PvE Elemental Shaman Best Professions

Similar to Cataclysm, primary professions are going to offer unique stat bonuses depending on which you choose. While many of them are going to be similar, this guide will list the best recommended professions to choose for an Elemental Shaman.

PvE Elemental Shaman DPS

Gems, Enchants & Consumables

Stat Priority & Reforging

Best Professions

Pre-Raid Gear

Rotation & Cooldowns

Talents, Builds & Glyphs

Best in Slot (BiS)

Addons & Macros

Best Professions

Sadly if you want to min-max the DPS bonuses from professions you’re likely going to be taking two crafting professions and skipping out on any gathering professions. Most of the bonuses are going to equal out to a +320 Intellect gain, but there will be some professions with minor difference in how these stats are given to you.

A good combination to start with if you’re unsure would be Engineering + Tailoring. Engineering is going to offer a 1-minute CD that gives +1920 Intellect for 10 seconds when you apply Synapse Springs. For Engineering not only will having an extra massive stat boost to line up with your burst provide a bit of extra value, there’s also some decent utility options and crafted pieces for early gearing. For Tailoring you’ll get a +2000 Intellect proc on potential spell cast. This has an extremely high proc chance, although it comes with an internal cooldown of 1-minute, making it not quite as consistent as Synapse Springs but still potent. Due to us being ranged the Lightweave Embroidery proc from Tailoring should be active just about every minute giving a nice chunk of burst damage for a short timeframe.

• Engineering: Synapse Springs offer a +1920 Intellect buff for 10 seconds on a 1 minute CD. This lines up well with some of our CD’s and gets extra value during Bloodlust/Heroism. There’s also some extra perks with the ability to craft a Energized Retinal Armor helm as a solid early endgame piece.
• Tailoring: You’ll have the Lightweave Embroidery enchantment available to be applied to your cloak with Tailoring. This is a +2000 Intellect proc that lasts 15 seconds. On average it equals out to +500 Intellect over the course of a fight with its internal cooldown of a minute. This is a slightly lower priority than Engineering due to being a bit less reliable overlapping it with cooldowns being that it’s a proc chance. Still a very strong effect, though.
• Enchanting: Gives you a +Intellect ring enchantment, giving you +320 Intellect total. Past that this profession pairs well with another crafting profession as it’s self-sufficient, so easier to make use of on its own.
• Leatherworking: This profession offers an enhanced bracer enchant in Fur Lining – Intellect, which is a +320 Intellect gain. There is an extra benefit of being able to make Mail gear for yourself, although this would be BoE gear that you could buy from other Leatherworkers if you choose not to become one yourself.

Useful Professions

These professions are still viable picks and will offer you the standard +320 to your main stat. But there’s no other added DPS value or benefit to picking them.

• Alchemy: You’ll gain a bonus to the time and stat increase of Elixirs and Flasks through Mixology. Always a solid option as it’s often a money-maker and fairly easy to level up.
• Blacksmithing: Gain two extra sockets, which equals out to a bonus of +320 Intellect if you slot in gems that target your primary stat (which you should).
• Jewelcrafting: Having this profession will give you the ability to craft and use Serpent’s Eye gems, which offer extra stats – totaling out to +320 Intellect.
• Inscription: This will replace the regular shoulder enchant with Secret Tiger Claw Inscription, netting you an extra +320 Intellect as well as some cost savings.

Sub-Par Professions

I wouldn’t recommend choosing these as they’re a net DPS loss comparatively, and a somewhat significant one at that.

• Herbalism: A skill called Lifeblood is on a 2 minute cooldown and grants 2880 Haste for 20 seconds. This averages out to +480 Haste, which isn’t as impactful as the flat increase to your primary stat most of the other professions give.
• Mining: Gain a passive, Toughness, increasing Stamina considerably. Not particularly useful for Elemental.
• Skinning: Master of Anatomy is a passive for choosing Skinning that increases your Crit by +480. A weak bonus combined with a weak stat makes this a very low priority for Elemental.