Gearing the new 80 elemental shaman: 3.3 pre-raid armor guide

This is very out of date (3.3.5). Removed the wall of text and kept the list as long as people are aware that priorities have changed. Don't wear cloth. Go straight for t10.

Recommended Items

HEAD consider the cloth emblem item, not listed

emblem Helm of Inner Warmth 75 Triumph mail ilvl 245 333.95
tier 9 Nobundo's Helm of Conquest / Thrall's 50 Triumph mail ilvl 232 265.9
H-HoR Sightless Crown of Ulmaas Marwyn cloth ilvl 232 259.85
auction house Cowl of the Absolute U25 BoE cloth ilvl 226 230.12

Recommended: Tier 9

NECK

auction house Blood Queen's Crimson Choker ICC25 BoE ilvl 264  185.05
PvP Wrathful Gladiator's Pendant of Subjugation 52,200 hon ilvl 264 152.83
H-FoS Love's Prisoner Bronjahm ilvl 232 151.58
H-ToC5 Symbol of Redemption The Black Knight ilvl 219 136.41
crafted Titan-Forged Pendant of Ascendancy jewelcrafter ilvl 245 128.26 

Recommended: PvP or whichever is easiest

SHOULDERS consider the cloth emblem shoulders, not listed

auction house Stiffened Corpse Shoulderpads ICC25 BoE cloth ilvl 264 238.12
emblem Mantle of the Groundbreaker 45 Triumph mail ilvl 245 224.92
tier 9 Nobundo's Shoulderpads of Conquest / Thrall's 30 Triumph ilvl 232 183.66
H-FoS Very Fashionable Shoulders Bronjahm cloth ilvl 232 172.23 

Recommended: Tier 9

BACK

PvP Wrathful Gladiator's Cloak of Subjugation 52,200 hon ilvl 264 152.83
auction house Cloak of Displacement / Shroud ToC25 BoE ilvl 245 145.09
PoS Cloak of the Fallen Cardinal Tyrannus (normal) ilvl 219 119.74
H-ToC5  Kurisu's Indecision Eadric ilvl 219 114.43
crafted Wispcloak tailor ilvl 200 104.63 

Recommended: PvP

CHEST the cloth robe is superior

crafted Ensorcelled Nerubian Breastplate / H leatherworker mail ilvl 245 329.12
crafted Merlin's Robe / H tailor cloth ilvl 245 287.33
tier 9 Nobundo's Hauberk of Conquest / Thrall's 50 Triumph mail ilvl 232 271.24
H-HoR Chestguard of Broken Branches Captain's chest leather ilvl 232 233.43 

Recommended: Merlin's Robe (or tier 9 and choose crafted legs

WRISTS

auction house The Lady's Brittle Bracers ICC 25 BoE cloth ilvl 264 186.43
crafted Black Chitin Bracers / H leatherworker mail ilvl 245 165.22
PvP Wrathful Gladiator's Wristguards of Salvation 43,400 hon mail  ilvl 264 152.83
crafted Bejeweled Wizard's Bracers / H tailor cloth ilvl 245 142.73
H-HoR Bracers of Worn Molars Falric cloth ilvl 232 129.84 

Recommended: crafted mail (mp5) or cloth (crit)

HANDS

tier 9 Nobundo's Gloves of Conquest / Thrall's 30 Triumph mail ilvl 232 200.38
H-HoR Suspiciously Soft Gloves Marwyn cloth ilvl 219 158.92 

Recommended: Tier 9, grab them early on

WAIST

auction house Belt of the Blood Nova ICC25 BoE mail ilvl 264 282.72
crafted Blue Belt of Chaos leatherworker mail ilvl 226 190.89*
PvP Relentless Gladiator's Waistguard of Salvation 34,100 hon mail ilvl 245 178.65
crafted Sash of Ancient Power tailor cloth ilvl 226 178.54*
H-ToC5 Girdle of the Dauntless Conqueror The Black Knight mail ilvl 219 177.01
* Uduar pattern 

Recommended: Belt of the Blood Nova or Sash of Ancient Power

LEGS

auction house Leggings of Dubious Charm ICC10/25 BoE mail ilvl 264 378.31
crafted Leggings of Woven Death tailor cloth ilvl 264 339.07
crafted Legwraps of Unleashed Nature leatherworker mail ilvl 264 329.91
tier 9  Nobundo's Legguards of Conquest / Thrall's 50 Triumph mail ilvl 232 273.24
H-PoS Blackened Ghoul Skin Leggings Ick mail ilvl 232 245.9

Recommended: Tier 9 (or Woven Death and take the tier 9 chest instead of Merlin's Robe)

FEET

crafted Deathfrost Boots tailor ilvl 264 259.70
crafted Earthsoul Boots leatherworker ilvl 264 249.21
H-ToC Boots of the Crackling Flame The Black Knight mail ilvl 219 164.93 

Recommended: Earthsoul Boots are full of win

FINGERS

auction house Marrowgar's Frigid Eye  ICC25 BoE unique ilvl 264 207.54
emblem Heartmender Circle  35 Triumph ilvl 245 unique 158.21
H-HoR Oath of Empress Zoe Captain's Chest ilvl 232 unique 141.44
emblem Band of the Invoker 35 Triumph ilvl 245 unique 130.42
PvP Wrathful Gladiator's Band of  Dominance 52,200 hon unique ilvl 264 126.45
DoS Spiteful Signet Devourer if Souls (normal) ilvl 219 unique 123.80 

Recommended: 2 x emblem or whichever are easiest

TRINKETS choices for a second trinket are poor
 
emblem Talisman of Resurgence  50 Triumph ilvl 245 unique 193.43
PvP Battlemaster's Ruination ilvl 34,100 hon ilvl 245 98.69
crafted Figurine - Twilight Serpent JC ONLY ilvl 200 (blue) unique 95.23
H-HoL Winged Talisman Ionar ilvl 200 (blue) 94.53
emblem Shard of the Crystal Heart 50 Triumph ilvl 245 unique 91.47 

Recommended: try for the Abyssal Rune from ToC5, else get Resurgance for proc, Shard for hit and consider the Sundial of the Exiled

2H Weapon if you arena at all, consider one of the rated staffs

H-PoS Engaved Gargoyle's Femur Tyrannus ilvl 232 614.59
FoS Bloodboil Lancet Devourerof Souls (normal) ilvl 219 481.30
PoS Unspeakable Secret Forgemaster Garfrost (normal) ilvl 219 467.02 

Recommended: If you can't get the Femur, you may as well go for a 1h and OH

1H Weapon if you arena at all, consider one of the rated weapons

H-PoS Surgeon's Needle Forgemaster Garfrost ilvl 232 480.22
H-ToC5 Mariel's Sorrow Eadric's Cache ilvl 219 420.25
HoR Chilled Heart of the Glacier Captain's Chest (normal) ilvl 219 417.43
H-Toc5 Spectral Kris The Black Knight ilvl 219 414.49
HoR Bone Golem Scapula Captain's Chest (normal) ilvl 219 400.12 

Recommended: The needle is pretty solid or any of the others

OH/SHIELDS arena items win again

PoS Protector of Frigid Souls Tyrannus (normal) ilvl 219 shield 122.91
auction house Zom's Crackling Bulwark world drop  ilvl 200 shield 103.94
H-HoR Shriveled Heart Captain's Chest ilvl 232 off-hand 103.92
emblem Protective Barricade of the Light 35 Heroism ivl 200 101.6

Recommended: Whichever is easiest for you to obtain

TOTEMS

emblem Totem of Electrifying Wind 25 Triumph ilvl 245

Recommended: Don't upgrade to the frost totem until you have your T10 bonus

This list is only a guide to starter gear. Your situation may vary Please feel free to leave a comment or provide constructive criticism.

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