Question is simple. If instead of your SP you could have another class, same gear etc would you make the change? I would do it instantly.
Just think about it. You could be one of those DH/Windwalkers/hunters/mages that do 2 million dps on trash, have multiple fun specs, amazing burst, mobility, fun, etc. Instead we are a clunky mess.
Lets be realistic and bring up our pros and cons
Cons
- Worst aoe in the game
- Worst burst in the game
- Worst spec by far for mythic+ dungeons and ANY dungeons in general, which offer alternate route for gear progression.
- Worst ramp-up damage in the game - warlocks got their rampup issue solved by starting fight with extra shards however no mention of shadow priests who arguably had a bigger problem in that area than them. Imagine starting fights with 60 insanity.
- Only 1 viable level 100 talent, that is only ever usable in raiding due to 10 minute cooldown
- Whole spec balanced around that same level 100 talent, meaning without it we are bottom on both ST and MT, by far.
- One latency spike on 70+ stacks of void form -> dead, raid wipe because of you.
- One mistake on 70+ stacks of void form -> dead, raid wipe because of you.
- Put so much effort in rotation, hunter presses 1 spell, instant 250k dps - no reward for us.
- Absolutely the worst spec in duels, especially vs melee who have 100% UPTIME on you after they trinket the stun/fear
- Old shadowform gone, the bonus damage reduction forgotten about. Same thing happened with blizzard removing aspect of the dragonhawk from hunters, which made them go from having 20% dodge chance in wotlk to having 2% dodge change for the entirety of Cata, whilst other classes still had an average of 20% dodge. Took 2 years to get fixed.
- Balanced with the idea of miltidotting "council style" fights when in reality there are like 2 in 60 encounters
- Have an offspec of holy, which is by far the most dull and uninteresting healing spec in the game. Compare holy to something like misweaver or resto mechanics.
- S2M kills you on fights that your guild has on farm, meaning you lose your rune + food buff.
- Garbage damage while on the move, if not in void form you gotta spam shadow word pain on the boss - lol what?
- Garbage synergy with heroism if used at start - doing 140k DPS + hero while mind flaying for 15k/tick while other classes doing their 600k?
Pros
- Probably the most unique, fun and interesting mechanic blizzard has ever introduced - insanity.
- S2M can be used to cheese some bosses and give amazing numbers currentely, if your group DPS is low, for example wrath of azshara where i've reached 460k DPS.
- S2M is fun and engaging.
- Probably 1 of the best artifact weapons - the knaifu, amazing lore and interaction
- We are related to old gods even more than before
- Execute phase burst can be essential in many fights, exactly what S2M build does amazingly well.
- Good on spread out beefy adds during encounters
- Good synergy with hero if used at burn phase
The cons just outweight the pros by so fucking much. I am so sad I almost want to cry. Why did they make such a cool spec just to completely shit on it with bad balancing?
I am awaiting eagerly for the person that comes in here and sais this spec is fine.