Last updated on May 07, 2024 at 11:20by Publik52 comments
General Information
On this page, you will find out the best talents for each tier for your Shadow Priest in World of Warcraft —Dragonflight 10.2.7. We also have default talent lists for various types of content, such as raiding or Mythic+.If you play with Warmode on, we have your PvP talents covered as well.
If you were looking for WotLK Classic content, please refer to our WotLK Classic Shadow Priest talents.
1.
Best Dragonflight Talents for Shadow Priest
While optimizing talents on a contextual basis is the highlyrecommended method of setting up your build, the Talent builds listed belowwork great for specific purposes.
Note that these builds are generic recommendations for various content.For more specific recommendations for the Raid and Mythic+ in Season 4, check out thededicated pages below.
Best Shadow Priest Mythic+ Talents for Dragonflight Season 4 Best Shadow Priest Talents for Vault of the Incarnates Best Shadow Priest Talents for Aberrus Best Shadow Priest Talents for Amirdrassil
The video version of this guide is also available if you would like to watchalong as I talk about Shadow Priest.
If you want an overview and breakdown of every Talent, check out theSpell Summary first to helpnavigate your build choices.
2.
Best Talents for Shadow Priest
Single TargetSingle Target + Shadow CrashCouncil Multi-TargetMythic+Pre-Set Bonus BuildsTalents Explained
3.
Single Target Build for Shadow Priest
This build is the default single target build for Shadow, withan option to use either Void Eruption or
Dark Ascensiondepending on your preference. These options are extremely closetogether (within 1% or less). On certain kill times, you might findDark Ascension can give more value with cooldowns every 1-minute.
The big difference between the two builds is with movement, wheregenerally speaking, the Void Eruption build handles mechanicsand movement better than the
Dark Ascension, which can bepunished more for moving out of the fire on the ground.
Options with this build:
Mind's Eye is the preferred choice with this build, beatingout
Distorted Reality by about 1%.
Use the code below to import the top Dark Ascension build for singletarget.
- BIQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAASkEAAAAAAAAAAAAgQaQSSJtDIJJRSSBShkkEpRgICpItQSQBSA
Be sure to make use of the 'Copy Export String' button to import the build directly into your game!
3.
Single Target + Shadow Crash Build for Shadow Priest
Sometimes you want as much single target as possible while also taking Shadow Crash. This can be good for Raid encounters with mostly singletarget but with adds or for Mythic+ dungeons with smaller pulls on
Tyrannical.
If you are looking for a more generic Raid build that can handle a widervariety of encounters, I would suggest starting here. You take a loss insingle target to grab more cleave talents to handle more situations like regularadd spawns. This is roughly 3% behind in pure single targetcompared to the standard build.
While in pure single target I would start with Void Eruption, thisbuild has a tougher time fitting in
Shadow Crash which makes it a bitfurther behind
Dark Ascension, even with more movement. Both are stillcompetitive options.
There is also the following build with Void Eruption that is lessthan 1% behind the base version. This could be advantageous depending on the fightduration.
- BIQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAggkEAAAAAAAAAAAAgQKBJJt0IJJJRSBShkkEpRgICpItQSQBJA
Be sure to make use of the 'Copy Export String' button to import the build directly into your game!
3.
Council Multi-Target Build for Shadow Priest
This build is the perfect starting point for AoE environments like Council bossesin raid or even Mythic+ dungeons. While maximizing our AoE damage, it also deals greatpriority target damage during AoE while also having decent single target.
This build is similar to the Mythic+ variant although it will prefer Distorted Reality for the increases sustained AoE damage. Youcan also run this build in Mythic+.
Options with this build:
- For low-target cleave environments if you are confident with managing your
Vampiric Touch you can also experiment with dropping
Shadow Crashand
Whispering Shadows for more Insanity generation with
Maddening Touch.
Be sure to make use of the 'Copy Export String' button to import the build directly into your game!
3.
Mythic+ Build for Shadow Priest
This build is the perfect starting point for Mythic+ dungeons. While maximizingour AoE damage, it also deals great priority target damage during AoE while alsohaving decent single target.
Class talents were selected as a safe default for most keys, butusually you can move points around from Purify Disease,
Mass Dispel,
Manipulation, or
Shattered Perceptions based on the needs of that key.Manipulation and Shattered Perceptions are less than 1% ofyour damage in a Mythic+ dungeon.Check out the class talents section below for more info.
Options with this build:
- By default, this build assumes you are in keys where you needsurvivability from
Mental Fortitude and also do not want to drop
Silence. Strictly speaking, this is a DPS loss; if you want todrop one of those points, you can add back a point into
Mental Decay. This is roughly a 2-3% damage gain.
- You can swap out
Mind's Eye for
Distorted Realityif you want more overall damage (6-10%) for a loss in priority targetdamage (20-24%). With Distorted Reality you should spread
Devouring Plague.
- You can flex points with this build depending on if you want moreAoE, Overall, or Single Target. Put four points into any of the following:
Mind Devourer - Overall
Maddening Touch - AoE (particularly good with
Mind's Eye)
Dark Evangelism - AoE
Mental Decay - Single Target
Phantasmal Pathogen - ST (
Mind's Eye) or AoE(
Distorted Reality)
For flex points, the big takeaway is that Distorted Reality doeswell with
Phantasmal Pathogen, since we are spreading
Devouring Plague with that Talent. This season
Mind Devourerin particular does well in all builds due to the extra modifier onDevouring Plague and the synergy with getting more of the out with our tier set bonus.
In mass AoE, you might find Maddening Touch to give more damage (+0.5%)when running
Mind's Eye in particular, however, this is typically not again in overall (-0.5%) compared to
Mind Devourer or
Phantasmal Pathogendue to how strong those options are in lower target count pulls and single target.
Use the below import string for the version with Distorted Reality:
- BIQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAECiEAAAAAAAAAAAAgQaSkk00IJJJRSBOQjkkEpRgISki0CJBFkA
If you are looking for a build that is a bit more relaxed for lower-levelkeystones check out this build with Dark Ascension:
- BIQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAEISEAAAAAAAAAAAAgEaRkIl0IJJJJJF4ANSSSkGBiIRKSLkEUgE
This build is designed for keystones that most players are completing.Check out the dedicated Mythic+ page to learn more about optimizing buildsat all levels.
Shadow Priest Mythic+ Page
Be sure to make use of the 'Copy Export String' button to import the build directly into your game!
3.
Pre-Set Bonus Builds for Shadow Priest
If you are starting out in Season 4 with the previous Season 3 setbonus you should use the following builds until you get the new setbonus and drop the Season 3 2-piece. I would generally advise not breakingthe previous 4-piece until you get the full new set bonus, but this willultimately come down to the item level it drops at.
Once you get the new Priest Shadow 10.1 Class Set 4pc set bonus you shouldno longer use these builds. They should ONLY be used with the Season 34-piece set bonus.
Single Target build with Dark Ascension:
- BIQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAIIREAAAAAAAAAAAAgkoFkIl0OgkERSSBSjkkEpRgICpItQSQBSA
Single Target + Shadow Crash build with
Dark Ascension:
- BIQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAIIJJHAAAAAAAAAAAAAIhWQiUSjkEJJJFINSSSkGBiIki0CJBFIB
Council Multi-Target Build with Void Eruption:
- BIQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAEikIBAAAAAAAAAAAAQolQINNSSSSkUg0IJJRaEIiQKSLkEUQSA
Low Key Level Mythic+ Build with Dark Ascension:
- BIQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAEIJJAAAAAAAAAAAAASoFRiUSjkEJJJFQhkkEpRKIiEpItQSQBSA
High Key Level Mythic+ Build with Void Eruption:
- BIQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAECJEAAAAAAAAAAAAAJpkEh00IJJJRSBUIJJRakCiIRKSLkEUQC
The main difference from a Low or High key perspective is how effective yourcooldown usage is. If you use Void Eruption and after finishing off a packyour
Voidform still has 10+ seconds remaining, it probably is too low of akey, and you would have been better off using
Dark Ascension. Generallythis cutoff seems to be around a +10 in Season 4.
3.
Talent Explanations for Shadow Priests
Note that we do not explain EVERY Talent in the tree on this page. We onlyexplain Talents that are part of our optimal builds for single-target and AoE.For full details and explanations of every Talent, please visit our Spells pagevia the button below.
Shadow Priest Dragonflight Spell Glossary
2.1.
Class Talents
2.1.1.
Row 1-4
![]() | Small Heal Over Time spell that can be useful to proc ![]() |
![]() | Healing spell that spreads across allies that can be useful to proc ![]() |
![]() | Adds to our utility letting us dispel diseases. Particularly useful in certain Mythic+ dungeons. |
![]() | Turns ![]() |
![]() | One of our core mobility spells. |
![]() | Niche talent that extends ![]() |
![]() | Builds upon our execute damage by extending the value of ![]() |
![]() | Gives us a tiny bit of magical defensive value. |
![]() | Allows you to quickly get an ally out of an otherwise deadly position. |
![]() | One of the hard crown control abilities we have, but only works against Undead enemies. Does work with ![]() |
![]() | Version of ![]() |
2.1.2.
Row 5-7
![]() | Powerful dispel utility that has a wide range of use, particularly in Mythic+. |
![]() | One of our core damage cooldowns that gives us a large amount of haste. |
![]() | Group healing ability that can do quite a lot of healing if used at the right time. |
![]() | Required extension of ![]() |
![]() | Main movement ability and gives you an additional option paired with ![]() |
![]() | Extends ![]() |
![]() | Main execute mechanic for the class that allows us to do slightly more damage at the end of an encounter. |
![]() | Small bump to ![]() |
2.1.3.
Row 8-10
![]() | Allows you to cast ![]() |
![]() ![]() | Small cooldown spells that mostly contribute to our damage via the Insanity provided less so the damage dealt. Double as a small healing cooldown as well. |
![]() | Transforms ![]() |
![]() | Small cooldown spell that deals a small amount of damage and generates some Insanity. |
![]() | Increases the effectiveness of ![]() |
![]() | Reduces the cooldown of ![]() ![]() |
![]() | Large single-target heal that can easily save your life or an allies if used well. |
![]() | Somewhat random healing effect added to ![]() ![]() ![]() |
2.2.
Spec Talents
2.2.1.
Row 1-4
![]() | Sole Insanity spender that deals damage over time on your target. Damage does roll over on subsequent casts, but the duration only increases by the time till the next tick on the original DoT. |
![]() | Main defensive ability that also doubles as a movement cooldown should you really need it. |
![]() | Adds a gameplay loop into our kit around these apparitions that can make them a powerful damage source if you build around them. |
![]() | Only Interrupt ability for Priests that the other specs do not have access to. |
![]() | Good passive defensive Talent that is critical for high damage taken encounters. |
![]() | Required Talent that reduces the amount of time spent casting DoT spells considerably. |
![]() | Allows you to weave in spells more easily while ![]() |
![]() | One of our AoE components that extends our single target spells (including ![]() ![]() |
![]() | Enhances our fillers to give a gameplay loop with spending Insanity on ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
2.2.2.
Row 5-7
![]() ![]() | One of our main cooldown abilities that lets you choose a sort of playstyle of the spec. This choice has some impacts on other talents chosen, particularly in the bottom section of the spec tree. |
![]() | Extends our filler spells to increase the duration of ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() | Makes ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() | One of the proc-based spells we have in our kit that gives you an instant cast ![]() |
![]() | Adds to your cooldown of choice by giving it a small boost to burst at the start of the cooldown. It does not actually increase the Critical Strike chance on your character stat sheet; only buffs specific spells hidden from the user. |
![]() | Additional proc based spell that can make ![]() |
![]() ![]() | Allows you to choose if you want to press ![]() ![]() |
2.2.3.
Row 8-10
![]() | Replaces ![]() |
![]() | Gives you another proc into the kit that gives you more procs as you get haste that makes ![]() |
![]() | Medium-sized cooldown spell that deals more damage the more haste you have during a fixed channel size. This does generate a moderate amount of Insanity and immediately triggers an ![]() |
![]() | Transforms ![]() |
![]() | Massive increase to priority and single target damage for ![]() ![]() |
![]() | Adds an extra effect every time you summon ![]() |
![]() | Gives you another AoE component in the kit that is capped at 4 enemies and then deals reduced damage beyond 5 targets hit for every tick. |
![]() | Capstone talent that builds off of ![]() ![]() |
![]() | Versatile Talent that gives you a proc of Insanity in the form of a Void Tendril (Single Target) or Void Lasher (AoE). When fighting 3 or more targets (around the one that procced the spell), you will proc the AoE Void Lasher instead of the Void Tendril. Note that the Insanity generation does not change based on which tendril procs. |
Several of our talents actively change your rotation, specifically yourpriority in given situations. You can find out more in the rotation sectionbelow.
Shadow Priest Rotation and Cooldowns
3.
Priest Class Talent Choices
While the builds above have sane defaults for Class Talents, thissection will go in-depth about the various choices we have with classtalents depending on the situation you are in.
3.1.
Always Use Class Talents
The following is a list of class talents I would always use as aShadow Priest. These are useful in just about every situation in PvEand will be the core talents for any build.
Shadowfiend - Baseline
Shadow Word: Death - Baseline
Death and Madness and
Tithe Evasion - Any buildthat ever uses
Shadow Word: Death should always have thesenodes.
Dispel Magic - Useful for pathing and great utility.
Improved Flash Heal and
Protective Light -Gives us another valuable active defensive with no cooldown.
Angelic Feather and/or
Body and Soul -Movement talents, typically I would suggest having both.
Power Infusion and
Twins of the Sun Priestess -Damage cooldown and massive group throughout utility.
Vampiric Embrace and
San'layn - Extrahealing utility that is taken all the time. Situationally
Sanguine Teachings could also be used.
Twist of Fate - Execute damage that unlocks nodesin the bottom section.
Throes of Pain - Baseline damage to
Shadow Word: Pain and should be taken in all situations.
Halo or
Divine Star - One of the fewdamage nodes on the tree.
Translucent Image - Transforms
Fade into anactive defensive.
Mindgames - Another baseline damage ability. Thesubsequent 3 points are not always taken.
3.2.
Situational Class Talents
Now that you have an idea of the baseline suggested class talents, you can finish off your build based on the content that you are doing.Depending on the specific raid boss or dungeon environment you shouldtweak these choices based on what you need. In some situations, youmight need more utility, and for others, if you do not need that utility,you can instead pick up more defensive choices.
The following talents are the utility choices we have as a Priest.You should only take these if you need them, otherwise fill pointselsewhere.
Psychic Voice - Gives a reduction in the cooldown of
Psychic Scream which can be useful to get more AoE CCavailable.
Phantasm - Transforms
Fade to also break snareeffects. Note that this is different from root effects.
Leap of Faith - Iconic Priest ability that is nice tohave in certain situations.
Shackle Undead - Hard CC ability that works on Undeadenemies.
Void Tendrils - AoE root ability for enemies in a radiusaround the caster.
Dominate Mind - Turns your
Mind Control spellinto one that instead makes the enemy a pet. This can be particularlyuseful in some Mythic+ Dungeons. This node is also required forcertain pathing decisions and is often taken for just that reason.
Mass Dispel - Powerful dispel tool.
Power Word: Life - Gives you a powerful spell foroff-healing.
Essence Devourer - Passive healing that does particularlywell with
Mindbender builds.
Void Shift - While use cases in PvE are slim this isoccasionally great utility to have.
Once you get all the utility points you need for the content you aredoing, you can then add the defensive points you need. This part is trickyas depending on content, this can vary wildly, but here are your optionsroughly ranked in terms of strength.
Spell Warding - 3% magic damage reduction
Improved Fade - Allows you to press
Fademore often for the defensive value.
Angel's Mercy - Can be useful depending on timings of amechanic you are trying to counter, but pathing into it can becumbersome.
Void Shield - Can give
Power Word: Shield abit more value when used defensively for passive ticking damage.
Light's Inspiration - Makes
Desperate Prayer strongerbut usually this increase does not actually change what would be consideredlethal.
Crystalline Reflection - Gives a very small heal with castsof
Power Word: Shield that can also give a bit of damage dependingon the situation.
Angelic Bulwark - Inconsistent cheat death-like shield thatusually does not proc when you actually need it.
Note that I suggest taking Protective Light and
Translucent Image by default in the top section. These are easilythe most valuable defensive nodes in our class tree and should always be taken.
The last thing to consider is if you can fit in the remaining Mindgames talents. The three total points in
Manipulationand
Shattered Perceptions typically make up less than 1% of your overalldamage. This typically makes them okay to drop in most scenarios, depending onhow valuable you treat the utility or defensive choices above. If you are runningcontent where you do not need the extra utility or defensive points, these shouldbe used by default for the damage they provide, especially in pure single target.
4.
PvP Talents (War Mode) for Shadow Priest
In the open world, you can go into "War Mode." Enabling WarMode provides the following benefits:
- PvP talents enabled in the outdoor world.
- 10%+ increase in World Quest rewards at maximum level.
- 10%+ more experience gained while leveling.
- Earn Conquest Points, which can reward gear every week.
With the benefits of enabling War Mode for leveling and PvE content, it isrecommended enabling the feature to maximize your leveling and rewards atmaximum level. However, you will make yourself available for open-world PvP,and the possibility of being "ganked" while leveling or doing World Questsexists.
Shadow Priest PvP guide
4.1.
Shadow Priest War Mode Talents
In this section, we will rank the PvP talents best for leveling and doingsolo / small group PvE content. Below is a ranking ofShadow Priest-specificPvE talents.
4.1.1.
Shadow Priest PvP Talents
Catharsis is a great boost to damage in the open world if you findyourself in solo content or 1v1s.
Driven to Madness gives you your cooldown back faster for betteruptime.
Psyfiend can be a nice talent if you are okay with another activeability; otherwise,
Void Volley is a good backup.
5.
Changelog
- 07 May 2024: Reviewed for 10.2.7.
- 30 Apr. 2024: Add note about Maddening Touch in the Mythic+ build.
- 25 Apr. 2024: Add new talent video.
- 22 Apr. 2024: Update all builds for Season 4 and replace pathing sections with an in-depth Class Talent guide.
- 19 Mar. 2024: Reviewed for Patch 10.2.6.
- 13 Feb. 2024: Update default class talents and utility choices in the Mythic+ build.
- 21 Jan. 2024: Update 3-target council build from recent buffs.
- 15 Jan. 2024: Updated for Patch 10.2.5.
- 15 Jan. 2023: Add optional change to the ST + Shadow Crash build and update the 3 target council build.
- 19 Dec. 2023: Remove outdated section and adjust Mind Flay options.
- 18 Dec. 2023: Update flex point talents in default Mythic+ build and update the 3 target council build.
- 18 Dec. 2023: Add note for loss in ST on the Shadow Crash build.
- 12 Dec. 2023: Update default Mythic+ build to not use Idol of Y'Shaarj.
- 03 Dec. 2023: Update default Mythic+ build to use Mind Flay.
- 01 Dec. 2023: Update 3 Target council build to default to Mind Flay.
- 17 Nov. 2023: Update builds for 3 target and Mythic+ to be more streamlined.
- 14 Nov. 2023: Add Mind Flay build option to the Single Target + Shadow Crash build.
- 06 Nov. 2023: Update talent builds and suggestions for Patch 10.2 and Season 3.
- 04 Sep. 2023: Reorganize headers to be more readable and move talent spell breakdown.
- 18 Aug. 2023: Correct typo in the description for the Triple Idol Dark Ascension build.
- 13 Aug. 2023: Clarify note on Triple Idol setups in high keys and update video link.
- 08 Aug. 2023: Fix issue where Dark Ascension Single Target build was not using Distorted Reality.
- 07 Aug. 2023: Add new builds from the recent hotfixes.
- 31 Jul. 2023: Swap to Distorted Reality by default for the Dark Ascension ST build.
- 25 Jul. 2023: Add Dark Ascension + Shadow Crash build.
- 23 Jul. 2023: Reviewed from the recent hotfixes. Noted difference in single target builds.
- 17 Jul. 2023: Refactor to use new talent layout.
- 10 Jul. 2023: Update talent strings for Patch 10.1.5.
- 28 Jun. 2023: Swap out Malediction for Deathspeaker on the Dark Ascension build.
- 27 Jun. 2023: Add new talent builds from the recent hotfixes.
- 23 Jun. 2023: Adjust notes about Distorted Reality.
- 02 May 2023: Small caveat to the flex points
- 01 May 2023: Update talent builds for the 10.1.0 rework.
- 20 Mar. 2023: Reviewed for Patch 10.0.7.
- 04 Feb. 2023: Update 2-target build and add a note about VF on single target.
- 24 Jan. 2023: Update talent builds for Patch 10.0.5.
- 11 Jan. 2023: Update Mythic+ talent builds from the recent changes.
- 23 Dec. 2022: Update talent builds to account for Screams of the Void bug.
- 13 Dec. 2022: Add alternate ST build that offers more burst.
- 11 Dec. 2022: Updated for Dragonflight Season 1.
- 28 Nov. 2022: Updated for Dragonflight launch.
- 31 Oct. 2022: Updated talent builds to no longer suggest Psychic Link and changed default Mythic+ build to Yogg-Saron.
- 26 Oct. 2022: Updated talent builds from recent bug finding for Screams of the Void.
- 25 Oct. 2022: Updated for Dragonflight pre-patch.
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