• Added Phase 2 BiS Equipment
• Added Phase 3 BiS Equipment
• Reviewed Talent Builds, Consumables, and Rotations

The Dwarf is a clear winner here as He receives a set of very powerful tools that affect Shadow Priest's gameplay. Firstly, he gets Fear Ward that is essential for encounters like Onyxia, where it allows the Priest to shield a Tank from Fear mechanics present in the fight and is also incredibly powerful in PvP. Secondly, he receives the Stoneform that considerably increases his survivability, and for emergencies, he gets access to the Desperate Prayer. On top of that, Dwarf is also the best choice for PvP.

1. Spell Hit Chance -  Increases your chance to hit with all your offensive Spells. You need a total of 16% Hit Rating. Shadow Focus Talent provides you with 10% Spell Hit Chance, which means that all you need from Gear is additional 6%. Getting Hit-Capped should be your top priority while gearing up for Raids.

2. Spell Damage/Shadow Damage - Increases your Damage/Shadow Damage done with Spells. The damage bonus from Spell Damage is calculated differently for different Spells and their Ranks, but in general, this is one of the best statistics for Shadow Priests.

3. Mp5 (Mana per 5 seconds) - Regenerates X mana every 5 seconds. This effect continues while casting, which makes it much better than Spirit when it comes to the sustain that it provides.

4. Intellect - Increases your total Mana Pool and provides you with additional Spell Critical Chance (59,2 Int = 1% Spell Critical Strike Chance).

5. Spell Critical Chance - Gives you a chance to do additional (Critical) Damage with your offensive Spells.

6. Spirit -  Increases your mana regeneration while not casting (5-second rule). Priests benefit from Spirit while in combat thanks to the Meditation Talent.

Statistic Priority for a Shadow Priest:

Spell Hit Cap ⇒ Spell Damage/Shadow Damage ⇒ Mp5 ⇒ Intellect ⇒ Spell Critical Chance ⇒ Spirit

Entry-level Shadow Priest PvE DPS Build

Discipline Tree:

• 5/5 Wand Specialization - Your Wand now deals 25% more DPS. This Talent makes a big difference if you don't have Spell Power/Shadow Damage gear equipped - when you are gearing up, in other words.
• 1/5 Silent Resolve - With this version of the build, you will not be using Mind Blast too often which means that Threat should not be a problem.
• 2/2 Improved Power Word: Fortitude - In a build designed for High-Level 5-man Dungeons, this Talent is necessary (there might not be a second priest in the group, so you will te the one buffing people).
• 3/3 Improved Power Word: Shield - PW: Shield does not scale with gear almost at all, which means that this Talent is the only way of improving it. The shield is incredibly useful in 5-mans and for solo content, so skipping this Talent is not recommended. Sadly, Shield can be used on Group members only, which limits its viability in Raids and other mass content.
• 1/1 Inner Focus - Great for casting a free, hard-hitting Mind Blast, although you should try to save this Cooldown for an emergency.
• 3/3 Meditation - Makes Spirit a bit more valuable and slightly improves your sustain.
• 5/5 Mental Agility - In 5-mans, you will constantly be using spells like Power Word: Shield, Shadow Word: Pain, and even Renew, which means that this Talent will generate a lot of value over time.

Shadow Tree:

• 5/5 Spirit Tap - Considerably improves your mana regeneration after you deal a killing blow. For the best effect, you should try to snipe trash mobs with your Wand. This Talent will keep you going during trash pulls but is useless in most Boss encounters.
• 3/3 Shadow Affinity - This should take care of Threat spikes caused by occasional Mind Blast crits.
• 2/2 Improved Shadow Word: Pain - SW: Pain now lasts for 24 seconds, which makes it much more efficient.
• 5/5 Shadow Focus - Makes you much more effective at dealing with enemies that are resistant to Shadow Damage.
• 1/1 Mind Flay - One of Shadow Priest's signature abilities. It has a Slow effect attached but at the cost of a short, 20yd range.
• 3/3 Shadow Reach - 20% extra range on Shadow Spells gives you some much-needed breathing room when it comes to staying within the Mind Flay range.
• 5/5 Shadow Weaving - Your Shadow Spells now cause your Target to take increased Shadow Damage. This Talent makes Shadow Priests borderline Raid-viable - a single Shadow Priest boosts DPS of all Warlocks present in the Raid.
• 1/1 Vampiric Embrace - Gives your spells life-leech effect when applied to a Target. This effect heals your whole group which gives some breathing room to a healer.
• 5/5 Darkness - Makes you 10% better at dealing Shadow Damage.
• 1/1 Shadow Form - The reason why one becomes a Shadow Priest. Makes your Shadow Spells deal 15% more damage and increases your physical damage resistance by 15%, but prevents you from casting Holy Spells.

Raid-ready Shadow Priest PvE DPS Build

Discipline Tree:

• 5/5 Unbreakable Will - Makes you randomly resist Raid mechanics, which is nice. Just don't count on it occurring too often.
• 5/5 Silent Resolve - This should reduce Threat problems caused by hard-hitting Mind Blasts.
• 2/2 Improved Power Word: Fortitude.
• 1/1 Inner Focus - Great for casting a free, hard-hitting Mind Blast. Remember not to use it immediately after combat starts as it will most likely result in pulling Aggro.
• 3/3 Meditation.

Shadow Tree:

• 5/5 Spirit Tap. 
• 3/3 Shadow Affinity. 
• 2/2 Improved Shadow Word: Pain. 
• 5/5 Shadow Focus. 
• 4/5 Improved Mind Blast - Lowers Mind Blast's cooldown to 6 seconds, which is enough to squeeze 2 Mind Flays between its casts.
• 1/1 Mind Flay. 
• 3/3 Shadow Reach. 
• 5/5 Shadow Weaving. 
• 1/1 Vampiric Embrace. 
• 5/5 Darkness. 
• 1/1 Shadow Form. 

• Pre-Raid - Scepter of the Unholy (Drop from Baron Rivendare, Stratcholme) / Witchblade (Drop from Darkmaster Gandling, Scholomance)
• Phase 1 - Anathema (Quest Reward from "The Balance of Light and Shadow", Priest Class Quest)
• Phase 2 - Anathema
• Phase 3 - Lok’amir il Romathis (Drop from Nefarian, Blackwing Lair)
• Phase 4 - TBA
• Phase 5 - TBA
• Phase 6 - TBA

• Pre-Raid - Drakestone of Shadow Wrath (Drop from Weaver, Dreamscythe, and Hazzas, Sunken Temple; note: The item has a Random Enchantment) / Spirit of Aquementas (Quest Reward from "It's Dangerous to Go Alone", Un'Goro Crater)
• Phase 1 - none (Anathema takes up both hands)
  Phase 2 - none (Anathema takes up both hands)
• Phase 3 - Master Dragonslayer’s Orb (Quest Reward from “The Lord of Blackrock”, Blackwing Lair)
• Phase 4 - TBA
• Phase 5 - TBA
• Phase 6 - TBA

• Pre-Raid - Skul's Ghastly Touch (Drop from Skul, Stratcholme) / Lunar Wand of Shadow Wrath (BoE World Drop; can be purchased on AH; note: The item has a Random Enchantment)
• Phase 1 - Skul's Ghastly Touch / Bonescreeper Stylus (Drop from Darkmaster Gandling, Scholomance)
• Phase 2 - Skul's Ghastly Touch
• Phase 3 - Skul's Ghastly Touch
• Phase 4 - TBA
• Phase 5 - TBA
• Phase 6 - TBA

• Pre-Raid - Mindtap Talisman  (Drop from Magister Kalendris, Dire Maul) / Burst of Knowledge (Drop from Ambassador Flamelash, Blackrock Depths)
• Phase 1 - Talisman of Ephemeral Power (drop from Baron Geddon, Gaar, Golemagg the Incinerator, and Magmadar, Molten Core)
• Phase 2 - Talisman of Ephemeral Power 
• Phase 3 - Talisman of Ephemeral Power 
• Phase 4 - TBA
• Phase 5 - TBA
• Phase 6 - TBA

• Pre-Raid - Briarwood Reed (Drop from Jed Runewatcher, Upper Blackrock Spire)
• Phase 1 - Briarwood Reed
• Phase 2 - Briarwood Reed
• Phase 3 - Neltharion’s Tear (Drop from Nefarian, Blackwing Lair)
• Phase 4 - TBA
• Phase 5 - TBA
• Phase 6 - TBA

• Pre-Raid - Dark Advidor's Pendant (Drop from Vectus, Scholomance) / Star of Mystaria (Drop from Balnazzar, Stratcholme)
• Phase 1 - Choker of the Fire Lord (drop from Ragnaros, Molten Core)
• Phase 2 - Choker of the Fire Lord 
• Phase 3 - Choker of the Fire Lord 
• Phase 4 - TBA
• Phase 5 - TBA
• Phase 6 - TBA

• Pre-Raid - Songstone of Ironforge (Quest Reward from "The Princess's Surprise", Blackrock Depths) / Eye of Orgrimmar (Quest Reward from "The Princess Saved?", Blackrock Depths)
• Phase 1 - Ring of Spell Power (drop from Shazzrah, Lucifron, Gehennas, and Sulfuron Harbinger, Molten Core)
• Phase 2 - Ring of Spell Power
• Phase 3 - Band of Forced Concentration (Drop from Ebonroc, Blackwing Lair)
• Phase 4 - TBA
• Phase 5 - TBA
• Phase 6 - TBA

• Pre-Raid - Maiden's Circle (BoE World Drop; can be purchased on AH) / Underworld Band (BoE World Drop; can be purchased on AH)
• Phase 1 - Maiden's Circle / Ring of Spell Power (not Unique, you can equip two)
• Phase 2 - Maiden's Circle / Ring of Spell Power 
• Phase 3 - Band of Dark Dominion (Drop from Blackwing Warlock, Blackwing Lair)
• Phase 4 - TBA
• Phase 5 - TBA
• Phase 6 - TBA

• Pre-Raid - Green Lens of Shadow Wrath (Engineering recipe, requires 245 Engi to use; it has a Random Enchantment) / The Postmaster's Band (Drop from Postmaster Malown, Stratcholme)
• Phase 1 - Green Lens of Shadow Wrath
• Phase 2 - Green Lens of Shadow Wrath / Field Marshal’s Headdress/Warlord’s Satin Cowl (Rank 13 PvP Reward)
• Phase 3 - Field Marshal’s Headdress/Warlord’s Satin Cowl / Mish’undare, Circlet of the Mind Flayer (Drop from Nefarian, Blackwing Lair)
• Phase 4 - TBA
• Phase 5 - TBA
• Phase 6 - TBA

• Pre-Raid -  Robe of Winter Night (Created by Tailoring, the Recipe drops from Cobalt Mageweaver NPC found in Winterspring)
• Phase 1 - Robe of Winter Night / Robe of Volatile Power (drop from Lucifron, Shazzrah, Sulfuron Harbinger, and Gehennas, Molten Core)
• Phase 2 - Field Marshal’s Satin Vestments/Warlord’s Satin Robes (Rank 13 PvP Reward)
• Phase 3 - Field Marshal’s Satin Vestments/Warlord’s Satin Robes
• Phase 4 - TBA
• Phase 5 - TBA
• Phase 6 - TBA

• Pre-Raid - Skyshroud Leggings (drop from Highlord Omokk, Lower Blackrock Spire) / Spiritshroud Leggings (Drop from The Beast, Upper Blackrock Spire)
• Phase 1 - Skyshroud Leggings
• Phase 2 - Fel Infused Leggings (Drop from Lord Kazzak, Blasted Lands World Boss)
• Phase 3 - Fel Infused Leggings
• Phase 4 - TBA
• Phase 5 - TBA
• Phase 6 - TBA

• Pre-Raid - Hands of Power (drop from Quartermaster Zigris, Lower Blackrock Spire) / Dreamweave Gloves (Created by Tailoring, Base Recipe taught by a Trainer)
• Phase 1 - Hands of Power / Atal'ai Gloves of Shadow Wrath (Drop from Atal'ai Defenders, Sunken Temple; note: The item has a Random Enchantment)
• Phase 2 - Marshal’s Satin Gloves/General’s Satin Gloves (Rank 12 PvP Reward)
• Phase 3 - Ebony Flame Gloves (Drop from Ebonroc, Blackwing Lair)
• Phase 4 - TBA
• Phase 5 - TBA
• Phase 6 - TBA

• Pre-Raid - Maleki's Footwraps (Drop from Maleki the Pallid, Stratcholme) / Omnicast Boots (drop from Golem Lord Ardelmach, Blackrock Depths)
• Phase 1 - Maleki's Footwraps
• Phase 2 - Snowblind Shoes (Drop from Azuregos, Azshara World Boss)
• Phase 3 - Snowblind Shoes
• Phase 4 - TBA
• Phase 5 - TBA
• Phase 6 - TBA

• Pre-Raid - Felcloth Shoulders  (Created by Tailoring, Recipe is a random World Drop) / Elder Wizard's Mantle (BoE World Drop; can be purchased on AH)
• Phase 1 - Felcloth Shoulders / Elder Wizard's Mantle
• Phase 2 - Felcloth Shoulders / Field Marshal’s Satin Mantle/Warlord’s Satin Mantle (Rank 13 PvP Reward)
• Phase 3 - Field Marshal’s Satin Mantle/Warlord’s Satin Mantle / Mantle of the Blackwing Cabal (Drop from Razorgore the Untamed, Blackwing Lair)
• Phase 4 - TBA
• Phase 5 - TBA
• Phase 6 - TBA

• Pre-Raid - Flameweave Cuffs of Shadow Wrath (drop from Lord Incendius, Blackrock Depths; note: The item has a Random Enchantment) / Tearfall Bracers of Shadow Wrath (Drop from The Unforgiven, Stratcholme; note: The item has a Random Enchantment)
• Phase 1 - Flameweave Cuffs of Shadow Wrath
• Phase 2 - Flameweave Cuffs of Shadow Wrath
• Phase 3 - Flameweave Cuffs of Shadow Wrath / Bracers of Arcane Accuracy (Drop from Broodlord Lashlayer, Blackwing Lair)
• Phase 4 - TBA
• Phase 5 - TBA
• Phase 6 - TBA

• Pre-Raid - Ban'thok Sash (drop from Ok'thor the Breaker, Blackrock Depths)
• Phase 1 - Sash of Whispered Secrets (Contained in Cache of the Firelord, Molten Core)
• Phase 2 - Sash of Whispered Secrets 
• Phase 3 - Firemaw’s Clutch (Drop from Firemaw, Blackwing Lair)
• Phase 4 - TBA
• Phase 5 - TBA
• Phase 6 - TBA

• Pre-Raid - Archivist Cape of Shadow Wrath (drop from Archivist Galford, Stratcholme; note: The item has a Random Enchantment) / Master's Cloak of Shadow Wrath  (BoE World Drop; can be purchased on AH; note: The item has a Random Enchantment)
• Phase 1 - Archivist Cape of Shadow Wrath / Sapphiron Drape (drop from Onyxia, Onyxia's Lair)
• Phase 2 - Sapphiron Drape
• Phase 3 - Cloak of the Brood Lord (Drop from Nefarian, Blackwing Lair)
• Phase 4 - TBA
• Phase 5 - TBA
• Phase 6 - TBA

1. Maintain Shadow Word: Pain

2. Mindblast on Cooldown

3. Mind Flay twice when Mindblast is recharging

4. Rank 1 Shadow Word: Pain to maintain Shadow Weaving when you are low on mana

5. Spam Shoot (Wand Attack) when out of mana and without mana regen consumables to pop

1. Stack Consumables and always have Mana Potions and Runes on you. This will allow you to deal more damage more reliably. Spending some additional Gold or a few extra hours grinding might secure you a spot in a Raid, as Raid leaders prefer dedicated and well-prepared players.

2. Downrank your Spells if needed. Downranking is the key to proper mana management as a Shadow Priest.

3. Always try to improve. Get an addon that tracks your performance and try to optimize your equipment and rotation.

END NOTE

This Guide should help you to prepare yourself for that legendary Vanilla  Raiding Experience and allow you to progress through Raid Tiers efficiently and with a good amount of fun.

We hope that you have found this guide useful and informative.  If we have missed a piece of information that is important to you, please let us know! 

Please do note that this is an early version of our guide, and we will be happy to receive constructive criticism, that will help us improve it, so leave your suggestions in the comments section below.