WoW Forever Enhancement Shaman Leveling Weapons: Every BiS Two-Hander From 1 to 60

Quick answer: Two-Handed Axes and Maces is baseline for every Shaman in WoW Forever, so you can swing a two-hander from your first levels. From 1 to 15 use the starting quest two-hander of your race (Coldridge Hammer, Goblin Smasher, Honed Greathammer) or a vendor Giant Mace at 10, then Stonewood Hammer, Mo'grosh Can Opener or Axe of Orgrimmar. After that, 14 two-handers carry you to 60, placed here at the level you can really get them. Alliance: Ironforge Greathammer (~14, quest) → Segmented Spider Leg (15, Witherfang) → Smite's Mighty Hammer (18-20, Deadmines) → Defender of Dalaran (~31, quest) → Rage of the Storm (~33-35, quest, +10% Stormstrike damage) → The Pacifier (36+, Lo'Grosh, BoE) → Thorium Greatmace (50, Blacksmiths only) → Enchanted Azsharite Felbane Staff (~53-55, quest) → Forest Defender's Axe (60, Blacksmithing, BoE epic, 61.5 DPS). Horde start with Segmented Spider Leg at 15, then Forsaken Greataxe or Hammerbone (20-22), Striking Staff (~31), Rage of the Storm, Abandoned Ferocity (35), The Pacifier and Will of the Mountain Giant (~44-46). Rage of the Storm is the key pick: the only weapon built for Stormstrike.

Last verified: Nov 5, 2026, 00:30 MSK (Nov 4, 21:30 UTC), before the servers open at 23:00 UTC. Levels were re-checked against each quest's level, boss level and recipe. Every stat below comes from the Wowhead WoW Forever item database tooltips. The weapons come from our Enhancement Shaman leveling gear planner. Many of these items exist only in Forever (ids in the 250000-280000 range), so retail and Classic Era guides won't list them.

Why do Enhancement Shamans level with a two-hander in WoW Forever?

Because Stormstrike, the spec's key button, hits for a share of your weapon's damage. In the launch talent data (Wowhead's datamine of the November 3 build), the tooltip reads:

"Instantly strike for 150% weapon damage and increase the damage you deal to the target with your next Lightning Bolt, Chain Lightning, or Earth Shock spell by 20% for 12 sec." (Stormstrike tooltip, WoW Forever launch talents)

A big, slow two-hander makes every Stormstrike and every Windfury proc hit harder. We also checked the launch Enhancement tree: it has no Dual Wield talent. Your real choices are a two-hander or a one-hander with a shield. For leveling damage, the two-hander wins. Pick your talents in the Enhancement Shaman talent build, which already uses the launch trees (Improved Ghost Wolf moved from row 2 to row 4 in the launch tree).

Three things matter when you compare leveling two-handers:

• Raw weapon damage (the damage range), because Stormstrike and Windfury hits scale with it, so slow weapons with big swings shine.
• DPS, the fair way to compare two weapons at the same speed.
• Strength, which turns into attack power and lifts every swing, Stormstrike included. +20 Strength on The Pacifier is why it beats faster weapons with similar DPS.

Which weapons should you use from level 1 to 15?

Can a low-level Shaman even use a two-hander? Yes. In Classic you needed an Enhancement talent for it. Blizzard's Shaman deep dive for Forever moved it into the base class:

"Talents Moved to Baseline: Enhancing Totems, Two-Handed Axes and Maces, Weapon Mastery, Improved Weapon Totems are all now baseline abilities" (Blizzard Shaman deep dive)

Blizzard doesn't say at which level the skill appears, so if a two-hander shows in red, check your class trainer. Shaman races in Forever are Orc, Tauren, Troll and Windshaper Skyborne for the Horde and Dwarf for the Alliance. There are no Draenei, so Azuremyst and Bloodmyst are not part of the route.

Levels 1-9. In Classic, Shamans started with a Worn Mace (one-hander, 1.05 DPS), and the item is still in Forever's database, though we couldn't confirm every race's Forever starting kit. The starting zone quests mostly give one-handers, armor and totems. The Call of Earth and Call of Fire class quests give totems, not weapons. At these levels a quest one-hander (with a shield if you find one) is fine, because your damage comes from Lightning Bolt and Earth Shock anyway.

Get it at (level)	Weapon	Damage, speed, DPS	Who	Source
~9	Planting Shovel	14-21, 2.50, 7.00	Skyborne	Quest Deliver the News (Zephras Isle)
9	Zephrali Smasher	21-32, 3.20, 8.28	Skyborne	Vendor Falfaan Halfwind (Zephras Isle)
~10-12	Coldridge Hammer	18-27, 2.70, 8.33	Dwarf	Quest Protecting the Herd (Dun Morogh)
~10-12	Goblin Smasher	20-31, 3.10, 8.23	Tauren	Quest Supervisor Fizsprocket (Mulgore)
~11	Honed Greathammer	23-35, 3.20, 9.06	Skyborne	Quest Return to Valanaar (Zephras Isle)
10	Giant Mace	25-38, 3.50, 9.00	All	Weapon vendors, white item
11	Heavy Copper Maul	28-43, 3.30, 10.76	All	Blacksmithing (BoE, Auction House)
~14-18	Stonewood Hammer	24-37, 3.20, 9.53	Horde	Quest Centaur Bracers (The Barrens)
14	Mo'grosh Can Opener	32-48, 3.20, 12.50	Alliance	Drop, Mo'grosh elites in Loch Modan (BoE)
~16	Axe of Orgrimmar	42-64, 3.30, 16.06	Horde	Quest Hidden Enemies (Ragefire Chasm)

Levels 10-15: switch to a two-hander. The early two-handers deal 8-12.5 DPS, while the quest one-handers at these levels sit around 5-7 DPS and the shields only add armor. Unless you keep dying, take the two-hander. Orc and Troll Shamans get no two-hander from Durotar quests, so buy a Giant Mace at 10, then take the Stonewood Hammer in the Barrens and the Axe of Orgrimmar from Ragefire Chasm. Dwarves go Coldridge Hammer, then a Mo'grosh Can Opener from the Auction House or Loch Modan, then the Ironforge Greathammer below.

What is the full Alliance two-hander progression from 14 to 60?

Get it at (level)	Weapon	Damage, speed, DPS	Stats	Source
14-16	Ironforge Greathammer	39-60, 3.10, 15.97	Chance on hit: 42 Fire damage	Quest Old Ironforge Incursion (Hall of Thanes, quest level 16)
15-18	Segmented Spider Leg	50-76, 3.60, 17.50	+9 Agi, +5 Spi	Witherfang, Ruins of Lordaeron (31.42% drop)
18-20	Smite's Mighty Hammer	55-83, 3.50, 19.71	+11 Str, +4 Agi	Mr. Smite, The Deadmines (18.74% drop)
31-33	Defender of Dalaran	82-124, 3.30, 31.21	+9 Str, +13 Sta, +9 Int	Quest Heart of Disruption (City of Dalaran, quest level 33)
33-35	Rage of the Storm	91-137, 3.20, 35.63	+15 Sta, +12 Int, +10% Stormstrike damage	Quest The Tempest's Weapons (Alterac Mountains)
36-40	The Pacifier	117-176, 4.00, 36.63	+20 Str, +8 Sta	Lo'Grosh, Alterac Mountains (15.75% drop, BoE)
50 (Blacksmiths)	Thorium Greatmace	136-205, 3.60, 47.36	+21 Str, +23 spell damage	Blacksmithing recipe (BoP)
53-55	Enchanted Azsharite Felbane Staff	104-157, 2.80, 46.61	+40 AP	Quest Enchanted Azsharite Fel Weaponry (Stranglethorn Vale)
60	Forest Defender's Axe	162-244, 3.30, 61.52	+18 Str, +27 Sta, +28 spell damage	Blacksmithing recipe (BoE, epic)

What is the full Horde two-hander progression from 15 to 60?

Get it at (level)	Weapon	Damage, speed, DPS	Stats	Source
15-18	Segmented Spider Leg	50-76, 3.60, 17.50	+9 Agi, +5 Spi	Witherfang, Ruins of Lordaeron (31.42% drop)
20-22	Forsaken Greataxe	49-74, 3.00, 20.50	+8 Str, +4 Sta	Quest The Wrath of Rath'mael (Brill, quest level 22)
20-22	Hammerbone	55-84, 3.40, 20.44	+7 Str, +10 Spi	Quest Leaders of the Fang (Wailing Caverns, quest level 22)
31-33	Striking Staff	77-117, 3.10, 31.29	+9 Str, +6 Sta, +14 Int	Quest Heart of Disruption (Tarren Mill, quest level 33)
33-35	Rage of the Storm	91-137, 3.20, 35.63	+15 Sta, +12 Int, +10% Stormstrike damage	Quest The Tempest's Weapons (Alterac Mountains)
35-37	Abandoned Ferocity	95-143, 3.20, 37.19	+10 Str, +4 Agi, +12 Sta	Quest Khan Jehn (Desolace, Gelkis)
36-40	The Pacifier	117-176, 4.00, 36.63	+20 Str, +8 Sta	Lo'Grosh, Alterac Mountains (15.75% drop, BoE)
44-46	Will of the Mountain Giant	88-133, 2.80, 39.46	+15 Str, +14 Sta	Quest Weapons of Spirit (Feralas)
50 (Blacksmiths)	Thorium Greatmace	136-205, 3.60, 47.36	+21 Str, +23 spell damage	Blacksmithing recipe (BoP)
53-55	Enchanted Azsharite Felbane Staff	104-157, 2.80, 46.61	+40 AP	Quest Enchanted Azsharite Fel Weaponry (Stranglethorn Vale)
60	Forest Defender's Axe	162-244, 3.30, 61.52	+18 Str, +27 Sta, +28 spell damage	Blacksmithing recipe (BoE, epic)

The level column is when a normal leveling character can actually get the weapon: the quest level from Wowhead's Forever data minus about two levels, the boss level for drops, and the recipe level for crafts. Quest rewards often have no level requirement on the item, so gear planners (ours included) tend to list them too early: Hammerbone is not a level-10 weapon when its quest is level 22. Between upgrades, keep the last weapon in the table or any green two-hander from quests and vendors. Horde have no blue two-hander in this list before about 15.

Which early two-handers are worth chasing from 14 to 33?

Ironforge Greathammer (Alliance). The first blue two-hander for a Dwarf Shaman, from Old Ironforge Incursion: enter the Hall of Thanes beneath Old Ironforge and bring back the Head of Durgen Dirgehammer. It has no stats, just 39-60 damage at 3.10 speed and a 42 Fire damage proc. It is a Forever-only item and a clear upgrade over any vendor mace.

Hammerbone (Horde). Nara Wildmane in Thunder Bluff gives it for Leaders of the Fang, which needs the four gems from the Fanglords in Wailing Caverns. At 55-84 damage and 20.44 DPS it is one of the two best Horde two-handers until 25, next to the Forsaken Greataxe. The quest is level 22, so plan on it around 20-22 on your Wailing Caverns runs, not earlier.

Forsaken Greataxe (Horde). Deathguard Kristof in Brill asks you to kill Rath'mael in the Ruins of Lordaeron. It has almost the same DPS as Hammerbone (20.50) with Strength and Stamina, and it is the Undercity-side option for Horde shamans who level in Silverpine.

Segmented Spider Leg (both factions). Witherfang in the Ruins of Lordaeron drops it at a 31.42% rate, per Wowhead's drop data. It needs level 15, which makes this 3.60 speed staff the earliest real two-hander for Horde shamans and a good Alliance pick between the Greathammer and Smite.

Smite's Mighty Hammer (both factions). The Deadmines classic is still here: Mr. Smite drops it at 18.74%, and it needs level 18. Check the full Deadmines loot table if you want gear for your other slots while you run it.

Defender of Dalaran / Striking Staff. Heart of Disruption has a faction version on each side: Alliance turn the Arcane Mote in to the Image of Archmage Modera near the City of Dalaran, Horde to Magus Wordeen Voidglare in Tarren Mill. The quest is level 33, so expect it around 31-33. Both rewards are about 31.2 DPS, a 50% jump over the 20-DPS weapons and the biggest relative upgrade on the whole path.

Why is Rage of the Storm the most important leveling weapon?

Rage of the Storm is the only weapon on the list made for your spec. Its equip effect reads "Increases the damage dealt by your Stormstrike ability by 10%." Both factions get it from The Tempest's Weapons: deliver the Eye of the Tempest to Bath'rah the Windwatcher in Alterac Mountains. The stats are 91-137 damage, 3.20 speed, 35.63 DPS, +15 Stamina and +12 Intellect, and the item level is 40.

The Intellect also means a bigger mana pool for Lightning Bolt pulls and heals between fights. Forever's data gives the quest no level, so we place it around 33-35 from its item level (40). Alliance keep it until The Pacifier. Horde can move to Abandoned Ferocity at 35 for raw damage (37.19 DPS), or keep the Stormstrike bonus until The Pacifier or Will of the Mountain Giant.

What should you use from 35 to 55?

Abandoned Ferocity (Horde). Kill Khan Jehn at Magram Village while you keep Gelkis Clan reputation, then report to Uthek the Wise in Gelkis Village, Desolace. Item level 42 and 37.19 DPS, with Strength, Agility and Stamina.

The Pacifier (both factions, BoE). Lo'Grosh, a rare in Alterac Mountains, drops it at 15.75%. It is Bind on Equip, so it shows up on the Auction House. The 4.00 speed and 117-176 damage make it the hardest-hitting Stormstrike weapon before 45, with +20 Strength on top. It needs level 36.

Will of the Mountain Giant (Horde). Witch Doctor Uzer'i in Feralas makes it for Weapons of Spirit. The item quality is green (uncommon), but 39.46 DPS beats The Pacifier on weapon DPS, though The Pacifier has more Strength and bigger single hits. It is item level 51 and the quest has no level in Forever's data, so expect it around 44-46, not at 40.

Enchanted Azsharite Felbane Staff (both factions). Galvan in Stranglethorn Vale forges it for Enchanted Azsharite Fel Weaponry. At item level 60 it has 46.61 DPS and +40 attack power, plus an extra +39 AP against Demons. Its Use effect names Razelikh the Defiler, the demon lord of the Blasted Lands, so it sits in a long late-game chain. Forever's data gives the quest no level; at item level 60 expect it around 53-55.

Which Blacksmithing weapons carry you from 50 to 60?

Both end-game leveling weapons are Forever-only Blacksmithing recipes, and they work very differently:

Thorium Greatmace (level 50): 136-205 damage, 3.60 speed, 47.36 DPS, +21 Strength and up to +23 spell damage. It is Bind on Pickup, so only a Blacksmith can use it: the recipe asks for 30 Thorium Bar, 4 Heavy Thorium Bar, 4 Essence of Earth, 10 Azerothium Bar and 2 Dense Grinding Stone. If your Shaman isn't a Blacksmith, keep The Pacifier or Will of the Mountain Giant until the Felbane Staff, which has only 0.75 DPS less.

Forest Defender's Axe (level 60): the epic finish line at 162-244 damage, 3.30 speed, 61.52 DPS, +18 Strength, +27 Stamina and up to +28 spell damage. It is Bind on Equip, so anyone can buy it. The recipe needs 4 Malleable Essence of Nature, 1 Legionite Bar and 20 Heavy Thorium Bar. The spell damage helps your Lightning Bolt and Earth Shock too, which suits a hybrid melee caster.

What should you buy on the Auction House and what should you farm?

• Farm: every quest reward on the list (they are all Bind on Pickup), Smite's Mighty Hammer, Segmented Spider Leg and the Thorium Greatmace.
• Buy if you see it: The Pacifier and the Forest Defender's Axe, the only two Bind on Equip weapons in the path. Expect both to be expensive in the first weeks, because fresh realms have little gold in circulation and few high-level crafters.
• Skip: chasing a single dungeon drop for hours. With 15-19% drop rates on Smite and Lo'Grosh, a quest weapon five levels later is often the faster upgrade.

If you'd rather skip the grind for these brackets, timesaver.gg offers WoW Forever power leveling for any level range, played by hand. Our WoW Forever professions page covers Blacksmithing if you want the two crafted weapons on your own character.

FAQ

What weapon should a level 1-10 Enhancement Shaman use? Your starting one-hander or a quest one-hander, with a shield if you have one, until about level 10. Then take your race's first quest two-hander (Coldridge Hammer, Goblin Smasher or Honed Greathammer) or buy a Giant Mace from a weapon vendor.

Do Shamans need a talent for two-handed weapons in WoW Forever? No. Blizzard made Two-Handed Axes and Maces a baseline Shaman ability in Forever.

Can Enhancement Shamans dual wield in WoW Forever? Not at launch. The launch Enhancement talent tree has no Dual Wield talent, so your melee options are a two-handed weapon or a one-hander with a shield.

What is the best Enhancement Shaman leveling weapon in WoW Forever? Rage of the Storm is the most important one, because it adds 10% Stormstrike damage and both factions get it from The Tempest's Weapons in Alterac Mountains. The strongest weapon you can level with is the Forest Defender's Axe (61.52 DPS) at 60.

Is the leveling gear the same as in Classic Era? No. Ten of the 14 weapons in this guide have Forever-only item ids, including Rage of the Storm, Defender of Dalaran, Striking Staff and both Blacksmithing weapons. Classic Era lists won't have them.

Do I need Blacksmithing for the level 50 and 60 weapons? For the Thorium Greatmace, yes: it is Bind on Pickup. The Forest Defender's Axe is Bind on Equip, so another Blacksmith can craft it or you can buy it on the Auction House.

Where do I get the Wowhead links for the rest of my gear? Our leveling gear planner, linked at the top of this guide, shows every slot per level bracket with Wowhead Forever links, for Alliance and Horde.

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