Cannibalize for dummies

[Barm McLir]

Originally Posted by douglas1999 [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

I've played two separate shamans up to level 60 (one on live and one on blue) but I've never actually gotten Torpor, could a knowledge shaman give some advice on specifically how to use it, when, what it's good for, when to use it on other people, maybe when *not* to use it?

I know it's known as one of the most game changing spells for a shaman, if not the most, but I did have epics on both chars and it already felt like I was OP as hell just with an epic and a big mana pool.

Torpor is a heal over time. While ticking, it also slows the attack speed and movement rate of the recipient. Like most spells with side effects, you can only cast it on yourself and group mates. The slow is only 30% but will negate any spell haste while active.

You get four (and sometimes five) ticks of healing for 300HP each for 200 mana. Obviously the benefit to the shaman is to spam Canni IV with a refresh clicky, apply Torpor, and canni even more while it's running. Torpor shaman can recover from OOM faster than any class. You can win any fight where the slowed DPS of the mob is less than torpor's heal even if the fight takes hours. We don't have fast heals, or giant heals, but we are marathon runners.

When to use it?

• Dangerous pulls, provided the puller understand they are about to lose a ton of mobility. Communicate that the slow is going to hamper their ability to build aggro. Is the enchanter trying to pacify an entire room? Pre-emptive torpor time.
  
• Overpull coming in? Torpor yourself and start slowing using both Turgur's and Torgor's (cast one while the other is on cool-down) to slow the whole train. Sometimes you'll even live.
  
• Top off the main healer as they often are too occupied or reluctant to burn a mana expensive heal on themselves. Top off casters and group pets.
  
• Duo with a monk. Their excellent avoidance but low HP's synergize with our crappy heals but amazing slows.
  
• Any group mate after a rez.
  
• And solo of course. There's something hilarious about doing more damage to yourself than the mob attacking you.