Soul Shard



Soul Shards are a unique Warlock resource displayed in the user interface beneath the player's health and mana bars similar to Death Knight Runes. The resource works in tandem with the Soulburn spell, to empower the next spell the player casts, granting it a special effect, such as increasing its damage or making it an instant cast. Warlocks have 3 Soul Shards that can be used during a fight and will not be able to gain additional shards during combat. Soul Shards are not required outside of combat, with the intent that warlocks make full use of the resource in every fight, though Blizzard may add a mechanic to regen shards in combat if it's found it's needed in order to handle variable combat length.

Soulburn has no mana or health costs and is off the global cooldown, but has a 45-second cooldown. Secondary effects are outlined here.
 * Summon Demon + Soulburn = summon the demon instantly.
 * Drain Life + Soulburn = Reduces cast time by 50%.
 * Demonic Circle: Teleport + Soulburn = Increases movement speed by 50% for 8 seconds after teleporting.
 * Unstable Affliction + Soulburn = Instantly deals damage equal to 30% of its effect.
 * Soul Fire + Soulburn = Instant cast.
 * Healthstone + Soulburn = Increases total health by 20% for 8 seconds.
 * Searing Pain + Soulburn = Increases the crit chance of Searing Pain by 100%, and subsequent Searing Pain spells by 50% for 6 seconds.
 * Seed of Corruption + Soulburn = If the Seed of Corruption detonates, all targets will be afflicted by Corruption and the Soul Shard will be returned. If the Seed of Corruption fails to detonate, the Soul Shard is not returned.  This effect is enabled through a talent in the Affliction tree.