Hi all,
I’m looking to create a ranged caster class but not sure which to play. Preferably a DoT based dps.
I like the look of Shadow priest (not bothered about healing so will stick to this 1 spec)
However Affliction also looks like fun and has the option to swap to Destro to mix up gameplay.
Can people list some pros and cons to each class? And perhaps what they enjoy or dislike about each? Maybe an alternative to these 2?
Thanks 
As a warlock main, I hate affliction. It feels very clunky and it’s soul shard generation is very RNG. Usually I would recomend warlock, but not aff. Spriest on the other hand does feel fun to play, easy time spreading your DoTs to multiple targets with shadow crash and great utility overall, cons are that it’s the only DPS spec for the class if you don’t like healing.
I disagree with Amonet.
Affliction is the true DOT spec. The damage DOES come from the DOT effects, whereas Shadow uses a bunch of other tools to deal its damage.
I personally enjoy Affliction more. It nails its fantasy, unlike Shadow which is a mess of a spec that gets reworked every patch.
Go with warlock.
It has 3 very fun specs.
Shadow priest on the other hand cant go 5 seconds without getting changes and reworks.
If you enjoy it now, you might not in a few months time when it inevitably changes yet again.
They really need to work out what is going on with shadow priest as its a spec that hasnt had a constant design in forever.
I joined in wod, and its had small but very noticable changes every patch, and major reworks every expansion, since ive been here. Not sure how it was before wod.
But yeah, i dont recommend investing in to priest solely for shadow.
i keep seeing people saying shadow priest is dead in season 3 but i honestly have no idea if it’s true.
i love warlock more because sp has been very unstable & it keeps changing. warlock will probably get a rework in one of the upcoming patches so it can only be better.
but if i’m picking a caster it’s ele shaman .
Damage is bad on ST but its not so bad I’d say it’s unplayable. Mythic+ it’s fighting with tanks on damage and utility took a sledgehammer to the knees.
Think I’m going to go with Warlock.
Either undead or orc.
Thank you all for the insight.
Just go lock it always a super strong spec, SP its not that good most seasons it has had a really good time this xpac so far but its pretty uncommon
I had similar opinion on affliction but now I love it.
I would recommend to make warlock, unless OP is interested in healing.
3 spec > 1 spec
But, just level both. It’s not long time to level and you will truly know if you like it, after you played end-game content. Damage meters are unbalanced in leveling dungeons and sometimes “fun” also mean “damage as we play it”, and you might be surprised that it doesn’t perform as well as in leveling content.
If you want the true dot game play, you have to choose aff lock.
Use a cookie cutter build while leveling and once you get into late game, have a play around. How do you want your fights to play out? constant dot upkeep and micro manage channels/bolts or go for a more RNG build with insta cast malefic and bolts?
p.s, I recently swapped to a proc based aff lock, Great fun.
go for priest they buff and make it stronger each month
i dont know why but somehow priests are going strong enough to beat goku if you ask me
you are either trolling or dont have any knowledge of spriest, i dont wanna make a full paragraph on why this is the worst take so far in this post but yea
search youtube
and ask the good priest players in the game youll understand me
both pvp and pve .
actual troll xD there is no SP thats happy about s3 shadow priest, PI got massive nerf MD got massive nerf, im pretty sure the dmg got nerfed aswell and even if it didnt there would be no reason to bring a SP over a lock or something else when SP’s util get nerfed hard
Like please stop talking about a topic you got no knowledge about obiviously Max (Limit raid leader) doesnt play SP but im pretty sure he still has abetter understanding than you and the people that he talks to have a better understanding than you and they all say its looking awful
these 2 posts only goes over something they dont mention that the only thing that isnt a nerf to SP dmg was the tierset which is bugged and got nerfed aswell agian please stop talking when you clearly dont understand the basics of the spec
Too quote the sticky on the SP discord.
Yep the unfortunate truth but i must resist i shall not fall
this in 10 characters
it is an insane spec for insane people (like me).
Shadow priests are wannabe affliction locks. Go lock.
I mean… just try both.
Level it… see if you like whats going on->make a choice->your opinion matters-profit.
I like neither at this point.
There are my 2 most disliked dps specs.
Shadow rework was not that good for gameplay, it did damage, now it was nerfed.
And warlock since aberrus has gotten nothing but bad changes overall.