before i go on, ive sent this question in game in the general chat several times and ive gotten 99% responses back as Death Knight. i know an Unholy DK is the closest thing to a Necromancer since the undead minions and death skills, but im looking specifically between the two spell casters. A Warlock or Shadow Priest.
Now here is my opinion. i know warlocks are based around death magic and summoning demons as their servants therefore very close to a necromancer but Shadow Priests have Vampiric abilities (vampires being considered undead) and shadowy apparitions (spirts/ghosts) as well as unholy magic.
would love some of the communities input as to what you think between the two.
thanks!
I like the idea of a full on necromancer class. It would of course be in the same zip code as the death knight. But I feel Blizzard could do some interesting stuff that makes the game play feel more unique. I imagine necromancer would be an addition to the cloth wearers club.
With that said I have little confidence that Blizzard will introduce a new class any time soon.
3 Likes
a necro spell class would be great! but out of the two (warlock/shadow priest) which do you feel is the closest?
I would say warlock. I know they summon demons but most of their looks and spells scream necromancy
4 Likes
I don’t think wow has a class that completely fits the necromancer archetype, you either get a magic undead warrior that can partially control 1 or 2 zombies or a shadowcaster that summons demons.
1 Like
It depends a bit on what aspect of it you want.
Warlocks mix in fire magic with their shadow stuff, but they play to the summoning aspect better with their minions. Especially if you’re demonology.
Shadow Priests are purely about shadow magic, which I’d say plays to the actual caster theme a bit better.
1 Like
Warlocks are closer to necromancer’s than shadow priests in general.
A warlock can and will use any source of power they can get a hold of, some of which if death/shadow magic, it just happens that they most often specialize in demons because of the burning legion and it’s relation to fel/shadow magic.
Shadow priests are often insane and care more about spreading that insanity to break their enemies and wear them down with the pure unmitigated powah of shadow magic.
2 Likes
Affliction Warlocks, they have abilities like Deathbolt, Siphon life, and Haunt as well as using resources like Soulshards.
2 Likes
For me a Warlock is closer to Necromancer than a DK.
Necromancers are outcasts who chose to dig into forbidden magic to increase their power. And that’s exactly what a Warlock is.
1 Like
So… kinda like Night Elf Mages…?
Necromancy is defined as the practice of magic involving communication with the dead or summoning their spirits (apparitions). thats why i think shadow priests are like necromancers as well since they have death magic like shadow word death and summon apparitions
Just give demo warlocks a glyph to make their minions into undead since blizz seems hell bent on there only being new melee classes.
Bam skeleton mage army instead of imps
1 Like
Fel magic, has had been beaten into my thick skull countless times. Warlocks only use fel magic. nothing else.
Warlock especially Demonology.
Necromancy always had the themes of birth and inability to let go of the past. Necromancers often seem to be seeking to break the confines of the life/death cycle. They are rebelling against nature itself. Think Dr Frankenstein.
Whereas a shadow priest if they fall into the Vampire motif as you say, are more interested in personal power or dominating those around them and prolonging their own life.
To put it another way Necormnacer’s often show their power through the ability to create life separate from themselves even if they personally aren’t more empowered. They are the “creator”. Whereas Vampires destroy others for their personal benefit. It’s about their own personal power not creating something new and separate.
So Demonology which is about summoning creatures of great power to do your bidding seems much more in line with necromancy than one who empower themselves through Shadow magic.
1 Like
This is a good case for SPriests. I personally still feel Locks are closer to Necro , but I like where you’re coming from.
1 Like
Affliction warlock with the artifact weapon. We’re basically necromancers minus the magic school.
2 Likes
very good points! thank you.
I honestly feel like if Blizzard wanted to they could just make a cosmetic glyph for Demo that turned its demon models into undead. They’d have a perfect Necromancer with no spell changes required.
Edit for auto complete.
2 Likes
This is such a good idea. I really feel like they should dramatically expand the glyph system for spells and abilities to make things more thematically interesting and consistent. It always feels wrong to use a light healing spell on my Void S.Priest for instance.
I understand the objection for readability to others in PvP. But I think that is a non-issue in Open World PvP and if you just have it disable in BGs and Arena which should be easier than the changes that already happen with gear then it’s a non-issue.
2 Likes