Priest · Former Season of Discovery rune · live client 1.60.1.70790
Shadow Word: Death
A word of dark binding that inflicts 448 Shadow damage to the target. If your target is not killed by Shadow Word: Death, you take backlash damage equal to 30% of your maximum health.
How you get it
Trainer ranks at levels 1, 32, 40, 48, 56
The client lists 5 ranks, trained at levels 1, 32, 40, 48, 56. The full order of Priest spells is on the Priest spells by level page.
In Season of Discovery, Shadow Word: Death was a rune engraved on gear. In Forever it is an ordinary Priest ability, one of 13 former runes the class keeps.
12 more
Other former runes for Priest
Circle of HealingHeals all of target player's party members within X yards of target player for X to X.
DispersionYou disperse into pure Shadow energy, reducing all damage taken by 90%. You are unable to attack or cast spells, but you regenerate 6% ma…
Eye of the VoidCall an eye of the void to fight for you for 30 sec. The eye can cast a variety of curses on your target.
HomunculiBreak off splinters of your soul to animate 3 miniature copies of yourself that attempt to attack your current target with a mace, sword,…
Mind SearCauses an explosion of shadow magic around the enemy target, causing 74 Shadow damage every 1 sec for X to all enemies within X yards aro…
Mind SpikeBlasts the target for X to X Shadowfrost damage, and increases the critical strike chance of your next Mind Blast on the target by 30%, s…
Pain SuppressionInstantly reduces all damage taken by a friendly target by 40% and increases resistance to Dispel mechanics by 65% for 8 sec.
PenanceLaunches a volley of holy light at the target, causing 92 Holy damage to an enemy, or 425 healing to an ally, instantly and every X sec f…
Power Word: BarrierSummons a holy barrier to protect all party members at the target location for 10 sec, reducing all damage taken by 25% and preventing da…
Prayer of MendingPlaces a spell on the target that heals them for X the next time they take damage or receive non-periodic healing. When the heal occurs, …
Vampiric TouchApplies your Vampiric Embrace talent to your target, causes X Shadow damage over 15 sec to your target, and causes all party members to g…
Void PlagueAfflicts the target with a disease that causes X Shadow damage over 18 sec.17 abilities
New Priest abilities
ChastiseChastise the target, causing 289 Holy damage and Immobilizing them for up to 2 sec. Only works against Humanoids. This spell causes very …
Confounding FlashConfuses up to X enemies within X yds for 3 sec. Any damage taken will break the effect.
Contingency PlanPlace a Holy ward on an ally for 30 sec. The next time this ally takes damage dropping their Health below 35%, they will gain a shield ab…
Dark InspirationYour Mind Blast and fully channeled Mind Flay causes Dark Inspiration, increasing yours and your party's Spirit by 15% for 10 sec.
Dark SacrificeCannibalize X of your own Health over 15 sec to gain X Mana.
Devouring ContagionReduces the mana cost of your Devouring Plague by 50%. Targets that die while Devouring Plague is active spreads it, jumping to 2 nearby …
Divine AegisYour non-periodic critical heals create a protective shield on the target, absorbing 15% of the amount healed. Shields up to X damage and…
Divine GraceInstantly heals a friendly target below 50% Health for 1383 and removes Weakened Soul from that target. Cannot be cast on self.Early DemiseIncreases Shadow Word: Death's critical strike chance on targets at or below 20% health by 30%.
Holy BindingEach time you heal a target other than yourself with Flash Heal, you are healed for 50% as much. This healing generates no threat.
Holy PrecisionImproves your chance to hit with Holy spells by 18%.
Improved Mind FlayEach instance of damage of Mind Flay deals 20% more damage than its previous instance of damage.
Litany of LightWhen you cast a healing spell, gain Mana equal to 20% of the base cost of the spell if your previous heal was a different spell.
Power in LightYour Smite and Penance spells deal 15% increased damage to targets afflicted with your Holy Fire or Shadow Word: Pain.
Renewed HopeYour heals from Flash Heal, Lesser Heal, Heal, Greater Heal, and Penance gain 10% increased critical strike chance when cast on targets w…
Soul WardingReduces the cooldown on your Power Word: Shield spell by 4 sec and reduces its mana cost by 15%.
Twin DisciplinesIncreases the damage and healing of your instant cast spells by 5%.Answers
Shadow Word: Death FAQ
What does Shadow Word: Death do in WoW Forever?
A word of dark binding that inflicts 448 Shadow damage to the target. If your target is not killed by Shadow Word: Death, you take backlash damage equal to 30% of your maximum health.
How do you get Shadow Word: Death?
Priests learn rank 1 at level 1; the client lists 5 ranks, at levels 1, 32, 40, 48, 56.
Is Shadow Word: Death in Classic Era?
Not as a normal spell. In Season of Discovery it was a rune engraved on gear; in WoW Forever it is an ordinary Priest ability with 5 ranks.
Facts checked: 6 November 2026 · Sources: WoW Forever live client data, build 1.60.1.70790 (wago.tools)
Realms are live
Before you buy anything for Forever
Gold and levelling on your realm and faction, delivered by hand, with a warranty.