Shadow Priest

Shadow changes

• 
  NewDevouring Contagion

  Row 5. Cheapens Devouring Plague and makes it jump to an enemy within 5 yards when its host dies.

• 
  NewEarly Demise

  Row 6. More Shadow Word: Death crit against targets under 20% health.

• 
  NewImproved Mind Flay

  Row 3. More damage and range, less self-imposed slow.

• 
  ChangedShadowform

  Redesigned. Every non-healing spell is usable in form, Shadow spells cost 50% less mana, and Shadow crit damage is doubled. The flat Shadow damage bonus comes down to pay for it.

• 
  ChangedVampiric Embrace

  Now a 16-point talent in row 3; lasts 30 seconds on a 1-minute cooldown.

• 
  ChangedShadow Weaving

  Only benefits the Priest who casts it, and the increase is smaller — the end of stacking multiple Shadow Priests for one raid buff.

Baseline changes — every Priest

These apply to Shadow too, regardless of where talent points go.

• 
  NewShadow Word: Death

  Baseline at level 32. Instant Shadow damage; if it does not kill the target, you take 10% of your maximum health.

• 
  ChangedFear Ward

  Available to every Priest at level 20. Previously a Dwarf racial — one of the oldest balance complaints in vanilla, now gone.

• 
  ChangedDevouring Plague

  Available to every Priest at level 20, no longer Undead-only.

• 
  ChangedDivine Spirit

  Baseline at level 30 instead of a talent.

• 
  ChangedPrayer of Healing

  Heals the target’s party and their pets, rather than only your own party.

• 
  ChangedRenew

  Multiple Priests can keep Renew on the same target simultaneously.

• 
  ChangedFade

  Threat reduction doubled.