I played priest. Once upon a time. Back when raiding Molten Core was the latest rage. I've been playing my hunter since.
It seems I might be thinking about playing my priest once again. I did, incredibly sporadically, play my priest enough to get just barely to level 70, but I really haven't a clue on how to "properly" play a priest beyond what I knew from circa v1.4 and I'm looking to level a character with like no spell power or other meaningful gear, no sense of a good rotation of abilities for fighting efficiently, no idea what to be looking for from my quest rewards, completely unsure if I'm using a reasonable spec....does anyone have a good place I might start? Assume I'm *probably* shadow while leveling unless there's good reason not to be, since it's how I've always leveled priests, however it will be my intent to heal long-term.
By all means, I'm sure this information exists somewhere and I just don't see it at the snap of the fingers, so links are awesome. But the sticky in this forum is written in ORANGE. On a tan background? Is that even readable? So yeah, I only briefly skimmed the forum topics and am just gonna do the old "new topic button" thing. If I'm filling the forum with clutter, I apologize. I just don't have the time to do a ton of independent research these days.
- Forums
- World of Warcraft
- Class Discussion
- Level 70 noob
Level 70 noobFollow
Only the exceptions can be exceptional.
I did say before we need a better/new sticky =P
In a nutshell; discipline specializes in single-target healing with penance as main heal, holy specializes in AOE with greater heal as main heal. Both are raid-viable now. You can level as disc or holy pretty well as it is, but people will tell you it's generally better to stick with shadow; pre-heroics you should be able to heal trough everything as shadow; the idea is that if you learn to heal the hard way (without holy and disc's crutch talents), you'll be a better healer in the end.
Links, right...
For healing, you might want to start here. Specially the part Teacake typed out is very much valid. Things have changed a bit since then, but it's still mostly valid. You just need to know that as a disc healer your main heal will be Penance rather than Greater Heal. Furthermore this thread also has some fairly accurate stats info (once again by Teacake), "The Priest Healing Mana Efficiency Thread" has great tips and this thread talks about the use of addons and the likes.
And if you seriously want to get into the numbers, I'd say take a left turn to ElitistJerks.
In a nutshell; discipline specializes in single-target healing with penance as main heal, holy specializes in AOE with greater heal as main heal. Both are raid-viable now. You can level as disc or holy pretty well as it is, but people will tell you it's generally better to stick with shadow; pre-heroics you should be able to heal trough everything as shadow; the idea is that if you learn to heal the hard way (without holy and disc's crutch talents), you'll be a better healer in the end.
Links, right...
For healing, you might want to start here. Specially the part Teacake typed out is very much valid. Things have changed a bit since then, but it's still mostly valid. You just need to know that as a disc healer your main heal will be Penance rather than Greater Heal. Furthermore this thread also has some fairly accurate stats info (once again by Teacake), "The Priest Healing Mana Efficiency Thread" has great tips and this thread talks about the use of addons and the likes.
And if you seriously want to get into the numbers, I'd say take a left turn to ElitistJerks.
I agree with most of what Mozared said, especially the parts that quote me. :)
Shadow is still the most efficient leveling spec. Disc works almost as well now. Holy works well too as long as you get spirit tap (any leveling spec needs spirit tap). Really, I don't think the differences are enough at this point to trump what's fun for you, so level how you like. Try all three! It's a great time to experiment.
For stats while leveling, in my opinion they're really pretty much the same regardless of spec (note I said while leveling). I say:
Spellpower
Spirit
Intellect
Stamina
Crit
Int is not the poor cousin it once was for priests, so don't neglect it. I actually have no good sense of where haste fits into this at this point, so by all means, somebody comment on that. :)
At 80, there's more than one viable raid healing spec now so it's not as cookie cutter as it used to be. You may actually want to try both Disc and Holy and see which one is for you, because they're very different ways of healing.
Shadow is still the most efficient leveling spec. Disc works almost as well now. Holy works well too as long as you get spirit tap (any leveling spec needs spirit tap). Really, I don't think the differences are enough at this point to trump what's fun for you, so level how you like. Try all three! It's a great time to experiment.
For stats while leveling, in my opinion they're really pretty much the same regardless of spec (note I said while leveling). I say:
Spellpower
Spirit
Intellect
Stamina
Crit
Int is not the poor cousin it once was for priests, so don't neglect it. I actually have no good sense of where haste fits into this at this point, so by all means, somebody comment on that. :)
At 80, there's more than one viable raid healing spec now so it's not as cookie cutter as it used to be. You may actually want to try both Disc and Holy and see which one is for you, because they're very different ways of healing.
As for speccs, I can't say much about Holy or Disc. It's something I personally have never bothered with while leveling since Shadow is still the best specc for it. I'd personally go for something like this from 70, filling further up Disc as I level. Due to the Spellpower stat, you can heal or dps in the same gear. (Woohoo!)
Like they say above, go for Spellpower and Spirit first. But don't discount Crit. Now MF crits, and Shadowform gains a buff from Crit as well. Spellpower > Spirit > Spellcrit > Int/Stam (interchange if you PvP). Another reason for Crit is Imp Spirit Tap.
As for Spellrotations as Shadow.
VT > SW:P > MB > MF > Wand
Insert SW:D and DP/VE depending on mob and your own health.
We don't really have Spellrotations as a class. We have a Spell Priority. VT and SW:P is essential to keep up at all times. MB should always be on cooldown. In a boss-dps situation, so should SW:D.
Like they say above, go for Spellpower and Spirit first. But don't discount Crit. Now MF crits, and Shadowform gains a buff from Crit as well. Spellpower > Spirit > Spellcrit > Int/Stam (interchange if you PvP). Another reason for Crit is Imp Spirit Tap.
As for Spellrotations as Shadow.
VT > SW:P > MB > MF > Wand
Insert SW:D and DP/VE depending on mob and your own health.
We don't really have Spellrotations as a class. We have a Spell Priority. VT and SW:P is essential to keep up at all times. MB should always be on cooldown. In a boss-dps situation, so should SW:D.
Thanks for advice. Two follow-up questions:
Does anyone have any item weights or pawn values I should think about trying?
As <whatever spec>, how do you normally fight a solo mob? I remember how I used to open up a mob with MB -> SWP (while walking backwards) -> MF -> MF -> fear -> more MF, and switch to wand at the end. Is that still a good move? (Or, supposing non-shadow, Smite, Blast, Pain, Renew, wand a bunch with maybe some other spells mixed in.)
edit: Improved Inner Fire? What if I never use the spell? It was nice in beta when it was giving spirit, but it doesn't now (at 70.)
Edited, Dec 6th 2008 1:05pm by Azuarc
Does anyone have any item weights or pawn values I should think about trying?
As <whatever spec>, how do you normally fight a solo mob? I remember how I used to open up a mob with MB -> SWP (while walking backwards) -> MF -> MF -> fear -> more MF, and switch to wand at the end. Is that still a good move? (Or, supposing non-shadow, Smite, Blast, Pain, Renew, wand a bunch with maybe some other spells mixed in.)
edit: Improved Inner Fire? What if I never use the spell? It was nice in beta when it was giving spirit, but it doesn't now (at 70.)
Edited, Dec 6th 2008 1:05pm by Azuarc
Only the exceptions can be exceptional.
Quote:
Does anyone have any item weights or pawn values I should think about trying?
Passing that one on.
Quote:
As <whatever spec>, how do you normally fight a solo mob? I remember how I used to open up a mob with MB -> SWP (while walking backwards) -> MF -> MF -> fear -> more MF, and switch to wand at the end. Is that still a good move? (Or, supposing non-shadow, Smite, Blast, Pain, Renew, wand a bunch with maybe some other spells mixed in.)
Fighting styles differ a lot, people don't really agree about what is the most effective yet. Experimenting a bit should find you your rotation. Regardless however, putting DOTs up and doing the last ~40% hp solely with DOTs and wanding is something that usually appears anyway.
Quote:
edit: Improved Inner Fire? What if I never use the spell? It was nice in beta when it was giving spirit, but it doesn't now (at 70.)
You get a new rank at level 71 which also grants you some spellpower aside from armor. And you might want to get used to keeping it up, specially since it now has a noticable buff.
A couple of outside resources that might be helpful:
Lux et Umbra, the up-to-date class sticky from the official forums (for general theorycrafting usefulness).
Kaliban's Class List for Priests, which seems to be updated with Northrend / WotLK drops (for leveling).
A Dwarf Priest discusses the best healing gear in WotLK (for the future).
And while it's a workaround, if you CTRL+A (Select All) the interestingly colored Priest FAQ sticky, it becomes fairly readable for the most part.
Lux et Umbra, the up-to-date class sticky from the official forums (for general theorycrafting usefulness).
Kaliban's Class List for Priests, which seems to be updated with Northrend / WotLK drops (for leveling).
A Dwarf Priest discusses the best healing gear in WotLK (for the future).
And while it's a workaround, if you CTRL+A (Select All) the interestingly colored Priest FAQ sticky, it becomes fairly readable for the most part.
Azuarc wrote:
I remember how I used to open up a mob with MB -> SWP (while walking backwards) -> MF -> MF -> fear -> more MF, and switch to wand at the end. Is that still a good move?
Minus the fear, I still do mainly this when fighting a solo mob as Shadow, except I'll add VE before the SW:P (all while backing up). It's not necessary every time, but I just like the security of VE and never really having my health go down. By the second Mind Flay they're usually ready for wanding. If not, I may throw in an extra Mind Blast. I tend to not need shield/fear as Shadow unless it's a really hard mob.
As Holy I do Holy Fire -> SW:P -> Smite til ready for wanding. For harder mobs I'll throw in plague. When I still had Spirit Tap and mana wasn't an issue, I was pretty wanton about using my shield - it's just convenient due to avoiding interrupts. Now though I'm more careful with mana so I usually just throw on a Renew as needed instead.
I'm never specced Disc so I can't really say.
Inner Fire is a very nice spell power boost by the time you get to 80, to the point where I chose Imp Inner Fire in my raiding build over Silent Resolve. IMO, you should get in the habit of keeping it up all the time.
Quote:
I'm never specced Disc so I can't really say.
Holy fire > SW:P > Mind Blast
From that point, either
A) > Run away and PW:S while running > Stop and Mind Blast as soon as it's off CD > Wand the rest
or B) Wand the rest
Depending on the amount of HP the mob has left (and if you've picked Spirit Tap).
That's how I did 1-71 on my disc priest. This 'rotation' stays pretty much the same 'till 80 I think, except that you can probably stop the running away once you reach reflective shield in the disc tree. Also, you could probably replace a Mind Blast with Devouring Plague, depending on A) how hard you need healing and B) what's more convenient/mana efficient.
Edited, Dec 7th 2008 4:50pm by Mozared
Quote:
Thanks for advice. Two follow-up questions:
Does anyone have any item weights or pawn values I should think about trying?
As <whatever spec>, how do you normally fight a solo mob? I remember how I used to open up a mob with MB -> SWP (while walking backwards) -> MF -> MF -> fear -> more MF, and switch to wand at the end. Is that still a good move? (Or, supposing non-shadow, Smite, Blast, Pain, Renew, wand a bunch with maybe some other spells mixed in.)
edit: Improved Inner Fire? What if I never use the spell? It was nice in beta when it was giving spirit, but it doesn't now (at 70.)
Does anyone have any item weights or pawn values I should think about trying?
As <whatever spec>, how do you normally fight a solo mob? I remember how I used to open up a mob with MB -> SWP (while walking backwards) -> MF -> MF -> fear -> more MF, and switch to wand at the end. Is that still a good move? (Or, supposing non-shadow, Smite, Blast, Pain, Renew, wand a bunch with maybe some other spells mixed in.)
edit: Improved Inner Fire? What if I never use the spell? It was nice in beta when it was giving spirit, but it doesn't now (at 70.)
If you go shadow you have to start with VT-DP-SWP-MB-MF.......
The damage coefficient change to VT means it does absolutely dirty amounts of damage now, plus the regen from the replenishment buff is nice (scales with int too).
Wanding is (imo) a little meh but then I'm an impatient ******* and not above drinking when needed. As for Inner fire, you should take the talent (if only to get enough points for meditation - one of my must haves).
thegreatmothra wrote:
If you go shadow you have to start with VT-DP-SWP-MB-MF.......
The damage coefficient change to VT means it does absolutely dirty amounts of damage now, plus the regen from the replenishment buff is nice (scales with int too).
Wanding is (imo) a little meh but then I'm an impatient ******* and not above drinking when needed. As for Inner fire, you should take the talent (if only to get enough points for meditation - one of my must haves).
The damage coefficient change to VT means it does absolutely dirty amounts of damage now, plus the regen from the replenishment buff is nice (scales with int too).
Wanding is (imo) a little meh but then I'm an impatient ******* and not above drinking when needed. As for Inner fire, you should take the talent (if only to get enough points for meditation - one of my must haves).
My rotation (leveling Shadow right now) is VT -> VE -> SW:P (sometimes, depending on mob strength) -> MB -> MF. Most mobs are dead, or fairly dead at this point (especially if MB crits or MF crits multiple times). Just have to remember to wait about a half second after MF ends for that last tick to hit, or you'll clip it. It's a bug that Blizz is aware, trying to duplicate reliably, and not sure how they're going to fix it.
Even if something dies before I start wanding to leave the 5sr, I rarely drop below 60% mana. And even then, that's what Dispersion's for.
An Evocation that let's you move and do other things, too. My VT says (by tooltip) that it'll do just shy of 800 damage over the full duration. With ~950 spellpower (buffed with IF/Spellpower Elixir and shoveltusk steaks), it's doing that much - per tick. And that's with casting it w/ 0 Shadoweaving up. If I manage to start another fight with 5/5 Shadoweaving up, it's pushed to ~900/tick.
If you want, you can just VT -> SW:P -> DP a mob and start over on a second one. By the time I get to starting the MF on the second mob (the one I use my regular rotation on), the first mob's almost dead.
Azuarc wrote:
I remember how I used to open up a mob with MB -> SWP (while walking backwards) -> MF -> MF -> fear -> more MF, and switch to wand at the end. Is that still a good move?
Absolutely. I do this all the time. Some situations I don't fear and use VT and/or Shield. If that's what you were used to doing it before it shouldn't be hard to get back into it.
When I'm off running my hodir or Ebon Blade dailies I'm horrible with my mana (16k unbuffed). I usually will pull 2-4 targets, hitting the first with Holy Fire/SWP/DP. I'll dot up the others with SWP, pop a shield, hit the second HF, Holy Nova (I know it is a mana waste) a couple times, by then one or two are down and I start pulling a couple more and re-dotting. Pop my arcane torrent, shadowfiend, shield, and start to wand... I chain pull like this adding a target everytime one or two drop until all of my mana regen tricks are on CD. The most annoying part then becomes waiting for the area to respawn so you can farm it again >.<
I love my holy priest!
I love my holy priest!
Recent Visitors: 162
All times are in CST
Anonymous Guests (162)
- Forums
- World of Warcraft
- Class Discussion
- Level 70 noob
© 2024 Fanbyte LLC