Shadow Priest DPS Spell Summary in Battle for Azeroth (BfA) 8.0.1
Table of Contents
General Information
On this page, we list the spells that you will often use as a Shadow Priest.
The other pages of our Shadow Priest guide can be accessed from the table of contents on the right.
About Our Author
This guide has been written by Isentropy, top Shadow Priest and one of the main theorycrafters of the spec over at Warcraft Priests. He currently raids in Echoes.
1. Shadow Priest Spell Summary
If you are new to Shadow, this is a great place to start to get an understanding of how the spec works. On this page we will discuss what abilities you have, what they are used for within the specialisation, how they interact with each other and also with important cooldowns. If you already have experience with Shadow and are comfortable with it in Legion, it is recommended you skip this section and move on to the rest of the guide.
2. Main Resource for Shadow Priest
Insanity is your primary resource as a Shadow Priest. All of our offensive
abilities generate Insanity. The goal is to generate 90 Insanity (60 Insanity
with the 
Legacy of the Void talent) in order to enter
Voidform, at which point you go into an enhanced state during which
your Insanity is progressively drained and if you run out of Insanity, Voidform
ends. Once you drop out of Voidform you will want to build Insanity again like
before and then go back into Voidform, repeating the process. Insanity
management is a crucial part of playing a Shadow Priest.
Mana is your secondary resource as a Shadow Priest. Most of our utility spells cost Mana to use, though managing Mana attentively is generally not required.
3. Basic Abilities for Shadow Priest
These are your core skills that are available regardless of talents, and form the core gameplay of the specialization.
Void Eruption has a 2.5-second cast time (reduced by Haste), at
the end of which you enter Voidform. Void Eruption also deals a
big burst of damage to all enemies within 10 yards of your target. The Shadow
rotation is altered while you are inside of Voidform, and this is the part of
the gameplay that is the most complex. During Voidform, the cooldown of
Mind Blast is reduced by 1.5 seconds, and you gain 0.5% Haste per
second (multiplicatively).
Void Bolt is an ability that replaces Void Eruption
while Voidform is active. It is instant cast and it deals damage
to the target, adding 3 seconds to the existing durations of
Shadow Word: Pain and 
Vampiric Touch to the target and all
nearby targets, on top of also generating Insanity. This is generally one of
the most important spells for Shadow when in Voidform and is ideally
cast on cooldown.
Shadow Word: Pain is one of your two DoTs. It deals Shadow damage
to the target over time, and generates Insanity on application.
Vampiric Touch is one of your two DoTs. It deals Shadow damage to
the target over time, heals you for 50% of the damage dealt, and generates
Insanity on application.
Mind Blast deals damage to a single target, which has a
7.5-second cooldown, affected by Haste, and which generates a high amount
of Insanity. It is generally one of your highest priority spells. Its cooldown
is also reduced once you go into Voidform.
Mind Flay is a channeled spell that deals Shadow damage to the
target and slows their movement speed by 50%. It generates Insanity, has
no cooldown, and is used as a filler throughout your rotation.
Mind Sear is a channeled spell that deals Shadow damage to your
target and all other targets within 10 yards. It generates Insanity per target
hit and serves as the replacement of Mind Flay in the rotation if
there are 3 or more targets. It is also our only baseline on demand AoE
spell.
4. DPS Cooldowns for Shadow Priest
Shadowfiend has a 3-minute cooldown and it summons a shadowy
fiend that attacks your target for 12 seconds. It is a fairly decent increase
in DPS when used, and is considered an offensive cooldown. Ideally it should
be paired with high Haste buffs such as high Voidform stacks and
Bloodlust.
5. Utility Spells for Shadow Priest
Vampiric Embrace heals allies based on 85% of the single-target
damage you do on a 2-minute cooldown. This is particularly useful in solo
or up to 5-man content, but can also be useful for raids.
Mass Dispel removes all harmful Magic effects on up to 5 allies, and
1 beneficial Magic effect on up to 5 enemies on a 45-second cooldown. This is
situationally very useful, particularly in dungeons. It does cost a lot of
mana and has a fairly lengthy cooldown, however.
Dispel Magic removes a beneficial Magic effect from an enemy each
time you cast it. Very useful tool next to Mass Dispel, particularly
in dungeons.
Purify Disease removes all Disease effects from friendly targets.
This is generally niche in its use, but sees use in dungeons from time to time
which still makes it a valuable addition.
Shadow Mend allows you to heal a friendly target. Mostly useful
to sustain yourself when needed, but can also be used when off-healing is
needed. The DoT it leaves behind on targets is negligible.
Power Word: Shield allows you to shield a friendly target. This is
primarily used on yourself when you need to mitigate damage, but can also
be used on other friendly targets.
Dispersion is your only baseline defensive spell as Shadow, reducing
all damage taken by 60% but also preventing you from casting any spells for its
duration. Dispersion has a 2-minute cooldown. It also stops your Insanity from
draining as long as you are dispersed. It is good enough to survive big hits
but is still on the weaker side as a defensive due to the downside of not
allowing you to cast during it.
Silence allows you to prevent a target from casting for 4 seconds
on a 45-second cooldown. If the target is immune to silence effects, it also
works as a standard interrupt if you use it on a target while it is casting.
Psychic Scream fears up to 5 enemies close to you for 8 seconds on
a 1-minute cooldown. Primarily useful to get enemies off you when you are alone.
Leap of Faith pulls a friendly party or raid member toward you. It
has a 1.5-minute cooldown.
Mind Control allows you to take control of an enemy target for 30
seconds. This does not work on Demonic, Mechanical or Undead targets.
Shackle Undead allows you to prevent an Undead target from taking
any actions for 50 seconds. This effect breaks upon any damage.
6. Changelog
- 30 Aug. 2018: Added a section regarding baseline utility Shadow has.
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