[Guide] Effective Use of Totems

[grassynole]

After watching both in game and PvP videos i noticed the poor use and just lack of totems used by many, so thought id post a helpful thread i originally made for my guild.
Feel free to also improve upon something below which i may have incorrect or have missed out as the post was made quite a while ago. Please keep in mind the majority of my perspective is from a Restoration Shaman PoV.

ShamanVS Hunter

Earth Totems
- Earthbind > Used in conjunction with Frost shock to keep the opposing hunter within close combat.
- Stoneclaw (glyphed) > Use effectively, my personal preference is to use the shield after each range gaining cd such as disengage, Pin (crab pet) or concus shot
Water Totems
- Fire Resistance Totem > with soo many survival hunters nowadays this is useful to negate a chunk of dmg from explosive shot.
- Cleansing Totem > Placed to cure Wyvern Sting mostly. Serpent sting is easy enough to manually remove.
Fire Totems
- Searing Totem > is an option but is likely out ranged.
- Magma totem > Place immediately after snake trap to kill the pesky snakes instantly.
Air Totems
- Grounding > can be used to absorb "Freezing Trap" (not Frost Trap)

Shaman VS Mage

Earth totems
- Stoneclaw (glyphed) > U want to use it pretty much whenever its off cd but not waste it, a nice idea is to use it when u cant trinket the 2nd deep freeze. Make placement as soon as they frost nova u.
Water Totems
- Mana Spring > keep the mana pool nice
- Fire Resistance > dependant on mages spec, place down for incoming fire dmg.
Fire Totems
- Searing Totem > Keeps the dmg rolling and the combat on them.
- Frost resist > dependant on spec, place down for incoming frost dmg.
Air Totems
- Grounding > Absorb the hefty hits you may take, but be mindful use late in the enemys cast and save it for the large hits.
- Windfury Totem > Waaa..? Being as many players fail to read totems and judge the totem by its colour its quite easy to use windfury as a fake Grounding totem.

Shaman VS Rogue

Earth Totems
- Stoneskin > useful if u can get it down before the initial jump to negate dmg.
- Earthbind > Help Slow target as u gain distance using Ghost Wolf
- Stoneclaw (glyphed) > Priority order once out of stuns should usually be Stoneclaw first. Try to drop it after a rogues restealth (he cant wait the shield out so hes forced to jump u whilst its up)
Water Totems
- Cleansing Totem > remove those nasty poisons, you'll most likely also need manually cure in addition to this.
Fire Totems
- Searing Totem > Keep up the pressure and the combat on them. In addition u can now use a fire nova blast from this totem for extra dmg or a well timed explosion could reveal a stealthed rogue.
- Flametongue > Can be used to boost power of heal spells and Earth Shield
Air Totems
- Very little use, Natures Resistance can be used to resist some of the poison dmg.

Shaman VS Death Knight

Earth Totems
- Earthbind > Help gain distance from your opponenet.
- Stoneclaw (glyphed) > Just use to avoid as much dmg as possible, i personally like to make use of it during the short periods i switch to water shield
Water Totems
- Disease Clensing Totem > Cure those nasty disease's in addition to manual cleansing.
- Mana Spring > Keep the mana pool nice.
Fire Totems
- Searing Totem > keep the dmg rolling.
- Frost Resistance > Can be used to negate frost from certain attacks and diseases
Air Totems
- Grounding > Try to grab the important spells with it grounding a death coil is a bit of a waste u want to catch somin nasty like Death Grip or Srangulate (Tip: If they pop gargoyle or rune weapon its usually a sign of a incoming Strangulate)

Shaman VS Druid

Earth Totems
- Earthbind > to help gain distance from opponent or to keep enemy in close combat. alternate with frost shock to slow them after a shift.
- Stoneclaw (glyphed) > make placement to negate some dmg in large hits when incapable e.g befoer incoming stuns or due to wind shear / grounding cooldowns
Water Totems
- Mana Spring > keep mana pool nice.
- Disease Clensing Totem > Is an option to cleanse Infected Wounds but with it no longer stacking manual cleansing is a preferred method.
Fire Totems
- Searing totem > keep pressure up and combat on them.
- Fire Nova > push out that extra dmg.
Air totems
- Grounding > help stop cyclones, roots and incoming casts.
- Natures Resistance Totem > Negate some dmg from Wrath and Insect swarm

Shaman VS Warrior

Earth Totems
- Earthbind > used in conjunction with frost shock and ghost wolf to gain distance when under Hamstring.
- Stoneskin > Take the chance to increase your armour and reduce physical dmg when not using Earthbind.
- Stoneclaw (glyphed) Warriors truely rip us apart use whenever possible! I like to make sure i drop it just before every intercept
Water Totems
- Not too much really, preference of choice could use Mana for long duration fights or Healing to cover bleed damage.
Fire Totems
- Searing Totem > keep pressure up and combat on them.
- Fire Nova > push out that extra dmg.
- Flametongue > Boost the power of those heals and Earth Shield.
Air Totems
- Again very little use, ur best option and probs only option is - Wrath of Air > Slightly faster spell casts

Shaman VS Warlock

Earth Totems
- Tremor Totem > Prevent some long duration fears on you, Keep a watchful eye on it, always being down and IN RANGE (if he pokes it down, put it back down Immediately)
- Stoneclaw (glyphed) > Reduce the locks burst phases, for affliction this is when ur debuff bar is as long as ur arm. But remember to instantly replace with tremor again!
Water Totems
- Mana Spring > keep mana pool nice
- Fire Resistance Totem >Alot of Dresto locks around place for incoming fire dmg
Fire Totems
- Searing Totem > keep dmg rolling, although likely to be out ranged.
Air Totems
- Grounding > Absorb those hefty hits you may take, be mindful use late in on their cast and save it for the large hits and Important spells (grounding early on will most probably catch a corruption or curse which wont benefit u much if at all)

Shaman VS Priest

Earth Totems
- Tremor totem > get you out of those Psychic Screams, remember to keep it IN RANGE around your movement ( if they poke it down, place it back down immediately)
- Earthbind > can be used to keep the priest close when psychic scream is on its 30second cd
- Stoneclaw (glyphed) > Try to negate dmg from burst phases, Remember to replace instantly with Tremor.
Water Totems
- Mana Spring > keep the mana pool nice
- Disease Cleansing Totem > can be used to remove the nasty Devouring Plague but manualy removing is an easier method.
Fire Totems
- Not much use here
- Searing Totem > keep the damage rolling and the combat on them.
Air Totems
Grounding > alternate when interruption shocking is on global (Mana burn is a important one to stop especially in arena) If hes shadow and u have nowhere to LoS id say your ****ed tbh

Shaman VS Paladin

Earth Totems
- Earthbind > attempt to slow your target ... yes attempt.
- Stoneclaw > Use whenever possible i like to drop it during the short periods i switch to water shield.
Water Totems
- Not much use here but Mana Spring to keep some regen up.
Fire Totems
- Searing Totem > Keep the dmg rolling
- Fire Nova > push out that extra dmg
Air Totems
- Grounding > Can be used to absorb a Hammer of Justice or Repentance (Scrubs always seem to open thier attack with HoJ... u'd be surprised how many people do this, learn from it and ground as u see a Paladin incoming)

Thankyou for reading

UPDATED

[FxFusion]

Wow! Very impressive! I don't play a shaman myself, but this can come in handy in the future

[Booo136]

Nice post, although I already use those totems in the same situations, I'm sure that most people who tend to ignore some totems would think again!. Cheers