Need help with Shadow DPS

[Cinisa 0]

I have been progressing on Normal Highmaul and I have been struggling to output decent DPS.  I am posting my logs from tonight's raid and I am looking for any suggestions to optimize my DPS.  Thank you for any advice.

 

https://www.warcraftlogs.com/reports/VWm63qjnNkT1dL27#type=damage-done&source=103

[Brutalpriest 60]

Armory link please.

 

Here's what I've been using: http://howtopriest.com/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=6291

 

That's helpful for a lot of it.  I tentatively recommend using Icy Vein's dotweave though.  For me, it does slightly more damage, and is a lot easier to use.

[Cinisa 0]

Of course, here it is:

 

http://us.battle.net/wow/en/character/area-52/Cinisa/simple

 

I actually saw that site last night after our raid and started practicing the dotweave, but it was hard to tell on the dummy if it was helping.

[Zierlyn 1]

Looking over the log you posted, I don't see damage from Mind Flay: Insanity. Is this a bug with the log? If not then that's one source of the problem. Dotweaving does take a while to get used to, since you have to basically unlearn all your muscle memory built up for years as a shadowpriest. It has taken me three weeks to get the hang of it to a level where I'm competitive with the top dps in my guild and I'm still making all kinds of mistakes. (Like applying SW:P to my target while I move, even though it will kill the damage of my next Mind Spike). Also, you are probably aware, but just in case someone reading this doesn't realize it: Mind Spike will also kill Devouring Plague off your target, so don't do that.

 

A very simplified breakdown of the technique is you keep dots off your current target, Mind Blast whenever it is up, mind spike for filler until you have 4 Shadow Orbs. My personal preference at this point is 2 more mind spikes, apply SW:P, Mind Blast to 5 orbs, then VT, then DP, then MF:Insanity, then MB when it pops, then MF:I, then DP again, then MB, then finish with two MF:I, and by that time SW:P and VT will have just fallen off, leaving you to mind spike freely again and restart the whole mess.

 

Complicated and very unnatural at first, but definitely a powerful way to play.

 

If one is looking for a playstyle closer to previous expansions, I hear Auspicious Spirits instead of CoP isn't too much worse for DPS, and someone with AS who is used to the rotation does better than someone with CoP who isn't used to it at all. But CoP is the higher damage spec once you get the hang of it.0

 

Additionally, Mastery is currently one of our worse secondary stats, and you should consider stacking Haste wherever possible.

Edited December 17, 2014 by Zierlyn

[Brutalpriest 60]

OK.  Back from work.

 

Icy Vein's dotweave is such:

 

Start with the mind blast that gets you to 4th orb, Spike Pain VampTouch.

 

Blast Plague Insanityyyyyyyy(full duration)

 

Blast Plague Insanityyyyyyyy(full duration)

 

Blast (spike spike spike blast and repeat.)

 

For me, it out-damages Drye's dotweave, but that could change based on your secondary stats, and it was on training dummies.  

Remember to dot secondary targets with pain and vamp as replacements for your mind spikes.  

 

Our dps goes up a lot during execution phase, 20% and less.  at that point I recommend a priority of: Plague(5 orbs), Death(x2), Blast, Plague(4- orbs), Insanity.  

 

Your optimization looks good.  I disagree with your lv.15 talent, but that's not dps related so whatever.  

[Nuadria 20]

Building on what Brutalpriest said, Mastery, for shadow, is currently very poor. I've been having to replace mastery gear with haste gear in order to break past averaging 5-6k, even though I can burst to 11k at my current ilevel. Would anyone else be able to give me a breakdown of the CoP dot weaving rotation? I recently hit level 100, and want to give the CoP DoT weaving a try, and want to see how other people who are experienced with the DoT weaving rotation have to see about it. Thank you in advance!

Edited December 18, 2014 by Nuadria

[Brutalpriest 60]

Nuadria, are you looking for Drye's dotweave in particular?  The link is above.  I just posted Icy Vein's the post before yours.

[Cinisa 0]

Thanks for the help! Please take a look at this heroic Kargath log from tonight, I think it's a little better:

 

https://www.warcraftlogs.com/reports/YWqMvAmLpbw9CDkf#type=summary&fight=6

 

I did die just after the 6 min mark when a fire pillar decided to whack-a-mole itself right before Kargath would have been stunned. Before that point I was roughly in the 17k area.

 

I was attempting to use Drye's dotweaving technique and most of the time I had it down although it felt like I slipped up a couple times.

[Brutalpriest 60]

Pretty good.  Keep practicing.  Remember to think on your feet.  If the trap suddenly falls, drop an Angelic Feather on your feet, disperse, and run straight _into_ and through the nearest fire trap.  Also scream in vent for everyone not in the stands to look out.  

[Cinisa 0]

Thank you, I will! I probably could have had even more output if I wasn't the lucky one to be chased more than half the fight!  XD

[Evilbrood 0]

Ok,  my dps sux and am trying the weave.  It is difficult to get everything right but will keep at it.  I have a ton of mastery as I had read that was the way to go.  I am now reading that is maybe not the best way.  I would like futher explanation if you would share.  http://us.battle.net/wow/en/character/silvermoon/Evilbrood/advanced .  I have been playing since the outset.  I am 70 and still love to play but have always strived to be at the top.  Not sure that is possible anymore.

Edited December 24, 2014 by Brutalpriest
Link broken. Repaired

[Brutalpriest 60]

Evil: Your link doesn't work.  I fixed it for you.

 

I see you have Glyph of Mind Harvest.  I admit it's very nice for questing, trash, and maybe certain bosses, I recommend you stop using it completely.  It's bad to be using a completely different rotation, and then go back to the correct one suddenly when you're fighting a raid boss.  

 

As for DPS, can we get some logs?  I'm not really sure what you're doing wrong.

 

Don't worry about secondary stats for now, except to try to avoid versitility if the ilvls on two items are very close.