Shadow Priest PvP Guide (Dragonflight 10.2.5)

Last updated on Jan 15, 2024 at 15:00 by Mysticall 15 comments
General Information

This guide will walk you through everything you need to know to play Shadow Priest in a PvP environment. The guide will cover everything from talent choices, PvP talents, gameplay and rotation, and useful racial bonuses. It is most applicable to Arena content, but most talents and racial bonuses will work in Rated Battlegrounds and skirmishes.

If you were looking for TBC Classic content, please refer to our TBC Priest PvP guide.

1.

Shadow Priests in the Current Meta

Shadow Priests are a force to be reckoned with. What Shadow Priests lack in defensives, they make up for in damage. If left unchecked, a Shadow Priest can melt an entire team in seconds. Not only do they have strong single-target damage, they have utility. Spells like Mass Dispel Icon Mass Dispel and Power Word: Shield Icon Power Word: Shield make Shadow Priests a very versatile caster.

2.

Shadow Priest Strengths and Weaknesses

Strengths icon Strengths
  • +Strong spread damage
  • +Dispel Magic Icon Dispel Magic and Mass Dispel Icon Mass Dispel are crucial
  • +High consistent damage
Weaknesses icon Weaknesses
  • -No mobility
  • -Struggle to cast against melee teams
  • -Rely on teammates to stay alive
3.

Notable 10.2. Changes

  • Power Infusion Icon Power Infusion Haste reduced to 20% (was 25%) and duration reduced to 15 seconds (was 20 seconds).
  • Multiple damage buffs:
    • Mind Flay Icon Mind Flay damage increased by 10%.
    • Mind Flay: Insanity Icon Mind Flay: Insanity damage increased by 30%.
  • Improved Mass Dispel Icon Improved Mass Dispel is now a PvP talent and reduces the cooldown of Mass Dispel Icon Mass Dispel by 60 seconds.
  • Focused Will Icon Focused Will now reduces physical damage taken by 15% and magic damage taken by 5% (was all damage by 10%). This is great for staying alive versus melee.
4.

Notable 10.1.5 Changes

  • New Talent: Benevolence Icon Benevolence - Increases the healing of your spells by 3%.
  • Power Word: Life Icon Power Word: Life now shares a choice node with Benevolence Icon Benevolence.
  • There is now a connection between Light's Inspiration Icon Light's Inspiration and Benevolence/Power Word: Life.
  • Void Shift Icon Void Shift now shares a choice node with Essence Devourer Icon Essence Devourer.
  • Mana pool at level 70 increased to 250,000 (was 50,000)
  • Mana regeneration increased by 150%.
  • Flash Heal Icon Flash Heal now costs 10% of base mana (was 5%).
  • Power Word: Shield Icon Power Word: Shield now costs 10% of base Mana (was 5%).
  • Dispel Magic Icon Dispel Magic now costs 14% of base mana (was 2%).
  • Mass Dispel Icon Mass Dispel now costs 20% of base mana (was 11%).
  • Renew Icon Renew now costs 4% of base mana (was 1.8%).
  • Prayer of Mending Icon Prayer of Mending now costs 4% of base mana (was 2%).
  • Divine Star Icon Divine Star now costs 2% of base mana (was 0.5%).
  • Halo Icon Halo now costs 4% of base mana (was 1%).
  • Power Word: Life Icon Power Word: Life now costs 4% of base mana (was 0.5%).
5.

Changelog

  • 15 Jan. 2024 (races): Reviewed for Patch 10.2.5.
  • 15 Jan. 2024 (macros): Reviewed for Patch 10.2.5.
  • 15 Jan. 2024 (playstyle): Reviewed for Patch 10.2.5.
  • 15 Jan. 2024 (comps): Reviewed for Patch 10.2.5.
  • 15 Jan. 2024 (gear): Reviewed for Patch 10.2.5.
  • 15 Jan. 2024 (talents): Reviewed for Patch 10.2.5.
  • 15 Jan. 2024 (this page): Reviewed for Patch 10.2.5.
  • 15 Jan. 2024 (this page): Reviewed for Patch 10.2.5.
  • 06 Nov. 2023 (races): Reviewed for Patch 10.2.
  • 06 Nov. 2023 (macros): Reviewed for Patch 10.2.
  • 06 Nov. 2023 (playstyle): Reviewed for Patch 10.2.
  • 06 Nov. 2023 (comps): Reviewed for Patch 10.2.
  • 06 Nov. 2023 (gear): Updated for Patch 10.2.
    • Updated Recommended gear.
    • Updated Tier Set bonuses.
  • 06 Nov. 2023 (talents): Updated for Patch 10.2.
    • Updated Recommended talents.
  • 06 Nov. 2023 (this page): Updated for Patch 10.2.
  • 06 Nov. 2023 (this page): Updated for Patch 10.2.
  • 04 Sep. 2023 (races): Reviewed for Patch 10.1.7.
  • 04 Sep. 2023 (macros): Reviewed for Patch 10.1.7.
  • 04 Sep. 2023 (playstyle): Reviewed for Patch 10.1.7.
  • 04 Sep. 2023 (comps): Reviewed for Patch 10.1.7.
  • 04 Sep. 2023 (gear): Reviewed for Patch 10.1.7.
  • 04 Sep. 2023 (talents): Reviewed for Patch 10.1.7.
  • 04 Sep. 2023 (this page): Updated for Patch 10.1.7
  • 04 Sep. 2023 (this page): Updated for Patch 10.1.7
  • 10 Jul. 2023 (races): Reviewed for Patch 10.1.5.
  • 10 Jul. 2023 (macros): Reviewed for Patch 10.1.5.
  • 10 Jul. 2023 (playstyle): Reviewed for Patch 10.1.5.
  • 10 Jul. 2023 (comps): Updated for Patch 10.1.5.
    • Updated Best 3v3 Team Compositions.
  • 10 Jul. 2023 (gear): Updated for Patch 10.1.5.
    • Updated Recommended Gear.
    • Added Embellishments section.
    • Updated Gems and Enchants section.
  • 10 Jul. 2023 (talents): Updated for Patch 10.1.5
    • Updated Recommended Talents.
    • Updated PvP Talents.
  • 10 Jul. 2023 (this page): Updated for Patch 10.1.5.
  • 10 Jul. 2023 (this page): Updated for Patch 10.1.5.
  • 21 May 2023 (playstyle): Removed old spells.
  • 08 May 2023 (races): Updated for Patch 10.1.
    • Updated Best Horde racial.
  • 08 May 2023 (macros): Reviewed for Patch 10.1.
  • 08 May 2023 (playstyle): Updated for Patch 10.1.
    • Updated all Damage Rotations.
  • 08 May 2023 (comps): Reviewed for Patch 10.1.
  • 08 May 2023 (gear): Updated for Patch 10.1.
    • Updated Recommended Gear.
    • Updated Tier-Set section.
  • 08 May 2023 (talents): Updated for Patch 10.1.
    • Updated Talent Calculator.
    • Updated PvP Talents.
  • 08 May 2023 (this page): Updated for Patch 10.1.
  • 08 May 2023 (this page): Updated for Patch 10.1.
  • 21 Mar. 2023 (races): Reviewed for Patch 10.0.7.
  • 21 Mar. 2023 (macros): Reviewed for Patch 10.0.7.
  • 21 Mar. 2023 (playstyle): Reviewed for Patch 10.0.7.
  • 21 Mar. 2023 (comps): Reviewed for Patch 10.0.7.
  • 21 Mar. 2023 (gear): Updated for Patch 10.0.7.
    • Updated Recommended Gear.
    • Moved Trinkets to Recommended Gear.
    • Added Tier-Set section.
  • 21 Mar. 2023 (talents): Updated for Patch 10.0.7.
    • Updated Talent Calculator.
    • Updated PvP Talents.
  • 21 Mar. 2023 (this page): Updated for Patch 10.0.7.
  • 21 Mar. 2023 (this page): Updated for Patch 10.0.7.
  • 30 Jan. 2023 (races): Reviewed for Patch 10.0.5.
  • 30 Jan. 2023 (macros): Reviewed for Patch 10.0.5.
  • 30 Jan. 2023 (playstyle): Reviewed for Patch 10.0.5.
  • 30 Jan. 2023 (comps): Reviewed for Patch 10.0.5.
  • 30 Jan. 2023 (gear): Reviewed for Patch 10.0.5.
  • 30 Jan. 2023 (talents): Reviewed for Patch 10.0.5.
  • 30 Jan. 2023 (this page): Reviewed for Patch 10.0.5.
  • 30 Jan. 2023 (this page): Reviewed for Patch 10.0.5.
  • 14 Dec. 2022 (gear): Updated Recommended gems.
  • 11 Dec. 2022 (races): Reviewed for Dragonflight Season 1.
  • 11 Dec. 2022 (macros): Reviewed for Dragonflight Season 1.
  • 11 Dec. 2022 (playstyle): Updated Damage rotations.
  • 11 Dec. 2022 (comps): Updated Best 2v2 and 3v3 Team Compositions.
  • 11 Dec. 2022 (gear): Updated Recommended Gear.
    • Updated Gems and Enchants.
  • 11 Dec. 2022 (talents): Updated Recommended talents.
    • Updated PvP Talents.
  • 11 Dec. 2022 (this page): Reviewed for Dragonflight Season 1.
  • 11 Dec. 2022 (this page): Reviewed for Dragonflight Season 1.
  • 22 Nov. 2022 (races): Updated for Dragonflight pre-patch.
  • 22 Nov. 2022 (macros): Updated for Dragonflight pre-patch.
  • 22 Nov. 2022 (playstyle): Updated for Dragonflight pre-patch.
  • 22 Nov. 2022 (comps): Updated for Dragonflight pre-patch.
  • 22 Nov. 2022 (gear): Updated for Dragonflight pre-patch.
  • 22 Nov. 2022 (talents): Updated for Dragonflight pre-patch.
  • 22 Nov. 2022 (this page): Updated for Dragonflight pre-patch.
  • 22 Nov. 2022 (this page): Updated for Dragonflight pre-patch.
  • 01 Aug. 2022 (races): Reviewed for Shadowlands Season 4.
  • 01 Aug. 2022 (macros): Reviewed for Shadowlands Season 4.
  • 01 Aug. 2022 (playstyle): Reviewed for Shadowlands Season 4.
  • 01 Aug. 2022 (comps): Reviewed for Shadowlands Season 4.
  • 01 Aug. 2022 (gear): Updated for Shadowlands Season 4.
  • 01 Aug. 2022 (talents): Reviewed for Shadowlands Season 4.
  • 01 Aug. 2022 (this page): Reviewed for Shadowlands Season 4.
  • 01 Aug. 2022 (this page): Reviewed for Shadowlands Season 4.
  • 31 May 2022 (races): Reviewed for Patch 9.2.5.
  • 31 May 2022 (macros): Reviewed for Patch 9.2.5.
  • 31 May 2022 (playstyle): Reviewed for Patch 9.2.5.
  • 31 May 2022 (comps): Reviewed for Patch 9.2.5.
  • 31 May 2022 (gear): Reviewed for Patch 9.2.5.
  • 31 May 2022 (talents): Reviewed for Patch 9.2.5.
  • 31 May 2022 (this page): Reviewed for Patch 9.2.5.
  • 31 May 2022 (this page): Reviewed for Patch 9.2.5.
  • 28 Feb. 2022 (races): Reviewed for Patch 9.2.
  • 28 Feb. 2022 (macros): Reviewed for Patch 9.2.
  • 28 Feb. 2022 (playstyle): Reviewed for Patch 9.2.
  • 28 Feb. 2022 (comps): Reviewed for Patch 9.2.
  • 28 Feb. 2022 (gear): Updated for Patch 9.2.
    • Updated Recommended Gear.
    • Added Tier-Set section.
    • Removed Shards of Domination section.
  • 28 Feb. 2022 (talents): Updated for Patch 9.2.
    • Updated Best PvP Talents.
  • 28 Feb. 2022 (this page): Updated for Patch 9.2.
    • Added Notable Changes section.
  • 28 Feb. 2022 (this page): Updated for Patch 9.2.
    • Added Notable Changes section.
  • 21 Nov. 2021 (races): Reviewed for Patch 9.1.5.
  • 21 Nov. 2021 (macros): Reviewed for Patch 9.1.5.
  • 21 Nov. 2021 (playstyle): Updated all Damage rotations.
  • 21 Nov. 2021 (comps): Updated best 2v2 and 3v3 Compositions.
  • 21 Nov. 2021 (gear): Reviewed for Patch 9.1.5.
  • 21 Nov. 2021 (talents): Reviewed for Patch 9.1.5.
  • 21 Nov. 2021 (this page): Reviewed for Patch 9.1.5.
  • 21 Nov. 2021 (this page): Reviewed for Patch 9.1.5.
  • 16 Jul. 2021 (races): Reviewed for Patch 9.1.
  • 16 Jul. 2021 (macros): Reviewed for Patch 9.1.
  • 16 Jul. 2021 (playstyle): Reviewed for Patch 9.1.
  • 16 Jul. 2021 (comps): Updated best 2v2 compositions.
  • 16 Jul. 2021 (gear): Updated Recommended gear and added Shards of Domination section.
  • 16 Jul. 2021 (talents): Updated PvP talents.
  • 16 Jul. 2021 (this page): Reviewed for Patch 9.1.
  • 16 Jul. 2021 (this page): Reviewed for Patch 9.1.
  • 28 Apr. 2021 (gear): Updated Stat Priority.
  • 08 Mar. 2021 (races): Reviewed for Patch 9.0.5.
  • 08 Mar. 2021 (macros): Reviewed for Patch 9.0.5.
  • 08 Mar. 2021 (playstyle): Reviewed for Patch 9.0.5.
  • 08 Mar. 2021 (comps): Reviewed for Patch 9.0.5.
  • 08 Mar. 2021 (gear): Updated Stat Priority.
  • 08 Mar. 2021 (talents): Reviewed for Patch 9.0.5.
  • 08 Mar. 2021 (this page): Reviewed for Patch 9.0.5.
  • 08 Mar. 2021 (this page): Reviewed for Patch 9.0.5.
  • 06 Dec. 2020 (gear): Added BiS gear list for Shadowlands.
  • 05 Dec. 2020 (talents): Updated Talent Table.
    • Updated Tiers 5 and 7 Regular Talents.
    • Updated PvP Talents.
  • 29 Nov. 2020 (gear): Removed outdated Traits and Essences.
    • Removed outdated gear.
    • Added gems section.
  • 29 Nov. 2020 (this page): Updated for Shadowlands release.
  • 29 Nov. 2020 (this page): Updated for Shadowlands release.
  • 15 Oct. 2020 (races): Updated for Shadowlands pre-patch (9.0.1)
  • 15 Oct. 2020 (macros): Updated for Shadowlands pre-patch (9.0.1)
  • 15 Oct. 2020 (playstyle): Updated for Shadowlands pre-patch (9.0.1)
  • 15 Oct. 2020 (comps): Updated for Shadowlands pre-patch (9.0.1)
  • 15 Oct. 2020 (gear): Updated for Shadowlands pre-patch (9.0.1)
  • 15 Oct. 2020 (talents): Updated for Shadowlands pre-patch (9.0.1)
  • 15 Oct. 2020 (this page): Updated for Shadowlands pre-patch (9.0.1)
  • 15 Oct. 2020 (this page): Updated for Shadowlands pre-patch (9.0.1)
  • 05 Oct. 2020 (playstyle): Updated all Damage rotations.
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