So, i just came back and this character is my highest, but I’m struggling to find the “fun” in it. To me, the mechanics just aren’t smooth and if you get feared, or are unable to take advantage of void form (useless from imo) your dps tanks.
Anyone else kinda got a bad taste in their mouth over it?
In PvP I find shadow extremely reliant on teammates. You don’t have the control to keep people off of you, or the mobility to kite, so you usually need help.
Damage wise it’s pretty good. It doesn’t have burst, but it’s the only real “rot” spec left (cuz affliction got butchered).
Overall, in PvP I’d say shadow is decent. There are definitely other specs that perform better, but shadow does have a unique playstyle that some (myself included) find appealing.
The only thing I’d like to see changed about shadow, is insanity to stop draining while cc’d.
In PvE, it’s a whole nother story. Shadow flat out dominates in dps. It’s a top tier dps spec currently in raids and mythic plus. Overall very good and a ton of fun to play
If you don’t enjoy the spec I’m not sure why your still playing it. Theirs tons of classes play one you enjoy
Well i will say this, shadow does play like “meh” definitely the worst design its ever had and i think simply play something else would of worked just fine in the past but turns out everything else plays worse lol.
I’d like to cast Mind Flay and then be able to channel other stuff over top of that ability (more than just dots) unless we could send out multiple Mind Flays (or mass MF) and then multi dot from there and support that with actual abilities. So, basically, you’re slowing and dotting everything as it’s working its way to you and then you can explode or something as mobs get into your melee range. I wouldn’t be opposed to having a couple of melee abilities, maybe some tentacle stuff and void junk. We slow, we dot, we cast, we could melee with tentacles… why not!
Really just need to embrace the fact we are summoners of void energy and stuff. I want combat like the new Heroes of the Storm chick announced at Blizzcon
The only thing I’d like to see changed about shadow, is insanity to stop draining while cc’d.
well you are in luck, try out the PvP talent Shadow Mania. It stops insanity drain while you are stunned, feared or silenced.
Play AS crit build with triple spiteful. Oh u will love bgs. Everything will die to u
To me, the mechanics just aren’t smooth and if you get feared,
I think you’re not used to it yet. I find it quite smooth and enjoyable to play.
or are unable to take advantage of void form (useless from imo) your dps tanks.
Its the case for any class that uses a cooldown and get cc’ed while in it.
A lot of folks seems to dislike the voidform, claiming the majority of spriest hates it (aka making up stats), but I love it. It flows good, good dps, good visual, different from other classes. Just need to get used to it and know how to properly use it.
I agree. Not matter how much damage it does, I just find Shadow to be boring to play.
Though, I don’t consider that a flaw in the spec, rather just a result of my personal tastes.
The fun in it is you are topping the meters in the latest raid rolling your face on the keyboard.
No, actually. I feel the complete opposite. I’ve shadowed more this expansion than any other because I enjoy it quite thoroughly.
There is more to wow than simply topping the meters. Every class waxes and wanes depending on raid mechanics and class balance. While I love topping meters, that isn’t enough to keep me from playing a certain spec. Just me though.
I’m pretty casual and with that said, I like how it plays just fine. I spend more time leveling than end game stuff (almost all classes at 120) and spriest is the closest thing to a main that I have.
I’m really interested in playing Priest (want a Pandaren healer/caster), and your post is encouraging to me because I worry that Shadow is terrible in open world questing. What has been your experience with that?
Yeah, I find a mindset like that to be rather juvenile, tbh. Im 25, when I come home from work I want to have fun in my game, not work to be top of meters.
The game has been out for 14 years, we should all know how balance goes back and forth, and your spec will always have good patches and bad patches. Chasing the flavor of the month spec would be too exhausting.
I’m really interested in playing Priest (want a Pandaren healer/caster), and your post is encouraging to me because I worry that Shadow is terrible in open world questing. What has been your experience with that?
I have no issues with open world stuff. It definitely doesn’t solo like a warlock/hunter or like something with tons of leech like a DH, but I don’t feel hindered at all. Pain/VT a bunch of mobs, mind sear then void explosion/mind sear everything down. A couple of shadow mends and you’re back at full. Most elites/rares aren’t too big of an issue either just doing your rotation and putting up shield when needed.
That is super encouraging to hear, thank you.
I am torn between priest and shaman, but I have tried shaman and am, frankly, terrible at it. I wanted so badly to like priest because I like the Light aesthetic and psychic magic and cloth robes, but was worried I would hate it open world because shadow has such a bad rep regarding that.
Thanks for the encouraging words.
If you are really worried about world content, you could always play Disc and DoT everything, Atonement yourself, then Hola Nova to victory. You basically cant die with all that healing from the DoTs 
Opinions are just that.
So here’s mine…the spec is in a good spot. I find the rotation fun. It felt a little clunky leveling and at low ilvl at 120 but it smooths out very well once you reach around 20% haste. A helpful tip if you feel like it takes long to get back into void form casting mind blast and mind flay…save your shadow crash for when you are out of void form.
PvP…it has its ups and down. However we have a lot of utility and when left alone we put out more damage than any other class.
I made this toon my main in 2015 (been playing off and on since 2005), and I’ve never looked back.
This is my opinion. If it feels meh to you then by all means find a class/spec that feels right for you! The forums can be pretty cancerous with opinions and comments.
Edited spelling errors.
Since you dont do much difficult endgame content (Not a dig at the validity of your opinion, just a fact) do you tend to exclusively play your current talent build? You mention Shadow Crash in your “tip” but shadow crash isn’t taken in Arenas, BGs, M+ or Raids in any circumstance. So I’m just curious