In addition to its significant direct damage (which is instant cast and does not reset the shaman's melee attack), Frost Shock also snares the target. In PvE, it's useful against runners, slowing their retreat if the shock doesn't kill them outright. It can also be used for kiting high level mobs in certain dungeon situations. Against ranged opponents (in PvP, casters and hunters), the shaman can use this power to stay up close to use melee. Against melee classes like warriors and rogues, shamans use this ability to maintain their distance.
Trivia[]
Previously, Frost Shock was considered the "I win button" of Shamans, owing to the ability to permanently snare other players, such as in the prior entry:
With a ridiculous combination of high-damage, an instant cast, an eight-second effect, and a six-second cooldown, it would be foolish not to constantly Frost Shock other players or mobs until a win occurs. Once they are within melee range, drop an [Earthbind Totem] against melee mobs/players (or grounding for casters) and hack away for an easy win.
Frost Shock and [Flame Shock] no longer have a shared cooldown. Frost Shock now has a 6-second cooldown for Enhancement.
Patch 9.0.1 (2020-10-13): Now available to all shamans (was Elemental only), but shares cooldown with [Flame Shock] for Enhancement. Now costs 1% of base mana to cast. Now learned at level 17 (was 38).
Patch 8.0.1 (2018-07-17): No longer costs any Maelstrom or recieves any damage bonus from it, slow duration increased by 1 second.
Patch 7.3.0 (2017-08-29): Damage increased by 13%.
Patch 7.2.5 (2017-06-13): PvP duration now scales correctly with Maelstrom: 4-8 seconds based on Maelstrom consumed (was 8-8 seconds based on Maelstrom consumed).
Patch 4.0.1 (2010-10-12): Now learned at level 22 (was 20).
Patch 2.3.0 (2007-11-13): Frost Shock is no longer subject to diminishing returns.
Patch 2.0.3 (2007-01-09): Now causes increased threat.
Patch 1.6.0 (2005-07-12): Targets that are immune to movement slowing effects will no longer be affected by Frost Shock's movement slowing effect. Damage will still be caused.
Patch 1.4.0 (2005-04-19): Now subject to diminishing returns in PvP. This is considered a slowing effect.
Patch 0.9 (2004-08-17): Slowing effect will now obey the standard stacking rules.