Priest

Rotations & Guide · PvE guide · PvP guide · Talent builds · Abilities · Talent Calculator · Macros · Changes vs Classic

Other classes: Warrior, Paladin, Hunter, Rogue, Shaman, Mage, Warlock, Druid

Priests are cloth healers and shadow casters. Forever gives them a large new toolkit: Penance for Discipline, Holy Binding, Litany of Light and Prayer of Mending for Holy (all talents), and baseline Shadow Word: Death for Shadow. Divine Spirit is now a trainer spell at 30. Several new spells are racial: Contingency Plan and Confounding Flash (Gnome), Divine Grace (Human), Dark Sacrifice (Undead) and Chastise (Dwarf).

Discipline (Healer)

Discipline is a mana-efficient absorb and burst healer in Forever. Penance, the tier 5 Discipline talent, channels holy light to heal an ally or damage an enemy on a 12 sec cooldown, Power Word: Shield prevents damage (Soul Warding takes away its cooldown), and Gnomes get Contingency Plan as a long-cooldown safety net. Inner Focus and Power Infusion boost key moments, and Divine Aegis turns non-periodic critical heals into shields.

Holy (Healer)

Holy is the raw throughput healer. Forever adds Prayer of Mending (Holy's final talent, a bouncing heal on a 10 sec cooldown) and Holy Binding (a tier 4 talent: your Flash Heals on others also heal you for 50% as much), and Humans get Divine Grace (instant emergency heal). Litany of Light, a new tier 5 talent, refunds mana when you alternate between different heal spells, and Spiritual Guidance turns Spirit into healing power.

Shadow (Caster DPS)

Shadow stacks DoTs and channels in Shadowform with Shadow Weaving boosting your shadow damage. Forever makes Shadow Word: Death baseline as an instant finisher with self-damage backlash, and Undead priests get Dark Sacrifice to convert health into mana. Vampiric Embrace heals your party from your shadow damage.

Tips & tricks: what ForeverDB learned

Discipline

Updated 13 November 2026 for build 1.60.1.70938 · From the game client

Learning from players: Healing + absorbs/s (EHPS). Collecting comparable fights before publishing observed cast patterns.

Observed cast patterns, not a proven optimal rotation. Gear, buffs, healing assignments and incoming damage can explain performance differences. HPS is effective healing; overhealing does not increase it. HPS counts effective healing, APS counts recorded shield absorption, and EHPS is their combined rate. Shield application sizes and overhealing do not increase EHPS. Healing assignments and incoming damage still limit healer comparisons. Build groups use the version reported by the log; some logs omit the hotfix build number.

Forever client: There is no simulation for this spec yet. The order shown here comes from the site's rotation card for level 60, using cooldowns and costs from the Forever client. (level 60)
Forever client: Power Infusion has a 3 min cooldown at level 60. You can use it about once every second or third pull. (level 60)
Forever client: Inner Focus has a 3 min cooldown at level 60. You can use it about once every second or third pull. (level 60)
Forever client: Divine Grace has a 10 min cooldown at level 60. Plan on using it once per dungeon wing, not every pull. (level 60)
Forever client: Contingency Plan has a 10 min cooldown at level 60. Plan on using it once per dungeon wing, not every pull. (level 60)
Forever client: There is no simulation for this spec yet. The order shown here comes from the site's rotation card for levels 20-29, using cooldowns and costs from the Forever client. (levels 20–29)
Forever client: Contingency Plan has a 10 min cooldown at levels 20-29. Plan on using it once per dungeon wing, not every pull. (levels 20–29)
Forever client: Divine Grace has a 10 min cooldown at levels 20-29. Plan on using it once per dungeon wing, not every pull. (levels 20–29)
Forever client: Desperate Prayer has a 10 min cooldown at levels 20-29. Plan on using it once per dungeon wing, not every pull. (levels 20–29)
Forever client: There is no simulation for this spec yet. The order shown here comes from the site's rotation card for levels 30-39, using cooldowns and costs from the Forever client. (levels 30–39)
Forever client: Inner Focus has a 3 min cooldown at levels 30-39. You can use it about once every second or third pull. (levels 30–39)
Forever client: Contingency Plan has a 10 min cooldown at levels 30-39. Plan on using it once per dungeon wing, not every pull. (levels 30–39)
Forever client: Divine Grace has a 10 min cooldown at levels 30-39. Plan on using it once per dungeon wing, not every pull. (levels 30–39)
Forever client: There is no simulation for this spec yet. The order shown here comes from the site's rotation card for levels 40-49, using cooldowns and costs from the Forever client. (levels 40–49)
Forever client: Power Infusion has a 3 min cooldown at levels 40-49. You can use it about once every second or third pull. (levels 40–49)
Forever client: Inner Focus has a 3 min cooldown at levels 40-49. You can use it about once every second or third pull. (levels 40–49)
Forever client: Divine Grace has a 10 min cooldown at levels 40-49. Plan on using it once per dungeon wing, not every pull. (levels 40–49)
Forever client: Contingency Plan has a 10 min cooldown at levels 40-49. Plan on using it once per dungeon wing, not every pull. (levels 40–49)
Forever client: There is no simulation for this spec yet. The order shown here comes from the site's rotation card for levels 50-59, using cooldowns and costs from the Forever client. (levels 50–59)
Forever client: Power Infusion has a 3 min cooldown at levels 50-59. You can use it about once every second or third pull. (levels 50–59)
Forever client: Inner Focus has a 3 min cooldown at levels 50-59. You can use it about once every second or third pull. (levels 50–59)
Forever client: Divine Grace has a 10 min cooldown at levels 50-59. Plan on using it once per dungeon wing, not every pull. (levels 50–59)
Forever client: Contingency Plan has a 10 min cooldown at levels 50-59. Plan on using it once per dungeon wing, not every pull. (levels 50–59)

How to play it at level 60: priority, procs and cooldowns

What to press, in order. Cast the first one that is ready and whose condition holds.

Power Word: Shield: When it's missing from you: On the tank first; rank 10 (60) absorbs 928 before talents. (ForeverDB guide, Forever client)
Penance: Whenever it's ready: On cooldown: rank 4 (60) heals 425 instantly and every 1 sec for 2 sec. (ForeverDB guide, Forever client)
Renew: When it's missing from you: Keep it on the tank; rank 10 (60) heals 830 over 15 sec. (ForeverDB guide, Forever client)
Greater Heal: Whenever it's ready: Rank 5 (60) heals 1853 to 2067; Divine Fury in the healing build makes the cast 0.5 sec shorter. (ForeverDB guide, Forever client)
Flash Heal: Whenever it's ready: Rank 7 (56) for emergencies. (ForeverDB guide, Forever client)

Keep up:

Power Word: Shield on you, at least 0% of the time (ForeverDB guide, Forever client)
Renew on you, at least 0% of the time (ForeverDB guide, Forever client)

Cooldowns:

Power Infusion: as needed (ForeverDB guide, Forever client)
Inner Focus: as needed (ForeverDB guide, Forever client)
Divine Grace: as needed (ForeverDB guide, Forever client)
Contingency Plan: On the pull (ForeverDB guide, Forever client)

Latest changes:

13 November 2026: client build 1.60.1.70888 -> 1.60.1.70938; new Blizzard post (new client build 1.60.1.70938)
11 November 2026: client build 1.60.1.70862 -> 1.60.1.70888; new Blizzard post (new client build 1.60.1.70888)
7 November 2026: client build 1.60.1.70790 -> 1.60.1.70862 (new client build 1.60.1.70862)

Holy

Updated 13 November 2026 for build 1.60.1.70938 · From the game client

Learning from players: Healing + absorbs/s (EHPS). Collecting comparable fights before publishing observed cast patterns.

Forever client: There is no simulation for this spec yet. The order shown here comes from the site's rotation card for level 60, using cooldowns and costs from the Forever client. (level 60)
Forever client: Inner Focus has a 3 min cooldown at level 60. You can use it about once every second or third pull. (level 60)
Forever client: Divine Grace has a 10 min cooldown at level 60. Plan on using it once per dungeon wing, not every pull. (level 60)
Forever client: There is no simulation for this spec yet. The order shown here comes from the site's rotation card for levels 20-29, using cooldowns and costs from the Forever client. (levels 20–29)
Forever client: Divine Grace has a 10 min cooldown at levels 20-29. Plan on using it once per dungeon wing, not every pull. (levels 20–29)
Forever client: Desperate Prayer has a 10 min cooldown at levels 20-29. Plan on using it once per dungeon wing, not every pull. (levels 20–29)
Forever client: There is no simulation for this spec yet. The order shown here comes from the site's rotation card for levels 30-39, using cooldowns and costs from the Forever client. (levels 30–39)
Forever client: Divine Grace has a 10 min cooldown at levels 30-39. Plan on using it once per dungeon wing, not every pull. (levels 30–39)
Forever client: There is no simulation for this spec yet. The order shown here comes from the site's rotation card for levels 40-49, using cooldowns and costs from the Forever client. (levels 40–49)
Forever client: Divine Grace has a 10 min cooldown at levels 40-49. Plan on using it once per dungeon wing, not every pull. (levels 40–49)
Forever client: There is no simulation for this spec yet. The order shown here comes from the site's rotation card for levels 50-59, using cooldowns and costs from the Forever client. (levels 50–59)
Forever client: Divine Grace has a 10 min cooldown at levels 50-59. Plan on using it once per dungeon wing, not every pull. (levels 50–59)

How to play it at level 60: priority, procs and cooldowns

What to press, in order. Cast the first one that is ready and whose condition holds.

Prayer of Mending: Whenever it's ready: Rank 3 (60) heals for 413 each time it triggers; keep it on the tank. (ForeverDB guide, Forever client)
Renew: When it's missing from you: Keep it on the tank; rank 10 (60) heals 830 over 15 sec before talents. (ForeverDB guide, Forever client)
Greater Heal: Whenever it's ready: Rank 5 (60) heals 1853 to 2067. (ForeverDB guide, Forever client)
Heal: Whenever it's ready: Rank 4 for lighter damage, or a lower Greater Heal rank if you prefer. (ForeverDB guide, Forever client)
Flash Heal: Whenever it's ready: Rank 7 (56) for spikes. (ForeverDB guide, Forever client)

Keep up:

Renew on you, at least 0% of the time (ForeverDB guide, Forever client)

Cooldowns:

Inner Focus: as needed (ForeverDB guide, Forever client)
Divine Grace: as needed (ForeverDB guide, Forever client)

Latest changes:

13 November 2026: client build 1.60.1.70888 -> 1.60.1.70938; new Blizzard post (new client build 1.60.1.70938)
11 November 2026: client build 1.60.1.70862 -> 1.60.1.70888; new Blizzard post (new client build 1.60.1.70888)
7 November 2026: client build 1.60.1.70790 -> 1.60.1.70862 (new client build 1.60.1.70862)

Shadow

Updated 13 November 2026 for build 1.60.1.70938 · From the DPS simulator, the game client

Learning from players: DPS. Collecting comparable fights before publishing observed cast patterns.

Simulator: Best consumable at level 60: Elixir of Greater Intellect (+4.6% DPS in the simulator); then Scroll of Intellect IV (+3.4%). (level 60)
Simulator: Where your damage comes from at level 60: Mind Flay 48%, Mind Blast 19%, Shadow Word: Pain 16% (simulator: recommended build, best gear for the level, 180 s single-target fight). (level 60)
Simulator: Shadow Word: Pain is worth 7.1% of your DPS at level 60: the simulator's fight without it did that much less damage. It kept it on the target 53% of the time. (level 60)
Simulator: Wand is worth 4.3% of your DPS at level 60: the simulator's fight without it did that much less damage. (level 60)
Simulator: Stat values at level 60 (simulator, 1 spell power = 1): Intellect 1.81, hit rating 1.3, haste rating 0.27. (level 60)
Speculation: The class guide's rotation card uses Devouring Plague here and the simulator disagrees: check it in game before trusting either: Leave Devouring Plague out of single-target fights at levels 20-29: the simulator's 60 s fight did 2.6% more damage without it. The class guide disagrees, so treat this as a lead to test. (levels 20–29)
Simulator: Best consumable at levels 20-29: Scroll of Intellect IV (+3.2% DPS in the simulator); then Greater Arcane Elixir (+2%). (levels 20–29)
Simulator: The party buff that helps you most at levels 20-29 is Blessing of Wisdom from a Paladin: +3.7% DPS in the simulator. (levels 20–29)
Simulator: Where your damage comes from at levels 20-29: Mind Flay 41%, Shadow Word: Pain 20%, Mind Blast 19% (simulator: recommended build, best gear for the level, 60 s single-target fight). (levels 20–29)
Simulator: Shadow Word: Pain is worth 11.7% of your DPS at levels 20-29: the simulator's fight without it did that much less damage. It kept it on the target 79% of the time. (levels 20–29)
Simulator: Wand is worth 5.2% of your DPS at levels 20-29: the simulator's fight without it did that much less damage. (levels 20–29)
Speculation: The class guide's rotation card uses Devouring Plague here and the simulator disagrees: check it in game before trusting either: Leave Devouring Plague out of single-target fights at levels 30-39: the simulator's 60 s fight did 3.4% more damage without it. The class guide disagrees, so treat this as a lead to test. (levels 30–39)
Simulator: Best consumable at levels 30-39: Greater Arcane Elixir (+3.5% DPS in the simulator); then Baked Salmon (+3.3%). (levels 30–39)
Simulator: The party buff that helps you most at levels 30-39 is Arcane Intellect from a Mage: +5.1% DPS in the simulator. (levels 30–39)
Simulator: Where your damage comes from at levels 30-39: Mind Flay 35%, Shadow Word: Pain 21%, Mind Blast 19% (simulator: recommended build, best gear for the level, 60 s single-target fight). (levels 30–39)
Simulator: Shadow Word: Pain is worth 10.6% of your DPS at levels 30-39: the simulator's fight without it did that much less damage. It kept it on the target 79% of the time. (levels 30–39)
Simulator: Wand is worth 10.4% of your DPS at levels 30-39: the simulator's fight without it did that much less damage. (levels 30–39)
Simulator: Best consumable at levels 40-49: Baked Salmon (+3.9% DPS in the simulator); then Greater Arcane Elixir (+3.5%). (levels 40–49)
Simulator: Where your damage comes from at levels 40-49: Mind Flay 40%, Mind Blast 30%, Shadow Word: Pain 18% (simulator: recommended build, best gear for the level, 60 s single-target fight). (levels 40–49)
Simulator: Mind Blast is worth 22.9% of your DPS at levels 40-49: the simulator's fight without it did that much less damage. (levels 40–49)
Simulator: Shadow Word: Pain is worth 13% of your DPS at levels 40-49: the simulator's fight without it did that much less damage. It kept it on the target 89% of the time. (levels 40–49)
Simulator: Best consumable at levels 50-59: Greater Arcane Elixir (+4.1% DPS in the simulator); then Baked Salmon (+3.3%). (levels 50–59)
Simulator: Where your damage comes from at levels 50-59: Mind Flay 40%, Mind Blast 27%, Shadow Word: Pain 22% (simulator: recommended build, best gear for the level, 60 s single-target fight). (levels 50–59)
Simulator: Mind Blast is worth 19.7% of your DPS at levels 50-59: the simulator's fight without it did that much less damage. (levels 50–59)
Simulator: Shadow Word: Pain is worth 16.7% of your DPS at levels 50-59: the simulator's fight without it did that much less damage. It kept it on the target 89% of the time. (levels 50–59)

How to play it at level 60: priority, procs and cooldowns

What to press, in order. Cast the first one that is ready and whose condition holds.

Shadow Word: Pain: When it's missing from the target: Keep it on the target: up 53% of the sim's fight; worth 7.1% of your DPS (Simulator, Forever client, ForeverDB guide)
Devouring Plague: When it's missing from the target: Keep it on the target: up 50% of the sim's fight; the sim gains little from it (Simulator, Forever client, ForeverDB guide)
Mind Blast: Whenever it's ready: Cast it when it's ready (8 s cooldown); the sim gains little from it (Simulator, Forever client, ForeverDB guide)
Mind Flay: Fill the gaps with it: Your filler: cast it when nothing above is ready; the sim gains little from it (Simulator, Forever client, ForeverDB guide)
Wand: out of mana: Only when you're out of mana; worth 4.3% of your DPS (Simulator)

Keep up:

Shadow Word: Pain on the target, at least 50% of the time (Simulator, Forever client)
Devouring Plague on the target, at least 45% of the time (Simulator, Forever client)

Before the pull:

Elixir of Greater Intellect (Simulator, Forever client)
Scroll of Intellect IV (Simulator, Forever client)
Greater Arcane Elixir (Simulator, Forever client)
Baked Salmon (Simulator, Forever client)

Latest changes:

13 November 2026: client build 1.60.1.70888 -> 1.60.1.70938; 20-29: removed Devouring Plague, Starshards; 20-29: Mind Flay worth 7.7% -> 9.7%; 20-29: Wand worth 2.8% -> 5.2%; 30-39: added Mind Flay; 30-39: removed Starshards (new client build 1.60.1.70938)
11 November 2026: client build 1.60.1.70862 -> 1.60.1.70888; 40-49: Shadow Word: Pain worth 11% -> 6.4%; 40-49: Starshards worth 2.6% -> 5.2%; 50-59: added Mind Flay; 50-59: Shadow Word: Pain worth 7.1% -> 10.1%; 50-59: Starshards worth 8.7% -> 11.6% (new client build 1.60.1.70888)
8 November 2026: 50-59: added Devouring Plague; 1 new tip(s); 2 tip(s) dropped (client build or hotfix rebuild)

Every spec's latest changes. Re-studied every week and after each new game build.

Best in slot gear at any level: Discipline, Holy, Shadow

Best professions for Priests: Tailoring + Enchanting.

Priest abilities

Focused Casting
Lesser Heal (level 1)
Power Word: Fortitude (level 1)
Smite (level 1)
Shadow Word: Pain (level 4)
Power Word: Shield (level 6)
Fade (level 8)
Renew (level 8)
Confounding Flash (level 10)
Desperate Prayer (level 10, from the Classic class quest Desperate Prayer (rank 1))
Divine Grace (level 10)
Hex of Weakness (level 10, from the Classic class quest Hex of Weakness (rank 1))
Mind Blast (level 10)
Resurrection (level 10)
Starshards (level 10, from the Classic class quest Returning Home (rank 1))
Touch of Weakness (level 10, from the Classic class quest Touch of Weakness (rank 1))
Inner Fire (level 12)
Cure Disease (level 14)
Psychic Scream (level 14)
Heal (level 16)
Dispel Magic (level 18)
Chastise (level 20, from the Classic class quest A Lack of Fear (rank 1))
Contingency Plan (level 20)
Dark Sacrifice (level 20, from the Classic class quest Devouring Plague (rank 1))
Devouring Plague (level 20)
Elune's Grace (level 20, from the Classic class quest Elune's Grace)
Fear Ward (level 20)
Feedback (level 20, from the Classic class quest Arcane Feedback (rank 1))
Flash Heal (level 20)
Holy Fire (level 20)
Mind Soothe (level 20)
Shackle Undead (level 20)
Shadowguard (level 20, from the Classic class quest Shadowguard (rank 1))
Mind Vision (level 22)
Mana Burn (level 24)
Divine Spirit (level 30)
Mind Control (level 30)
Prayer of Healing (level 30)
Shadow Protection (level 30)
Abolish Disease (level 32)
Shadow Word: Death (level 32)
Levitate (level 34)
Greater Heal (level 40)
Lightwell (level 40)
Prayer of Fortitude (level 48)
Prayer of Shadow Protection (level 56)
Prayer of Spirit (level 60)

Data from the WoW Forever client, build 1.60.1.70938, extracted 2026-11-13.