Welcome to the Big Leagues: A Gear Guide for fresh 80's

So you have just hit 80 with your elemental shaman (or have made the switch from enhancement and have no gear), have got a grasp of the class and how it is played and want to start sinking your teeth into playing. What you need now is some fresh epics to compliment your desire and get you doing some healthy DPS numbers.

This is a relatively simple crash course guide which is as much a learning experience for me as it is for you. I have compiled a list of readily available gear that can get you a set that is cut out for your first 10-mans and, although not recommended, not too shabby for a pug 25. Searching through the three most simple sources: Reputation Rewards, the Emblem of Heroism Vendor and Heroics, I have compiled by slot and tried to add a couple of options for each in case a certain item is not easily obtainable to you. I have also marked my personal preference's with a *.

Note that this is not a complete list of every possible piece of gear. I left out a large amount of resto gear with mp5 and cloth and leather gear with spirit. Do not use this as a be-all and end-all guide to your first gear!

Head:

• Battle Menders Helm - Revered with Argent Crusade
• Sharkjaw Cap - Revered with Oracles
• Battlemap Hide Helm - Prince Keleseth, Heroic Utgarde Keep
• Brood Plague Helmet - Elder Nadox, Heroic Ahn'kahet (*)

Neck:

• Encircling Burnished Gold Chains - 25 Emblems of Heroism (*)
• Lattice Choker of Light - 25 Emblems of Heroism
• Necklace of Taldaram - Prince Talaram, Heroic Ahn'kahet

Shoulders:

• Spaulders of the Violet Hold - Cyanigosa, Heroic Violet Hold (*)
• Spaulders of Krystallus - Krystallus, Heroic Halls of Stone
• Mantle of Discarded Ways - King Ymiron, Heroic Utgarde Pinnacle

Back:

• Shroud of Dedicated Research - Honored with Kirin Tor
• Dark Soldier Cape - Honored with Knights of the Ebon Blade
• Ancient Dragon Spirit Cape - Eregos, Heroic Occulus
• Deathchill Cloak - Tailoring Pattern (*)

Chest:

• Whale-Skin Vest - Honored with Kalu'ak
  Heroes' Earthshatter Hauberk - From Chestguard of the Lost Protector token for 80 Emblems of Heroism
• Insect Vestments - Anub'arak, Heroic Azjol-Nerub
• Egg Sac Robes - Hadronox, Heroic Azjol-Nerub
• Moragg's Chestguard - Moragg, Heroic Violet Hold (*)
• Water-Drenched Robe - Ichoron, Heroic Violet Hold
• Ornate Woolen Stola - Loken, Heroic Halls of Lightning
• Drakewing Raiments - Drakos, Heroic Occulus
• Scaled Armor of Drakos - Drakos, Heroic Occulus
• Revenant's Breastplate - Leatherworking Pattern

Bracers:

• Limb Regeneration Bracers - The Prophet Tharon, Heroic Drak'Tharon Keep (*)
• Azure Cloth Bindings - Cyanigosa, Heroic Violet Hold

Weapon:

• Totemic Purification Rod - Revered with Kalu'ak
• Gavel of the Brewing Storm - Revered with Wyrmrest Accord
• Flameheart Spell Scalpel - Revered with Kirin Tor (*)
• War Mace of Unrequited Love - Keristraza, Heroic Nexus

Off-hand/Shield:

• Lordaeron's Resolve - Revered with Alliance Vanguard OR Warsong Stormshield - Revered with Horde Expedition
• Protective Barricade of the Light - 35 Emblems of Heroism
• Ward of the Violet Citadel - 35 Emblems of Heroism (*)
• Facade Shield of Glyphs - Krik'thir, Heroic Azjol-Nerub

Hands:

• Grips of Fierce Pronouncements - Exalted with Wyrmrest Accord
• Heroes' Earthshatter Gloves - From Gloves of the Lost Protector token for 60 Emblems of Heroism
• Fiery Obelisk Handguards - Herald Volazj, Heroic Ahn'kahet (*)
• Traditionally Dyed Handguards - General Bjorngrim, Heroic Halls of Lightning
• Giant-Hair Woven Gloves - Volkhan, Heroic Halls of Lightning
• Cracked Epoch Grasps - Chrono-Lord Epoch, Heroic Culling of Stratholme

Belt:

• Sash of the Wizened Wyrm - Honored with Wyrmrest Accord
• Ghostflicker Waistband - Exalted with Kirin Tor
• Belt of Dark Mending - Revered with Knights of the Ebon Blade
• Plush Sash of Guzbah - 40 Emblems of Heroism (*)
• Sash of the Servant - Anub'arak, Heroic Azjol-Nerub
• Girdle of the Ethereal - Xevozz, Heroic Violet Hold
• Sash of Blood Removal - Gal'darah, Heroic Gun'Drak
• Maiden's Girdle - Maiden of Grief, Heroic Halls of Stone
• Belt of Unified Souls - Meathook, Heroic Culling of Stratholme

Legs:

• Scavenged Feathery Leggings - Revered with Frenzyheart Tribe
• Giant-Friend Kilt - Revered with Sons of Hodir
• Patroller's War-Kilt - General Bjorngrim, Heroic Halls of Lightning
• Woven Bracae Leggings - Loken, Heroic Halls of Lightning
• Crenelation Leggings - Skadi the Ruthless, Heroic Utgarde Pinnacle
• Sorrowgrave's Breeches - Svala Sorrowgrave, Heroic Utgarde Pinnacle
• Legguards of Nature's Power - Mal'Ganis, Heroic Culling of Stratholme (*)

Feet:

• Stone-Worn Footwraps - Krik'thir, Heroic Azjol-Nerub
• Slithering Slippers - Slad'ron, Heroic Gun'Drak
• Revenant's Treads - Leatherworking Pattern (*)

Rings:

• Signet of Hopeful Light - Exalted with Argent Crusade
• Annhylde's Ring - Ingvar, Heroic Utgarde Keep (*)
• Ring of the Traitor King - Anub'arak, Heroic Azjol-Nerub
• Solitaire of Reflecting Beams - Moragg, Heroic Violet Hold
• Globule Signet - Ichoron, Heroic Violet Hold
• The Prospector's Prize - Krystallus, Heroic Halls of Stone (Note: The amount of hit makes this ring very useful for reaching hit cap before 10 man raiding)
• Ring of the Frenzied Wolvar - Gortok Palehoof, Heroic Utgarde Pinnacle
• Band of Guile - Mal'Ganis, Heroic Culling of Stratholme (*)

Trinkets:

• Sundial of the Exiled - 40 Emblems of Heroism (*)
• Mark of the War Prisoner - Cyanigosa, Heroic Violet Hold (*)
• Forge Ember - Sjonnir, Heroic Halls of Stone
• Pendulum of Telluric Currents - Mage-Lord Vrom, Heroic Occulus

Totems:

• Totem of the Elemental Plane - 15 Badges of Heroism (Note: This totem is pretty shabby, but decent enough when you first hit 80. The Totem of the Void from The Mechanar in Outlands and Venture Co. Lightning Rod which is available to purchase with Venture Coins in Grizzly Hills are fine subsitutes, but make sure you stive for Totem of Hex which can as of 3.1 be purchased with Emblems of Valor. It puts the other 3 to shame!)

I must apologize for not posting in the last few days, I am in the middle of exams and working out my plans for this summer so needless to say I have been pretty stressed out with not much time to spare. Posts will start becoming more regular as we get into summer. I hope you can gain some use out of this guide. Enjoy!

-Puut