Elemental Shaman leveling guide
Elemental turns the Shaman into a caster. Call of Thunder and 
Elemental Fury make 
Lightning Bolt crit often and hard, 
Lightning Mastery shortens its cast, and 
Elemental Mastery at level 40 guarantees a big critical strike. It spends mana fast, so you drink more than an Enhancement Shaman, but most enemies die before they reach you. In Classic Era the Shaman is Horde only, for Orcs, Trolls and Taurens.
Strengths and weaknesses
- Large burst damage from Lightning Bolt, shocks and Elemental Mastery.
Elemental Focus gives a free spell after a critical strike.
Chain Lightning from level 32 hits several enemies at once.- Heavy mana use, and weak when several enemies reach you.
Talents by level
Level 10 to 30
Convection 5/5 and Concussion 5/5.- Elemental Focus and Call of Thunder 5/5.
Reverberation 4/5, then Elemental Fury at level 30.
Level 31 to 40
- Reverberation 5/5 and Eye of the Storm 3/3.
- Lightning Mastery 5/5, then Elemental Mastery at level 40.
Level 41 to 60
- In Restoration:
Tidal Focus 5/5, 
Totemic Focus 5/5 and 
Nature’s Guidance 3/3. 
Healing Focus 2/5, then 
Tidal Mastery 5/5 for more Crit on Lightning Bolt.
Rotation
One enemy
Lightning Shield and 
Searing Totem, then Lightning Bolt at maximum range.- A second Lightning Bolt, then
Flame Shock, and 
Earth Shock to finish or to interrupt a caster. - When your mana runs low, finish enemies in melee.
Two enemies
Stoneclaw Totem holds one enemy while you kill the other.- Chain Lightning from level 32, and
Frost Shock to slow an enemy. - Elemental Mastery before a Chain Lightning or Lightning Bolt for a guaranteed critical strike.
Staying alive
Earthbind Totem slows enemies that come toward you.
Healing Wave, or 
Lesser Healing Wave from level 20, and 
Stoneskin Totem against melee.
Reincarnation from level 30 brings you back once per hour, as long as you carry an Ankh.
Leveling route
| Level | Horde |
|---|---|
| 1-12 | Durotar, Mulgore |
| 12-20 | The Barrens, Silverpine Forest |
| 20-30 | The Barrens, Hillsbrad Foothills, Thousand Needles |
| 30-40 | Stranglethorn Vale, Arathi Highlands, Desolace |
| 40-50 | Tanaris, Feralas, The Hinterlands |
| 50-60 | Un’Goro Crater, Felwood, Western Plaguelands, Winterspring |
Dungeons worth the detour: Scarlet Monastery from level 30 to 40, Zul’Farrak around 45 and Blackrock Depths from 52.
Stats, weapons and tradeskills
- Intellect and Stamina, then Spirit for less drinking. Spell Damage and Crit matter more at level 60.
- A staff, or a one-handed weapon with a shield, with Intellect or Spell Damage.
- Enchants: Mana or Stats on the chest, Intellect on the bracers, and Spell Power on the weapon at level 60.
- Tradeskills: Herbalism with Alchemy for mana potions, or Skinning with Leatherworking for leather and mail armor.