Priests keep Shadowform, gain Penance and Prayer of Mending, and every Priest race has racial Priest spells of its own. Gnomes can be Priests for the first time.
Official changes come from Blizzard's Deep Dive, What's Next and Found Photos panels; talent facts come from the same talent data as our calculator (where it comes from); hands-on reports are marked. Last reviewed: .
A Priest is the healer in Classic’s image: big single-target heals, Power Word: Shield and Renew, with Shadow as a damage spec that also levels well. Forever keeps Shadowform and Power Infusion and adds spells from The Burning Crusade and Wrath of the Lich King: Penance, Divine Aegis, Binding Heal, Prayer of Mending, and a trainer Shadow Word: Death. Every Priest race also gets racial Priest spells of its own, and Gnomes can be Priests for the first time.
You’ll enjoy it if
You want to heal and have groups come to you: every dungeon needs one, and dungeon quests now carry the experience.
You want a race choice that changes your spell book: each race adds its own Priest spells, from Divine Grace to Starshards.
You like damage over time and control: Shadow keeps Shadowform and Mind Flay, and now spreads Devouring Plague between enemies.
You want your healing gear to help you level: healing power also adds a third as much damage in Forever.
Think twice if
You want to take hits: cloth armor and Power Word: Shield’s Weakened Soul still limit how often you can protect yourself.
You want fast, bursty solo kills. A Priest wins long fights with Shield, Renew and damage over time, not short ones.
You want Lightwell or Divine Spirit as talents: both are trainer spells now, so Holy and Discipline end in different places.
What groups want from you
Healing: the main job, with Prayer of Healing for the party and Prayer of Mending once you reach 31 points in Holy.
Power Word: Fortitude and Divine Spirit, which every Priest now has; Fortitude lasts an hour in the beta client.
Fear Ward on the tank, now a spell for every Priest, not just Dwarves.
Dispel Magic, Cure Disease and Shackle Undead for the enemies the tank can’t hold.
Solo play and gold
Solo, a Priest shields, opens with Shadow Word: Pain and Mind Blast, and wands the enemy down while Renew and the shield soak the damage; as Shadow, Mind Flay slows it on the way in. With kills taking 10–15 seconds from about level 10–15, that slow, safe style is closer to how everyone levels in Forever. Healing power adding damage means the healing gear you collect in dungeons doesn’t leave you helpless alone.
Priests in Classic made their own cloth with Tailoring and wands with Enchanting. In Forever, the Tailoring camp object is a Faction Banner that gives Spirit, a Priest’s stat; the Enchanting Enchanted Lute adds armor, stats and resistances.
02 Three ways to play a Priest
Discipline keeps Power Infusion and Shadow keeps Shadowform at 31 points; Holy ends in Prayer of Mending instead of Lightwell, which becomes a trainer spell at 40. Divine Spirit leaves Discipline the same way, learned at 30. The icons show the talents in the Priest Talent Calculator; hover or tap one for its full tooltip.
Discipline
Shields and Penance · healing that hits back
Discipline gets the most new tools. Penance is a short channel that heals an ally or damages an enemy, Divine Aegis puts a shield of up to 1,200 damage on the target of every non-periodic critical heal, and Soul Warding shortens Power Word: Shield’s cooldown and cuts its cost. Renewed Hope adds critical strike chance to heals on targets with Weakened Soul, so shield first, then heal.
For damage, Power in Light raises Smite and Penance on targets with your Holy Fire or Shadow Word: Pain, and Twin Disciplines strengthens every instant spell. With Holy Precision adding hit to Holy spells, a Discipline Priest can, on paper, level on Smite, Holy Fire and Penance rather than a wand.
Forever talents to know
Penance
Discipline · tier 5 · max rank 1
★ New in Forever
Launches a volley of holy light at the target, causing 45 Holy damage to an enemy, or 134 healing to an ally, instantly and every 1 sec for 2 sec. level 60 reference
Penance
Divine Aegis
Discipline · tier 6 · max rank 3
★ New in Forever
Your non-periodic critical heals create a protective shield on the target, absorbing 5% of the amount healed. Shields up to 1200 damage and lasts 12 sec. level 60 reference
Rank 3: Your non-periodic critical heals create a protective shield on the target, absorbing 15% of the amount healed. Shields up to 1200 damage and lasts 12 sec. level 60 reference
Divine Aegis
Soul Warding
Discipline · tier 4 · max rank 1
★ New in Forever
Reduces the cooldown on your Power Word: Shield spell by 4 sec and reduces its mana cost by 15%.
Soul Warding
Renewed Hope
Discipline · tier 5 · max rank 5
★ New in Forever
Your heals from Flash Heal, Binding Heal, Lesser Heal, Heal, Greater Heal, and Penance gain 2% increased critical strike chance when cast on targets with Weakened Soul, and reduce the remaining duration of Weakened Soul on their target by 1 sec.
Rank 5: Your heals from Flash Heal, Binding Heal, Lesser Heal, Heal, Greater Heal, and Penance gain 10% increased critical strike chance when cast on targets with Weakened Soul, and reduce the remaining duration of Weakened Soul on their target by 5 sec.
Renewed Hope
Power in Light
Discipline · tier 1 · max rank 5
★ New in Forever
Your Smite and Penance spells deal 2% increased damage to targets afflicted with your Holy Fire or Shadow Word: Pain.
Rank 5: Your Smite and Penance spells deal 10% increased damage to targets afflicted with your Holy Fire or Shadow Word: Pain.
Power in Light
Twin Disciplines
Discipline · tier 1 · max rank 5
★ New in Forever
Increases the damage and healing of your instant cast spells by 1%.
Rank 5: Increases the damage and healing of your instant cast spells by 5%.
Twin Disciplines
Holy
Group healing · the dungeon healer
Holy ends in Prayer of Mending, a heal that jumps to the next party member who takes damage, up to five times, and adds Binding Heal, which heals your target and you at once. Both suit dungeons, where the healer is often the one taking the stray hit.
Twilight Focus protects any spell from being interrupted by damage, and Litany of Light returns mana when you alternate between different heals, which rewards using the right heal instead of spamming one. Improved Prayer of Healing and Lightwell are gone from the tree, and Prayer of Healing itself reaches party members within 40 yards of its target in the beta client.
Forever talents to know
Prayer of Mending
Holy · tier 7 · max rank 1
★ New in Forever
Places a spell on the target that heals them for 172 the next time they take damage or receive non-periodic healing. When the heal occurs, Prayer of Mending jumps to a party or raid member within 20 yards. Jumps up to 5 times and lasts 30 sec after each jump. This spell can only be placed on one target at a time per caster. level 60 reference
Prayer of Mending
Binding Heal
Holy · tier 4 · max rank 1
★ New in Forever
Heals a friendly target and the caster for 235 to 286. Low threat. level 60 reference
Binding Heal
Twilight Focus
Holy · tier 1 · max rank 3
Gives your spells a 23% chance to not lose casting time when you take damage.
Rank 3: Gives your spells a 70% chance to not lose casting time when you take damage.
Twilight Focus
Litany of Light
Holy · tier 5 · max rank 2
★ New in Forever
When you cast a healing spell, gain Mana equal to 5% of the base cost of the spell if your previous heal was a different spell.
Rank 2: When you cast a healing spell, gain Mana equal to 10% of the base cost of the spell if your previous heal was a different spell.
Litany of Light
Shadow Magic
Shadow damage · the leveling spec
Shadow keeps Shadowform and gets four talents. Improved Mind Flay makes each tick of Mind Flay hit harder than the one before, so a full channel pays off. Dark Inspiration, in place of Improved Fade, raises your party’s Spirit after Mind Blast or a full Mind Flay, and Shadow Weaving is now a debuff on the target that raises the Shadow damage it takes from you. Devouring Contagion makes Devouring Plague cheaper and spreads it to two nearby enemies when the target dies, and every Priest now has Devouring Plague, not only Undead.
Early Demise raises the critical strike chance of Shadow Word: Death on enemies at or below 20% health, and every Priest learns Shadow Word: Death at 32 in the beta client. Shadow was Classic’s solo spec and has the most direct leveling upgrades.
Forever talents to know
Improved Mind Flay
Shadow Magic · tier 3 · max rank 2
★ New in Forever
Each instance of damage of Mind Flay deals 10% more damage than its previous instance of damage.
Rank 2: Each instance of damage of Mind Flay deals 20% more damage than its previous instance of damage.
Improved Mind Flay
Dark Inspiration
Shadow Magic · tier 4 · max rank 5
★ New in Forever
Your Mind Blast and fully channeled Mind Flay causes Dark Inspiration, increasing yours and your party's Spirit by 3% for 10 sec.
Rank 5: Your Mind Blast and fully channeled Mind Flay causes Dark Inspiration, increasing yours and your party's Spirit by 15% for 10 sec.
Dark Inspiration
Devouring Contagion
Shadow Magic · tier 5 · max rank 2
★ New in Forever
Reduces the mana cost of your Devouring Plague by 25%. Targets that die while Devouring Plague is active spreads it, jumping to 2 nearby enemies within 5 yds for the remaining duration.
Rank 2: Reduces the mana cost of your Devouring Plague by 50%. Targets that die while Devouring Plague is active spreads it, jumping to 2 nearby enemies within 10 yds for the remaining duration.
Devouring Contagion
Early Demise
Shadow Magic · tier 6 · max rank 2
★ New in Forever
Increases Shadow Word: Death's critical strike chance on targets at or below 20% health by 15%.
Rank 2: Increases Shadow Word: Death's critical strike chance on targets at or below 20% health by 30%.
Early Demise
Shadowform
Shadow Magic · tier 7 · max rank 1
Assume Shadowform, increasing your Shadow damage by 10%, reducing the Mana cost of all Shadow spells by 50%, increasing the critical strike damage bonus of your Shadow spells by 100%, and reducing Physical damage taken by you by 15%. However, you may not cast healing spells while in this form.
Shadowform
Dual Specialization opens at level 40, Blizzard’s class deep dives say; you change talents at a class trainer in a major city.
Priest talent trees at a glance
Each tree’s 31-point talent and how many talents changed. The full list, with every rank, is in the talent calculator.
Discipline
Power Infusion
Discipline · tier 7 · max rank 1
Infuses the target with power, increasing their spell damage and healing done by 20% for 15 sec.
Power Infusion
Same 31-point talent as Classic
7 new
1 removed
6 moved
Power in Light
Discipline · tier 1 · max rank 5
★ New in Forever
Your Smite and Penance spells deal 2% increased damage to targets afflicted with your Holy Fire or Shadow Word: Pain.
Rank 5: Your Smite and Penance spells deal 10% increased damage to targets afflicted with your Holy Fire or Shadow Word: Pain.
Twin Disciplines
Discipline · tier 1 · max rank 5
★ New in Forever
Increases the damage and healing of your instant cast spells by 1%.
Rank 5: Increases the damage and healing of your instant cast spells by 5%.
Holy Precision
Discipline · tier 2 · max rank 3
★ New in Forever
Improves your chance to hit with Holy spells by 6%.
Rank 3: Improves your chance to hit with Holy spells by 18%.
Soul Warding
Discipline · tier 4 · max rank 1
★ New in Forever
Reduces the cooldown on your Power Word: Shield spell by 4 sec and reduces its mana cost by 15%.
Penance
Discipline · tier 5 · max rank 1
★ New in Forever
Launches a volley of holy light at the target, causing 45 Holy damage to an enemy, or 134 healing to an ally, instantly and every 1 sec for 2 sec. level 60 reference
Renewed Hope
Discipline · tier 5 · max rank 5
★ New in Forever
Your heals from Flash Heal, Binding Heal, Lesser Heal, Heal, Greater Heal, and Penance gain 2% increased critical strike chance when cast on targets with Weakened Soul, and reduce the remaining duration of Weakened Soul on their target by 1 sec.
Rank 5: Your heals from Flash Heal, Binding Heal, Lesser Heal, Heal, Greater Heal, and Penance gain 10% increased critical strike chance when cast on targets with Weakened Soul, and reduce the remaining duration of Weakened Soul on their target by 5 sec.
Divine Aegis
Discipline · tier 6 · max rank 3
★ New in Forever
Your non-periodic critical heals create a protective shield on the target, absorbing 5% of the amount healed. Shields up to 1200 damage and lasts 12 sec. level 60 reference
Rank 3: Your non-periodic critical heals create a protective shield on the target, absorbing 15% of the amount healed. Shields up to 1200 damage and lasts 12 sec. level 60 reference
Holy New
Prayer of Mending
Holy · tier 7 · max rank 1
★ New in Forever
Places a spell on the target that heals them for 172 the next time they take damage or receive non-periodic healing. When the heal occurs, Prayer of Mending jumps to a party or raid member within 20 yards. Jumps up to 5 times and lasts 30 sec after each jump. This spell can only be placed on one target at a time per caster. level 60 reference
Prayer of Mending
Replaces Lightwell
3 new
1 renamed or reworked
2 removed
0 moved
Binding Heal
Holy · tier 4 · max rank 1
★ New in Forever
Heals a friendly target and the caster for 235 to 286. Low threat. level 60 reference
Litany of Light
Holy · tier 5 · max rank 2
★ New in Forever
When you cast a healing spell, gain Mana equal to 5% of the base cost of the spell if your previous heal was a different spell.
Rank 2: When you cast a healing spell, gain Mana equal to 10% of the base cost of the spell if your previous heal was a different spell.
Prayer of Mending
Holy · tier 7 · max rank 1
★ New in Forever
Places a spell on the target that heals them for 172 the next time they take damage or receive non-periodic healing. When the heal occurs, Prayer of Mending jumps to a party or raid member within 20 yards. Jumps up to 5 times and lasts 30 sec after each jump. This spell can only be placed on one target at a time per caster. level 60 reference
Shadow Magic
Shadowform
Shadow Magic · tier 7 · max rank 1
Assume Shadowform, increasing your Shadow damage by 10%, reducing the Mana cost of all Shadow spells by 50%, increasing the critical strike damage bonus of your Shadow spells by 100%, and reducing Physical damage taken by you by 15%. However, you may not cast healing spells while in this form.
Shadowform
Same 31-point talent as Classic
4 new
3 removed
9 moved
Improved Mind Flay
Shadow Magic · tier 3 · max rank 2
★ New in Forever
Each instance of damage of Mind Flay deals 10% more damage than its previous instance of damage.
Rank 2: Each instance of damage of Mind Flay deals 20% more damage than its previous instance of damage.
Dark Inspiration
Shadow Magic · tier 4 · max rank 5
★ New in Forever
Your Mind Blast and fully channeled Mind Flay causes Dark Inspiration, increasing yours and your party's Spirit by 3% for 10 sec.
Rank 5: Your Mind Blast and fully channeled Mind Flay causes Dark Inspiration, increasing yours and your party's Spirit by 15% for 10 sec.
Devouring Contagion
Shadow Magic · tier 5 · max rank 2
★ New in Forever
Reduces the mana cost of your Devouring Plague by 25%. Targets that die while Devouring Plague is active spreads it, jumping to 2 nearby enemies within 5 yds for the remaining duration.
Rank 2: Reduces the mana cost of your Devouring Plague by 50%. Targets that die while Devouring Plague is active spreads it, jumping to 2 nearby enemies within 10 yds for the remaining duration.
Early Demise
Shadow Magic · tier 6 · max rank 2
★ New in Forever
Increases Shadow Word: Death's critical strike chance on targets at or below 20% health by 15%.
Rank 2: Increases Shadow Word: Death's critical strike chance on targets at or below 20% health by 30%.
Up to 10 a Priest is Smite, Shadow Word: Pain, Power Word: Shield and a wand. Then the spell book grows fast: at 10 each race gets its first racial Priest spell and every Priest gets Mind Blast, and at 20 Devouring Plague, Fear Ward, Flash Heal and Holy Fire all arrive. The experience needed to reach 60 is the same as in Classic: Wowhead retracted its datamine of a lower curve after Blizzard explained the file isn’t used by the game (see the WoW Forever leveling guide).
Healers find dungeon groups fastest, and dungeon quests now carry the experience rather than the enemies, so a Priest can level between quests and one run of each dungeon; the WoW Forever dungeons guide lists all 9 new ones by level.
Priest key levels
The levels where the abilities in the table below arrive. Hover, focus or tap a level to see everything a Priest trainer teaches that is new at it; every icon has its tooltip.
Power Word: Shield
Power Word: Shield
Rank 1 · level 6
Cost 45 Mana
Cast time instant
Cooldown 4 sec
Draws on the soul of the party member to shield them, absorbing 44 damage. Lasts 30 sec. While the shield holds, spellcasting will not be interrupted by damage. Once shielded, the target cannot be shielded again for 15 sec.
New at level 6: 1
Power Word: Shield
Power Word: Shield
Rank 1 · level 6
Cost 45 Mana
Cast time instant
Cooldown 4 sec
Draws on the soul of the party member to shield them, absorbing 44 damage. Lasts 30 sec. While the shield holds, spellcasting will not be interrupted by damage. Once shielded, the target cannot be shielded again for 15 sec.
Fade
Fade
Renew
Renew
Rank 1 · level 8
Cost 30 Mana
Cast time instant
Heals the target of 45 damage over 15 sec.
New at level 8: 2
Fade
Fade
Renew
Renew
Rank 1 · level 8
Cost 30 Mana
Cast time instant
Heals the target of 45 damage over 15 sec.
Mind Blast
Mind Blast
Rank 1 · level 10
Cost 50 Mana
Cast time 1.5 sec
Cooldown 8 sec
Blasts the target for 37 to 41 Shadow damage, but causes a high amount of threat.
New at level 10: 8
Confounding FlashGnome only
Confounding Flash
Level 10
Cost 3% of base mana
Cast time 0.5 sec
Cooldown 2 min
Confuses up to 5 enemies within 8 yds for 3 sec. Any damage taken will break the effect.
Desperate PrayerDwarf only
Desperate Prayer
Rank 1 · level 10
Cast time instant
Cooldown 10 min
Instantly heals the caster for 131 to 167.
Divine GraceHuman only
Divine Grace
Rank 1 · level 10
Cast time instant
Cooldown 10 min
Instantly heals a friendly target below 50% Health for 131 to 167 and removes Weakened Soul from that target. Cannot be cast on self.
Hex of WeaknessTroll only
Hex of Weakness
Rank 1 · level 10
Cost 35 Mana
Cast time instant
Weakens the target enemy, reducing melee attack power by 43 and reducing the effectiveness of any healing by 20%. Lasts 2 min.
Mind Blast
Mind Blast
Rank 1 · level 10
Cost 50 Mana
Cast time 1.5 sec
Cooldown 8 sec
Blasts the target for 37 to 41 Shadow damage, but causes a high amount of threat.
Resurrection
Resurrection
StarshardsNight Elf only
Starshards
Rank 1 · level 10
Cost 50 Mana
Cast time instant
Cooldown 30 sec
Rains starshards down on the enemy target's head, causing 162 Arcane damage over 6 sec.
Touch of WeaknessUndead only
Touch of Weakness
Rank 1 · level 10
Cost 25 Mana
Cast time instant
The next melee attack against the caster will cause 8 Shadow damage and reduce the attacker's melee attack power by 43 for 2 min.
Heal
Heal
Rank 1 · level 16
Cost 155 Mana
Cast time 3 sec
Heal your target for 250 to 290.
New at level 16: 1
Heal
Heal
Rank 1 · level 16
Cost 155 Mana
Cast time 3 sec
Heal your target for 250 to 290.
Dispel Magic
Dispel Magic
New at level 18: 1
Dispel Magic
Dispel Magic
Devouring Plague
Devouring Plague
Rank 1 · level 20
Cost 215 Mana
Cast time instant
Cooldown 24 sec
Afflicts the target with a disease that causes 128 Shadow damage over 24 sec. Damage caused by the Devouring Plague heals the caster.
Fear Ward
Fear Ward
Level 20
Cost 100 Mana
Cast time instant
Cooldown 3 min
Wards the friendly target against Fear. The next Fear effect used against the target will fail, using up the ward. Lasts 3 min.
Flash Heal
Flash Heal
Rank 1 · level 20
Cost 125 Mana
Cast time 1.5 sec
Heals a friendly target for 174 to 214.
Holy Fire
Holy Fire
Rank 1 · level 20
Cost 85 Mana
Cast time 3.5 sec
Consumes the enemy in holy flames that cause 48 to 60 Holy damage and an additional 20 Holy damage over 10 sec.
New at level 20: 12
ChastiseDwarf only
Chastise
Rank 1 · level 20
Cost 50 Mana
Cast time instant
Cooldown 2 min
Chastise the target, causing 43 to 49 Holy damage and immobilizing them for up to 2 sec. Only works against Humanoids. This spell causes very low threat.
Contingency PlanGnome only
Contingency Plan
Rank 1 · level 20
Cast time instant
Cooldown 10 min
Dark SacrificeUndead only
Dark Sacrifice
Rank 1 · level 20
Cast time instant
Cooldown 10 min
Devouring Plague
Devouring Plague
Rank 1 · level 20
Cost 215 Mana
Cast time instant
Cooldown 24 sec
Afflicts the target with a disease that causes 128 Shadow damage over 24 sec. Damage caused by the Devouring Plague heals the caster.
Elune's GraceNight Elf only
Elune's Grace
Level 20
Cost 3% of base mana
Cast time instant
Cooldown 5 min
Reduces the chance you'll be hit by melee and ranged attacks by 50% for 15 sec or until you are missed 3 times.
Fear Ward
Fear Ward
Level 20
Cost 100 Mana
Cast time instant
Cooldown 3 min
Wards the friendly target against Fear. The next Fear effect used against the target will fail, using up the ward. Lasts 3 min.
FeedbackHuman only
Feedback
Rank 1 · level 20
Cost 55 Mana
Cast time instant
Cooldown 3 min
The priest becomes surrounded with anti-magic energy. Any successful spell cast against the priest will burn 18 of the attacker's Mana, causing 1 Shadow damage for each point of Mana burned. Lasts 15 sec.
Flash Heal
Flash Heal
Rank 1 · level 20
Cost 125 Mana
Cast time 1.5 sec
Heals a friendly target for 174 to 214.
Holy Fire
Holy Fire
Rank 1 · level 20
Cost 85 Mana
Cast time 3.5 sec
Consumes the enemy in holy flames that cause 48 to 60 Holy damage and an additional 20 Holy damage over 10 sec.
Mind Soothe
Mind Soothe
Shackle Undead
Shackle Undead
ShadowguardTroll only
Shadowguard
Rank 1 · level 20
Cost 50 Mana
Cast time instant
The caster is surrounded by shadows. When a spell, melee or ranged attack hits the caster, the attacker will be struck for 13 Shadow damage. Attackers can only be damaged once every few seconds. This damage causes no threat. 3 charges. Lasts 10 min.
Divine SpiritA talent in Classic
Divine Spirit
Rank 1 · level 30
Cost 285 Mana
Cast time instant
Holy power infuses the target, increasing their Spirit by 17 for 1 hrs.
Prayer of Healing
Prayer of Healing
Rank 1 · level 30
Cost 410 Mana
Cast time 3 sec
A powerful prayer that heals the target and their party for 172 to 184. Party members must be within 40 yards of target.
New at level 30: 4
Divine SpiritA talent in Classic
Divine Spirit
Rank 1 · level 30
Cost 285 Mana
Cast time instant
Holy power infuses the target, increasing their Spirit by 17 for 1 hrs.
Mind Control
Mind Control
Prayer of Healing
Prayer of Healing
Rank 1 · level 30
Cost 410 Mana
Cast time 3 sec
A powerful prayer that heals the target and their party for 172 to 184. Party members must be within 40 yards of target.
Shadow Protection
Shadow Protection
Shadow Word: Death
Shadow Word: Death
Rank 1 · level 32
Cost 175 Mana
Cast time instant
Cooldown 18 sec
A word of dark binding that inflicts 286 to 304 Shadow damage to the target. If your target is not killed by Shadow Word: Death, you take backlash damage equal to 10% of your maximum health.
New at level 32: 2
Abolish Disease
Abolish Disease
Shadow Word: Death
Shadow Word: Death
Rank 1 · level 32
Cost 175 Mana
Cast time instant
Cooldown 18 sec
A word of dark binding that inflicts 286 to 304 Shadow damage to the target. If your target is not killed by Shadow Word: Death, you take backlash damage equal to 10% of your maximum health.
Greater Heal
Greater Heal
Rank 1 · level 40
Cost 370 Mana
Cast time 3 sec
A slow casting spell that heals a single target for 794 to 894.
LightwellA talent in Classic
Lightwell
Rank 1 · level 40
Cost 225 Mana
Cast time 1.5 sec
Cooldown 10 min
Creates a holy Lightwell near the priest. Members of your raid or party can click the Lightwell to restore 800 health over 10 sec. Being attacked cancels the effect. Lightwell lasts for 3 min or 5 charges.
New at level 40: 2
Greater Heal
Greater Heal
Rank 1 · level 40
Cost 370 Mana
Cast time 3 sec
A slow casting spell that heals a single target for 794 to 894.
LightwellA talent in Classic
Lightwell
Rank 1 · level 40
Cost 225 Mana
Cast time 1.5 sec
Cooldown 10 min
Creates a holy Lightwell near the priest. Members of your raid or party can click the Lightwell to restore 800 health over 10 sec. Being attacked cancels the effect. Lightwell lasts for 3 min or 5 charges.
New trainer abilities per level band
Each ability counted once, at the level its first rank is trained in the Forever beta client; abilities the beta removed are left out. Pick a bar to list them.
Every raceSome races only
New at levels 1–9: 7
Lesser Heal
Lesser Heal
Rank 1 · level 1
Cost 30 Mana
Cast time 1.5 sec
Heal your target for 46 to 56.
Power Word: Fortitude
Power Word: Fortitude
Rank 1 · level 1
Cost 60 Mana
Cast time instant
Power infuses the target, increasing their Stamina by 4 for 1 hrs.
Smite
Smite
Rank 1 · level 1
Cost 20 Mana
Cast time 1.5 sec
Smite an enemy for 13 to 17 Holy damage.
Shadow Word: Pain
Shadow Word: Pain
Rank 1 · level 4
Cost 25 Mana
Cast time instant
A word of darkness that causes 30 Shadow damage over 18 sec.
Power Word: Shield
Power Word: Shield
Rank 1 · level 6
Cost 45 Mana
Cast time instant
Cooldown 4 sec
Draws on the soul of the party member to shield them, absorbing 44 damage. Lasts 30 sec. While the shield holds, spellcasting will not be interrupted by damage. Once shielded, the target cannot be shielded again for 15 sec.
Fade
Fade
Renew
Renew
Rank 1 · level 8
Cost 30 Mana
Cast time instant
Heals the target of 45 damage over 15 sec.
New at levels 10–19: 13
Confounding FlashGnome only
Confounding Flash
Level 10
Cost 3% of base mana
Cast time 0.5 sec
Cooldown 2 min
Confuses up to 5 enemies within 8 yds for 3 sec. Any damage taken will break the effect.
Desperate PrayerDwarf only
Desperate Prayer
Rank 1 · level 10
Cast time instant
Cooldown 10 min
Instantly heals the caster for 131 to 167.
Divine GraceHuman only
Divine Grace
Rank 1 · level 10
Cast time instant
Cooldown 10 min
Instantly heals a friendly target below 50% Health for 131 to 167 and removes Weakened Soul from that target. Cannot be cast on self.
Hex of WeaknessTroll only
Hex of Weakness
Rank 1 · level 10
Cost 35 Mana
Cast time instant
Weakens the target enemy, reducing melee attack power by 43 and reducing the effectiveness of any healing by 20%. Lasts 2 min.
Mind Blast
Mind Blast
Rank 1 · level 10
Cost 50 Mana
Cast time 1.5 sec
Cooldown 8 sec
Blasts the target for 37 to 41 Shadow damage, but causes a high amount of threat.
Resurrection
Resurrection
StarshardsNight Elf only
Starshards
Rank 1 · level 10
Cost 50 Mana
Cast time instant
Cooldown 30 sec
Rains starshards down on the enemy target's head, causing 162 Arcane damage over 6 sec.
Touch of WeaknessUndead only
Touch of Weakness
Rank 1 · level 10
Cost 25 Mana
Cast time instant
The next melee attack against the caster will cause 8 Shadow damage and reduce the attacker's melee attack power by 43 for 2 min.
Inner Fire
Inner Fire
Cure Disease
Cure Disease
Psychic Scream
Psychic Scream
Heal
Heal
Rank 1 · level 16
Cost 155 Mana
Cast time 3 sec
Heal your target for 250 to 290.
Dispel Magic
Dispel Magic
New at levels 20–29: 14
ChastiseDwarf only
Chastise
Rank 1 · level 20
Cost 50 Mana
Cast time instant
Cooldown 2 min
Chastise the target, causing 43 to 49 Holy damage and immobilizing them for up to 2 sec. Only works against Humanoids. This spell causes very low threat.
Contingency PlanGnome only
Contingency Plan
Rank 1 · level 20
Cast time instant
Cooldown 10 min
Dark SacrificeUndead only
Dark Sacrifice
Rank 1 · level 20
Cast time instant
Cooldown 10 min
Devouring Plague
Devouring Plague
Rank 1 · level 20
Cost 215 Mana
Cast time instant
Cooldown 24 sec
Afflicts the target with a disease that causes 128 Shadow damage over 24 sec. Damage caused by the Devouring Plague heals the caster.
Elune's GraceNight Elf only
Elune's Grace
Level 20
Cost 3% of base mana
Cast time instant
Cooldown 5 min
Reduces the chance you'll be hit by melee and ranged attacks by 50% for 15 sec or until you are missed 3 times.
Fear Ward
Fear Ward
Level 20
Cost 100 Mana
Cast time instant
Cooldown 3 min
Wards the friendly target against Fear. The next Fear effect used against the target will fail, using up the ward. Lasts 3 min.
FeedbackHuman only
Feedback
Rank 1 · level 20
Cost 55 Mana
Cast time instant
Cooldown 3 min
The priest becomes surrounded with anti-magic energy. Any successful spell cast against the priest will burn 18 of the attacker's Mana, causing 1 Shadow damage for each point of Mana burned. Lasts 15 sec.
Flash Heal
Flash Heal
Rank 1 · level 20
Cost 125 Mana
Cast time 1.5 sec
Heals a friendly target for 174 to 214.
Holy Fire
Holy Fire
Rank 1 · level 20
Cost 85 Mana
Cast time 3.5 sec
Consumes the enemy in holy flames that cause 48 to 60 Holy damage and an additional 20 Holy damage over 10 sec.
Mind Soothe
Mind Soothe
Shackle Undead
Shackle Undead
ShadowguardTroll only
Shadowguard
Rank 1 · level 20
Cost 50 Mana
Cast time instant
The caster is surrounded by shadows. When a spell, melee or ranged attack hits the caster, the attacker will be struck for 13 Shadow damage. Attackers can only be damaged once every few seconds. This damage causes no threat. 3 charges. Lasts 10 min.
Mind Vision
Mind Vision
Mana Burn
Mana Burn
New at levels 30–39: 7
Divine SpiritA talent in Classic
Divine Spirit
Rank 1 · level 30
Cost 285 Mana
Cast time instant
Holy power infuses the target, increasing their Spirit by 17 for 1 hrs.
Mind Control
Mind Control
Prayer of Healing
Prayer of Healing
Rank 1 · level 30
Cost 410 Mana
Cast time 3 sec
A powerful prayer that heals the target and their party for 172 to 184. Party members must be within 40 yards of target.
Shadow Protection
Shadow Protection
Abolish Disease
Abolish Disease
Shadow Word: Death
Shadow Word: Death
Rank 1 · level 32
Cost 175 Mana
Cast time instant
Cooldown 18 sec
A word of dark binding that inflicts 286 to 304 Shadow damage to the target. If your target is not killed by Shadow Word: Death, you take backlash damage equal to 10% of your maximum health.
Levitate
Levitate
Level 34
Cost 100 Mana
Cast time instant
Allows the caster to levitate, floating a few feet above the ground. While levitating, you will fall at a reduced speed and travel over water-like surfaces. Mounting or any damage taken will cancel the effect. Lasts 2 min.
New at levels 40–49: 3
Greater Heal
Greater Heal
Rank 1 · level 40
Cost 370 Mana
Cast time 3 sec
A slow casting spell that heals a single target for 794 to 894.
LightwellA talent in Classic
Lightwell
Rank 1 · level 40
Cost 225 Mana
Cast time 1.5 sec
Cooldown 10 min
Creates a holy Lightwell near the priest. Members of your raid or party can click the Lightwell to restore 800 health over 10 sec. Being attacked cancels the effect. Lightwell lasts for 3 min or 5 charges.
Prayer of Fortitude
Prayer of Fortitude
Rank 1 · level 48
Cost 2,600 Mana
Cast time instant
Power infuses all party and raid members, increasing their Stamina by 56 for 1 hrs.
New at levels 50–60: 2
Prayer of Shadow Protection
Prayer of Shadow Protection
Level 56
Cost 1,300 Mana
Cast time instant
Power infuses all party and raid members, increasing their Shadow resistance by 60 for 20 min.
Prayer of Spirit
Prayer of Spirit
Rank 1 · level 60
Cost 1,940 Mana
Cast time instant
Power infuses all party and raid members, increasing their Spirit by 40 for 1 hrs.
Priest abilities by level
The trainer abilities that shape a Priest’s leveling, in the order you learn them. The middle column is read from the Forever beta client against Classic Era, so it can still change.
Ability
Learned
In the Forever beta
Why it matters
Power Word: Shield
Power Word: Shield
Rank 1 · level 6
Cost 45 Mana
Cast time instant
Cooldown 4 sec
Draws on the soul of the party member to shield them, absorbing 44 damage. Lasts 30 sec. While the shield holds, spellcasting will not be interrupted by damage. Once shielded, the target cannot be shielded again for 15 sec.
Level 610 ranks, levels 6–60
Tooltip numbers changed (9 ranks)
Absorbs damage and stops spell pushback; Soul Warding (Discipline) shortens its cooldown.
Renew
Renew
Rank 1 · level 8
Cost 30 Mana
Cast time instant
Heals the target of 45 damage over 15 sec.
Level 810 ranks, levels 8–60
Tooltip numbers changed (9 ranks)
Healing over time that works while you fight.
Fade
Fade
Level 86 ranks, levels 8–60
Unchanged
Drops threat when the enemy turns on you in a group.
Mind Blast
Mind Blast
Rank 1 · level 10
Cost 50 Mana
Cast time 1.5 sec
Cooldown 8 sec
Blasts the target for 37 to 41 Shadow damage, but causes a high amount of threat.
Level 109 ranks, levels 10–58
Tooltip numbers changed (9 ranks)
Your big opener; high threat, so keep it off tanked enemies in groups.
Heal
Heal
Rank 1 · level 16
Cost 155 Mana
Cast time 3 sec
Heal your target for 250 to 290.
Level 164 ranks, levels 16–34
Growth per level: changed on 2 ranks
Tooltip numbers changed (4 ranks)
The efficient heal of the mid levels.
Dispel Magic
Dispel Magic
Level 182 ranks, levels 18–36
Unchanged
Removes magic from allies and enemies; groups expect it.
Devouring Plague
Devouring Plague
Rank 1 · level 20
Cost 215 Mana
Cast time instant
Cooldown 24 sec
Afflicts the target with a disease that causes 128 Shadow damage over 24 sec. Damage caused by the Devouring Plague heals the caster.
Level 206 ranks, levels 20–60
Races: Undead → every race (6 ranks)
Cooldown: 3 min → 24 sec (6 ranks)
Tooltip numbers changed (6 ranks)
Every Priest learns it at 20, not only Undead, and its cooldown is a minute instead of three.
Fear Ward
Fear Ward
Level 20
Cost 100 Mana
Cast time instant
Cooldown 3 min
Wards the friendly target against Fear. The next Fear effect used against the target will fail, using up the ward. Lasts 3 min.
Level 20
Races: Dwarf → every race
Cooldown: 30 sec → 3 min
Duration: 10 min → 3 min
Tooltip numbers changed
Every Priest learns it at 20; the ward lasts 3 minutes on a 3-minute cooldown in the beta client.
Flash Heal
Flash Heal
Rank 1 · level 20
Cost 125 Mana
Cast time 1.5 sec
Heals a friendly target for 174 to 214.
Level 207 ranks, levels 20–56
Tooltip numbers changed (7 ranks)
The fast heal for emergencies.
Holy Fire
Holy Fire
Rank 1 · level 20
Cost 85 Mana
Cast time 3.5 sec
Consumes the enemy in holy flames that cause 48 to 60 Holy damage and an additional 20 Holy damage over 10 sec.
Level 208 ranks, levels 20–60
Growth per level: changed on 8 ranks
Tooltip numbers changed (8 ranks)
Damage with a burn; Power in Light (Discipline) boosts Smite and Penance on its target.
Divine SpiritA talent in Classic
Divine Spirit
Rank 1 · level 30
Cost 285 Mana
Cast time instant
Holy power infuses the target, increasing their Spirit by 17 for 1 hrs.
Level 304 ranks, levels 30–60
Holy power infuses the target, increasing their Spirit by 17 for 1 hrs.
A Discipline talent in Classic, now a trainer spell at 30 for every Priest.
Prayer of Healing
Prayer of Healing
Rank 1 · level 30
Cost 410 Mana
Cast time 3 sec
A powerful prayer that heals the target and their party for 172 to 184. Party members must be within 40 yards of target.
Level 305 ranks, levels 30–60
Range: self → 40 yd (5 ranks)
Growth per level: changed on 5 ranks
Tooltip numbers changed (5 ranks)
The party heal; in the beta client its range is 40 yards from the target.
Shadow Word: Death
Shadow Word: Death
Rank 1 · level 32
Cost 175 Mana
Cast time instant
Cooldown 18 sec
A word of dark binding that inflicts 286 to 304 Shadow damage to the target. If your target is not killed by Shadow Word: Death, you take backlash damage equal to 10% of your maximum health.
Level 324 ranks, levels 32–56
A word of dark binding that inflicts 286 to 304 Shadow damage to the target. If your target is not killed by Shadow Word: Death, you take backlash damage equal to 10% of your maximum health.
New trainer spell at 32: heavy Shadow damage, with backlash if the target survives.
LightwellA talent in Classic
Lightwell
Rank 1 · level 40
Cost 225 Mana
Cast time 1.5 sec
Cooldown 10 min
Creates a holy Lightwell near the priest. Members of your raid or party can click the Lightwell to restore 800 health over 10 sec. Being attacked cancels the effect. Lightwell lasts for 3 min or 5 charges.
Level 403 ranks, levels 40–60
Creates a holy Lightwell near the priest. Members of your raid or party can click the Lightwell to restore 800 health over 10 sec. Being attacked cancels the effect. Lightwell lasts for 3 min or 5 charges.
A Holy talent in Classic, now a trainer spell at 40.
Greater Heal
Greater Heal
Rank 1 · level 40
Cost 370 Mana
Cast time 3 sec
A slow casting spell that heals a single target for 794 to 894.
For a Priest, race decides spells, not just stats. Fear Ward is no longer Dwarf-only and Devouring Plague is no longer Undead-only, so the two racials that defined Priest race choice in Classic are gone as reasons. What is left, as the beta client lists them: Humans get Divine Grace, an instant heal on an ally below half health that also clears Weakened Soul, plus Feedback, but lose Desperate Prayer; Dwarves keep Desperate Prayer and add Chastise, a Holy strike that roots a Humanoid.
Night Elves have Elune’s Grace against melee and ranged attacks and Starshards for damage; Gnomes, new to the class, get Confounding Flash to confuse enemies around you and Contingency Plan, a ward that shields and heals an ally who drops low; Undead trade Health for Mana with Dark Sacrifice and punish melee with Touch of Weakness; Trolls keep Hex of Weakness and Shadowguard and add casting speed with Berserking. Healers lean Human or Gnome; Shadow leans Undead or Troll.
Races for Priests
Every race that can be a Priest in Forever and what it brings to the class.
Dark Sacrifice trades Health for Mana.Racial Priest spells
Dark Sacrifice
Undead · Priest
Instant, 10 min cooldown: trade Health for Mana over 15 sec; your Spirit adds to the Mana
Dark Sacrifice
Touch of Weakness
Undead · Priest
The next melee attack against you deals Shadow damage to the attacker and lowers its melee Attack Power for 2 min (56 damage and 204 Attack Power at the top rank)
Berserking adds casting speed; Hex of Weakness and Shadowguard stay Troll Priest spells.Racial Priest spells
Hex of Weakness
Troll · Priest
Lowers an enemy's melee Attack Power (204 at the top rank) and cuts the healing it receives by 20% for 2 min
Hex of Weakness
Shadowguard
Troll · Priest
Three charges of shadows that strike attackers for Shadow damage (96 at the top rank), without threat; lasts 10 min
Shadowguard
05 Coming from Classic
The group buffs that every Priest had to spec into are now trainer spells: Divine Spirit at 30 and Lightwell at 40. That frees Discipline and Holy points for the new talents, and it means any Priest, Shadow included, can bring Divine Spirit to a group.
Healing gear matters more for damage too, because healing power adds a third as much damage in Forever, and hit and critical strike are one stat for spells and attacks. Every changed trainer ability is in WoW Forever Priest abilities.
What changes for Priests
Blizzard
Divine Spirit is no longer a talent: every Priest has it.
Player reports
Fear Ward is available to every Priest, not just Dwarves, according to hands-on notes from BlizzCon.
Player reports
Each Priest race has its own racial Priest spells, listed with each race below.
Blizzard
Healing power also adds a third as much damage, and hit and critical strike are merged across spells and attacks.
Game data
Discipline gains Penance and Divine Aegis, and Holy ends in Prayer of Mending and adds Binding Heal.
Blizzard
October 1 beta build: Devouring Plague can critically strike, and Shadow Weaving can no longer fail to apply.
Blizzard
Inner Focus no longer raises the critical strike chance of periodic effects, and Shadow Word: Death no longer gets Early Demise’s bonus at any health.
Blizzard
On the WoW Forever Podcast episode 2, the developers said the tier sets will be revisited before the beta ends and a shorter Holy Fire cast is possible; Discipline’s shields suit tanks, Holy heals groups. The Priest sets in the beta client are on the WoW Forever sets page.
Blizzard
Blizzard’s Class Highlights video (part 3, October 6) says Vampiric Embrace can trigger Spirit Tap, and that Devouring Contagion halves Devouring Plague’s Mana cost and lets it spread. In the beta client, Spirit Tap triggers when an enemy afflicted by your Vampiric Embrace dies, and Devouring Plague jumps to a nearby enemy when its target dies.
Blizzard
October 8 beta build: Penance deals less damage and healing, since it was being counted as a 3-second channel instead of a 2-second one, and its rank 1 costs 50% more Mana, while ranks 2 and 4 heal for more. Blizzard wants it to stay more Mana-efficient than Heal and Greater Heal. The low ranks of Smite, Lesser Heal and Heal were retuned so that every new rank is an upgrade.
06 Before you log in
Choose your race for its Priest spells. The race cards above list them; each race page has the full effects.
Spend Legacy Points on Reagent Economy if you buff raids. It removes the vendor reagents of class abilities, such as the candles for Prayer of Fortitude. The WoW Forever Legacy guide has the perk and its tree.
Plan the spec you’ll heal in. Discipline and Holy end in different places in Forever; compare them in the WoW Forever Talent Calculator.
Hardcore? Power Word: Shield, Renew and Psychic Scream still make a careful Priest hard to kill; the WoW Forever Hardcore page has the ruleset.
PvP? Every Priest now has Fear Ward and Devouring Plague; honor ranks and Darkspear Islands are on the WoW Forever PvP page.
WoW Forever Priest FAQ
Can Gnomes be Priests in WoW Forever?
Yes. Priest is one of the six new race and class combinations, and Gnome Priests have racial spells of their own.
Is Fear Ward still Dwarf-only in WoW Forever?
Hands-on notes from BlizzCon say every Priest has it. Blizzard hasn’t confirmed it.
Is Divine Spirit still a talent?
No. Blizzard made it baseline for every Priest.
Which races can be a Priest in WoW Forever?
Human, Dwarf, Night Elf, Gnome, Undead, and Troll. Gnome is new to the class in Forever.
What are the Priest 31-point talents in WoW Forever?
Discipline: Power Infusion; Holy: Prayer of Mending (new, replacing Lightwell); Shadow Magic: Shadowform.
What is the best Priest race in WoW Forever?
Each race brings its own Priest spells, so pick by the job. For healing, Humans (Divine Grace) and Gnomes (Contingency Plan) add the most; for Shadow, Undead (Dark Sacrifice, Touch of Weakness) and Trolls (Berserking, Hex of Weakness). Fear Ward and Devouring Plague are no longer racial.
Is Lightwell still a talent in WoW Forever?
No. In the beta client every Priest learns Lightwell from the trainer at level 40, and Holy ends in Prayer of Mending instead.
Does every Priest get Shadow Word: Death in WoW Forever?
Yes, in the beta client it is a trainer spell at level 32. The Shadow talent Early Demise raises its critical strike chance on enemies at or below 20% health.
Still unconfirmed
Fear Ward is available to every Priest, not just Dwarves, according to hands-on notes from BlizzCon.
Each Priest race has its own racial Priest spells, listed with each race below.
Final talent values: they can still change before launch
