Shadowy Apparitions | |
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Properties | |
Class | Priest |
Talents | |
Talent required | [Devouring Plague] |
Other information | |
Affects | [Devouring Plague], [Mind Blast], [Void Bolt] |
Improvements | [Auspicious Spirits], [Idol of Yogg-Saron], [Tormented Spirits], [Phantasmal Pathogen] |
Shadowy Apparitions is a passive Shadow priest ability. Each time [Devouring Plague], [Mind Blast], and [Void Bolt] are cast, 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.
Notes
- Shadowy Apparitions will not spawn if no targets are afflicted by the caster's [Vampiric Touch]. There is no limit on how many Apparitions may be up at one time.
- If using [Whispering Shadows] it is important to land it and apply Vampiric Touch as close as possible to when combat starts. Timing the opener precisely will ensure that VT is applied before [Mind Blast] (an instant hit ability), and this ordering will ensure that the Apparitions are summoned.
- Extra apparitions are randomly summoned with [Tormented Spirits], and each tick of each application of [Shadow Word: Pain] counts as a spawn chance independently. When combined with [Auspicious Spirits] generating an extra Apparition per target - more chances and more spawns per chance means this exponentially increases Insanity generation in AOE. This leads to funnel damage, where fighting massed monsters in AOE generates a large amount resources that can be used for single target damage.
- Apparitions spawn from the priest about 300ms after the cast completes. Apparitions are considered a missile effect, cannot be targeted and will not switch targets. Therefore, the closer the priest is to the target, the quicker the Apparition will deal damage and targets at different ranges will be hit by Apparitions at different times.
- Apparition damage is calculated on impact and the damage of the apparition cannot critically strike. If their target dies or otherwise becomes no longer valid, the damage is lost.
Trivia
- Prior to patch 5.4.0, 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 behavior of Apparitions was often erratic. They 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. Some 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 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.
Gallery
Artwork on the TCG card "Shadow Silhouettes".
Patch changes
- Hotfix (2023-08-07): Damage reduced by 15%. Does not apply to PvP.
- Patch 10.0.7 (2023-03-21): Fixed an issue causing Insanity generation from Shadowy Apparitions to trigger on spawn instead of when the apparition deals damage.
- Hotfix (2022-12-19): Damage increased by 10%.
- Hotfix (2022-11-01): Damage increased by 10%.
- Patch 10.0.0 (2022-10-25): Now a row 2 Shadow talent (was a level 29 Shadow ability). Mind Sear now has a 50% chance to summon an Apparition. Critical strikes now increase the Apparitions' damage by 100% instead of creating two Apparitions.
- Patch 9.0.5 (2021-03-09): No longer causes targets to drop Stealth if they deal no damage.
- Patch 9.0.1 (2020-10-13): Lowered from level 38 to 29 and redesigned. When you use Mind Blast, Devouring Plague or Void Bolt you also create a shadowy version of yourself that floats towards all targets afflicted by your Vampiric Touch dealing (17% of Spell power) Shadow damage. Critical strikes will cause two Apparitions to be created.
- Previous ability: When your Shadow Word: Pain damage over time critically strikes, you also create a shadowy version of yourself that floats towards the target and deals (25% of spell power) Shadow damage.
- Previous ability: When your Shadow Word: Pain damage over time critically strikes, you also create a shadowy version of yourself that floats towards the target and deals (25% of spell power) Shadow damage.
- Patch 8.0.1 (2018-07-17): Shadowy Apparitions can no longer critically strike.
- Hotfix (2017-01-17): Damage reduced by 4%.
- Patch 7.1.5 (2017-01-10): Damage caused by Shadowy Apparition should no longer break control effects such as [Polymorph] or [Freezing Trap].
- Patch 7.1.0 (2016-10-25): Damage reduced by 9.1%. Now learned at level 38 (was 34).
- Patch 7.0.3 (2016-07-19): Damage reduced by 33%. Now learned at level 34 (was 42).
- Patch 5.4.0 (2013-09-10): Effect rebuilt. Now creates a shadowy version of the Priest that floats towards the target and deals damage. The apparitions are now treated as a missile, and will no longer be considered an attackable creature. There is no longer a cap on active apparitions (was 3).
- Hotfix (2013-03-05): Shadowy Apparitions will no longer pursue targets that are actively stealthed.
- Patch 5.0.4 (2012-08-28): Renamed from Shadowy Apparition, and changed from a Tier 6 Shadow talent to a baseline level 42 Shadow ability. Apparitions will now only trigger on critical periodic damage. Chance to trigger is now 100% (up from 8%, or 40% while moving). Only a maximum of 3 apparitions may be active, down from 4.
- Patch 4.3.0 (2011-11-29): Shadowy Apparitions should now benefit from effects on the priest that increase spell damage.
- Patch 4.1.0 (2011-04-26): Shadowy Apparitions now benefit from the priest's spell penetration.
- Patch 4.0.1 (2010-10-12): Added.
See also
- Shadow Silhouettes, TCG card
External links
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