WotLK [Guide] Shieldspopping - A PvE Discipline guide

[Nemmish]

Another comment, this time about the BIS-lists - especially the "maximising SP":

I gonna put the BIS items mentioned by you into brackets.

(http://wotlk.openwow.com/item=50644) vs. http://wotlk.openwow.com/item=50664

(http://wotlk.openwow.com/item=50613) vs. http://wotlk.openwow.com/item=50702

(http://wotlk.openwow.com/item=50684) vs. http://wotlk.openwow.com/item=50631


Why did you pick those particular items? I'm kinda confused because on the one hand you are recommending Spirit/Crit and on the other hand you are recommending Crit/Haste. Correct me if im wrong, but isn't 3x Spirit/Crit > 3x Crit/Haste, since you should be haste capped w/o those offparts?

Yeeah, I knew it I should make 3 builds. The 1st list is rather my own preference. I prefer having a lot of spellpower, without having to sacrifise too much haste. Missing some pieces for the bis made me change my mind constantly. I can agree that after the haste cap, haste becomes less viable, so having more spirit is more benefitial. I didn't state that the first build is sp/crit/spirit and the 2nd one is full haste, but that one is idd in need of correction.

How does gear affect spirit?

I wanted to add this bit this week to the guide, but I might as well write it down here :)
Your gear does not literally affect spirit. The amount of intellect you have does. The 264+ilvl is just to make the decision more simple while gearing.

According to Wowwiki this is the calculation for spirit based mana regen:
Mana Regen = 5 * (0.001 + sqrt(Int) * Spirit * Base_Regen ) * 0.60
Base_Regen at lvl80: 0.005575

The formula means, that the more intellect you have, the more mana regeneration you will get from spirit. This regeneration is affected by the 5 second rule, meaning (if talented) will be decreased by 50% while casting.
Unlike mp5 what is not affected by the 5 sec rule (note that the items have about double the amount of spirit than mp5).

[maxiikiing]

The 1st list is rather my own preference. I prefer having a lot of spellpower, without having to sacrifise too much haste.

Yeah, i guess in the end it all comes down to your personal preferences. (: On that note items like http://wotlk.openwow.com/item=50700 and http://wotlk.openwow.com/item=50720 are debatable as well.

Especially critwise: http://wotlk.openwow.com/item=50720 + http://wotlk.openwow.com/item=50644 could be a viable combo.



P.S.: I gotta thank you again Nemmish, not only for this guide, but also for your fast replies, updates and your very pleasant attitude. (:

[Nemmish]

On that note items like http://wotlk.openwow.com/item=50700 and http://wotlk.openwow.com/item=50720 are debatable as well.

I don't think mp5 on items is too viable in end game gear, when you would gain more mana regeneration from spirit.

Especially critwise: http://wotlk.openwow.com/item=50720 + http://wotlk.openwow.com/item=50644 could be a viable combo.

Yeah I think it could, but with dropping http://wotlk.openwow.com/item=54585 will make you loose some SP in the end.
Also always pay attention to not to switch out too much haste gear and to hit the gcd capping one :)

P.S.: I gotta thank you again Nemmish, not only for this guide, but also for your fast replies, updates and your very pleasant attitude. (:

Thank you ^^ You are very welcome :)

[bakkhos16]

great guide, was needing one since i leveled a priest for the first time.

would recomend 10/10

[dinaurasuda]

Really comprehensive, great guide. Just one question, why don't you list Tailoring as a viable/recommended profession for Disc Priest? Spell power procs is really good, and it procs often which in some situations can save lives.

[Nemmish]

First off thank you all for the feedbacks, it really makes me happy that the guide is useful to many :)

Just one question, why don't you list Tailoring as a viable/recommended profession for Disc Priest? Spell power procs is really good, and it procs often which in some situations can save lives.

The reason for this is because it is a proc what you cannot control well. It can be useful and could go wasted too. I rather like to have a stable, slightly higher absorbed amount than some peaks and lows.

The enchant has 45 sec icd and has 15 sec uptime, within this time it can be easily wasted. You just simply cannot time the proc to be useful for a healer.

[dvrcss]

people always forget the spirit gives SP

[Shimitae]

Hello, just a quick question, i remenber in mop 5.4, disc priest were way better for PVE than holy, (and than every class actually), is it still the case ? or it got "nerf" or something on this server ?

[Mercy]

people always forget the spirit gives SP

It does not unless talented into http://wotlk.openwow.com/spell=15031 , which is a Holy talent. Thus, it is not applicable to this guide nor the Discipline spec in general.

Hello, just a quick question, i remenber in mop 5.4, disc priest were way better for PVE than holy, (and than every class actually), is it still the case ? or it got "nerf" or something on this server ?

This is a Wrath of the Lich King guide, so a question about MoP doesn't really belong here. I'll humor you, though. Yes, Discipline was very strong in MoP. Holy is strong, too, but Discipline was just absurdly designed in the later part of the expansion. As it currently stands here on Warmane, I do not know. I would say you would be better off asking in a MoP related thread, or ask in the Frostwolf forum section.

[deatg11]

Hello Nemmish ! First off let me offer major congratulations on your guide it's easily one of the best I've ever read, however as you know Openwow is no longer amongst the living, as such would you consider offering different links or simply typing out the names of the items and spells, for the sake of newer players ^^ thanks.

[dolcokidol]

Spoiler: Show

Content

1. Introduction, The power of discipline healing, the absorbs
2. Talents, glyphs
3. Rotation, spells, buffs
   
   1. Rotation
   2. Mana management, Rapture, Shadowfiend, Hymn of Hope
   3. Power Infusion
   4. Pain Suppression
   5. Prayer of Healing vs. Flash Heal
   
   
4. Gear, enchants, stats, gems
5. Consumables
6. Professions
7. Races
8. Raid healing

1. Introduction, The power of discipline healing, the absorbs

Hello all, I am Nemmish, maining discipline priest for over a couple of years now on Warmane. Recently I have seen that some priests are lost in what and how to do as a discipline, so I decided to make this guide.
I do play shadow and holy too, so don't be suprised if you find me wearing a different gear on the armory :) and I am still on the way to be BiS, so look over the missing parts of my gear.
The value of a discipline doesn't lie in the amount of absorbs one does, because that can easily depend on the situation, the value of other healers and on the incoming damage. The incoming damage can be mitigated by a lot of things, buffs, auras, what a discipline priest has no influence on. So don't ask how much I absorb in a fight.
This is not an all in detail guide, but rather a quick starter for the ones in need.
I made the guide, to help out others. Advices and critics are welcomed, but please cause no drama over this.

Unlike other heals, discipline priests have to prevent damage most of the times. Reacting after the damage is done is already too late so to say.
The way we can be the most effective is to be prepared for the incoming damage.
This means you have to preshield the members depending on the boss you are facing and that's it pretty much for the basics. If you do this, then we got an average discipline healer.
But what makes one a good discipline?
Topping the absorbs and heals on Skada is a common misconception. A bad discipline can be on top, just as a good one.
Being a good discipline is not only about spamming shields. That is the basic. The minimum what one should do. If you just think about, the discipline priest should be always in the top of the recount, since they can "cheat" with their absorbs and heals, because their shield will be consumed first by the incoming damage. Not even giving a chance for other healers to fill up the damage (because none was done).

To be a good discipline you have to know your role, your spells and buffs. How you can twist around your gameplay to get the best out of the raid setup.
You are a supporting class with such spells in your pocket what can make you the most unique of all the healers if you use them well.

Used terms
5SR - 5 Second Rule
BiS - Best in Slot
BT - Borrowed Time
CD - Cooldown
FH - Flash Heal
GCD - Global Cooldown
HOT - Heal Over Time
ICD - Internal Cooldown
I5SR - Inside 5 Second Rule
MP5 - Mana per 5 second
OO5SR - Outside Of 5 Second Rule
OOM - Out Of Mana
PI - Power Infusion
PoH - Prayer of Healing
PoM - Prayer of Mending
PS - Pain Suppression
PVE - Player versus Environment
PVP - Player versus Player
PW:S - Power Word Shield
SP - Spell Power

2. Talents, glyphs

Spoiler: Show

a. Talents

As you can see on the picture the discipline talents are bottom-heavy. Meaning, that the essentials of the spec is on the end of the talent tree.
Since there is no cookie cutter discipline talent, I will list all the talents below. Marking them depending on their importance.
I did not go into deeper into the holy tree and into the shadow tree, because those talent points are totally irrelevant for the discipline priests.
Meaning of the colors:
essentials: max out these
up to decision: up to your own playstyle and decision. You could max them and put only a few points into them.
useless: don't use these

Discipline tree

Unbreakable Will - useless
The talent talks for itself, it is not really useful in PVE.

Twin Disciplines - essential
Boosts the instant heals done by you with 5%. Also the absorbs, meaning stronger PW:S and Divine Aegis.
Mandatory for any disc.

Silent Resolve - useless
You should not generate that much threat with your heals to pull aggro from a good tank. Maybe on lower levels, but even then you have Fade in your pocket :)

Improved Inner Fire - essential
Extra SP as a discipline? Who could say no to this!

Improved Power Word: Fortitude - essential
More Stamina for the raid, every priest should get it.

https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/spell=14774 - useless
As a caster you will not get hit by any melee or ranged abilities, also the Focused Casting effect is not that useful for you.

Inner Focus - essential
Really handy for discipline. I usually use it macroed with Divine Hymn, since it burns a lot of mana. But could be useful whenever you need a huge crit.

https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/spell=14777 - essential
This talent is really useful for a discipline priest, since you are constantly casting (spamming PW:S counts as casting). You shouldn't really get mana back with the 5 second rule method, since it would drop your heals too much.

https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/spell=14769 - essential
15% more absorbs on your main spell. No need to explain. Also needed for to THE discipline talent, what lets you spam shields.

https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/spell=33172 - up to decision
This is rather a filler talent. Comes handy when you are on lower gear and your mana bleeds a lot, and you have to do some dispells.

https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/spell=14781 - essential
Reduces the cost of your most used spell, PW:S by 10% and all the other instant spells.
Mandatory for a discipline priest.

https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/spell=14772 - useless
Not useful in PVE, no need to burn the mana faster :D

https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/spell=33202 - useless
This one would sound quite useful for the first read. But be aware it affects the shields casted on yourself only, not all of your shields and healers aren't supposed to deal damage.

https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/spell=18555 - essential
More intellect = more mana + more crit. Also this talent leads to Pover Infusion, what is a pretty unique buff of discipline priests.

https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/spell=63574 - essential
The salt and pepper of discipline priest. The reason why you can spam shields. No brainer talent.

https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/spell=33190 - essential
A pretty unique discipline talent. Gives 4% extra healing and decreases the casting time of Mass Dispell.
This one comes really handy when you have to dispell spells on your raid/group or on the boss/adds. (Blood Queen: https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/spell=73070, TOC Champions: bloodlust on the enemy adds, fear, paladin bubble etc.)

https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/spell=34910 - essential
6% spirit and 6% haste, making it easier to reach the GCD cap, thus mandatory for a disc.

https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/spell=45244 - up to decision
In PVE, people don't go for this talent for the increased healing effect, but rather for the 3% critical it gives.
This one is up to your personal preference.

https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/spell=10060 - essential
One of the best haste boosts that you can cast on other players next to Heroism/Bloodlust. Could be used to boost dps and to help out the healers also.
More information on this below.

https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/spell=63506 - up to decision
Reduces the mana cost of your https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/spell=48071 and gives it a nice buff. Comes really handy when you have to save an ally from the death and they have weakened soul on them.

https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/spell=57472 - essential
The 3% raidwide damage reduction will be up all the time, since you are spamming PW:S all the time. While this one doesn't stack with the paladin https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/spell=25899 buff, the other part of the talent would make it essential just alone.
When your https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/spell=6788 is up, you will still be able to do useful heals to save your allies from the death :)
Note that this doesn't affect other member's heals, only yours and only https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/spell=48071, https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/spell=48063 and https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/spell=53007.

https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/spell=47537 - essential
Our most important mana regenerating tool, especially on the lower gears. You have to twist your gameplay around this talent if you go oom a lot.
Also it gives back mana/rage/energy/runic power to the one effected by your shield.
Remember, that the effect has 12 sec cd.

https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/spell=47508 - essential
Sadly I see a lot of discipline priests who skip this talent. While this is a really important one, since it decreases the CD on some of your most important spells.

https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/spell=47515 - essential
This talent can be procced by any of your critical heals.
Note that the heal from https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/item=42408 can crit, so it activates the effect. Also the absorb stacks up with your shields and itself.

https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/spell=33206 - essential
Useful on high damage spikes https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/spell=73799 for example. This talent can mean the difference in a successfull boss kill and a wipe. Casting it in the right time can save your tank, messing it up can mean the opposite.
Make it sure to call it out or discuss with the tank when you are going to cast it. Not to overlap their defensive CDs and waste them.

https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/spell=47517 - essential
At max stacks this gives 9% extra healing to your spells. I see a lot of priests going only 1/2 for this talent, but I want to rather be safe than sorry.
While it affects all your heals, it gets applied by https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/spell=48071, https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/spell=48063 and https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/spell=53007. Since the later has 3 charges, it can apply the full buff in a single cast.

https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/spell=52800 - essential
This talent is the reason, why the haste cap is so low for disciplines.
The effect doesn't get consumed by channeled spells such as https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/spell=53007, https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/spell=64843 etc.
But the channeled spells get affected by the 25% haste buff, meaning you can combine a really nice burst heal with a https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/spell=53007 and a https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/spell=48071 combo.

https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/spell=47540 - essential
One of the best, if not The best burst heal in game, especially combined with the buff from https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/spell=52800.

Holy tree

While the holy tree has some really nice talents, the point of speccing into it lies in https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/spell=15363. The whole reason is to "reach" this talent. For this we will need to spend 10 points on holy.

https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/spell=15012 - essential
In this expansion, there are many raidwide damage dealing bosses (Fester, Lich King, Lord Jaraxxus etc.), so you must get something to reduce the constant pushback.
While your shieldspam doesn't get affected by it, your other heals do (https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/spell=53007 looses charges if it gets interrupted for example), so try preventing the amount of the pushback to the maximum.

https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/spell=17191 - up to decision
I don't see myself using this spell much, but you could put some points into this one as well.

https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/spell=15011 - essential
The best talent that increases your heals, you can grab out of the early holy talents.

https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/spell=27904 - essential
3.3.5a has a ton of raidwide magical damage (Sindagrosa https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/spell=71052), so this is the best you can get from the 2nd row.
You don't need to go 5/5 on this talent, the reason for being essential is because the other talents are not even close to the usefulness of this one.

https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/spell=18535 - useless
You should not be using https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/spell=48063 as a discipline priest. At all. You can get out just the same amount of heals with 2xhttps://db.warmane.com/wotlk/spell=48071 than this one, also the chance to get a critical heal will be higher with 2 spells than one. Meaning you have a higher chance to proc https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/spell=47753 as well.
If you really want to use https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/spell=48063 though, then be it smh. My advice for that spell is to use it only combined with the 25% haste buff and preferably with https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/spell=14751 to increase the crit chance even more.

https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/spell=19236 - up to decision
I found this spell to be useful on the lower gear, or when you learn how to position yourself as your Oh **** button. The spell is capable of a crit (https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/spell=47515 *winkwink*), but is quite useful in itself.
Later on I think you could swap it out for something more useful spell, that effects your raid heals.

https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/spell=15363 - essential
Here we are. The reason why a discipline specs into the holy tree.
The effect of this talent can mean the difference between a 2 and a 3 shotted tank, thus a boss kill and a wipe.
Your PW:S glyph heal does not apply it, but POM, Penance and Flash Heal do.
This effect does not stack with the shaman buff, https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/spell=16240.

https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/spell=27790 - useless
This talent would sound pretty good, but for a discipline it affects only https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/spell=64843 and https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/spell=48072, which ones are not your top prio heals, what makes this talent useless.
More explanation on the spell usage on the section below.

https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/spell=15014 - up to decision
This talent is rather used as a filler one, use it if you run out of mana a lot.

b. Glyphs

Major Glyphs

• https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/item=42408: Gives your PW:S a heal, what is capable of a crit, so it will proc https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/spell=54704.
• https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/item=45756: Reduces the CD on https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/spell=53007 by 2 seconds. This is your most used healing spell. No brainer glyph.

These are the no brainer glyphs.

The 3rd one is usually up to your own decision and playstyle:

• https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/item=42400: 10% less mana cost of your 2nd most used heal. I prefer using this one myself.
• https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/item=42409: Really useful one in 10 mans, because of the concentrated damage. Rather useless in 25man raids, because usually it doesn't worth to cast a PoH and the other raid healers would reach them faster.

The ones that you shouldn't use:

• https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/item=42401: https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/spell=48078 affects your group only, making this glyph pretty useless. The only environment, where I could imagine it being useful is inside Frostmourne. But even then, you are more useful with applying shields on your group than spamming this expensive heal.
• https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/item=42411: Increases the healing done by https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/spell=48068, but also decreasing the uptime. Since you shouldn't use https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/spell=48068 often enough to get this glyph, I wouldn't recommend it. The shorter uptime would also make your https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/spell=48068 less viable, since you should reapply it more often. Don't try to be a HOT healer as a discipline. Leave that to the Holy Priest and the Resto Druid.

Minor Glyphs

• https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/item=43374: in case your Shadowfiend dies from the raid damage.
• https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/item=43370: No need for reagents for https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/spell=50195.

These were the most common ones, although there is no "must" in the minor glyphs for priests.
The 3rd one, that I recommend using is https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/item=43371 just in case you have to rebuff someone mid combat.

3. Rotation, spells, buffs

In this section, I will give you a quick explanation on some spells, that I have noticed ppl lack knowledge on. And an in depth look on the most important ones.

a. Rotation

bubble, bubble, bubble, penance, POM, bubble, bubble, bubble, bubble, penance ...

Apart from the pretty valid guide above your most used spells should be the following ones (in a 25 man raid)
25 man raids: https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/spell=48066 > https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/spell=53007 > https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/spell=48113 > https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/spell=48071 > https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/spell=48068 > https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/spell=48120 > https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/spell=48072
10 man raids: https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/spell=48066 > https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/spell=53007 > https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/spell=48113 > https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/spell=48072 > https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/spell=48068 > https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/spell=48120 > https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/spell=48071

Now the reason for this priority of the 25-man raid is the following:

• https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/spell=48066: You always spam PW:S, so no brainer it is the top. Any raid member, who takes damage and does not have https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/spell=6788 on them (meaning you can apply PW:S to them) should get instantly shielded.
  This is very important that you understand it. The most useful you can be with saving someones butt from death is to instantly shield them.
  Only the discipline priest can afford to instantly put up a shield, that will prevent the raid member from taking any more damage. To heal them up is an other preference, but you have all your healing mates to do that for you. But you are the only one, who can keep them away from the incoming damage.
• https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/spell=53007: Use penance off CD most of the times. Depending on the situation, you can hold this spell. For example when you know someone will need a huge burst heal soon. Like LK is about to cast Soul Reaper, but some ppl have Infest ticking on them (and have Weakened Soul debuff), and are on moderately high damage. Then you keep Penance for the incoming tank damage and heal the bleeders with https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/spell=48071
• https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/spell=48113: When there is a constant raid damage (https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/spell=69195 for example) I like to use this spell off CD and let it jump around. This is a really useful priest spell and it is underestimated way too much.
  Just think about the spell this way: you cast it once, what consumes a GCD, then you just let it "jump around" and you will not have to do literally anything to heal 4 other people.
• https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/spell=48071: As a discipline priest this should be your most used raw heal when https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/spell=48066 is on CD. The Flash Heal of a discipline gets boosted by the basic talents of the spec. (https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/spell=63506, https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/spell=57472, https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/spell=47517)
  I have stated in the talents section why not to use https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/spell=48063, so I will not go deeper into this matter.
• https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/spell=48068: I usually keep up on the tanks and use it on the other raid members depending ont he situation. You will not be using this spell a lot in 25man raids.
• https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/spell=48120: Think about this spell as your own https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/spell=53652. The spell is pretty straightforward. Use it when you and your raid needs heals. I like to use this spell when I know a constant high damage is incoming that I know I have to facetank (https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/spell=73190, https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/spell=71902), this way I don't have to worry about my health.
  Be aware though that this costs nearly double as much as https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/spell=48071. So do not be reckless with using this if you are not confident burning your mana.
• https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/spell=48072: While this spell is quite handy in 10 man raids, it falls behind in 25 mans. The reason for this is because you have dedicated group healers, who are supposed to reach the bleeders faster than as you could with your https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/spell=48072.
  The only reasonable situation to use this spell is to preheal damage, most likely https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/spell=70541 on a group you couldn't shield up. But apart from that the players are too spread to use the spell effectively and do not forget, your job is to absorb the damage, not to heal it.

I will explain some of the spells and debuffs below. The reason why I have chosen these three is because to my experience, they are the most misunderstood ones.

b. Mana management, Rapture, Shadowfiend, Hymn of Hope

Spoiler: Show

https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/spell=47537

This spell is the main mana regeneration for a discipline priest. If you learn how to use it properly, you will have to worry a lot less about your mana on the early gear.
Now here is the trick: if multiple of your shields gets completely absorbed, then the effect stacks up and you get the 2,5% of base mana for all your shields, that has been broken at the same time.

How to use Rapture properly:
You basically have to play around the 12 icd the ability has. This means that when one of your shield has been fully absorbed and you get the 2.5% mana back for it, then the effect cannot occur for the next 12 seconds.
This means that you have to do minor sacrifises on your shields, if you want to regenerate mana.
If you want to get the best out of the Rapture mana regeneration, then try to shield the tanks only when the ability is on cooldown. You need to do this, because the tanks are taking constant damage, and if you proc your rapture on them, then you won't be able to generate mana from your other shields for the following 12 seconds.
This situation is really simplified, just to make you understand how to get the best out of the spell.

Also a little trick to the usage, that after a certain amount of gear you might notice, that your shields are not being popped by the incoming damage, meaning Rapture will not proc from them. If you face this situation quite often and it makes your mana bleed by an enormous amount then consider playing with downranked shields. This is going to decrease the absorbed amount per shield, but having more mana regeneration, you will be able to cast more heals on the long run.

When to ignore Rapture:
In competitive raiding environment, you should have boomies and resto druids taking care of the healers' mana, in order to make their heals more effective.
This means, when you have the luxury to not to care about mana issues, then feel free to shield up as many ppl as you can to prevent as many damage as you can.
Also never EVER risk a life in order to save up your Rapture. By this I mean, do toss out an extra shield to someone that is in danger and rather give up a huge soak of Rapture.
Screw mana regen. Save a life. BE A HERO

https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/spell=34433, https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/spell=64901

Most of the priests use these two spells combined with each other. This way you can regain nearly your full mana pool when you run oom.
In my raiding experience, I sometimes had to use Hymn of Hope for my other healing partners, in situations when I wasn't that low on mana to effectively combine the spell with Shadowfiend. So what I am doing in order to fix this to cast Shadowfiend when I am around 60% of my mana pool to be able to cast it for a second time (hopefully combined with Hymn).

The infamous 5 second rule
This rule is about your spirit based mana regeneration. As you can see in your statistics (if you hover over it with your mouse), there is two data for your mana regeneration, one while casting and one while not casting.
The spirit based regeneration itself is active except for the first 5s after completing a cast that used mana (casts using Inner Focus do not enter 5SR). Having https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/spell=14777 specced lets you regenerate 50% of your mana regeneration while I5SR.
On lower gear levels, or when you really ran out of mana, you can use the following trick: Stop castig for at least 5 seconds, this way your full mana regeneration will be active for that time, making you get double the amount of your spirit based mana regeneration.
Note that, that this does not influence the regeneration you get from mp5 items. The amount of regeneration from those items is the same while casting and not. The same items have about double the amount of spirit than mp5. But since spirit based mana regeneration depends on the amount of your intellect too, on lower gear (below 264ilvl) mp5 outperforms spirit in terms of mana regeneration.
More information on how spirit affects your mana regeneration in the stats section.

c. Power Infusion, the value of haste for each class

Spoiler: Show

https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/spell=10060

As I said in the Tanelts section, this is a really unique and powerful buff. Not only the haste, the mana decrease can make it viable for any caster class.
It doesn't stack with: https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/spell=33555 / https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/spell=32182
It does stack with: https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/spell=26297, https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/spell=2895, https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/spell=53648, https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/spell=48396

To use it properly, I will give you a short priority list depending on the situation.
Note that especially at the DPS section the skills can overwrite the priority. For example even if a warlock would get more benefit from the buff as a balance druid, but he is a horrible player, while the dudu is shining, then the druid should receive the buff.

1. Boosting heals:

I think helping out the other healers are more important than to boost the dps of the raid. And the buff not only gives you haste buff, but also decreases the mana cost of the spells used by 20%.

1. Holy Paladin: Since the tanks are the top priority of the raid to be kept alive, their healers get the 1st place on the list.
   Except if they are haste gemmed paladins, meaning their Holy Light is near to 1 sec casting time, making the 20% haste part of the buff usueless. In this case, the priority jumps to the 2nd healer on the list.
   If the tanks are going to take a huge damage (https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/spell=69409, Halion breaths) feel free to toss it out to the Holy Paladin.
2. Restoration Shaman: If the raid is taking constant damage, the most you can help out is to give the shaman a boost, so that their https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/spell=55459 spam gets more effective.
3. Holy Priest: Not a bad choice either, but note that some prefer to play Renew spamming style, meaning haste will not do much for them.
4. Restoration Druid: They get the least if any benefit from this spell. Try to avoid casting it on them.

I left the discipline priest out on purpouse. As in a 25man raid, your main job is to spam shields, try not to be a selfish prick to cast it on yourself, when the raid is in need of raw heals. Your haste cap is really low, and the buff will not decrease the GCD timer from one second.
Of course this is true to a situation, when all the other healers are still alive.

2. Boosting the raid damage:

1. Shadow Priest
2. Affliction Warlock: when the boss is below 25% health
3. Demonology Warlock: when they are in https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/spell=59673
4. Mages: TTW > FFB > Arcane
5. Balance druis: only when https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/spell=48518 is active
6. Elemental Shamans

d. Pain Suppression

Spoiler: Show

https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/spell=33206

The spell itself is pretty straight up, 40% damage reduction from all sources. You shouldn't use it to reduce threat and dispell mechanics are not occuring in PVE environment. Think about this spell as an extra defensive CD.
Now what people fail to do about this spell is the usage of. It is essential that you learn how to support your raid with this spell.
If you know the tank is going to take a considerable amount of damage in an encounter (https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/spell=69409, Halion breaths, https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/spell=71815 etc.), then you should talk to your tank before the encounter and discuss with him when you are going to cast PS on him. Otherwise you might overlap his defensive CDs, making one of the spells useless.
If the tanks are not going to need this spell, then you can save up the CD for anyone else who will need a life save on an encounter.

e. Prayer of Healing vs. Flash Heal

Spoiler: Show

https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/spell=48072https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/spell=48071

In certain situations Prayer of Healing can outperform Flash heal. For example on Sindagrosa, when you have https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/spell=69762 debuff PoH will give you only 1 stack of the debuff and can heal a full group.
Also if you can certainly time your PoH to preheal the damage, then it is a really powerful heal. For example you can shield up 20 ppl in the raid and PoH the last remaining group for infest.

The rule of thumb with PoH vs. FH is the following:
If 3 or more ppl are damaged in the same group, then PoH is better than FH. If less people, then FH should be good enough to heal them.

4. Gear, enchants, stats, gems

a. Gear and enchants

Slot	Set 1 - Maximising SP	Set 2 - Maximising Haste	Enchant
Head	https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/item=51261	https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/item=51261	https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/item=50368
Neck	https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/item=50724	https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/item=50724	-
Shoulder	https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/item=51264	https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/item=51264	https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/item=50338
Back	https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/item=54583	https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/item=54583	Till the haste cap: https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/item=44472 After the haste cap: https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/spell=63765
Chest	https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/item=51263	https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/item=51259	https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/item=44489
Wrist	https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/item=54582	https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/item=54582	https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/item=44498
Gloves	https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/item=50722	https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/item=51260	https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/item=38979
Waist	https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/item=50613	https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/item=50613	https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/item=41611
Legs	https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/item=51262	https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/item=51262	https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/item=41602
Shoes	https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/item=50699	https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/item=50699	https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/spell=55016 else: https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/item=38961 or https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/item=44491
Ring 1	https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/item=54585	https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/item=54585	-
Ring 2	https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/item=50644	https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/item=50664	-
Trinket 1	https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/item=50366	https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/item=50366	-
Trinket 2	https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/item=54589	https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/item=54589	-
Wand	https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/item=50684	https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/item=50684	-
Main Hand	https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/item=50734	https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/item=50734	https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/item=44487
Off-Hand	https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/item=50719	https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/item=50719	-

In case you want to get a good chunk of mp5 and not loosing a huge amount of spellpower, use https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/item=47432 instead of https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/item=50366.

The differences between the two build are the chest, gloves and rings. The rings can be switched from the two builds if you wish to grab a little more haste or mp5.
At the rings, I didn't pick the https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/item=50400, because flat SP is a lot better to handle Rapture properly and to know your shields and absorbs.
Meanwhile the SP focused build has only 10 more spellpower, than the other one, it has about 100 more Spirit. See the value of Spirit below at the stats section.

b. Stats

Haste (till cap) > Spellpower > Crit > Haste (above cap) > Int > Mp5/Spirit

Haste cap: 434
The haste cap is really easy to reach for a discipline priest, because you already have 6% and 25% from your talents (https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/spell=34910, https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/spell=52800).
Without any raid buffs you will need 434 haste to be able to cast a shield in every second. Past this much haste, you would just lower the casting time of your other spells.
The other cap, that ppl like to mention is the one, when your Flash Heal has a 1 second cast time without the Borrowe Time buff. For that you need 1017 haste. Don't aim for this one though, and never pass it.

The value of Int/Mp5/Spirit:
In terms of mana regeneration, intellect outperforms both, so if your mana starts bleeding fast, gem some of it. Also on the lower gears, till around TOC raidings, intellect outperforms spellpower. But only on the lower gears, when your mana management is not that smooth and you need to rely a lot more on Rapture.
The SP priest will be able to do more throughput and/or mitigation, while the priest with the giant mana pool will be able to stay for 10 minutes straight and might be the last healer alive who still has mana left. If there's no mana spring totem or only 1 source of Replenishment (i.e. in a PuG or if one of your teammates has died), a larger mana pool would definitely be beneficial.

Contrary to common beliefs, MP5 is no longer clearly better than spirit for discipline priests. Since as your gear improves, so does the worth of your spirit, because spirit lets you regenerate a percentage of your mana pool. Meaning the more mana/intellect you have, the more useful spirit will be for you.
Summary: If you are at around ilvl 264, choose spirit over MP5, given the choice. At sub-264 levels, use MP5 if given the choice.

The calculation of spirit
According to Wowwiki this is the calculation for spirit based mana regen:
Base_Regen at lvl80: 0.005575

The formula means, that the more intellect you have, the more mana regeneration you will get from spirit. This regeneration is affected by the 5 second rule, meaning (if talented) will be decreased by 50% while casting.
Unlike mp5, what is not affected by the 5 sec rule (note that the items have about double the amount of spirit than mp5).

c. Gems

• Meta: https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/item=41333 > https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/item=41401 (on lower gear) > https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/item=41389
  If needed, use to activate : https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/item=40133 and https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/item=40155 to activate (use them in a 7+ spellpower socket bonus piece)
• Red, blue, yellow sockets: https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/item=40113
• In order to reach the haste cap use: https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/item=40155
• If you are running low on mana, use some of the following: https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/item=40151, https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/item=40133, https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/item=40134

5. Consumables

Flask	https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/item=46376
Potion	https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/item=33448
Food	https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/item=43015, https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/item=43268

6. Professions

1. https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/spell=51306: https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/spell=55004 best movement increasing ability
2. https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/spell=51311: +48 spellpower
3. https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/spell=51313: +46 spellpower on the rings
4. https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/spell=51302: +46 spellpower on the bracers
5. https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/spell=45363: +46 spellpower on the shoulders
6. https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/spell=51300: +46 spellpower via the extra sockets on gloves and bracers

My best bet would be the following:

1.	https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/spell=51306	https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/spell=51311	https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/spell=55004 (best movement increasing ability) and +48 spellpower
2.	https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/spell=51311	insert any +46 spellpower profession here	+48 and +46 spellpower

7. Races

Horde:
Blood Elf: 6% of your base mana every 2 minutes
Troll: 20% haste increase every 3 minutes
Undead: ability to remove fear, sleep and charm effects

Alliance:
Human: Increased spirit
Dwarf: no useful passive for priests
Night elf: can reduce threat generated by heals
Draenei: ability to heal self or others

For the mana efficiency humans and blood elves are your best bet, but in the end it all comes down to your own preferences, what you like having more of. The passive can help you out in your gameplay, but you can be a good healer with any of these races.

8. Raid healing

A short list of how to heal your allies when they take damage by ElitistJerks

• Player actively taking damage and already being low on HP (to the rescue!)
• Player with full HP and predictable heavy damage incoming (HP extender + overheal free)
• Player actively taking damage but still comfortable HP (prioritize higher if you don't see heals incoming on that target)
• Player low on HP and no predictable damage incoming (some heal from glyph + give HoTs time)
• Player with little HP loss and no predictable damage incoming (use that glyph)
• Player with full HP and no predictable damage incoming (are you sure PoM is on cd?)

Try to shield up as many raiders as you can, focusing on the ones who have predictable damage incoming (https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/spell=73174, https://db.warmane.com/wotlk/spell=73023 etc.) and never be too selfish to save someone. Even if the raider is out of position, his life or death can mean the difference between a wipe and a successful kill. In these situations, do not ever think twice to "waste" your Rupture proc or whatever. You are a healer, your job is to keep the raiders alive, no matter what.
Yes they will mess up, yes their death will not be directly your fault, but if you could have healed them and you did not, because "it is not my job", then you certainly did your job bad.


And last but not least I want to thank a few ppl for helping and pressuring me to write the guide :)
Fluffybully, Selaya and all the disciplines I have been discussing with in the past few months.
Also ElitistJerks and Wowhead for some calculations and playstyle references.

Edits and fixes:
2016.12.29. Added Prayer of Healing vs. Flash Heal
2016.12.30. Fixed Races, and added more detail to the Power Infusion bulletpoint (haste paladins). Fixed enchants section.
2017.01.02. Updated meta gems, fixed the BiS set and the boss health for affliction warlocks.
2017.01.05. Added spirit calculating formula and the explanation of the 5 second rule.

Here are the updated links, feel free to copy-paste it to the first post for convenience.

[chengshan1984]

hey man, i have mana issue. so the infest (25lk normal) not break shiled. and i easy go out of mana.

i try the lv 13 shield still not work.

[Mercy]

hey man, i have mana issue. so the infest (25lk normal) not break shiled. and i easy go out of mana.

i try the lv 13 shield still not work.

Make sure you use shields on the tanks. Bring along mana pots. Use your Shadowfiend anytime you go under half mana, then use it on CD. If you still have problems, get more mp5/spirit and start moderating how often you cast spells.

[maxiikiing]

Make sure you use shields on the tanks. Bring along mana pots. Use your Shadowfiend anytime you go under half mana, then use it on CD. If you still have problems, get more mp5/spirit and start moderating how often you cast spells.

What do you think about down-ranking the shields for this fight?... im curious (:
Since the initial infest damage in 25n is '9425 to 10575' a lower shield rank should do the job here aswell and you'd not have to use shields on the tanks.

[Mercy]

Depends on how much you care about HPS and effective use of your time spent casting. Especially since the guy has stated that he did downrank some already.