Druid brings a lot to the table; he's Balance, and with the changes to the totems, he removes some redundancy. But most importantly are his buffs/debuffs and CC. CC of course being something a group like this sorely needs. But also with the coefficient change to lightning bolt damage, and blizzard's new stance of "We've rebalanced Ele damage around the idea that you'll have a Druid, DK, or Warlock handy." The key here is Earth and Moon, 100% chance to increase spell damage taken. This by itself would be enough to consider adding a Druid, but then there's the possibility of the Warlock too ... who can add a pet for damage and a nice Curse to buff your Shaman damage. Also the lock can Soulstone and Healthstone the group. However, there's another thing to consider here. Lots of upkeep with a lock, need to keep up with soul shards, etc. But with the Druid, you can just nuke away, and heal ... and you get Mark of the Wild. PLUS, you get to pop out and do some heals if you need to ... and then back to the debuffs, since ToW has been nerfed, Shaman teams have lost a LOT of hit. Improved Faerie Fire adds a +3 to hit with spells for the entire group. And I believe you get more Haste from the Druid than you do with Totems, so all in all the Druid offers a lot of synergy with the group. I've just got to catch up, but that won't be long with me power levelling him thru quests.

Here's the Druid's current talents.
http://www.wowhead.com/?talent=0xG0uicsAdI00oxZf