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How To Play Shadow Priest
How to Play Shadow Priest in Mythic+
Shadow Priest in Mythic+ is a unique, rhythm-based caster spec with powerful cleave potential, strong utility, and a surprisingly durable kit. At its core, Shadow operates on a simple Insanity resource system and revolves around keeping key abilities on cooldown, reacting to procs, and maximizing uptime on Devouring Plague. Although it requires setup and planning, mastering this flow allows you to perform consistently in both high-key dungeon content and lower-pull speed runs.
Resources and Rotation
The Shadow Priest rotation is built around generating and spending Insanity, primarily by maintaining Devouring Plague uptime without overcapping. It’s your only spender, and it triggers effects like Mastery: Shadow Weaving and Surge of Insanity, making it a high priority in your core gameplay. Most of your globals are spent generating Insanity through Mind Blast, Shadow Word: Death, and procs like Shadowy Insight, while weaving in short-cooldown spells like Void Bolt or Mindbender.
Even in AoE, the rotation doesn’t change dramatically. Shadow cleaves passively via Psychic Link, which distributes single-target damage from Mind Blast and Devouring Plague to other enemies affected by Vampiric Touch. This makes it essential to apply and maintain Vampiric Touch on as many targets as possible, especially during large pulls.
Priorities and Cooldown Management
A significant part of Shadow’s gameplay is managing cooldowns of varying durations. Shorter CDs like Mind Blast or Void Bolt (if talented) should be pressed on cooldown to maintain a consistent flow of Insanity. Medium CDs like Shadowfiend or Void Torrent require pairing with larger damage windows, while long CDs like Voidform or Dark Ascension shape your overall combat rhythm.
Another key component is reacting to procs. Surge of Insanity procs transform Mind Flay or Mind Spike into empowered versions and must be spent efficiently to avoid capping. These stack up from Devouring Plague casts and should be consumed at a pace of roughly one empowered spell every two Devouring Plagues. On the other hand, Shadowy Insight gives free Mind Blasts, which you should cast immediately to avoid losing value.
The Opener: Setting the Tempo
Your opener should accomplish three things: apply all DoTs, begin generating and spending Insanity, and activate your major cooldowns. Ideally, you enter the pull with at least 10 Insanity from a pre-cast Halo or Divine Star. Start by applying Vampiric Touch and Shadow Word: Pain, then get Void Eruption or Dark Ascension rolling, followed by a channel of Void Torrent if available.
It’s common for several procs to occur in the opening seconds. Don’t stress about a perfect sequence—just stick to the core goals: keep key abilities on cooldown, avoid capping Insanity, and keep Devouring Plague ticking on the target. Once the rotation is flowing, you’ll find the natural cadence for layering in procs and cooldowns.
Shadow AoE in Mythic+
AoE is where Shadow’s passive cleave design shines. Thanks to Psychic Link, Shadowy Apparitions, and Whispering Shadows, the spec transforms its single-target abilities into multi-target damage with little effort. However, to fully unlock this potential, it’s crucial to apply Vampiric Touch to as many enemies as possible. This not only enables cleave but also sustains apparition spawns.
Void Eruption plays a big role in AoE by extending DoTs via Void Bolt, reducing the friction of reapplying Vampiric Touch manually. Since the spec leans into funnel damage—where cleave enhances priority target damage—it’s usually more efficient to focus on the mob with the most health and allow your passive cleave to deal with the rest.
Keep an eye on Shadow Word: Death opportunities via Death and Madness, which grants Insanity when you land a killing blow. And don’t hesitate to position aggressively before a pull—landing early DoTs while the tank is still grouping mobs gives you a head start on cleave setup and puts you ahead of most burst classes.
Advanced Gameplay and Movement
Shadow Priest rewards a deep understanding of timing and movement. While the core rotation is fairly consistent, high-level gameplay revolves around optimizing movement without losing cast time. This “stutter stepping” approach—using instant spells like Devouring Plague, Shadow Word: Death, or empowered Mind Spikes between steps—lets you reposition while maintaining high uptime.
In hectic dungeon moments, prioritize channeling Void Torrent and Mind Flay: Insanity during low-movement windows. Practice identifying “safe spots” to stand still during mechanics-heavy encounters so you can line up your most important spells.
AoE tracking is another advanced aspect. Managing multiple Vampiric Touch debuffs in large pulls becomes vital, especially with talents like Whispering Shadows or Dark Evangelism. Make sure your UI is tailored to help you track DoTs across all targets to minimize downtime and avoid reapplying unnecessarily.
Power Infusion and Cooldown Sync
With Twins of the Sun Priestess, your Power Infusion can also benefit an ally. While group coordination is key, your priority should always be on maximizing your own damage first. Ensure you get every possible use of Power Infusion in a dungeon and line it up with major cooldowns like Voidform, Void Torrent, or Mindbender.
That said, some classes—like Fire Mages or Demon Hunters—can benefit heavily from haste during their burst windows. If possible, coordinate PI uses to align with their cooldowns, so long as you’re not sacrificing your own throughput.
Cooldown Nodes: Voidform vs. Dark Ascension
Voidform, unlocked through Void Eruption, is less about its buff and more about access to Void Bolt, your highest-priority spell. Each Void Bolt has a hasted 6-second cooldown, allowing for three GCDs between casts. During Voidform, you want to aggressively spend Insanity via Devouring Plague to extend its duration and fit in as many Void Bolts as possible.
Dark Ascension, by contrast, offers a simpler burst window every 1 minute and pairs well with Mindbender. While it lacks the DoT extension from Void Bolt, it’s more forgiving and allows tighter syncing with other CDs. In AoE, though, it does require more manual DoT application.
Shadowfiend and Mindbender Usage
Shadowfiend and Mindbender are functionally similar—short-duration summons that generate Insanity and deal solid damage. While not enhanced by Voidform or Dark Ascension directly, they benefit from being active during other cooldowns. When talented into Inescapable Torment, Mindbender becomes a core part of your burst window, triggering bonus damage from Mind Blast and Shadow Word: Death.
Use Mindbender just before you start cycling your highest damage spells, and aim to extend it by casting those empowered abilities consistently throughout its uptime.
Rotation Priority
Opener
- Pre-cast Shadow Crash before the pull
- Cast Shadowfiend.
- Cast Mind Blast twice.
- Cast Halo.
- Cast Void Eruption
- Use Tempered Potion .
- Cast Power Infusion.
- Cast Shadow Word: Death.
- Cast Mind Flay until you have the Insanity to cast Devouring Plague.
- Cast Void Bolt.
- Cast Devouring Plague.
- Cast Void Torrent.
- Cast Void Bolt.
- Cast Devouring Plague.
- Cast Mind Flay: Insanity.
- Proceed onto the normal priority list
Single Target
- Cast Shadow Crash if you can reliably land it to maintain Vampiric Touch. If you are holding Shadow Crash for a more opportune moment, refresh with Vampiric Touch.
- Cast Shadowfiend.
- Cast Halo.
- Cast Void Eruption on cooldown. Make sure Mind Blast charges are on cooldown before this.
- Cast Power Infusion.
- Cast Void Bolt.
- Cast Devouring Plague if it’s not active, about to expire, you are about to cap on Insanity or Mind Devourer is active.
- Cast Mind Blast if capped on charges and Mind Devourer is not active.
- Cast Void Torrent if Devouring Plague will last for at least 2.5 seconds, and Mind Blast will not cap during the channel. Fully channel this spell.
- Deplete Mind Blast of charges if Mind Devourer is not active.
- Fully channel Mind Flay: Insanity.
- Cast Shadow Word: Death if the target is below 20% health.
- Cast Devouring Plague regardless of current Insanity if Void Eruption is close to ending.
- Cast Mind Flay, interrupt this for any higher priority action.
- Cast whatever instant casts you have available if you are unable to Mind Flay due to movement. These include Divine Star, Shadow Word: Death above 20% health, and Shadow Word: Pain.
Consumables
Enchants
Embellishments
Tier Set
Confessor’s Unshakable Virtue
