So what is the difference here? Shamans call on the elements while Mage…cast it? How is a Mage different from a Shaman in terms of power? 
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Shaman request, mages command.
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STAP.
PICK A FACTION ALREADY.
please. i dont want you to tear this family apart anymore q-q
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So Mage are more powerful then?
id guess so.
remember the SoO where garry said " Thrall i destroyed the land miles around. your shaman powers are useless "
mages powers cant be negated like that. so they have more power in my head cannon.
Perhaps it depends on the type of power. The power to twist arcane to your ends vs the power of persuasion. You could also look at the different power other spellcasters wield.
in wc3 lore mage elems not real elementals with coinciousness
By use of this spell an Archmage can summon and control a powerful elemental composed of water and air vapors. These creatures, capable of hurling torrents of rock-solid water at their enemies, cannot remain in the physical world for long. Thus, after a short length of time, they will vanish and return to their base liquid forms.[7]
**These mindless, hulking forms of water** can take massive punishment from enemy units while delivering tremendous blows in return. Water elementals were a favorite tool of the Conjurors of Azeroth during the First War, and now the enchanted creatures have come to aid the defenders of freedom once again.[8]
also warcraft 1
The caster uses the forces of nature to create a water elemental. He summons the forces of air and water and combines them into a simulacrum to defend the lands. They are excellent creatures, and will never turn upon their creators. The element of water was chosen because it is persistent as in the state of erosion, and it is the opposite of fire, which seems to be the element that the Orcs favor.[4]
These creatures are made of the magical essence of water. Once created, they are loyal servants, and will unerringly do the bidding of their masters. Should they escape the control of their master, they become free creatures to do as they will. They are excellent fighters and will defend those whom they serve to the death.[5]
These are creations of Human magiks. Occasionally found in the service of their Conjurers, these simulacrums have the powers of water to use as they will. When found uncontrolled, they prove to be difficult to disperse, as they gain some semblance of independent thought and motivation. In either case, these elementals will attack until they are destroyed or their foe is dead.[6]
Mages use arcane energy and can turn that energy into fire and frost energy.
Shamans request help from the elements and are basically allies with the elements.
On the whole, mages are probably more powerful lore wise but shamans are nothing to scoff at.
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It depends largely on the individual.
Only problem with shamans “requesting” their power from elements are the evil shaman who have twisted the elements. If shamans supposedly lost their power when the elements are upset with the shaman or if they are gone then a shaman loses their power. Those evil shaman in SoO would be powerless since trying to corrupt the elements would displease the elements which would revoke their power.
I think its more likely and more sensible that the shaman were taught their powers by the elements and keep them regardless of their standing with elementals. I would think that Thrall can still use his powers but believes he can’t because he had used his power to be dishonorable. If he were to stop moping around, he would be able to throw a lightning bolt again.
Also shaman would be powerless in the Shadowlamds because there likely are no elements there.
Mages are very similar to shaman. They both do elemental magics and share a lot of utility. Some people think they are totally differnt just because shaman can melee and heal but I imagine mage can do both of those things too if blizzard gave the class those specs.
The elementals that I summon could easily be made the same way. Instead of water, they are made of fire and earth. Also they are really stupid and do little more than attack whatever you attack.
Both races have 3 specs, each of these specs vary in strengths and weaknesses depending on the environment they are playing in. Overall at max development at 120, I would say the Mage is still a stronger race choice.
The difference is in origin.
Shamans call upon / make deals / request power from the elemental planes.
Mages employ the arcane which is then shifted and shaped into fire or frost.
The arcane is the origin for mages, whereas elemental planes are the origin for shaman.
One is booksmart.
The other is streetsmart.
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Origin is understandable.
Now when you say they use arcane energy and shift it into elemental, does that mean it isnt energy from the elemental planes itself and thus not “true elemental” power?
Shamans commune and make pacts with the elements…though some like fire are rather fickle but still works. They call on literal elemental power.
So the question is…if Mage can just shift and draw on the elemental power…then why commune?
From what I understand.
Mages aren’t using elementals from the elemental planes. Its more like something animated by arcane magic.
The water elemental the mage uses is not (from what I understand) a being from the plan of water.
That being said, the books and previous warcraft games makes this even harder to figure out, because I don’t think they initially planned long term. Or they just ignored some of their own lore.
Example, Tides of War. Jaina enslaved an army of Water Eles, and Thrall could hear them crying out. Is this a special lore character power that just Jaina gets? Is this how all frost mages opperate?
Whereas I believe the first Chronicles book basically says that Arcane Mages are the true mages, and Fire/Frost mages are just lesser mages that take arcane and cool/heat it so they can use it. Couple with how the arcane is something we aren’t “supposed” to be able to understand, the effects of using the arcane is sometimes changed into something we envision.
So fire/ice would be a natural implication of heating up/cooling down the arcane to use it. And elementals would be a common thing to envision imbuing.
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No, you’re misunderstanding. The arcane is molded into frost, fire or (leaving it as it is) arcane, but it is still arcane magic. Think of it like arcane magic being shaped by something else. If you add red food coloring to water, is it suddenly fruit punch? No, it’s just red water.
Fruit punch = shaman magic
Water with red food coloring put in it = mage magic.
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Ah I see! So it isnt actually elemental energy, just Arcane energy being molded.
So fire is just ‘hot’ arcane energy, and frost is ‘chilled’ arcane energy. I see I see.
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From a mage, yes, absolutely.
Meanwhile shaman fire magic is actual lava being hurled, much like Icefury and Frost Shock are pure frost magic from the edge of, what we know, as reality.
Lore wise… Mages take raw arcane energies and mold it to create their magics… both fire and frost are still arcane magics that are imbued with their respective elements by the will of the caster.
Shamans, on the other hand, make a contract with the elements to borrow the latent elemental power.
-edit- Alright, should have read more than the OP to see if this has been answered.
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Elemental shaman should be a spec of mage.