How to deal with Shadow priests

[Fexzz]

Hi,

I've been a long time Player, but I never really was into PVP. I played every class, raided with every class except for mage. On Nostalrius I decided to Focus a bit more on PVP and decided roll a Mage. PvP so far is okayish I'd say - given that I'm a scrub. Melees are usually easy when I get the initiate, casters are more difficult. Especially Shadow Priests. I can't deal with them, they just wreck me. Can someone break down the Basics on How to deal with Shadow Priests 101? Greatly appreciated.

Fexzz

Edit: I should mention I'm currently Level 44 and frost specced.

[Dontmindme]

Shadow priests are tough.This is what i do when fighting one,which is not necessarily the best.
To have a good chance of winning though, you must have Improved Counterspell.

The thing with priests is that if you lock their shadow school they switch off to heal and laugh at you while you burn your mana away trying to outdps their healing.On the other hand if you don't lock their shadow school they dot and Mana Burn you.

Good shadow priests will try to outlast you.To win,you must sheep and a lot and reset the fight.You have to be in control to kill those guys.
If you get jumped by a shadow priest,sheep as soon as possible and wait for the dots to wear off(resheep if you have to)
Always make sure you begin the fight with full mana and health.
Bandage.Evocate,mana gem,whatever.Ice Block if you feel you can't deal with the dot to clear it off.

If you feel the fight is going bad just resheep.Use Cold Snap,remove dots and reset the fight.Do that as many times as you feel is needed.You can bandage again after a short time,but the priest already has used his mana to try to damage you even if his health is replenished while sheeped.

Good shadow priest will use his bubble when he is in nova or even worse-dispell it.When you are fighting a priest or paladin it's good to spec for Winter's Chill.It is good dispel protection and dispels aren't cheap.For some reason most PvP mages don't take it,which for me is a mistake.

If the priest is trying to Mana Burn,i'd spam Arcane Missiles despite the high mana cost.Shadow priests can cast damage spells without interruption only in bubble or if they spec into Martyrdom.(they must get crit to benefit from it).
Basically all casting should be punished,but the healing.If the priest has specced healing focus(which most shadows don't)he will easily flash heal your missiles ,so i would advice against it.

Avoid the temptation to counterspell his shadow school,at least early on,unless you are sure you can finish the priest very ,very quickly.(Like better don't counterspell shadow school at all)
He can just heal when locked out of his damage school,unless you have improved counterspell(which you probably don't).
Try to counterspell his holy school instead and you've won.Once he is at like 50 % and without access to healing spells he is a dead priest.

If you see the priest running straight to you he is probably trying to fear you,so trinket/wotf it.If a priest is doing that he is feeling pressured.They do that mostly if you prevent them from healing or to run away.

Some priests i've seen just use the following.
Dot me and begin to heal as early as possible.I,as a complete idiot try to counterspell it and if i manage it ,they just run to me,fear me and even if i trinket /ice block most of the duration of the spell lock is over by the time i actually begin casting.

Pff I this wrote longer than i should,but this is what works for me.

[Koviko]

You mention choosing Winter's Chill as dispel protection. Do you mean a single point in it, just enough for the debuff to apply to your opponent? Or all 5 points? What talent(s) do you sacrifice in order to get Winter's Chill?

[Zagy]

Poly him, frostbolt, poly again - rip shield
Reopen, iceblock blanket silence, trinket/wotf fear
Spam arcane missles and he is ded

[Ana]

For the record you generally can't interrupt mind blast if he has r8+ gear. And mind blast will eat 30% of your health.

[iii]

Some tips, that will contradict some of the things already said here..

Winter chill is a waste of talents in pvp so dont take it unless your only goal is to duel priests..
Counterspell shadow tree as soon as possible, don't wait. The pvp gear thing is only for interruption by damages. not actual spell interrupts.
Prevent getting Mind blasted at all cost. If you have full dots on you, iceblock it. Otherwise counterspell it (you can also blink it to save time)
Use imp cs on nova for a big shatter
Don't be afraid to sheep mid fight and regen.

This is a tough fight indeed so you will need all your cooldowns from the get go

[Viorus]

Blink and head in the opposite direction.