Priest specialization

Shadow Priest in WoW Forever

Shadow spells and lingering damage.

  • Your role: Ranged spell damage
  • Advice for every level to 60
  • Class notes checked

Your character

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Your gear Use my character
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Choose the level you are playing now. The playbook and gear rankings update to match.

Level 35 · Damage in a group

How to play dungeons at level 35

Your combat loop

Press the first one that is ready.

Shadow’s own loop, from level 20. Before that every Priest plays the same loop.

Own loop from: Shadow level 20

Use Mind Flay. It does 11% more than Smite.

Keep up:
  1. Shadow Word: Pain Rank 5 Keep on target · 24 sec

    Keep it on the target; it lasts 24 sec.

    21% of your damage
  2. Devouring Plague Rank 2 Every 24 sec

    Use it whenever it is ready, every 24 sec.

    12% of your damage
  3. Mind Blast Rank 5 Every 6.5 sec

    Use it whenever it is ready, every 6.5 sec.

    31% of your damage
  4. Mind Flay Rank 2 Filler

    Cast it whenever nothing above is ready.

    36% of your damage

The first 30 seconds

When to press each one from the pull. The blue line under a press is the global cooldown (1.5 sec) or cast it holds: nothing else on the global cooldown can go until it ends, so of two that are ready together the higher one goes first.

In the gaps
Mind Flay

How MaxDPS works this out

Talents at level 35

26 points at level 35: the first at level 10, then one every level.

The MaxDPS build at this level, in the game’s talent frame. Click a talent to learn it and right click to unlearn it, as in the game.

Talents
Unspent Talents
Point order: when each point goes in
  1. Spirit Tap 5/5 · levels 10–14 +1.5% damage
  2. Improved Shadow Word: Pain 2/2 · levels 15–16 +2.8% damage
  3. Shadow Focus 5/5 · levels 17–19 and 23–24 +5.2% damage
  4. Mind Flay 1/1 · level 20 +13% damage
  5. Improved Mind Flay 2/2 · levels 21–22 +6.9% damage
  6. Shadow Weaving 3/3 · levels 25–27 +9.9% damage
  7. Vampiric Embrace 1/1 · level 28 not counted here
  8. Improved Mind Blast 3/5 · levels 29 and 32–33 +2.1% damage
  9. Devouring Contagion 2/2 · levels 30–31 +6.9% damage
  10. Dark Inspiration 1/5 · level 34 +0.1% damage
  11. Darkness 1/5 · level 35 +2% damage

Every Priest talent

Preliminary item rankings · Dungeons

Shadow Priest gear rankings

Shadow damage · Level 35 · Calculated defaults

Hunt list
Show gear for

Head 58 items · Updating…

Where it comes from
Auction prices from

Materials: . Each reagent counts at the lower of a vendor’s price and its lowest buyout.

Key stats show the stats behind the three largest score contributions, as the game tooltip states them; open an item’s details for every value and source.

Head items with imported stats, weighted scores and acquisition sources.
Rank Item Score (pts) Where to get it Actions
1 in this filtered list
Filigreed Shadow Circlet Cloth · iLvl 30 · Req. 25 · Crafted Key stats: 14 Shadow spell power12 Stamina38 Armor
16.81
TailoringCrafted
Materials about

Score breakdown

  • Shadow spell power: 14 × 1 = 14.00 pts
  • Stamina: 12 × 0.2241 = 2.69 pts
  • Armor: 38 × 0.0031 = 0.12 pts

Rare

Source

TailoringCrafted
2 in this filtered list
Augural Shroud Cloth · iLvl 39 · Req. 34 · Other drop Key stats: 11 Spell power10 Intellect5 Stamina
16.38
Nether SorceressNPC drop · 1.4% · Desolace
Alliance: Horde: None on the auction house

Score breakdown

  • Spell power: 11 × 1 = 11.00 pts
  • Intellect: 10 × 0.4125 = 4.13 pts
  • Stamina: 5 × 0.2241 = 1.12 pts
  • Armor: 42 × 0.0031 = 0.13 pts

Uncommon

Source

Nether SorceressNPC drop · 1.4% · Desolace
3 in this filtered list
Corpseshroud Cloth · iLvl 40 · Req. 35 · Other drop Key stats: 19 Intellect7 Spell power47 Armor
14.98
Razorfen DownsZone loot
Alliance: Horde: None on the auction house

Score breakdown

  • Intellect: 19 × 0.4125 = 7.84 pts
  • Spell power: 7 × 1 = 7.00 pts
  • Armor: 47 × 0.0031 = 0.15 pts

Rare

Source

Razorfen DownsZone loot
4 in this filtered list
Shadow Circlet Cloth · iLvl 25 · Req. 20 · Crafted Key stats: 11 Shadow spell power10 Stamina35 Armor
13.35
TailoringCrafted
Materials about

Score breakdown

  • Shadow spell power: 11 × 1 = 11.00 pts
  • Stamina: 10 × 0.2241 = 2.24 pts
  • Armor: 35 × 0.0031 = 0.11 pts

Rare

Source

TailoringCrafted
5 in this filtered list
Electromagnetic Gigaflux Reactivator Cloth · iLvl 36 · Req. 31 · Dungeon drop Key stats: 8 Spell power8 Intellect9 Spirit
12.17
Mekgineer ThermapluggBoss drop · 10% · Gnomeregan

Score breakdown

  • Spell power: 8 × 1 = 8.00 pts
  • Intellect: 8 × 0.4125 = 3.30 pts
  • Spirit: 9 × 0.0817 = 0.74 pts
  • Armor: 43 × 0.0031 = 0.13 pts

Rare

Source

Mekgineer ThermapluggBoss drop · 10% · Gnomeregan
6 in this filtered list
Shadow Hood Cloth · iLvl 34 · Req. 29 · Crafted Key stats: 7 Shadow spell power11 Intellect37 Armor
11.65
TailoringCrafted
Alliance: Horde: None on the auction house Materials about

Score breakdown

  • Shadow spell power: 7 × 1 = 7.00 pts
  • Intellect: 11 × 0.4125 = 4.54 pts
  • Armor: 37 × 0.0031 = 0.11 pts

Uncommon

Source

TailoringCrafted
7 in this filtered list
Holy Shroud Cloth · iLvl 32 · Req. 27 · Other drop Key stats: 11 Spell damage6 Spirit40 Armor
11.61
Large Solid ChestObject loot · 0.1%
Alliance: Horde: None on the auction house

Score breakdown

  • Spell power: 11 × 1 = 11.00 pts
  • Spirit: 6 × 0.0817 = 0.49 pts
  • Armor: 40 × 0.0031 = 0.12 pts

Rare

35 sources

Large Solid ChestObject loot · 0.1%
Solid ChestObject loot · <0.1%
Forsaken InfiltratorNPC drop · <0.1% · Ashenvale
Xavian FelswornNPC drop · <0.1% · Ashenvale
Silithid SearcherNPC drop · <0.1% · Thousand Needles
Nightbane Dark RunnerNPC drop · <0.1% · Duskwood
Kolkar DestroyerNPC drop · <0.1% · Desolace
Scarlet ScryerNPC drop · <0.1% · Scarlet Monastery
All 35 sources
8 in this filtered list
Silk Headband Cloth · iLvl 32 · Req. 27 · Crafted Key stats: 9 Spell power8 Stamina36 Armor
10.90
TailoringCrafted
Alliance: Horde: None on the auction house Materials about

Score breakdown

  • Spell power: 9 × 1 = 9.00 pts
  • Stamina: 8 × 0.2241 = 1.79 pts
  • Armor: 36 × 0.0031 = 0.11 pts

Uncommon

Source

TailoringCrafted
9 in this filtered list
Filigreed Pristine Circlet Cloth · iLvl 30 · Req. 25 · Crafted Key stats: 8 Spell damage12 Stamina38 Armor
10.81
TailoringCrafted
Materials about

Score breakdown

  • Spell power: 8 × 1 = 8.00 pts
  • Stamina: 12 × 0.2241 = 2.69 pts
  • Armor: 38 × 0.0031 = 0.12 pts

Rare

Source

TailoringCrafted
10 in this filtered list
Embalmed Shroud Cloth · iLvl 35 · Req. 30 · Dungeon drop Key stats: 8 Spell damage7 Stamina12 Spirit
10.68

Score breakdown

  • Spell power: 8 × 1 = 8.00 pts
  • Stamina: 7 × 0.2241 = 1.57 pts
  • Spirit: 12 × 0.0817 = 0.98 pts
  • Armor: 42 × 0.0031 = 0.13 pts

Rare

Source

11 in this filtered list
Enchanter's Cowl Cloth · iLvl 33 · Req. 28 · Crafted Key stats: 6 Spell power10 Intellect37 Armor
10.24
TailoringCrafted
Alliance: Horde: None on the auction house Materials about

Score breakdown

  • Spell power: 6 × 1 = 6.00 pts
  • Intellect: 10 × 0.4125 = 4.13 pts
  • Armor: 37 × 0.0031 = 0.11 pts

Uncommon

Source

TailoringCrafted
12 in this filtered list
Earthen Silk Hood Cloth · iLvl 37 · Req. 32 · Crafted Key stats: 8 Spell damage10 Spirit40 Armor
8.94
TailoringCrafted
Alliance: Horde: None on the auction house Materials about

Score breakdown

  • Spell power: 8 × 1 = 8.00 pts
  • Spirit: 10 × 0.0817 = 0.82 pts
  • Armor: 40 × 0.0031 = 0.12 pts

Uncommon

Source

TailoringCrafted
13 in this filtered list
Sorrow's Shroud Cloth · iLvl 29 · Req. 24 · Other drop Key stats: 5 Spell damage11 Stamina3 Mana per 5 sec
8.78

Score breakdown

  • Spell power: 5 × 1 = 5.00 pts
  • Stamina: 11 × 0.2241 = 2.47 pts
  • Mana per 5 sec: 3 × 0.4001 = 1.20 pts
  • Armor: 38 × 0.0031 = 0.12 pts

Rare

Source

14 in this filtered list
Pristine Circlet Cloth · iLvl 25 · Req. 20 · Crafted Key stats: 6 Spell damage10 Stamina35 Armor
8.35
TailoringCrafted
Materials about

Score breakdown

  • Spell power: 6 × 1 = 6.00 pts
  • Stamina: 10 × 0.2241 = 2.24 pts
  • Armor: 35 × 0.0031 = 0.11 pts

Rare

Source

TailoringCrafted
15 in this filtered list
Aurora Cowl Cloth · iLvl 39 · Req. 34 · Other drop Key stats: 10 Intellect10 Stamina42 Armor
6.50
Reginald HolmsbyWorld drop · 7.7% · also from 111 other creatures
Alliance: Horde: None on the auction house

Score breakdown

  • Intellect: 10 × 0.4125 = 4.13 pts
  • Stamina: 10 × 0.2241 = 2.24 pts
  • Armor: 42 × 0.0031 = 0.13 pts

Uncommon

118 sources

Reginald HolmsbyWorld drop · 7.7% · also from 111 other creatures
Krol'dok BruteNPC drop · 1%
Champion of the DeepNPC drop · 0.9%
Strong Iron LockboxContainer loot · 0.9%
Large Solid ChestObject loot · 0.8%
Large Iron Bound ChestObject loot · 0.7%
Brinescale ExplorerNPC drop · 0.6%
Hoard of the Black DragonflightContainer loot · 0.5%
Brinescale SorceressNPC drop · 0.4%
Venomweb SpitterWorld drop · 0.4%
All 118 sources
16 in this filtered list
Craftsman's Monocle Cloth · iLvl 37 · Req. 32 · Crafted · Profession required Key stats: 15 Intellect40 Armor
6.31
EngineeringCrafted
Alliance: Horde: None on the auction house Materials about

Score breakdown

  • Intellect: 15 × 0.4125 = 6.19 pts
  • Armor: 40 × 0.0031 = 0.12 pts

Uncommon · Profession required — check item requirements

Source

EngineeringCrafted
17 in this filtered list
Cloudy Stormsewn Cowl Cloth · iLvl 35 · Req. 30 · Crafted Key stats: 9 Intellect9 Stamina38 Armor
5.85
TailoringCrafted
Alliance: Horde: None on the auction house Materials about

Score breakdown

  • Intellect: 9 × 0.4125 = 3.71 pts
  • Stamina: 9 × 0.2241 = 2.02 pts
  • Armor: 38 × 0.0031 = 0.12 pts

Uncommon

Source

TailoringCrafted
18 in this filtered list
Azure Stormsewn Cowl Cloth · iLvl 35 · Req. 30 · Crafted Key stats: 9 Intellect9 Stamina38 Armor
5.85
TailoringCrafted
Alliance: Horde: None on the auction house Materials about

Score breakdown

  • Intellect: 9 × 0.4125 = 3.71 pts
  • Stamina: 9 × 0.2241 = 2.02 pts
  • Armor: 38 × 0.0031 = 0.12 pts

Uncommon

Source

TailoringCrafted
19 in this filtered list
Nightsky Cowl Cloth · iLvl 35 · Req. 30 · Other drop Key stats: 12 Intellect5 Spirit38 Armor
5.48
Large Iron Bound ChestObject loot · 1.7%
Alliance: Horde: None on the auction house

Score breakdown

  • Intellect: 12 × 0.4125 = 4.95 pts
  • Spirit: 5 × 0.0817 = 0.41 pts
  • Armor: 38 × 0.0031 = 0.12 pts

Uncommon

112 sources

Large Iron Bound ChestObject loot · 1.7%
Large Solid ChestObject loot · 0.8%
Iron LockboxContainer loot · 0.6%
Scarlet MonkNPC drop · 0.2% · Scarlet Monastery
All 112 sources
20 in this filtered list
Nimar's Tribal Headdress Cloth · iLvl 39 · Req. 34 · Other drop Key stats: 7 Intellect6 Stamina11 Spirit
5.26
Alliance: Horde: None on the auction house

Score breakdown

  • Intellect: 7 × 0.4125 = 2.89 pts
  • Stamina: 6 × 0.2241 = 1.34 pts
  • Spirit: 11 × 0.0817 = 0.90 pts
  • Armor: 42 × 0.0031 = 0.13 pts

Uncommon

Source

Item stats from the WoW Forever game files; sources from data collected from the live game. Auction prices are the lowest buyout on the Americas · Normal auction houses, read from Blizzard every hour; pick another region or ruleset under Filters. Which house is which ruleset is matched by size and still being confirmed in game.

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