Review of Flameshaper Hero Talents - Inferno of Healing: A Reflection on Its Echo

Mid-March, Blizzard gave us a sneak peek at the new Hero Talent Trees coming with The War Within expansion, revealing 12 new trees in total. In this blog post, written by WowCarry, we'll be taking an in-depth look at the Flameshaper Evoker Hero Talents, offering a unique and distinct playstyle from the Chronowarden tree. The Flameshaper tree introduces a new ability called Engulf, which has the potential to greatly impact gameplay. Join us as we explore the exciting possibilities of this new Hero Talent Tree.

The War Within Hero Talents Overview

Blizzard's new Hero Talents are an extension of the Talent system, offering players a third talent tree separate from their class and specialization. The Hero Talents are designed to explore class fantasy and provide unique gameplay options. In this upcoming expansion, The War Within, Blizzard has given us a preview of the Hero Talents. Our Guide Writers have provided their initial impressions and reviews of the Hero Talent Trees revealed so far. Be sure to check out all of our released Hero Talent reviews in our new Editorial Section on our site.

Flameshaper Preservation Evoker Review

When the Flameshaper talent tree, also known as Ruby Adept, was first announced, there were concerns that it would be more focused on Devastation rather than Preservation. However, after testing, it becomes clear that Flameshaper is a great Preservation tree with a good mix of raw power nodes and a unique signature ability called Engulf. This talent tree feels like a natural evolution of the base Evoker gameplay and presents an exciting opportunity for players to explore a new playstyle.

• The Echo Question

The Flameshaper talent tree introduces the concept of Echoing spells. Almost all Evoker healing spells have the ability to consume Echo buffs, which consume the buff and heal the target. Engulf, the signature ability of Flameshaper, is similar to Living Flame in that it can be used on both enemies and allies. The gameplay implications of Engulf and its potential to be Echoed are massive. How Engulf interacts with other abilities will greatly impact how players approach this talent tree.

• Node Walkthrough

Let's take a closer look at the nodes in the Flameshaper talent tree:

Engulf is a new ability that forms the heart of the Flameshaper talent tree. It can be used offensively or defensively, with a short cooldown allowing for versatile gameplay. The strength of Engulf will depend on the number of Damage over Time (DoT) and Healing over Time (HoT) effects present on the target. In Mythic+ dungeons, this ability provides opportunities to strategically layer HoTs in anticipation of damage and then use Engulf to quickly heal vulnerable targets. In raid situations, Engulf's usage may vary depending on whether it can be Echoed, opening up different play patterns depending on the answer to the Echo question.

Next, let's explore some of the choices players will encounter in the Flameshaper talent tree:

• Choice: Trailblazer VS Shape of Flame

The Trailblazer node increases the travel speed of Hover and Deep Breath by 50% and extends the distance traveled by Hover by 50%. While this node offers some utility, its benefits may not outweigh the already agile movement options provided by Hover. On the other hand, Shape of Flame reduces incoming tank damage in Mythic+ dungeons, making it a valuable choice for players looking to improve survivability.

• Traveling Flame

This talent makes Engulf interact with Fire Breath and Dream Breath (Preservation), either refreshing or spreading these effects to nearby targets. The exact mechanic of this interaction is still being explored and will require further testing.

• Enkindle

Enkindle enhances Essence abilities with Flame, increasing their healing or damage output by 20% over 8 seconds. This node is particularly beneficial for Blossom builds, providing a significant boost to Blossom healing. The extended duration of the Healing over Time (HoT) effect attached to Blossom helps address some of the targeting issues associated with this ability.

• Conduit of Flame

This node increases critical strike chance against targets with more than 50% health by 10%. For spells that scale well with critical strikes, such as Reversion, this node is quite valuable. However, it is worth noting that the Chronowarden talent tree offers a similar node that increases intellect by 10%, making it a strong competitor in terms of overall value.

• Burning Adrenaline

Burning Adrenaline reduces the cast time of your next spell by 30% after using Engulf. This node provides increased mobility and flexibility in your rotations, allowing you to cast spells faster. It can be particularly helpful in encounters that require frequent movement, mitigating the challenges posed by the need to stand still for extended periods of time.

• Choice: Fan the Flames VS Expanded Lungs

These two nodes present players with a choice between enhancing Enkindle or improving the damage over time effects of Fire Breath and Dream Breath (Preservation). Fan the Flames extends the duration and effectiveness of Enkindle by 25%, making it a more attractive option for Blossom builds. On the other hand, Expanded Lungs increases the damage over time of Fire Breath by 20% and the healing over time of Dream Breath by 20% (Preservation). The decision ultimately depends on the player's preferred playstyle and build.

• Titanic Precision

Titanic Precision increases the chance for critical strikes on Living Flame, Reversion, and Azure Strike, increasing the proc rate for Essence Bursts. The exact mechanics of this node may require further testing to fully understand its impact, but it is expected to provide a moderate increase in the number of Essence Bursts generated.

• Red Hot

This node grants an additional charge to Engulf, allowing for more flexibility in casting. It also increases the damage and healing of Engulf by 20%. This node further enhances the versatility of Engulf, making it an even more potent ability.

• Choice: Lifecinders VS Draconic Instincts

Lifecinders adds the Renewing Blaze effect to a nearby injured ally when cast. While this provides additional healing and defensive capabilities, the lack of control over the target may limit its effectiveness. On the other hand, Draconic Instincts has a chance to heal the player for 30% of damage taken, with a higher chance to trigger from high-damage attacks. This node offers a potentially powerful defensive option for players.

• Consume Flame

The capstone ability of the Flameshaper tree, Consume Flame, interacts with Fire Breath (Devastation) or Dream Breath (Preservation), detonating the effects and damaging or healing nearby targets based on the amount consumed. The exact mechanics of this ability are still being explored and will require further testing. Regardless, Consume Flame is expected to provide a significant burst of healing or damage, contributing to overall player effectiveness in combat.

Blossom Flameshaper

For players specializing in Blossom builds, the Flameshaper tree offers several enticing options. Enkindle provides a significant boost to Blossom healing, with an 8+ second HoT attached to the ability. Additionally, Consume Flame offers a substantial burst of healing to store in Cycle of Life, providing opportunities for powerful healing during periods of major damage. Titanic Insight also consistently benefits Blossom builds.

In terms of DPS, the Flameshaper tree also offers damage-enhancing nodes. Fire Breath and disintegrate damage increase by 20%, and Fire Breath gains the ability to refresh or spread its DoT effect. These options provide opportunities for healers to contribute additional DPS, which can be particularly valuable in Mythic+ dungeons.

Overall, Flameshaper offers a unique and exciting talent tree, distinct from the Chronowarden tree. It presents Preservation players with sharper Mythic+ capabilities and further enhances the Blossom-centric playstyle. However, further testing and tuning are still required to fully understand the mechanics and effectiveness of the talent tree. As we approach the release of The War Within expansion, we can expect to see more updates and changes to both the Flameshaper and Preservation talent trees. The possibilities presented by the Flameshaper tree are vast, and we look forward to exploring its potential in the upcoming expansion.

This page is being updated and maintained by Voulk, the author of the healer blog Questionably Epic. Voulk has also developed the healer gearing and theorycrafting app QE Live and the Dungeon Tips addon. For any questions or inquiries, feel free to reach out to Voulk on Discord at Voulk#1858.