Shadow Priest DPS Spec, Builds, and Talents — Dragonflight 10.2
On this page, you will find out the best talents for each tier for your Shadow Priest in World of Warcraft — Dragonflight 10.2. We also have default talent lists for various types of content, such as raiding or Mythic+. If you play with Warmode on, we have your PvP talents covered as well.
If you were looking for WotLK Classic content, please refer to our WotLK Classic Shadow Priest talents.
Best Dragonflight Talents for Shadow Priest
While optimizing talents on a contextual basis is the highly recommended method of setting up your build, the Talent builds listed below work great for specific purposes.
Note that these builds are generic recommendations for various content. For more specific recommendations for the Raid and Mythic+ in Season 3, check out the dedicated pages below.
The video version of this guide is also available if you would like to watch along as I talk about Shadow Priest.
If you want an overview and breakdown of every Talent, check out the Spell Summary first to help navigate your build choices.
Best Talents for Shadow Priest
Single Target Build for Shadow Priest
This build is the default single target build for Shadow, with
an option to use either Mind Spike or
Mind Flay
depending on your preference. These options are extremely close
together.
Options with this build:
Mind Flay version: Drop
Mind Spike and
Mind Melt. Put these points into
Dark Evangelism and
Voidtouched.
Distorted Reality is the preferred choice with this build, beating out
Mind's Eye in all scenarios, but they are very close if you prefer Mind's Eye instead.
- You can swap points between
Mind Devourer and
Dark Evangelism. Either option performs well.
Use the code below to directly import the version with Mind Flay.
- BIQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAIQEBAAAAAAAAAAAAIJpFkIl0ikERSSBShkkEpRgICpItQSQBC
Be sure to make use of the 'Copy Export String' button to import the build directly into your game!
Single Target + Shadow Crash Build for Shadow Priest
Sometimes you want as much single target as possible while taking
Shadow Crash. This can be good for Raid encounters with mostly single
target but with adds or for Mythic+ dungeons with smaller pulls on
Tyrannical.
If you are looking for a more generic Raid build that can handle a wider variety of encounters, I would suggest starting here. You take a slight dip in single target to grab more cleave talents to handle more situations like regular add spawns.
Options with this build:
Mind Flay version: Drop
Mind Spike,
Mind Melt, and one point of
Mind Devourer. Put these points into
Dark Evangelism and
Voidtouched.
- You can swap points between
Mind Devourer and
Dark Evangelism. Either option performs well.
Be sure to make use of the 'Copy Export String' button to import the build directly into your game!
3 Target Council Build for Shadow Priest
If you are looking to optimize for 3-target cleave, start with this build. This is particularly optimized for a 3-target fight where only 2 of the targets are stacked, and the third is spread out to mimic the council fight inside of Amirdrassil.
If you would like to run a version with Mind Flay instead you can
simply drop
Mind Spike,
Mind Melt, and
Phantasmal Pathogen
and swap these for
Dark Evangelism,
Voidtouched, and
one point of
Mind Devourer. This build puts a bit more emphasis on our
DoTs rather than relying on casting our hard casted fillers. These builds are
extremely close together, and you should pick the one you prefer.
Use the code below to directly import the version with Mind Flay.
- BIQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAkAJOAAAAAAAAAAAAAgkkWCJJFtIJRSkUg0IJJRaEIiQKSLkEUgA
If you are still using the Season 2 4-piece set bonus, you can use this version with
Void Eruption and
Idol of Yogg-Saron.
- BIQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAECCBAAAAAAAAAAAAIOQaSkk0ISSSSkUg0IJJRaEIiQKSLkEUQC
Be sure to make use of the 'Copy Export String' button to import the build directly into your game!
Mythic+ Build for Shadow Priest
This build aims to pick up the largest gains for Mythic+ damage
possible without giving up too much single target. This build is very
similar to the single target build because our AoE damage comes from our
single target. The notable change is using a triple Idol build with
Idol of N'Zoth in addition to
Idol of Y'Shaarj and
Idol of C'Thun. I also suggest starting with
Distorted Reality if you do not want the increased priority
target damage, but
Mind's Eye is also very competitive and can
be a better damage pattern for pushing higher keys.
Options with this build:
- If you are looking to take
Mental Fortitude drop a point from either
Maddening Touch or
Dark Evangelism.
Distorted Reality and
Mind's Eye are extremely close together, feel free to use whichever you prefer. I would suggest starting with Distorted Reality until you get more comfortable with the spec. When swapping between these the build stays exactly the same.
-
- More Single Target damage?
Mastermind
- More AoE/Overall damage?
Screams of the Void
- More Single Target damage?
- If you prefer
Mind Flay just drop
Mind Spike and
Mind Melt to pick up
Voidtouched and
Mental Decay.
- You can flex 4-6 points with this build depending on if you want more
AoE, Overall, or Single Target. Put four points into any of the following:
Dark Evangelism - Overall
Maddening Touch - AoE
Mind Devourer - Overall
Phantasmal Pathogen - Single Target
Mental Decay - Single Target
Mental Fortitude - Defensive
Silence - Utility (only in coordinated groups should you consider dropping this)
The above points are flex points. You will spend 4-6 points on any of the above choices. All of these are within small percentages of each other in the various types of content; it is just about where you want to specialize the last few percent of your DPS profile.
This build is designed for keystones that most players are completing.
If you are interested in high-level push keystone optimizations, you likely
will want to run a build that uses Void Eruption. Check out the dedicated
Mythic+ page to learn more about optimizing builds at all levels.
If you want specific advice for Mythic+, including other talent builds, check out the dedicated page below.
Be sure to make use of the 'Copy Export String' button to import the build directly into your game!
Talent Explanations for Shadow Priests
Note that we do not explain EVERY Talent in the tree on this page. We only explain Talents that are part of our optimal builds for single-target and AoE. For full details and explanations of every Talent, please visit our Spells page via the button below.
Class Talents
Row 1-4
![]() | Small Heal Over Time spell that can be useful to proc ![]() |
![]() | Healing spell that spreads across allies that can be useful to proc ![]() |
![]() | Adds to our utility letting us dispel diseases. Particularly useful in certain Mythic+ dungeons. |
![]() | Turns ![]() |
![]() | One of our core mobility spells. |
![]() | Niche talent that extends ![]() |
![]() | Builds upon our execute damage by extending the value of ![]() |
![]() | Gives us a tiny bit of magical defensive value. |
![]() | Allows you to quickly get an ally out of an otherwise deadly position. |
![]() | One of the hard crown control abilities we have, but only works against Undead enemies. Does work with ![]() |
![]() | Version of ![]() |
Row 5-7
![]() | Powerful dispel utility that has a wide range of use, particularly in Mythic+. |
![]() | One of our core damage cooldowns that gives us a large amount of haste. |
![]() | Group healing ability that can do quite a lot of healing if used at the right time. |
![]() | Required extension of ![]() |
![]() | Main movement ability and gives you an additional option paired with ![]() |
![]() | Extends ![]() |
![]() | Main execute mechanic for the class that allows us to do slightly more damage at the end of an encounter. |
![]() | Small bump to ![]() |
Row 8-10
![]() | Allows you to cast ![]() |
![]() ![]() | Small cooldown spells that mostly contribute to our damage via the Insanity provided less so the damage dealt. Double as a small healing cooldown as well. |
![]() | Transforms ![]() |
![]() | Small cooldown spell that deals a small amount of damage and generates some Insanity. |
![]() | Increases the effectiveness of ![]() |
![]() | Reduces the cooldown of ![]() ![]() |
![]() | Large single-target heal that can easily save your life or an allies if used well. |
![]() | Somewhat random healing effect added to ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Spec Talents
Row 1-4
![]() | Sole Insanity spender that deals damage over time on your target. Damage does roll over on subsequent casts, but the duration only increases by the time till the next tick on the original DoT. |
![]() | Main defensive ability that also doubles as a movement cooldown should you really need it. |
![]() | Adds a gameplay loop into our kit around these apparitions that can make them a powerful damage source if you build around them. |
![]() | Only Interrupt ability for Priests that the other specs do not have access to. |
![]() | Good passive defensive Talent that is critical for high damage taken encounters. |
![]() | Required Talent that reduces the amount of time spent casting DoT spells considerably. |
![]() | Allows you to weave in spells more easily while ![]() |
![]() | One of our AoE components that extends our single target spells (including ![]() ![]() |
![]() | Enhances our fillers to give a gameplay loop with spending Insanity on ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Row 5-7
![]() ![]() | One of our main cooldown abilities that lets you choose a sort of playstyle of the spec. This choice has some impacts on other talents chosen, particularly in the bottom section of the spec tree. |
![]() | Extends our filler spells to increase the duration of ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() | Makes ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() | One of the proc-based spells we have in our kit that gives you an instant cast ![]() |
![]() | Adds to your cooldown of choice by giving it a small boost to burst at the start of the cooldown. It does not actually increase the Critical Strike chance on your character stat sheet; only buffs specific spells hidden from the user. |
![]() | Additional proc based spell that can make ![]() |
![]() ![]() | Allows you to choose if you want to press ![]() ![]() |
Row 8-10
![]() | Replaces ![]() |
![]() | Gives you another proc into the kit that gives you more procs as you get haste that makes ![]() |
![]() | Medium-sized cooldown spell that deals more damage the more haste you have during a fixed channel size. This does generate a moderate amount of Insanity and immediately triggers an ![]() |
![]() | Transforms ![]() |
![]() | Massive increase to priority and single target damage for ![]() ![]() |
![]() | Adds an extra effect every time you summon ![]() |
![]() | Gives you another AoE component in the kit that is capped at 4 enemies and then deals reduced damage beyond 5 targets hit for every tick. |
![]() | Capstone talent that builds off of ![]() ![]() |
![]() | Versatile Talent that gives you a proc of Insanity in the form of a Void Tendril (Single Target) or Void Lasher (AoE). When fighting 3 or more targets (around the one that procced the spell), you will proc the AoE Void Lasher instead of the Void Tendril. Note that the Insanity generation does not change based on which tendril procs. |
Several of our talents actively change your rotation, specifically your priority in given situations. You can find out more in the rotation section below.
Priest Class Talent Pathing
This section is meant to give more context to choices in our talent tree. This section will not cover every Talent but rather give you reasons and answers for how to make a build.
Top Section Overview (Rows 1-4)
In our class tree, our goal is first to pick up all the damage in the tree, which is mainly concentrated on the right-hand side. Your standard build will start you out with:
Shadow Word: Death and
Shadowfiend for free.
- Start off with
Death and Madness and either version of
Mind Control or
Dominate Mind.
- Grab your movement ability by getting
Dispel Magic,
Improved Flash Heal, and
Angelic Feather.
From there, you can choose where to spend your last few points. For
most content, I would suggest grabbing
Purify Disease and
From Darkness Comes Light for better off
healing. After this, you will want to
get
Leap of Faith,
Shackle Undead, or
Void Tendrils so
that you can get
Power Infusion in the
next section. As soon as the next section unlocks, you will want to spend points
in that first before considering circling back.
Middle Section Overview (Rows 5-7)
Assuming you unlocked the section appropriately, you want to straight away pick up the following to max out your damage:
Power Infusion and
Twins of the Sun Priestess
Twist of Fate
Throes of Pain (note you will need to pick something else to path here)
To fill out this section, you will most likely pick up
Vampiric Embrace and
San'layn to get to
Throes of Pain, but you have options. Other good things to note are
grabbing more movement with
Body and Soul and a defensive talent with
Tithe Evasion. In this
section, you have quite a lot
of freedom of what to pick, and you can even come back to the top section to
grab more off-healing if you
want that. You might also want to grab
Mass Dispel if you can use this well.
Note: you will want to spend 2 points in Unwavering Will if you plan
on getting
Angel's Mercy.
Bottom Section Overview (Rows 8-10)
For the bottom section of our class tree, we have some focused talents around
Mindgames you will want for damage,
but you still have lots of choices around that. Here is the base you will want
to take in all content:
Mindgames,
Manipulation, and
Shattered Perceptions
Divine Star or
Halo. Generally speaking, Halo will be your default, but using Divine Star in open world or dungeon content can be a good alternative.
- Consider adding
Crystalline Reflection if you find yourself casting
Power Word: Shield often, and the fight has lots of raid-wide damage.
If you have followed the suggestions to this point, you now have lots of points left over to fill out your tree. This is where you can build your Priest the way you need for what you want to do, here are some common paths to consider:
- Defensive:
Angel's Mercy,
Light's Inspiration, and
Translucent Image
- Off-Healing:
Binding Heals,
Surge of Light, and
Power Word: Life
- Utility:
Void Shift
Essence Devourer anytime you are using
Mindbender and want some more off-healing.
Shadow Priest Spec Talent Pathing
Moving on to the Shadow Priest spec tree, we can navigate some interesting choices here, all framed with how you want to do your damage.
With Psychic Link, our damage pattern is identical in almost any
situation since our single target damage effectively is our AoE damage.
Top Section Overview (Rows 1-4)
This is the utility section of the tree where picking up all the damage you need, generally speaking, is relatively easy. Start your build off like so:
Devouring Plague for free.
Shadowy Apparitions,
Misery,
Thought Harvester, and
Surge of Insanity.
- Pick up
Dispersion and
Silence for your standard utility.
- Pick up
Psychic Link anytime you fight more than one target.
- On pure single target, you can fill with any one of the following:
Intangibility,
Mental Fortitude,
Last Word, or
Psychic Horror. In most cases, I would default to Mental Fortitude.
Middle Section Overview (Rows 5-7)
In this section of the tree, you will fill out the base part of your kit with some definition. Before going forward, it is important to start considering where you want to end your tree to make sure you pick things that all work together well.
- First off, you need to pick your cooldown, either
Void Eruption or
Dark Ascension. See the section below to help make this choice.
- Regardless of your choice of cooldown, the following abilities make sense in
just about every single build, and I would suggest starting with them:
Ancient Madness,
Shadowy Insight,
Mind Spike, and
Mind Melt.
- Always pick either
Mind's Eye for more priority target, or
Distorted Reality as the default option.
- When facing more than 2 mobs, I would strongly suggest adding
Shadow Crash to make DoT management easier.
- Fill out the remaining points before the final
section.
Mental Decay,
Phantasmal Pathogen, and
Dark Evangelism are good for a single target.
Maddening Touch and
Mind Devourer are good mixed damage options.
Void Eruption Versus Dark Ascension
The major choice you need to make in this section is which cooldown to
select. Unfortunately, these cooldowns do not have a clear definition.
Generally, they will come down to numbers rather than a specific playstyle that
one is better at compared to the other. That being said Void Eruption
does have some amount of identity, specifically being great for generating more
Shadowy Apparitions and an extra instant cast for movement with
Void Bolt. With this understanding, you effectively end up taking
Dark Ascension whenever Voidform does not make sense, rather than
wanting to take it for a specific reason. For most content, you will find
Dark Ascension to be more useful when you need damage every minute, instead
of the 2-minute cadence of Void Eruption.
Dark Ascension does have some synergy with
Mindbender
and
Idol of Y'Shaarj builds since they line up their cooldowns together,
and most builds utilize this combo for Season 3.
Bottom Section Overview (Rows 8-10)
For the final section of talents, you must decide your end goals. At level 70, you can comfortably get two or even three Idol talents to finish your build. Generally, builds utilizing two or three Idol talents are better than those with zero or one. While there are many different combinations of Idols, I will only be going over the more common ones.
Idol of Y'Shaarj +
Idol of C'Thun
Mindbender,
Inescapable Torment,
Idol of Y'Shaarj,
Void Torrent,
Insidious Ire,
Idol of C'Thun,
Deathspeaker and
Mastermind.
- Strengths: Best Single Target
- This is our base build we use for almost everything.
Idol of Y'Shaarj +
Idol of N'Zoth +
Idol of C'Thun
Mindbender,
Inescapable Torment,
Idol of Y'Shaarj,
Deathspeaker,
Screams of the Void,
Idol of N'Zoth,
Void Torrent,
Malediction and
Idol of C'Thun.
- Strengths: Great for Multi-Target and AoE
- Builds off the standard build to add more AoE with
Idol of N'Zoth.
PvP Talents (War Mode) for Shadow Priest
In the open world, you can go into "War Mode." Enabling War Mode provides the following benefits:
- PvP talents enabled in the outdoor world.
- 10%+ increase in World Quest rewards at maximum level.
- 10%+ more experience gained while leveling.
- Earn Conquest Points, which can reward gear every week.
With the benefits of enabling War Mode for leveling and PvE content, it is recommended enabling the feature to maximize your leveling and rewards at maximum level. However, you will make yourself available for open-world PvP, and the possibility of being "ganked" while leveling or doing World Quests exists.
Shadow Priest War Mode Talents
In this section, we will rank the PvP talents best for leveling and doing solo / small group PvE content. Below is a ranking of Shadow Priest-specific PvE talents.
Shadow Priest PvP Talents
Catharsis is a great boost to damage in the open world if you find yourself in solo content or 1v1s.
Driven to Madness gives you your cooldown back faster for better uptime.
Psyfiend can be a nice talent if you are okay with another active ability; otherwise,
Void Volley is a good backup.
Changelog
- 17 Nov. 2023: Update builds for 3 target and Mythic+ to be more streamlined.
- 14 Nov. 2023: Add Mind Flay build option to the Single Target + Shadow Crash build.
- 06 Nov. 2023: Update talent builds and suggestions for Patch 10.2 and Season 3.
- 04 Sep. 2023: Reorganize headers to be more readable and move talent spell breakdown.
- 18 Aug. 2023: Correct typo in the description for the Triple Idol Dark Ascension build.
- 13 Aug. 2023: Clarify note on Triple Idol setups in high keys and update video link.
- 08 Aug. 2023: Fix issue where Dark Ascension Single Target build was not using Distorted Reality.
- 07 Aug. 2023: Add new builds from the recent hotfixes.
- 31 Jul. 2023: Swap to Distorted Reality by default for the Dark Ascension ST build.
- 25 Jul. 2023: Add Dark Ascension + Shadow Crash build.
- 23 Jul. 2023: Reviewed from the recent hotfixes. Noted difference in single target builds.
- 17 Jul. 2023: Refactor to use new talent layout.
- 10 Jul. 2023: Update talent strings for Patch 10.1.5.
- 28 Jun. 2023: Swap out Malediction for Deathspeaker on the Dark Ascension build.
- 27 Jun. 2023: Add new talent builds from the recent hotfixes.
- 23 Jun. 2023: Adjust notes about Distorted Reality.
- 02 May 2023: Small caveat to the flex points
- 01 May 2023: Update talent builds for the 10.1.0 rework.
- 20 Mar. 2023: Reviewed for Patch 10.0.7.
- 04 Feb. 2023: Update 2-target build and add a note about VF on single target.
- 24 Jan. 2023: Update talent builds for Patch 10.0.5.
- 11 Jan. 2023: Update Mythic+ talent builds from the recent changes.
- 23 Dec. 2022: Update talent builds to account for Screams of the Void bug.
- 13 Dec. 2022: Add alternate ST build that offers more burst.
- 11 Dec. 2022: Updated for Dragonflight Season 1.
- 28 Nov. 2022: Updated for Dragonflight launch.
- 31 Oct. 2022: Updatedd talent builds to no longer suggest Psychic Link and changed default Mythic+ build to Yogg-Saron.
- 26 Oct. 2022: Updated talent builds from recent bug finding for Screams of the Void.
- 25 Oct. 2022: Updated for Dragonflight pre-patch.
More Priest Guides
Guides from Other Classes
This guide has been written by Publik, Shadow Priest theorycrafter and SimC dev at Warcraft Priests. He currently raids in The Exiled on Arthas-US.
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