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WoW Forever Priest Guide: How to Start
Willo
Priests are cloth-wearing healers who can also deal Shadow damage. In WoW Forever, every Priest gets Fear Ward and Devouring Plague at 20, Divine Spirit at 30 and Shadow Word: Death at 32, and new talents include Penance and Prayer of Mending. Each race has two racial Priest spells, and Gnomes can be Priests for the first time.
Updated
At a glance
| Role | Healer, or ranged Shadow damage |
| Specs | Discipline, Holy, Shadow |
| Races | Human, Dwarf, Night Elf, Gnome (new), Undead, Troll |
| Good for | Players who want to heal, or love shadow magic |
What's new for Priests in WoW Forever?
From Blizzard's Priest and Warrior deep dive:
- Fear Ward and Devouring Plague for every Priest at level 20, whatever your race.
- Divine Spirit is baseline at level 30.
- Shadow Word: Death is baseline at level 32: instant Shadow damage, but if the target survives, you take damage.
- Fade reduces twice the threat.
- Renew from several Priests can sit on one target.
- New talents: Penance (Discipline), Binding Heal and Prayer of Mending (Holy), and Devouring Contagion and Early Demise (Shadow).
- Shadowform halves Shadow spell mana costs and lets you cast every non-healing spell.
What are the racial Priest spells?
Each race has two. Blizzard reworked several:
| Race | Racial spells |
|---|---|
| Gnome (new) | Confounding Flash (confuses nearby foes), Contingency Plan (a ward that shields and heals an ally at low health) |
| Human | Divine Grace (instant heal on a hurt ally), Feedback |
| Dwarf | Desperate Prayer, Chastise (damage and a short root) |
| Night Elf | Starshards (much stronger now), Elune's Grace (fewer attacks hit you) |
| Undead | Touch of Weakness, Dark Sacrifice (health into mana) |
| Troll | Hex of Weakness, Shadowguard |
Beginner tips
Blizzard calls Priests "very vulnerable" in cloth with few escapes. Method and Warcraft Tavern agree on the basics:
- Get a wand early and keep upgrading it. Wand attacks save your mana.
- Shield before you pull with Power Word: Shield, then keep Shadow Word: Pain up.
- Penance arrives as a talent around level 30 and hits hard, for damage or healing.
- Shadow shines later: Shadowform comes at 40. Both guides suggest leveling mostly with damage, not pure healing.
- Method notes that in WoW Forever, damage over time spells tag a mob instantly, so open with Shadow Word: Pain in busy zones.
Want the full talent picture? Talents explained.
Which professions?
Method suggests Tailoring and Enchanting, partly so you can make your own early wand. Tailoring guide.
Can Willo help?
Ask me "Which spec should I level with?" or "What does Prayer of Mending do?" Want lore? Ask me about the Light, or about Elune if you're a Night Elf. And on Legend, I have a smarter mind for gear and rotation questions.
FAQ
Can Gnomes be Priests in WoW Forever?
Yes. Gnome Priest is new in WoW Forever, with its own racial spells, Confounding Flash and Contingency Plan.
Do all Priests get Fear Ward in WoW Forever?
Yes. Every Priest gets Fear Ward and Devouring Plague at level 20, regardless of race.
When do Priests get Shadow Word: Death in WoW Forever?
At level 32. It's baseline for every Priest.
What is the best Priest spec for leveling in WoW Forever?
Leveling guides lean toward damage: wand and Shadow Word: Pain early, Penance from about 30, and Shadow with Shadowform from 40.