Blackout Question

[Etchings]

Hello everyone!

I just passed the 5/5 Imp Wand and 5/5 Spirit Tap point in the talent tree and I'm debating whether or not I want to take Blackout. I understand that the leveling guide recommends Imp Shadow Word: Pain and Shadow Focus so I have a few quick questions.

1. Does Blackout have a chance to proc off of every tick of Shadow Word: Pain?

2. Do you find the extra 6 seconds of Shadow Word: Pain from the talent to get a lot of use? (are mobs you kill often lasting it's whole application?)

3. Do you think Shadow Focus is really worth 5 points? I only miss once, maybe twice, when fighting orange mobs.

I know a lot of this has to do with personal preference, I'd just like answers to these to help me decide! Thanks!

[djiron]

1. only procs off the first tick
2. definetely worth it
3. 3 should be plenty if youre not fighting mobs several levels higher than you all the time, you can put those 2 points in improved swp instead

[Colezz]

1. only procs off the first tick

this is wrong, i can say personally ive seen it proc on ticks after the first . Im guessing this is a bug but its happened for me multiple times

[sloasdaylight]

1. only procs off the first tick

this is wrong, i can say personally ive seen it proc on ticks after the first . Im guessing this is a bug but its happened for me multiple times

That is a bug.

To the OP, don't get blackout while you're still leveling. If you intend on doing PvP it's an amazing talent, but while you're leveling, you want to get to Mind Flay, VE, and Shadow Form asap.

[Xziser]

You are correct, apart from the mind flay and VE bits.

[gotmilk0112]

You are correct, apart from the mind flay and VE bits.

Why not take MF while leveling? Especially on a PvP server. Not only is it very mana efficient, but its slow effect is pretty nice, being that your only other distancing tool is on a 30 second CD.

And VE is required for shadowform so...yeah.

[Xziser]

MF is no good before SF.

And VE is indeed required for SF, but you don't take it ASAP when you are leveling, you get it when you respec at 40 because it's almost useless.

So yeah.

[Riplin]

Why no MF for leveling? Range issues? Because wanding is just as effective? I'm curious.

As for Blackout, I find it very useful with leveling. Even with 3 points I see stuns quite frequently. And yes, it can proc from Touch of Weakness which is amazing when a rogue decides to jump you and eats a 3s stun.

For those who use MF correctly, how do you use it? I've noticed if I fearbomb then MF, half the time the target runs out of range mid-channel. I suppose you have to run toward your target during the global cooldown before you can start your MF. Even at 24 yards, it seems very short.

[Ana]

I've noticed if I fearbomb then MF, half the time the target runs out of range mid-channel. I suppose you have to run toward your target during the global cooldown before you can start your MF.

Exactly. Chase the mob during GCD, then step a few yards up between the first MF and the next. will give you 99% MF uptime.

[sloasdaylight]

For those who use MF correctly, how do you use it? I've noticed if I fearbomb then MF, half the time the target runs out of range mid-channel. I suppose you have to run toward your target during the global cooldown before you can start your MF. Even at 24 yards, it seems very short.

MF breaking mid chain is a bug, it should continue the channel so long as the mob is in range when you initiate the cast.