The 30-second version
- Shield yourself, cast your spells once each, then finish with your wand.
- Get a wand as early as possible. Early on it does about half your damage.
- Keep Power Word: Fortitude and Inner Fire on.
- Level as Shadow. You can still heal dungeons, and switch to a healing spec later.
Is Priest right for you?
Shield, spells, wand
Almost every fight follows the same short script. You cast each spell once, then let your free wand finish the job, which saves your mana.
Why the wand matters so much
A wand costs no mana. Enchanters can make a cheap wand at level 1–5, and you can buy one from other players, so grab one in your first hour. Some quests also reward wands; upgrade whenever you can.
Where every button goes
Each key has the same job for every class, so you always know where to look. The level shows when you get each ability; nothing ever moves once it's placed. (Not sure how to set up your keys? Start Here covers it.)
Keep these on a second bar
Things you use between fights, not during:
How to fight one enemy
Repeat this for every mob.
↺ Then pick the next target and start again.
Running out of mana
Before level 40, mana is your main limit. Once you have the right talents (and Shadowform at 42), you can fight almost nonstop.
- Wand, wand, wandEvery second of wanding is a second of free damage.
- Cast each spell onceDon't spam Mind Flay or Smite; let your wand finish.
- Land the killing blowSpirit Tap triggers when you finish an enemy, refilling mana fast.
- Skip the shield on easy enemiesIf it will die before reaching you, save the mana.
What changes as you level
Remember to visit your trainer every 2 levels to learn new spells.
Shadow Word: Pain, Power Word: Shield, and Renew.
Mind Blast, Resurrection, and your first talent point.
Inner Fire and Spirit Tap (talent).
Devouring Plague, Flash Heal, Fear Ward, and Holy Fire.
Mind Flay (talent).
Shadowform (talent): half-price Shadow spells.
Max level. Heal or deal damage.
Which spec should you pick?
Priests have three talent trees. For leveling, go Shadow. Your healing spells still work, so you can heal dungeons too.
Shadow
Dark magic that damages and drains. The fastest way to level.
- Best for: leveling solo
Discipline
Shields and smart healing.
- Best for: healing with a twist
Holy
The pure healer. Big heals and group heals.
- Best for: healing dungeons and raids
- Always in demand
Where to put each point
You get 1 talent point every level from 10 to 60. Slide to your level to see where your next point goes. Points marked ★ give you a new button.
How do I spend a talent point?
Press N to open your talents. Click a talent to put a point in it. Trees unlock row by row: you need 5 points in a tree to open the next row. Made a mistake? Your class trainer can reset your talents for a small fee.
Build: 38 Shadow / 13 Discipline, from Icy Veins (updated Oct 17, 2026). Pre-launch; may change.
What to upgrade
When you get a new item, check it for these stats, in this order. Higher on the list matters more.
What armor can I wear?
Priests wear cloth. Tailoring is a natural profession for you: it uses the cloth enemies drop.
- Your wandUpgrade it whenever you can. It does a huge share of your damage early on.
- Spell PowerFaster kills, less mana spent, less risk.
- Critical strikeBigger hits now and then.
- Intellect and StaminaMore mana and health. You'll find them on most items anyway.
Top 5 beginner mistakes
No wand
You burn your mana on every enemy.
Get a wand in your first hour.
Spamming spells
You run out of mana every two fights.
Each spell once, then wand.
Forgetting Inner Fire
You take more damage than you should.
Recast it when its charges run out.
Moving during Mind Flay
Moving cancels the channel.
Stand still while it channels.
Saying no to healing dungeons
Groups always need healers, even as Shadow.
Your heals work fine for leveling dungeons. Give it a try!
Go deeper
Ready for advanced builds and min-maxing? These sites go into much more depth.