Totem and Ankh: Common Totem Mistakes
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lp me survive longer, kill things faster, and heal better. Now, with each race having a different style, it’s easier to see whose totems are whose if the shamans are of different races. They are functional as well as ornamental. My troll totems even look like they have little faces on them, so when I’m trundling around Northrend all on my own, I have 4 instant little friends to surround me and keep me company.
From the moment you get your first totem, you should be using it. The totems help you as you level. Experiment with your totems in order to find the ones that most help you with your spec and play style. It is a mistake to be so lazy as to not put totems down just because you are not in a dungeon or raid. With the ability to create 3 sets of totems in Call of the Spirits, Call of the Ancestors, and Call of the Elements, you can place 4 totems with a single click. Consider using one set for soloing, one set for dungeons/raids, and the third set for pvp.
Another mistake many shamans make is to forget to use Totemic Recall to remove totems. Imagine you have carefully chosen your favorite set of totems and plopped them down. You’ve survived the encounter in the area and moved on, but you left your totems behind. Any mob that sees one of your totems is going to come after you. This is particularly dangerous in dungeons or raids and can cause wipes from trash and patrols. There’s no reason not to use Totemic Recall and tidy up your totems – it not only prevents pulling unplanned adds, it gives back mana. 
Avoiding totem redundancy is another key issue when in a group. If you have multiple shamans in your group or raid, coordinate the totems so you don’t have accidental doubles. Two totems of the exact same kind will not stack. Some totems do not stack with other abilities.
Here are some totems and abilities which do not provide additional benefit if both are present:
- Totem of Wrath + Flametongue Totem: They don’t add up for additional spellpower. If an elemental shaman has Totem of Wrath up, use another totem.
- Windfury Totem is not necessary if you have a death knight using Improved Icy Talons
- Strength of Earth Totem will not stack if you have a DK using Horn of Winter
- Mana Spring Totem will not stack with Blessing of Wisdom. If you have a paladin in your group and can use BoW and the Drums of the Kings to give the 8% stat increase, use another totem entirely. You will almost never want to use Mana Spring Totem in a group with a paladin unless he isn’t doing his job.
- Frost Resistance Totem will not stack with the paladin’s Frost Resistance Aura
- Fire Resistance Totem will not stack with the paladin’s Fire Resistance Aura
My raid set of totems usually includes: Stoneskin Totem, Flametongue Totem, Healing Stream Totem and Wrath of Air Totem. I make adjustments based on the composition of the raid in order to provide the most benefit from my totems.
Some shamans begin pvp without knowing which totems to use. Create a pvp totem set and use specific totems to help you survive pvp.
- Earth: Tremor Totem or Earthbind Totem. I use the Earthbind Totem only in situations such as I’m trying to escape from someone who is chasing me or trying to slow someone else down. Otherwise it’s Tremor Totem all the way, because warlocks, priests, and warriors can all fear.
- Fire: Searing Totem or Magma Totem I prefer Searing Totem because the repeated attacks are annoying and can distract or interrupt the enemy.
- Water: Cleansing Totem or Fire Resistance Totem. Fire Resistance is only preferable if you’re going against a warlock or a fire mage. Otherwise, use Cleansing Totem which will protect you best against death knights, hunters, and rogues – all of whom are dangerous in pvp.
- Air: Grounding Totem is my hands-down favorite for my air totem. Any nasty spell aimed at my head hits my Grounding Totem and my head is safe. Since the Grounding Totem has a longish cooldown, pop a Wrath of Air or Windfury Totem down – or even a Nature Resistance totem – while you wait to be able to pop Grounding Totem back up.
Keep in mind that totems in pvp are targeted and several of the totems last a short time. You’ll need to replace your totems frequently. Remember also that totems have a specific area of effect. Once you’ve run off and left your totems, they may no longer provide you with any buffs.
Other uses for totems that shamans sometimes forget about include the totem pull. This is similar to a line of sight pull, in which everyone except the tank hides in order to pull mobs into a specific area and to keep them from being able to see everyone in the raid and cast spells on them straight away. Instead of using a tank, totems can be used to pull the mobs. This is the sort of thing that is best used either when soloing or with the approval of the raid leader. Examples of using totems to pull include the Auriyaya fight in Ulduar. Place the totems on a lower circular area and wait for Auriyaya to come along while everyone waits for her up the stairs and on another platform. (Don’t forget your Tremor Totem on the Auriyaya fight!) Another example of clever totem use is found in the Gluth fight in Naxxramas. Use pvp totems with the zombies in the back of the room. The zombies are very attracted to the totems and will hit them before hitting the zombie tank/kiter, thus eliminating nasty stacks of the the debuff. The Stoneclaw Totem is nice in this fight, along with the Searing Totem, the Healing Stream Totem and the Wrath of Air totem.
Know your totems. Love your totems! Use them wisely and they will help you win the day. One of the many reasons shamans are loved in raids and invited into groups is because of the versatility and usefulness of the totems. Always knowing which totems to use will show that you know your class and you are the best choice for the spot in any group.
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Last Updated on Friday, 06 August 2010 20:23 Written by Savoire Friday, 06 August 2010 14:27