5-boxing CoT: Durnholde - 4x shaman 1x paladin

[Xaero37]

Would you mind explaining what totems you use in instances and why? I can't quite make out what you use in the videos you've posted due to quality. I am also wondering why you use Devotion Aura over Retribution Aura. I understand the extra armor, but wouldn't RA hold aggro a bit better? Thanks

[Vyndree]

Would you mind explaining what totems you use in instances and why? I can't quite make out what you use in the videos you've posted due to quality. I am also wondering why you use Devotion Aura over Retribution Aura. I understand the extra armor, but wouldn't RA hold aggro a bit better? Thanks

After a certain point, holding aggro is not a problem. I've switched from my former spec which included reckoning for a more mitigation-based spec with Ardent Defender. Basically, the longer I can go without needing a heal, the smoother the run goes. This is why I use Devo aura. Ret aura is really the most useful for questing/lowbie instances when you don't have Avenger's shield to frontload threat. I also use a Sporregar rep shield which helps with aoe threat as well. Pre-60 it's also hard to get some spelldmg on your gear to help with threat, which isn't a problem in BC.

As for totems, this is my typical setup:
Water: 3x healing stream, 1x mana -- except where disease/poison cleanse take up 2 of the heal streams situationally
Air: Wrath of Air (yum), Windfury, Grace of Air, Nature Resist Totem (lawl -- you might not want to use this, but Windwall isn't much better)
Earth: Tremor Totem x2, Strength of Earth, Stoneskin
Fire: 4x Totem of Wrath (alternately in some fights I'll use magma/searing -- fire nova in pvp)

[Vyndree]

I've switched from my former spec which included reckoning for a more mitigation-based spec with Ardent Defender. Basically, the longer I can go without needing a heal, the smoother the run goes.

Have you spec'd one of the shammies in your group resto yet? I took your advice and did so, and "smooth" doesn't quite explain how "smooth" things go now.

Many pulls in various instances I can completely ignore the pally tank, allowing my resto shammie to jump in on the DPS game, due to Earth Shield. Its just incredible. And mana tide totem helps quite a bit with the tank's prot-based low mana pool.

Earth shield doesn't give prot pallies mana, so I'm not sure how much I like that. I already have a 70 resto shammy in ssc/kara gear if I really need a dedicated healer. I suppose mana tide helps with the mana issue from using ES though.

All my shammies are ele still, haven't run into any snags yet.

Basically taking AD I don't start healing until 1/2 health, and AD keeps me from taking much damage while the heal is being cast. AD makes it so I don't spam heal - I reactively heal. Works pretty well