Cast Mind Spike to blast your target with Shadowfrost damage and apply a debuff which increases the critical strike chance of your next Mind Blast on that target. This debuff can stack up to 3 times.
As a favorite from later expansions, Pain Suppression can be cast on a friendly target to significantly reduce their damage taken and increase their resistance to Dispel mechanics for a short time.
Ah, the new Priest runes for SoD Phase 2! These two additions introduce exciting possibilities for both offensive and defensive playstyles. Let’s delve into their potential impact:
Mind Spike:
Enhanced Mind Blast: This rune transforms Mind Spike into a potent damage-buffing tool. Each cast increases the crit chance of your next Mind Blast by 30%, stacking up to 3 times for a hefty 90% bonus (assuming all crits land).
Rotation synergy: Integrating Mind Spike into your regular rotation becomes crucial, requiring careful planning to maximize crit uptime on Mind Blast.
Spec considerations: This rune shines in both Shadow and Mind Control Priest specs, boosting DPS potential significantly.
Pain Suppression:
Powerful defensive cooldown: Granting a friendly target 40% damage reduction and 65% dispel resistance for 8 seconds is a game-changer, saving lives against heavy-hitting mechanics.
Targeted utility: Unlike traditional raid-wide mitigation, Pain Suppression allows for personalized protection, shielding key players at critical moments.
Potential for clutch plays: Imagine saving the tank from a fatal blow or protecting the healer during a dispel-heavy phase. Pain Suppression adds a new layer of strategic depth to priest gameplay.
Choosing between these runes will depend on your preferred role and the encounter at hand. Here are some considerations:
For pure DPS maximization: In most situations, Mind Spike will be the go-to rune to boost your own damage output.
For a more support-oriented role: Pain Suppression becomes invaluable in encounters where targeted protection is crucial for raid survival.
Adaptability is key: Don’t be afraid to switch runes depending on the boss mechanics. Certain fights might demand more defensive utility, while others might benefit from the extra DPS provided by Mind Spike.
Remember, Phase 2 is still on the horizon, so experimentation and theorycrafting are encouraged! These new runes offer exciting opportunities to redefine the Priest’s role in SoD.