In this article, we explain what the best statistics are for Restoration 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 Restoration Shaman guide can be accessed from the table of contents on the right.

1. Basics↑top

The stat priority for a Restoration Shaman is:

1. Intellect;
2. Spirit (until you are comfortable with your mana regeneration);
3. Haste Rating (until the soft haste cap that is the easiest to attain, see below);
4. Mastery Rating;
5. Haste Rating;
6. Critical Strike 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

2.1. Statistics Explanations

Intellect 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 Spell Power, Critical Strike chance, and a higher mana pool.

Spirit is the Cataclysm healer stat, and is an excellent source of mana regeneration. You should always aim to have items with Spirit, whether it is found innately on the item or it is reforged. Once you are comfortable with your mana regeneration (anywhere between 2,200 and 3,500 Spirit) and you have reached the soft haste cap (see below), you should start prioritising Mastery Rating over Spirit.

Haste Rating is important as well because it lowers the cast time of your heals, which is of particular value for Greater Healing Wave. It also lowers your global cooldown, bringing it closer to the desired 1 second global cooldown, which benefits all of your instant cast spells. Finally, it increases the number of times your HoT will tick, this includes Riptide, Earthliving, and Healing Rain.

As we will see below, there are several haste values of interest, which we call soft haste caps. After each cap, the value of Haste Rating drops below that of Mastery Rating and remains so until your gear enables you to reach the next cap. Therefore, you must avoid having your haste somewhere between two caps.

Mastery Rating increases your healing on targets with low health (through Deep Healing). This is very beneficial when you are progressing on a fight because your fellow raid members will often find themselves low on health.

In a progression environment, where players are usually low on health, Critical Strike Rating is considered to be the worst stat for Restoration Shaman. As your raid group gears up and gets more used to a fight, players will need less healing. In this case, prioritising Critical Strike Rating over Mastery Rating (which only really benefits you on low health targets) will make farming even easier.

2.2. Soft Haste Caps

The soft haste caps are the following.

• At 12.5% haste, you gain an additional tick of Earthliving Weapon. In the process of reaching this cap, you also get an additional tick of Riptide (at 7.1% haste) and an additional tick of Healing Rain (at 10% haste).
• At 21.4% haste, you gain a second additional tick of Riptide.
• At 30% haste, you gain a second additional tick of Healing Rain.

In the following sections, you will find the Haste Rating values that you need to reach the various soft haste caps that we deemed of interest. Every time, we consider whether you benefit from the +5% spell haste raid buff, whether a Warlock has cast Dark Intent on you, and whether you are a Goblin.

2.2.1. 12.5% Soft Haste Cap

Below you will find the Haste Rating values you need to reach the 12.5% (12.507%, to be precise) soft haste cap.

+5% Spell Haste Raid Buff	Dark Intent	Goblin?	Haste Rating Needed
NO	NO	NO	1602
NO	NO	YES	1459
NO	YES	NO	1182
NO	YES	YES	1044
YES	NO	NO	916
YES	NO	YES	780
YES	YES	NO	516
YES	YES	YES	385

2.2.2. 21.4% Soft Haste Cap

Below you will find the Haste Rating values you need to reach the 21.4% (21.433%, to be precise) soft haste cap.

+5% Spell Haste Raid Buff	Dark Intent	Goblin?	Haste Rating Needed
NO	NO	NO	2745
NO	NO	YES	2591
NO	YES	NO	2292
NO	YES	YES	2143
YES	NO	NO	2005
YES	NO	YES	1858
YES	YES	NO	1573
YES	YES	YES	1431

2.2.3. 30% Soft Haste Cap

Below you will find the Haste Rating values you need to reach the 30% (29.997%, to be precise) soft haste cap. It is only reasonably attainable in Dragon Soul Heroic gear with at least the +5% spell haste raid buff and Dark Intent. For completeness' sake, we list all the values.

+5% Spell Haste Raid Buff	Dark Intent	Goblin?	Haste Rating Needed
NO	NO	NO	3842
NO	NO	YES	3677
NO	YES	NO	3357
NO	YES	YES	3197
YES	NO	NO	3049
YES	NO	YES	2892
YES	YES	NO	2587
YES	YES	YES	2435