http://www.wowhead.c...water-elemental
1. The WE is a Summon, not a pet or minion (anyone who says they are is WRONG), thus exempt from the despawning rule.
~this means they do not teleport with you, or zone when you do so. However, they do remain when mounted, just as a DK's ghouls do.
2. WEs are not minions or pets, but do have basic scaling (stam, int, SP, etc.), but does not receive haste as hunter pets or warlock pets do not either. Pets and minions can receive scaled amount of crit through talents. Frost Mages receive our elemental through talents, and the one other talent that does effect it, effects the spell itself, NOT the summon.
3. Water Elementals can receive refreshment. Along with the HUGE reduction in the cost of waterbolt, youre Elemental should never run out of mana. Its there for pure damage now. Infact, it can survive most AoE spells which are desinged for insta-kills, IE, Talon King Ikiss.
(By Chinky on 2010/03/15 at 7:26 PM (Patch 3.3.2))
I think spellpower scales with your elemental, but I'm not 100% sure.
He follows you in outland and northrend, like when you get on a normal mount. However, he stays on the ground, and don't be surprised if 30 mobs are chasing after him.
(By MnJu on 2010/03/13 at 5:42 PM (Patch 3.3.2))