[gymnosophist]

Hello BS community,

I have just returned to AoC after a long hiatus and have been enjoying levelling my neglected old BS. I now plan to make this my main and can't wait to get started with raids and factions etc. I am mainly interested in PvE and healing is my number one priority, though I would like as much dps as this permits me.

Currently I am level 70 and leaning towards a variation of the Iron Hide / Rampage spec but there are a few things I would like some advice on from you experienced Shamans out there:

Firstly, how much does Empowered Renewal really suck? I have read that it is broken and only works on white hits; but I have also read that it works as long as you apply it directly before a finisher. I would consider getting it just for Deft Renewal, but 8 pts seems like a hefty investment. Is Deft Reneal a "must have" or can I do with out it? My gut feeling is that I would rather spend the pts on Ether Theft instead.

My second question is about Ursine Brawl. I personally don't use it much as the debuff doesn't seem that great to me. But then, I have read posts which claim UB is "our best kept secret" and stuff like that. Any opinions which can guide me here are welcome.

This is the spec I am aiming towards, based on my current thinking:

http://aoc.yg.com/feat-planner?class...416-15,2411-11

I would consider dropping Rampage in favour of Rune of Regrowth, but I am not sure how much more effective I would be as a healer with that (is regrowth any good?), and not sure if dropping Rampage would totally gimp my dps. Any advice???

Cheers,

Hearn, 70 BS, Wiccana

[m4gg0t]

Well since patch 3.0 with the combo changes, our DPS as been effectively been nerffed by 40%. Before you could be hitting for 4.5k with CA4 or FG, now highest i've seen is 2.5k. But for PvE it doesn't matter. If you want dps for PvE a mutilations build will do well for you. http://aoc.yg.com/feat-planner?class...437-11,2435-11

[gymnosophist]

Cheers for The advice m4gg0t. I considered going with mutilation but the health buffs from balance of nature and blood healing seem too good to drop. I want to be an effective healer first and dps second. Plus the bubble looks attractive, especially as I will doubtless be doing a lot of solo grinding in Khitai. I suppose what I am asking is, am I shooting myself in the foot if I bother to get rampage without investing in mutilation, particularly as I have already feated IB?

[Texan615]

Either build will do fine, but if you go with yours, you need to pick up Untamed Regeneration.

[Halfdead]

Originally Posted by gymnosophist Cheers for The advice m4gg0t. I considered going with mutilation but the health buffs from balance of nature and blood healing seem too good to drop. I want to be an effective healer first and dps second. Plus the bubble looks attractive, especially as I will doubtless be doing a lot of solo grinding in Khitai. I suppose what I am asking is, am I shooting myself in the foot if I bother to get rampage without investing in mutilation, particularly as I have already feated IB?

Blue/green/big heal are effectively enough. Better to think about dps first, then heals, but that is me.(I think I am a barb right Lol) I guess just coming back a bubble build is good to have, but once you are geared, a full dps spec is the way to go. But I do think youre gimping Internal Bleed by not taking Mutiliation.

[gymnosophist]

Originally Posted by Texan615 Either build will do fine, but if you go with yours, you need to pick up Untamed Regeneration.

Oh yeah I forgot about that... If I squeeze it in, I won't be able to afford Spirit Walker (unless I drop Grace of Nature and Rune of Grounding, and even then I can only take 2 pts). Will this seriously diminish my dps? (Spirit and Sun are my two most often used manifestations). Or will I make up for the lost dps with Rampage anyway?

[m4gg0t]

You don't really need the 6.5% increase on your blue heal. You heal just fine with out it. And since you don't pvp iron hide is not needed. One point in balance of nature is alright considering you have lots of dps.

[gymnosophist]

Originally Posted by m4gg0t You don't really need the 6.5% increase on your blue heal. You heal just fine with out it. And since you don't pvp iron hide is not needed. One point in balance of nature is alright considering you have lots of dps.

Thanks, tried it. Awesome!

[Erock25]

Best pve dps spec http://aoc.yg.com/feat-planner?class...437-11,2435-11

[gymnosophist]

Originally Posted by Erock25 Best pve dps spec http://aoc.yg.com/feat-planner?class...437-11,2435-11

More or less what I am now using except that I have swapped out Ursine Rush and Onslaught to get Stone Hide instead, at least until I gear up then I may respec.