Which spec to level
Level Shadow, with the first points into the wand. Icy Veins and Mobalytics recommend this: Spirit Tap returns mana after a kill, Mind Flay slows the enemy, and Vampiric Embrace heals you from the damage you deal.
The sources disagree. Warcraft Tavern defaults to Discipline with a wand: it keeps you alive more reliably, and their Shadow only opens up by level 28 and with spell power. The leveling tier list gives Priest a C with an asterisk: ratings range from C to S.
| Spec | When to take it | Downside |
|---|---|---|
| Shadow | Solo, the whole way to 60 | Little mana until the 40s (the Shadowform talent) |
| Discipline | Careful play with a wand, Penance from 30 | Less damage |
| Holy | If you run a lot of dungeons | Slow solo: Tavern does not recommend leveling as a healer |
Talents by level
Icy Veins order for Shadow (updated Oct 17). Levels 31–60 are closed on the beta: this is the source’s plan, and we will check it on live after Nov 4.
| Levels | Talent | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 10–11 | Wand Specialization | 2 |
| 12–16 | Spirit Tap | 5 |
| 17–18 | Improved Shadow Word: Pain | 2 |
| 19–21 | Improved Mind Blast | 3 |
| 22 | Mind Flay | 1 |
| 23–24 | Improved Mind Flay | 2 |
| 25 | Improved Mind Blast | 4 |
| 26 | Shadow Focus | 1 |
| 27 | Vampiric Embrace | 1 |
| 28–31 | Dark Inspiration | 4 |
| 32–33 | Devouring Contagion | 2 |
| 34 | Dark Inspiration | 5/5 |
| 35–36 | Shadow Weaving | 2 |
| 37–41 | Darkness | 5 |
| 42 | Shadowform | 1 |
| 43–47 | Twin Disciplines | 5 |
| 48–50 | Mental Strength | 3 |
| 51–53 | Meditation | 3 |
| 54 | Shadow Weaving | 3/3 |
| 55–56 | Early Demise | 2 |
| 57–60 | Shadow Focus | 5/5 |
TipMobalytics (Oct 22) goes almost the same way up to level 30, but does not take Improved Mind Blast and Dark Inspiration: instead Shadow Focus 3/5, Shadow Reach 2/2 and Shadow Weaving 3/3. If you have no wand by level 10, put the first 2 points straight into Shadow. The Legacy Talented perk gives talents up to 5 levels earlier.
Abilities and trainer
| Level | What to take | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Smite, Lesser Heal, Power Word: Fortitude | Damage, healing, Stamina |
| 4 | Shadow Word: Pain | Damage over time |
| 5 | Lesser Magic Wand (item) | Damage without mana |
| 6 | Power Word: Shield | A shield against damage and spell pushback |
| 8 | Renew, Fade | Healing over time, dropping threat |
| 10 | Mind Blast; the first racial spell | The main strike, 8 sec cooldown |
| 12 | Inner Fire | Armor |
| 14 | Psychic Scream | Scare enemies away |
| 20 | Flash Heal, Devouring Plague, Fear Ward; the second racial spell | A fast heal, the plague for any race |
| 30 | Penance (a Discipline talent) | Damage or healing |
| 40 | Riding, dual specialization | — |
- 1Before the fight
shield yourself (Power Word: Shield): for 30 seconds it absorbs damage and prevents spell pushback.
- 2Opening
Mind Blast, then Shadow Word: Pain right away.
- 3In the fight
Mind Flay while the enemy walks to you; up close, the shield or Psychic Scream.
- 4Finishing
at ~20% enemy health, switch to the wand. Mana regenerates after 5 seconds without casting, and Spirit Tap triggers on a kill.
Keep Power Word: Fortitude on the whole group. In a dungeon, a Priest is almost always asked to heal: while leveling you can heal with Shadow too, and from level 40 keep a second talent set for healing.
Solo, duo, group
Look for wand upgrades: Lesser Magic Wand from level 5, Greater Magic Wand around 13 (Icy Veins). Don’t spend mana on an enemy the wand or Shadow Word: Pain will finish off. Psychic Scream can pull neighbors: watch where the enemies run.
The best partner is any melee class: it holds the enemy while you hit with Shadow and heal. A shield on your partner before the fight saves time.
Holy is for those who run a lot of dungeons. Solo, such a Priest is slower (Warcraft Tavern, Icy Veins).
Stats and gear
Mobalytics: Intellect (mana pool), Spirit (regeneration), Stamina, spell power. Wands per Warcraft Tavern: Lesser Magic Wand (5), Greater Magic Wand (13), Sizzle Stick (15), Gravestone Scepter (18), Wand of Eventide (27). A wand upgrade is worth more than armor while leveling.
Class profession pairings and camp objects are in the professions guide.
How Forever differs from Classic
| What | In Forever |
|---|---|
| Racial spells | Each race has two Priest spells of its own, at levels 10 and 20. |
| Devouring Plague and Fear Ward | Available to any race from level 20. |
| Shadowform | Reworked: crit chance, and Shadow spells cost less. |
| New talents | Penance for Discipline, Prayer of Mending for Holy, Improved Mind Flay for Shadow. |
| Wands | The first wands give spell power. |
| Effects over time | Healing and damage are recalculated as the effect runs, not fixed at the cast. |
| Vampiric Touch | Not in Forever yet. |
| Dual specialization | From level 40. |
Questions
Which Priest spec should I level in WoW Forever?
Shadow with the wand talents: Icy Veins and Mobalytics recommend it. Warcraft Tavern defaults to Discipline.
Why does a Priest need a wand?
It deals damage without mana. Finishing with the wand restores mana and gives the kill bonus from the Spirit Tap talent.
When does Shadowform appear?
It is a talent in the 40s: level 42 for Icy Veins, level 40 for Warcraft Tavern.
Can I level as a healer?
You can, but it is slow solo. Holy makes sense if you spend almost all your time in dungeons.
Why does a Priest level slower?
Everything comes down to mana, and there is no area damage. By LFCarry’s estimate, about 5% slower than average.
