GUIDE SCOPE
Built for repeatable Phase 3 raid execution
This searchable web edition is adapted from the original MCK Boost carrier handbook. It focuses on the included class, specialization and role only; it does not create placeholder coverage for missing specializations.
- Build
- 16 / 45 / 0
- Role
- DPS
- Raid tier
- Phase 3
- Source
- 30-page PDF
TALENT BUILD
16 / 45 / 0
The output-first build uses the Elemental sub-tree to support shock and fire-totem damage. Restoration utility is an assignment-specific internal swap.
The exact point allocation is documented in the chapters below. The linked calculator opens the correct TBC class tree for verification.
View chapter index
01 - Raid plan
Choose the lane the roster needs
Both specs are raid-viable. Your real job is to make the assigned party stronger while maintaining competitive damage.
Default Horde race: Orc. Core: 16/45/0, Stormstrike, Unleashed Rage, matching-speed weapons, Windfury/Grace twist. Gearing: retain 4pT5 until 2-3 true Phase 3 replacements are ready.
Default Horde race: Troll. Core: 41/0/20, Totem of Wrath, Wrath of Air, 4% spell hit from gear, 4pT6. Gearing: reject excess hit and protect mana according to kill time.
| Before pull | Enhancement | Elemental |
|---|---|---|
Four totems active | SoE + Mana Spring + fire + air assignment | Earth + Mana Spring + Totem of Wrath + Wrath of Air |
Personal maintenance | WF Weapon on both hands; sync weapons | Water Shield; exact spell-hit worksheet |
First cooldown | Shamanistic Rage before empty; racial with damage | Potion plan; Elemental Mastery with high-value Chain Lightning |
Movement | Stay behind target; never chase through danger | Finish casts only if safe; shocks while moving |
Utility | Twist, Tremor, Grounding, Purge, interrupt | Totem of Wrath uptime, Tremor, Grounding, Purge, interrupt |
Non-negotiable carrier habits
02 - Raid plan
Race choice and raid readiness
Draenei is the only Alliance option; Horde has a different throughput winner for each lane.
Alliance: free emergency heal.
Alliance caster-party spell-hit support.
Enhancement burst; plan around healing penalty.
Orc expertise with axes is the Phase 3 weapon edge.
Elemental PvE winner; pair with a stationary burn.
| Lane | Alliance | Horde | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
Enhancement | Draenei | Orc | Axe Specialization plus Blood Fury; Vengeful Cleavers gain special value. |
Elemental | Draenei | Troll | Berserking creates the strongest PvE cast window; Orc is second. |
| Package | Use it when... | Phase 3 value |
|---|---|---|
Leatherworking + Enchanting | Your party needs a drummer | Drums plus exclusive ring enchants; stable all-raid choice. |
Enchanting + Engineering | Drums are already covered | Ring power plus sapper/bomb value on Hyjal waves. |
Leatherworking + Engineering | Trash tempo is the priority | Maximum utility, but no ring enchants. |
Tailoring note | Elemental wants Nimble Thought crafts | Useful only while the exact BoP craft remains worth the profession slot. |
Profession route
03 - Raid plan
Enhancement: the output-first raid build
The Elemental sub-tree improves fire-totem damage, shock flow and personal output. The Restoration variant stays an internal mana/range swap.
Clearcasting supports the shock/fire-totem engine.
Shorter shock cadence without distorting twisting.
Two slow weapons are the raid baseline.
6% melee hit from the Enhancement tree.
Five charges; 0.5-second consumption ICD rewards synced speeds.
Improves Strength of Earth and Grace of Air.
AP converts into spell/heal power.
Group AP buff from your melee crits.
Use on cooldown when contact is safe.
Mana engine plus 30% damage reduction.
| Tree | Exact allocation summary |
|---|---|
| 5 Convection, 5 Concussion, 3 Call of Flame, 2 Reverberation, 1 Elemental Focus. | |
Enhancement - 45 | 5 Ancestral Knowledge, 5 Thundering Strikes, 2 Improved Ghost Wolf, 2 Enhancing Totems, 1 Shamanistic Focus, 5 Flurry, 2 Improved Weapon Totems, 1 Spirit Weapons, 3 Elemental Weapons, 3 Mental Quickness, 5 Weapon Mastery, 1 Dual Wield, 3 Dual Wield Specialization, 1 Stormstrike, 5 Unleashed Rage, 1 Shamanistic Rage. |
04 - Raid plan
Cap specials, then value every white hit
Enhancement has two hit conversations: special attacks reach their cap quickly, while dual-wield white attacks keep benefiting from additional hit.
| Check | Target | Action |
|---|---|---|
Special melee hit | 9% total | Dual Wield Specialization supplies 6%; add talent/gear sources only to the live total. |
Spell hit | 16% total | Shocks use spell hit. Do not sacrifice strong melee gear merely to force a hard cap. |
Expertise | 26 expertise / 6.5% dodge reduction | Attack from behind. Orc axe skill changes the required rating and weapon ranking. |
White hit | No practical soft stop | Hit remains useful beyond the 9% special cap because dual-wield autos still miss. |
| Priority | Why it matters | Trap |
|---|---|---|
Expertise to useful cap | Removes dodges from every melee event | Any expertise beyond the live cap is zero value. |
Strength | Kings-scaled AP and Shamanistic Rage value | Do not ignore a superior total-stat item for color purity. |
Hit | Special reliability plus continued white-hit value | Calling 9% a complete hit cap. |
Haste | More attacks, procs and rage returns | Breaking weapon synchronization or going OOM from extra actions. |
Crit / Agility | Flurry, Unleashed Rage and damage | Overvaluing sheet crit while losing uptime. |
AP / Armor penetration | Strong later throughput | ArP needs physical uptime and raid armor debuffs. |
Priority after safety and caps
05 - Abilities
The rotation is a priority plus a service
Totem twisting runs beside your attacks. Windfury coverage has priority over the second air buff.
Apply to both weapons before the pull.
Use on cooldown; keep the target debuff useful.
Maintain when the target will live for the DoT.
Use while Flame Shock has safe remaining time; Rank 1 interrupts.
Burst fire totem; replace after detonation.
Sustained single-target fire slot.
Use before empty and inside safe incoming damage.
Passive mana; refresh when missing.
| Priority | Decision |
|---|---|
1. Air assignment | Refresh Windfury before its weapon buff expires; twist Grace of Air only when reliable. |
| Press on cooldown if staying in range is safe. | |
| Refresh after expiry; do not overwrite meaningful ticks. | |
| Fire Nova into Searing for single target; Fire Nova/Magma for stacked AoE. | |
| Fill the shock window; downrank for interrupts or mana pressure. | |
| Schedule Shamanistic Rage before low mana, ideally while actively attacking. |
Attraction. Leave early and reconnect from behind.
06 - Gear & items
Match speed before chasing item level
Flurry has a 0.5-second charge-consumption ICD. Similar, synchronized weapon speeds protect Flurry uptime and Windfury behavior.
Double 2.8 is the non-Orc Phase 3 endpoint.
Orc arena axe endpoint; pair two matching 2.6s.
Still elite and extremely contested.
Best Phase 3 partner for DST.
Core Windfury Weapon relic.
Track charge uptime and weapon desync in logs/UI.
| Package | Best use | Do not do this |
|---|---|---|
Non-Orc | Double Syphon of the Nathrezim (2.8/2.8) | Mix 2.8 with a fast off-hand only for item-level vanity. |
Orc | Double Vengeful Gladiator's Cleaver (2.6/2.6) | Ignore Axe Specialization when comparing paper DPS. |
Progression | Any strong 2.6/2.6 or 2.7/2.7 pair | Break the pair for a marginal single-weapon gain without simming. |
Imbues | Windfury Weapon on both hands | Confuse personal weapon imbues with party Windfury Totem. |
07 - Abilities
Totem twisting without losing the rotation
The twist works because the Windfury weapon buff persists briefly after the totem is replaced. Your refresh timing must be deliberate.
Default earth buff for physical groups.
Default water unless cleansing is assigned.
Single-target fire default.
Primary air service for Warriors/Rogues/Paladins.
Twist or use directly for Hunter/Feral-heavy groups.
Pre-place and time its five-second pulse.
Encounter-specific spell intercept.
Recall before moving camps or accidental pulls.
| Party | Air rule | Earth / water / fire |
|---|---|---|
Warrior/Rogue/Ret core | Windfury near-100%; twist Grace of Air | Strength / Mana Spring / Searing |
Hunter/Feral core | Grace of Air may beat Windfury | Strength / Mana Spring / Searing |
Mechanic override | Grounding or resistance only by assignment | Tremor, cleansing or Earthbind can replace throughput |
Do not plan old-style Shaman swaps; do continue planning party-local totems and other group buffs.
08 - Raid plan
Enhancement Phase 3 endpoint
This is the personal-output endpoint. The next page explains when not to break 4pT5 and how to substitute contested pieces.
Illidan; largest helm jump.
Supremus; contested physical neck.
Crafted haste off-piece.
Teron physical endpoint.
Archimonde 3-socket endpoint.
Crafted haste; Deadly Cuffs are near-equal.
Naj'entus; Grips of Damnation near-equal.
Still Phase 2 BiS and highly contested.
Azgalor 3-socket endpoint.
Mother; Softstep is near-equal.
Illidan.
Scale of the Sands Exalted.
Gruul; never assume availability.
Council.
Use two for non-Orc.
Heroic Mana-Tombs relic.
09 - Gear & items
Break 4pT5 only with a complete plan
Cataclysm 4-piece adds 5% haste to Flurry. Enhancement Tier 6 bonuses do not justify an automatic token rush.
Represents the 4pT5 package; save all four pieces.
Priority chase item, but universal competition.
Major off-set replacement.
Major off-set replacement.
Non-Orc pair endpoint.
Orc pair endpoint.
| Saved set | Use when... | Validation |
|---|---|---|
4pT5 stable | You have fewer than 2-3 meaningful Phase 3 replacements | Sim as a whole package; do not compare one slot. |
Phase 3 output | Cursed Vision plus strong chest/legs/gloves/shoulders are ready | Recheck hit, expertise, meta and weapon speed. |
Orc axes | Two matching arena cleavers available | Include Axe Specialization in expertise cap. |
Non-Orc 2.8 | Two Syphons available | Confirm synchronization and both Mongoose enchants. |
Mother resistance | Raid requires shadow resistance | Preserve weapon pair, meta and enough health; accept lower DPS. |
Hyjal AoE | Wave speed matters | Engineering package and mana budget for fire totems. |
10 - Gear & items
Activate Relentless, then stack strength
Meet the two-red, two-yellow and two-blue contribution requirement without chasing weak socket bonuses.
Best meta; critical damage multiplier.
Default red and off-color throughput gem.
Strength/crit when yellow contributes value.
Meta activation or strong blue bonus.
Cenarion Expedition revered head enchant.
Best leg armor.
Enchant both weapons.
Movement speed is a raid DPS stat.
| Slot | Enchant |
|---|---|
Shoulders | Greater Inscription of Vengeance; Scryer alternative is close |
Cloak / chest | Greater Agility / Exceptional Stats |
Bracers / gloves | Brawn / Major Strength |
Rings | Stats if Enchanter |
Weapons | Mongoose on both; never leave the swap set unenchanted |
11 - Consumables
Pack for bosses, waves and wipes
Demon classification, kill time and potion timing change the optimal package.
Default wipe-resistant package.
Only against actual Demon-type targets.
Battle-elixir alternative.
Guardian support for mana and crit.
Primary burst potion when mana is safe.
Strength food.
Use only when its cooldown trade is acceptable.
Long-fight override.
Separate cooldown; plan the health cost.
Use when assigned drummer.
Hyjal stacked-wave value.
Personal survival, every attempt.
| Load | Suggested progression quantity |
|---|---|
Flask/elixir sets | 10-15 boss sets or enough flasks for the full night |
Haste/mana potions | 20+ combined; pre-assign per encounter |
Runes | 10-15 with a safe health plan |
Food/water | 20 food buffs; 40+ water for Hyjal |
Utility | Healthstone every pull, drums, sappers and protection overrides |
12 - Abilities
Make utility faster than hesitation
Macros should remove target friction, not automate judgment.
Enhancement start attack
#showtooltip Stormstrike
/startattack
/cast StormstrikeRank 1 interrupt
#showtooltip Earth Shock
/stopcasting
/cast Earth Shock(Rank 1)Focus interrupt
#showtooltip Earth Shock
/stopcasting
/cast [@focus,harm,nodead] Earth Shock(Rank 1)Totem recall
#showtooltip Totemic Call
/cast Totemic CallEmergency heal
#showtooltip Lesser Healing Wave
/stopcasting
/cast [@mouseover,help,nodead][] Lesser Healing WaveElemental Mastery burst
#showtooltip Elemental Mastery
/cast Elemental Mastery
/use 13
/cast Chain Lightning| Enhancement | Elemental | Shared |
|---|---|---|
Dual swing timers; Flurry; weapon imbues;
Windfury buff; twist timer | Spell hit; Water Shield; Clearcasting; CL cooldown; four-totem/T6 state | Totem ranges; Tremor pulses; Grounding; Bloodlust/Sated; threat; boss mechanics |
UI checklist
13 - Encounter
Win thirty-two waves without draining
Pre-position, control threat, recall totems and drink immediately. The boss is part of the same resource plan.
Plant at final stack point.
Only while the pack remains in range.
Elemental wave priority.
Assigned stacked-wave burst.
Control planned paths, not accidental aggro.
Recall before camp movement.
Drink the instant combat ends.
Use only when the recovery call is clear.
| Habit | Enhancement | Elemental |
|---|---|---|
Pre-position | Behind the final tank point; never lead the pack | Where CL and fire totems reach without pulling |
Threat | Wait for collection before Fire Nova/Sapper | Do not open CL into loose Abominations/Necromancers |
Mana | Rage while attacking; stop shocks on last add | Reduce CL/fire totems before the boss transition |
Movement | Recall, move, then rebuild | Recall and drink; never trail totems into next wave |
NPCs | Do not chase meter padding | Preserve raid members and boss mana first |
14 - Encounter
Hyjal boss assignments
The largest losses come from movement delay, fear timing, mana collapse and standing in mechanics.
Elemental: Move immediately, then shock while relocating; use CL only if adds offer value.
Utility: Grounding by assignment; never trade a cast for Death and Decay.
Elemental: Stay separated from healers; redirect only when the Infernal lane is assigned.
Utility: Tremor does not solve Sleep; survival and positioning do.
Elemental: Use mana potion/rune early and progressively remove Chain Lightning.
Utility: Mark drain thresholds; being alive at zero mana still requires movement/utility.
Elemental: Pre-place Tremor; maintain Totem of Wrath and cast from the safe spread.
Utility: Tremor pulses every five seconds; placement and timing matter.
Elemental: Stop casts early for Doomfire/Air Burst; mana set if progression is long.
Utility: Tremor, Tears timing, decurse coverage and personal survival decide the kill.
15 - Encounter
Naj'entus through Teron
Respect melee danger, shield-break timing, volcanoes and the cost of failed mechanics.
Elemental: Time casts around shield breaks and movement; Destruction Potion only if survival potion is not reserved.
Utility: Coordinate spine clicks and raid healing windows.
Elemental: Use range during tank phase; keep moving on fixate and shock only while repositioning.
Utility: Totemic Call before long movement; avoid totem aggro on transitions.
Elemental: Chain Lightning and fire totems on stable stacks; preserve boss burst resources.
Utility: Earthbind only by tank plan; do not slow an add away from its pickup route.
Elemental: Stationary burn; line Elemental Mastery and trinkets with the opening threat window.
Utility: If selected for Shadow of Death, execute the construct sequence exactly.
16 - Gear & items
Control threat, resets and damage stops
These encounters punish automatic rotation habits more than imperfect gear.
Elemental: Use the ranged lane but obey Bloodboil groups; avoid over-threat after phase changes.
Utility: Purge only assigned effects; Healthstone/Nightmare Seed according to raid plan.
Elemental: Mana regeneration is disabled; spend the phase plan, not the whole bar blindly.
Utility: Interrupt assignments are exact. Downrank Earth Shock when damage is irrelevant.
Reliquary - Essence of Desire
Enhancement: Threat reflection is lethal; stop instantly on call.
Elemental: Every damaging cast reflects; use controlled casts and execute the interrupt rotation.
Utility: No automatic Fire Nova, Flame Shock or extra shock outside the plan.
Elemental: Full damage with potion/cooldowns when tank threat is secure.
Utility: Tremor/interrupt duties and threat discipline remain part of DPS.
17 - Encounter
Late Black Temple execution
Resistance compliance, target discipline and phase survival are the final carrier checks.
Elemental: Keep four totems and spell hit functional inside SR gear; move before finishing casts.
Utility: Greater Shadow Protection Potion only if it matches the raid plan.
Elemental: Maintain Totem of Wrath coverage; interrupts and target swaps beat tunnel damage.
Utility: Purge/interrupt/grounding ownership must be written before pull.
Elemental: Use stationary windows, move early for parasites and shadow demons; save mana for final phases.
Utility: Tremor/Fire Resistance/utility by raid assignment, not improvisation.
Elemental: Shield package can add survival; stop casts before eye beam paths and transition movement.
Utility: Recall totems before large repositioning; combat resurrection is not a license to fail.
18 - Raid plan
Review the service and the damage
Compare against players with similar kill time, group composition, assignment and gear state.
| Enhancement log check | Elemental log check |
|---|---|
Active time and behind-target uptime | Active casting time and movement gaps |
Windfury / Grace of Air coverage | Totem of Wrath / Wrath of Air coverage |
Flurry uptime and MH/OH synchronization | Lightning Bolt : Chain Lightning ratio |
Stormstrike casts per minute | Clearcasting utilization |
Shock clipping and Fire Nova success | Mana potion/rune timing |
Shamanistic Rage timing and mana waste | Spell hit overcap / misses |
Deaths, frontals and forced downtime | Canceled casts vs avoidable deaths |
| Days | Work |
|---|---|
1-2 | Lock spec, race package, professions, exact hit/expertise worksheets and five saved sets. |
3-4 | Acquire consumables, Mother SR package, glyphs, leg enchants and every weapon/shield enchant. |
5-7 | Enhancement: swing sync + twist practice. Elemental: 3/4 Bolt cadence + mana clocks. |
8-10 | Run Hyjal wave drills; validate totem recall, drinking and threat. |
11-12 | Study interrupt, stop-damage and movement calls for Reliquary, Council and Illidan. |
13 | Review logs and repair the largest execution loss. |
14 | Full inventory audit, UI screenshot, macros, gear sets and written cooldown sheet. |
14-day preparation sprint
19 - Raid plan
Two pre-pull cards
Use these as the final ready check before every progression pull.
1. Correct saved set and expertise worksheet. 2. Matching speeds; Mongoose; WF Weapon both hands. 3. Four assigned totems and twist timer. 4. Water Shield, food, flask/elixirs. 5. Potion/rune/Rage timestamps. 6. Interrupt and utility ownership. 7. Stand behind; threat window understood.
1. Correct saved set and exactly 4% gear hit plan. 2. 4pT6 active package; weapon/shield enchanted. 3. Totem of Wrath, Wrath of Air, water and earth slots. 4. Water Shield, food, flask/oil. 5. Kill-time rotation and potion/rune timestamps. 6. Interrupt and utility ownership. 7. Movement positions and final burn planned.
Enh burst
Ele burst
Long fights
Second mana CD
Every pull
Survival
Mother/assigned
No-healer recovery
If assigned
Hyjal stacks
Between waves
Movement refund
Inventory card
20 - Raid plan
Current references and clickable data
Spell, talent and item names/icons throughout the handbook link directly to their TBC Wowhead entries.
| Reference | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Wowhead TBC / guide/enhancement-shaman-dps-bt-hyjal-phase-3-best-in-slot-gear-burning-crusade | |
| Wowhead TBC / guide/elemental-shaman-dps-bt-hyjal-phase-3-best-in-slot-gear-burning-crusade | |
| Wowhead TBC / guide/classes/shaman/enhancement/dps-talent-builds-pve | |
| Wowhead TBC / guide/classes/shaman/elemental/dps-talent-builds-pve | |
| Wowhead TBC / guide/classes/shaman/enhancement/dps-rotation-cooldowns-abilities-pve | |
| Wowhead TBC / guide/classes/shaman/elemental/dps-rotation-cooldowns-abilities-pve | |
| Wowhead TBC / guide/classes/shaman/enhancement/dps-stat-priority-attributes-pve | |
| Wowhead TBC / guide/classes/shaman/elemental/dps-stat-priority-attributes-pve | |
| Wowhead TBC / guide/classes/shaman/enhancement/dps-enchants-gems-pve | |
| Wowhead TBC / guide/classes/shaman/elemental/dps-enchants-gems-pve | |
| Wowhead TBC / guide/classes/shaman/enhancement/dps-consumables-raid-buffs-pve | |
| Wowhead TBC / guide/classes/shaman/elemental/dps-consumables-raid-buffs-pve | |
| Wowhead TBC / item-set=684/skyshatter-regalia | |
| Wowhead TBC / item-set=636/cataclysm-harness | |
| Wowhead TBC / news/best-changes-coming-to-tbc-anniversary-account-wide-attune ments-guild-bank-379328 | |
| Wowhead TBC / guide/shadow-resistance-gear-mother-shazraz-black-temple-bt-burn ing-crusade-classic | |
| Wowhead TBC / guide/trash-mobs-hyjal-summit-strategy-burning-crusade-classic |
Network. This independent handbook is a performance reference for MCK Boost.
Research checked July 22, 2026. Live Anniversary hotfixes, encounter behavior and raid loot policy always supersede a static document.
ORIGINAL MCK BOOST HANDBOOK
Download the complete PDF edition
Keep the original designed handbook for offline reference. It includes the full layout, linked identification references and printable preparation cards.
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