Dark Inspiration gives Shadow Priests a party Spirit buff for finishing the channel

Shadow Priests are usually measured by what they do to enemies. Dark Inspiration, a new talent in Blizzard’s 16 October development notes, adds something they do for their party.

The talent

Dark Inspiration is a new row 4 Shadow talent. Your Mind Blast, and any Mind Flay you channel to the end, grants Dark Inspiration, increasing your Spirit and your party’s Spirit by 3%, 6%, 9%, 12% or 15%, depending on rank, for 10 seconds.

Finishing the channel is the condition

The word that matters is “fully”. A Mind Flay you cut short does not count. Mind Blast triggers it on its own.

The same build gives a second reason to finish the channel. Improved Mind Flay now makes each instance of Mind Flay’s damage deal 10% or 20% more than the one before it. A channel that runs to its end pays off twice: in damage, and in the party buff.

Support, not a fixed amount

Spirit drives regeneration, so this is a support talent for the Priest’s group. The notes give the percentage, not what that means in mana or health per second, and the result depends on how much Spirit each party member has. Do not expect a fixed amount of regeneration from it.

It is a party effect, not a raid-wide one, and the notes say nothing about it changing how healers should play.

The same Shadow changes also shortened Devouring Plague’s cooldown; see our explainer.