Welcome to WarcraftPriests Discipline Priest Quick Start Guide. This guide is updated to patch 9.0 World of Warcraft Shadowlands. The aim of this guide is to provide you with all the relevant information as a quick reference sheet.
Introduction
Ideal for those just getting back into the game or just starting on Discipline Priest. To view all changes made to us over the course of the Beta take a look at this post.
I highly encourage learning the spec to greater depths by going over our main Discipline Priest guide here.
If you want fast responses to questions you may have, pop into the WarcraftPriests Discord where we are always around to help out. If asking for gameplay help, giving us something to work with will allow for greater in-depth replies, so if possible always run logs of yourself.
Gameplay
As many of you may already know, the core gameplay aspect of Discipline is Atonement. to put it simply, we apply Atonement then deal damage which causes a portion of healing from that damage. It's important to be aware of our Mastery: Grace, which increases all of our healing to targets with Atonement.
It's noteworthy that while we primarily heal through Atonement, you cannot rely on Atonement to heal everything. There will be times you need to fall back on stronger single target healing.
- PW:S - Used Sparingly
- Maintain Atonement on Tanks.
- Quick Atonement application if targets are full health or you are on the move.
- Smend - Used often
- Strong single target healing that also applies Atonement.
- PW:R - Used often
- Quick group-wide Atonement application.
- Penance - Used often
- Can be used offensively or defensively, which is used depends on what you need more, AoE healing or single target healing respectively. If you know movement/healing is required soon, it can be worth holding onto Penance for a few seconds longer.
- Mind Blast - Used Sparingly
- Strong healing whilst Atonements are active with a heavy mana cost.
- SW:P - Constantly maintained
- Have at least one DoT ticking at all times for PotDS procs and constant healing over time.
- Smite - Used as a filler
- Very mana efficient for the damage it deals.
- Mind Sear - Used for AoE damage
- Only interacts with atonement on the first instance of damage, so not very good healing.
- Schism/Solace/Halo - Talented CD's used when needed
Cooldowns
- ShadowFiend - Used as a healing CD for strong healing through Atonement.
- PW:B - Should be preemptively used to counter massive group-wide damage.
- Rapture - Is used to either, preemptively counter incoming damage or to buffer the group's health pools to give you time to heal them up.
- PS - Is used to either, preemptively prevent damage incoming to a single target or as a last resort to try to keep someone alive.
- Mass Dispel, Purify and Dispel Magic - All of these spells should be utilised where necessary for the enemy buffs/ally debuffs.
- Desperate Prayer - Is used to keep yourself alive in a tough situation.
Talents
Level | Talent |
---|---|
15 | Schism |
25 | Angelic Feather |
30 | Mindbender / Power Word: Solace |
35 | Any |
40 | Sins of the Many |
45 | Purge the Wicked |
50 | Lenience |
Level | Talent |
---|---|
15 | ToF / Schism |
25 | Angelic Feather |
30 | Mindbender / Power Word: Solace |
35 | Any |
40 | Sins of the Many / Shadow Covenant |
45 | Purge the Wicked |
50 | Lenience |
Level | Talent |
---|---|
15 | Schism |
25 | Angelic Feather |
30 | Power Word: Solace / Mindbender |
35 | Any |
40 | Sins of the Many |
45 | Purge the Wicked / Halo |
50 | Evangelism / Spirit Shell |
Stats / Gear / Consumables
All secondary stats are very close for healing output, Item level is best.
- Intellect
- Haste
- Critical Strike
- Versatility
- Mastery
No Best in slot list will be provided here.
Here is a spreadsheet of all available gear at the highest item levels.
Consumable | Recommendation |
---|---|
Gem | 1 Kraken + 1 Leviathan (Worthwhile until we get raid gear) / Quick Jewel Cluster |
Food | Tenebrous Crown Roast Aspic - Personal Buff food / Feast of Gluttonous Hedonism - Intellect feast where possible. |
Oil | Embalmer's Oil (Healing only) / Shadowcore Oil (Damage only) |
Armour Kit | Heavy Desolate Armour Kit |
Flask | Spectral Flask of Power |
Potion | Potion of Spectral Intellect |
Health Potion | Spiritual Healing Potion |
Mana Potion | Spiritual Mana Potion (instant) / Potion of Spiritual Clarity (channelled) / Potion of Sacrificial Anima (health sacrifice) |
Enchants | Celestial Guidance (weapon) / Tenet of Haste (ring) / Eternal Intellect (wrists) / Eternal Stats (chest) / Fortified Leech (back) |
Covenants
Covenant | Placement M+ | Placement Raids | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Venthyr | 2 | 1 | Strong healing burst through Atonements on a short cooldown. |
Necrolord | 3 | 3 | Reasonable damage in multitarget scenarios, low-value healing through Atonements |
Night Fae | 4 | 4 | All-round insignificant towards performance with no direct Atonement output. |
Kyrian | 1 | 2 | Tremendous healing burst through Atonements on a long cooldown |
Soulbinds
Each individual Soulbind tree does not offer anything substantial in terms of performance increases but some below are some recommendations for all of the available trees.
Due to limitations of the calculator tool, currently, only images are supplied. This will be fixed soon. Keep in mind various selections are utility-based and you can choose either way depending on your preference.
Venthyr
It is recommended to utilise Nadjia the Mistblade early on. This is due to the earlier potency and more desirable traits. That being said, once you unlocks General Draven's last trait Hold Your Ground, it will be better to use him.
Necrolord
It is recommended to use Emeni earlier on then switch to Bonesmith Heirmir later on once he is unlocked. Potentially worthwhile switching to Plague Deviser Marileth for a short time when his second potency slot is available as it is earlier within the tree.
Night Fae
It is recommended to use Dreamweaver due to the earlier second potency and double endurance. Things like Podtender could also prove very useful.
Kyrian
Pelagos is the recommended pick due to the best overall traits and double endurance. It may be worth to switch to Kelia or Mikanikos during unlocking progression due to the earlier second potency slot.
Conduits
Placement | Conduit | Drop Location |
---|---|---|
1 | Exaltation (Spirit Shell) | Halls of Atonement |
2 | Shining Radiance | The Necrotic Wake |
3 | Courageous Ascension / Shattered Perceptions | Questline + World Quests |
4 | Exaltation / Rabid Shadows | Halls of Atonement / Plaguefall |
5 | Swift Penitence | Halls of Atonement |
6 | Festering Transfusion | Questline + World Quests |
7 | Pain Transformation | Mists of Tirne Scithe |
8 | Mind Devourer | De Other Side |
9 | Fae Fermata | Questline + World Quests |
Placement | Conduit | Drop Location |
---|---|---|
1 | Translucent Image | Castle Nathria - Lady Inerva Darkvein |
2 | Charitable Soul | Castle Nathria - General Kaal |
3 | Light's Inspiration | Castle Nathria - Sire Denathrius |
Placement | Conduit | Drop Location |
---|---|---|
1 | Clear Mind | Oribos |
- | Mental Recovery | Castle Nathria - Shriekwing |
- | Move with Grace | Castle Nathria - Hungering Destroyer |
- | Power Unto Others | Castle Nathria - Castellan Niklaus |
Legendaries
Placement | Legendary | Drop Location | Item Slot |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Clarity of Mind | Castle Nathria - Sludgefist | Finger / Chest |
2 | The Penitent One | Torghast - The Soulforges | Feet / Back |
3 | Kiss of Death | Torghast - Mort'regar | Legs / Feet |
4 | Crystalline Reflection | Plaguefall | Hands / Shoulder |
- | Twins of the Sun Priestess | Castle Nathria - Stone Legion Generals | Head / Shoulders |
- | Vault of the Heavens | PVP Vendor | Wrist / Finger |
- | Cauterizing Shadows | Theater of Pain | Waist / Feet |
- | Measured Contemplation | The Great Vault | Neck / Chest |
- | Echo of Eonar | Wild Hunt Reputation | Finger / Waist / Wrist |
Keep in mind that Twins of the Sun Priestess typically benefits more within coordinated groups due to you being able to increase your parties damage on rough pulls and keep your own healing benefit for that pull.
Placement | Legendary | Drop Location | Item Slot |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Twins of the Sun Priestess | Castle Nathria - Stone Legion Generals | Head / Shoulders |
2 | The Penitent One | Torghast - The Soulforges | Feet / Back |
3 | Kiss of Death | Torghast - Mort'regar | Legs / Feet |
4 | Crystalline Reflection | Plaguefall | Hands / Shoulder |
- | Clarity of Mind | Castle Nathria - Sludgefist | Finger / Chest |
- | Vault of the Heavens | PVP Vendor | Wrist / Finger |
- | Cauterizing Shadows | Theater of Pain | Waist / Feet |
- | Measured Contemplation | The Great Vault | Neck / Chest |
- | Echo of Eonar | Wild Hunt Reputation | Finger / Waist / Wrist |