Shadow Embrace is an Afflictionwarlock talented passive ability that causes [Shadow Bolt] (or [Drain Soul] if talented) to apply a stacking magic debuff to the target, increasing their damage taken from the caster.
Patch changes[]
Hotfix (2023-07-13):Fixed an issue where [Haunt] would apply Shadow Embrace.
Patch 10.0.0 (2022-10-25): Now a row 4 Affliction talent (was a level 45 Affliction talent).
Shadow Embrace is no longer learned at level 58 and is now a talent option on the level 45 row.
No longer applied by Haunt, as these are now competing talents.
Now lasts 16 seconds (was 12 seconds).
Now also increases the damage of the warlock's demons and guardians.
Patch 9.0.1 (2020-10-13): No longer a talent, and learned by all affliction warlocks at level 58. Can now be applied by Haunt. Duration increased to 12 seconds (up from 10).
Patch 8.0.1 (2018-07-17): Re-added as a level 90 affliction talent (was a tier 4 Affliction talent). Now increases all damage dealt, rather than only periodic shadow damage. No longer applied by Haunt.
Patch 4.0.1 (2010-10-12): Shadow Embrace is now a tier 4 talent with 3 ranks, (was a tier 5 talent with 5 ranks). No longer reduces periodic healing on the target.
Patch 3.3.2 (2010-02-01): This effect can now stack up to 3 times, up from 2. However, the periodic healing reduction effect has been reduced from 3/6/9/12/15% to 2/4/6/8/10% per application.
Patch 3.1.0 (2009-04-14): Now only increases the damage done by your shadow damage periodic spells.
Patch 3.0.8 (2009-01-20): This ability will now create a separate debuff stack for each Warlock with the talent, and each warlock will benefit properly from his or her own debuff.
Patch 3.0.3 (2008-11-04): Now works on ranks 1-4 and stacks properly with multiple applications.
Patch 3.0.2 (2008-10-14): Redesigned. Your Shadow Bolt and Haunt spells apply the Shadow Embrace effect, increasing all periodic damage dealt to the target by you by 1/2/3/4/5%, and reduces all periodic healing done to the target by 3/6/9/12/15%. Lasts for 12 sec. Stacks up to 2 times.
Previous effect: Your Corruption, Curse of Agony, Siphon Life and Seed of Corruption spells also cause the Shadow Embrace effect, which reduces physical damage caused by 5%.
Patch 2.3.0 (2007-11-13): This talent's effect can no longer trigger other effects.
Patch 2.2.0 (2007-09-25): The effect from this talent will no longer last indefinitely if applied while charmed by an NPC.