A Small Step in the Right Direction - Shadow Priest Class Changes and Tier Set Review

Posted 6 hr 31 min ago by EllipsisPriest

Class ChangesVoidformShadeburst

Shadow
Developers’ notes: For Shadow in Curses of Ula’tek, we’re intending to improve Voidform gameplay and are adding an additional source of multi-target damage to reduce the spec’s reliance on Psychic Link in AoE situations. For Voidform, we’re updating Void Volley to be a limited use ability that can be used a set number of times during Voidform which leaves more room in the rotation while giving you the chance to use it at its most opportune moment. We’ve also updated Voidform support talents to have more noticeable effects to align with our goals.

New Talent: Shadeburst – Shadowy Apparitions that float towards your primary target explode, dealing Shadow damage to all enemies within 8 yards. Damage reduced beyond 5 targets.
Improved Voidform has been redesigned – Voidform increases your spell damage by an additional 5% and grants 2 additional uses of Void Volley.
Ancient Madness has been redesigned – Shadow Word: Madness increases your Haste during Voidform by 2% and increases its duration by 1.5 seconds, stacking up to 5 times. When Voidform ends, the Haste lingers and decays over 10 seconds.
Voidform now grants 3 uses of Void Volley instead of Void Volley having a cooldown during Voidform.
Power Word: Shield absorb increased by 25%.
Phantom Menace has been removed.

Hero Talents

Archon
Focused Outburst has been redesigned – Void Volley deals 15% increased damage and Shadow Word: Madness casts during Voidform unleash a Void Volley at your target.
Resonant Energy has been slightly redesigned – Creating a Halo increases your spell damage by 2% for 10 seconds, stacking up to 4 times.

Not mentioned in the patch notes: Shadowy Apparitions travel time reduced by 50%.Shadowy ApparitionslongShadeburstVampiric TouchPsychic LinkextremelyVaelgorEzzorakShadow Word: MadnessanyVoid ApparitionsTormented SpiritsVoidformVoid VolleyImproved VoidformAncient MadnessFocused OutburstimmenseheavilyHaloResonant EnergyPower Word: ShieldpitifullyBody and Soul536k18.5kTier SetTentacle SlamVampiric TouchShadowy Apparitions

Shadow

2-Set Bonus: Tentacle Slam cooldown reduced by 3 seconds and its damage is increased by 100%.
4-Set Bonus: After casting Tentacle Slam, your next Vampiric Touch is instant, generates 4 additional Insanity, and conjures Shadowy Apparitions that deal 200% of normal damage.

Tentacle SlamVampiric TouchUnfurling DarknessClosing ThoughtsVoidformVoid VolleyShadowy Apparitions Season 1 tier set ShadeburstPsychic LinkVampiric TouchPower Word: Shield

Comment by shaydendashriddlSeem pretty cool to me but that just meComment by Endin16Wait, I'm confused, is Shadeburst and Corrupted Apparitions the same thing?
Edit: Well that's been fixedComment by WchrFor me, designing a set for the button that we never press in m+ is just a miss, makes me a bit sad.Comment by GoggleD0GGI miss using Shadow Word: Death lol. Execute abilities feel great for some reason and I'm still mourning its obsoletion. Looks like we got some cool changes coming, though.Comment by TastelikelemonPeople shouldnt feel excited for shadow priest, i bet money majority of buffs alongside the tier set gona get nerfed by a lot so shadow is not even in the upper half or middle at most among casters. Disc priest as how strong it is or Holy if buffed will still remain the choice of raid buff compared to Shadow. Sad but true...Comment by rarehunter122Shadow may not always be tuned the best, but its really hard to argue they aren't Blizzard's favorite spec, design wise.Comment by Colthas20+ years and they're still trying to design the class lmao, I'm surprised they didn't throw in the towel and delete the spec entirely at some pointComment by NihilismWell put. SW:P crits causing ghosts was big fun. Getting out damaged by one button rotation under geared paladins in AoE-not big fun.Comment by FordraxelUpon testing on 5 dummies shadeburst is extremely underwhelming, it definitely needs a buff. Its not even competitive right now, on paper it looks good, but on the dummies - no movement, it needs work. The tier set with vampiric touch is a 'what are you thinking' type of set. Its very clunky, but it is the second-fourth most damage.Comment by AggraxHonestly, I know this isn't going to fix anything, but I really wish they would add back Mind Sear as a "filler" AoE spell. Yes this is entirely because I farm old content and doing AoE on dungeon packs as Shadow is a pain in the butt.Comment by ggoollddThe 4P bonus is just a joke.
in the current design, pressing vampiric touch in raid is useless. For M+ i don't have enough experience but feels like more a "at least i am doing AOE"
This 4P makes me feels like "you will use the button because we want you to use it.
And this feels like not a so big bonus... this cost one GCD, to have less than 10% of a madness, and a big shadow.

Simply removing this button and bind vampiric touch to tentacle and giving back mind sear as spell (after all, removing one button allow to add one even with their will to reduce total button)

For 4P, i see far better button to be buffed if they want it work this way, like ... SW:D ?