Shadow Priest leveling guide
Shadow is by far the fastest way to take a Priest from 70 to 80. Vampiric Touch, Shadow Word: Pain and Devouring Plague do damage over time, Mind Blast and Mind Flay finish the job, and Vampiric Embrace heals you with every shadow spell. Dispersion and Shadowfiend bring back mana, so you barely have to stop to drink.
Strengths and weaknesses
- Strong damage over time, and Mind Flay slows the enemy.
- Vampiric Embrace and Power Word: Shield keep you healthy without casting heals.
- Dispersion and Shadowfiend solve most mana problems.
- Groups of enemies are hard before Mind Sear at level 75, and Shadowform blocks your holy spells.
Talents by level
At level 70
- In Shadow: Spirit Tap 3/3, Improved Spirit Tap 2/2, Darkness 5/5, Improved Shadow Word: Pain 2/2, Shadow Focus 3/3, Improved Mind Blast 5/5, Mind Flay, Shadow Reach 2/2 and Shadow Weaving 3/3.
- Silence, Vampiric Embrace, Improved Vampiric Embrace 2/2, Mind Melt 2/2, Shadowform, Shadow Power 5/5, Misery 3/3, Vampiric Touch and Pain and Suffering 3/3.
- Twisted Faith 5/5 and Dispersion, for 51 points. In Discipline: Twin Disciplines 5/5, Improved Inner Fire 3/3 and Improved Power Word: Fortitude 2/2.
Level 71 to 80
- Meditation 3/3, Inner Focus and Improved Power Word: Shield 3/3.
- Mental Agility 3/3, for 20 points in Discipline.
Rotation
One enemy
- Vampiric Touch from range, then Shadow Word: Pain and Devouring Plague.
- Mind Blast on cooldown, and Mind Flay in between.
- Shadow Word: Death to finish an enemy, or while you move.
Groups of enemies
- Shadow Word: Pain on two or three enemies, and Power Word: Shield before they reach you.
- Mind Sear from level 75 on a group, and Psychic Scream when they get too close.
Staying alive
- Power Word: Shield before every pull, and Vampiric Embrace always active.
- Dispersion when you take too much damage or your mana runs out.
- Shadowfiend for mana, and Fade and Silence to get out of trouble.
Leveling route
| Level | Alliance | Horde |
|---|---|---|
| 70-72 | Borean Tundra (Valiance Keep), Howling Fjord (Valgarde) | Borean Tundra (Warsong Hold), Howling Fjord (Vengeance Landing) |
| 72-74 | Dragonblight (Wintergarde Keep) | Dragonblight (Agmar’s Hammer) |
| 74-75 | Grizzly Hills (Amberpine Lodge) | Grizzly Hills (Conquest Hold) |
| 75-76 | Zul’Drak (Zim’Torga) | Zul’Drak (Zim’Torga) |
| 76-78 | Sholazar Basin (Nesingwary Base Camp) | Sholazar Basin (Nesingwary Base Camp) |
| 78-80 | The Storm Peaks (K3), Icecrown (Argent Vanguard) | The Storm Peaks (K3), Icecrown (Argent Vanguard) |
Dungeons worth the detour: Utgarde Keep and The Nexus from level 70, Azjol-Nerub and Ahn’kahet: The Old Kingdom around 72, and Drak’Tharon Keep and The Violet Hold from 74.
Stats, weapons and tradeskills
- Spell Power first, then Hit, Haste, Crit and Spirit.
- A staff, or a one-handed weapon with an off-hand item, and a wand with Spell Power.
- Enchants: Mighty Spellpower on the weapon, Exceptional Spellpower on the gloves and Superior Spellpower on the bracers.
- Tradeskills: Tailoring for caster cloth and Lightweave Embroidery, with Enchanting to disenchant what you replace.