Shadowmeld OP or not OP?

For many years, Night Elves have lauded shadowmeld as being the worst racial in the game. I admit, as a NE Druid I have drooled over having a Tauren warstomp, or an Undeads will of the forsaken or in recent times a Humans perception has been called OP (Over Powered) as Arena's popularity (and gear)increased.

But how bad was it? Thinking back at the multiple way's it's been used, shadowmeld was never THAT bad to begin with.

Hunter's (ab)used shadowmeld with aimed shot (you used to come out of shadowmeld when the spell was cast, now you come out of shadowmeld when you start casting the spell)

There was the get out of combat, drink and shadowmeld to hide while pvping.
This was especially popular with Night Elf Hunters that could drop out of combat anytime with , fall dead, eat/drink, shadowmeld.

Night Elves could hide at the start of Arena, some would sit in the starting area, while others would quickly run behind a pillar, or up on the bridge and meld, giving the appearance of 2 stealthers.

So admittedly, while shadowmeld was not as bad as Night Elves have complained about, many Night Elves definitely had race envy.

So what does the new shadowmeld do?

Shadowmeld (Racial)
Instant cast
Activate to slip into the shadows, reducing the chance for enemies to detect your presence. Lasts until cancelled or upon moving. Any threat is restored versus enemies still in combat upon cancellation of this effect.


And why are people complaining about it all of a sudden?

Well first let's compare the negatives about the new shadowmeld compared to the old one.

It no longer says it gives +1 level of stealth on the tooltip, so i will assume they took this out, although i've seen a few people comment that it still does (out of ignorance i guess)

Can no longer eat/drink then shadowmeld

2 minute CD

Ok, now for the positives

Can shadowmeld while in combat

Drops threat while melded


Although there are only 2 positives, they far outweigh the negatives, especially for us stealthers. As of patch 3.0.2 kitties can now eat then stealth! (rogues already knew they could do this)

Shadowmeld is like an additional vanish for rogues, taking them out of combat allowing them to stealth, and is like a vanish for druids.

If a Night Elf tank makes a bad pull, he can quickly meld to drop agro.

It lets Night Elf healers drop agro long enough for the tank to pick up the loose mob.

And for those Night Elves with instant broomstick mounts from Halloween, you can shadowmeld (drop combat) instant broomstick and get the hell out of their.

Pretty slick when most of us weren't expecting a racial change.

There are now a lot of people crying nerf! (seems like their is a lot of cry babies in this game) we'll see how Blizz handles it.