Shadow Priest leveling guide

Shadow is the fastest way to level a Priest in Classic Era. Spirit Tap restores mana after every kill, Mind Flay slows enemies while it deals damage, and Shadowform at level 40 adds damage and reduces the physical damage you take. You rarely need to drink, and you can still heal a dungeon group.

Strengths and weaknesses

• Spirit Tap and a wand keep downtime very low.
• Power Word: Shield and Vampiric Embrace make the spec hard to kill.
• Mind Flay slows melee enemies, so they reach you late.
• Weak against several enemies at once, and the damage is low before level 20.

Talents by level

Level 10 to 30

• Spirit Tap 5/5, Improved Shadow Word: Pain 2/2 and Shadow Focus 3/5.
• Mind Flay at level 20, then Improved Mind Blast 5/5.
• Shadow Focus 5/5, Shadow Reach 2/3 and Vampiric Embrace at level 30.

Level 31 to 40

• Shadow Reach 3/3, Silence and Improved Vampiric Embrace 2/2.
• Darkness 5/5, then Shadowform at level 40.

Level 41 to 60

• Shadow Weaving 5/5, for 36 points in Shadow.
• In Discipline: Wand Specialization 5/5, Improved Power Word: Shield 3/3, Martyrdom 2/2, Meditation 3/3 and Improved Power Word: Fortitude 2/2.

Rotation

One enemy

• Power Word: Shield on yourself, then open with Mind Blast at maximum range.
• Shadow Word: Pain, then Mind Flay while the enemy walks toward you.
• Finish with your wand to save mana. Spirit Tap starts after the kill.

Two enemies

• Shadow Word: Pain on both and Power Word: Shield on yourself.
• Psychic Scream when both reach you, then attack one enemy while the other runs.
• Vampiric Embrace on the enemy you attack, so every shadow spell heals you.

Staying alive

• Renew and Flash Heal work, but you must leave Shadowform to cast them.
• Silence stops a caster, and Psychic Scream buys time.
• Inner Fire and Power Word: Fortitude before every fight, and drink when Spirit Tap is not enough.

Leveling route

Level	Alliance	Horde
1-12	Elwynn Forest, Dun Morogh, Teldrassil	Durotar, Mulgore, Tirisfal Glades
12-20	Westfall, Loch Modan, Darkshore	The Barrens, Silverpine Forest
20-30	Redridge Mountains, Duskwood, Wetlands	The Barrens, Hillsbrad Foothills, Thousand Needles
30-40	Stranglethorn Vale, Arathi Highlands, Desolace	Stranglethorn Vale, Arathi Highlands, Desolace
40-50	Tanaris, Feralas, The Hinterlands	Tanaris, Feralas, The Hinterlands
50-60	Un’Goro Crater, Felwood, Western Plaguelands, Winterspring	Un’Goro Crater, Felwood, Western Plaguelands, Winterspring

Dungeons worth the detour: Scarlet Monastery from level 30 to 40, Zul’Farrak around 45 and Blackrock Depths from 52.

Stats, weapons and tradeskills

• Intellect and Spirit for Spirit Tap, then Stamina. Spell Damage and Shadow Damage matter more at level 60.
• The wand deals a large part of your damage while leveling, so upgrade it often.
• Enchants: Mana or Stats on the chest, and Intellect or Spirit on the bracers.
• Tradeskills: Tailoring for cloth armor and bags, with Enchanting to craft your own wands.