WoW Forever beta Priest build for level 20: wand leveling with Spirit Tap

Overview

Levels 10–20 · Discipline Priest, solo questing and grinding.

Priests are split in the beta. Holy and Discipline players are having fun with the new Smite and Holy Fire, while Shadow players list many losses: Shadow Weaving only buffs you, and there is no Misery. At level 20, the most efficient way to level is the one Icy Veins recommends: wand leveling. Wand Specialization comes first, since you wand nearly every mob. Spirit Tap from the Shadow tree gives you big mana regeneration after each kill. Twin Disciplines makes your instant spells, like Shadow Word: Pain and Power Word: Shield, stronger. The fifth Discipline point unlocks Improved Power Word: Shield. Written for the first beta phase: level cap 20, client build 1.60.1.69913. Talents and tuning will change before the level 30 phase and again before launch on November 4.

Why this build

• Almost no downtime. Wand damage costs no mana, and Spirit Tap refills it after kills.
• Safe. A shielded Priest with a wand rarely dies to a single mob.
• Flexible. The same build heals dungeons fine at this level.

Weak spots

• Slow kills. Wanding is steady but not fast, so it is slower than a Paladin or Hunter.
• Weak against groups. Two mobs at once drain your mana quickly.
• Shadow is not the answer yet. Players are unhappy with the Shadow tree, so wait for changes before committing.

Talent order by level

One point per level from level 10 to 20. The talent tree above shows the finished level 20 build; use the level slider to see it at any level.

• Levels 10–11 · Wand Specialization 2/2 — +26% wand damage. You wand almost every mob, so this is your biggest damage talent.
• Levels 12–16 · Spirit Tap (Shadow) 5/5 — After a kill, doubles your Spirit for 15 sec and lets mana regenerate while casting. Most of your downtime disappears.
• Levels 17–19 · Twin Disciplines 3/5 — More damage and healing on instant spells (up to 5% at 5 points; 3% with these 3): Shadow Word: Pain, Power Word: Shield and Renew.
• Level 20 · Improved Power Word: Shield 1/3 — A stronger shield. Unlocked by the fifth point in Discipline.

Key levels

• Level 10 · Wand Specialization first, and buy the best wand you can afford.
• Level 12 · Start Spirit Tap for mana after each kill.
• Level 17 · Twin Disciplines for stronger instant spells.
• Level 20 · Improved Power Word: Shield completes the build.

How to pull and kill

1. Shield yourself, then Shadow Word: Pain, and wand the mob down.
2. Use Smite or Holy Fire to open or finish when you have mana to spare.
3. Let Spirit Tap work. Kill, then keep moving while mana comes back.
4. Psychic Scream when a second mob joins, then deal with them one at a time.

Leveling tips

• Your wand is your weapon. Upgrade it before anything else; Enchanters can make good early wands.
• Twilight Focus is an option if interrupts from damage bother you, as Icy Veins notes.
• Heal a dungeon or two. At this level, a Priest group finds healers are in short supply.
• Save Shadow for later. Check the beta class report before respeccing.

After level 20

When the cap rises, continue with the Wand Discipline Priest guide or the Shadow Priest leveling guide once Shadow feels right. The beta class report tracks Shadow feedback.

Sources

The talent path and leveling advice adapt these Classic guides to the WoW Forever talent trees; talents that are new or changed in Forever are chosen from this site’s talent data.

• WoW Forever Builds: beta class report (level 20)
• Icy Veins: Discipline Priest Healing Guide - WoW Forever
• Official forums: Shadow priest is horrible