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WoW Forever guides › Priest guide

WoW Forever Priest Guide: Talents, Leveling Gear and What Changed

By Marc · Updated October 12, 2026

Built on the WoW Forever beta. Items, talents and stats can still change before launch on November 4, 2026, and for some new items it isn't known yet where they come from.

Priests in WoW Forever play differently from Classic: 14 of their 53 talents are new, spread over the Discipline, Holy and Shadow trees. Gnome can be Priests for the first time.

This guide shows what changed, which races can play a Priest, and the best leveling gear for each spec at levels 20, 30 and 40, worked out by the same gear engine as the WoW Forever gear helper.

Races that can be a Priest

  • Alliance: Human, Dwarf, Night Elf, Gnome NEW
  • Horde: Undead, Troll

Every race's racial abilities, with what changed since Classic, are on the WoW Forever racials page.

Talent changes per tree

Discipline: 7 new of 18 talents

  • Power in Light (row 1, 5 ranks): Your Smite and Penance spells deal 10% increased damage to targets afflicted with your Holy Fire.
  • Twin Disciplines (row 1, 5 ranks): Increases the damage and healing of your instant cast spells by 5%.
  • Holy Precision (row 2, 3 ranks): Improves your chance to hit with Holy spells by 18%.
  • Soul Warding (row 4, 1 rank): Reduces the cooldown on your Power Word: Shield spell by 4 sec and reduces its mana cost by 15%.
  • Penance (row 5, 1 rank): Launches a volley of holy light at the target, causing 45 Holy damage to an enemy, or 134 healing to an ally, instantly and every 1 sec for 2 sec.
  • Renewed Hope (row 5, 5 ranks): Your heals from Flash Heal, Binding Heal, Lesser Heal, Heal, Greater Heal, and Penance gain 10% increased critical strike chance when cast on targets with Weakened Soul, and reduce the remaining duration of Weakened Soul on their target by 5 sec.
  • Divine Aegis (row 6, 3 ranks): Your critical heals create a protective shield on the target, absorbing 15% of the amount healed. Lasts 12 sec.

No longer in the tree: Unbreakable Will, Improved Power Word: Fortitude, Divine Spirit and Force of Will.

Holy: 4 new of 17 talents

  • Twilight Focus (row 1, 3 ranks): Gives you a 70% chance to avoid interruption caused by damage while casting any spell.
  • Binding Heal (row 4, 1 rank): Heals a friendly target and the caster for 236 to 284. Low threat.
  • Litany of Light (row 5, 2 ranks): When you cast a healing spell, gain Mana equal to 10% of the base cost of the spell if your previous heal was a different spell.
  • Prayer of Mending (row 7, 1 rank): Places a spell on the target that heals them for (172 + 42.9% of Healing) the next time they take damage or receive non-periodic healing. When the heal occurs, Prayer of Mending jumps to a party or raid member within 20 yards. Jumps up to 5 times and lasts 30 sec after each jump. This spell can only be placed on one target at a time per caster.

No longer in the tree: Healing Focus, Improved Prayer of Healing and Lightwell.

Shadow: 3 new of 18 talents

  • Improved Mind Flay (row 3, 2 ranks): Your Mind Flay now deals 20% more damage, gains 10 yards increased range, but slows the target's movement speed by 20%.
  • Devouring Contagion (row 5, 2 ranks): Reduces the mana cost of your Devouring Plague by 50%. Targets that die while Devouring Plague is active spreads it, jumping to a nearby enemy within 10 yds for the remaining duration.
  • Early Demise (row 6, 2 ranks): Increases Shadow Word: Death's critical strike chance on targets at or below 20% health by 30%.

No longer in the tree: Improved Vampiric Embrace.

Plan a build with these trees in the WoW Forever talent calculator.

Best leveling gear per spec

The best item for each slot you can have by each level, scored with the spec's stat weights for that level. Where Alliance and Horde differ (faction quest rewards), both are listed. Items whose source isn't known yet are left out. Pre-raid lists for level 60 follow once it's clear which high-level items WoW Forever really has: its beta data still holds leftovers from other versions of the game.

Discipline

By level 20 · weapons: two-hand
HeadPristine Circlet · Crafted: Tailoring 100
NeckMark of the Pack Leader · World drop (The Barrens)
ShoulderMagician's Mantle · World drop (Auction House)
BackHeavy Woolen Cloak · Crafted: Tailoring 100
ChestFiligreed Pristine Gown · Crafted: Tailoring 75
WristAlliance Mindthrust Bracers · Shadowfang KeepHorde Tabitha's Cuffs · Quest: A Frightened Request (Ruins of Lordaeron)
HandsPristine Gloves · Crafted: Tailoring 75
WaistPristine Sash · Crafted: Tailoring 85
LegsFiligreed Pristine Leggings · Crafted: Tailoring 100
FeetRotmender's Treads · Ruins of Lordaeron, Rath'mael
RingBlack Pearl Ring · World drop (Auction House), Darkshore
TrinketLookie's Spyglass · The Deadmines, Cookie
Two-HandAlliance Staff of Westfall · Quest: The Defias Brotherhood (The Deadmines)Horde Living Root · Wailing Caverns, Verdan the Everliving
RangedFirebelcher · Wailing Caverns, Deviate Faerie Dragon
By level 30 · weapons: one-hand and off hand
HeadHoly Shroud · World drop (Auction House)
NeckScorn's Icy Choker · Scarlet Monastery, Scorn
ShoulderBloodmage Mantle · Scarlet Monastery, Bloodmage Thalnos
BackAlliance Repairman's Cape · Quest: Data Rescue (Gnomeregan)Horde Glowing Thresher Cape · Blackfathom Deeps, Old Serra'kis
ChestPristine Gown · Crafted: Tailoring 110
WristAlliance Spidertank Oilrag · Gnomeregan, Electrocutioner 6000Horde Knife-Polishing Rag · Quest: Open the Maw (Excavation Site: Wetlands)
HandsAlliance Truefaith Gloves · Crafted: Tailoring 150Horde Tattered Mittens · Quest: The Book of Ur (Shadowfang Keep)
WaistPristine Sash · Crafted: Tailoring 85
LegsPristine Leggings · Crafted: Tailoring 125
FeetGilded Slippers · Crafted: Tailoring 140
RingSea Giant's Toe Ring · Vendor: Gezzy Gunkgear (Stranglethorn Vale)
TrinketRoogug's Severed Head · Razorfen Kraul, Roogug
Main HandRoyal Diplomatic Scepter · Gnomeregan, Dark Iron Ambassador
Off HandOrb of Souls · Crafted: Enchanting 140
RangedNecrotic Wand · Scarlet Monastery, Azshir the Sleepless
By level 40 · weapons: one-hand and off hand
HeadHoly Shroud · World drop (Auction House)
NeckGlowing Eye of Mordresh · Razorfen Downs, Mordresh Fire Eye
ShoulderInquisitor's Shawl · Scarlet Monastery, High Inquisitor Fairbanks
BackAlliance Repairman's Cape · Quest: Data Rescue (Gnomeregan)Horde Glowing Thresher Cape · Blackfathom Deeps, Old Serra'kis
ChestDoomsayer's Robe · Quest: Solution to Doom (Uldaman)
WristEarthen Silk Cuffs · Crafted: Tailoring 165
HandsGilded Handwraps · Crafted: Tailoring 165
WaistGilded Cord · Crafted: Tailoring 190
LegsStoneweaver Leggings · Uldaman, Ironaya
FeetGilded Slippers · Crafted: Tailoring 140
RingSea Giant's Toe Ring · Vendor: Gezzy Gunkgear (Stranglethorn Vale)
TrinketAnkh of Life · World drop (Auction House)
Main HandHand of Righteousness · Scarlet Monastery, High Inquisitor Whitemane
Off HandAlliance Orb of Lorica · Quest: In the Name of the Light (Scarlet Monastery)Horde Beacon of Hope · World drop (Auction House)
RangedJaina's Firestarter · World drop (Auction House)

Holy (Priest)

By level 20 · weapons: two-hand
HeadPristine Circlet · Crafted: Tailoring 100
NeckEphemeral Choker · The Hall of Thanes, Faldrim Anvilmar
ShoulderMagician's Mantle · World drop (Auction House)
BackHeavy Woolen Cloak · Crafted: Tailoring 100
ChestFiligreed Pristine Gown · Crafted: Tailoring 75
WristMindthrust Bracers · Shadowfang Keep
HandsPristine Gloves · Crafted: Tailoring 75
WaistPristine Sash · Crafted: Tailoring 85
LegsFiligreed Pristine Leggings · Crafted: Tailoring 100
FeetRotmender's Treads · Ruins of Lordaeron, Rath'mael
RingBlack Pearl Ring · World drop (Auction House), Darkshore
TrinketLookie's Spyglass · The Deadmines, Cookie
Two-HandAlliance Staff of Westfall · Quest: The Defias Brotherhood (The Deadmines)Horde Living Root · Wailing Caverns, Verdan the Everliving
RangedFirebelcher · Wailing Caverns, Deviate Faerie Dragon
By level 30 · weapons: one-hand and off hand
HeadEmbalmed Shroud · Scarlet Monastery, Fallen Champion
NeckScorn's Icy Choker · Scarlet Monastery, Scorn
ShoulderAlliance Bloodmage Mantle · Scarlet Monastery, Bloodmage ThalnosHorde Ghostly Mantle · Quest: Deathstalkers in Shadowfang (Shadowfang Keep)
BackAlliance Repairman's Cape · Quest: Data Rescue (Gnomeregan)Horde Glowing Thresher Cape · Blackfathom Deeps, Old Serra'kis
ChestPristine Gown · Crafted: Tailoring 110
WristAlliance Spidertank Oilrag · Gnomeregan, Electrocutioner 6000Horde Knife-Polishing Rag · Quest: Open the Maw (Excavation Site: Wetlands)
HandsAlliance Gloves of Old · World drop (Auction House)Horde Tattered Mittens · Quest: The Book of Ur (Shadowfang Keep)
WaistBelt of Arugal · Shadowfang Keep, Archmage Arugal
LegsPristine Leggings · Crafted: Tailoring 125
FeetGilded Slippers · Crafted: Tailoring 140
RingElectrocutioner Lagnut · Gnomeregan, Electrocutioner 6000
TrinketRoogug's Severed Head · Razorfen Kraul, Roogug
Main HandRoyal Diplomatic Scepter · Gnomeregan, Dark Iron Ambassador
Off HandOrb of Souls · Crafted: Enchanting 140
RangedNecrotic Wand · Scarlet Monastery, Azshir the Sleepless
By level 40 · weapons: one-hand and off hand
HeadEmbalmed Shroud · Scarlet Monastery, Fallen Champion
NeckGlowing Eye of Mordresh · Razorfen Downs, Mordresh Fire Eye
ShoulderInquisitor's Shawl · Scarlet Monastery, High Inquisitor Fairbanks
BackAlliance Repairman's Cape · Quest: Data Rescue (Gnomeregan)Horde Glowing Thresher Cape · Blackfathom Deeps, Old Serra'kis
ChestDoomsayer's Robe · Quest: Solution to Doom (Uldaman)
WristEarthen Silk Cuffs · Crafted: Tailoring 165
HandsGilded Handwraps · Crafted: Tailoring 165
WaistGilded Cord · Crafted: Tailoring 190
LegsStoneweaver Leggings · Uldaman, Ironaya
FeetGilded Slippers · Crafted: Tailoring 140
RingElectrocutioner Lagnut · Gnomeregan, Electrocutioner 6000
TrinketAnkh of Life · World drop (Auction House)
Main HandHand of Righteousness · Scarlet Monastery, High Inquisitor Whitemane
Off HandAlliance Orb of Lorica · Quest: In the Name of the Light (Scarlet Monastery)Horde Beacon of Hope · World drop (Auction House)
RangedJaina's Firestarter · World drop (Auction House)

Shadow

By level 20 · weapons: two-hand
HeadShadow Circlet · Crafted: Tailoring 100
NeckMark of the Pack Leader · World drop (The Barrens)
ShoulderMagician's Mantle · World drop (Auction House)
BackHeavy Woolen Cloak · Crafted: Tailoring 100
ChestNecrology Robes · Shadowfang Keep
WristAlliance Mindthrust Bracers · Shadowfang KeepHorde Tabitha's Cuffs · Quest: A Frightened Request (Ruins of Lordaeron)
HandsShadow Gloves · Crafted: Tailoring 75
WaistShadow Sash · Crafted: Tailoring 85
LegsFiligreed Shadow Leggings · Crafted: Tailoring 100
FeetSpidersilk Boots · Crafted: Tailoring 125
RingAlliance Minor Channeling Ring · Quest: WANTED: Chok'sul (Loch Modan)Horde Black Pearl Ring · World drop (Auction House), Darkshore
TrinketLookie's Spyglass · The Deadmines, Cookie
Two-HandStaff of Soran'ruk · Quest: The Orb of Soran'ruk
RangedFirebelcher · Wailing Caverns, Deviate Faerie Dragon
By level 30 · weapons: one-hand and off hand
HeadFiligreed Shadow Circlet · Crafted: Tailoring 125
NeckScorn's Icy Choker · Scarlet Monastery, Scorn
ShoulderBloodmage Mantle · Scarlet Monastery, Bloodmage Thalnos
BackThornweaver Drape · Razorfen Kraul, Roogug
ChestShadow Gown · Crafted: Tailoring 110
WristSpidertank Oilrag · Gnomeregan, Electrocutioner 6000
HandsAlliance Town Clerk's Mittens · Quest: Crime and Punishment (The Stockade)Horde Shadow Gloves · Crafted: Tailoring 75
WaistBelt of Arugal · Shadowfang Keep, Archmage Arugal
LegsBlighted Leggings · Scarlet Monastery, Azshir the Sleepless
FeetBlack Slippers · Crafted: Tailoring 140
RingPhilanthropist's Ring · Quest: Greater Friend of the Library
TrinketRoogug's Severed Head · Razorfen Kraul, Roogug
Main HandSwinetusk Shank · Razorfen Kraul, Agathelos the Raging
Off HandRaptor's Gaze · Excavation Site: Wetlands, Shadetooth
RangedNecrotic Wand · Scarlet Monastery, Azshir the Sleepless
By level 40 · weapons: one-hand and off hand
HeadAugural Shroud · World drop (Auction House), Desolace
NeckScorn's Icy Choker · Scarlet Monastery, Scorn
ShoulderBerylline Pads · Quest: A Vengeful Fate (Razorfen Kraul)
BackAlliance Vine Pruner's Cloak · Quest: A Green Sample (City of Dalaran)Horde Brilliant Cloak · Quest: Strahnbrad Mystery (Alterac Mountains)
ChestDreamweave Vest · Crafted: Tailoring 225
WristShadowy Bracers · Quest: Shadoweaver
HandsDreamweave Gloves · Crafted: Tailoring 225
WaistBlack Cord · Crafted: Tailoring 190
LegsBlighted Leggings · Scarlet Monastery, Azshir the Sleepless
FeetEarthen Silk Slippers · Crafted: Tailoring 145
RingUnderworld Band · World drop (Auction House)
TrinketAnkh of Life · World drop (Auction House)
Main HandSoulsplatter Mace · Quest: Khan Jehn (Desolace)
Off HandUmbral Crystal · World drop (Auction House)
RangedJaina's Firestarter · World drop (Auction House)

These are the best items overall. For your own character, with your gear, professions and play mode, the gear helper shows the upgrades in order.

Professions for Priests

Of the leveling picks above, 25 are made with Tailoring and 1 is made with Enchanting. Tailoring pairs well with Enchanting or a gathering profession for gold. Every recipe, with where to learn it, is in the WoW Forever professions helper.

The other class guides: Warrior, Paladin, Hunter, Rogue, Shaman, Mage, Warlock, Druid. All of them, side by side: WoW Forever class guides.

Frequently asked questions

What changed for Priests in WoW Forever?

Every talent tree was reworked: 14 of the Priest's 53 talents are new compared with Classic (7 in Discipline, 4 in Holy, 3 in Shadow). Gnome can now be Priests too.

Which races can be a Priest in WoW Forever?

Alliance: Human, Dwarf, Night Elf and Gnome. Horde: Undead and Troll.

What is a good leveling weapon for a Discipline Priest at level 30?

By our gear engine's stat weights, Royal Diplomatic Scepter (Gnomeregan, Dark Iron Ambassador) is the best main hand you can get by level 30. The full list per spec and level is on this page.