Translated automatically from Italian: talent and ability names stay in English, as in the game. Original text (Italian) →
This build makes your Shaman a ranged caster who heals themselves: against a single enemy Lightning Bolt and Flame Shock are enough, when there are many Fire Nova and Chain Lightning come in, and Healing Wave patches you up. It already reflects the November 2 changes: Lava Burst is gone, Call of Thunder arrives at 30 and Lightning Mastery at 40.
How to play it
What to expect
This build hits hard and from afar, and already in the early levels Fire Nova lets you take on small groups. The price to pay is Mana: the talents that make it sustainable come late, so at first the breaks to drink are frequent. From 40, with Lightning Mastery, the pace really changes.
How to spend the points
10-14: Concussion, more damage for Lightning Bolt, Chain Lightning and Earth Shock.
From 15: Elemental Alacrity, which greatly shortens the cast of Lightning Bolt and Chain Lightning; then Call of Flame, Elemental Focus and Convection, meaning stronger Flame Shock, Fire Nova and totems and cheaper spells, with the occasional free cast.
25: Earthbound. Earthbind Totem roots nearby enemies for 5 seconds: when they get on you, it is what saves you.
In the following levels: Trial by Fire (Fire Nova hits harder and comes back sooner, Magma Totem lasts longer) and Eye of the Storm (less cast pushback when you get hit).
30: Call of Thunder, a single point that gives +5% crit to Lightning Bolt and Chain Lightning.
31: Lightning Overload, which sometimes casts a free second copy of the spell at half damage.
35-39: Elemental Fury, much heavier crits.
40: Lightning Mastery. For 15 seconds Lightning Bolt casts faster and Chain Lightning has no cooldown.
From 41 most points go outside Elemental: in Restoration Tidal Focus, Mindfulness, Improved Reincarnation and Water Shield, in Enhancement Thundering Strikes and Ancestral Knowledge to finish.
The rhythm of a fight
Before engaging check your shield, Lightning Shield or Water Shield once you have it (that one stays up in combat too), and drop the totems you need. The first hit comes from max range: Lightning Bolt on one enemy, Chain Lightning on a group. On one target keep Flame Shock up at all times and fill with Lightning Bolt; finish off anyone nearly dead in melee, so you save Mana. From three enemies up you work next to a Fire totem: Fire Nova and Chain Lightning on every cooldown, and Magma Totem instead of Searing Totem. Lightning Mastery goes on elites and big groups, or as soon as it's available if you want to kill faster. Earth Shock interrupts or pulls casters, Frost Shock slows.
What to wear
Spell damage above all, then crit and hit, which matters more and more as you level up. Then Intellect, Mana per 5 seconds, Spirit and Stamina. Learn to use two-handed maces and axes early: in Forever quite a few carry caster stats.
Strengths
Big bursts of damage, especially in the 15 seconds of Lightning Mastery.
With Fire Nova you have strong AoE damage from the early levels.
Healing Wave keeps you standing, and from 20 Ghost Wolf makes you travel fast.
Plenty of utility: totems, interrupts, Reincarnation, Water Walking and Water Breathing, Astral Recall.
Weaknesses
Mana runs out quickly and the talents that matter come late.
You have to stand still to cast, and if several enemies reach you in melee you are in trouble.
It is not the fastest spec for leveling.
Notes
For Mana, refresh your buffs right after your last cast, so the 5-second rule starts counting sooner; leave weak enemies to your melee hits and always carry plenty of water.
The totem quests: Earth at 4, Fire at 10, Water at 20, Air at 30; do them as soon as they show up. Ghost Wolf comes at 20, Windfury Totem at 32.
Fire Nova now puts the threat on the Shaman rather than on the totem: keep that in mind when you use it on a group.
Between fights make use of the professions' camp buffs (for example Mana Wells and Camp Tent), rested experience and the Cozy Sleeping Bag.
Professions: Leatherworking and Skinning are the best pick, then Enchanting or Alchemy.
Races: in the Horde Orc or Windshaper Skyborne, in the Alliance the Dwarf.
