Restoration Shaman Leveling Guide

Totem toolkit healer with strong tank saves and efficient chain healing. Best for dungeon leveling; solo is slower but extremely safe.

Updated 2026 Healer / Support Supports Classic / TBC / WotLK

Why Restoration in Classic?

Chain Heal (later) and strong single-target healing with totems make Resto reliable in dungeons. Mana can be tight but totems/Downranking help.

Strengths

Totems provide unique utility (Tremor, Grounding, Mana Spring).
Downranked Healing Wave/Chain Heal efficient.
Plate/ mail armor with shield for safety.

Weaknesses

Solo kill speed is slow.
Mana management required before Water Shield.
Totem setup time reduces speed when questing.

Talents by Level (Classic 1-60)

Early (10-29)

Improved Healing Wave/Healing Focus.
Tidal Focus for cheaper heals.
Totemic Focus for cheaper totems.

Mid (30-44)

Nature's Swiftness for instant heal.
Mana Tide not yet; Healing Way for tank healing.
Restorative Totems for Mana Spring strength.

Late (45-60)

Tidal Mastery for crit; Nature's Guidance (Enh) for hit if questing.
Chain Heal (if patch) for group healing.
Ancestral Healing for tank mitigation.

Dungeon focus: keep Earth Shield (if available later) or Riptide (WotLK) on tank; use Mana Spring/Healing Stream; downrank heals for efficiency.

Rotation & Playstyle

Solo

Use Flame Shock + Lightning Bolt; Searing Totem to help.
Heal with Lesser Healing Wave/Healing Wave as needed.
Water Shield (if available) or Lightning Shield for mana/damage.

Healing

Healing Wave for tanks; Chain Heal for groups.
Use NS + HW for emergencies.
Magma/Stoneclaw totem to control adds while healing.

Utility

Tremor/Poison Cleansing/Grounding situational.
Mana Spring/Healing Stream for sustain.
Purge dangerous buffs; Earth Shock interrupts.

Zone Route (Classic)

Bracket	Zones	Notes
1-20	Starter → Barrens	Totem quests; early Healing Wave ranks.
20-35	Thousand Needles/Desolace	Run dungeons for spell power/mp5 gear.
35-50	STV/Tanaris	Zul'Farrak for caster mail; Chain Heal patch dependent.
50-60	Un'Goro/Plaguelands	BRD/Strat for regen gear; dungeon spam fastest.

Why Restoration in TBC?

Earth Shield, Chain Heal, and Mana Tide make Resto Shaman the best 5-man healer. Totems add huge utility and Bloodlust speeds clears.

Spec: Earth Shield, Nature's Swiftness, Mana Tide, Improved Chain Heal, Tidal Mastery. Take Totemic Focus/Restorative Totems.

Talents by Level (TBC 60-70)

Early (60-63)

Improved Chain Heal/Healing Way.
Tidal Focus/Healing Focus for efficiency/pushback.
Nature's Swiftness for instant heals.

Mid (64-67)

Earth Shield at 64-66—huge mitigation.
Tidal Mastery for crit; Restorative Totems for Mana Spring.
Mana Tide Totem for regen.

Late (68-70)

Nature's Guidance (Enh) for hit if questing.
Totem Mastery/Totemic Focus for cheaper totems.
Ancestral Healing for armor buff.

Rotation (TBC)

Healing

Keep Earth Shield on tank; Riptide not yet.
Chain Heal for cleave damage; LHW for spot heals.
Mana Tide when low; NS + HW to save tanks.

Solo

Flame Shock → Lightning Bolt; use Water Shield.
Searing Totem to supplement damage.
Earthbind to kite; heal yourself efficiently.

Utility

Tremor, Grounding, Poison Cleansing as needed.
Heroism/Bloodlust on bosses.
Purge/interrupt with Earth Shock.

Zone & Dungeon Path (TBC)

Level	Zone/Dungeon	Notes
60-62	Ramps/BF	Earth Shield unlock; great for tanks.
62-65	SP/UB	Mana Tide for long pulls; Coilfang caster drops.
65-68	Sethekk/SLabs	Chain Heal shines; purge buffs.
68-70	Mech/Bot/SH	Badge gear; Bloodlust for boss burns.

Why Restoration in WotLK?

Riptide, Earth Shield, and Chain Heal remain powerful; Tidal Waves enables fast LHW/GHW casts. Strong dungeon/raid healer with huge utility.

Spec: Riptide, Tidal Waves, Improved Earth Shield, Ancestral Awakening, Mana Tide. Take Healing Way/Improved Shields.

Talents by Level (70-80)

Early (70-73)

Riptide unlock; Improved Earth Shield.
Tidal Focus/Healing Focus; Ancestral Healing.
Tidal Mastery for crit.

Mid (74-77)

Tidal Waves for fast LHW/GHW after Chain Heal/Riptide.
Ancestral Awakening for smart heals.
Meditation via Improved Water Shield for regen.

Late (78-80)

Mana Tide; Nature's Swiftness.
Optional: Cleanse Spirit for curse removal.
Fill with Totemic Focus/Restorative Totems.

Rotation (WotLK)

Healing

Keep Earth Shield on tank; Riptide on cooldown.
Chain Heal for group; LHW/GHW with Tidal Waves haste.
Mana Tide when low; NS + GHW for emergencies.

Solo/Questing

Flame Shock → Lightning Bolt; Fire Nova on packs.
Use Water Shield; drop Searing/Magma.
Wolves/Thunderstorm not available—kite with Earthbind.

Utility

Heroism/Bloodlust; Tremor/Grounding/Poison Cleansing.
Cleanse Spirit removes curses/poisons/diseases.
Earth Shock interrupts; Purge buffs.

Zone & Dungeon Path (WotLK)

Level	Zone/Dungeon	Notes
70-72	Howling Fjord / Borean	Nexus/UK starter gear; keep ES up.
72-75	Dragonblight / AN/OK	Tidal Waves makes LHW fast; great for chain pulling.
75-77	Zul'Drak / Drak'Tharon	Use Bloodlust on big packs; lots of AoE.
77-80	Storm Peaks / Icecrown	Heroics for badges; Riptide+CH scale well.

Gear, Stats, and Enchants (All Versions)

Stat Priority

Intellect/MP5 > Spell Power > Crit (for Ancestral Healing) > Haste (WotLK higher value).
Spirit less valuable than MP5 for shamans.

Weapons

1H + shield with spell power; fast weapon fine.
Classic: SM/BRD spell power maces; AV shield.
TBC: Gavel of Unearthed Secrets, Continuum Blade; Aegis of the Sunbird.
WotLK: Titansteel Guardian; badge/crafted shields.

Enchants

Classic: +Spell Power to weapon; +Int to shield.
TBC: Major Intellect/SP; +Spirit/MP5 to chest.
WotLK: +63 SP/Black Magic to weapon; +Int to shield; +MP5 to chest.

Pro Tips & Utility

Leveling Speed

Dungeon spam is fastest—instant queues.
Downrank heals and keep Water Shield up for mana.
Use Mana Tide and potions aggressively to avoid downtime.

Group Utility

Tremor/Grounding/Poison Cleansing; Mana Spring/Healing Stream.
Heroism/Bloodlust on bosses or big pulls.
Earth Shield and Ancestral Healing keep tanks sturdy.

Survival

NS + HW saves you or tank; Earthbind to kite.
Reincarnation safety net; carry Ankhs.
Keep bandages/pots to minimize downtime.

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