Shadow Priest leveling guide
Shadow is the right spec for almost every Priest leveling from 60 to 70. Vampiric Touch returns mana with every shadow spell, Vampiric Embrace heals you at the same time, and Shadowfiend at level 66 refills your mana in a long fight. Shadow Word: Death at level 62 finishes enemies from range, so you rarely need to drink.
Strengths and weaknesses
- Vampiric Touch and Vampiric Embrace give mana and health back during every fight.
- Power Word: Shield and Shadowform make you hard to kill.
- Mind Flay slows melee enemies while it deals damage.
- Weaker against several enemies at once than against one.
Talents by level
At level 60
- In Shadow: Spirit Tap 5/5, Improved Shadow Word: Pain 2/2, Shadow Focus 5/5, Improved Mind Blast 5/5, Mind Flay, Shadow Reach 2/2, Vampiric Embrace, Improved Vampiric Embrace 2/2 and Focused Mind 3/3.
- Darkness 5/5, Shadowform, Shadow Power 3/5, Misery 5/5 and Vampiric Touch, for 41 points.
- In Discipline: Wand Specialization 5/5, Improved Power Word: Shield 3/3 and Martyrdom 2/2.
Level 61 to 70
- Improved Power Word: Fortitude 1/2, Meditation 3/3 and Inner Focus.
- Mental Agility 5/5, for 20 points in Discipline.
Rotation
One enemy
- Power Word: Shield on yourself, then Vampiric Touch and Shadow Word: Pain from range.
- Mind Blast, then Mind Flay while the enemy walks toward you.
- Shadow Word: Death from level 62 to finish, or your wand to save mana.
Two enemies
- Shadow Word: Pain on both, and Vampiric Embrace on the one you kill first.
- Psychic Scream when both reach you, then keep attacking one.
Staying alive
- Power Word: Shield before the pull, and Shadowform against physical damage.
- Shadowfiend from level 66 when your mana runs low in a hard fight.
- Renew and Flash Heal work too, but you must leave Shadowform to cast them.
Leveling route
| Level | Alliance | Horde |
|---|---|---|
| 60-62 | Hellfire Peninsula (Honor Hold) | Hellfire Peninsula (Thrallmar) |
| 62-64 | Zangarmarsh (Telredor) | Zangarmarsh (Zabra’jin) |
| 64-65 | Terokkar Forest (Allerian Stronghold) | Terokkar Forest (Stonebreaker Hold) |
| 65-67 | Nagrand (Telaar) | Nagrand (Garadar) |
| 67-68 | Blade’s Edge Mountains (Sylvanaar) | Blade’s Edge Mountains (Thunderlord Stronghold) |
| 68-70 | Netherstorm (Area 52), Shadowmoon Valley (Wildhammer Stronghold) | Netherstorm (Area 52), Shadowmoon Valley (Shadowmoon Village) |
Dungeons worth the detour: Hellfire Ramparts and The Blood Furnace from level 60, The Slave Pens and The Underbog around 62, and Mana-Tombs and Auchenai Crypts from 64.
Stats, weapons and tradeskills
- Spell Damage and Shadow Damage first, then Hit, Stamina and Intellect.
- A staff, or a one-handed weapon with an off-hand item, with Spell Damage, and a wand with Spell Damage.
- Enchants: Major Spellpower on the weapon and the gloves, and Spellpower on the bracers.
- Tradeskills: Tailoring for the Frozen Shadoweave set, with Enchanting to disenchant what you replace.