The Best Shaman Runes in Season of Discovery

Shamans, a class exclusive to the Horde in WoW Classic, have a reputation for complex rotations and tanking strategies without much payoff. But in the Season of Discovery, Shaman Runes turn the class into an absolute powerhouse across all of its specs, but especially in the DPS and Tank roles. Though we don’t know if 2H Enhancement Shaman Runes will be added in later phases, for now, the class still seems very powerful in SoD.

Though many of these WoW Shaman Runes have been found, their effects and power levels will change as the Season of Discovery progresses. Because only one Rune can be equipped to each slot, each section below ranks Shaman Runes against other Runes within the same gear category.

Updated November 6, 2023 by Erik Petrovich: Now that the Season of Discovery is in full swing a week after launch, all Shaman Runes SoD players can get have been found. Some are easy to get, and players will practically stumble across some Shaman SoD Runes in the starting zones, while others can only be used after long questlines (and long journeys across Azeroth). This guide to the best SoD Shaman Runes has been updated with all Discovery methods – but players who want to preserve the sense of adventure and mystery need not avert their gaze. Though the names and effects are spoiled below, the methods to get each of the best Shaman Runes in SoD are hidden by default. Only reveal this information if you are truly stumped on how to get the best Shaman Runes WoW SoD offers.

This guide to the best Shaman Runes in WoW SoD covers all 12 Phase One Runes. Later in the Season, check back for information on the best SoD Shaman Runes for other equipment slots when the ​​​​​​40, 50, and 60 level brackets unlock in later Phases.

Shaman Chest Runes, Ranked

Dual Wield Spec, Healing Rain, Overload, & Shield Mastery

Shamans, like Druids and Paladins, are capable of filling multiple roles in WoW Classic, but they’ve always been lacking a little bit in the Tanking department. With the Season of Discovery Shaman Runes have the potential to change that. Shield Mastery is a Tanking Rune Shamans can get on the chest that improves ability to block and recover Mana, a big boon to a typically Tank-deprived class.

Shamans can heal as well, and the Healing Rain Rune is a simple AoE heal-over-time skill that applies to a target party member and everyone around them. It’s not an emergency heal by any means, but can be nice in certain group settings. Dual Wield Spec will be great for Enhancement Shamans (sorry, 2H enjoyers), but the best Rune in the Shaman Chest Slot is undoubtedly Overload.

Like Wild Strikes or Windfury, Overload has a 33% chance to cast a similar spell when several different options are cast – including healing spells. The potential here is through the roof, and is sure to be one both spellcaster and healing Shamans should look out for while leveling.

Healing Rain

Purchased from Waylaid Supply vendors after reaching Honored with the new faction, the Azeroth Commerce Authority/Durotar Supply and Logistics.

Dual Wield Spec

Purchased from Grizzby in the Ratchet Inn after completing a series of quests requiring several items – 24 Fish Oil, 20 Dark Iron Ordinance, and 16 Shredder Turbochargers. Players have at least 5 Gold to interact with Grizzby.

Shield Mastery

All characters need to find Galvanic Iron Totem, either on the border of Mulgore and the Barrens or to the west of Razor Hill in Durotar. Equip this, then kill ten enemies with the Lightning Bolt spell.

Overload

All characters must complete the level 2 introduction to Runes quest to earn Overload. For Orc and Troll characters this means killing Scorpids, while Tauren characters must kill Bristleback Shaman. After getting the Dyadic Icon Totm, equip it, then take Nature Damage ten times.

Shaman Legs Runes, Ranked

Ancestral Guidance, Earth Shield, Shamanistic Rage, & Way of Earth

In terms of the best Shaman Legs Runes in SoD, there’s some competition, as two runes seem to be Support oriented and two seem to be Tank focused. The two Healing Runes include Ancestral Guidance and Earth Shield, which heal party members based on the Shaman’s own damage output, and reduces casting pushback while healing the target, respectively. Either can be good in different settings, but Earth Shield seems to be the more versatile, useful Rune.

Way of Earth and Shamanistic Rage tell a similar tale, and Tanks can feel confident choosing either of these for the legs slot. Way of Earth is a multi-faceted passive buff that only applies when Rockbiter is active on the main weapon, and the buffs are extremely conducive to Tanks. Shamanistic Rage, however, is an active ability that increases the Shaman’s defensives while also granting mana regeneration to themselves and the party.

Of the two, Way of Earth is likely easier to play around (being a passive ability), while Shamanistic Rage can be great for finishing off a boss.

Ancestral Guidance

Orc and Troll characters must find the Adventurer’s Corpse in Kolkar Crag in southern Durotar. Tauren characters can find this corpse near the Venture Co Mine. Get another player to help perform a ritual on the corpse to acquire the Rune.

Earth Shield

All characters must defeat the first boss of the new Blackfathom Deeps raid to start the Elemental Distress quest in Zoram Strand (after looting a new unique item). The quest chain that ensues asks players to gather motes in Ashenvale, get Elixirs of Wisdom and Water Breathing, then defeat the elite enemy Hirzek in the Barrens.

Way of Earth

All characters must find a Desert Mirage in the Barrens, near Ratchet. Use the Purge ability on this new NPC to dispel it and acquire the Rune. Players can also defeat Rot Hide Mystics to get the Rot Totem, which summons an elite enemy that also drops the Rune.

Shamanistic Rage

On the border of Desolace and the Stonetalon Mountains, defeat the Primordial Anomaly elite boss. Players must pay attention to the Primordial Anomaly and only use moves that it’s weak to as it phases between elemental resistances.

Shaman Gloves Runes, Ranked

Lava Burst, Lava Lash, Molten Blast, & Water Shield

Shamans are getting a ton of great damage options for the Glove Rune Slot, as well as the Water Shield Rune. Water Shield isn’t bad by any means, and allows both melee and Tank Shamans to regenerate Mana faster. But it pales in comparison to the DPS potential of Lava Lash and Lava Burst, and the Threat generation of Molten Blast.

Lava Lash is a melee Enhancement-oriented ability that instantly strikes enemies and deals extra damage with the Flametongue enhancement. Lava Burst, on the other hand, is a ranged spell that deals immense Fire damage, and will be a guaranteed critical hit if the target is affected by Flame Shock too. Of the two, Lava Burst has the higher potential for damage bursts, as well-timed Crits can be better than simple bonus damage.

Molten Blast, on the other hand, is a tanking-oriented spell that melee players may find useful, too (just not in group content). This ability blast enemies in a cone for big damage and big Threat generation – this will be the Tank Shaman’s most useful ability in group content, but if you have this slotted as a DPS in dungeons, be prepared to get yelled at.

Water Shield

All characters can get this item by looking Kolkar’s Booty Chests, only available in the Barrens. Alternatively, defeat the unique elite Grimson the Pale in Silverpine Forest to get the Tempest Icon. Equip it, then deal Elemental damage to ten enemies with each Elemental damage type (30 times total).

Lava Burst

Defeat the Mudsnout Shaman elite enemy in Hillsbrad Foothills, then equip the Relic. Take damage from environmental Lava five times – yes, you’re standing in Lava, and for once thats the right thing to do.

Lava Lash

All characters must begin a quest chain available in Thunder Bluff in the Lower Rise. Players must complete several steps in the quest chain, including finding explosives in a Mine, gathering pinecones in an area infested by Harpies, and catch a Small Brilliant Fish.

Molten Blast

Orc and Troll characters must use Fire spells on a Frozen Makrura to the east of Razor Hill in Durotar. Tauren characters must head to the dwarven digsite near Thunder Bluff and get an Artifact Storage Key from enemy Dwarves in the area. Loot a unique chest named Artifact Storage in the digsite.

Players will get the Sulfurious Icon after completing these tasks. Equip it, then kill ten enemies with the Earth Shock spell.