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Troll Totem

Troll totems

Totem orc

Orc totems

Draenei Totem

Draenei totems

A totem is the primary tool used by a Shaman as an instrument of war. Characterized by their immobility and area of effect, the totems embody the Shaman's mastery over the elements. Some totems possess destructive power while others aid and assist allies. Shamanistic cultures outside those of the Horde and Draenei also possess the ability use totems in battle.

Totems are unique to the Shaman, and must be obtained by completing certain quests. A Shaman can use one totem of each element at any one time: Earth (Nature-based spells), Fire (Fire-based spells), Water (Water/Frost-based spells) and Air (Nature-based spells). Once a totem is put down it cannot be moved, but a new totem can be used to replace it. In other words, the Shaman player can activate a spell that uses the Earth totem, another spell that uses the Fire totem, a third spell that uses the Water totem, and a fourth spell that uses the Air totem at the same time; however, the player cannot activate two spells that use the same totem because the last spell will override the previous one. Although the Shaman's totems are summoned and fixed near the caster, a Shaman player can place a totem while moving. A totem's effect is only active within a certain radius of the totem (making it a hybrid version of Point Blank Area of Effect and Ground Targeted Area of Effect). The totem can be planted underwater, and appears floating at the foot level of the character. Totems are immune to AoEs and DoTs, and must be specifically attacked to be destroyed.

Totems only trigger a 1 second GCD as opposed to the regular 1.5 second GCD. Totems are also considered Physical spell school so they can be dropped even when silenced.

Totem items

Prior to Patch 4.0.1, shamans without an equipped relic had to carry the items Spell totem wardofdraining [Earth Totem], Spell totem wardofdraining [Fire Totem], Spell totem wardofdraining [Water Totem] and Spell totem wardofdraining [Air Totem] in their bags, or else they couldn't summon totems of the missing elements. Each totem required a quest chain to obtain. At the time, relics were each restricted to one class, and shaman relics were called totems and had tooltips with the note "Counts as an Air, Earth, Fire, and Water Totem."

In Patch 4.0.1, totem spells were changed to no longer require a totem item, and the quests to obtain the items became unavailable.

Except for retired arena rewards and the now-useless Inv relics totemofrebirth [Totem of the Earthen Ring], the old totem relics are still available. They're now equippable by both druids and shamans; totems with Intellect are equippable by paladins as well. Relics added in Cataclysm don't have "totem" in their names.

In Wrath of the Lich King

Some of the totems are going from party-only buffs to raid buffs.[1]

Totem1

Tauren totems, used by all Horde before patch 3.3

As of patch 3.3 each of the horde races have unique totem artwork.[2]

Tranquil Air Totem was also removed.

In Cataclysm

As of Patch 4.0.1, Totem of Wrath has been removed (being replaced by the Totemic Wrath talent), along with Sentry Totem, Cleansing Totem, and Frost, Nature, and Fire Resistance Totems (which have been merged into one totem, Elemental Resistance Totem). In addition, a new totem has been added, Tranquil Mind Totem.

Earth Totem

The first totem received by the Shaman. It allows the Shaman to use totems which do things like enhance defense/offense, slow enemies, and taunt them.

  • Gained at Level 4
Earth Totem Spells
Earthbind Totem Spell nature strengthofearthtotem02 [Earthbind Totem]
Stoneskin Totem Ability shaman stoneskintotem [Stoneskin Totem] 8 Ranks
Stoneclaw Totem Spell nature stoneclawtotem [Stoneclaw Totem] 7 Ranks
Strength of Earth Totem Spell nature earthbindtotem [Strength of Earth Totem] 6 Ranks
Tremor Totem Spell nature tremortotem [Tremor Totem]
Earth Elemental Totem Spell nature earthelemental totem [Earth Elemental Totem]

Fire Totem

The second totem received in the Shaman's development. This totem is primarily used to deal damage.

  • Gained at Level 10-13
Fire Totem Spells
Searing Totem Spell fire searingtotem [Searing Totem] 7 Ranks
Magma Totem Spell fire selfdestruct [Magma Totem] 7 Ranks
Flametongue Totem Spell nature guardianward [Flametongue Totem] 5 Ranks
Fire Elemental Totem Spell fire elemental totem [Fire Elemental Totem]

Water Totem

The third totem received in the Shaman's development. This totem is used for restoration-type effects.

  • Gained at Level 20-23
Water Totem Spells
Healing Stream Totem Inv spear 04 [Healing Stream Totem] 6 Ranks
Mana Spring Totem Spell nature manaregentotem [Mana Spring Totem] 5 Ranks
Mana Tide Totem Spell frost summonwaterelemental [Mana Tide Totem]
Elemental Resistance Totem Spell fireresistancetotem 01 [Elemental Resistance Totem] 4 Ranks
Totem of Tranquil Mind Spell nature brilliance [Totem of Tranquil Mind]

While not technically a totem, the Inv wand 01 [Enamored Water Spirit] trinket is able to summon an improved form of the Mana Spring Totem for a short time.

Air Totem

The final totem received in the Shaman's development. Like the Earth Totem counterpart, it allows totems to enhance certain defensive/offensive aspects. Note: The Horde Air Totem quest doesn't seem to be complete, so the NPC in Thousand Needles just gives it to you. It's not a bug.

  • Gained at Level 30
Air Totem Spells
Windfury Totem Spell nature windfury [Windfury Totem]
Grounding Totem Spell nature groundingtotem [Grounding Totem]
Wrath of Air Totem Spell nature slowingtotem [Wrath of Air Totem]

(*Requires Talents)

Old Totems

Earth Totem Spells
None
Fire Totem Spells
Fire Nova Totem Spell fire sealoffire [Fire Nova Totem] 9 Ranks
Totem of Wrath Spell fire totemofwrath [Totem of Wrath] 3 Ranks
Frost Resistance Totem Spell frostresistancetotem 01 [Frost Resistance Totem] 4 Ranks
Water Totem Spells
Poison Cleansing Totem Spell nature poisoncleansingtotem [Poison Cleansing Totem]
Disease Cleansing Totem Spell nature diseasecleansingtotem [Disease Cleansing Totem]
Cleansing Totem Spell nature diseasecleansingtotem [Cleansing Totem]
Fire Resistance Totem Spell fireresistancetotem 01 [Fire Resistance Totem] 4 Ranks
Air Totem Spells
Grace of Air Totem Spell nature invisibilitytotem [Grace of Air Totem]
Tranquil Air Totem Ability shaman tranquilmindtotem [Tranquil Air Totem]
Nature Resistance Totem Spell nature natureresistancetotem [Nature Resistance Totem] 4 Ranks
Sentry Totem Spell nature removecurse [Sentry Totem]

Which Totems to Drop?

Since many patches, especially 3.0 and 4.0.1, most shaman totems have had their effects altered. Most totems with passive buffs now affect whole raid. Following rules apply regardless:

  • Totems generally do not stack. Two Windfury Totems does not mean more increase in attack speed.
  • Totems that have been enhanced by talents will overwrite Totems that aren't.
  • There exist only three glyphs which affect shaman totems. All of them are covered below.

That being said, the question now falls to, which Shamans drop which Totems?

Earth Totems

Fire Totems

Water Totems

Air Totems

  • Spell nature windfury [Windfury Totem] provides increased melee attack speed and Spell nature slowingtotem [Wrath of Air Totem] provides spell haste. Both totems affect whole raid.
  • Spell nature groundingtotem [Grounding Totem] should be used at will by all shamans. 15s cooldown means that other air totems can and should be used while Grounding Totem is out of use.

Gallery

References

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