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Shadow Priest

Damage specialisation · Tier B in PvP, 1.7% of the sample

PvE GuideRaid logs, Mythic+ players and PvE buildsPvP GuideRated ladder talents, gear stats and buildsACTIVE

Rated PvP data

A complete live guide built from rated Battle.net profiles: bracket-specific talents, PvP talents, gear, gems, enchantments, statistics and importable builds. PvE raid casts are never presented as PvP advice.

All PvPSolo2v23v3BlitzRBG

Secondary stats

Secondary stat split across the 100 best-geared synced characters. Averaged per player, so one heavily geared character cannot define the answer for everyone.

  • Haste37.1%911 avg
  • Versatility31.6%892 avg
  • Mastery19.8%652 avg
  • Critical Strike11.5%284 avg

150

Synced PvP players

2,106

Average rating sampled

3,261

Highest rating sampled

PvP talents

The three dedicated PvP slots, measured from Battle.net profiles.

Live ladder data
Phase Shift

Phase Shift

44%

Step into the shadows when you cast Fade, avoiding all attacks and spells for 1 sec. Interrupt effects are not affected by Phase Shift.

66 players

Psyfiend

Psyfiend

44%

Summons a Psyfiend with 12,696 health for 12 sec beside you to attack the target at range with Psyflay. Psyflay Deals up to 1% of the target's total health in Shadow damage every 0.8 sec. Also slows their movement speed by 50% and reduces healing received by 50%.

66 players

Driven to Madness

Driven to Madness

42%

While Voidform is not active, being attacked will reduce the cooldown of Voidform by 3 sec.

63 players

Cascading Horrors

Cascading Horrors

13%

Void Eruption sends out slow-moving bolts of Shadow energy at random locations every 0.5 sec for 3 sec, dealing 1,662 Shadow damage to all targets within 8 yds, and causing them to flee in Horror for 2 sec.

19 players

Mindgames

Mindgames

3%

Assault an enemy's mind, dealing 22,453 Shadow damage and briefly reversing their perception of reality. For 7 sec, the next 72,172 damage they deal will heal their target, and the next 72,172 healing they deal will damage their target. Generates 10 Insanity.

5 players

Psychic Shroud

Psychic Shroud

1%

When your Psychic Scream affects 1 or more players, the next crowd control effect against you is prevented. Lasts 6 sec.

2 players

Mind Trauma

Mind Trauma

1%

Siphon haste from enemies, stealing 2% haste per stack of Mind Trauma, stacking up to 9 times. Fully channeled Mind Flays grant 1 stack of Mind Trauma and fully channeled Void Torrents grant 3 stacks of Mind Trauma. Lasts 15 sec. You can only gain 3 stacks of Mind Trauma from a single enemy.

1 players

Combat toolkit

Common high-rated choices grouped by purpose. This is a PvP toolkit, not a fake raid rotation.

Pressure & burst

  • Dark Enlightenment
    Dark Enlightenment100%

    Increases your haste by 3%.

  • Dispel Magic
    Dispel Magic100%

    Dispels Magic on the enemy target, removing 1 beneficial Magic effect.

  • Fade
    Fade100%

Most played equipment

Top two choices per slot among the highest-rated hydrated profiles.

Back

Venomous Aspirant's Cloak

46% equipped · 263 ilvl

Back

Thalassian Competitor's Cloth Cloak

39% equipped · 242 ilvl

Chest

Venomous Aspirant's Silk Robe

53% equipped · 263 ilvl

Shadow Priest enchantments

  • Enchanted: Enchant Weapon - Acuity of the Ren'dorei69%
  • Enchanted: Enchant Shoulders - Akil'zon's Swiftness65%
  • Enchanted: Enchant Chest - Mark of the Worldsoul61%

Talent tree choices & importable builds

Talent choices across 369 synced characters playing this specialisation. These are observed picks, not recommendations — they say what the ladder is doing, not what you should do.

Where builds differ

Taken by between 15% and 90% of players. This is where the real decisions are.

  • Light's Inspiration90%

    326 players · Class

  • Instilled Doubt87%

    315 players · Specialization

  • Phantasm84%

    307 players · Class

  • Shadowy Insight84%

    305 players · Specialization

  • Dominate Mind83%

    301 players · Class

  • Phantom Menace82%

    299 players · Specialization

  • Collapsing Void76%

    278 players · Hero

  • Dark Energy76%

    278 players · Hero

  • Darkening Horizon76%

    278 players · Hero

  • Devour Matter76%

    278 players · Hero

  • Embrace the Shadow76%

    278 players · Hero

  • Inner Quietus76%

    278 players · Hero

  • Overwhelming Shadows76%

    278 players · Hero

  • Quickened Pulse76%

    278 players · Hero

  • Touch of the Void76%

    278 players · Hero

  • Void Blast76%

    278 players · Hero

  • Void Infusion76%

    278 players · Hero

  • Voidheart76%

    278 players · Hero

  • Voidwraith76%

    278 players · Hero

  • Angelic Bulwark76%

    277 players · Class

  • Voidtouched74%

    271 players · Specialization

  • Binding Heals74%

    268 players · Class

  • Shadowfiend68%

    248 players · Specialization

  • Subservient Shadows67%

    245 players · Specialization

  • Crushing Void67%

    244 players · Specialization

  • Sanguine Teachings67%

    244 players · Class

  • Mental Decay65%

    235 players · Specialization

  • Mass Dispel63%

    229 players · Class

  • Descending Darkness62%

    227 players · Specialization

  • Dark Evangelism60%

    220 players · Specialization

  • Mindbender57%

    206 players · Specialization

  • Inescapable Torment55%

    200 players · Specialization

  • Idol of Y'Shaarj54%

    197 players · Specialization

  • Idol of N'Zoth40%

    146 players · Specialization

  • Mental Agility35%

    127 players · Class

  • Insidious Ire33%

    121 players · Specialization

Near-universal picks (46)taken by 90%+ — effectively baseline
  • Phantasm100%

    364 players · Class

  • San'layn100%

    364 players · Class

  • Twist of Fate100%

    364 players · Class

Rarely taken (114)under 15% — situational or out of favour
  • Descending Darkness15%

    53 players · Specialization

  • Purify Disease14%

    52 players · Class

  • Idol of C'Thun11%

Import a real build

Loadouts from the highest-rated synced players of this specialisation. Paste straight into the game.

  • Schatteñ

    balnazzar · EU3,261

  • Envyion

    sargeras · US2,593

  • Vthulsh

    grim-batol · EU2,545

  • Darthlie

    draenor · EU2,520

  • Miraz

    turalyon · EU2,486

Learn the spec

This page measures what players do. For rotation, stat priority and matchup play, these are the references.

  • Skill-CappedpvpArena guides, matchup play and comp theory. Subscription, and the standard reference for PvP.
  • Murlok.iopvpTalent and gear data from the PvP ladder, broken down per bracket.

Other Priest specs

  • Discipline
  • Holy

Fade out, removing all your threat and reducing enemies' detection range against you for 10 sec.

  • Dispel Magic
    Dispel Magic99%

    Dispels Magic on the enemy target, removing 1 beneficial Magic effect.

  • Spiritual Guidance
    Spiritual Guidance99%

    Increases your Intellect by 3%.

    • Survival

    • San'layn
      San'layn100%

      Sanguine Teachings Sanguine Teachings grants an additional 2% Leech. Vampiric Embrace Reduces the cooldown of Vampiric Embrace by 30 sec, increases its healing done by 25%.

    • Twist of Fate
      Twist of Fate100%

      After damaging or healing a target below 35% health, gain 10% increased damage and healing for 8 sec.

    • Desperate Prayer
      Desperate Prayer100%

      Increases maximum health by 25% for 10 sec, and instantly heals you for that amount.

    • Shadow Word: Death
      Shadow Word: Death100%

      A word of dark binding that inflicts 1,799 Shadow damage to your target. If your target is not killed by Shadow Word: Death, you take backlash damage equal to 5% of your maximum health. Damage increased by 250% to targets below 20% health. Generates 4 Insanity.

    • Devouring Plague
      Devouring Plague98%

      A word of madness haunts the target's mind, dealing 1,892 Shadow damage instantly plus an additional 6,198 Shadow damage over 6 sec. Heals you for 30% of damage dealt. When reapplied to a target, all remaining damage is added to the new effect.

    Control & mobility

    • Phantasm
      Phantasm100%

      Activating Fade removes all snare effects.

    • Psychic Scream
      Psychic Scream100%

      Lets out a psychic scream, causing all enemies within 8 yards to flee, disorienting them for 8 sec. Damage may interrupt the effect.

    • Body and Soul
      Body and Soul98%

      Power Word: Shield and Leap of Faith increase your target's movement speed by 40% for 3 sec.

    • Surge of Insanity
      Surge of Insanity98%

      Every 2 casts of Devouring Plague transforms your next Mind Flay into a more powerful spell. Can accumulate up to 4 charges. Mind Flay: Insanity Assaults the target's mind with Shadow energy, causing 1.2 million Shadow damage over 1.4 sec and slowing their movement speed by 70%. Generates 8 Insanity over the duration.

    • Angelic Feather
      Angelic Feather97%

      Places a feather at the target location, granting the first ally to walk through it 40% increased movement speed for 5 sec. Only 3 feathers can be placed at one time.

    Chest

    Cosmic Penitent's Eclipsing Robes

    33% equipped · 298 ilvl

    Feet

    Thalassian Competitor's Cloth Treads

    53% equipped · 288 ilvl

    Feet

    Venomous Aspirant's Silk Footwraps

    28% equipped · 263 ilvl

    Hands

    Cosmic Penitent's Celestial Grips

    47% equipped · 298 ilvl

    Hands

    Venomous Aspirant's Silk Gloves

    23% equipped · 263 ilvl

    Head

    Venomous Aspirant's Silk Cover

    49% equipped · 263 ilvl

    Head

    Cosmic Penitent's Truesight

    27% equipped · 295 ilvl

    Legs

    Venomous Aspirant's Silk Leggings

    71% equipped · 263 ilvl

    Legs

    Enveloping Legwraps of the Cosmic Penitent

    15% equipped · 295 ilvl

    Main Hand

    Venomous Aspirant's Stave

    81% equipped · 263 ilvl

    Main Hand

    Venomous Aspirant's Cudgel

    4% equipped · 263 ilvl

    Neck

    Venomous Aspirant's Necklace

    57% equipped · 263 ilvl

    Neck

    Thalassian Competitor's Amulet

    29% equipped · 292 ilvl

    Off Hand

    Thalassian Competitor's Lamp

    4% equipped · 263 ilvl

    Off Hand

    Venomous Aspirant's Sigil

    3% equipped · 263 ilvl

    Ring 1

    Thalassian Competitor's Signet

    55% equipped · 285 ilvl

    Ring 1

    Venomous Aspirant's Ring

    32% equipped · 263 ilvl

    Ring 2

    Thalassian Competitor's Signet

    53% equipped · 242 ilvl

    Ring 2

    Venomous Aspirant's Ring

    29% equipped · 263 ilvl

    Shirt

    Precious's Ribbon

    4% equipped · 1 ilvl

    Shirt

    Stylish Black Shirt

    3% equipped · 1 ilvl

    Shoulders

    Cosmic Penitent's Echoing Screams

    75% equipped · 295 ilvl

    Shoulders

    Venomous Gladiator's Silk Mantle

    9% equipped · 292 ilvl

    Tabard

    Galactic Gladiator's Tabard

    10% equipped · 1 ilvl

    Tabard

    Astral Gladiator's Tabard

    7% equipped · 1 ilvl

    Trinket 1

    Venomous Aspirant's Insignia of Alacrity

    38% equipped · 263 ilvl

    Trinket 1

    Venomous Aspirant's Medallion

    27% equipped · 263 ilvl

    Trinket 2

    Venomous Aspirant's Medallion

    39% equipped · 263 ilvl

    Trinket 2

    Venomous Aspirant's Insignia of Alacrity

    27% equipped · 263 ilvl

    Waist

    Venomous Aspirant's Silk Cord

    62% equipped · 263 ilvl

    Waist

    Thalassian Competitor's Cloth Sash

    23% equipped · 292 ilvl

    Wrist

    Venomous Aspirant's Silk Bindings

    49% equipped · 263 ilvl

    Wrist

    Thalassian Competitor's Cloth Bands

    28% equipped · 246 ilvl

    Enchanted: Enchant Boots - Farstrider's Hunt
    61%
  • Enchanted: +41 Intellect & +115 Stamina53%
  • Enchanted: Enchant Helm - Empowered Blessing of Speed52%
  • Enchanted: Enchant Ring - Silvermoon's Alacrity45%
  • Enchanted: Enchant Ring - Silvermoon's Tenacity31%

    • Shadow Priest gems & sockets

    • Cognitive Heliotrope · +23 Primary Stat and opponent's failed interrupt attempts grant Precognition89%
    • Flawless Versatile Peridot · +16 Haste & +7 Versatility39%
    • Flawless Quick Lapis · +16 Versatility & +7 Haste38%
    • Prismatic Socket15%
    • Flawless Versatile Amethyst · +16 Mastery & +7 Versatility9%
    • Flawless Masterful Peridot · +16 Haste & +7 Mastery8%
    • Indecipherable Eversong Diamond · +32 Primary Stat7%
    • Flawless Masterful Lapis · +16 Versatility & +7 Mastery3%
    Dark Enlightenment100%

    363 players · Class

  • Desperate Prayer100%

    363 players · Class

  • Dispel Magic100%

    363 players · Class

  • Fade100%

    363 players · Class

  • Psychic Scream100%

    363 players · Class

  • Shadow Word: Death100%

    363 players · Class

  • Dispel Magic99%

    362 players · Class

  • Spiritual Guidance99%

    362 players · Class

  • Mind Blast99%

    361 players · Class

  • Painful Invocation99%

    361 players · Class

  • Improved Fade99%

    359 players · Class

  • Strength of Resolve99%

    359 players · Class

  • Twins of the Sun Priestess99%

    359 players · Class

    • 40 players · Specialization

  • Leap of Faith11%

    40 players · Class

  • Thought Harvester5.5%

    20 players · Specialization

  • Unwavering Will4.7%

    17 players · Class

  • Death and Madness4.1%

    15 players · Specialization

  • Everlasting Light3.8%

    14 players · Class

  • Mind Devourer3.6%

    13 players · Specialization

  • Dark Thoughts2.7%

    10 players · Specialization

  • Spectral Illusion2.7%

    10 players · Class

  • Assured Safety1.6%

    6 players · Hero