Cataclysm [Guide] PvE Shadow Priest

**sWiz** · April 7, 2016

Hello dear Shadow priest players and to these which now want to try it out. My ingame nick is Swiz, already known from some old Cataclysm players as Svviz, one of the best Shadow priests in whole Molten past 3 years with most activity and top results for best class ingame. My history about Shadow priest is longer then 6 years spread into Private servers and Retail. This Cataclysm and Mist of Pandaria guides will introduce you from my point of view and my knowledge in shadow speciality, how we are in these two expansions. Currently both guides are on daily based program, which getting changes on the way as you gear ingame. Any suggestions and ideas about improve in guide, will be welcome to me. Feel free to leave comments below.

Right now I don't play anymore Cataclysm expansion, so any kind of test will be delayed till I contact some of my friends inside to test them.

Pros:
- Stable DPS.
- Good survivability and kiting.
- Small AoE healing, while you hit mobs with your spells.
- OMM is impossible, as we got strong mana gain spells.
- Easy start, as basic rotation for new players.
- Easy to cap most of important stats.
- Nice Crowd Controls
- Strong defend cooldown for 6 seconds.

Cons:
- Weak for long fights.
- Not good at AoE damage, compare to other spell casters.
- Definitely stay away from High melee attacks.
- A lot of practice for good performance as DPS for future.
- Switching forms for Heals and DPS, which probably waste time.

Race is our start of journey. Best choices may depend of what play style you prefer, of course every of them got something for us as from spell/stat side. In other hand is how you want to look in eyes of all players. Read well what they can give and make your choice.

Alliance faction.

Spoiler: Show

Horde faction.

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Both talent trees are right and which you choice will not be mistake, just in case you will not lose any kind of DPS/Off Heals/Processes, it's just about survivability and less stress on your healers.

1. First talent build look pretty same like basic one, with only change [Psychic Horror] for fear or interrupt, probably useful in dungeons or even adds from any raid encounter for 3 seconds stop as fear in one place and disarm melee attack for 10 seconds. If you notice you don't need this, put the 1 point into [Inner Sanctum] for 2% reduce all damage taken , while is active.

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2. Second talent build is not bad too and depends from situation as well, key thing here is the Major absorb of shield with 20% [Improved Power Word: Shield] and 4% reduce of damage taken with [Inner Sanctum], as far as I know about this talent it will be use full for upcoming new instances, there will be a lot of damage and this will help.

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Intellect>Hit/Spirit 17%>Haste 30%>Mastery=Critical

1. Intellect - The most and very important stat for every caster, give everything you need, to increase your damage by any point, obtain this from get higher gear available.

2. Haste - Equal to intellect with a little bit below is Haste, as you already know we most do DPS with Damage over time spells, so this kind of stat is for that.

What this doing for Shadow priest? Decrease time between ticks and make them hit fast, decrease casting speed on channeling spells.

- Haste Plateaus - 128.05 haste rating gives 1% spell haste. Haste rating scales with other sources and cannot reduce the duration of the global cool down below 1.0 second. So do not go over caps below, no point.

What are they? A point of haste that you can reach that will give you a small bonus to damage upon reaching it. After which the stat weight of haste will decrease temporarily in value, sometimes, but not always.

How do they work? For some plateaus, you get a small damage bonus to one of your spells [Improved Devouring Plague] and [Vampiric Touch], the duration of a dot spell goes from a low duration to a higher duration, and you get some extra time during the fight to cast other spells.

Haste Plateaus factor into two of our spells - [Vampiric Touch] and [Devouring Plague]. It is also important whether or not you have Dark Intent.

Probably you should aim in these steps below. Only [Mind Quickening] on buffs.

Without Dark Intent

- First step: 1601 (1475 for goblin) - Improved Devouring Plague +1.
- Second step: 2589 (2463 for goblin) - Extra tick in Vampirit Touch.
- Extra step: 3202 (3076 for goblin) - Improved Devouring Plague +2. This point of haste miss some corrections. My suggest is to stay at 2589 (2463 for goblin)

With Dark Intent

- First step: 1601 (1475 for goblin) - Improved Devouring Plague +1.
- Second step: 2141 (2017 for goblin) - Extra tick in Vampirit Touch.
- Extra step: 2824 (2698 for goblin) - Improved Devouring Plague +2. This point of haste miss some corrections. My suggest is to stay at 2141 (2017 for goblin)

3. Hit rating - That should be before haste, cause miss make lose DPS, lose mana and bad performance. Basically Hit is now twice much more easy to cap, with talent [Twisted Faith] every single point of spirit going to hit point so equal to that 1742 hit cap and 1642 for Draenei will be your stop, after that everything above is a waste point.

4. Mastery - So after main stats such a intellect and haste for us, there coming Mastery, with adding additional damage to all your periodical spells and increase your Process Talent abilities, make it somehow nearly Critical. No cap to reach.

5. Critical strike - As all know this double and make big yellow numbers spread at your screen, there is not cap.

Do your reforging in this order:

1. If an item does not have haste on it, reforge it for the maximum amount of haste.
2. If an item has haste, reforge the secondary stat to hit/spirit until 17%.
3. After steps 1 and 2, if you are still under hit cap, sacrifice haste to reach cap. If you are over hit cap, trade some hit for critical or mastery (whichever is stronger for you).

Your aim with reforging should be to have the most haste possible and secondly to reach as close to your hit cap (17%) as possible without being over. It's fine to be a little under the hit cap as long as you've maxed out your haste. Check below the ways of reforge.

1. Critical ->Hit/Spirit until cap ->Haste ->Mastery
2. Mastery ->Hit/Spirit until cap ->Haste ->Critical
3. Hit/Spirit if above cap ->Haste ->Mastery ->Critical

Enchants

Head: [Arcanum of Hyjal]
Shoulders: [Greater Inscription of Charged Lodestone] or [Felfire Inscription]
Back: [Enchant Cloak - Greater Intellect] or [Lightweave Embroidery]
Chest: [Enchant Chest - Peerless Stats]
Wrist: [Enchant Bracer - Mighty Intellect] or [Enchant Bracer - Speed]
Gloves: [Enchant Gloves - Haste], [Enchant Gloves - Greater Mastery] or [Synapse Springs]
Waist: [Ebonsteel Belt Buckle]
Pants: [Powerful Ghostly Spellthread]
Boots: [Enchant Boots - Lavawalker] or [Enchant Boots - Haste]
Weapon: [Enchant Weapon - Power Torrent] or [Enchant Weapon - Hurricane]
Off-Hand: [Enchant Off-Hand - Superior Intellect]

Gems

Red: [Brilliant Inferno Ruby] or [Brilliant Queen's Garnet]
Yellow: [Reckless Ember Topaz] or [Reckless Lava Coral]
Blue: [Purified Demonseye] or [Purified Shadow Spinel]
Meta: [Burning Shadowspirit Diamond]

Note: Choice on rotation will be every time depend and always different so you probably need to create way of thinking about put some spell before other, then next to be different, so you should on 100% learn your spells and processes so after that 5-6 spells without Trinkets and cooldowns to be cast without any problems and on the true situation. I will explain 3, probably will look like basic one with a bit more focusing on talent processes and cooldowns. Pictures below are active and can potential show you how shadow priest stay right now. This DPS is done by following rotations bellow, with little changes on some spells to be casted before other while processes require.

So pictures in the spoiler, bellow show that practice and ability to understand deeper every spell of our spec, is result of success. I know that may do even more, but even with this DPS boost is still good for us.

Spoiler: Show

Based is on open up and stable for boss fights. Priority here is not to cast all cooldowns, right after start up. You need first to process two of important talent spells. [Empowered Shadows]

and 5x [Dark Evengelism]

, so once you get these two UP, then use potion and trinket which give Intellect. If you see at start you going with very low damage and slowly. It will grow up after 5-10 seconds. This rotation is good for all kind of set bonuses.

1. [Shadow word: Pain]
2. [Mind Flay] x1,2 - You need at least 1 orb, cut it whenever you get orb.
3. [Mind Blast] - Give a [Empowered Shadows]
4. [Devouring Plague]
5. [Vampiric Touch]
6. [Mind Flay] x1,2 - Stacking 5x[Dark Evengelism].
7. [Trinket] and [Volcanic Potion] - Use here any kind of intellect boost.
8. [Mind Blast] - Refreshing [Empowered Shadows]
9. [Archangel] + [Shadowfiend]
10. [Mind Flay] x2 - To stack 5x[Dark Evangelism].
11. [Mind Blast]
12. [Vampiric Touch]
13. [Devouring Plague]

BONUS
- If you are with t13 2p set, do things bellow.

Use [Glyph of Shadow Word: Death]
After 25% on mob/boss, you can put after every [Mind Blast] to cast one [Shadow word: Death]. So in this way every 6 seconds you use 1x [Mind Blast] and 1x [Shadow word: Death] in one hit.

TIP
- If you are high geared and you not have problems with OOMing on boss fights.

On the steps, where you need to cast [Mind Blast] you can combine it with [Devouring Plague]. So try to hit right after end of [Mind Blast] a faster one [Devouring Plague], so both will hit in like one internal cooldown and will boost you well as dps increase.
Try to pick as much spirit as you can beside hit on gear, so this will help you a little in mana regeneration, while boost this tip.

Fillers and Important
- While doing this rotation 4 things are important, beside cooldowns.

[Mind Flay] to be casting as filler and when Archangel is up, so to get max of it, also to refresh 5x [Dark Evangelism].
[Vampiric Touch] to be always on boss (main target), help you and group with Mana return, damage.
[Mind Blast] - Keep it on CD, every time.
[Devouring Plague] - You probably you will not lose any tick from this spell, since [Improved Devouring Plague] damage is based equal or even more from tick of the spell. So use it whenever you can and do not let it expire as well.

"require t13 4parts of set"

This Rotation definitely need an amount of practice, cause is way different then above one and starting is way different. Before to start practice you need one macro, which will help you to put potential orbs on [Mind Blast]. Macro bellow is made after 2x-3x [Mind Spike], to remove [Mind Melt], which cause [Mind Blast] to be instant cast, so with this macro you give a 1-1.3 sec to pet for attack so at end [Mind Blast] will hit with 3 orbs.

Code:

#showtooltip Mind Blast
/cancelaura Mind Melt
/cast Mind Blast

1. Mind Flay x2 - To stack 5x[Dark Evangelism]
2. [Archangel]
3. [Mind Blast] - (Macro)
4. [Shadowfiend]
5. [Mind Spike] x4,5 - Try to use after x2 cast, [Trinket] and [Volcanic Potion].
6. [Mind Blast] - (Macro)
7. [Mind Spike] x3,4
8. [Mind Flay]x1 - This will help you to enter in normal rotation right after pet disappear.
9. [Mind Blast] - (Macro)
--Starting normal rotation. All processes are up, no cooldowns which to care of--
10. [Vampiric Touch]
11. [Shadow word: Pain]
12. [Devouring Plague]
13. [Mind Flay] and [Mind Blast] filler and on CD.

Fillers and Important
- Open up rotation from 1-9 step need to be done only during [Shadowfiend]. There is 2 things only that need to be done correctly.

Macro, right after information. You need it!!
[Mind Blast] So between 3-5 [Mind Spike] can be done, depend your FPS/Delay.

(Multiple targets) Rotation

Try to put at least on 3 targets [Shadow word: Pain], pop trinket and potion after that and follow below. If there is focusing mob put all 3 DoTs and cast, only Mind Blast when you got 3x[Shadow Orb].

1. [Shadow Word: Pain] - Put it right before step 3 on, max targets as you can.
2. [Trinket] and [Volcanic Potion]
3. [Mind Sear]

TIP

At 3x[Shadow Orb] cast [Mind Blast] on mob under attention to kill asap, if there is not mob spam [Mind Sear].

Many people asking me in game, compare between items which is better. So here is I choice to upload BEST pickups from retail and spend it to you. Some of Lists still pending update, come back and check it when new instances release.

Patch: 4.2 BIS List (Normal Firelands and Justice Point)

Spoiler: Show

Patch: 4.3 BIS List (Heroic Firelands and Normal Dragon Soul)

Spoiler: Show

Patch: 4.3 Final BIS List (Heroic Dragon Soul)

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BiS Weapons for end raiding(DONATE option)

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BiS Trinkets for end raiding(4.2 and 4.3 patch)

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Food
[Severed Sagefish Head] - You will become well fed and gain 90 Intellect and 90 Stamina for 1 hour.
[Basilisk Liverdog] - You will become well fed and gain 90 haste and 90 Stamina for 1 hour.

Flask
[Flask of the Draconic Mind] - Increases Intellect by 300 for 1 hour.

Potion
[Volcanic Potion] - Increases Intellect by 1200 for 25 sec. (1 Min Cooldown)

Tailoring
- Cloak enchants: [Lightweave Embroidery]
- Leg enchants: [Master's Spellthread] and [Sanctified Spellthread]

Alchemy [Mixology]
- Trinket: [Vibrant Alchemist Stone]
- Extra potion: [Flask of Enhancement]

Blacksmithing

- Bracer enchant: [Socket Bracer]
- Gloves enchant: [Socket Gloves]

Enchanting
- Ring enchants: [Enchant Ring - Intellect]

Inscription
- Shoulder enchants: [Felfire Inscription]

Jewelcrafting
- Red extra gem: [Brilliant Chimera's Eye]
- Yellow extra gem:[Fractured Chimera's Eye] [Quick Chimera's Eye] [Smooth Chimera's Eye]
- Blue extra gem:[Sparkling Chimera's Eye]

Leatherworking
- Bracer enchants: [Fur Lining - Intellect]

Engineering
- Gloves enchant: [Synapse Springs] [Tazik Shocker]
- Belt enchant: [Grounded Plasma Shield] [Invisibility Field] [Cardboard Assassin] [Nitro Boots]

1. Pet macro, Just 1 click/press it and he already will attack + cast his spell on current target.

Code:

/cast [nopet] Shadowfiend
/petattack
/cast Shadowcrawl

2. For Spammable Shadowform and Fast Out/IN for any reaction.

Code:

/stopcasting
/cast !Shadowform
/cancelaura Shadowform

3. Best for PvE even PvP, while attacking your main target and there is spawn on mob which need to pay attention to kill it asap, use this.

Code:

/focus [@mouseover]
/cast [target=focus] reset=6 Mind Spike, Mind Spike, Mind Blast

4. My DPS/Burst macro, use of your CD ( if your already cap 5x Dark Evangelism), Potion, Trinket and Pet.

Code:

/cast Archangel
/use Volcanic Potion
/use (trinket name)
/cast [nopet] Shadowfiend
/cast Shadowcrawl

5. Here is the macro for I am using for example at Lord Ryolith (Fragments of Rhyolith) and Beth'tilac (Cinderweb Spiderling), also you can put any friendly target so you cast it on him instantly. It's Helping to focus more.

Code:

/target <name>
/cast [nochanneling] Mind Sear
/targetlasttarget

6. Mind flay macro, help you to spamming without to refresh current one, which already you casting.

Code:

/showtooltip Mind Flay
/cast [nochanneling] Mind Flay

I want to thank to Wolololol for headers.

Guides written by friends:
[Guide] Resto Druid Pve 4.3.4 - Make a Restoration Druid with cool style.
[Guide] Feral DPS PvE 4.3 - Support my friend and keep improve feral skills by learning and stay tuned with this guide.
[Guide] 4.3.4 Holy Priest PVE - Think still you lack something with holy priest? Go and check this nice writing and detailed guide to impress your play style.
[PVE] Atonement Discipline Healing - Another good guide, Discipline priests can follow it. Support to her as well.

My best supporters, friends and a very good shadow priest players:
Character name: Lunnamoon (Neltharion) aka weedman984 (Forum) - Active
Character name: Bjach (Neltharion) aka Bjach (Forum) - Active

Talent Calculator Cataclysm version : [Cata] Talent Calculator for Molten-WoW for status check here.

Changelog:

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