Just some thoughts on potential ele shaman changes that wouldnt be too out of left field from current abilities. Posting to put some ideas into the ether. Ill start off by saying Im no expert, played casual ele shaman since mop. Ive seen a lot of changes of the spec and a lot of waffling in terms of identity. Feels like any good idea that comes to shaman quickly gets absorbed by other classes and then taken from shaman again. Any hard numbers here are obviously just guesses.
I currently think our mastery is a big issue with the spec, old multistrike was frankly a better version and for the “big spells” of the spec not interact with it by default is confusing. Flameshock has also been a sticking point, with funnel you wanted it spread so you could single target better, but never had a way to spread it since flameshock has a 6 sec cd. Currently you can spread it with liquid magma totem, but dont care how many are out besides the tick damage and the skybreakers CD reduction because funnel is gone/barely there. Many of the “shocks” are unsatisfying so I a thought of some potential alternatives.
Mastery -------------------
Fractured Element Echoes - (40 - 70%) chance on spell (10 - 20% damage) to copy spell at nearest target enemy,
if no other enemy nearby mastery can hit initial target (possibly reduced effect),
proc chance can proc itself up to 3 additional times reduced per self proc (10 - 20% ??)
Summary-
My attempt to add some identity back to the specs mastery. Similar to copy spell mechanic of current mastery, instead adds “eruptions”, “short circuits”, “chipping ice” or “shattered stone” effects to spells based on what their damage type is. Meaning mastery can proc from most of your spells but instead of casting the same spell twice you get a chance for the spells to mini duplicate and splash. Basically your lava burst has a chance to sputter more little lava bursts at other enemies like a chance based eruption, lighting bolt has a chance to arc toward other enemies, ice fury chips and slows in aoe and earthquake scatters stone shards. This splashing by default hits close enemies, but for pure single target will proc on your target.
Generators ------------------
Lavaburst - Procing mastery on target affected by flameshock spreads flameshock to hit other enemy for 3 seconds duration, or extends flameshock duration by 3 seconds to single target.
- Remove free crit hitting flameshock target
- Lava surge functions as is
- No more charges of lava burst
Summary -
Gives Lavaburst the volcano effect I think its tried to have for a long time while removing the clunkiness of wanting to use lava surge procs in aoe. Still reacts well to opening a pull with Liquid Magma totem and gives Primordial Wave duplication extra value.
Ice Fury - instant single target, 10-20 second CD, applies Frost Shock to target slowing 10-20% for 4 seconds. Mastery procs refresh slow and add a additional Frost Shocks up to 50-70% slow.
Mastery procs on new targets applies frost shock to those enemies.
- Hard Casting additional Frost Shocks on target with Frost Shock slow adds max stacks and refreshes duration.
Summary - Personally I hate casting Frost Shock for damage, thats my bias. I however dont hate Ice Fury conceptually for damage/maelstrom. I think this change plays well with including Ice into the rotation as well as Frost Shock and helping to give a slow to keep enemies in your earthquake/totems.
Earthquake - Cast time 2 seconds, 30-45 second CD, last 6 seconds, physical damage per second, limit 5-7 targets
Applies 1 stack of Earthshock to enemies first time they are hit by Earthquake,
Mastery procs apply Earthshock to enemies
- Earthshock stacks 3 times. After 3 seconds all stacks are shorted dealing nature damage to affected target per stack.
Summary - Puts the shock back in Earthshock. Attempts to fix the problems of enemies walking out of Earthquake by adding a damage component to the initial cast. Removes maelstrom spender component of Earthquake and puts it toward being a meaningful cd of each pull and meaningful damage in single target as Earthshock stacks up.
Lightning Bolt - Procs mastery
Summary - Not much to change here other than procs mastery for use in aoe and single target. Gives a sort of arcing effect when hitting an enemy in a group with each cast hitting a different amount of enemies based on the mastery procs. Like a mini chain lightning in aoe. Really just gives the filler some interesting aspects.
Chain Lightning - 2 second cast, 15-30 second CD, hits 5 targets, can proc mastery on all targets hit
Summary - With Lightning Bolt taking the filler role for single target and aoe, Chain Lightning becomes an empowered short cooldown to hit on a large pull. With mastery procing on multiple enemies hit there’s a good chance it will chain mastery procs many times.
Spender -----------------------
Elemental Blast - 100 maelstrom,2 second cast, Elemental damage,
1 free mastery proc on all elements to target
Summary - Not much to change here, but would add an interaction with mastery. Sends a kind of elemental cascade when it hits of all the different elements through a group or into one enemy.
OR
Earthen Barrage - 50 maelstrom,Instant,
Fires 3 earthen spikes at the target dealing physical damage, each independently triggers mastery.
Summary - Basically an empowered replacement for Earthshock incorporating aspects of Earthen Rage. Intended to be a side-grade to Elemental Blast with more satisfying visual than Earthshock and no cast time/cast more often.
CDs --------------------------
Earthbreaker Totem - 3 Minutes, Cracks earth around totem, shooting Lava that apply Earthshock and Flameshock to random enemies for 15 seconds
- Choice with Ascendance
- DRE spawns mini totem for 6 seconds near target
Summary - A choice for the Ascendance avoiders. Essentially a similar effect but in totem form with some flare in applying flame and earth shocks. Can still benefit from talents below it for reduced cd and haste buff.
Permafrost Totem - 1-2 Minute, Slows all enemies and players in its vicinity by 20% but grants 10-20% damage reduction for friendly players for 3-6 seconds. Reduced DR beyond 5 allies.
Summary - A defensive with a downside. Useful for group content as well as pvp. A themed solid defensive with potential multi use.
Elementals --------
Echo of the Elements - spawns two small elementals after main one leaves, just visual change
Summary - Just think it would be more fun to have two little elementals. Maybe the split is a mastery based chance. Honestly I dont think the elementals are in a terrible spot, they are impactful CDs, kinda set and forget damage.
Talents -------
Some talent ideas that interact with Fractured Elemental Echoes:
Elemental magnet - all mastery procs additionally hit enemies affected by Lightning Rod
After Shocks - Earthshock triggers again 3 seconds later
Ice Compaction - Hard casting Frost Shock on a target affected by Frost Shock snares all targets affected by Frost Shock
for 4 seconds, 30 second CD
Elements of Mastery - Casting Lavaburst, Ice Fury, and Earthquake makes Elemental Blasts next cast instant. Makes your Earthen Barrage fire elemental empowered spikes, one lightning, one fire, one frost
each can proc a separate mastery for their empowered element
Ride the Lightning - Makes your next 3 Lighting Bolts castable while moving, 10 seconds, 30 second CD
- choice with spirit walkers
Tidal Echoes - Your healing surge now benefits from your mastery, triggering additional heals on self
- replaces refreshing waters
Thanks to anyone who read this far! I’m sure most of these will come with mixed feelings and mixed opinions, just wanted to put some ideas down and who knows, maybe something good can come out of it. Thanks again.