Shadoweave vrs Merc (gems) Shoulders

itzalegend · July 28, 2008, 10:42 PM

The guild I'm has been raiding but mainly in kara with some ZA. I Have been grinding honor and got most of my pvp items in between running and grinding mats for shadoweave.

My question is this.

The Shadoweave shoulders are 133 armor 15 int 21 stam 2 sockets which I can put in the 4 hit 5 sdmg gems so that 8 hit and 10 sdmg and it has 50 damage.

so my to hit would be 8hit and damage would be 60 damage

Now my merc shoulders Have 36 damage and 13 Spell Hit already, More stam and armor but 5 less int.

Know if I gem these with +12 damage gems I get 13 SH and 60 damage

Which is 4 more hit , 12 more stam , 178 more armor.

Whats your Opion It seams like I can get more out of my Merc shoulders then my shadoweave.

I also have a even set up between merc chest and shadoweave chest, But the shadoweave boots blow the pvp boots out of the water.

Is the shadoweave set bonus worth it or is it just the spell damage that is nice ?

I know I could GEM both items different and come up with different stats like more Spell damage in the shadoweave or more hit for less damage but I think the stats would still be really close with just a slight difference here and there.

This toon it self has only been 70 a shortwhile Im wanting to say atleast 3 weeks or less, But it was also my first 60 but I have been playing prot warr and a restro druid for about awhile that it was time to do some dps.
any advice or opions would be great.

Ill also probaly be changing my spec for an affliction build for raiding and keep the SL/SL build for pvp or grinding.

also if this helps my HP/Mana/Spell hit/Spell damage/Crit chance are as follows.

HP unbuffed = 12082 my last affliction build I was still over 10k with out any talents in demo

mana unbuffed = 8909 Im running out of mana on boss fights like prince but I can tap down to get mana back but always tell the healers when im doing it.

Spell hit = 28 Currently worried about and working on this to improve it

Spell damage = Self buffed Im over 1k

Crit chance = 8% Also low but working on it also for I can try a destro build out.

Thank you in advance for helping and your advice and wisdom.

Malevevely · July 28, 2008, 11:29 PM

As long as you have another set of pvp shoulders S2 will work better for you then fsw. The fsw set bonus frankly sucks and isn't really important. FSW boots are the only worthwhile piece of fsw now with badge loots and S2 for honor.

itzalegend · July 28, 2008, 11:37 PM

I'm not really pvping to hardcore just with some friends and Im sitting at 360 resilience and only loose 7 and 120 hps I think ill be okay I will be picking up some more items sone to bring me up clooser to 400 though.

Malevevely · July 28, 2008, 11:54 PM

Go for it then S2 shoulders are a great starter piece for pve when you gem them for it. You are looking at 13 +spell hit (S2) vs +14 shadow damage (FSW) With the cost associated with fsw and the fact that at your gear level hit>damage I would not hesitate to use the S2 especially if you don't hardcore pvp.

itzalegend · July 29, 2008, 05:24 AM

Now I'm seeing why it might be a little out there to use my S2 shoulders. I checked the AH for the price of +12 gems and they were 500 gold each, Ouch 1k gold for 4 more hit , 12 more stam , 178 more armor, are those stats worth it ? It's making me wonder.

Devicus · July 29, 2008, 06:26 AM

In all seriousness, ignore the armour. If you get hit by a mob during a raid, you're going to get 1 or 2 shotted, pvp gear or not, you're a clothy. the plan is not to get hit, so armour is useless. And soloing, even drain tanking, spell damage will probably keep you alive better than armour.

As for is it worth it?

Don't think in terms of the size of the upgrade, but rather how much you'll get from it. If those shoulders are going to last into Wrath of the Lich King then sure, it is.

On the other hand, if you're likely to start on gruuls, T4 drops anyway. If you're doing ZA you might get 1 badge loot and get the haste shoulders (though they seem crap to me). It depends on your progress speed. If your guild starts kara now, you could down void reaver in 4 months if you're all awesome and work hard, though odds are, you actually have to think "will I get a significant upgrade before Wrath of the Lich King?" or "How long till I get an upgrade?"

It's not much damage but if it lasts several months, it's worth it.

widgetlock · July 29, 2008, 06:45 AM

S2 shoulders look awesome as well.

Malevevely · July 29, 2008, 03:27 PM

It will even be an upgrade with 4 hit/5 damage rare gems and they are cheap that is what I used in the above comparison. T4 shoulders from gruuls are not bad but whatever you do don't go for the ZA haste ones as they are possibly the worst epic shoulders ever.(poor itemization and lack of essential intro stats)

Devicus · July 30, 2008, 05:18 AM

I'm glad they seem rubbish to other people too.

I was worried it was just me. I have them, and I might use them for aoe pulls (if I stack all my haste I reckon I can bang out 1.8 or faster SoCs, which will mean I might get them off when under attack, and that I might get one more off before everything aggros on me) but otherwise I can't see their merit.

July 28, 2008, 10:42 PM	#1 (permalink)
itzalegend Lurker Character Info Briggie 70 Undead Warlock Kael'Thas US PvE PvP Guild: FearUsNot Profile: Blizzard Armory Talent Spec: 23/38/0	Shadoweave vrs Merc (gems) Shoulders The guild I'm has been raiding but mainly in kara with some ZA. I Have been grinding honor and got most of my pvp items in between running and grinding mats for shadoweave. My question is this. The Shadoweave shoulders are 133 armor 15 int 21 stam 2 sockets which I can put in the 4 hit 5 sdmg gems so that 8 hit and 10 sdmg and it has 50 damage. so my to hit would be 8hit and damage would be 60 damage Now my merc shoulders Have 36 damage and 13 Spell Hit already, More stam and armor but 5 less int. Know if I gem these with +12 damage gems I get 13 SH and 60 damage Which is 4 more hit , 12 more stam , 178 more armor. Whats your Opion It seams like I can get more out of my Merc shoulders then my shadoweave. I also have a even set up between merc chest and shadoweave chest, But the shadoweave boots blow the pvp boots out of the water. Is the shadoweave set bonus worth it or is it just the spell damage that is nice ? I know I could GEM both items different and come up with different stats like more Spell damage in the shadoweave or more hit for less damage but I think the stats would still be really close with just a slight difference here and there. This toon it self has only been 70 a shortwhile Im wanting to say atleast 3 weeks or less, But it was also my first 60 but I have been playing prot warr and a restro druid for about awhile that it was time to do some dps. any advice or opions would be great. Ill also probaly be changing my spec for an affliction build for raiding and keep the SL/SL build for pvp or grinding. also if this helps my HP/Mana/Spell hit/Spell damage/Crit chance are as follows. HP unbuffed = 12082 my last affliction build I was still over 10k with out any talents in demo mana unbuffed = 8909 Im running out of mana on boss fights like prince but I can tap down to get mana back but always tell the healers when im doing it. Spell hit = 28 Currently worried about and working on this to improve it Spell damage = Self buffed Im over 1k Crit chance = 8% Also low but working on it also for I can try a destro build out. Thank you in advance for helping and your advice and wisdom. Last edited by itzalegend; July 28, 2008 at 11:38 PM.

July 28, 2008, 11:29 PM	#2 (permalink)
Malevevely Member Character Info Malevevely 70 Undead Warlock KJ US PvP	Re: Shadoweave vrs Merc (gems) Shoulders As long as you have another set of pvp shoulders S2 will work better for you then fsw. The fsw set bonus frankly sucks and isn't really important. FSW boots are the only worthwhile piece of fsw now with badge loots and S2 for honor.

July 28, 2008, 11:37 PM	#3 (permalink)
itzalegend Lurker Character Info Briggie 70 Undead Warlock Kael'Thas US PvE PvP Guild: FearUsNot Profile: Blizzard Armory Talent Spec: 23/38/0	Re: Shadoweave vrs Merc (gems) Shoulders I'm not really pvping to hardcore just with some friends and Im sitting at 360 resilience and only loose 7 and 120 hps I think ill be okay I will be picking up some more items sone to bring me up clooser to 400 though.

July 28, 2008, 11:54 PM	#4 (permalink)
Malevevely Member Character Info Malevevely 70 Undead Warlock KJ US PvP	Re: Shadoweave vrs Merc (gems) Shoulders Go for it then S2 shoulders are a great starter piece for pve when you gem them for it. You are looking at 13 +spell hit (S2) vs +14 shadow damage (FSW) With the cost associated with fsw and the fact that at your gear level hit>damage I would not hesitate to use the S2 especially if you don't hardcore pvp.

July 29, 2008, 05:24 AM	#5 (permalink)
itzalegend Lurker Character Info Briggie 70 Undead Warlock Kael'Thas US PvE PvP Guild: FearUsNot Profile: Blizzard Armory Talent Spec: 23/38/0	Re: Shadoweave vrs Merc (gems) Shoulders Now I'm seeing why it might be a little out there to use my S2 shoulders. I checked the AH for the price of +12 gems and they were 500 gold each, Ouch 1k gold for 4 more hit , 12 more stam , 178 more armor, are those stats worth it ? It's making me wonder.

July 29, 2008, 06:26 AM	#6 (permalink)
Devicus Member Character Info Devicus 70 Gnome Warlock thunderhorn Euro PvE Profile: Blizzard Armory	Re: Shadoweave vrs Merc (gems) Shoulders In all seriousness, ignore the armour. If you get hit by a mob during a raid, you're going to get 1 or 2 shotted, pvp gear or not, you're a clothy. the plan is not to get hit, so armour is useless. And soloing, even drain tanking, spell damage will probably keep you alive better than armour. As for is it worth it? Don't think in terms of the size of the upgrade, but rather how much you'll get from it. If those shoulders are going to last into Wrath of the Lich King then sure, it is. On the other hand, if you're likely to start on gruuls, T4 drops anyway. If you're doing ZA you might get 1 badge loot and get the haste shoulders (though they seem crap to me). It depends on your progress speed. If your guild starts kara now, you could down void reaver in 4 months if you're all awesome and work hard, though odds are, you actually have to think "will I get a significant upgrade before Wrath of the Lich King?" or "How long till I get an upgrade?" It's not much damage but if it lasts several months, it's worth it.

July 29, 2008, 06:45 AM	#7 (permalink)
widgetlock Registered Character Info Widgetwarior 70 Orc Warlock Kilrogg Euro PvE Guild: The Bloodhound Company Profile: Blizzard Armory Talent Spec: 9/41/11	Re: Shadoweave vrs Merc (gems) Shoulders S2 shoulders look awesome as well.

July 29, 2008, 03:27 PM	#8 (permalink)
Malevevely Member Character Info Malevevely 70 Undead Warlock KJ US PvP	Re: Shadoweave vrs Merc (gems) Shoulders It will even be an upgrade with 4 hit/5 damage rare gems and they are cheap that is what I used in the above comparison. T4 shoulders from gruuls are not bad but whatever you do don't go for the ZA haste ones as they are possibly the worst epic shoulders ever.(poor itemization and lack of essential intro stats)

July 30, 2008, 05:18 AM	#9 (permalink)
Devicus Member Character Info Devicus 70 Gnome Warlock thunderhorn Euro PvE Profile: Blizzard Armory	Re: Shadoweave vrs Merc (gems) Shoulders I'm glad they seem rubbish to other people too. I was worried it was just me. I have them, and I might use them for aoe pulls (if I stack all my haste I reckon I can bang out 1.8 or faster SoCs, which will mean I might get them off when under attack, and that I might get one more off before everything aggros on me) but otherwise I can't see their merit.