WoW Physical Damage vs Shadow Damage: A Comprehensive Comparison

When it comes to dealing damage in World of Warcraft, there are two main types of damage: physical and shadow. Both have their own strengths and weaknesses, and the best choice for you will depend on your class, spec, and playstyle.

Physical Damage

Physical damage is the most common type of damage in WoW. It is dealt by weapons, abilities, and spells that deal physical damage. Physical damage is resisted by armor, and the amount of resistance is determined by the target's armor value.

Strengths of Physical Damage

• Physical damage is easy to understand and apply.
• Physical damage is resisted by armor, which is a common stat on enemies.
• Physical damage can be boosted by a variety of buffs and debuffs, such as Strength, Attack Power, and Haste.

Weaknesses of Physical Damage

• Physical damage is resisted by armor, which can make it less effective against heavily armored enemies.
• Physical damage is not as effective against targets with high health pools, as it does not scale as well as other damage types.

Shadow Damage

Shadow damage is a type of magical damage that is dealt by spells and abilities that deal shadow damage. Shadow damage is resisted by shadow resistance, and the amount of resistance is determined by the target's shadow resistance value.

Strengths of Shadow Damage

• Shadow damage is more effective against targets with low armor, as it is not resisted by armor.
• Shadow damage scales well with intellect, making it a good choice for casters.
• Shadow damage can be boosted by a variety of buffs and debuffs, such as Shadow Power, Shadowbolt, and Vampiric Touch.

Weaknesses of Shadow Damage

• Shadow damage is resisted by shadow resistance, which can make it less effective against targets with high shadow resistance.
• Shadow damage is not as effective against targets with high health pools, as it does not scale as well as other damage types.

Which Damage Type is Right for You?

The best damage type for you will depend on your class, spec, and playstyle. If you are a melee class, you will likely want to focus on physical damage, as it is the most common type of damage in WoW. If you are a caster class, you will likely want to focus on shadow damage, as it is more effective against targets with low armor.

Conclusion

Physical damage and shadow damage are both viable damage types in WoW. The best choice for you will depend on your class, spec, and playstyle. If you are unsure which damage type is right for you, experiment with both and see which one you prefer.

Additional Resources

• Wowhead: Physical Damage
• Wowhead: Shadow Damage
• Icy Veins: Damage Types