Shaman A shaman , sometimes called a spirit shaman , is a powerful primal leader who calls upon nature spirit s for aid or guidance . Shamans , much like cleric s or warlord s , are often leaders or healers , though they lead most often by example and through wisdom than through inspiration or charisma . Shamans are also more durable than their divine or martial equivalents , gaining through their connection to the wild a powerful capacity for enduring pain . Arganth Snarrl was a notable shamanic advisor of Obould , during the latter ' s mortal life . Culture . Constantly aware of spirits that others cannot see , shamans fit unevenly into society , even compared with others who draw on the same power , such as druid s or warden s . Within their native cultures shamans are highly valued as healers , storytellers , and spiritual advisors . Outside , shamans are still valued , if only for the power they wield , channeling into allies to empower and heal them while striking down the enemies of nature . Shamans gain their power through alliances with these powers of the " spirit world " and act as intermediaries between them and the corporeal inhabitants of the visible world . In this manner , shamans can be compared to clerics , who similarly serve as agents of the gods . The analogy is not perfect however and the relationship between shaman and spirit is less one of worship and service to a greater power than one of mutual benefit and bargaining , similar in some ways to the pacts formed by warlock s , though generally with fewer of the moral complications . However , shamans do feel beholden to the spirits they work with and generally associate themselves with spirits that share similar goals and methods , whether those be malevolent or benign in nature . Most shamans , for their part , feel no particular pull to the forces of good , evil , law , or chaos , sharing this indifference with druids . However , shamans are not beholden to such neutrality in the way druids are and their constant interactions with civilization makes them more open to moral extremes druids would find abhorrent . In order to form their alliances with the spirit world , shamans go through a series of initiation ceremonies passed on by older , more experienced shamans , after which they are sometimes sent on a journey through the world to obtain the personal experience and wisdom required of shamans . All shamans , regardless of the exact background they come from , gain a lesser nature spirit as an ally and companion at the end of their training as well as the ability to channel their primal patron ' s power through a totem . Shamans are most commonly from rural cultures with tribal affectations . Even amongst more civilized communities of human s or the nomadic halfling s , among whom such tribal traditions are most common , shamans are bound to be found however . Similarly , half - orc s are a common racial background for shamans . Shamans are far more rare amongst races such as the Tel ' Quessir , dwarves , or gnome s , who rarely form the tribal communities in which shamanic traditions commonly thrive . Abilities . Generally speaking , shamans rely more upon the power of their capacity for judgement , willpower , and awareness than they do upon force of personality or charm the way that a cleric or bard might . Shamans are also very often highly intelligent and are capable of great endurance , making up for their lack of training in hide or heavier armors , though a few shamans are exceptions to this rule and train themselves in the use of shield s . Shamans are trained in the use of simple weapons as well as the more advanced longspear , but little else , and rely on their spirit companion for their most powerful attacks . Regardless , all shamans are both extremely durable and capable of great wisdom , an unusual combination . All shamans draw upon the primal power of the Prime itself , using powers known as evocation s . These evocations allow shamans to strike with deadly power , call upon spirit companions , or heal and empower their corporeal allies . Many shamans use powerful totems as implement s while channeling this energy , thereby making their evocations all the more power . To help them draw on this power , shamans are capable of communicating with nature spirits , in a way far more direct than most other corporeal beings are capable of , opening their mind to the invisible spirits that pervade existence and to which most people are unaware . The abilities of a shaman depend greatly upon what kind of spirit companion the shaman is gifted by their primal patron . Some shamans take on a spirit in the form of bear or a similarly durable beast as their companion , who grants a boon to a shaman ' s healing power . Other shamans choose instead a panther or beast of similar cunning and stealth , making a shaman and their ally ' s attacks more deadly while acting in a way similar to a ranger ' s corporeal companion . Because of their constant contact with spirits , many shamans learn to both shield themselves against spirits and take advantage of their weaknesses . Shamans are constantly aware of the spirits around them and can direct their own primal power into a force to push back and chastise malign spirits . Shamans of more experience can extend this protection to their allies , using their own spirit allies as wards against the malign ones . Similarly , powerful shamans are capable of physically evicting spirits from the bodies of beings they have possessed or strip them of their abilities . These abilities extend not only to true nature spirits but sometimes to fey , elemental s , or insubstantial undead as well . Many shamans also learn to acquire spirit - like abilities for themselves . Some master the ability to actually transform themselves into nature spirits , using this ability in much the same manner as a druid or warden might use their wildshape abilities . Some shamans also learn , either in addition to or instead of , to " walk " through the spirit world , transplanting their body and soul from the corporeal , physical world to that of the spirits . Others learn to cheat death , bargaining for some small bit of immortality with the nature spirits . Some truly powerful spirit shamans permanently become nature spirits , forsaking their corporeal body for one in harmony with the natural rhythms of the natural world .