Bashes with Wolves: Enhancement toolkit in the Vale of Eternal Sorrows

It's been a while since I took a brief look at the enhancement shaman toolkit to highlight some of the unique utility they bring to the group environment. I'm having a lot of fun in the Siege of Orgimmar breaking out that utility, whether it's helping with a healing boost when we're putting our healers to the test or something simple, but appreciated, like jumping on one of the Iron Juggernaut's Crawler Mines -- though I have only tested this in Flex, so your own results may vary.

The Vale of Eternal Sorrows contains the first four bosses in the 14-boss Siege of Orgrimmar raid. Let's take a look at how the enhancement shaman can approach these initial fights.

Immerseus

Talent Choices
1: Astral Shift/Stone Bulwark
2: Earthgrab Totem
3. Totemic Persistance/Call of the Elements
4: Elemental Mastery
5: Rushing Streams/Ancestral Guidance
6. Unleashes Elements/Primal Elementalist/Elemental Blast

For T1 talents, I prefer taking Astral Shift since it's usually off CD for the first handful of times Immerseus splits and reabsorbs the puddles. However, near the end of the fight Stone Bulwark may prove a better choice for some players depending on raid healing needs, since it can be used more frequently -- players who do this should consider Call of the Elements in T3.

You should be able to take care of much of your own healing, if needed, during the split phases. Earthgrab Totem is the logical T2 choice given that it works wonderfully on hostile Sha Puddles. As enhancement, we'll be right next to Sha Puddles when they did, which provides and increased in damage done vs. other Sha Puddles.

I prefer Elemental Mastery almost always as my T4 talent unless gearing/set bonuses dictate a different talent pulls significantly ahead in damage increase. For healing utility in T5, go with what your healers need. Rushing Streams will provide passive healing to two raid members throughout the fight, but Ancestral Guidance is also a great way to help your healers quickly return the group to full health after a split phase by popping it as soon as the boss becomes attackable.

Your T6 talent is really dictated by the gear you're wearing. I use Icy Veins for reference, but feel free to rely on your own resources.

Glyphs: Glyph of Healing Storm, Glyph of Fire Elemental Totem, Glyph of Flame Shock, Glyph of Spirit Walk, Glyph of Capacitor Totem

While each shaman major glyph could be useful for this fight with the exception of Purging, the ones listed above are the most ideal -- you just need to decide which three will be the best for your raid. If you'll be tossing out extra heals, definitely take Healing Storm. By default, I almost always take Flame Shock and Fire Elemental Totem, but if you're going to be running well across the room to handle puddles during a split phase, consider Spirit Walk. Capacitor Totem may be used situationally, especially if you have a large group of Sha Puddles in close proximity.

Key Abilities: Ghost Wolf to move around the floor quickly when needed. Shamanistic Rage coupled with Astral Shift translates to minimal damage taken during a split phase. Our group normally uses Bloodlust at the start of the fight.

The Fallen Protectors

Talents
1: Astral Shift/Stone Bulwark
2: N/A
3. Totemic Persistance/Call of the Elements
4: Elemental Mastery
5: Rushing Streams/Ancestral Guidance
6. Unleashes Elements/Primal Elementalist/Elemental Blast

T1 talents are a dime a piece to me. While Stone Bulwark is an interesting choice as it will be up for most, if not all of Sun's casts of Calamity, I usually stick with Astral Shift. Stick with Earthgrab Totem for this fight -- though you probably won't use it -- as they other choices do not provide any utility. I keep Totemic Persistance, but Call of the Elements may again be a decent choice if you've selected Stone Bulwark as your T1 talent. Elemental Mastery is less of a passive choice for me on this fight because of how I use it with T5 talent Ancestral Guidance, which can provide a nice healing boost at a critical time.

Again, T6 will be largely depending on your gear and preference.

Glyphs: Glyph of Healing Storm, Glyph of Fire Elemental Totem, Glyph of Flame Shock, Glyph of Chain Lightning

Each major glyph has potential utility here, again, it will depend on your preference and what the raid needs. I tend to toss out quite a few heals in this fight, since we're currently testing our healers in Flex, and tend to stick with Flame Shock and Fire Elemental. However, if your group is having any trouble at all with Sun's transition phase, Chain Lightning can provide additional AoE damage.

Key Abilities: Shamanistic Rage couple with Astral Shift translates to minimal damage taken during intense parts of the fight. I'm able to "tank" He's Mark of Anguish for a good while, if needed, when under the effect of these damage-reducing abilities. Wind Shear for interrupting Gloom. Our group normally casts Bloodlust at the start of the fight, though some groups choose to save it for the final burn phase.

Norushen

Talents
1: Astral Shift/Stone Bulwark
2: N/A
3. Totemic Persistance/Call of the Elements
4: Elemental Mastery
5: Rushing Streams/Ancestral Guidance
6. Unleashes Elements/Primal Elementalist/Elemental Blast

Stone Bulwark may be a good T1 choice given the frequency of raid AoE damage coupled with the frequency in which you can use the ability. Players making this choice should consider Call of the Elements in T3. Your T2 talent choice won't really affect this fight, but I stick with Earthgrab in case I get the attention of a large add. Elemental Mastery is again my personal choice based on how I play the spec. For T5, I always go with Ancestral Guidance, since there can be nasty raid-wide AoE damage -- being able to put out a decent about of HPS for a controlled period can be extremely helpful on this fight.

Glyphs: Glyph of Healing Storm, Glyph of Fire Elemental Totem, Glyph of Flame Shock, Glyph of Feral Spirit

The passive healing from Flame Shock can really help here. If you're supporting with heals, always go with Healing Storm. Otherwise Fire Elemental will provide some extra DPS when you need it, or Feral Spirit will keep you alive during a healing-intensive part of the fight.

Key Abilities: Shamanistic Rage coupled with Astral Shift translates to minimal damage taken during intense parts of the fight. Wind Shear for interrupting the smaller adds that surround Norushen. We use Bloodlust around 50% when all of our designated DPS are purified.

Sha of Pride

Talents
1: Astral Shift/Stone Bulwark
2: Earthgrab Totem
3. Totemic Persistance/Call of the Elements
4: Elemental Mastery
5: Rushing Streams/Ancestral Guidance/Conductivity
6. Unleashes Elements/Primal Elementalist/Elemental Blast

You may be noticing a pattern -- I almost always choose Astral Shift simply because I love how much damage it prevents. And with it on a 90-second CD since 5.4, I just can't pass it up.
You can use your Earthgrab Totem to keep the small adds that spawn in one place, but your raid should be stacked tightly anyway, possibly negating any need for doing so. Also, super-smart shamans will time their Capacitor Totem to go off just after the small adds have spawned.

I'll still with Totemic Persistence in case I ever have to drop two water totems to help with heals. T4 is again my personal choice, while I again choose Ancestral Guidance for T5 for the controlled burst heals. However, since the raid is stacked up for the vast majority of this fight, Conductivity should be considered depending on the raid needs.

Glyphs: Glyph of Healing Storm, Glyph of Fire Elemental Totem, Glyph of Flame Shock, Glyph of Chain Lightning, Glyph of Capacitor Totem

Choose what your raid needs here. If you're not helping at all with heals, go with the situational damage-increasing abilities.

Key Abilities: Shamanistic Rage coupled with Astral Shift translates to minimal damage taken during intense parts of the fight. MWx5 Healing Rain may also come into play here -- if you will be helping out this way, consider T5 talent Conductivity. Our group uses Bloodlust at the 30% mark when all accumulated Pride resets.

Good luck...may all of your hits be Windfury procs!