Do you get spirit shards when you have no masteries active?

[Exillian.8127]

Just want to see if I am assuming things right, so I still have mastery's to complete in HoT etc. but if I don't unlock something but still getting exp, when the cap hits do I still get a shard?

 

Notice it a few times in the middle of an event, a little white light glows out of your character and you get a shard.

[Inculpatus cedo.9234]

You do. There was an update some time ago where it was changed, and mentioned in the Patch Notes.

Although, sometimes, it works sporadically.

[Taril.8619]

Any time you are not actively gaining Mastery Experience towards a mastery, you will be earning experience towards Spirit Shards.

 

This can be, if you've unlocked all masteries for a particular area (Such as HoT), or if you have filled out your currently chosen mastery's experience pool and have yet to pick another or unlock the next level (For example, if you don't have enough Mastery Points to unlock something)

 

The only caveat is, with a case where you have a full experience mastery active, you will not be able to see a progress bar for your experience, as you'll just have the full bar from the mastery.

[Khisanth.2948]

Beside from exp, shards can also drop from mobs for any level 80 character. IIRC also from various containers like champ bags as well.