WotLK shadow weaving opinions

Hi, i've been reading guides for shadow priests in PvE, and there seems to be so many different opinions on whether to use SW:P before you have 5 stacks of shadow weaving (because of mind flay's 10% stronger damage with SW:P applied), or to cast a mind flay BEFORE SW:P so you get the 5 stacks of Shadow weaving.

I also read that SW:P damage scales up dynamically. Meaning there's no need to wait for 5 stacks of weaving.

^ is this true?

also, if that is the case, what's the best starting rotation? atm I use: VT, DP, SW:P, shadowfiend if I have it, Mind Flay, refreshing dots when needed. I do have 4 piece tier 10.


Would love to get detailed responses on this, thank you.

Whether it's worth it to cast SW:P before or after you manage to stack up your Shadow Weaving depends on whether the mob is going to be alive long enough for SW:P's increased damage to net you more damage than a 20% stronger Mind Flay would have done. On boss fights, you therefore absolutely want to have Shadow Weaving fully stacked before casting SW:P. On mobs that aren't going to be alive very long, you likely don't even want to put SW:P up at all anyways.

SW:P's damage scales dynamically with Spellpower buffs (it works rather differently than on retail), but it correctly snapshots most damage modifiers that alter your damage by a fixed %, including Shadow Weaving, and also other buffs like Tricks of the Trade. This can be tested very easily yourself.

As for the opener,

If no bloodlust on pull:
1) Vamp Touch
2) Devouring Plague
3) 3x ticks of Mind Flay
4) SW:P
5) Shadowfiend

If bloodlust happens very shortly into the pull:
1) Shadowfiend
2) 3x ticks of Mind Flay
3) Vamp Touch
4) Devouring Plague
5) SW:P

The alteration to the 2nd opener opener ensures that your initial applications of DP and VT are buffed by Bloodlust.