Discipline Priest Healing Easy Mode

Table of Contents

• +Introduction
  • 1. Class Overview
  • 2. Patch 7.3 Changes
  • 3. Patch 7.2.5 Changes
  • 4. Patch 7.2 Changes
  • 5. Contents
  • 6. ChangeLog
• ×Easy Mode
  • 1. The Basics
  • 2. Talent Choice
  • 3. Stat Choice
  • 4. Basic Playstyle
    • 4.1. Atonement Rotation (DPS Priority)
    • 4.2. Raid Healing
    • 4.3. Dungeon Healing
    • 4.4. Atonement Applicators
  • 5. Cooldown Usage
  • 6. ChangeLog
• +Spell Summary
  • 1. Introduction
  • 2. Main Resource
  • 3. Basic Abilities
    • 3.1. Atonement
    • 3.2. Healing Spells
    • 3.3. Utility
  • 4. Cooldowns
  • 5. ChangeLog
• +Builds and Talents
  • 1. Talent Choices
  • 2. Tier 1 (Level 15) Talents
  • 3. Tier 2 (Level 30) Talents
  • 4. Tier 3 (Level 45) Talents
  • 5. Tier 4 (Level 60) Talents
  • 6. Tier 5 (Level 75) Talents
  • 7. Tier 6 (Level 90) Talents
  • 8. Tier 7 (Level 100) Talents
  • 9. ChangeLog
• +Artifact Traits and Relics
  • 1. Artifact Progression
  • 2. Relic Choice
  • 3. ChangeLog
• +Netherlight Crucible Relic Paths
  • 1. General Optimization Advice
  • 2. Tier 2 Upgrade Priority
  • 3. Tier 3 Upgrade Priority
  • 4. ChangeLog
• +Rotation, Cooldowns, and Abilities
  • 1. Rotation
    • 1.1. DPS Rotation / Atonement
    • 1.2. Raid Healing
    • 1.3. Dungeon Healing
    • 1.4. Atonement Applicators
  • 2. Cooldown Usage
  • 3. Optional Read: Mastering Your Discipline Priest
    • 3.1. Atonement
    • 3.2. Absorption Effects
    • 3.3. Penance
    • 3.4. More on Cooldowns
      • 3.4.1. Light's Wrath
      • 3.4.2. Tier 1 Talents
      • 3.4.3. Tier 4 Talents
      • 3.4.4. Tier 5 Talents
      • 3.4.5. Tier 6 Talents
      • 3.4.6. Tier 7 Talents
  • 4. ChangeLog
• +Stat Priority
  • 1. Basics
  • 2. Getting a Better Understanding
  • 3. ChangeLog
• +Gems, Enchants, and Consumables
  • 1. Gems
  • 2. Enchants
  • 3. Consumables
  • 4. ChangeLog
• +Macros and Addons
  • 1. Macros
    • 1.1. Generic Macros for Priests
      • 1.1.1. Leap of Faith Mouseover Macro
    • 1.2. Specific Macros for Discipline Priests
      • 1.2.1. Shadow Word: Pain Macro
  • 2. Addons
    • 2.1. Generic Addons for Priests
      • 2.1.1. ElvUI
      • 2.1.2. Boss Mods: Deadly Boss Mods or Bigwigs
      • 2.1.3. GTFO
      • 2.1.4. Parrot or Mik's Scrolling Battle Text
      • 2.1.5. Weak Auras
      • 2.1.6. Recount / Skada / Details!
    • 2.2. Specific Addons for Discipline Priests
  • 3. ChangeLog
• +Gear, Legendaries, and Best in Slot
  • 1. Best in Slot List
  • 2. Trinket Recommendations
  • 3. Tier 20 Set Bonuses
  • 4. Legendary Items
  • 5. Loot Competition
  • 6. ChangeLog

This page is intended for players who are new to the game or class, have no intentions of raiding Mythic difficulty, or simply want a more straightforward way to play their specialisation without being overwhelmed by the numerous subtleties and active abilities that need to be taken into consideration for optimal play.

1. The Basics

Discipline Priests rely on healing players through dealing damage (through Atonement), but also has traditional heals and absorption spells. Healing through dealing damage allows them to contribute to the raid's DPS while still performing well as a healer. Discipline Priests provide the greatest burst healing in the game, and they are also able to contribute DPS to the raid.

2. Talent Choice

These are currently the best talent choices as a Discipline Priest. Note that some of the suggestions sacrifice a bit of performance for ease of use, but overall the difference is not great. Consult the detailed talents page for the complete picture.

• Level 15: Twist of Fate
• Level 30: Angelic Feather
• Level 45: completely situational / irrelevant
• Level 60: Shield Discipline
• Level 75: Sanctuary
• Level 90: Purge the Wicked
• Level 100: Evangelism

3. Stat Choice

Currently, you will want to prioritise secondary stats as follows:

1. Haste;
2. Critical Strike = Mastery;
3. Versatility.

4. Basic Playstyle

Discipline Priests rely on applying Atonement and then dealing damage in order to heal through Atonement.

4.1. Atonement Rotation (DPS Priority)

The ideal rotation for dealing damage in order to generate Atonement healing is as follows.

1. Maintain Shadow Word: Pain (or Purge the Wicked, if you have taken this talent) on the target.
2. Use Schism on cooldown (if you have taken this talent).
3. Use Penance on cooldown.
4. Use Power Word: Solace on cooldown (if you have taken this talent).
5. Use Smite as a filler.

4.2. Raid Healing

For healing damage on multiple raid members at once, your primary tool is Atonement. Proactively place Atonement on the required players through the use of such spells as Plea, Power Word: Radiance, Power Word: Shield, or Shadow Mend, so that when the damage starts coming in, you can already begin healing them through dealing damage.

If you must heal a rather low number of players or if the damage taken is low, then you should use Power Word: Shield and Plea to apply and maintain Atonement on them, and, if needed, use Shadow Mend to prevent someone from dying. Throughout this time, you should continue to DPS.

If the number of players you have to heal or the damage received are high, then you should use the following rotation.

1. Apply around 5 Atonement buffs (using Plea and Power Word: Shield).
2. Use Power Word: Radiance twice about 4-5 seconds before the damage occurs.
3. Use Evangelism.
4. Use Light's Wrath or Shadowfiend/ Mindbender.
5. Use Penance.
6. Keep using Smite until Atonement buffs begin to expire.

Depending on your talent choice, you will also supplement your AoE healing with Halo or Divine Star.

4.3. Dungeon Healing

Healing in a dungeon relies on Atonement when the damage amounts are low to medium. For higher amounts of damage, you will need to make use of additional spells.

• low to medium damage: you should maintain Atonement on the target through using Power Word: Shield on cooldown and simply perform your DPS rotation. This should provide enough healing to keep the target alive. Using Power Word: Shield this way should ensure that Atonement is always up on the target, but if it somehow expires, use Plea or Shadow Mend to re-apply it.
• high damage: Atonement healing will no longer suffice. In addition to casting Power Word: Shield on cooldown, you should spam Shadow Mend.

In case of group-wide damage, you should use Power Word: Radiance to quickly apply 5 Atonements.

4.4. Atonement Applicators

Plea is best used in situations when you are on the move or there is low or moderate damage going out. On the other hand, Shadow Mend can be a great way to spot heal and apply Atonement in situations where you have the time to stop moving in order to cast it and when the death of the target is imminent.

You should aim to maintain around 5 Atonement buffs active at any given time, as regularly applying and maintaining more will strain your Mana consumption.

5. Cooldown Usage

• Pain Suppression should be used on a tank, before a damage spike. Alternatively, it can be used on a raid member who is targeted by a very damaging ability.
• Power Word: Barrier should be used to mitigate intense AoE damage; it requires the raid to be stacked in one place. Note that the Barrier for the Devoted artifact trait causes targets inside your Barrier to receive 100% extra Atonement healing.
• Shadowfiend should be used for additional DPS (and therefore Atonement healing) when this is needed.
• Rapture should be used when you anticipate a large amount of AoE damage. This allows you to pre-shield a large number of targets, which also serves to set up Atonement on them for subsequent healing.
• Light's Wrath (your Artifact ability) should be used when there is high raid damage you need to heal (provided that you have many Atonement buffs active; 12+ is recommended). Alternatively, in case your raid is in dire need of extra damage, you could use it offensively.
• Fade reduces the damage you take (provided you have the Vestments of Discipline trait), and should be used as often as needed.

About Our Reviewer

This guide has been reviewed and approved by Mend, admin and editor at Focused Will (Discord and Blog for healing Priests). You can also follow Mend on Twitter.

6. ChangeLog

+ show all entries - show only 10 entries

• 12 Jun. 2017: Updated the page to keep it in line with the various changes made to the other parts of the guide.
• 17 Apr. 2017: Changed the tier 5 talent recommendation to Contrition.
• 10 Jan. 2017: Checked and confirmed for Patch 7.1.5.
• 18 Dec. 2016: Added easy mode page.