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re: Shadow Priest 101

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Posted by Laanyan

This will cover main attributes, gear, spell rotations, mods, general ideas.

My take on the role of a Shadow Priest is to crank out DPS (and oh boy can we) and in doing so return a truckload of mana to our group.

First things first, stats:
- Hit Rating. In T4+ gear this will not be an issue. With the 10% from the spec, this isn't a huge issue. You want to get to 76.
- Spell Damage. This is your primary attribute. It most directly determines how much DPS you do, which also impacts how much mana you return.
- Health. You want it high enough to not die. I like mine a little high so I can use Shadow Word: Death. But, this is a tertiary stat so do not focus on it at all.
- Mana. Because you are returning mana this is basically a tertiary stat. Anything around or over 8500 should be enough. The higher your Spell Damage the less this matters.
- Spell Crit. This is just about useless. You should get about 9 - 10% from intelligence and we get 15% from spec. Crit hardly impacts our DPS anyway.
- Spell Haste. The benefit of this is still being decided. The consensus so far appears to be that Spell Haste is about equal with Spell Damage (up to 300, more is useless).


Second is gear:
BECOME A TAILOR. The Frozen Shadoweave set is THE BEST all the way up until T5 (better than T5 in my opinion). It adds some hit rating if you gem it correctly. The shadow damage on it is second to none until T6.

Generally anything with straight damage is what you're looking for. There are few pieces with hit. Most of your hit will initially come from gems, other than that.... there's a 60 badge ring, attumen gloves, T4 helm.


Third is spell rotation:
In forums and such I always see people asking what people's spell rotation is. It really doesn't matter. Below is how I start my rotation, but everything has different CDs and durations, so you just cast when CDs are ready or refresh as needed.

My rotation with how they rank for DPS.
Shadow Word: Pain (2)
Vampiric Touch (3)
Mind Blast (1)
Star Shards (5)
Mind Flay (4)
Shadow Word: Death (6 very situational)

I make sure I keep Vampiric Touch up and try to land it just as it is finishing up. Same for Shadow Word: Pain. Mind Blast should be cast as soon as the CD allows. Same with Star Shards (or whatever your racial spell is). I only use Mind Flay as filler, meaning when everything is on CD and nothing needs to be refreshed, I use it. It does do decent DPS and is the best damage per mana, but with good enough spell damage, you should never run out as long as you have potions and your Shadow Fiend.

I use Shadow Word: Death only when healers can easily top you off, such as most yard trash, generally not during boss fights though.
I generally leave out Vampiric Embrace unless the tank has a ridiculous lead on threat. In fights like Gruul (tank is stationary and we're running around a lot), feel free to work it into the rotation.


Mods:
Deadly Boss Mods, Omen, Decursive, Healbot, SW Stats, GEM

In Summation:
Spell damage is your primary attribute, but having hit capped is a great idea.
Get gear that benefits your primary attributes best.
Spell rotation isn't a big deal; find what works, but be ready to adapt.
Belgarion.
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re: Shadow Priest 101

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Posted by Laanyan

I've compiled a list of gear we're able to get (or are really close) as well as what enchants we want as Shadow Priests. I've included some of the better dungeon/quest gear that is just as good if not better than some epics.

Note that a lot of it tailored or badge gear. We have a ton of Shadoweave tailors in the guild that can help with the Shadow Cloth. I never use my cool down so feel free to bug me to use mine.

I cannot stress how much easier it is to gear a Shadow Priest if they have maxed out tailoring.

Anyway, there are a few items on this list that are pretty much the best in the game for us that are very easy to pick up. Shadoweave Boots, Orb of the Souleater, Carved Witch Doctor's Stick.

Helm:
#1 Spellstrike Hood - Crafted {89.8168}
#2 Soul-Collar of the Incarnate - Tier 4 - Prince Malchezaar {79.6982}
#3 Evoker's Helmet of Second Sight - Quest, Shadowmoon Valley {67.5396}

Helm Enchant:
Glyph of Power - Sha'tar, Revered

Meta Slot:
Ember Skyfire Diamond

Necklace:
#1 Ritssyn's Lost Pendant - Trash, Karazhan {51}
#2 Shattered Sun Pendant of Acumen - Shattered Sun Offensive
If you need the hit:
#2 Brooch of Unquenchable Fury - Moroes, Karazhan {38.588}

Shoulders:
#1 Frozen Shadow Weave Shoulders - Crafted, Tailoring {68.75}
#2 Spaulders of Oblivion - Mur,mur, Shadow Labyrinth {44.1622}

Shoulder Enchant:
Greater Inscription of Discipline - The Aldor Exalted

Cloak:
#1 Cloak of Arcane Alacrity - 60 Badges of Justice {40.55}
#2 Shadow-Cloak of Dalaran - Moroes, Karazhan {36.9}
If you need the hit:
#2 Ruby Drape of the Mysticant - Prince Malchezaar, Karazhan {44.8956}

Cloak Enchant:
Subtlety

Chest:
#1 Frozen Shadoweave Robe - Crafted, Tailoring {91}
If you need the hit:
#1 Shroud of the Lore`nial - 100 Badges of Justice {97.6868}
#2 Robe of Oblivion - Murmur, Shadow Labyrinth {68}
If you need the hit:
#2 Warp Infused Drape - Wark Spllinter, The Botanica {67.6304}

Chest Enchants:
Restore Mana Prime
Major Spirit

Wrist:
#1 Ravager's Cuffs of Shadow Wrath - Rokad the Ravager, Karazhan {58}
#2 Runed Spell-cuffs - 35 Badges of Justice {49.9}
#3 Bracers of Havok - Crafted, Tailoring {39.75}
#4 Bands of Nefarious Deeds - Maiden of Virtue, Karazhan {33.1}
#5 Harbringer Bands - Attumen the Huntsman, Karazhan {28.59}

Wrist Enchants:
Spell Power

Gloves:
#1 Handwraps of Flowing Thought - Attumen the Huntsman {64.8688}
#2 Gloves of the Incarnate (t4) - Curator, Karazhan {37.5196}

Glove Enchants:
Major Spellpower - (recipe: Keepers of Time, Honored) {20}
Shadow Power

Waist:
#1 Cord of Screaming Terrors - Lurker, SSC
#2 Belt of Blasting - Crafted, Tailoring {90.5786}
#3 Belt of Divine Inspiration - High King Mulgar, Gruul's Lair
#4 Lurker's Cord of Shadow Wrath - Hyakiss the Lurker {71}
#5 Girdle of Ruination - Crafted, Tailoring {60.908}
#6 Voodoo-woven Belt - 60 Badges of Justice {59.5521}
#7 Nethershadrd Girdle - Moroes, Karazhan {38.92}

Pants:
#1 Legwraps of Sweltering Flame - 100 Badges of Justice {104.33}
#2 Spellstrike Pants - Crafted, Tailoring {94.5578}
#3 Trial-Fire Trousers - Opera, Karazhan {78}

Leg Enchant:
Runic Spellthread - Crafted, Tailor {35}

Feet:
#1 Frozen Shadoweave Boots - Crafted, Tailoring {75.45}
#2 Boots of Incantations - 75 Badges of Justice {72.9064}
#3 Footpads of Madness - Jan'alai, ZA {71.1}
#4 Ruby Slippers - Opera, Karazhan {48.7572}
#5 Boots of Foretelling - Maiden of Virtue, Karazhan {48.2451}

Feet Enchants:
Vitality

Rings:
#1 Loop of Forged Power - Crafted, Jewelcrafting {74.0148}
#2 Mana Attuned Band - ZA, 3rd timed event {71.9956}
#3 Fused Nethergon Band - 60 Badges of Justice {57.4876}
#4 Horseman's Signet Ring - Seasonal - Headless Horseman - Scarlet Monestary Graveyard {35.85}
#5 Ring of Recurrence - Chess Event, Karazhan {35.8451}
#6 Violet Signet of the Archmage - Quest, Karazhan {32.9193}
#7 Spectral Band of Innervation - Attumen the Huntsman, Karazhan {30.2}
#8 Khorium Band of Shadows - Crafted, Jewelcrafting {27}
#9 Evoker's Mark of the Redemption - Quest, Shadowmoon Valley {31.379}

Ring Enchants:
Spellpower

Trinkets:
#1 Timbal's Focusing Crystal - Priestess Delrissa, Magisters' Terrace (heroic) {102}
#2 Sorcerer's Alchemist Stone - Shattered Sun Offensive, Exalted, Crafted Alchemy {63} (requires alchemy something really high though)
#3 Eye of Magtheridon
#3 Hex Shrunken Head - Hex Lord Malacrass, ZA {87.8}
#4 Darkmoon Card: Crusade - Ace-8 of Blessing {78.7}
#5 Icon of the Silver Crescent - 41 Badges of Justice {66.8}

Weapon:
#1 Scryer's Blade of Focus - 150 Badges of Justice {248.4}
#2 Cudgel of Consecration - Kael, Magisters' Terrace (Heroic) {253.8456}
#3 Gavel of Unearthed Secrets - Lower City, Exalted {162.2435}

Weapon Enchants:
#1 Soulfrost - Crafted, Enchanting {54}
#2 Major Spellpower - Crafted, Enchanting {40}

Offhand:
#1 Fetish of the Primal Gods - 35 Badges of Justice {51.45}
#2 Orb of the Soul Eater - 25 Badges of Honor {51}

Wand:
#1 Carved Witch Doctor's Stick - 25 Badges of Justice {27.75}
#2 Trisfal Wand of Ascendancy - Shade of Aran, Karazhan {23.9112}
Belgarion.
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re: Laanyan

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I'll do a little on spells here.

1. Shadow Word: Pain - It's insta-cast so it should never not be on the mob.

2. Vampiric Touch - Returning mana is a huge part of why you're along on the raid; keep this up all the time. I time my next one to land when the current one is expiring. Obviously having to be on the move prohibits this at times. If possible, refresh it just before you have to move.

3. Star Shards - Night Elf only. Insta-cast mana-free arcane dot. It's nothing great, but it's free DPS.

4. Mind Blast - This spell is your highest DPS spell. It doesn't usually do the most over-all damage due to the cooldown.

5. Mind Flay - I use it to fill in gaps between Cool Downs / DoT refreshes.

6. Vampiric Embrace - I really only use this against Lurker. It causes too much aggro most of the time.

7. Shadow Word: Death - Due to the damage return I really only use this against Lurker since that's the only time I have Vampiric Embrace up.
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