For the longest time I was Holy/Disc dual spec. I love healing and I wanted to have the options of best single target, and best aoe healing (for my class) available. The more I played though, the more I only played Disc. I found I was able to heal through every heroic just fine without ever having to switch. Sooooo...
About a week ago I decided to jump over to the dark side. I had tried it once around lvl 40 and couldnt stand it, but figuring now that I am 80 maybe things will be different. I did some resarch and found a dps/raid build that I liked on shadowpriest.com then using all my emblems reserves and a ton of gold I bee line for making the hit cap. I have read all about rotations, and priorities from sites like EJ, shadowpriest.com, and all through the message boards here. I get one I am comfortable with which is (in 5 man heriocs) VT -> VE -> SW:P -> MB -> MF -> SW:P -> VT -> MB ( credit goes to a post from Shamandin) then making sure I keep up DP, and firing MB. When MB is on CD I use MF.
Now that all that is out of the way here is my problem. When using recount to check my DPS on the test dummies in IF I find that I am doing around 1300 - 1600 DPS. BUT when I get into heroics slowly but surely this number drops down significantly. I know that I still have a good bit of tweaking to do with my enchants and gems...but I feel like maybe it's the WAY I play more than anything. When and encounter starts in heroic and lets say there are 3 mobs...I know that we burn down the skull and then follow the kill order. It just seems like most of the time I hardly make it all the way through my rotation before the mob is dead. Should I be DOT'ing everything then tab'ng back to the skull to finish him off? Yesterday when we finished H VH my DPS was down to 968. =( I guess through all this long-windedness, I am just seeing if anyone has more tips than just what gear, what gems, and what enchants...but more along the lines of play style itself. Thanks in advance!
Here is a link to me (only problem is I use outfitter and it equips the rest of my DPS gear when I am in shadowform, and IF is not up) [link=http://www.wowarmory.com/character-sheet.xml?r=Nordrassil&n=Joodas]
- Forums
- World of Warcraft
- Class Discussion
- Can't Get Right Disc / Shadow
Can't Get Right Disc / ShadowFollow
As most dot classes you will see in 5 man's your output damage is a lot lower than in 10/25 mans. Stuff just dies too fast, and spriest gets so much out of their raid buffs.
Target dummy DPS is a joke, imo, just run some naxx and with the massive AoE pulls and mind searing you should have great damage. Boss fights are were you can get full ticks and get a rotation going. Make sure on bosses you apply/re-apply SW:P once you have 5 stacks of shadowweaving.
I see you have done a lot of research in shadow, now to just put it in practice. It's pretty easy to keep a rotation going when you don't have to move, but learning priority on times when you have 3 spells available because you had to run around, will help you also.
In short don't worry too much about dps in 5 mans, in fact I'd go as far to say shadow is most likely the lowest dps spec for heroics. You should be doing more in overall dps in VH because several trash pulls.
I'm guessing some of your items are used for both. Like your shoulder has INT, your chest has mp5,your belt has int and mp5,your legs have spirit which is a wasted socket for any spec (strongest for holy but still better options),
Pick up a useful second trade skill, maybe JC or enchanting
Why did you pick up the glyph of shadow word death? No shadowpriests ever casts this anymore. Not even to build stacks.
All in all don't get too down on yourself, maybe craft the deathchill cloak and guardian weapon, get some enchants and head to naxx and see what you do there with buffs. Flask/food buff along with other buffs really help our class a lot.
The only thing I didn't like about your disc spec is divine fury I found a wasted talnet and you didn't pick up the free heal desprate prayer which has saved me so many times. Also are you really casting renew enough for talnet points? I hardly use it myself. You didn't pick up power infusing (head exploads) This talnet is so awesome, cast on yourself cast on a warlock whatever...pick it up please
The glyph PoH vs Flash heal depends on your main roles in raids, both are useable but I prefer flash heal.
Target dummy DPS is a joke, imo, just run some naxx and with the massive AoE pulls and mind searing you should have great damage. Boss fights are were you can get full ticks and get a rotation going. Make sure on bosses you apply/re-apply SW:P once you have 5 stacks of shadowweaving.
I see you have done a lot of research in shadow, now to just put it in practice. It's pretty easy to keep a rotation going when you don't have to move, but learning priority on times when you have 3 spells available because you had to run around, will help you also.
In short don't worry too much about dps in 5 mans, in fact I'd go as far to say shadow is most likely the lowest dps spec for heroics. You should be doing more in overall dps in VH because several trash pulls.
I'm guessing some of your items are used for both. Like your shoulder has INT, your chest has mp5,your belt has int and mp5,your legs have spirit which is a wasted socket for any spec (strongest for holy but still better options),
Pick up a useful second trade skill, maybe JC or enchanting
Why did you pick up the glyph of shadow word death? No shadowpriests ever casts this anymore. Not even to build stacks.
All in all don't get too down on yourself, maybe craft the deathchill cloak and guardian weapon, get some enchants and head to naxx and see what you do there with buffs. Flask/food buff along with other buffs really help our class a lot.
The only thing I didn't like about your disc spec is divine fury I found a wasted talnet and you didn't pick up the free heal desprate prayer which has saved me so many times. Also are you really casting renew enough for talnet points? I hardly use it myself. You didn't pick up power infusing (head exploads) This talnet is so awesome, cast on yourself cast on a warlock whatever...pick it up please
The glyph PoH vs Flash heal depends on your main roles in raids, both are useable but I prefer flash heal.
1.)Our trash DPS WILL be low. Short fights +lack of Burst DPS= Low DPS
What I do is Mind Sear trash (provided the group is 3+), otherwise, VT > MB >SW:P then just use MB when the CD is down (shouldn't need more that 1 VT). Maybe throw VE if things aren't dying super fast.
2.) Look at current fight DPS rather than overall. As I said, our trash DPS is low, we're best at single targets, not target switching.
3.) I like this starting rotation: VT>MB>VE>MF>DP>PW:S>MB then prioritize:
VE
VT
SW:P
MB
MF
SW:D
Hit up elitist jerks for more tips on better itemization.
Best items for the hit cap (pre-raid), H VH trinket.
Hell, I'm starting Ulduar and I STILL use it.
What I do is Mind Sear trash (provided the group is 3+), otherwise, VT > MB >SW:P then just use MB when the CD is down (shouldn't need more that 1 VT). Maybe throw VE if things aren't dying super fast.
2.) Look at current fight DPS rather than overall. As I said, our trash DPS is low, we're best at single targets, not target switching.
3.) I like this starting rotation: VT>MB>VE>MF>DP>PW:S>MB then prioritize:
VE
VT
SW:P
MB
MF
SW:D
Hit up elitist jerks for more tips on better itemization.
Best items for the hit cap (pre-raid), H VH trinket.
Hell, I'm starting Ulduar and I STILL use it.
7 posts
Thank you both for the great info!!
My gear is somewhat in a shambles. When I am able to log back on I will change forms so you can see all my actual dps gear, and get a better feel for my stats. But yes a lot of my gear is Disc hand-me-downs as I try and build up DPS gear. Though it doesnt show it on my link right now I am hit capped...actually a little over.
I will make the spec adjustments that you suggested about dropping divine fury, picking up desperate prayer and power infusion. As for renew, I do use it all the time. Between my bubbles mitigation and renew always ticking I like the controlled chaos of it all. = )
I will also remove the SW:D glyph I forgot that was in there. I do not use it often if at all in 5 mans.
Going to try the new suggested rotations as soon as the servers are back up. Thanks again!
My gear is somewhat in a shambles. When I am able to log back on I will change forms so you can see all my actual dps gear, and get a better feel for my stats. But yes a lot of my gear is Disc hand-me-downs as I try and build up DPS gear. Though it doesnt show it on my link right now I am hit capped...actually a little over.
I will make the spec adjustments that you suggested about dropping divine fury, picking up desperate prayer and power infusion. As for renew, I do use it all the time. Between my bubbles mitigation and renew always ticking I like the controlled chaos of it all. = )
I will also remove the SW:D glyph I forgot that was in there. I do not use it often if at all in 5 mans.
Going to try the new suggested rotations as soon as the servers are back up. Thanks again!
Are you sure you're over 289? Seems hard to beleive you would be that much over =)
Finally managed to see your armory page (wouldn't load before)
A couple other items:
1.) Picking up focused mind is important. You won't likely run into mana issues in heroics, but in raids you will. I would drop 3 points from either Veiled shadow, Imp. VE, or Inner Focus to pick that up. You can even drop spirit tap if you like, we don't get that manay killing blows and the improved from doesn't help out that much.
2.)Minor fade glyph is handy. So is levitate glyph.
(To Smoopie: He's draeni, he only need 263.)
A couple other items:
1.) Picking up focused mind is important. You won't likely run into mana issues in heroics, but in raids you will. I would drop 3 points from either Veiled shadow, Imp. VE, or Inner Focus to pick that up. You can even drop spirit tap if you like, we don't get that manay killing blows and the improved from doesn't help out that much.
2.)Minor fade glyph is handy. So is levitate glyph.
(To Smoopie: He's draeni, he only need 263.)
7 posts
Good call on the spirit tap thing. I forgot that it was only on killing blows. I'll also update my glyphs.
Spent some more money yesterday and picked up the Titansteel Guardian, and some spellthread so with these investments pushed my SP up to 1877. Might wanna check my armory again, I am pretty sure I logged out in shadowform. = )
Thanks to everyone again for their input.
Edited, Jun 3rd 2009 9:32am by LoopHoLeZ
Spent some more money yesterday and picked up the Titansteel Guardian, and some spellthread so with these investments pushed my SP up to 1877. Might wanna check my armory again, I am pretty sure I logged out in shadowform. = )
Thanks to everyone again for their input.
Edited, Jun 3rd 2009 9:32am by LoopHoLeZ
Ok, in your shadow gear, you WAAAAAAY too much hit. It's not bad, per say, but it's kinda a waste to have too much hit.
As a dranei Shadow priest, you only need about 263.
You have 423.
I suggested the hit trinket as mostly a crutch, but seeing as you don't need it, put in the bank for now.
Re-gem for more spellpower over hit. Run for pieces that give ( in this order) Spellpower>Ctit/Haste>Int/Spirit to replace a couple pieces of your hit gear so that you're around 263 (preferable slightly over that under)
Short version: Make your best effort to stay around 263 hit, that's all you really need.
Edited, Jun 3rd 2009 11:22am by BakaShinobi
As a dranei Shadow priest, you only need about 263.
You have 423.
I suggested the hit trinket as mostly a crutch, but seeing as you don't need it, put in the bank for now.
Re-gem for more spellpower over hit. Run for pieces that give ( in this order) Spellpower>Ctit/Haste>Int/Spirit to replace a couple pieces of your hit gear so that you're around 263 (preferable slightly over that under)
Short version: Make your best effort to stay around 263 hit, that's all you really need.
Edited, Jun 3rd 2009 11:22am by BakaShinobi
Quote:
Ok, in your shadow gear, you WAAAAAAY too much hit. It's not bad, per say, but it's kinda a waste to have too much hit.
Since spell hit confuses me, clear that up for me. Why isn't that bad? I thought you needed 18% hit to reach the cap so none of your spells wouldn't miss anymore; afterwards hit becomes useless.
It's not bad in the sense that its going to seriously hamper DPS compared to if he stacked spirit. It's better than not having any (which I did for a bit >.<)
Some classes don't have an attainable hit cap, so as much hit as possible helps. I think that may be something the OP had in mind when he started staking hit.
Shadowpriests have a rather easy hit cap to hit, so going over isn't inconceivable.
In short: Having too much hit isn't so much bad as it is a plain old waste.
Some classes don't have an attainable hit cap, so as much hit as possible helps. I think that may be something the OP had in mind when he started staking hit.
Shadowpriests have a rather easy hit cap to hit, so going over isn't inconceivable.
In short: Having too much hit isn't so much bad as it is a plain old waste.
7 posts
Great now I am more confused than ever. I too thought I needed 17% hit. So now I only need 263? I really appreciate all the info guys!
7 posts
I will test out this 263 theory tonight or tomorrow. BUT in the link you provided it said 446 to be hit capped to where you won't miss at all. Thanks for the link.
go down to the chart, it lists what talents modify hit
7 posts
Ok, so I guess I figured racials, and talents were figured into the hit rating that shows up on my charecter screen. As soon as I have a chance I'll regem and aim for 263. Much thanks!
Recent Visitors: 208
All times are in CST
Anonymous Guests (208)
- Forums
- World of Warcraft
- Class Discussion
- Can't Get Right Disc / Shadow
© 2024 Fanbyte LLC