Shamans fall into two categories in regards to fighting: burst fast kill, or slow out live kill. Enhancement and elemental shamans are all about quick killing their target. Restoration shamans are about killing their opponent while avoiding death themselves from unknown sources. Enhancement shamans are sometimes known as rogues in mail. This is because of the dual-wielding burst damage that enhancement shamans are known for. Elemental shamans are known for big bangs with lightning bolt, chain-lightning bolt, and frost shock combos. Restoration shamans are the ultimate survivors. They fight until the end of their mana pool, and then you finish them off, and the next thing you know they are standing next to you with nearly half their life, and half their mana left and they are healing to full.
Totems
One of the most important things for shamans are how they use their totems. This can mean the difference between winning or losing in many fights. You can have one totem of each element at a time down.
Earth Totems
You receive your first totems at level 4 when you complete the Call of Earth quest.
Stoneskin Totem
Stoneskin totem reduces the damage you take per hit by X amount (amount varies depending on what rank you use). This totem lasts 2 minutes, and affects everyone in your group who is within 20 yards of the totem. This totem is designed to lower damage significantly on mobs or players who hit quickly and do less damage, since it does the reduction per hit.
Earthbind Totem
Earthbind totem places a totem at the feet of the shaman that pulses a 50% movement rate reduction buff on all mobs within 10 yards of it. It lasts 45 seconds and has a 15 second cooldown. This totem is useful for

mobs that run away, or when you need to sprint away. There is a talent called Earth's Grasp that extends the range by 10% and then 20%.
Stoneclaw Totem
Stoneclaw totem once dropped pulses a weak threat. This causes mobs with little or no threat on someone to attack the totem. The totem itself is one of the most durable of the totems that a shaman gets where most totems only have 5 hp the rank 1 Stoneclaw has 65. Also, when the totem is hit with a melee attack, it has a 50% chance of stunning the target for 3 seconds. When this totem is used skillfully, it can help with adds for at least a few seconds. Another common tactic in PvP is to drop a Stoneclaw totem to distract pets. A pet that automatically attacks you will get pulled away by the Stoneclaw totem. A pet that is told to attack you is unaffected by the totem.
Strength of Earth Totem
Strength of Earth totem once dropped gives all members of your group who are within 20 yards of the totem a strength buff. Strength of Earth Totem lasts 2 minutes. Strength of Earth is a good totem for enhancement shamans to drop when they are soloing because it will increase their attack power. This totem is also very useful when you are in a group that doesn't need the other situational earth totems.
Tremor Totem
Tremor totem causes a pulse for 30 yards that removes fear, charm, and sleep from all party members. It then continues to pulse every five seconds for the next two minutes. This totem is very situational, so a lot of shamans will never use it during their career. That is a mistake I hope you do not make. Tremor totem, if used correctly, can save a group from mass fear or sleep spells. When used, it is in anticipation of one of the above mentioned spells, or as soon as they land on other party members. Tremor totem is normally dropped, and then, once the initial pulse cures the group, it is replaced by a more appropriate earth totem.
Earth Elemental Totem

Earth Elemental totem summons an earth elemental to help the shaman. The shaman has no control over the elemental, and it is set to be aggressive to anything within its aggression area. The earth elemental has a fair amount of hit points -- approximately that of a shaman of the same level as it. The earth elemental also casts an Area of Effect (AoE) taunt spell that he casts. This makes the earth elemental good at holding threat. If

another earth totem is placed while the earth elemental is out, it will destroy the earth elemental. The totem and earth elemental lasts two minutes and they are bound in place so it will not follow you around. If there are no mobs in the area, the earth elemental will stand next to the totem. Casting earth elemental totem also puts the Fire Elemental totem on a two minute cool down, effectively making it impossible to have both elementals out at the same time. Earth elemental totem has a 20 minute cool down. Also, if the totem is destroyed, the elemental is also banished. Some people will target the totem due to the fact you can not heal the totem but you can heal the elemental.
Fire Totems
You can get the Call of Fire quest at level 10. Once completed, you will get your fire totem and can start using fire elemental totems.
Searing Totem
Searing totem will cast a mini fireball at an enemy within 20 yards of the totem. Searing totem is a good totem to use in single target fights. Some of the weakness of the totem are that it picks its target at random from available hostiles in its range. This can cause adds to a fight, or break crowd controlled (Cced) mobs. Each shot does get 8% of your spell damage bonus. Searing totem is an effective low mana, damage over time (DoT) spell.
Fire Nova Totem
Fire Nova totem when dropped will start a count down. Four seconds after being dropped Fire Nova totem explodes, doing decent damage to all mobs within 10 yards of the totem. When this totem is dropped, it causes a large amount of threat for the totem itself. This means that if all mobs in the area do not already have a decent amount of threat on yourself or other players in your group, they will attack the Fire Nova totem. The totem only has five hit points and is quickly killed before it explodes. This totem is useful against players more than most mobs due to the fact that most mobs at the level you receive the totem can kill it in one hit. This means the mobs look away for a second then return to attacking you. Some players will ignore it until it is too late. Other times, Fire Nova totem is a good way to get a rogue out of stealth if they are next to it when it goes off. There is a talent called Improved Fire Nova Totem that makes the “fuse” on the totem 2 seconds less, making it a faster AoE spell. Fire Nova totem has a 15 second cool down after being placed.

Frost Resistance Totem
Frost Resistance totem gives a frost resistance buff to all party members who are within 20 yards of the totem. Frost resistance totem is very situational. It is primarily used when you are raiding a mob who casts frost spells. Otherwise, it will sit and gather dust most of the time. On occasion, if you notice a frost mage in PvP It might be useful. The problem is that frost mages will kite you away from the totem quickly, making the cast a waste of mana.
Magma Totem
Once dropped a magma totem for the next 20 seconds, every two seconds will pulse an AoE damage. This will only hit mobs who are within eight yards of the totem. This totem also draws a large amount of threat. Since the totem only has 5 hit points, it will be quickly destroyed unless there is threat coming from another source. Magma totem is not very mana efficient unless it is hitting three or more mobs. Magma totem does do a good job at bringing a large group of mobs down in life if you have a warrior, or something with an AoE threat, that will keep the mobs off the totem.
Flametongue Totem
Flametongue totem is the first of two weapon enhancement totems. When placed, flametongue totem enchants all primary weapons of the group who are within the 20 yards radius of the totem with a fire enchant. This mean that every swing with your primary weapon does extra fire damage. The slower the weapon is, the more damage the enchantment does. This is the lesser used of the two weapon enhancement totems. It is useful before you get the other one. After that, this totem kind of fades into the background. The totem stays in effect for up to two minutes.
Totem of Wrath
Totem of wrath is the 41 point talent in the Elemental tree. This means totem of wrath can be gotten at level 50. When placed, totem of wrath gives all party members within 20 yards of it a buff that increases their chance to critically hit with both their spells and melee attacks by three percent. This totem shines while in groups that are attacking boss mobs. The increase to critically hit is seldom noticed when you are killing random trash mobs that do not last very long. This totem lasts two minutes after it is placed.

Fire Elemental Totem
Fire elemental totem summons a fire elemental to help the shaman. The shaman has no control over the elemental, and it is set to be aggressive to anything within its aggression area. The fire elemental has a low amount of hit points. The fire elemental can seldom tank mobs of equal level without healing the elemental. The fire elemental has a mana bar, and its mana regenerates very slowly. The fire elemental has an AoE fire nova type of attack, but because of its low mana and mana regeneration, you will only see the fire elemental cast this approximately 4 times during the two minutes it is active. The fire elemental also has an aura around it that damages nearby enemies every two seconds. When not casting the fire nova, the fire elemental will attack with a melee style attack. This attack deals purely fire damage. This makes it very effective against heavily armored enemies, since the fire bypasses armor. All of the elemental's attacks are increased in damage by how much +spell damage gear you are wearing. The fire elemental is also immune to all fire type of attacks. If another fire totem is placed while the fire elemental is out, the fire totem will destroy the fire elemental. The totem and fire elemental lasts two minutes, and they are bound in place so it will not follow you around. If there are no mobs in the area, the fire elemental will stand next to the totem. Casting fire elemental totem also puts the earth elemental totem on a two minute cool down, effectively making it impossible to have both elementals out at the same time. Fire elemental totem has a 20 minute cool down. Also, if the totem is destroyed, the elemental is also banished. Some people will target the totem due to the fact you can not heal the totem but you can heal the elemental.
Water Totems
You can get the call of water quest at level 20. Once completed, you will get your water totem and can start using water elemental totems.
Healing Stream Totem
Healing stream totem will heal all party members within 20 yards by X amount every two seconds. The totem stays active for up to two minutes. Healing stream totem receives six percent of your +healing bonus per two second tick. This totem also stacks with itself. So if you are in a group with another shaman you can both lay this totem down, and gain the benefits from both. Though not very mana efficient for healing one person, this can be efficient when healing a group. Also, restorative totem talents can make healing stream do up to 25% more healing per tick.

Poison Cleansing Totem
When first placed, poison cleansing totem will pulse a poison cure for all party members within 20 yards. If left up, the totem will continue to pulse this poison cure every five seconds. This totem is very useful when your group is fighting mobs that poison often, and mobs that have an AoE poison spell. Poison cleansing totem is a very situational totem, but when those situations appear, it is important not to forget about this totem.
Mana Spring Totem
Mana spring totem, when placed, pulses a mana regeneration on all party members within 20 yards of the totem. Mana spring totem lasts two minutes. The mana regenerated depends on what rank of mana spring you are using. Mana spring is very useful when in a group with other casters. It is also useful to drop if you are going to be sitting for more than 20 seconds due to low mana, because without any talents, mana spring will pay for itself after 20 seconds. This totem is kind of a fall back from mana tide totem, since mana tide totem has a cool down timer.
Fire Resistance Totem
Fire Resistance totem gives a fire resistance buff to all party members who are within 20 yards of the totem. Fire resistance is another totem that is very situational. It is primarily used when you are raiding a mob who casts fire spells. On occasion, if you notice a fire mage in PvP, it might be useful. The problem is that fire mages will kite you away from the totem quickly, making the cast a waste of mana. A large portion of mobs use fire based spells so this totem will get a little more use than your frost resistance totem.
Disease Cleansing Totem
When first placed, disease cleansing totem will pulse a disease cure for all party members within 20 yards. If left up, the totem will continue to pulse this disease cure every five seconds. This totem is very useful when your group is fighting mobs that use diseases often, and mobs that have an AoE disease spell.
Mana Tide Totem

Mana tide totem is a 31 point talent in the restoration tree. Once placed, it regenerates six percent of each party member's mana who are within 20 yards every two seconds for 12 seconds, effectively regenerating 24% of all party members' mana in 12 seconds. This is a must have talent if you are going up

the restoration tree. This kinda of mana regeneration is huge in healer groups, or caster heavy groups. Mana tide totem does have a five minute cool down.
Air Totems
You can get the call of air quest at level 30. Once completed, you will get your air totem and can start using air elemental totems.
Grounding Totem
Grounding totem will place a buff on all party members who are within 20 yards of the totem. The buff effectively makes them immune to the next single target spell cast at them, and it is redirected to the grounding totem. The grounding totem is immune to a lot of different spells. Unfortunately, it does only have 5 hit points, and the first direct damage spell it absorbs will destroy it. There are a few spells that can not be redirected. This totem is one that needs to be mastered.
Nature Resistance Totem
Nature Resistance totem gives a nature resistance buff to all party members who are within 20 yards of the totem. Nature resistance totem is very situational. It is primarily used when you are raiding a mob who casts nature spells. Once in a while, if you notice a druid in PvP It might be useful. The problem is that druids will kite you away from the totem quickly, making the cast a waste of mana.

Windfury Totem
Windfury totem gives all members of your group within 20 yards of the totem a windfury buff on their main hand weapon. The windfury buff gives a 20 percent chance that an attack triggers a second attack with the weapon with X amount of additional attack power. Windfury totem lasts two minutes. This is a very useful totem in groups with other DPS and warriors. The extra attack can greatly reduce the time it takes to kill an enemy. Windfury is considered one of the best totems shamans get for groups.
Sentry Totem
Sentry totem when dropped leaves a totem that lasts 5 minutes. The totem has 100 hit points and warns the shaman if anything attacks it. The shaman also gains a buff that allows him to switch between his own view and sight that comes from the totem. The only use this totem has is for watching patrol routes, or watching for enemies approaching. Most shamans never use this totem. This totem is useful with some of the PvP events where you have to watch for enemies entering areas. The draw back is the inability to use other air totems when this one is in effect because air totems are considered some of the strongest totems.
Windwall Totem
When placed, windwall totem works very similar to stoneskin totem. The difference is that windwall totem reduces ranged damage. Windwall totem lasts two minutes after being placed. It also reduces ranged damage by a larger amount. This totem works well for battling hunters. Elemental shamans can sit back and cast spells at the hunter while he does little damage to them with his attacks because of this totem. This totem is situational, but during those situations very helpful in reducing the damage to yourself and your party.
Grace of Air Totem
Grace of Air totem once dropped gives all members of your group who are within 20 yards of the totem an agility buff. Grace of air totem lasts two minutes. Grace of air is a good totem for enhancement shamans to drop when they are soloing because it will increase their chance to critically hit, causing the ability flurry to happen. Agility helps dodge, parry, and for some classes, gives more attack power. Grace of air should be down if you are not using another type of air totem.

Tranquil Air Totem
Tranquil Air totem gives all members of your group who are within 20 yards of the totem a buff that reduces the threat they cause by 20 percent. Tranquil air totem lasts two minutes. This totem is primarily used in raids when a shaman is placed in a DPS group without one of the tanks. This totem helps keep the group's threat in check. Considering the usefulness of other air totems, this one is seldom used.
Wrath of Air Totem
Wrath of air totem when dropped gives all members of your group who are within 20 yards of the totem a buff that gives plus 101 spell damage and healing. Wrath of air totem lasts two minutes. This totem should always be laid down if possible before casting earth shield, or a healing stream totem. If placed in a group with casters, it is a must have. It is a very helpful totem for caster groups because helps with heals.