Shadow's Embrace set worth the cost? Doesn't look like it : (

asudoug · February 23, 2007, 05:31 PM

The cost and effort to make the Shadow's Embrace set doens't seem worth the relatively minor upgrade to the Nethereweave and Imbued Netherweave sets which are so cheap. The individual peices are only level 105 and there are 5 man dungeon sets that seem better. (Pieces of the Imbued NWeave set are level 114). Primal fire and PRimal water sell for about 30 gold a piece on my server and so the mats add up quickly for Shadow's Embrace (even if I farm the mats I'm passing up the gold for which I could sell them). IF the healing set bous were 12% that would be great, but now it just says 2%.

Could someone explain the wonders of the set that justify the cost and effort as an upgrade to other options?

I'm defintiely not an expert and am not claiming to be -- I would just like to understand if this set is worth the cost and effort?

Genocide · February 23, 2007, 05:58 PM

Dunno. But i like the fact that 3 peices of armor is over 100 to Shadow Damage. Not to mention Stamina too.

Canadianpimp · February 23, 2007, 06:12 PM

Never ever use item level as a comparison, nor the color of the item. Actually look at the stats. Lol the Shadow Embrace set is a HUGE upgrade for us warlocks. The big difference between the Shadow Embrace set over the Imbued Netherweave set is that the Shadow Embrace set has 2 sockets on each armor. That's going to make a difference. Unless you're a firelock and destruction set, right now the Shadow Embrace is the best set that you can get out of raiding. And even Karazhan or Gruul's Lair doesn't seem to have better drops than the set. And unless you're in some hardcore raiding guild, you're not going to be seeing drops from Serpentshire or further for a while.

Stats for the three pieces of Shadow Embrace set: 66 stamina, 44 intellect, +179 shadow damage, 6 sockets, 9 spell hit socket bonus, 2% heal on each spell
Stats for the threepieces of Imbued Netherweave set (if you take the robe over the tunic): 111 stamina, 75 intellect, 40 mp5 (almost useless for locks), +86 damage, +28 critical strike (a little more than 1%)

Aside from the big advatage on stamina, the Shadow Embrace is clearly the way to go. The extra 100 damage makes a difference, and the 40 mana regeneration is useless for warlocks. It's definitely worth the effort and you'll be wearing the set for probably at least a few months. Besides, what else are you leveling tailoring to 375 for?

Always look at the stats, not the item level.

asudoug · February 24, 2007, 09:43 PM

In looking at the stats though, the combination of +damage and stam+int looks prtty close (289 vs 272). The difference is the rest. The plus crit chance of IN roughly equals the 2% heal of SE. That leaves a comparison of 6 sockets and 18 spell hit (roughly +2% hit) socket bonus versus 40mp5. 40mp5 would be great for other casters though obviously not as important for locks. How should we value 40mp5 as a lock? For other classes it would be worth at least 100 points worth of stats. IS it even worth 40 points of stats for us?

Stats for the three pieces of Shadow Embrace set:

110 stam and int
+179 shadow damage,

6 sockets, 9 spell hit socket bonus, 2% heal on each spell

Stats for the threepieces of Imbued Netherweave set (if you take the robe over the tunic):
186 stam and int
+86 damage,

40 mp5 (not optimal for locks but extra mana never hurts)
+28 critical strike (at level 60 this would be +2% crit -- I don't know at 70)

Necrognome · February 25, 2007, 06:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by asudoug

How should we value 40mp5 as a lock? For other classes it would be worth at least 100 points worth of stats. IS it even worth 40 points of stats for us?

To put it into perspective, you could surpass the mana regen of 40 MP/5 using the level 1 Life Tap, with no bonuses. Of course, you'd lose the equivalent HP, which you'd have to wait three minutes to replace with a potion/Healthstone, one minute for one bandage application, or hope to survive to end of combat, and replenish by eating. Assuming of course, that you're needing the mana under the worst possible time, in multi-opponent combat.

Also, correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe that Mages are the only class able to use a spell that gives them mana right back, and that's by using a reagent to store mana sucked out of them at an earlier time. Plus, they can only have one type of such item of each level, like we are with Healthstones, except theirs are self-use only (BoP).

So, for Warlocks, it'd be worlth even less than whatever 40 HP/5 would be, since +spell power nicreases the return on Life Taps.

As an aside, it seems that the highest level of MP/5 attainable on the SE armor would be 15, with an add'l +15 INT as well, or +30 INT and +12 MP/5 if you wanted to go that route (Lustrous Star of Elune gives the +3 MP/5, and is Blue socket-fitting, Dazzling Chrysoprase gives +2 MP/5 and +5 INT, and is Yellow or Blue socketable).

barticus73 · February 26, 2007, 07:46 AM

Solid Star of Elune
+12 Stamina

Pop in 3 of these for 36 stam or go crazy and pop in 6 for 72 extra stam and forget about the socket bonus.

grishnak · February 26, 2007, 07:57 AM

In terms of item level, epic 105 is better than blue 109 (or 114) I think. Especially when the blue item looses "stat points" into mana regen.

For shadow based locks I don't think there's any hesitation to have. Frozen Shadoweave is simply better than imbued netherweave. The huge mats requirements are here so you can't get it easily

Lijkbleek · February 26, 2007, 08:31 AM

Forget the mana regen, you burn almost 1900 mana just putting 5 dots up in 7,5 sec. I'm not going to wait for 8 mana/sec to regen that back when dark pact and life tap give me 1500mana. xMP/sec has no use for a lock. If it's on an item that is an upgrade for you, then fine. Just don't pick an item for the regen.

The set has low sta. Just put some sta gems in as Grishnak said.

Going to finish my set to night :D.

unholyguy · February 26, 2007, 01:47 PM

it's not just beter then imbued netherweave.

It's (argueably) better then t4, T5, anything else in the game atm...

Mistrust · February 28, 2007, 08:51 AM

I have been wondering the same thing - i have just gone down the road of destruction and i will be wanting to use both shadow and fire spells.

I dont want to gimp my fire my going shadows embrace or gimp my shadow with the spellfire set.

I think it wont hurt to make it and then at least if i change to another spec i will have high shadow damage - can always swap and change if i feel the need.

February 23, 2007, 05:31 PM	#1 (permalink)
asudoug Member	Shadow's Embrace set worth the cost? Doesn't look like it : ( The cost and effort to make the Shadow's Embrace set doens't seem worth the relatively minor upgrade to the Nethereweave and Imbued Netherweave sets which are so cheap. The individual peices are only level 105 and there are 5 man dungeon sets that seem better. (Pieces of the Imbued NWeave set are level 114). Primal fire and PRimal water sell for about 30 gold a piece on my server and so the mats add up quickly for Shadow's Embrace (even if I farm the mats I'm passing up the gold for which I could sell them). IF the healing set bous were 12% that would be great, but now it just says 2%. Could someone explain the wonders of the set that justify the cost and effort as an upgrade to other options? I'm defintiely not an expert and am not claiming to be -- I would just like to understand if this set is worth the cost and effort?

February 23, 2007, 05:58 PM	#2 (permalink)
Genocide Member Character Info Umbrix 70 Undead Warlock Blackwing Lair US PvP Guild: Death Sentence Profile: Blizzard Armory Talent Spec: 0/40/21	Re: Shadow's Embrace set worth the cost? Doesn't look like it : ( Dunno. But i like the fact that 3 peices of armor is over 100 to Shadow Damage. Not to mention Stamina too.

February 23, 2007, 06:12 PM	#3 (permalink)
Canadianpimp Character Info Kobekid 80 Human Warlock Kilrogg US PvE Guild: Good With Ketchup Profile: Blizzard Armory Talent Spec: 2/13/56	Re: Shadow's Embrace set worth the cost? Doesn't look like it : ( Never ever use item level as a comparison, nor the color of the item. Actually look at the stats. Lol the Shadow Embrace set is a HUGE upgrade for us warlocks. The big difference between the Shadow Embrace set over the Imbued Netherweave set is that the Shadow Embrace set has 2 sockets on each armor. That's going to make a difference. Unless you're a firelock and destruction set, right now the Shadow Embrace is the best set that you can get out of raiding. And even Karazhan or Gruul's Lair doesn't seem to have better drops than the set. And unless you're in some hardcore raiding guild, you're not going to be seeing drops from Serpentshire or further for a while. Stats for the three pieces of Shadow Embrace set: 66 stamina, 44 intellect, +179 shadow damage, 6 sockets, 9 spell hit socket bonus, 2% heal on each spell Stats for the threepieces of Imbued Netherweave set (if you take the robe over the tunic): 111 stamina, 75 intellect, 40 mp5 (almost useless for locks), +86 damage, +28 critical strike (a little more than 1%) Aside from the big advatage on stamina, the Shadow Embrace is clearly the way to go. The extra 100 damage makes a difference, and the 40 mana regeneration is useless for warlocks. It's definitely worth the effort and you'll be wearing the set for probably at least a few months. Besides, what else are you leveling tailoring to 375 for? Always look at the stats, not the item level.

February 24, 2007, 09:43 PM	#4 (permalink)
asudoug Member	Re: Shadow's Embrace set worth the cost? Doesn't look like it : ( In looking at the stats though, the combination of +damage and stam+int looks prtty close (289 vs 272). The difference is the rest. The plus crit chance of IN roughly equals the 2% heal of SE. That leaves a comparison of 6 sockets and 18 spell hit (roughly +2% hit) socket bonus versus 40mp5. 40mp5 would be great for other casters though obviously not as important for locks. How should we value 40mp5 as a lock? For other classes it would be worth at least 100 points worth of stats. IS it even worth 40 points of stats for us? Stats for the three pieces of Shadow Embrace set: 110 stam and int +179 shadow damage, 6 sockets, 9 spell hit socket bonus, 2% heal on each spell Stats for the threepieces of Imbued Netherweave set (if you take the robe over the tunic): 186 stam and int +86 damage, 40 mp5 (not optimal for locks but extra mana never hurts) +28 critical strike (at level 60 this would be +2% crit -- I don't know at 70)

February 26, 2007, 07:46 AM	#6 (permalink)
barticus73 Member Character Info MysticHand 70 Undead Warlock Durotan US PvE Guild: Epiphany Profile: Blizzard Armory	Re: Shadow's Embrace set worth the cost? Doesn't look like it : ( Solid Star of Elune +12 Stamina Pop in 3 of these for 36 stam or go crazy and pop in 6 for 72 extra stam and forget about the socket bonus.

February 26, 2007, 07:57 AM	#7 (permalink)
grishnak Member Character Info Grishnak 70 Orc Warlock Sargeras Euro PvP Guild: Mélancolie Profile: Blizzard Armory Talent Spec: 26/35/0	Re: Shadow's Embrace set worth the cost? Doesn't look like it : ( In terms of item level, epic 105 is better than blue 109 (or 114) I think. Especially when the blue item looses "stat points" into mana regen. For shadow based locks I don't think there's any hesitation to have. Frozen Shadoweave is simply better than imbued netherweave. The huge mats requirements are here so you can't get it easily

February 26, 2007, 08:31 AM	#8 (permalink)
Lijkbleek Member	Re: Shadow's Embrace set worth the cost? Doesn't look like it : ( Forget the mana regen, you burn almost 1900 mana just putting 5 dots up in 7,5 sec. I'm not going to wait for 8 mana/sec to regen that back when dark pact and life tap give me 1500mana. xMP/sec has no use for a lock. If it's on an item that is an upgrade for you, then fine. Just don't pick an item for the regen. The set has low sta. Just put some sta gems in as Grishnak said. Going to finish my set to night :D.

February 26, 2007, 01:47 PM	#9 (permalink)
unholyguy Member Character Info - Private - ?? Warlock Uther Guild: Pink Fuzzy Bunnies Profile: CTProfile	Re: Shadow's Embrace set worth the cost? Doesn't look like it : ( it's not just beter then imbued netherweave. It's (argueably) better then t4, T5, anything else in the game atm...

February 28, 2007, 08:51 AM	#10 (permalink)
Mistrust Warlock of the Sin'dorei Character Info Sindorella 70 Blood Elf Warlock Wildhammer Euro PvE Guild: Ressurection Profile: Blizzard Armory Talent Spec: 0/21/40	Re: Shadow's Embrace set worth the cost? Doesn't look like it : ( I have been wondering the same thing - i have just gone down the road of destruction and i will be wanting to use both shadow and fire spells. I dont want to gimp my fire my going shadows embrace or gimp my shadow with the spellfire set. I think it wont hurt to make it and then at least if i change to another spec i will have high shadow damage - can always swap and change if i feel the need.