In this article, we explain what the best statistics are for Enhancement Shamans (WoW 4.3), how the class benefits from each of them, and what your reforging strategy should be. We also detail what the various caps are and why they should be attained. The statistics priority is important as it influences reforging strategies as well as itemisation choices (gear, enchants, and gems).

Make sure to check our Gear Optimisation Guide, which serves as a support guide for this article. The other articles of our Enhancement Shaman guide can be accessed from the table of contents on the right.

1. Basics↑top

The stat priority for an Enhancement Shaman is:

1. Agility;
2. Hit Rating (until the 17% spell hit cap);
3. Expertise Rating (until the 26 expertise cap);
4. Mastery Rating;
5. Critical Strike Rating;
6. Haste Rating.

If you are unsure what the optimal reforging strategy is for this priority, please refer to the reforging section of our Gear Optimisation Guide.

2. Getting a Better Understanding↑top

Agility is your most important stat, which provides the most benefit; you should look for this stat in all of your upgrades, as point for point it surpasses any other stat. It provides you with Attack Power, which increases the damage of your melee attacks, and Spell Power (through Mental Quickness), which increases the damage of your spells. It also increases your critical strike chance.

Hit Rating is your second most important stat as it determines your chances to miss a target when casting a spell or performing a melee attack. Your goal is to reach the spell hit cap, at 17% (1640 Hit Rating for Draenei, 1742 Hit Rating for other classes).

Expertise Rating is also important because it prevents your melee attacks (both normal and special attacks) from being dodged by a raid boss. Higher expertise will cause your stacks of Maelstrom Weapon to build more rapidly and will prevent Lava Lash from being dodged by raid bosses. Your goal is to reach 26 expertise. Please refer to our article on the mechanics of melee attacks for more information.

Mastery Rating greatly increases the damage of your spells ( Enhanced Elements).

Critical Strike Rating increases the damage of your attacks and spells, and the uptime of Flurry and Elemental Devastation.

Haste Rating is your worst stat. Remember that all your abilities have an instant cast time, so Haste Rating only increases the speed of your melee attacks, which is already very often increased by 30% due to Flurry.

2.1. Caps

After the 17% spell hit cap, Hit Rating loses its appeal. Indeed, at this point, you are also past the value where special melee attacks (like Lava Lash or Stormstrike) cannot miss. Continuing to stack Hit Rating would only decrease the chance that your normal melee attacks miss, something that is simply not worth it.

After reaching 26 expertise, your attacks can no longer be dodged by raid bosses. Increasing your expertise any further is useless.