Shadow Spell Animations

Classes Priest
1

They are quite lacking and I don’t see that changing unless…they tweak Devouring Plague. I get that people really like it and that It’s a legacy ability and all but maybe the ability could work the same while getting a visual change and a rename.

The name Devouring Plague really seems out of place IMO. What if instead of a normal DoT it instead acted more like the tentacle former artifact trait-turned-corruption-turned-legendary. They keep bringing it back for a reason. It’s visually appealing. Make the insanity spender instead summon an apparition (different visually than Shadowy Apparitions) that instead of floating toward your target, stands(floats) near you and channels mind flay at the target instead.

It would still essentially be a DoT but with improved visuals. To counter it could still be dispelled but instead of targeting the ally to dispel it you would dispel(not kick) the apparition to get rid of it similar to the ghost mobs in De Other Side. With any other channel or DoT you can’t LoS and you wouldn’t be able to run out of range.

Maybe the channel could also slow allowing the priest to benefit from the mind flay slow to actually kite an opponent. Mastery could also benefit while the apparition(not you) channels at the target, but not stack for multiple apparitions.

The only real difference is that it would not ignite stack but rather have multiple applications via multiple spawns.

Thoughts?

2

I’d love to see some new ability graphics, primarily Shadowform but I agree that Devouring Plague thematically doesn’t fit the class fantasy. It made sense when it was intended for only Undead Priests but now that it’s THE Insanity spender it really doesn’t fit in name or function and the spell graphic is kinda random.

3

Devouring plague could use a thematic update to be more in-line with current spriest fantasy. Called Devouring Void or something.

But even without a rename, the spell effect needs an update. It’s very old. Mind sear also needs an update, and the dots have no persistant particle effect like most of the other dots in the game.

Searing nightmare is a new ability but has virtually no visual effect either, could use a touch up to be more visual, even if it’s only for the spriest.

4

Honestly Blizzard dropped the ball on animations for the new class abilities added this expansion.

The covenants abilities look good but that’s about it. Most class abilities are pretty underwhelming