So I didn't really play a whole lot back in Vanilla but was reading up on things and noticed someone mentioning a limit on the number of debuffs a target can have? Was hoping someone could explain it to me and if TheRebirth also has a limit.
Posted Jun 13, 2015, 1:04 AM UTC
Also debuffs have a priority order so more important ones don't get knocked off.
We dont have a fully functioning (blizzlike) debuff system as far as I am aware, some are protected from being knocked off like warlock curses. The problem is blizzard information on all debuffs and the priority rankings are not easy (maybe impossible) to find. There are so many possible debuffs making it 100% accurate is almost impossible, but most class based debuffs are working in a pretty accurate fashion.
Thanks for the responses.
As a follow up question how much would the limit effect a shadow priest (are they even viable?) since they have a few dots and abilities that would count as debuffs.
As a SP you'll probably only ever have shadow weaving, SWP and VE up on a boss (and i guess devouring plague if UD). I'm not certain but I imagine raid bosses are immune to the mind flay debuff so it doesn't even proc up there and I'm pretty sure shadow weaving will only apply once per raid not from each SP.
As a raiding Shadow Priest yes they are viable. But if you're competing against another, then you're going to have a hard time finding a core spot in raids and loot. Since you really only want 1 and MAX 2 if raids are struggling for DPS and numbers.
Taking up an extra 2 debuff slots on an extra VE or SW:P generally isn't worth it. Trying to get max stacks of SW faster isn't an argument either. I can put up 5 stacks in less than 2sec with a quick Rank1 MF cast/cancel and it also doesn't stack per caster.
At most you're going to put up 2 debuffs Shadow Weaving and Vampiric Embrace since. As nice as Shadow Word: Pain ticks for, its not the most mana efficient DoT at higher ranks. For trash an extra debuff won't matter as much. On bosses it should really only be put up if for some reason Locks aren't putting up their DoTs or to ensure boss kills. I generally only use SW:P on trash and once at the start of boss fights to kick start a faster SW stack.
Mind Flay WILL and SHOULD be the main DPS spell you're using, don't get used to casting Mind Blast every cool down unless you've taken threat reduction talents from Discipline and Shadow trees... and unless you plan to go OOM faster than Boomkins, or have the consumables / gear to support it.
Overall they are a great hybrid class but ultimately fill a niche roll. Don't let that deter you though since they are a super fun class to play [pew pew lasers everywhere] and they are fanstatic in PvP. Just keep that in mind and also be prepared to put together a Healing set as well.
Thank you, that's really helpful information, hadn't even considered using low rank Mind Flay as a method to stack Shadow Weaving.
As an Undead is Devouring Plague worth a debuff slot or would that also be a trash only kind of situation?
Devouring Plague 'could' be worth putting up whenever possible, but I would use it instead of SW:P. Since the damage it does increases with spell power, its comparable to if not better than a max rank SW:P. The only downside is that its double the mana cost.
If you're not having mana issues I would say its worth while since it heals you as well. Combine that with VE you're saving dedicated healers mana, instead of healing you. Though like SW:P its mana intensive, even more so.
In saying that, on trash you're unlikely to need an extra heal if you're at least getting VE and MF on a mob. That will keep you above 90% through 99.9% of trash unless something horribly goes wrong. It's also good for those fights when DoTs aren't being put up or to ensure a boss kill.
Undead SPriests shine in PvP with that DoT. I'm not super into PvP. So my spec is more reflected to the niche PvE roll of hybrid healer, a %dmg increase / constant heal for the warlocks and sometimes even in main tank group to keep a stream of heal ticks going so they are always topped off.
There will be times when those extra DoT's will help but generally any more than 1-2 debuff slots [VE & SW] might cause you knock off a more important one for some extra DPS that ultimately will go unnoticed in a boss fight. On trash GO NUTS with all the DoTs.
I would say keep the standard VE and SW combo and consider DevP and SW:P when they could be used. Like I mentioned before, even on bosses I stick up one DoT at the beginning since it already puts up 1 stack of SW then follow it up with a quick MF cancel. In 2-4 sec there is 5 stacks = Locks are LOVING you. Really depends on your play style and if you're looking to PVP or help on heals in raids etc... Or if your guild is happy for you to just go nuts, just find what works.
Target can only have 16 debuffs on it and The Rebirth has that limit.