Shadow Priest guide image

Shadow Priest PvE Guide For Mythic+

Priest class icon Shadow Priest specialization icon
Shadow Priest
Season 3
50 characters
3797 - 3978

Welcome to Murlok.io's Shadow Priest PvE guide for Mythic+ in World of Warcraft. This guide lists the best stats, races, talents, gear, embellishments, enchantments, and gems for patch 10.2.6, based on the character builds of the Top 50 Shadow Priests from Dragonflight Season 3 across the US, EU, KR, and TW regions. This includes 悲嘆之息 (Shadowmoon TW) , who is currently the highest-ranked with a rating of 3978.

Updated every 12 hours with the latest data from the Battle.net API , the guide also examines each character's last time played, specialization usage frequency, and equipment type to ensure greater accuracy.

Top Shadow Priests

  1. 1
    悲嘆之息's character icon
    悲嘆之息
    Shadowmoon (TW)
    489 ilvl
    3978
  2. 2
    Hypeboy's character icon
    Hypeboy
    Area 52 (US)
    489 ilvl
    3977
  3. 3
    Yiesus's character icon
    Yiesus
    Illidan (US)
    488 ilvl
    3967
  4. 4
    Viklund's character icon
    Viklund
    Draenor (EU)
    488 ilvl
    3965
  5. 5
    Cursedshadow's character icon
    Cursedshadow
    Blackrock (EU)
    488 ilvl
    3957

Stat Priority

Stats are crucial attributes that directly influence a character's power in World of Warcraft. They not only determine the character's strength but also define the overall feel and playstyle. Stat bonuses can be found on various pieces of equipment, in consumables created by the Alchemy profession, certain foods, some enchantments , and gems .

It's important to note that each stat experiences diminishing returns once its equipped bonus reaches +20%. This means that optimizing a character's performance involves more than just maximizing each stat; it's about finding a balanced distribution. Here is the optimal way to balance Shadow Priest Secondary and Minor stats for Mythic+.

Secondary Stats
+2225
17% Critical Strike
+6067
35% Haste
+5914
20% Mastery
+2534
12% Versatility
  1. Haste
  2. Mastery
  3. Versatility
  4. Critical Strike
Minor Stats
+1139
14% Avoidance
+294
2% Leech
+186
4% Speed
  1. Avoidance
  2. Leech
  3. Speed

Races

In World of Warcraft, each race comes with unique traits that enhance character abilities or improve in-game quality of life. Although these racial traits typically offer minor advantages, they can still provide a competitive edge in certain scenarios.

With Night Elf currently being the top race for Shadow Priests in Mythic+, here are the other races that also stand out due to their advantageous traits.

  1. Night Elf race icon
    Night Elf
    45
  2. Human race icon
    Human
    3
  3. Goblin race icon
    Goblin
    1
  4. Dwarf race icon
    Dwarf
    1

Class Talents

Talents are the main element defining a character's build, significantly influencing the playstyle by adding, modifying, and enhancing character abilities and behaviors. They are crucial in shaping how a character functions in battle.

Class talents represent a common tree shared across all Priest specializations. These talents provide foundational skills and enhancements that are essential and universal to the Priest class. They offer a range of abilities that lay the groundwork for a Priest's overall capabilities, regardless of the chosen specialization.

The following tree reproduces the in-game class talents disposition as a heatmap. Each color represents the usage frequency and general recommendation level of the talents:

  • Legendary : Represents the most frequently used talents. These are highly recommended for optimal performance.
  • Epic : Indicates talents that are widely used but offer flexibility for alternative choices. Useful in specific scenarios or personal preference.
  • Talents without color: Talents less commonly selected. They are typically chosen to fill necessary slots for advancing to the next tier and may not offer significant value in most situations.
Renew
0
Dispel Magic
50
Shadowfiend
50
Prayer of Mending
0
Improved Flash Heal
50
Purify Disease
28
Psychic Voice
4
Shadow Word: Death
50
Focused Mending
0
Holy Nova
50
Protective Light
50
Angelic Feather
48
Phantasm
25
Death and Madness
50
Spell Warding
50
Rhapsody
0
Leap of Faith
34
Shackle Undead
2
Void Tendrils
13
Dominate Mind
36
Words of the Pious
0
Mass Dispel
40
Move with Grace
0
Power Infusion
50
Vampiric Embrace
49
Tithe Evasion
50
Inspiration
0
Mental Agility
0
Body and Soul
49
Twins of the Sun Priestess
50
Void Shield
18
San'layn
50
Apathy
0
Unwavering Will
20
Twist of Fate
50
Throes of Pain
50
Angel's Mercy
17
Halo
27
Translucent Image
50
Mindgames
50
Surge of Light
0
Light's Inspiration
47
Crystalline Reflection
0
Improved Fade
50
Manipulation
12
Power Word: Life
2
Angelic Bulwark
36
Essence Devourer
36
Shattered Perceptions
6

Specialization Talents

Specialization talents constitute a specialized tree, providing Shadow Priests with unique abilities and enhancements tailored to their combat style.

The following tree reproduces the in-game specialization talents disposition as a heatmap. Each color represents the usage frequency and general recommendation level of the talents:

  • Legendary : Represents the most frequently used talents. These are highly recommended for optimal performance.
  • Epic : Indicates talents that are widely used but offer flexibility for alternative choices. Useful in specific scenarios or personal preference.
  • Talents without color: Talents less commonly selected. They are typically chosen to fill necessary slots for advancing to the next tier and may not offer significant value in most situations.
Devouring Plague
50
Dispersion
50
Shadowy Apparitions
50
Silence
46
Mental Fortitude
49
Misery
50
Last Word
0
Thought Harvester
50
Psychic Link
50
Surge of Insanity
50
Shadow Crash
49
Unfurling Darkness
0
Void Eruption
45
Mental Decay
3
Mind Spike
3
Whispering Shadows
49
Shadowy Insight
50
Ancient Madness
47
Voidtouched
48
Mind Melt
3
Maddening Touch
47
Dark Evangelism
6
Mind Devourer
3
Phantasmal Pathogen
49
Mind's Eye
45
Mindbender
50
Deathspeaker
50
Auspicious Spirits
45
Void Torrent
5
Inescapable Torment
50
Mastermind
5
Screams of the Void
45
Tormented Spirits
45
Insidious Ire
5
Malediction
0
Idol of Y'Shaarj
4
Idol of N'Zoth
46
Idol of Yogg-Saron
45
Idol of C'Thun
5

PvP Talents

PvP talents are specifically tailored for player-versus-player combat scenarios. Activated in arenas, battlegrounds, and the open world with war mode enabled, these talents are designed to optimize a Shadow Priest's performance in PvP encounters. They provide specialized enhancements and strategies that give players an edge in combat against other players, reflecting the unique demands of PvP gameplay.

The following tree reproduces the in-game pvp talents disposition as a heatmap. Each color represents the usage frequency and general recommendation level of the talents:

  • Legendary : Represents the most frequently used talents. These are highly recommended for optimal performance.
  • Epic : Indicates talents that are widely used but offer flexibility for alternative choices. Useful in specific scenarios or personal preference.
  • Talents without color: Talents less commonly selected. They are typically chosen to fill necessary slots for advancing to the next tier and may not offer significant value in most situations.
Driven to Madness
28
Mind Trauma
18
Psyfiend
12
Thoughtsteal
2
Void Volley
21
Absolute Faith
1
Catharsis
25
Phase Shift
33
Improved Mass Dispel
1

Best In Slot And Gear

Gear consists of items that directly determine a character's power level. It can be acquired from diverse sources: dungeon, raid, world drops, crafted through various professions, obtained from PvP vendors, or chosen as rewards from the Great Vault.

Each piece of gear significantly boosts a character's overall strength and capabilities. Here are the top items for Shadow Priests in Mythic+, tailored for each equipment slot.

Head

  1. Crest of Lunar Communion item set icon
    set
    Crest of Lunar Communion
    32
  2. Hood of Surging Time item icon
    Hood of Surging Time
    9
  3. Lost Scholar's Timely Hat item icon
    Lost Scholar's Timely Hat
    4
  4. Aurelian Miter item icon
    Aurelian Miter
    2
  5. Collar of Raking Claws item icon
    Collar of Raking Claws
    1

Neck

  1. Torc of Passed Time item icon
    Torc of Passed Time
    39
  2. Raven Filigree Pendant item icon
    Raven Filigree Pendant
    3
  3. Amulet of Eonar's Chosen item icon
    Amulet of Eonar's Chosen
    2
  4. Elemental Lariat item icon
    Elemental Lariat
    2
  5. Ironshell Pendant item icon
    Ironshell Pendant
    2

Shoulders

  1. Shoulderguardians of Lunar Communion item set icon
    set
    Shoulderguardians of Lunar Communion
    46
  2. Lost Scholar's Temporal Shoulderdials item icon
    Lost Scholar's Temporal Shoulderdials
    3
  3. Slipstream Shoulderpads item icon
    Slipstream Shoulderpads
    1

Back

  1. Vibrant Wildercloth Shawl item icon
    Vibrant Wildercloth Shawl
    22
  2. Cloak of Lunar Communion item icon
    Cloak of Lunar Communion
    12
  3. Drape of the Loyal Vassal item icon
    Drape of the Loyal Vassal
    4
  4. Shadowfeather Shawl item icon
    Shadowfeather Shawl
    3
  5. Cloak of Fading Echoes item icon
    Cloak of Fading Echoes
    2

Chest

  1. Cassock of Lunar Communion item set icon
    set
    Cassock of Lunar Communion
    43
  2. Vesture of the Smoldering Serpent item icon
    Vesture of the Smoldering Serpent
    7

Wrist

  1. Wristwraps of Lunar Communion item icon
    Wristwraps of Lunar Communion
    13
  2. Fading Flame Wristbands item icon
    Fading Flame Wristbands
    11
  3. Overengineered Sleeve Extenders item icon
    Overengineered Sleeve Extenders
    10
  4. Vibrant Wildercloth Wristwraps item icon
    Vibrant Wildercloth Wristwraps
    9
  5. Anguished Restraints item icon
    Anguished Restraints
    4

Hands

  1. Touch of Lunar Communion item set icon
    set
    Touch of Lunar Communion
    47
  2. Vibrant Wildercloth Handwraps item icon
    Vibrant Wildercloth Handwraps
    2
  3. Familiar's Frayed Gloves item icon
    Familiar's Frayed Gloves
    1

Waist

  1. Cincture of Lunar Communion item icon
    Cincture of Lunar Communion
    28
  2. Whispering Fanged Cord item icon
    Whispering Fanged Cord
    9
  3. Vibrant Wildercloth Girdle item icon
    Vibrant Wildercloth Girdle
    5
  4. Urctos's Hibernal Dial item icon
    Urctos's Hibernal Dial
    3
  5. Mobius Strap item icon
    Mobius Strap
    2

Legs

  1. Leggings of Lunar Communion item set icon
    set
    Leggings of Lunar Communion
    49
  2. Elder's Volcanic Wrap item icon
    Elder's Volcanic Wrap
    1

Feet

  1. Lifewoven Slippers item icon
    Lifewoven Slippers
    22
  2. Lost Scholar's Belted Treads item icon
    Lost Scholar's Belted Treads
    9
  3. Poulaines of Lunar Communion item icon
    Poulaines of Lunar Communion
    9
  4. Devilsaur Worshiper's Sandals item icon
    Devilsaur Worshiper's Sandals
    3
  5. Vibrant Wildercloth Slippers item icon
    Vibrant Wildercloth Slippers
    3

Rings

  1. Signet of Titanic Insight item icon
    Signet of Titanic Insight
    48
  2. Band of Burning Thorns item icon
    Band of Burning Thorns
    16
  3. Ring-Bound Hourglass item icon
    Ring-Bound Hourglass
    14
  4. Anthia's Ring item icon
    Anthia's Ring
    4
  5. Signet of the Last Elder item icon
    Signet of the Last Elder
    4

Trinkets

  1. Pip's Emerald Friendship Badge item icon
    Pip's Emerald Friendship Badge
    42
  2. Ashes of the Embersoul item icon
    Ashes of the Embersoul
    39
  3. Balefire Branch item icon
    Balefire Branch
    8
  4. Sea Star item icon
    Sea Star
    7
  5. Coagulated Genesaur Blood item icon
    Coagulated Genesaur Blood
    2

Main Hand

  1. Vakash, the Shadowed Inferno item icon
    Vakash, the Shadowed Inferno
    15
  2. Iridal, the Earth's Master item icon
    Iridal, the Earth's Master
    14
  3. Dreambinder, Loom of the Great Cycle item icon
    Dreambinder, Loom of the Great Cycle
    9
  4. Staff of Incandescent Torment item icon
    Staff of Incandescent Torment
    7
  5. Morchie's Distorted Spellblade item icon
    Morchie's Distorted Spellblade
    2

Off Hand

  1. Trickster's Captivating Chime item icon
    Trickster's Captivating Chime
    11
  2. Bioluminescent Lamp item icon
    Bioluminescent Lamp
    3
  3. Ancestor's Necromantic Focus item icon
    Ancestor's Necromantic Focus
    2
  4. Solena's Watchful Collection item icon
    Solena's Watchful Collection
    2
  5. Interloper's Mossy Skull item icon
    Interloper's Mossy Skull
    1

Embellishments

Embellishments are unique effects that can be added to crafted items, either as predefined elements in recipes or through an optional embellishment reagent, creating embellished gear. These enhancements diversify and amplify characters' capabilities.

Given that only a maximum of 2 embellished items can be equipped at a time, here are the best embellishments for Shadow Priests in Mythic+.

  1. Torc of Passed Time embellishment item icon
    Blue Silken Lining
    87
  2. Hood of Surging Time embellishment item icon
    Prepared Time
    9
  3. Elemental Lariat embellishment item icon
    Elemental Lariat
    2
  4. Allied Wristguards of Time Dilation embellishment item icon
    Rallied To Victory
    2

Enchantments

Enchantments provide minor yet valuable enhancements to various items, including Head, Back, Chest, Wrist, Waist, Legs, Rings, Feet, Main Hand, and Off Hand.

Most enchantments are crafted via the Enchanting profession. However, Waist enchantments specifically require Blacksmithing, Legs enhancements are crafted by Leatherworkers, and Head enchantments come from the Incandescent Essence , a reward obtained through a quest in the Amirdrassil raid.

Enchantments are usually available at the auction house, making them accessible for upgrades. Here is a list of the top enchantments for Shadow Priests in Mythic+, essential for optimizing combat effectiveness.

Head

  1. Incandescent Essence enchantment icon
    Incandescent Essence
    49

Back

  1. Graceful Avoidance enchantment icon
    Graceful Avoidance
    48
  2. +125 Avoidance enchantment icon
    +125 Avoidance
    1
  3. Regenerative Leech enchantment icon
    Regenerative Leech
    1

Chest

  1. Waking Stats enchantment icon
    Waking Stats
    50

Wrist

  1. +200 Avoidance enchantment icon
    +200 Avoidance
    50

Waist

  1. Shadowed Belt Clasp enchantment icon
    Shadowed Belt Clasp
    50

Legs

  1. Frozen Spellthread enchantment icon
    Frozen Spellthread
    48
  2. Lambent Armor Kit enchantment icon
    Lambent Armor Kit
    1
  3. Temporal Spellthread enchantment icon
    Temporal Spellthread
    1

Feet

  1. Watcher's Loam enchantment icon
    Watcher's Loam
    41
  2. Plainsrunner's Breeze enchantment icon
    Plainsrunner's Breeze
    9

Rings

  1. +82 Haste enchantment icon
    +82 Haste
    31
  2. +82 Mastery enchantment icon
    +82 Mastery
    31
  3. +82 Versatility enchantment icon
    +82 Versatility
    24

Main Hand

  1. Wafting Devotion enchantment icon
    Wafting Devotion
    46
  2. Sophic Devotion enchantment icon
    Sophic Devotion
    4

Gems

Gems are crafted stones from the Jewelcrafting profession, typically offering stat bonuses to enhance your gear. These gems can be socketed into specific items such as Head, Neck, Wrist, Waist, and Rings. The presence of sockets on items is usually random upon their drop.

Notably, Neck items can be uniquely modified to have up to three sockets by using 3 Tiered Medallion Setting . Additionally, a single socket can be added to other eligible items with a Nature's Cradle , which requires 6 Aspects' Tokens of Merit obtained from the Great Vault.

Available through both the auction house and the crafting order system, the following are the top gem choices for Shadow Priests in Mythic+.

  1. Energized Malygite gem icon
    Energized Malygite
    69
  2. Keen Ysemerald gem icon
    Keen Ysemerald
    50
  3. Sensei's Neltharite gem icon
    Sensei's Neltharite
    36
  4. Zen Neltharite gem icon
    Zen Neltharite
    32
  5. Energized Ysemerald gem icon
    Energized Ysemerald
    30