TBC Classic Shadow Priest Guide (Phase 3)
by FourenUpdated8 minutes readmin views
viewsAbout the Class
The Shadow Priest is a ranged caster in cloth armor. Instead of healing, it deals damage with dark magic spells. Part of the damage dealt is returned to the group as mana and health, so in a raid such a priest is valued not so much for personal damage as for support: healers and casters near it receive mana. It also applies a debuff to the target that increases the magic and shadow damage it takes.
Strengths
- Brings several buffs to the raid at once.
- Applies a debuff to the target that increases the magic and shadow damage it takes.
- Returns part of its damage to the group as mana, which noticeably helps healers and casters.
- Returns part of its damage to the group as health, which eases the load on healers.
Weaknesses
- Has no area-of-effect spells at all.
- Very high threat, especially due to the mana and health return.
- Considered a support fighter, so there are few raid spots for it.
Stat Priority
- 1Hit(spells)
- 2Spell Power
- 3Spell Haste Rating
- 4Critical Strike(spells)
- 5Intellect
- 6Spirit
- 7Mana per 5 sec.
- 8Stamina
Talents
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Ability Priority
Prayer of Fortitude — keep it on the entire raid
Shadow Protection — if the group is taking shadow damage
Shadowform — keep it up permanently: a huge damage boost, but you can only cast shadow magic spells
Vampiric Embrace — on targets that will live at least a minute, meaning bosses
Vampiric Touch — keep it up permanently, this is what returns mana to the group
Shadow Word: Pain — the most efficient damage per cast time, don't let it drop
Mind Blast — on cooldown
Shadow Word: Death — instant and strong, but hits you back: watch your health and the raid damage
Mind Flay — filler; interrupt the channel if Mind Blast or Shadow Word: Death becomes available
Priority on Multiple Targets
The Shadow Priest has no area-of-effect spells in TBC, so it is at its weakest on packs. You play the same priority, just apply the periodic effects on as many targets as possible.
Important Abilities:
the main damage multiplier, but it locks out all healing
health return to the group
mana return to the group
don't press it at low health: the backlash can kill you
Best in Slot (BiS)
Slot
Recommended Gear
Source
Head
Dark Conjuror's Collar
Kil'jaeden — Sunwell Plateau
Neck
Amulet of Unfettered Magics
Lady Sacrolash and Grand Warlock Alythess — Sunwell Plateau
Shoulders
Shoulderpads of Absolution
Mother Shahraz — Black Temple
Back
Tattered Cape of Antonidas
Kil'jaeden — Sunwell Plateau
Chest
Sunfire Robe
Tailoring
Wrists
Bracers of Absolution
Kalecgos — Sunwell Plateau
Hands
Handguards of Defiled Worlds
Kil'jaeden — Sunwell Plateau
Waist
Cord of Absolution
Brutallus — Sunwell Plateau
Legs
Pantaloons of Growing Strife
Kalecgos — Sunwell Plateau
Feet
Treads of Absolution
Felmyst — Sunwell Plateau
Ring 1
Ring of Omnipotence
M'uru — Sunwell Plateau
Ring 2
Ring of Ancient Knowledge
Trash mobs — Black Temple
Trinket 1
Hex Shrunken Head
Hex Lord Malacrass — Zul'Aman
Trinket 2
Shifting Naaru Sliver
M'uru — Sunwell Plateau
Weapon
Sunflare
Kil'jaeden — Sunwell Plateau
Off-hand
Heart of the Pit
Brutallus — Sunwell Plateau
Ranged
Wand of the Demonsoul
Trash mobs — Sunwell Plateau
Tier 6 Set — Regalia of Absolution
Slot
Recommended Gear
Drops From
Head
Hood of Absolution
Archimonde — Hyjal Summit
Shoulders
Shoulderpads of Absolution
Mother Shahraz — Black Temple
Chest
Shroud of Absolution
Illidan Stormrage — Black Temple
Hands
Handguards of Absolution
Azgalor — Hyjal Summit
Legs
Leggings of Absolution
Illidari Council — Black Temple
Wrists
Bracers of Absolution
Kalecgos — Sunwell Plateau (exchanged via Sunmote)
Waist
Cord of Absolution
Brutallus — Sunwell Plateau (exchanged via Sunmote)
Feet
Treads of Absolution
Felmyst — Sunwell Plateau (exchanged via Sunmote)
Enchants, Gems, Consumables
Head
Arcanum of Power
Shoulders
Greater Inscription of Discipline
or
Greater Inscription of the Oracle
or
Power of the Scourge
Back
Subtlety
or
Greater Shadow Resistance
Chest
Exceptional Health
or
Restore Mana Prime
or
Restore Mana Prime
Wrists
Spellpower
Hands
Major Spellpower
or
Precise Strikes
Legs
Runic Spellthread
or
Mystic Spellthread
Feet
Boar's Speed
Weapon
Soulfrost
or
Major Spellpower
Ring
Enchant Ring - Spellpower
Meta gem
Ember Skyfire Diamond
Red
Brilliant Crimson Spinel
Yellow
Reckless Pyrestone
Blue
Timeless Shadowsong Amethyst
Only meet socket bonuses if the bonus grants something noticeable like spell power and is obtained with a single mixed gem.
Food
Blackened Basilisk
or
Crunchy Serpent
or
Poached Bluefish
Flask
Flask of Pure Death
or
Flask of Supreme Power
Potion
Destruction Potion
or
Super Mana Potion
Rune
Dark Rune
or
Demonic Rune
Weapon Oil
Superior Wizard Oil
Bandages
Heavy Netherweave Bandage
Reagent
Sacred Candle
Other
Stratholme Holy Water
or
Nightmare Seed
Races
Human
Increases Spirit by 10%.
Increases reputation gained by 10%.
Sharply increases stealth detection for 20 seconds. 3-minute cooldown.
Dwarf
Grants immunity to bleeds, poisons, and diseases and increases armor by 10% for 8 seconds. 3-minute cooldown.
Increases frost resistance by 10.
Marks nearby chests on the minimap.
Night Elf
Increases nature resistance by 10.
Increases dodge chance by 1%.
Turns you invisible while you stand still. 10-second cooldown, doesn't work in combat.
Turns you into a wisp after death and speeds up ghost movement by 50%.
Draenei
Increases the spell hit of the whole party within 30 yards by 1%.
Heals the target over 15 seconds.
Increases shadow resistance by 10.
Increases Jewelcrafting skill by 5.
Troll
Increases casting speed by 10–30% depending on how wounded you are, for 10 seconds. 3-minute cooldown.
Reduces the damage the target deals by 35 and the healing it receives by 20% for 2 minutes.
Increases damage against beasts by 5%.
Increases health regeneration by 10% and lets you regenerate 10% of it even in combat.
Undead
Deals shadow damage over time and heals you for part of the damage dealt. 3-minute cooldown.
Grants 5 seconds of immunity to fear, charm, and sleep and removes already-applied effects. 2-minute cooldown.
Restores 7% of health every 2 seconds for 10 seconds by eating a nearby corpse.
Increases shadow resistance by 10.
Blood Elf
Restores mana and silences enemies within 8 yards for 2 seconds. 2-minute cooldown.
Steals mana from the target and applies an effect that stacks up to 3 times.
Increases all resistances by 5.
Increases Enchanting skill by 10.
Best Professions
Tailoring
A mandatory profession. It provides 
Frozen Shadoweave Shoulders and 
Frozen Shadoweave Boots — they last almost all of TBC, and part of the set remains the second-best item in its slot for the entire expansion.
Enchanting
It provides 
Enchant Ring - Spellpower on both rings — 24 spell power in total, your main stat.
Leathercraft
An option if no one else in your group can bring drums.
Author
Fouren
Fouren has been playing World of Warcraft for over 15 years. He is an active player with 12 Cutting Edge achievements under his belt, and has reached the top 1% and 0.1% multiple times on various classes. His main classes are healers, particularly Holy Paladin.
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