Priest overview
The priest is the purest healer in the game and the class most groups look for first. With the Shadow tree it is also a capable damage dealer that levels without trouble.
At a glance
| Roles | Healer, ranged magic damage |
| Resource | Mana |
| Armor | Cloth |
| Difficulty | Easy to heal with, careful mana play in raids |
| Talent calculator | Priest talents |
Who can be a priest
The Forever client lists Human, Dwarf, Night Elf and Gnome for the Alliance and Undead and Troll for the Horde. Gnome priests are new compared with the original game.
How the class plays
Priests have the widest set of heals: a slow large heal, a fast expensive one, a heal over time and an absorbing shield. Choosing the right one for each moment is the core of the class, because running out of mana ends a fight faster than anything else. You also bring Power Word: Fortitude (more Stamina for everyone), dispels, and Psychic Scream to push enemies away.
Talent trees
Discipline is about mana and support. It ends in 
Power Infusion, a buff you cast on another caster to raise their spell damage and healing, with 
Force of Will below it.
Holy is the main healing tree. Its top talent is 
Lightwell, a well your group can click to heal over time, and 
Spiritual Healing increases all your healing.
Shadow is the damage tree and the usual leveling choice. It ends in 
Shadowform, which raises Shadow damage, lowers the mana cost of Shadow spells and reduces Physical damage you take, but blocks healing spells while active, with 
Darkness one tier below.
Leveling
Level as Shadow. Shield yourself, apply a damage over time spell, and finish with Mind Blast and wand attacks. Wands are the priest’s best friend while leveling: they cost no mana and let you regenerate between spells, so upgrade yours whenever you can.
In a group
You will be asked to heal, even as Shadow. Keep Fortitude on the group, watch the tank’s health first, and use the shield before big hits rather than after. Shadow priests are welcome in raids for their damage and the extra healing they give the group.
Strengths and weaknesses
- Strong: best healer toolkit, always wanted in groups, Shadow levels comfortably.
- Weak: cloth armor, mana management is unforgiving, few escapes when enemies reach you.
Races and talents come from the Forever client files (build 1.60.1.70790); play advice follows the original game and will be checked against Forever’s changes.