We begin our look at builds for the Priest with an overview of the three schools available. They are Shadow, Discipline, and Holy. The Shadow line covers the DPS for the Priest, the Holy line covers healing (more specifically group healing), and the Discipline line covers buffs and single target healing. As you put points in any school, it can greatly change your characters potential and play style. So let’s take a closer look at each school and spec, and a few of the Talents that make the build stand out, and you will see how the Priest can truly be played 3 very different and distinct ways.
The Shadow Priest
Shadow Priest Build
Let’s start with a look at a Shadow build. If you have ever heard that healing classes can’t do damage in MMOGs, the Shadow Priest is there to prove that wrong. Shadow builds are known for their DPS. If you are looking to solo your way to level 80, or your raid has enough healing, and you want to do some respectable DPS, Shadow is the way to go. With Shadow, you are greatly enhancing most of your damage dealing spells, but do have to sacrifice some of the healing potential that is offered in the other schools. Spells like Mind Blast, Mind Flay and Shadow Word: Pain can have their durations and damage greatly increased by speccing Shadow. It also greatly decreases down time between fights by increasing your mana regeneration after every kill that grants you XP or Honor.
Spirit Tap - The first Talent you will fall in love with immediately when starting down the Shadow school is Spirit Tap. Before you get this, almost every fight will end with you sitting on your ass, drinking milk, or sparkleberry juice, or some other completely emasculating fruity cocktail, designed to make you feel like the wuss you are. Spirit Tap gives you your honor back, by increasing your Spirit after every kill that grants you XP or Honor. The great thing about Spirit Tap is that it doesn’t follow the 5 second rule. You can get in another fight and continue gaining mana while casting, which greatly reduces your down time. The first point you put into Spirit Tap gives you a 33% chance to increase your spirit by 100% after each kill, and you can continue to regain 50% of your mana even if you are casting. The effect lasts for 15 seconds. The second point put into Spirit Tap increases your chance to 66%, and your third point gives you a 100% chance of it firing off after every kill. You will be rolling from one fight to the next with this Talent and it is easy to see why Shadow Priests love it.
Shadow Form - As you move down the Shadow Talents and increase your damage output, you will come to one of the best talents in the game for the Priest… Shadow Form. It is available at level 40, and if you haven’t taken enough shadow talents to get it at 40, respec. That’s right; it’s that big of a talent, you need it the second you can take it. Shadow Form increases all of your shadow damage by 15%, reduces all physical damage taken by 15%, and reduces your threat by 30%. The down side to Shadow Form is that you can’t cast any holy spells while in Shadow Form. So you won't be the group healer with this, but if you are running solo, or your group has enough healing without you, you can really push out some damage, and take a bigger beating. This spell is what really makes you a Shadow Priest.
Dispersion - Dispersion is the last talent available in the Shadow school. Since it’s the last and hardest to get in the school designed for DPS, you would expect Dispersion to really lay the smack down on your foes… well umm… it doesn’t. It doesn’t make it any less valuable, but Dispersion does no damage at all. So what does it do you ask? It keeps you alive! It is a last ditch, save your ass when you are about to die talent. Dispersion reduces all damage by 90%, while regenerating your mana by 6% every second for 6 seconds. The great thing about this is that you can use Dispersion while stunned, feared, or silenced. The drawback - you are unable to attack or cast spells during this time. It is almost like a pause and recharge button, but it can save your skin when things turn south.
I recommend leaving out a few talents such as Blackout and Improved Psychic Scream. These points can be much better spent in other areas, like Meditation and Improved Power Word: Fortitude which are far and away better talents.
| Key Shadow Talents |
Talent
|
What it Does |
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Spirit Tap
Gives you a 33% chance to gain a 100% bonus to your Spirit after killing a target that yields experience or honor. For the duration, your Mana will regenerate at a 50% rate while casting. Lasts 15 sec. |
Less downtime between kills because it keeps your mana recharging regardless if you are casting. |
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Shadow Form
Assume a Shadowform, increasing your Shadow damage by 15%, reducing Physical damage done to you by 15% and threat generated by 30%. However you may not cast Holy spells while in this form. Your Shadow Word: Pain, Devouring Plague, and Vampiric Touch abilities deal increased percentage damage equal to your spell critical strike chance. |
Allows you to deal more damage while taking less damage. |
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Dispersion
You disperse into pure Shadow energy, reducing all damage taken by 90%. You are unable to attack or cast spells, but you regenerate 6% mana every 1 sec for 6 sec. Dispersion can be cast while stunned, feared, or silenced. |
Saves your ass when you are about to die and out of mana. |
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Vampiric Touch
Causes 495 Shadow damage over 15 sec to your target and causes up to 10 party or raid members to gain 0.25% of their maximum mana per second when you deal damage from Mind Blast. |
Does nice damage, and works great with Mind Blast to get mana back. |
The Holy Priest
Holy Build
The Holy Priest is the classic Healer of MMOGs. They excel at keeping the group fighting with great AoE heals. If you want a Priest that can go on raids and help keep the entire raid going, the Holy Priest is the way to go. If you go Holy, groups are your friend. I won’t say that a Holy Priest can’t solo, but they sure don’t shine on their own. With the increases in duration and amounts healed from your spells like Renew and Greater Heal, while reducing the mana cost of casting your healing spells, the Holy Priest really shines in larger groups. When most Raids are looking for a Priest, it’s usually a Holy Priest they want.
Improved Renew - Improved Renew is one of the first Talents you pick up in the Holy school. It is a simple, subtle, but powerful talent for the Holy Priest. The first point you spend on the talent increases the amount healed by Renew by 5%. The second point increases by 10%, and the third by 15%. It is simple and straight forward, and a huge mana saver. At lower levels you won’t notice much difference between your normal Renew and your Renew after taking this talent, but at higher levels it is very noticeable. When you have a 10 man raid running, and you are trying to keep everyone standing, while not drawing too much aggro, Renew will be one of your best friends. You will be casting this a lot, and the fact that you will have to cast it 15% less often is great. This equals less time sitting around drinking foo foo juice (or whatever they are calling it now) and more time pushing into combat for the group.
Improved Healing - Improved Healing is another simple Talent that allows a Holy Priest to keep doing what they are designed to do, with little down town. For each point spent in Improved Healing the mana cost of your Lesser Heal, Heal, Greater Heal, Divine Hymn, and Penance are reduced by 5%. These are the majority of your healing spells, and with the ability to put 3 points into the talent, the savings are huge. Any Priest can cast these spells but with this Talent a Holy Priest can cast a lot more of them without stopping.
Circle of Healing - Circle of Healing will be one of your raid’s best friends. It is one of the Holy Priests biggest and flashiest talents. Circle of Healing is an instant cast AoE healing spell that heals up to 5 members of your raid within 15 yards of your target. When your group is getting battered by multiple mobs, and you don’t have time to cast Prayer of Healing, this talent can really help prevent a total party wipe, as well as give some of the other healers in the group some breathing room during a fight.
I recommend leaving out a few talents such as Spell Warding and Blessed Recovery. Again, these points can be much better spent in other areas, like Meditation and Improved Power Word: Fortitude which are far and away better talents. These talents are so good, that every Priest needs them.
| Key Holy Talents |
Talent
|
What it Does |
 |
Improved Renew
Increases the amount healed by your Renew spell by 5% |
Heals more damage so you don’t have to cast as often. |
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Improved Healing
Reduces the Mana cost of your Lesser Heal, Heal, Greater Heal, Divine Hymn and Penance spells by 5%. |
Heals cost less to cast them, so you can cast more before resting. |
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Circle of Healing
Heals up to 5 friendly party or raid members within 15 yards of the target for 250 to 274. |
Group AoE heal for when whole party is being hit hard. |
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Divine Providence
Increases the amount healed by Circle of Healing, Binding Heal, Holy Nova, Prayer of Healing, Divine Hymn and Prayer of Mending by 10% and reduces the cooldown of your Prayer of Mending by 30%. |
Makes your group heals heal for more. |
The Discipline Priest
Discipline Build
The Discipline Priest has often been thought of as a support Priest - a Priest that can give good buffs and minor healing, but little more than that. With the recent updates to the game though, it looks like the Discipline Priest can do a lot more than that. It can now be argued (and actually is on our boards) that a Discipline Priest is the best single target healer in the game. While the argument is likely to continue for some time, I can say this, the Discipline Priest is easily the best single target healer out of the Priests, and can hold their own as main tank healer without a second thought.
Improved Power Word: Fortitude - This is one of the key abilities that define a Discipline Priest. Discipline Priests are usually known for their buffs, and Improved Power Word: Fortitude is one of the biggest arguments. It increases your Power Word: Fortitude and Prayer of Fortitude by 15% for the first point you put in, and 30% for the second. Since you cast this buff on everyone in your group, you really increase the group survivability with this talent. Let’s face it, more health equals more hits you can take before dropping, so it’s easy to see why this talent is so great.
Reflective Shield - This talent adds a nice punch to your Power Word: Shield spell by causing 5% of the damage absorbed by your spell to be reflected back at the attacker for each point spent on the talent. Since you can spend up to 3 points on the talent, it can be very nice watching your foes kill themselves while trying to hit you or your group.
Penance - The final talent available in the Discipline School, and with this talent a Discipline Priest can really shine as a single target healer. Penance is a channeled spell that does 184 holy damage to an enemy, OR 670 to 756 healing to an ally every second for 2 seconds. On a critical heal with this, the Divine Aegis that is procced, makes this talent truly shine. A Discipline Priest with Penance can easily heal the main tank for any group.
I recommend leaving out a few talents such as Martyrdom and Unbreakable Will. These points can be much better spent in other areas, like Holy Specialization and Divine Fury which are far and away better talents. Knocking off a second or two from a stun is nothing compared to increasing your critical heals by 5%.
| Key Discipline Talents |
Talent
|
What it Does |
 |
Improved Power Word: Fortitude
Increases the effect of your Power Word: Fortitude and Prayer of Fortitude spells by 15% |
Gives you and your group more Health to take more hits. |
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Reflective Shield
Causes 15% of the damage absorbed by your Power Word: Shield to reflect back at the attacker. This damage causes no threat. |
Every time you are hit, the attacker takes damage. |
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Penance
Launches a volley of holy light at the target, causing 184 Holy damage to an enemy, or 670 to 756 healing to an ally every 1 sec for 2 sec. |
Makes you a great main tank healer. Heals a single target for a lot, fast. |
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Divine Aegis
Critical heals create a protective shield on the target absorbing 10% of the amount healed. Lasts 12 sec. |
Absorbs damage, so less healing needed. |
Summary
As you can see, the Priest has several viable builds depending on your play style. They are very flexible and can fill many different roles. Don’t get the wrong idea after reading this that each build is pigeon holed into that role. I have seen Shadow Priests heal in 10 man raids, and I have seen Holy Priests running around solo. These builds will help sharpen one area over another, but they are flexible enough to do whatever is needed. The Priest is truly a great all-around class.
| Talents by Level Suggestions |
Here is a step by step way to build your talents for the Shadow Priest. This will give you the best DPS possible, which will help you as you solo and grind your way up to 80. This is by far the easiest way to get to 80 quickly. Unless you have a specific reason why you want to use another build, this is the way to go. Then respec at 80 to be whatever type of Priest you want.
Shadow Build
Level 10: Spirit Tap (1/3)
Level 11: Spirit Tap (2/3)
Level 12: Spirit Tap (3/3)
Level 13: Improved Spirit Tap (1/2)
Level 14: Improved Spirit Tap (2/2)
Level 15: Improved Shadow Word: Pain (1/2)
Level 16: Improved Shadow Word: Pain (2/2)
Level 17: Shadow Focus (1/3)
Level 18: Shadow Focus (2/3)
Level 19: Shadow Focus (3/3)
Level 20: Mind Flay (1/1)
Level 21: Improved Mind Blast (1/5)
Level 22: Improved Mind Blast (2/5)
Level 23: Improved Mind Blast (3/5)
Level 24: Improved Mind Blast (4/5)
Level 25: Improved Mind Blast (5/5)
Level 26: Shadow Reach (1/2)
Level 27: Shadow Reach (2/2)
Level 28: Shadow Weaving (1/3)
Level 29: Shadow Weaving (2/3)
Level 30: Shadow Weaving (3/3)
Level 31: Vampiric Embrace (1/1)
Level 32: Improved Vampiric Embrace (1/2)
Level 33: Improved Vampiric Embrace (2/2)
Level 34: Focused Mind (1/3)
Level 35: Focused Mind (2/3)
Level 36: Focused Mind (3/3)
Level 37: Mind Melt (1/2)
Level 38: Mind Melt (2/2)
Level 39: Improved Devouring Plague (1/3)
Level 40: Improved Devouring Plague (2/3)
Level 41: Improved Devouring Plague (3/3)
Level 42: Shadowform (1/1)
Level 43: Darkness (1/5)
Level 44: Darkness (2/5)
Level 45: Darkness (3/5)
Level 46: Darkness (4/5)
Level 47: Darkness (5/5)
Level 48: Veiled Shadows (1/2)
Level 49: Veiled Shadows (2/2)
Level 50: Shadow Power (1/5)
Level 51: Shadow Power (2/5)
Level 52: Shadow Power (3/5)
Level 53: Shadow Power (4/5)
Level 54: Shadow Power (5/5)
Level 55: Misery (1/3)
Level 56: Misery (2/3)
Level 57: Misery (3/3)
Level 58: Vampiric Touch (1/1)
Level 59: Pain and Suffering (1/3)
Level 60: Pain and Suffering (2/3)
Level 61: Pain and Suffering (3/3)
Level 62: Twisted Faith (1/5)
Level 63: Twisted Faith (2/5)
Level 64: Twisted Faith (3/5)
Level 65: Twisted Faith (4/5)
Level 66: Twisted Faith (5/5)
Level 67: Dispersion (1/1)
Level 68: Twin Disciplines (1/5)
Level 69: Twin Disciplines (2/5)
Level 70: Twin Disciplines (3/5)
Level 71: Twin Disciplines (4/5)
Level 72: Twin Disciplines (5/5)
Level 73: Improved Power Word: Fortitude (1/2)
Level 74: Improved Power Word: Fortitude (2/2)
Level 75: Improved Inner Fire (1/3)
Level 76: Improved Inner Fire (2/3)
Level 77: Improved Inner Fire (3/3)
Level 78: Meditation (1/3)
Level 79: Meditation (2/3)
Level 80: Meditation (3/3)
While the Shadow school is by far the easiest way to get to level 80, some people like doing things the hard way. Sure they use excuses like, “If I spec Holy the whole way, I will know how to heal when I get to 80.” That kind of thinking is bullshit. It is every Priests god given right to ding 80, respec and cause many, many party wipes. However if you insist on learning how to heal as you go, here is the way to do it…
Holy
Level 10: Twin Disciplines (1/5)
Level 11: Twin Disciplines (2/5)
Level 12: Twin Disciplines (3/5)
Level 13: Twin Disciplines (4/5)
Level 14: Twin Disciplines (5/5)
Level 15: Improved Power Word: Fortitude (1/2)
Level 16: Improved Power Word: Fortitude (2/2)
Level 17: Silent Resolve (1/3)
Level 18: Silent Resolve (2/3)
Level 19: Silent Resolve (3/3)
Level 20: Meditation (1/3)
Level 21: Meditation (2/3)
Level 22: Meditation (3/3)
Level 23: Improved Power Word: Shield (1/3)
Level 24: Improved Renew (1/3)
Level 25: Improved Renew (2/3)
Level 26: Improved Renew (3/3)
Level 27: Holy Specialization (1/5)
Level 28: Holy Specialization (2/5)
Level 29: Holy Specialization (3/5)
Level 30: Holy Specialization (4/5)
Level 31: Holy Specialization (5/5)
Level 32: Divine Fury (1/5)
Level 33: Divine Fury (2/5)
Level 34: Divine Fury (3/5)
Level 35: Divine Fury (4/5)
Level 36: Divine Fury (5/5)
Level 37: Desperate Prayer (1/1)
Level 38: Inspiration (1/3)
Level 39: Inspiration (2/3)
Level 40: Inspiration (3/3)
Level 41: Improved Healing (1/3)
Level 42: Improved Healing (2/3)
Level 43: Improved Healing (3/3)
Level 44: Spiritual Guidance (1/5)
Level 45: Spiritual Guidance (2/5)
Level 46: Spiritual Guidance (3/5)
Level 47: Spiritual Guidance (4/5)
Level 48: Spiritual Guidance (5/5)
Level 49: Holy Reach (1/2)
Level 50: Holy Reach (2/2)
Level 51: Spiritual Healing (1/5)
Level 52: Spiritual Healing (2/5)
Level 53: Spiritual Healing (3/5)
Level 54: Spiritual Healing (4/5)
Level 55: Spiritual Healing (5/5)
Level 56: Holy Concentration (1/3)
Level 57: Holy Concentration (2/3)
Level 58: Holy Concentration (3/3)
Level 59: Blessed Resilience (1/3)
Level 60: Blessed Resilience (2/3)
Level 61: Blessed Resilience (3/3)
Level 62: Empowered Healing (1/5)
Level 63: Empowered Healing (2/5)
Level 64: Empowered Healing (3/5)
Level 65: Empowered Healing (4/5)
Level 66: Empowered Healing (5/5)
Level 67: Circle of Healing (1/1)
Level 68: Test of Faith (1/3)
Level 69: Test of Faith (2/3)
Level 70: Test of Faith (3/3)
Level 71: Impowered Renew (1/3)
Level 72: Impowered Renew (2/3)
Level 73: Impowered Renew (3/3)
Level 74: Divine Providence (1/5)
Level 75: Divine Providence (1/5)
Level 76: Divine Providence (1/5)
Level 77: Divine Providence (1/5)
Level 78: Divine Providence (1/5)
Level 79: Guardian Spirit (1/1)
Level 80: Spirit of Redemption (1/1)
Now let’s take a look at how to spend your points as you level up using a Discipline build. This one is really easy… Don’t! What are you sick? Are you some kind of masochist? There is no reason in the world to do this to your self. You will grind much slower and have a harder time getting to 80. Why do that? Just level up using Shadow and then respec Discipline if you want to. No? Ok, who am I to judge. If you insist on doing this, I want it said upfront that I do not recommend anyone trying this. You have been warned.
Discipline
Level 10: Twin Disciplines (1/5)
Level 11: Twin Disciplines (2/5)
Level 12: Twin Disciplines (3/5)
Level 13: Twin Disciplines (4/5)
Level 14: Twin Disciplines (5/5)
Level 15: Improved Power Word: Fortitude (1/2)
Level 16: Improved Power Word: Fortitude (2/2)
Level 17: Improved Inner Fire (1/3)
Level 18: Improved Inner Fire (2/3)
Level 19: Improved Inner Fire (3/3)
Level 20: Meditation (1/3)
Level 21: Meditation (2/3)
Level 22: Meditation (3/3)
Level 23: Inner Focus (1/1)
Level 24: Improved Power Word Shield (1/3)
Level 25: Improved Power Word Shield (2/3)
Level 26: Improved Power Word Shield (3/3)
Level 27: Mental Agility (1/3)
Level 28: Mental Agility (2/3)
Level 29: Mental Agility (3/3)
Level 30: Reflective Shield (1/2)
Level 31: Reflective Shield (2/2)
Level 32: Mental Strength (1/5)
Level 33: Mental Strength (2/5)
Level 34: Mental Strength (3/5)
Level 35: Mental Strength (4/5)
Level 36: Mental Strength (5/5)
Level 37: Silent Resolve (1/3)
Level 38: Focused Power (1/2)
Level 39: Focused Power (2/2)
Level 40: Enlightenment (1/3)
Level 41: Enlightenment (2/2)
Level 42: Enlightenment (3/3)
Level 43: Silent Resolve (2/3)
Level 44: Silent Resolve (3/3)
Level 45: Power Infusion (1/1)
Level 46: Rapture (1/3)
Level 47: Rapture (2/3)
Level 48: Rapture (3/3)
Level 49: Soul Warding (1/1)
Level 50: Improved Flash Heal (1/3)
Level 51: Aspiration (1/2)
Level 52: Aspiration (2/2)
Level 53: Renewed Hope (1/2)
Level 54: Renewed Hope (2/2)
Level 55: Divine Aegis (1/3)
Level 56: Divine Aegis (2/3)
Level 57: Divine Aegis (3/3)
Level 58: Grace (1/2)
Level 59: Grace (2/2)
Level 60: Pain Suppression (1/1)
Level 61: Borrowed Time (1/5)
Level 62: Borrowed Time (2/5)
Level 63: Borrowed Time (3/5)
Level 64: Borrowed Time (4/5)
Level 65: Borrowed Time (5/5)
Level 66: Penance (1/1)
Level 67: Holy Specialization (1/5)
Level 68: Holy Specialization (2/5)
Level 69: Holy Specialization (3/5)
Level 70: Holy Specialization (4/5)
Level 71: Holy Specialization (5/5)
Level 72: Divine Fury (1/5)
Level 73: Divine Fury (2/5)
Level 74: Divine Fury (3/5)
Level 75: Divine Fury (4/5)
Level 76: Divine Fury (5/5)
Level 77: Desperate Prayer (1/1)
Level 78: Inspiration (1/3)
Level 79: Inspiration (2/3)
Level 80: Inspiration (3/3)
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