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Shamans, a class exclusive to the Horde inWoW Classic, have a reputation for having complex rotations and tanking strategies without much payoff. But in the Season of Discovery, Shaman Runes turn the class into an absolute powerhouse across all of its specs, but especially in the DPS and Tank roles. Though we don’t know if 2H Enhancement Shaman Runes will be added in later phases, for now, the class stillseems very powerful in SoD.
In Phase One, there were a total 12 SoD Shaman Runes, available for the Chest, Legs, and Gloves slots. In Phase Two, six more Shaman Runes were added for the Boots and Belt slots, making for a total of eighteen across all five. This guide details both the effects and locations of all Shaman SoD Runes added in Phase One and Phase Two.
Updated Jul 17, 2025 by Erik Petrovich: As players prepare to enter the third phase, and pick up new Runes, Phase 1 SoD Shaman Runes and Phase 2 SoD Shaman Runes aren’t going anywhere. Though we don’t yet know if there will be an easier way to get the first two phases' Runes in P3, the original methods to get Shaman Runes from SoD hase One and Two should still work. What hasn’t remained the same. throughout the numerous WoW SoD patches. are the specific effects of the P1 and P2 SoD Shaman Runes. This guide has been updated to specifically list all Runes available in the first two SoD Phases for Shamans, and will no longer be updated to include later phases' runes. Additionally, the effects of these Runes have been updated to match their current in-game effects accurately, as of the publish date.
To preserve the sense of mystery intended for the Season of Discovery, each P1/P2 SoD Shaman Rune location is hidden by default. Open the “Click to Reveal” box to show details on how to get all Phase One and Phase Two Shaman Runes in SoD.
All Shaman Chest Runes (PHASE ONE)
Healing Rain Rune
Purchased from Waylaid Supply vendors after reaching Honored with the new faction, the Azeroth Commerce Authority/Durotar Supply and Logistics.
Dual Wield Specialization Rune (Shaman)
Purchased from Grizzby in the Ratchet Inn after completing a series of quests requiring several items – 24 Fish Oil, 20 Dark Iron Ordinance, and 16 Shredder Turbochargers. Players have at least 5 Gold to interact with Grizzby.
Shield Mastery Rune (Shaman)
All characters need to find Galvanic Iron Totem, either on the border of Mulgore and the Barrens or to the west of Razor Hill in Durotar. Equip this, then kill ten enemies with the Lightning Bolt spell.
Two-Handed Mastery Rune(Phase Two)
The Rune of Two-Handed Mastery unlocks via the Phase Two Dark Rider questline. To begin, head to Ariden’s Camp in Deadwind Pass at around (52, 34.5) in the zone. Talk to the Dalaran Agent at the camp to get Ariden’s Sigil. He will ask you to recover seven Dalaran Relics from Dark Riders throughout Azeroth. Each of the Dark Riders is about as difficult as a Dungeon boss at 40, but because all classes have one Rune tied to the SoD Dark Rider, it’s not too hard to get a five to ten-man group together.
The Dark Riders can be found in Duskwood, Deadwind Pass, Swamp of Sorrows, Badlands, The Barrens, Desolace, and the Arathi Highlands. After killing each one, head back to the Dalaran Agent and give him the recovered Dalaran Relics. After completing each quest (which reward about 1.5g at Level 40), the Agent will give you a bag containing the Rune.
All characters must complete the level 2 introduction to Runes quest to earn Overload. ForOrc and Trollcharacters this means killing Scorpids, whileTaurencharacters must kill Bristleback Shaman. After getting the Dyadic Icon Totm, equip it, then take Nature Damage ten times.
Ancestral Guidance, Earth Shield, Shamanistic Rage, & Way of Earth
Ancestral Guidance Rune
Orc and Trollcharacters must find the Adventurer’s Corpse in Kolkar Crag in southern Durotar.
Taurencharacters can find this corpse near the Venture Co Mine. Get another player to help perform a ritual on the corpse to acquire the Rune.
Earth Shield Rune
All characters must defeat the first boss of the new Blackfathom Deeps raid to start the Elemental Distress quest in Zoram Strand (after looting a new unique item). The quest chain that ensues asks players to gather motes in Ashenvale, get Elixirs of Wisdom and Water Breathing, then defeat the elite enemy Hirzek in the Barrens.
Way of Earth Rune
All characters must find a Desert Mirage in the Barrens, near Ratchet. Use the Purge ability on this new NPC to dispel it and acquire the Rune. Players can also defeat Rot Hide Mystics to get the Rot Totem, which summons an elite enemy that also drops the Rune.
Shamanistic Rage Rune
On the border of Desolace and the Stonetalon Mountains, defeat the Primordial Anomaly elite boss. Players must pay attention to the Primordial Anomaly and only use moves that it’s weak to as it phases between elemental resistances.
Lava Burst, Lava Lash, Molten Blast, & Water Shield
Water Shield
All characters can get this item by looking Kolkar’s Booty Chests, only available in the Barrens. Alternatively, defeat the unique elite Grimson the Pale in Silverpine Forest to get the Tempest Icon. Equip it, then deal Elemental damage to ten enemies with each Elemental damage type (30 times total).
Lava Burst Rune
Defeat the Mudsnout Shaman elite enemy in Hillsbrad Foothills, then equip the Relic. Take damage from environmental Lava five times – yes, you’re standing in Lava, and for once thats the right thing to do.
Lava Lash Rune
All characters must begin a quest chain available in Thunder Bluff in the Lower Rise. Players must complete several steps in the quest chain, including finding explosives in a Mine, gathering pinecones in an area infested by Harpies, and catch a Small Brilliant Fish.
Molten Blast Rune
Orc and Trollcharacters must use Fire spells on a Frozen Makrura to the east of Razor Hill in Durotar.Taurencharacters must head to the dwarven digsite near Thunder Bluff and get an Artifact Storage Key from enemy Dwarves in the area. Loot a unique chest named Artifact Storage in the digsite.
Players will get the Sulfurious Icon after completing these tasks. Equip it, then kill ten enemies with the Earth Shock spell.
Fire Nova, Power Surge, & Maelstrom Weapon
Fire Nova Rune
To get the Brimstone Icon, which rewards the Fire Nova Rune, head to Thunder Axe Fortress in northern Desolace and kill Flameseer Dubelen, an elite Level 35 enemy. Then, you’ll need to go to Orgrimmar’s Valley of Wisdom and speak with Zor Lonetree, at about (39, 38). After this, head to the Mauradon dungeon entrance, and go into both the Purple and Orange wings alone to get two Tear of Theradras items. These items can be found relatively quickly into both areas.
Return to Zor Lonetree, who will refer you to Arch Druid Hamuul Runetotem in Thunder Bluff’s Elder Rise. After speaking with the Arch Druid here, talk to the Thunder Bluff flight master and travel to Moonglade. Keeper Remulos will give you the Elemental Salve, after which you should go to the southern shore of Lake Elune’ara (near the flight master) to find a Corrupted Fire Totem. Use Elemental Salve on this Totem to get the Brimstone Icon.
Once you get the Brimstone Icon, hit 25 different enemies with Rockbiter Weapon, and interact with the Icon to turn it into the Fire Nova Rune.
Power Surge Rune
To get the Power Surge Rune, head to the Arathi Highlands and look just northeast of Stromgarde Keep for a group of Boulderfist Ogres. Kill these Ogres until you get an Ogre Lightning Rod, and go to the top of the mountain the Ogres surround (at about 34, 44 in Arathi). Place the rod into the Soft Soil at the top, target it, and hit it 10 times with the Lightning Bolt ability. This summons a Level 37 elite named Tam’Kar, who can be quite tough to down. Luckily enough, he will die after 30 seconds no matter what, so just try to survive the encounter until he dies. Tam’Kar drops the Rune of Power on death.
Maelstrom Weapon Rune
To get the Rune of the Storm, and thus the Maelstrom Weapon Rune, you must first defeat Charlga Razorflank in Razorfen Kraul to get a Scroll. Take this Scroll to Rau Cliffrunner in Freewind Post, the main Horde settlement in Thousand Needles. After speaking to Cliffrunner, go to Tarren Mill and follow the river into the Alterac Mountains. About halfway into the zone, you will see a small settlement to the east (also marked on the map). Find Bath’rah the Windwatcher in this settlement at about (80.5, 67) and perform the /pray emote while targeting him to receive three quests.
To completePower Of Da Wind, collect five Whirling Essence from Wind Elementals in Desolace
To completePower Of Da Water, collect five Rushing Essence from Withervine Elementals in Dustwallow Marsh
To completePower of da Earth, collect five Rumbling Essence from Rock Elementals in the Badlands
After this, buy one Crystal Vial from a Trade Goods vendor, and head back to Bath’Rah. Complete his follow-up quest, which requires the Vial, to receive the With Wind Beneath Your Wings quest. Head back to Freewind Post, give the Squall-breaker’s potion to Rau Cliffrunner, and pick up the final quest, Calm Before The Storm.
Drink the potion, and talk to the Freewind Post Flight Master to get a free ride into the storm. During the ensuing fights, be sure to kill Quillboar spellcasters first before the Ravaging Tempest. If you die, speak with the Spirit Guardian to instantly go back to your death point.
After completing this quest, return to Rau Cliffrunner, who will direct you once again back to Bath’Rah. Complete the final step with Bath’Rah to get the Rune.
Decoy Totem, Ancestral Awakening, & Spirit of the Alpha
Decoy Totem Rune
To get the Decoy Totem Rune, head to Thousand Needles, and start killing Harpies in and outside of the cave in the center-west of the zone. When you get 10 Strong Harpy Feathers, head to Freewind Post and get a Silken Thread from the Trade Goods Vendor, and go to the Altar of the Wind Spirit at about (39.5, 42). Interact with the Harpy Feathers to turn them into an Offering to the Wind Spirit. Kill any nearby enemies, and start channeling the creation of the Offering. When the Offering to the Wind Spirit is completed, jump off of the edge of the Altar as a test of your faith, after which the Rune of Decoys will unlock.
Ancestral Awakening Rune
To get the Rune of Ancestral Awakening,head to Desolace and look for an extinguished Campfire just northwest of the Kodo Graveyard (slightly north of the “D” in “Kodo” on the map). Pick up the quest Highway Robbery, then go directly northwest to find Kormek’s Hut on the ridge overlooking the graveyard. Turn in Highway Robbery, pick up the next quest On The Lam, then head to Booty Bay.
In the Inn, talk to Tokal to continue the questline and pick up Cherry For Your Thoughts. Purchase some Cherry Grog from the barkeep and give it to her to continue onto the next part, No Honor Among Thieves.
Go to the border of the Wetlands and the Arathi Highlands and look for a boat underneath the Thandol Span bridge. Jump down into the water and interact with this boat to teleport to the far eastern shore of the Highlands. Talk to Illari Duskfeather, choose either Dialogue option, and kill her to get Illari’s Key. Open the nearby Illari’s Loot Cache to get the Rune.
Spirit of the Alpha Rune
To get the Echo of the Alpha, which unlocks the Spirit of the Alpha Rune, go to Freewind Post in Thousand Needles and head north across the bridge. Then, turn back and take another bridge back to the main Freewind Post rock formation. As you continue downward, look for a chest on another rock formation located just below a third bridge. Change into your Ghost Wolf form, and jump onto this ledge. Loot the chest to get the Rune.
