Enhancement Shamans - Priority Queue 4.06

[louisduloc]

Priority Queue
Like many classes, Enhancement Shamans don't have a set rotation, and instead use a priority queue. This concept is fairly straightforward - the higher a ability is in the queue, the higher priority it has. Meaning if it's off cooldown and available, use it, if not, go to the next ability, if it's unavailable, go to the next, etc.
Here is what a level 85 priority queue might look like. Sim your setup to find an optimal list.

Priority Abbreviation Meaning 1 ST_0 Searing Totem with 0 ticks remaining2 LL Lava Lash3 FS_UEF Flame Shock if the Unleash Flame buff is present4 MW5_LB Maelstrom Weapon x5 stacks + Lightning Bolt5 UE Unleash Elements6 SS Stormstrike7 ES Earth Shock8 SW Spirit Wolves9 ST Searing Totem (with x ticks remaining, set in sim)

 

[Demise]

Except you never clip Searing totem with more than 2 secs remaining so it really isn't worth that to put in the priority.

 

[bobby53]

Priority Queue
Like many classes, Enhancement Shamans don't have a set rotation, and instead use a priority queue. This concept is fairly straightforward - the higher a ability is in the queue, the higher priority it has. Meaning if it's off cooldown and available, use it, if not, go to the next ability, if it's unavailable, go to the next, etc.
Here is what a level 85 priority queue might look like. Sim your setup to find an optimal list.
Priority Abbreviation Meaning 1 ST_0 Searing Totem with 0 ticks remaining2 LL Lava Lash3 FS_UEF Flame Shock if the Unleash Flame buff is present4 MW5_LB Maelstrom Weapon x5 stacks + Lightning Bolt5 UE Unleash Elements6 SS Stormstrike7 ES Earth Shock8 SW Spirit Wolves9 ST Searing Totem (with x ticks remaining, set in sim)

The HonorBuddy \ CustomClasses subforums are really intended for the distribution of CCs. If you have a specific question regarding the ShamWOW or the Default Shaman CC it would be better to post in that respective thread. If you are just wanting to open discussion on this, the General Discussion subforum would be a good place. Alternatively if you were wanting to document the Enhancement Shaman best practices in general, you may want to post a Blog entry about it or create a Wiki article.

I absolutely agree with considering EJ as the base reference for Enhancement Shaman DPS as well as for Elemental DPS and Resto Healing. It might be better to only link or refer people to the Elitist Jerks article than to restate its content here though. The EJ reference posts are living documents and are updated when a future patch in WOW necessitates it or someone proves that the research behind the currently documented priority queue can be improved upon. If its duplicated here then the moment the EJ article is revised the content above becomes obsolete.