19 Shadow Priests in MoP

[Donalaar]

Hey guys, I'm a new kid on the block. Or maybe more of a returning kid on he block.

I played a lot on my twinks back in vanilla and tbc, and in cata I returned for a month or so to play on my priest twink since Shadow had become a great spec. Back then, they could regenerate shadow orbs and they could, maybe most importantly, cast Mind Blast.

I am now thinking about starting to play on my priest again, but only if it's still a decent dps. Is it possible to pwn around with only Mind Flay and Shadow word: Pain? Discipline is not an alternative, I'd rather play on my druid or warrior instead.

Please, submit your personal experiences and thoughts on 19 shadow priests in MoP, I need to hear how they are i.e. if they are useless, okay or great.

Thanks
Don

 

[Dorigon]

Shadow priests are lacking at 19 in MoP. Their arsenal is too limited.

 

[Donalaar]

So you would say that shadow is currently unplayable in 19 due to lack of spells? It's not worth giving it a try?

I found a blood elf named Penicíllín in the armory link extension, and he has not given up the shadow spec.

I think imma buy some game time now, spec shadow and try the dps on some random mobs. Let's pray for the damage of Mindflay..

 

[notoriousthf]

You do better spamming smite and holy fire unspecced. The only useful thing left about shadow spec is the snare from mind flay. The burst shadow spec had from cata is just not there anymore. You can't two shot people with lucky crits anymore.

 

[Sly]

If you'd rather play a shadow priest than play in the 19's bracket, you could always just level up to 24 and get shadowform for some E.Z. moade twinking. Currently, 24 spriests are ridiculously overpowered. Throw in the fact that at least half of the bracket is F2P players (and therefore capped at level 20) and you have the perfect cure for insomnia - the slow, melodic clicking of keys as you faceroll the FC and his bodyguard, or single handedly conquer the BS. Keep in mind, though, that there are many in the F2P community that abhor 24's and believe they are a cancer to the bracket - which I believe is the most competitive and populated bracket (though to be fair I haven't played in any others).
Personally, I think playing a P2P shadow priest against F2P players is a bit excessive. On my Prot Pally (another class who earned the favor of the twink gods in MoP), I've been dropped by 24 spriests before I've even had time to react. I sit a little over 1.8k unbuffed. In the end, though, it's up to you and what you're looking for in your twinking experience. After all, you're paying for the game, and we aren't.
I'd also like to say that although spriest DPS is subpar pre-shadowform, low level heals remain pretty strong and I believe you could successfully play a support role by dotting enemies up for extra damage, using mind flay to slow escaping or approaching enemies (not just from you but from other ranged allies), casting PW:S on allies when they're being focused, and topping em off when they need it. I think it would still qualify for "decent" DPS, but the main flaw I see is their lack of burst before they hit 24. Spamming SW is the quickest way for them to finish off a mob, thanks to its instant tick. You can still sustain "decent" damage over multiple enemies to help your fellow DPS and distract enemy healers.
I hope this helps!