Shadowy Apparitions



Shadowy Apparitions is a passive level 29 Shadow priest ability. Each time Devouring Plague, Mind Blast, and Void Bolt deal damage, a Shadowy Apparition is summoned against each target afflicted by Vampiric Touch.

Shadowy Apparitions are shadowy versions of the caster that float slowly toward the afflicted target. Upon reaching their target, they deal instant shadow damage and disappear.

Talents

 * Auspicious Spirits causes each Apparition to generate 2 Insanity and increases their damage dealt by 15%.

History and Trivia
Prior to Patch 5.4, Shadowy Apparitions were non-controllable guardian pets. They could be targeted, and receive spells such as Power Word: Shield, Mind Vision, Levitate and even Leap of Faith, although there was rarely if ever any reason to attack or cast spells on an Apparition. The Apparitions appeared simply as shadowy, semi-transparent replicas of the casting priest, and would respond to terrain with normal animations, swimming when underwater, and making footstep sounds when walking on appropriate surfaces. The Apparitions moved on foot at walking speed, and so could often be easily avoided simply by moving away from them. They would also occasionally get stuck on terrain and objects, and could not reach flying targets.

The behavior of Apparitions was often erratic. Some but not all Apparitions would despawn within a few seconds if their target died. The surviving Apparitions would not attempt to pursue other targets, but instead returned to the priest, and followed the priest until they despawned. These Apparitions would not deal damage or despawn upon contact with other targets, and would match the priest's speed even if mounted. It was also possible for Apparitions to spawn shortly after the death of the target.

These elements caused problems for shadow priests when fighting bosses involving flight or heavy movement. To combat these problems, Shadowy Apparitions were eventually redesigned as a floating missile effect.

Apparitions' original appearance was based on that of the priest at the time that they were spawned. Priests suffering from the effects of Polymorph, Hex or other transformations would therefore spawn Apparitions that matched their current form. However, Shadowy Apparitions would always appear in Shadowform, even if the priest was not.