Shamans are the great leaders of many clans and tribes. This is not because they are the masters of healing, masters of combat, or masters of great magic, but because they can do all of it. The shaman wades into battle, in one hand he is throwing a bolt of lightning, with the other he is healing a friend. He then takes out his weapon and charges the nearest foe.

In World of Warcraft, shamans are the Jack of all trades. Shamans excel in a particular field only by giving up great utility in another. A shaman can come into the group as the healer, the fighter, the caster, or he can come in as some combination of these. Shamans are the only true hybrid.

With the time and aion kinah put into the class you can effectively fulfill most roles, at least to a point. A shamans weakness is that they can never be the main tank. They simply do not have the armor that a warrior can have. They can never cast spells more damaging than a mage can. They will not have the healing powers that a priest can. Though not as good as any one class, they can be a huge asset to a group with their totems, healing, resurrection, and damage abilities.