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Hello dear Shadow priest players and to these which now want to try it out. My ingame nick is Swiz, already known from some old Cataclysm players as Svviz, one of the best Shadow priests in whole Molten past 3 years with most activity and top results for best class ingame. My history about Shadow priest is longer then 6 years spread into Private servers and Retail. This Cataclysm and Mist of Pandaria guides will introduce you from my point of view and my knowledge in shadow speciality, how we are in these two expansions. Currently both guides are on daily based program, which getting changes on the way as you gear ingame. Any suggestions and ideas about improve in guide, will be welcome to me. Feel free to leave comments below.
Right now I don't play anymore Cataclysm expansion, so any kind of test will be delayed till I contact some of my friends inside to test them.
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Pros:
- Stable DPS.
- Good survivability and kiting.
- Small AoE healing, while you hit mobs with your spells.
- OMM is impossible, as we got strong mana gain spells.
- Easy start, as basic rotation for new players.
- Easy to cap most of important stats.
- Nice Crowd Controls
- Strong defend cooldown for 6 seconds.
Cons:
- Weak for long fights.
- Not good at AoE damage, compare to other spell casters.
- Definitely stay away from High melee attacks.
- A lot of practice for good performance as DPS for future.
- Switching forms for Heals and DPS, which probably waste time.
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Race is our start of journey. Best choices may depend of what play style you prefer, of course every of them got something for us as from spell/stat side. In other hand is how you want to look in eyes of all players. Read well what they can give and make your choice.
Alliance faction.
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Every Man for Himself |
Removes movement & control impairing effects (2 min cooldown)
Diplomacy |
Reputation gains increased by 10%
Mace & Sword Specialization |
3 expertise, when equip Mace and Sword.
The Human Spirit |
3% spirit
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Viciousness |
1% critical strike to all kind of attacks.
Darkflight |
Increased movement speed by 40% for 10 seconds (2 min cooldown)
Aberration |
64 shadow and nature resistance at level 85
Running Wild |
Increase ground speed by 60% and 100%
Flayer |
Skinning skill increased by 15 and allows you to skin faster
Two Forms |
Turn into your currently inactive form
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Shadowmeld |
Stationary stealth (2 min cooldown)
Quickness |
Reduces the chance of melee/ranged attacks to hit you by 2%
Wisp Spirit |
75% increased death speed (+25% than other races)
Nature Resistance |
1 point nature resistance per character level
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Stoneform |
Remove poison, disease, and bleed effects; +10% damage reduction for 8 seconds (2 min cooldown)
Mace Specialization |
3 expertise
Frost Resistance |
1 point frost resistance per character level
Explorer |
Archaeology increased by 15 points and allows for faster surveying
Gun Specialization |
1% critical with guns
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Heroic Presence |
1% melee and spell hit (raid boss hit cap = 841 hit rating)
Gift of the Naaru |
Heals the target for 20% of their total health over 15 sec. (3 min cooldown)
Gemcutting |
Jewel crafting skill increased by 10
Shadow Resistance |
1 point shadow resistance per character level
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Escape Artist |
Escape immobilization or movement speed reduction effect (1.5 min cooldown)
Shortblade Specialization |
3 expertise with daggers and 1h swords
Arcane Resistance |
1 point arcane resistance per character level
Engineering Specialization |
Engineering increased by 15 points
Expansive Mind |
5% mana
Horde faction.
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Time is Money |
1% attack speed
Rocket Jump |
Jump forward (2 min cooldown, shared with Rocket Barrage)
Rocket Barrage |
Launches rockets at enemy (2 min cooldown, shared with Rocket Jump)
Best Deals Anywhere |
Receive the best discount regardless of faction
Pack Hobgoblin |
Bank access 1 minute (30 min cooldown)
Better Living Through Chemistry |
Alchemy increased by 15 points
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Berserking |
20% increased attack speed for 10 seconds (3 min cooldown)
Da Voodoo Shuffle |
15% reduction of movement impairing effects
Regeneration |
Health regeneration rate increased by 10%, 10% of total regeneration during combat
Beast Slaying |
5% damage versus beasts
Throwing Specialization |
1% critical with throwing weapons
Bow Specialization |
1% critical with bows
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Arcane Torrent |
Silence all enemies within 8yds for 2 seconds and gain 15 runic power (2 min cooldown)
Arcane Affinity |
Enchanting increased by 10
Magic Resistance |
1 point arcane resistance per character level
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War Stomp |
Stuns up to 5 enemies within 8yds for 2 seconds (2 min cooldown)
Endurance |
Base health increased by 5%
Nature Resistance |
1 point nature resistance per character level
Cultivation |
Herbalism increased by 15 points and speeds the gathering process
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Will of the Forsaken |
Removes charm, fear, and sleep (2 min cooldown)
Cannibalize |
Regen 7% health and mana, every 2 seconds for 10 seconds (2 min cooldown)
Shadow Resistance |
1 point shadow resistance per character level
Underwater Breathing |
233% duration
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Both talent trees are right and which you choice will not be mistake, just in case you will not lose any kind of DPS/Off Heals/Processes, it's just about survivability and less stress on your healers.
1. First talent build look pretty same like basic one, with only change [Psychic Horror] for fear or interrupt, probably useful in dungeons or even adds from any raid encounter for 3 seconds stop as fear in one place and disarm melee attack for 10 seconds. If you notice you don't need this, put the 1 point into [Inner Sanctum] for 2% reduce all damage taken , while is active.
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Glyphs for this talent tree
PRIME
- [Mind Flay] - Increases the damage done by your Mind Flay spell by 10% when your target is afflicted with Shadow Word: Pain.
- [Shadow Word: Pain] - Increases the periodic damage of your Shadow Word: Pain by 10%.
- [Shadow Word: Death] - If your Shadow Word: Death fails to kill the target at or below 25% health, your Shadow Word: Death's cool down is instantly reset.
MAJOR
- [Spirit Tap] - When you kill a target with your Shadow Word: Death and yield experience or honor, you instantly receive 12% of your total mana over 12 sec.
- [Mass Dispel] - Reduces the cast time of Mass Dispel by 1 sec.
- [Psychic Horror] - Reduces the cool down of your Psychic Horror by 60 sec.
MINOR
Here is really your choice no DPS/Process benefits, only keep for sure Shadowfiend as first.
- [Shadowfiend] - Receive 5% of your maximum mana if your Shadowfiend dies from damage.
- [Levitate] - Your Levitate spell no longer requires a reagent.
- [Fading] - Reduces the mana cost of your Fade spell by 30%.
2. Second talent build is not bad too and depends from situation as well, key thing here is the Major absorb of shield with 20% [Improved Power Word: Shield] and 4% reduce of damage taken with [Inner Sanctum], as far as I know about this talent it will be use full for upcoming new instances, there will be a lot of damage and this will help.
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Glyphs for this talent tree
PRIME
- [Mind Flay] - Increases the damage done by your Mind Flay spell by 10% when your target is afflicted with Shadow Word: Pain.
- [Shadow Word: Pain] - Increases the periodic damage of your Shadow Word: Pain by 10%.
- [Shadow Word: Death] - If your Shadow Word: Death fails to kill the target at or below 25% health, your Shadow Word: Death's cooldown is instantly reset.
MAJOR
- [Spirit Tap] - When you kill a target with your Shadow Word: Death and yield experience or honor, you instantly receive 12% of your total mana over 12 sec.
- [Mass Dispel] - Reduces the cast time of Mass Dispel by 1 sec.
- [Fade] - Reduces the cooldown of your Fade spell by 9 sec.
MINOR
Here is really your choice no DPS/Process benefits, only keep for sure Shadowfiend as first.
- [Shadowfiend] - Receive 5% of your maximum mana if your Shadowfiend dies from damage.
- [Levitate] - Your Levitate spell no longer requires a reagent.
- [Fading] - Reduces the mana cost of your Fade spell by 30%.
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Intellect>Hit/Spirit 17%>Haste 30%>Mastery=Critical
1. Intellect - The most and very important stat for every caster, give everything you need, to increase your damage by any point, obtain this from get higher gear available.
2. Haste - Equal to intellect with a little bit below is Haste, as you already know we most do DPS with Damage over time spells, so this kind of stat is for that.
http://i58.tinypic.com/2550x0m.jpg What this doing for Shadow priest? Decrease time between ticks and make them hit fast, decrease casting speed on channeling spells.
- Haste Plateaus - 128.05 haste rating gives 1% spell haste. Haste rating scales with other sources and cannot reduce the duration of the global cool down below 1.0 second. So do not go over caps below, no point.
http://i58.tinypic.com/2550x0m.jpg What are they? A point of haste that you can reach that will give you a small bonus to damage upon reaching it. After which the stat weight of haste will decrease temporarily in value, sometimes, but not always.
http://i58.tinypic.com/2550x0m.jpg How do they work? For some plateaus, you get a small damage bonus to one of your spells [Improved Devouring Plague] and [Vampiric Touch], the duration of a dot spell goes from a low duration to a higher duration, and you get some extra time during the fight to cast other spells.
Haste Plateaus factor into two of our spells - [Vampiric Touch] and [Devouring Plague]. It is also important whether or not you have Dark Intent.
Probably you should aim in these steps below. Only [Mind Quickening] on buffs.
Without Dark Intent
- First step: 1601 (1475 for goblin) - Improved Devouring Plague +1.
- Second step: 2589 (2463 for goblin) - Extra tick in Vampirit Touch.
- Extra step: 3202 (3076 for goblin) - Improved Devouring Plague +2. This point of haste miss some corrections. My suggest is to stay at 2589 (2463 for goblin)
With Dark Intent
- First step: 1601 (1475 for goblin) - Improved Devouring Plague +1.
- Second step: 2141 (2017 for goblin) - Extra tick in Vampirit Touch.
- Extra step: 2824 (2698 for goblin) - Improved Devouring Plague +2. This point of haste miss some corrections. My suggest is to stay at 2141 (2017 for goblin)
3. Hit rating - That should be before haste, cause miss make lose DPS, lose mana and bad performance. Basically Hit is now twice much more easy to cap, with talent [Twisted Faith] every single point of spirit going to hit point so equal to that 1742 hit cap and 1642 for Draenei will be your stop, after that everything above is a waste point.
4. Mastery - So after main stats such a intellect and haste for us, there coming Mastery, with adding additional damage to all your periodical spells and increase your Process Talent abilities, make it somehow nearly Critical. No cap to reach.
5. Critical strike - As all know this double and make big yellow numbers spread at your screen, there is not cap.
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Do your reforging in this order:
1. If an item does not have haste on it, reforge it for the maximum amount of haste.
2. If an item has haste, reforge the secondary stat to hit/spirit until 17%.
3. After steps 1 and 2, if you are still under hit cap, sacrifice haste to reach cap. If you are over hit cap, trade some hit for critical or mastery (whichever is stronger for you).
Your aim with reforging should be to have the most haste possible and secondly to reach as close to your hit cap (17%) as possible without being over. It's fine to be a little under the hit cap as long as you've maxed out your haste. Check below the ways of reforge.
1. Critical ->Hit/Spirit until cap ->Haste ->Mastery
2. Mastery ->Hit/Spirit until cap ->Haste ->Critical
3. Hit/Spirit if above cap ->Haste ->Mastery ->Critical
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Enchants
Head: [Arcanum of Hyjal]
Shoulders: [Greater Inscription of Charged Lodestone] or [Felfire Inscription]
Back: [Enchant Cloak - Greater Intellect] or [Lightweave Embroidery]
Chest: [Enchant Chest - Peerless Stats]
Wrist: [Enchant Bracer - Mighty Intellect] or [Enchant Bracer - Speed]
Gloves: [Enchant Gloves - Haste], [Enchant Gloves - Greater Mastery] or [Synapse Springs]
Waist: [Ebonsteel Belt Buckle]
Pants: [Powerful Ghostly Spellthread]
Boots: [Enchant Boots - Lavawalker] or [Enchant Boots - Haste]
Weapon: [Enchant Weapon - Power Torrent] or [Enchant Weapon - Hurricane]
Off-Hand: [Enchant Off-Hand - Superior Intellect]
Gems
Red: [Brilliant Inferno Ruby] or [Brilliant Queen's Garnet]
Yellow: [Reckless Ember Topaz] or [Reckless Lava Coral]
Blue: [Purified Demonseye] or [Purified Shadow Spinel]
Meta: [Burning Shadowspirit Diamond]
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Note: Choice on rotation will be every time depend and always different so you probably need to create way of thinking about put some spell before other, then next to be different, so you should on 100% learn your spells and processes so after that 5-6 spells without Trinkets and cooldowns to be cast without any problems and on the true situation. I will explain 3, probably will look like basic one with a bit more focusing on talent processes and cooldowns. Pictures below are active and can potential show you how shadow priest stay right now. This DPS is done by following rotations bellow, with little changes on some spells to be casted before other while processes require.
So pictures in the spoiler, bellow show that practice and ability to understand deeper every spell of our spec, is result of success. I know that may do even more, but even with this DPS boost is still good for us.
Based is on open up and stable for boss fights. Priority here is not to cast all cooldowns, right after start up. You need first to process two of important talent spells. [Empowered Shadows]http://i59.tinypic.com/fkw5m0.jpg and 5x [Dark Evengelism]http://i58.tinypic.com/2vu08j4.jpg, so once you get these two UP, then use potion and trinket which give Intellect. If you see at start you going with very low damage and slowly. It will grow up after 5-10 seconds. This rotation is good for all kind of set bonuses.
1. [Shadow word: Pain]
2. [Mind Flay] x1,2 - You need at least 1 orb, cut it whenever you get orb.
3. [Mind Blast] - Give a [Empowered Shadows]
4. [Devouring Plague]
5. [Vampiric Touch]
6. [Mind Flay] x1,2 - Stacking 5x[Dark Evengelism].
7. [Trinket] and [Volcanic Potion] - Use here any kind of intellect boost.
8. [Mind Blast] - Refreshing [Empowered Shadows]
9. [Archangel] + [Shadowfiend]
10. [Mind Flay] x2 - To stack 5x[Dark Evangelism].
11. [Mind Blast]
12. [Vampiric Touch]
13. [Devouring Plague]
BONUS
- If you are with t13 2p set, do things bellow.
- Use [Glyph of Shadow Word: Death]
- After 25% on mob/boss, you can put after every [Mind Blast] to cast one [Shadow word: Death]. So in this way every 6 seconds you use 1x [Mind Blast] and 1x [Shadow word: Death] in one hit.
TIP
- If you are high geared and you not have problems with OOMing on boss fights.
- On the steps, where you need to cast [Mind Blast] you can combine it with [Devouring Plague]. So try to hit right after end of [Mind Blast] a faster one [Devouring Plague], so both will hit in like one internal cooldown and will boost you well as dps increase.
- Try to pick as much spirit as you can beside hit on gear, so this will help you a little in mana regeneration, while boost this tip.
Fillers and Important
- While doing this rotation 4 things are important, beside cooldowns.
- [Mind Flay] to be casting as filler and when Archangel is up, so to get max of it, also to refresh 5x [Dark Evangelism].
- [Vampiric Touch] to be always on boss (main target), help you and group with Mana return, damage.
- [Mind Blast] - Keep it on CD, every time.
- [Devouring Plague] - You probably you will not lose any tick from this spell, since [Improved Devouring Plague] damage is based equal or even more from tick of the spell. So use it whenever you can and do not let it expire as well.
This Rotation definitely need an amount of practice, cause is way different then above one and starting is way different. Before to start practice you need one macro, which will help you to put potential orbs on [Mind Blast]. Macro bellow is made after 2x-3x [Mind Spike], to remove [Mind Melt], which cause [Mind Blast] to be instant cast, so with this macro you give a 1-1.3 sec to pet for attack so at end [Mind Blast] will hit with 3 orbs.
Code:
#showtooltip Mind Blast
/cancelaura Mind Melt
/cast Mind Blast
1. Mind Flay x2 - To stack 5x[Dark Evangelism]
2. [Archangel]
3. [Mind Blast] - (Macro)
4. [Shadowfiend]
5. [Mind Spike] x4,5 - Try to use after x2 cast, [Trinket] and [Volcanic Potion].
6. [Mind Blast] - (Macro)
7. [Mind Spike] x3,4
8. [Mind Flay]x1 - This will help you to enter in normal rotation right after pet disappear.
9. [Mind Blast] - (Macro)
--Starting normal rotation. All processes are up, no cooldowns which to care of--
10. [Vampiric Touch]
11. [Shadow word: Pain]
12. [Devouring Plague]
13. [Mind Flay] and [Mind Blast] filler and on CD.
Fillers and Important
- Open up rotation from 1-9 step need to be done only during [Shadowfiend]. There is 2 things only that need to be done correctly.
- Macro, right after information. You need it!!
- [Mind Blast] So between 3-5 [Mind Spike] can be done, depend your FPS/Delay.
Try to put at least on 3 targets [Shadow word: Pain], pop trinket and potion after that and follow below. If there is focusing mob put all 3 DoTs and cast, only Mind Blast when you got 3x[Shadow Orb].
1. [Shadow Word: Pain] - Put it right before step 3 on, max targets as you can.
2. [Trinket] and [Volcanic Potion]
3. [Mind Sear]
TIP
- At 3x[Shadow Orb] cast [Mind Blast] on mob under attention to kill asap, if there is not mob spam [Mind Sear].
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Many people asking me in game, compare between items which is better. So here is I choice to upload BEST pickups from retail and spend it to you. Some of Lists still pending update, come back and check it when new instances release.
Patch: 4.2 BIS List (Normal Firelands and Justice Point)
Note: As
* are exception little below BiS ones.
Patch: 4.3 BIS List (Heroic Firelands and Normal Dragon Soul)
Note: As
* are exception little below BiS ones.
Patch: 4.3 Final BIS List (Heroic Dragon Soul)
Note: Dragon Soul instance or check donate shop.
BiS Weapons for end raiding(DONATE option)
BiS Trinkets for end raiding(4.2 and 4.3 patch)
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Food
[Severed Sagefish Head] - You will become well fed and gain 90 Intellect and 90 Stamina for 1 hour.
[Basilisk Liverdog] - You will become well fed and gain 90 haste and 90 Stamina for 1 hour.
Flask
[Flask of the Draconic Mind] - Increases Intellect by 300 for 1 hour.
Potion
[Volcanic Potion] - Increases Intellect by 1200 for 25 sec. (1 Min Cooldown)
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Tailoring
- Cloak enchants: [Lightweave Embroidery]
- Leg enchants: [Master's Spellthread] and [Sanctified Spellthread]
Alchemy [Mixology]
- Trinket: [Vibrant Alchemist Stone]
- Extra potion: [Flask of Enhancement]
Blacksmithing
- Bracer enchant: [Socket Bracer]
- Gloves enchant: [Socket Gloves]
Enchanting
- Ring enchants: [Enchant Ring - Intellect]
Inscription
- Shoulder enchants: [Felfire Inscription]
Jewelcrafting
- Red extra gem: [Brilliant Chimera's Eye]
- Yellow extra gem:[Fractured Chimera's Eye] [Quick Chimera's Eye] [Smooth Chimera's Eye]
- Blue extra gem:[Sparkling Chimera's Eye]
Leatherworking
- Bracer enchants: [Fur Lining - Intellect]
Engineering
- Gloves enchant: [Synapse Springs] [Tazik Shocker]
- Belt enchant: [Grounded Plasma Shield] [Invisibility Field] [Cardboard Assassin] [Nitro Boots]
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1. Pet macro, Just 1 click/press it and he already will attack + cast his spell on current target.
Code:
/cast [nopet] Shadowfiend
/petattack
/cast Shadowcrawl
2. For Spammable Shadowform and Fast Out/IN for any reaction.
Code:
/stopcasting
/cast !Shadowform
/cancelaura Shadowform
3. Best for PvE even PvP, while attacking your main target and there is spawn on mob which need to pay attention to kill it asap, use this.
Code:
/focus [@mouseover]
/cast [target=focus] reset=6 Mind Spike, Mind Spike, Mind Blast
4. My DPS/Burst macro, use of your CD ( if your already cap 5x Dark Evangelism), Potion, Trinket and Pet.
Code:
/cast Archangel
/use Volcanic Potion
/use (trinket name)
/cast [nopet] Shadowfiend
/cast Shadowcrawl
5. Here is the macro for I am using for example at Lord Ryolith (Fragments of Rhyolith) and Beth'tilac (Cinderweb Spiderling), also you can put any friendly target so you cast it on him instantly. It's Helping to focus more.
Code:
/target <name>
/cast [nochanneling] Mind Sear
/targetlasttarget
6. Mind flay macro, help you to spamming without to refresh current one, which already you casting.
Code:
/showtooltip Mind Flay
/cast [nochanneling] Mind Flay
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I want to thank to Wolololol for headers.
Guides written by friends:
[Guide] Resto Druid Pve 4.3.4 - Make a Restoration Druid with cool style.
[Guide] Feral DPS PvE 4.3 - Support my friend and keep improve feral skills by learning and stay tuned with this guide.
[Guide] 4.3.4 Holy Priest PVE - Think still you lack something with holy priest? Go and check this nice writing and detailed guide to impress your play style.
[PVE] Atonement Discipline Healing - Another good guide, Discipline priests can follow it. Support to her as well.
My best supporters, friends and a very good shadow priest players:
Character name: Lunnamoon (Neltharion) aka weedman984 (Forum) - Active
Character name: Bjach (Neltharion) aka Bjach (Forum) - Active
Talent Calculator Cataclysm version : [Cata] Talent Calculator for Molten-WoW for status check here.
Changelog:
23.09.13 NEW Section Stats and Important caps are enriched, with more Haste plateaus and some explanations.
27.09.13 NEW: 12th Category Best In Slot List for ilvl 378/391 (Firelands normal and heroic), ilvl 384/397 (LFR and VP items), ilvl 397 (Dragon Soul normal) and ilvl 410 final step (Dragon Soul heroic).
28.09.13 NEW: Additional information into Reforging.
30.09.13 NEW: Consumables are added links and minor changes.
04.10.13 NEW: Enchant and Gemming are added links and minor changes.
04.10.13 NEW: Talents and Glyphs are updated with formathing and picture changes.
06.10.13 NEW: Additional links, raise information and formating into Professions.
06.10.13 NEW: Rotations Edit the style,texts and more formatting into lines, between text and icons.
10.10.13 NEW: Best In Slot List Added Heroic weapon suggestions for Premium members.
14.12.13 NEW: Best In Slot List Updated information for Coin shop in ilvl 397 (Dragon Soul normal) and ilvl 410 final step (Dragon Soul heroic).
14.12.13 NEW: Section Stats and Important caps - Important additional information.
30.01.14 NEW: Best In Slot List - Updated, whole 3+Weapon BiS lists, with new releases into coin shop and Dragon soul release.
04.02.14 NEW: Section Stats and Important caps - Haste is edited and added a option for Dark Intent.
06.02.14 NEW: Best In Slot List - Updated with a new Trinket BiS list for patch 4.2 and 4.3 with options for Donation and Possible to loot.
18.02.14 NEW: New category is added Race choice and specifics about each race.
16.04.14 NEW: Category Rotations are added pictures, that show DPS for Dummy, Dungeon and Raid.
21.04.14 NEW: Rotation category is formated, changed and added additional information. Normal, T13 4p and AoE rotations.
21.02.15 NEW: Formatting on whole guide.
