Shaman totem



A totem is the primary tool used by a Shaman as an instrument of war. Characterized by their immobility and area of effect, the totems embody the Shaman's mastery over the elements. Some totems possess destructive power while others aid and assist allies. Shamanistic cultures outside those of the Horde and Draenei also possess the ability use totems in battle.

Totems are unique to the Shaman, and must be obtained by completing certain quests. A Shaman can use one totem of each element at any one time: Earth ( Nature -based spells), Fire  (Fire-based spells), Water (Water/Frost-based spells) and Air (Nature-based spells). Once a totem is put down it cannot be moved, but a new totem can be used to replace it. In other words, the Shaman player can activate a spell that uses the Earth totem, another spell that uses the Fire totem, a third spell that uses the Water totem, and a fourth spell that uses the Air totem at the same time; however, the player cannot activate two spells that use the same totem because the last spell will override the previous one. Although the Shaman's totems are summoned and fixed near the caster, a Shaman player can place a totem while moving. A totem's effect is only active within a certain radius of the totem (making it a hybrid version of Point Blank Area of Effect and Ground Targeted Area of Effect). The totem can be planted underwater, and appears floating at the foot level of the character. Totems are immune to AoEs and DoTs, and must be specifically attacked to be destroyed.

Totems only trigger a 1 second GCD as opposed to the regular 1.5 second GCD. Totems are also considered Physical spell school so they can be dropped even when silenced.

Totem items
Prior to Patch 4.0.1, shamans without an equipped relic had to carry the items Earth Totem, Fire Totem, Water Totem and Air Totem in their bags, or else they couldn't summon totems of the missing elements. Each totem required a quest chain to obtain. At the time, relics were each restricted to one class, and shaman relics were called totems and had tooltips with the note "Counts as an Air, Earth, Fire, and Water Totem."

In Patch 4.0.1, totem spells were changed to no longer require a totem item, and the quests to obtain the items became unavailable.

Except for retired arena rewards and the now-useless Totem of the Earthen Ring, the old totem relics are still available. They're now equippable by both druids and shamans; totems with Intellect are equippable by paladins as well. Relics added in Cataclysm don't have "totem" in their names.

In Wrath of the Lich King
Some of the totems are going from party-only buffs to raid buffs. As of patch 3.3 each of the horde races have unique totem artwork.

Tranquil Air Totem was also removed.

In Cataclysm
As of Patch 4.0.1, Totem of Wrath has been removed (being replaced by the Totemic Wrath talent), along with Sentry Totem, Cleansing Totem, and Frost, Nature, and Fire Resistance Totems (which have been merged into one totem, Elemental Resistance Totem). In addition, a new totem has been added, Tranquil Mind Totem.

Earth Totem
The first totem received by the Shaman. It allows the Shaman to use totems which do things like enhance defense/offense, slow enemies, and taunt them.
 * Gained at Level 4

Fire Totem
The second totem received in the Shaman's development. This totem is primarily used to deal damage.
 * Gained at Level 10-13

Water Totem
The third totem received in the Shaman's development. This totem is used for restoration-type effects.
 * Gained at Level 20-23

While not technically a totem, the Enamored Water Spirit trinket is able to summon an improved form of the Mana Spring Totem for a short time.

Air Totem
The final totem received in the Shaman's development. Like the Earth Totem counterpart, it allows totems to enhance certain defensive/offensive aspects. ''Note: The Horde Air Totem quest doesn't seem to be complete, so the NPC in Thousand Needles just gives it to you. It's not a bug.''


 * Gained at Level 30

(*Requires Talents)

Which Totems to Drop?
Since many patches, especially 3.0 and 4.0.1, most shaman totems have had their effects altered. Most totems with passive buffs now affect whole raid. Following rules apply regardless:


 * Totems generally do not stack. Two Windfury Totems does not mean more increase in attack speed.
 * Totems that have been enhanced by talents will overwrite Totems that aren't.
 * There exist only three glyphs which affect shaman totems. All of them are covered below.

That being said, the question now falls to, which Shamans drop which Totems?

Earth Totems

 * Most of the time, Stoneskin Totem for Elemental shaman, Strength of Earth Totem for Enhancement shaman and Tremor Totem or Stoneskin Totem for Restoration shaman.
 * Elemental and Enhancement specs both have talent to improve Earthbind Totem; Earth's Grasp and Earthen Power, respectively.
 * If the situation calls for it, ALL shamans should drop Tremor Totem regardless of spec as this only covers your party and not the whole raid.
 * Similiarly, Stoneclaw Totem, especially with, can provide emergency aggro control and damage absorption.

Fire Totems

 * Generally, only one shaman needs to place Flametongue Totem. All other shaman can emphasize on damage dealing fire totems of their choice. Note: If there is an Elemental Shaman with Totemic Wrath present, NO ONE should be dropping Flametongue Totem.
 * Elemental shamans with Totemic Wrath will grant large spellpower bonus to party and raid members which applies to all fire totems.
 * Enhancement shamans should use either Searing Totem (especially with Searing Flames and Improved Lava Lash talents) or Magma Totem (to emphasize AoE damage with Fire Nova and Improved Fire Nova talent).
 * Restoration shaman should generally prefer Flametongue Totem or Fire Elemental Totem. Note that reduces cooldown of the totem by half.

Water Totems

 * Either Healing Stream Totem or Mana Spring Totem should be used depending on your party composition and other factors.
 * If Paladins are giving Greater Blessing of Wisdom to the raid, Healing Stream Totem is the only thing you should worry about.
 * If Paladins are not giving Greater Wisdom to the shamans, ask for a small wisdom (Blessing of Wisdom), if there are enough Paladins.
 * Unlike most totems, multiple Healing Stream Totem and Mana Spring Totem effects stack on top of each other.
 * If the situation calls for elemental resistance, an Elemental Resistance Totem should be dropped. Note that gives Healing Stream Totem very similiar resistance effect for your party only, which can used to replace Elemental Resistance Totem.
 * Restoration Shamans should drop Mana Tide Totem as they see fit.
 * Totem of Tranquil Mind should generally only be used by non-resto shaman while there are more than two shamans in party.

Air Totems

 * Windfury Totem provides increased melee attack speed and Wrath of Air Totem provides spell haste. Both totems affect whole raid.
 * Grounding Totem should be used at will by all shamans. 15s cooldown means that other air totems can and should be used while Grounding Totem is out of use.