Restoration Shaman leveling guide
Restoration is the healing spec of the Shaman. Improved Healing Wave, Healing Way and Chain Heal at level 40 make it one of the best healers for groups, and totems like Mana Spring Totem and Mana Tide Totem keep the whole party going. Alone it levels slower than Enhancement, so pick it when you mostly play in groups. In Classic Era the Shaman is Horde only, for Orcs, Trolls and Taurens.
Strengths and weaknesses
- Strong group healing, with Chain Heal from level 40.
- Mana Spring Totem and Mana Tide Totem help every caster in your party.
- Mail armor from level 40 and a shield make you tougher than other healers.
- Slow alone, because your talents add little damage.
Talents by level
Level 10 to 30
- Improved Healing Wave 5/5 and Tidal Focus 5/5.
- Nature’s Guidance 3/3 and Healing Focus 2/5.
- Tidal Mastery 5/5, then Nature’s Swiftness at level 30.
Level 31 to 40
- Healing Way 3/3 and Restorative Totems 1/5.
- Purification 5/5, then Mana Tide Totem at level 40.
Level 41 to 60
- Restorative Totems 5/5, Totemic Focus 5/5 and Totemic Mastery, for 41 points in Restoration.
- In Enhancement: Ancestral Knowledge 5/5 and Shield Specialization 5/5.
Rotation
One enemy
- Lightning Shield, Searing Totem and Lightning Bolt, then Flame Shock.
- Fight in melee with a one-handed weapon and a shield, and use Earth Shock to finish.
- Heal yourself between fights with Healing Wave instead of eating.
Dungeon groups
- Mana Spring Totem, plus Strength of Earth Totem or Tremor Totem where it helps.
- Lower ranks of Healing Wave on the tank, Lesser Healing Wave for quick heals, and Chain Heal from level 40 when several players take damage.
- Nature’s Swiftness with Healing Wave when a player is about to die, and Mana Tide Totem when your party runs low on mana.
Staying alive
- Stoneclaw Totem and Earthbind Totem keep enemies off you.
- Stoneskin Totem against melee, and Frost Shock on an enemy that runs.
- 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 healing power, then Stamina. Mana regeneration helps in long fights at level 60.
- A one-handed mace with a shield, with Intellect or healing power.
- Enchants: Mana or Stats on the chest, Intellect on the bracers, and Healing Power on the weapon at level 60.
- Tradeskills: Herbalism with Alchemy for mana potions, or Skinning with Leatherworking for leather and mail armor.