First off let’s leave “go play classic off this” What are people’s ideas on what this spec would look like? I would like to see DW Tanking shaman. Using totems as defensives. Something like rock shield work kinda like bone shield. Just an idea.
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I think parts of Ele and Restro, topped off with most of Ench, with a shield and aggro.
If you look on the shaman forms there are people who have made very detailed posts and flushed out abilities and talent trees.
Very good ideas on there.
Sadly it is unlikely to come to pass but I’d be happy if shamans could tank.
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Ive seen some of them. Honestly i just want a DW tank. I want a new kinda tank in the mix. Mail wearers deserve some love.
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at this point, it’s just a pipe dream. we’ve been asking for shaman tanks since vanilla… all to no avail. they had the kit to make it happen- rockbiter weapon buff, ability to use shields, totems that help taunt and do damage reduction, etc.
i’d still love for it to happen. would be nice to have another tank class in the mix.
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I’m always in Support of new tank specializations to come to the game, I personally believe it’s the most effective way to encourage new people to tank.
Here’s my breakdown.
A good tank needs:
At least 2 active mitigation buttons that can be used semi-rotationally.
Agro Holding tools and utilities.
CC.
and Cooldowns.
So here’s my Idea.
The Shaman should generate charges of Maelstrom weapon, just like the Shadowlands Alpha, or Perhaps go to the Maelstrom bar from Legion and BFA.
Resource would be generated through Rockbiter, Landslide, and Crash Lightning.
I propose 3 spenders.
1st. They should have Rock armor, It applies in stacks like Ironfur, but it refreshes in duration when you do. Every stack increases your armor by a substantial amount, but lowers your movement speed.
Seconds Spender should spend stacks your Rock armor, not your resource.
call it “Ancestral Guidance” Gives an absorb shield and 1% Damage resistance for each stack of rock armor dispelled.
3rd spender should be Fury of Air, cast to create a whirlwind that follows you and generates a large amount of threat.
CC is Already covered. Capacitor totem, Hex, Earthbind totem. ETC. Maybe add Voodoo totem as a utility
And as for cooldowns, Spiritwalkers grace could return. Allowing you to move unhindered from your Rock Armor.
a long cooldown that instantly gives stacks of rock armor could also be good to use after dispelling them for an absorb shield.
All of this, combined with Maelstrom weapon stacks giving you free healing waves for yourself.
There you have it. Instant, EZ-Bake shaman tank spec.
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My biggest frustration with class design in WoW is that the developers never made the shift for Shaman to be a viable tank. Within Vanilla they were so close to being a viable option with only nominal fixes needed and it would’ve been glorious, instead, it was left dead in the water.
There’s a wealth of inspiration and opportunities for a Shaman tank. The themes and gameplay practically build themselves with a combination of weapon enchants, totems, and shielding spells.
I agree that there is definitely an audience who would love to see Shaman Tank, but I also agree with most of the other posters that at this point it’s probably not happening. Blizz has had ages to make this work, they even laid the groundwork with Druid having 4 Specs, but they just haven’t transitioned to it yet. Even still, here’s hoping SL is when Shaman Tank can go live.
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I have a very unpopular opinion…all classes should have a tank spec…
Sorta like rifts was
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I’d really really love tank shaman so much.
Honestly I would.
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NGL this would make it easier to make me want to main hunter/warlock/mage. 3 DPS roles? Means you’re forever doomed to be at the mercy of others.
Heck to the no for dual wielding tanks. We already have that with demon hunters and soon to be monks.
Y’know what we dont have much of? Tanks that use shields. Y’know, the classic tanking implement in all fantasy genres. Right now we only have two tanks that use shields, while two use 2handers, one dual wields, and one doesnt use any weapons at all because it’s a bear. Also worth mentioning that only three tanks use plate while the other three use leather and none use mail.
Here’s what I’d like to see:
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1h/shield (or, possibly, 2h + shield) weapon setup
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Many attacks utilize the shield. Instead of lava lash, where you strike with a lava-imbued weapon as enhancement, the shaman tank would use ‘lava bash’, where he shield slams with a lava-coated shield. This could apply to several other abilities/elements as well.
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Supersized Warding Totems: The shaman tank doesnt plant dinky little totems in the ground like other shamans, he/she can activate one Warding Totem at a time, which is carried on the back like the tauren/highmountain heritage totems. Warding totems are separate from standard totems, only one can be active at a time and they create an aura-like effect around the shaman:
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Skyward Totem: Creates a constant windstorm around the shaman, dealing physical damage every second to nearby enemies and greatly reducing damage taken from projectile attacks (spells and arrows alike) for any allies within the area.
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Earthward Totem: Shakes the ground around the shaman, periodically knocking down nearby enemies, dispelling fear, sleep, and charm effects on the shaman and allies, and reducing melee damage taken by allies within the area.
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Flameward Totem: Periodically launches magma at nearby enemies, creating pools of magma that deal fire damage to enemies who remain within the effect. Additionally, imbues allies’ weapons with fire, causing melee attacks to deal additional damage.
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Frostward Totem: Creates a ring of frost around the shaman, slowing the movement speed of nearby enemies and periodically freezing them in place. While frostward totem is active, frost shock will strike all enemies within the area of effect and is a guaranteed critical against frozen enemies.
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The area of effect for these warding totems would be roughly 8-12 meters radius, requiring that the shaman remain within melee range of enemies to effect them, and allies to remain within that radius to receive any warding totem benefits.
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Mastery: Stoneskin - The shaman’s skin is enhanced by earth magic. A percentage of all damage dealt becomes an absorption shield on the shaman (modified by mastery). Whenever stoneskin is depleted, nearby enemies are struck with stone shards, dealing physical damage and reducing the damage they deal for 10 seconds (based on mastery). Stoneskin’s shield value is further increased for each enemy and ally within your warding totem radius.
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Mail needs to be rolled into leather or plate and gotten rid of tbh. Also blizz is unlikely to worry about making more tanking specs because it wouldn’t solve the population issue. The people who want to tank will tank the rest will just ignore that those trees exist.
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A totem like BM monks Black Ox Statue
exactly what it looks like now
nonexistant
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At least hunter and warlock have a pet that can tank. Poor mage and rogue … 
It would be weird, because there’s no reason for them to tank. What would be their unique form of tanking? Earth elementals empower them to guard with earth infusion? So give them a earth-shield like warriors shield?
It’s not even that good of a thing in Classic, it’s just a niche way to play people fondly remembered.
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Shaman don’t need anything special besides their shield, plus earth shield similar to bone shield, taunt, and earthquake. Let them be expected to do some healing totems and healing to compensate. Chain lightning that causes extra pain. It would be so easy.
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Throwing rocks at ppl should be fun 
Demonhunter?