Shadow Priests in World of Warcraft can rejoice: The Shadowform is returning to the game with a toggle switch. Additionally, there’s a hefty damage buff.
With the extensive class changes in World of Warcraft: Legion, there were some winners and also a few losers. On the shadowy side (Ha!), the Priests with the Shadow specialization were rather unfortunate.
Too shadowy and too weak
Even during leveling, it was noticeable that enemies fall very slowly and it’s quickly over when facing multiple opponents at once. But that was not the only complaint. Shadow Priests could not deactivate their Shadowform since patch 7.0.3 – it was a fixed part of the specialization. Only when switching to “Discipline” or “Holy”, could one admire their character in full splendor and without all that shadowy appearance. Especially annoying: Not even the cool artifact weapon Xal’atath can be seen in all its glory, as it also becomes transparent in Shadowform.
Due to numerous complaints in the forum, Blizzard is rolling back with Patch 7.1 and grants Shadow Priests their Shadowform back as a skill. In detail, the changes are as follows:
“Shadowform returns as a new spell for Shadow Priests:
- Assume a Shadowform that increases shadow damage dealt by 10% and reduces physical damage taken by 10%.
- You cannot cast Holy spells in this form.
- The “shadowy appearance” is tied to the Shadowform.
- Voidform now enhances Shadowform. It automatically activates Shadowform (if not already active), and you receive the bonuses from both forms.
- When Voidform ends, you return to Shadowform.
However, the actual playstyle does not change at all. In combat, the Shadow form will be permanently active anyway (you would be pretty dumb not to do it), and only the two buffs will come into play. Outside of battles, Priests can also shed their shadowy guise – just like before.
Cortyn says: I’m pretty happy about this small change because I have missed being able to occasionally drop the Shadowform. It was also simply impractical to have to look at the great new gear in another specialization to decide whether it visually fits at all. Although in Shadowform everything fits together anyway. Always. It also makes transmogging somehow boring.
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