Shadowburn is a Destruction warlock talent. It is an instant cast direct damage spell that deals Shadow damage. If the target dies within 5 seconds, the warlock gains 2 [Soul Shards].
If you want to maximize your damage as a warlock in a party, you should finish the mob using Shadowburn when there is too little time for another DoT or Shadow Bolt.
In duels, it is tempting to save the Shadowburn until you are sure that the opponent is about to die. A better strategy may be to use Shadowburn whenever possible, as this will result in a higher damage output.
Patch changes[]
Hotfix (2023-06-05):Damage is now increased by 15% in PvP Combat (was 45%).
Hotfix (2023-05-15):Damage increased by 45% in PvP Combat (was 65%).
Damage increased by 20%. Does not apply in PvP combat.
Damage increased by 65% in PvP combat (was 50%).
Patch 10.0.7 (2023-03-21): Damage is now increased by 25% in PvP combat (was 30%).
Hotfix (2022-12-19):Damage increased by 30% in PvP Combat.
Patch 10.0.0 (2022-10-25): Now a row 5 Destruction talent (was a level 25 Destruction talent).
Patch 9.1.0 (2021-06-29): Damage increased by 23% and now refreshes a charge if the target dies within 5 seconds.
Patch 9.0.1 (2020-10-13): Now costs a Soul Shard, has 50% critical strike chance on targets that have 20% or less health, and its cooldown is now reduced by Haste. No longer resets its cooldown when the target dies. Now available at level 25 (was 30).
Patch 8.0.1 (2018-07-17): Redesigned as a level 30 talent (was 15): Blasts a target for (60% of Spell power) Shadowflame damage. If the target dies within 5 sec and yields experience or honor, Shadowburn's cooldown is reset. Generates 3 Soul Shard Fragments. No longer replaces [Conflagrate].
Old: Blasts a target for (315% of Spell power) Shadowflame damage. Generates 5 Soul Shard Fragments and an additional 5 Soul Shard Fragments if the target dies within 5 sec.
Hotfix (2017-06-14):Shadowburn now causes Cremation damage, as intended.
Patch 7.2.5 (2017-06-13): Shadowburn now generates 6 Soul Shard Fragments and an additional 6 if the target dies within 5 seconds.
Patch 7.1.5 (2017-01-10): Now replaces Conflagrate, and now generates a Shard, plus an additional Shard on kill. Damage type is now Shadowflame (was Shadow).
Hotfix (2016-11-01):Shadowburn now deals 20% less damage in PvP.
Patch 7.0.3 (2016-07-19): Now a level 15 Destruction talent (was a level 47 Destruction ability). Damage reduced by 20%.
Hotfix (2015-11-20):Now deals 20% more damage while in PvP combat.
Hotfix (2014-12-15):Shadowburn's damage has been increased by 8%.
Patch 6.0.2 (2014-10-14): No longer generates any mana.
Hotfix (2013-03-05):Shadowburn now properly generates 2 Burning Embers after killing a target that yields experience or honor.
Hotfix (2012-09-14):Shadowburn should always return a Burning Ember when it instantly kills the warlock's target.
Patch 5.0.4 (2012-08-28): Now costs Burning Embers instead of mana. Now restores 15% mana after 5 seconds, and Burning Embers when the target dies (was Soul Shards). Damage type changed from Shdaowflame to Shadow. Now a level 47 Destruction ability (was a tier 3 Destruction talent).
Patch 4.3.0 (2011-11-29): Now deals Shadowflame damage, instead of Shadow damage.
Patch 4.0.3a (2010-11-23): Damage has been reduced by approximately 12%.
Patch 4.0.1 (2010-10-12): Changed. Only usable on targets with less than 20% Health. If the target dies during the duration, all three Soul Shards are refreshed. No longer requires a Soul Shard to use.
Patch 2.0.1 (2006-12-05): Fixed an issue where the Warlock spell "Shadowburn" was improperly consuming two Soul Shards.
Patch 1.11.0 (2006-06-19): If you cast Drain Soul while this aura is on the victim, you will no longer receive two soul shards upon the victim's death.
Patch 1.10.0 (2006-03-28): The debuff which produces the soul shard upon death is now visble to the player and has a 5 sec duration. The Warlock will no longer sometimes receive two soul shards upon the victim's death. Targets which do not grant experience or honor will no longer produce shards. This spell will no longer apply its debuff to the creature when the spell is resisted.
Patch 1.5.0 (2005-06-07): Honorable kills will now generate a Soul Shard when Shadowburn is used.
[Roaring Blaze]/
[Improved Conflagrate] or 
[Explosive Potential]
[Ashen Remains], 
[Burn to Ashes], 
[Chaos Incarnate], 
[Conflagration of Chaos], 
[Eradication], 
[Madness of the Azj'Aqir], 
[Ruin]
[Soul Shards].
Hotfix (2023-06-05): Damage is now increased by 15% in PvP Combat (was 45%). 
