In this article, we explain what the best statistics are for Restoration Shamans (WoW MoP 5.3), 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.

For 10-man raiding, this guide has been reviewed and approved by Zetian, who raids in MCO, one of the most efficient 10-man guilds in the world (top 100 with a 13-hour a week schedule).

For 25-man raiding, this guide has been reviewed and approved by Sonie, one of the best Restoration Shamans in the world, who raids in Method. You can watch his stream on Twitch.

1. Basics↑top

There are two stat priorities for Restoration Shamans, depending on whether you raid in a 10-man or 25-man group.

1.1. 10-man Stat Priority

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

1.2. 25-man Stat Priority

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

These statistics have been obtained by combining common sense, in-game testing, and simulations using Simulation Craft.

If you are unsure what the optimal reforging strategy is for the above priority, you can Ask Mr. Robot for a personalised optimisation of your character's gear, by filling the form below.

2. Getting a Better Understanding↑top

2.1. Statistics Explanations

Spirit increases your 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, you can start prioritising other statistics. In addition to increasing mana regeneration, Spirit also increases the effectiveness of your Mana Tide Totem, which is very helpful, especially in 25-man raids (where you rely a lot on expensive AoE-healing spells).

Intellect is your primary stat. You should look for this stat in all of your upgrades. It provides you with Spell Power, which increases the power of your heals, and increases your critical strike chance.

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 reaching a cap, you should simply ignore Haste Rating and no longer prioritise it.

Mastery Rating increases your healing on targets with low health (through Mastery: 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. This statistic is much more useful in 10-man raiding than in 25-man raiding because in 10-man raiding, you will use a lot more single-target healing spells (aimed at players with low health).

Critical Strike Rating is very beneficial in 25-man raiding because it increases your throughput and your mana regeneration (through Resurgence).

If you want to know more about the relative values of Mastery Rating and Critical Strike Rating, we advise you to read the following article: Resto Shaman Mastery - Pandaria Style by Vixsin.

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 8.3% haste) and an additional tick of Healing Rain (at 10% haste).
• At 25% 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 you chose Ancestral Swiftness as your Tier 4 talent, 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	Ancestral Swiftness	Goblin?	Haste Rating Needed
NO	NO	NO	5316
NO	NO	YES	4843
NO	YES	NO	3039
NO	YES	YES	2589
YES	NO	NO	3039
YES	NO	YES	2588
YES	YES	NO	871
YES	YES	YES	441

2.2.2. 25% Soft Haste Cap

Below you will find the Haste Rating values you need to reach the 25% (25.026%, to be precise) soft haste cap.

+5% Spell Haste Raid Buff	Ancestral Swiftness	Goblin?	Haste Rating Needed
NO	NO	NO	10614
NO	NO	YES	10089
NO	YES	NO	8085
NO	YES	YES	7584
YES	NO	NO	8085
YES	NO	YES	7584
YES	YES	NO	5676
YES	YES	YES	5199

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.

+5% Spell Haste Raid Buff	Ancestral Swiftness	Goblin?	Haste Rating Needed
NO	NO	NO	12749
NO	NO	YES	12202
NO	YES	NO	10118
NO	YES	YES	9597
YES	NO	NO	10118
YES	NO	YES	9597
YES	YES	NO	7613
YES	YES	YES	7116

3. Changelog↑top

• 19 May 2013: Patch 5.3 update: nothing to change.
• 24 Apr. 2013: Made a difference between 10-man and 25-man stat priorities.