Shadow Priest DPS Class Overview - Cataclysm Classic Phase 3

By Passion Updated: 2024/11/10

Class Overview for Shadow Priest DPSMind QuickeningReplenishmentPower Word: FortitudeShadow ProtectionHymn of HopeMind BlastHow Shadow Priest DPS Changes in Cataclysm ClassicShadow OrbsMind SpikeShadow Word: DeathMind SearStat and Attribute Changes

Intellect has been almost entirely overhauled. It is now our primary damage stat, providing the bulk of our Spell Power as well as contributing to our Crit Chance.

Spirit for Shadow Priests is now primarily used in combination with Twisted Faith as a subtitute for Hit Rating, allowing us to reach Hit Cap through alternative means.

Critical Strike Rating is finally mostly valuable! Our DoTs can now crit by default, and all Shadow Priests get Shadow Power, giving us double damage criticals.

Haste Rating is almost the same as it always has been, but it now effects all our spells by default. It also comes with the added benefit of providing additional ticks of damage at certain breakpoints.

Mastery Rating is completely new, offering unique bonuses specific to your specialization. In our case, we get Shadow Orb Power, increasing the damage bonuses provided by Shadow Orbs.

Changes to existing Abilities & Talents

Mind Sear — Can now be cast on allies, radiating damage from them to enemies in close proximity.
Shadow Word: Death — Now deals low damage by default, but deals 3x damage against targets below 25% health.
Darkness — Now grants Spell Haste instead of Shadow Damage.
Improved Shadow Word: Pain — Now increases the damage of Shadow Word: Pain, instead of the duration.
Shadowform — Now grants Mind Quickening, a raid buff shared with Balance Druids and Shamans.
Twisted Faith — Now causes us to gain Spell Hit from Spirit.
Masochism — This turns Shadow Word: Death into a somewhat effective tool for restoring mana.

New Abilities & Talents

Shadowy Apparition — Dealing damage with Shadow Word: Pain now summons Shadowy Apparitions that will slowly walk towards the target, dealing damage when they reach them. The chance to summon Shadowy Apparitions increases while moving, making you want to constantly shuffle around when casting instant spells.
Sin and Punishment — This adds back dispel protection to Vampiric Touch while also causing Mind Flay crits to lower the cooldown of Shadowfiend.
Harnessed Shadows — Gives you a higher chance to gain Shadow Orbs while also granting a Shadow Orb whenever you are critically hit.

Class Viability for Shadow Priest DPSClass Mechanics for Shadow Priest DPSShadow OrbsMind BlastStrengths & Weaknesses for Shadow DPS

Strengths

Weaknesses

Best Races for Shadow DPS

Race

HumanThe Human SpiritWill to SurviveDiplomacyWorgenViciousnessDarkflightDraeneiHeroic PresenceGift of the NaaruGemcuttingEngineering SpecializationNight ElfNature ResistanceQuicknessGnomeEscape ArtistWill to SurviveEngineering SpecializationDwarfStoneformGoblinRocket BarrageRocket JumpRocket BarrageRocket JumpRocket JumpLevitateTime is MoneyBest Deals AnywhereBetter Living Through ChemistryPack HobgoblinTrollBeast SlayingBerserkingRegenerationDa Voodoo ShuffleUndeadWill of the ForsakenFear WardTaurenEnduranceWar StompBlood ElfArcane TorrentBest Professions for Shadow Priestscrafting professionsEngineering

Synapse Springs gives you an on-demand burst cooldown, something we otherwise significantly lack. If you were to use this on cooldown every time it is up, the average stat bonus would be equal to other professions, but this allows us to line up a bigger stat boost with certain points in our rotation.

Nitro Boosts allows us to zoom into the sunset, making up somewhat for our complete lack of mobility skills.

Lightweight Bio-Optic Killshades is a great starter helmet and highly customizable.

Tailoring

Lightweave Embroidery is a fantastic Cloak enchant, giving 580 Intellect for 15-seconds on proc. This is incredibly strong if the proc lines up with other procs and on-use abilities, but does have a fairly long cooldown, so its value depends heavily on luck.

Sanctified Spellthread is just Powerful Ghostly Spellthread but significantly cheaper, so you save a decent amount of Gold enchanting your pants.

Jewelcrafting

Brilliant Chimera's Eye are Jewelcrafting exclusive gems. In total you can put 3 of these in your gear, giving a total of 201 Intellect, which is 81 Intellect more than 3 Brilliant Inferno Ruby would be. It is worth keeping in mind that this is only a temporary advantage, as once Brilliant Queen's Garnet are introduced, this bonus goes down to 51 Intellect instead, making it the worst crafting profession stat-wise.

Figurine - Jeweled Serpent isn't fantastic, but it is a solid leveling and pre-raid item. Consider grabbing one if you are Jewelcrafting already, but it isn't worth swapping professions over.

Enchanting

Enchant Ring - Intellect, the famed Ring Enchants are still kicking, this time giving 40 Intellect each, for a total of 80 Intellect as a perk of being an Enchanter. Remember, if you drop Enchanting, these Ring Enchants will stop working!

EngineeringTailoringJewelcraftingBlacksmithingAlchemyEnchantingInscriptionLeatherworkingMiningSkinningHerbalism

Comments

Comment by SinR

So...

This is the Cataclysm Shadow Priest guide.

And y'all tell people about the Wrath of the Lich King profession perks.

OK then Wowhead.

Shadow Priest DPS Class Overview - Cataclysm Classic Phase 3

Contribute