Yes, I know you feel like you failed at shaman, but a shaman's fight style is one of attrition. Do not ever, ever stand toe to toe with a berserker if he can hit you. Hit and run. Hit them with prayers and then bugger off to heal, then slip in again.

Damage reduction may help, but a villager is designed to either burst through damage reduction as a berserker/scout or wear you down as a defender. Your maladicting prayers will help, of course, but don't forget you can attack their mana or moves. Jab, flee and recover, jab, flee and recover. Most shaman wage a fight of a thousand cuts, and only a few shaman in superb gear, damage reduction, and lots of immortal boons are going to eat three deathblows and shrug it off.