Priest

The priest is the master of healing and preservation, restoring his wounded allies, shielding them in battle and even resurrecting his fallen comrades from death. While he has a variety of protective and enhancement spells to bolster his allies, the priest can also wreak terrible vengeance on his enemies, using the grand powers of the Holy Light to smite and purge them or the devastating powers of the Void to decimate their minds. The priest is a diverse and powerful class, highly desirable in any group and capable of fulfilling multiple roles.

Discipline and Holy priests are powerful and versatile healers with a range of tools for supporting their allies, while Shadow priests use dark and sinister magic to deal crippling damage to their foes. Priests' ability to heal and buff allies, avoid aggro, dispel buffs on enemies, dispel debuffs on their allies, and resurrect fallen comrades makes them an important member of any group, whether it's PvP or PvE.

Priest talents can strengthen their ability to heal the wounded, endanger their foes with the power of Shadow, or empower themselves and others with protective prayers.
 * Discipline priests use magic to shield allies from taking damage as well as heal their wounds.
 * Holy priests are versatile healers who can reverse damage on individuals or groups and even heal from beyond the grave.
 * Shadow priests use sinister Shadow magic and terrifying Void magic to eradicate enemies.

Class overview
''Priests are devoted to the spiritual, and express their unwavering faith by serving the people. For millennia they have left behind the confines of their temples and the comfort of their shrines so they can support their allies in war-torn lands. In the midst of terrible conflict, no hero questions the value of the priestly orders. These masters of the healing arts keep their companions fighting far beyond their normal capacities with an array of restorative powers and blessings. The divine forces at the priest’s command can also be turned against foes, smiting them with holy fury.''

As light cannot exist without darkness, and darkness without light, some priests tap into shadow to better understand their own abilities, as well as the abilities of those who threaten them.

Creation screen description
''After the lands of Lordaeron were corrupted by the undead Scourge, the surviving clerics escaped to Stormwind and attempted to salvage their holy order: combining their forces with those of the clerics of Northshire, the weathered healers founded a new priesthood to guide their people in trouble times. Obsessed with the notion that evil lurked within every mortal creature they set forth to purge men's' souls of corruption and darkness. Using strong mind powers and potent fear effects, these new priests were able to reestablish a strong hold over humanity's spiritual destiny. Though they are still able to heal wounds and cure the sick, priests are much more interested in dominating the weak and wretched in order to save them from themselves.''
 * Alpha

''Priests guide the spiritual destiny of their people. Through their unique insight into the mind, they are able to shape an individual's beliefs, whether to inspire or terrify, soothe or dominate, heal or harm. Just as the heart can hold both darkness and light, priests wield powers of creation and devastation by channeling the potent forces underlying faith.''
 * Classic


 * Priests are well-rounded healers with a variety of tools. However, they can also sacrifice their healing to deal damage with Shadow magic.

Classic guide
Walking the line between Shadow and Light, Priests heal allies with powerful holy magic and sling sinister spells in tandem.

Background
The Clerics of Northshire were human priests who served the kingdom of Stormwind during the First War. The clerics served as healers on the battlefield, but were ill-prepared for the hazards of combat, and thus suffered heavy casualties. This order was largely destroyed, and the Second War saw fragile priests replaced on the battlefield by armored paladins, the Knights of the Silver Hand — established by the clerics' leader Archbishop Alonsus Faol and his apprentice Uther the Lightbringer.

Third War
Despite the high elves' official departure from the Alliance, some elves still remained true to their former human and dwarven allies. The altruistic priests of Quel'Thalas refused to abandon their roles as healers and agreed to remain in Lordaeron despite the edicts from their reclusive masters in Silvermoon City. The high elven priests used their Light-given powers to heal the wounded and bolster the spirits of Lordaeron's fighting elite.

Fallen Priests are wretched priests who were once counted as the most devout amongst the clergy of Lordaeron. But, after years of constant war and suffering, they have lost their sense of the Holy Light. Now, they exist only to spread their frustration and negativity to their fellow men and women.

Human priests
While the draenei were the first known physical race to be associated with the forces of "The Light", humans were the first to discover the Holy Light on Azeroth, and were responsible for passing on the religion to other races, most notably the high elves and dwarves. Humans built mighty churches and cathedrals as places of worship and teaching of the Light. The Church of the Holy Light teaches its followers to be virtuous in life, and while the religion is more philosophical than theistic, its practitioners do believe their devotion connects them to a greater and mysterious force in the universe. Humans have produced great priests who have healed their allies or have used the powers of the Light to purge their enemies.

Forsaken priests
Some Forsaken priests still adhere to their old faiths, such as the Holy Light. Others have turned away from them and formed the Cult of the Forgotten Shadow based on the teachings of bishop Natalie Seline. Though they turn to dark energies to accomplish their goals, they believe there must be balance between Light and darkness and members of the cult must know the Light as well.

Troll priests
The troll priesthoods are, much like the shamans and the witch doctors of the various troll tribes, spiritual advisers and caretakers. With trolls being naturally superstitious and spiritual, it allows the various troll priests to manipulate the spiritual energy of the world in order to either heal or harm their targets. The various energies that the troll priests draw can come from various sources, be it Loa spirits, voodoo magic or the target itself. Drawing upon these energies, the troll priests either mend or harm, depending on which blessing the spiritual entity bestows. Arguably, in World of Warcraft, troll priests can be considered witch doctors in a cultural perspective, in equal terms with the shamans.

Tauren priests
With the arrival of Cataclysm priests are now a playable class for the tauren. These priests are known as "seers" and use the power of An'she, the sun, in their spells just as tauren paladins, named the Sunwalkers, do. This is similar to how night elven priests use the power of the moon through their goddess, Elune, instead of through the Holy Light. There have been tauren seers before the arrival of the Cataclysm, but their path has now either been enhanced with new magic or revitalised by new blood. Tahu Sagewind has become the leading tauren priest.

Gnome priests
The gnomes have had an interest in the Light since they joined the Alliance, but they were so focused on technology and later the retaking of Gnomeregan that studying the Light didn't feel necessary to them. The dwarven priests and paladins of Ironforge served as the only connection to the Light they had. Now that the gnomes have reclaimed a foothold in Gnomeregan and begun rebuilding their culture outside of Ironforge however, they've recognized the importance of having followers of the Light in their own ranks. In addition, researching new methods of purifying irradiated gnomes has led to radical advances in Light-based technology.

Gnome priests usually refer to themselves as doctors, medics, and surgeons.

Abilities


Priests bring a wide range of abilities to any party. Depending on their spec, priests may specialize in healing and protecting their allies, or dealing powerful shadow damage to their enemies. However, a priest's capabilities extend far beyond these roles. Priests can buff their allies' stamina, ward against fear, restore mana to their party and even dispel magical debuffs and diseases from their allies. They can terrify, silence and horrify enemies, and remove some of their most powerful buffs and immunities. They can defer aggro, grant substantial speed buffs to their allies and even pull heedless teammates out of the fire. Priests' innate power in manipulating others can allow them to see through the eyes of a distant target, or even dominate an opponent's mind, turning a foe into a friend, or sending them to their death at the bottom of a precipice.

Healing
Priests have a range of healing abilities. Discipline and Holy priests are natural masters of healing and protection, and have additional capabilities in these areas, with spells ranging from direct heals and heal over time effects to AoE abilities and on-damage procs. Atonement also allows Discipline priests to heal through dealing damage. While Shadow priests excel at wreaking havoc, they can still can contribute passive healing to their group through Vampiric Embrace.

Damage mitigation
As well as an array of healing options, priests can choose to shield their allies from damage. This pre-emptive approach to damage prevention allows for rapid and lifesaving intervention, but can require skill to correctly anticipate incoming damage. Power Word: Shield is the priest's signature shield, absorbing attacks directed at the target and preventing pushback. While all priests are capable of shielding themselves and their allies, Discipline priests are the masters of damage absorption, being able to shield multiple allies at the same time with Rapture. Discipline priests can also protect their allies with Power Word: Barrier. Each spec also has a powerful damage-reduction cooldown, from the direct avoidance of Pain Suppression and Dispersion to the self-sacrifing grace of Guardian Spirit.

Damage dealing
Priests have access to two schools of magic - Holy and Shadow - and can deal substantial amounts of damage from either. Priests have a number of direct damage options, as well as a few DoTs and specialties. Shadow priests are without doubt the most damage-oriented of priests, but Discipline priests with Atonement come a respectable second. Even healing priests can contribute some damage by summoning their temporary pet - the Shadowfiend or Mindbender - to attack enemies.

Utility
As well as their obvious capabilities in healing and dealing damage, priests also have access to a range of utility spells, many of which are unique to the priest class. Abilities such as Levitate, Mind Vision and Mind Control can make the priest class fun to play, but are also capable of providing game-changing advantages if used correctly. Priests can also evade aggro with Fade. Priests can also cast Leap of Faith to pull other players to the priest and possibly save them from death.

Dispels
Priests are significantly capable dispellers. They can strip magical buffs and even immunities from their enemies with Dispel Magic and Mass Dispel, while Discipline and Holy priests can also Purify their allies of magic and disease effects. Discipline and Holy priests can generally consider dispelling to be their most important duty after healing, while Shadow priests are also capable of contributing if necessary.

Crowd control and mobility
Priests have a range of abilities to aid in escaping and incapacitating their attackers. Body and Soul and Angelic Feather provide speed boosts for the priest or their allies, while Psychic Scream provide excellent fear effects. Meanwhile, Shadow priests' Dispersion can be used to slip out of roots and snares.

Shadow priests have the most crowd control abilities, with Silence and Mind Flay providing a 50% snare Priests can also offer sustainable crowd control on undead targets with Shackle Undead, while Holy priests can disorientate and interrupt opponents with Holy Word: Chastise. Priests can also take control of other players or creatures temporarily by using Mind Control.

Stats, weapons, and armor

 * The most important stats for a priest are (depending on specialization): intellect, haste, mastery, and stamina.
 * The priest can wield staffs, one-handed maces, wands, and daggers.
 * The priest can only wear cloth armor. For details on set items that are useful for priests, see priest sets.

Races


All races except Orcs and Highmountain tauren can play as priests. Priests start with the following attributes:

Specializations

 * For a full list of specialization abilities, see Priest abilities

There are three priest specializations: Discipline, Holy and Shadow. Discipline and Holy priests are powerful healers, with the former specializing in healing through damage-dealing (with a side-line in damage mitigation), and the latter excelling in sheer healing power, as well as a versatile range of healing options. Shadow priests are ranged DPS that assault their opponents' minds with shadowy magic, specializing in sinister damage over time effects and crowd control. While all priests can use Dispel Magic and the potent Mass Dispel, Discipline and Holy priests are especially capable dispellers, with Purify allowing them to instantly cleanse an ally of all diseases and magical afflictions.

Discipline
Uses magic to shield allies from taking damage as well as heal their wounds.

Discipline priests are a powerful force on the battlefield, balancing the powers of Light and Shadow to assail enemies and assist allies in equal measure. While capable of reactive healing, Discipline priests truly come into their own when able to proactively bless their allies with Atonement via Power Word: Radiance, Shadow Mend, or Power Word: Shield in anticipation of incoming damage. With their allies touched by the Light, a well-prepared Discipline priest is free to visit the Light's Wrath (priest ability) on their unfortunate enemies, using spells such as Smite and Penance to simultaneously damage foes and unleash powerful burst healing.

The combination of strong cooldowns and a focus on preemptive healing makes Discipline priests the preferred healing option for PvP. Their Power Word: Shield can be improved in multiple ways, becoming an efficient and powerful protection option, and Discipline's ability to damage and heal on the move is a powerful asset. Discipline priests anticipating incoming damage can stack protection with Pain Suppression, allowing them to protect their allies even when incapacitated, and their ability to utilize two different schools of healing magic sets them apart from other healers by allowing them to retain some casting ability even when interrupted.

''Some priests pride themselves on pragmatism. They understand that light casts a shadow, that darkness is defined by light, and that true discipline stems from one’s ability to balance these opposing powers in services of a greater cause. While these priests possess many holy virtues to aid their allies, they also dabble in the dark arts to debilitate their enemies—always exercising immense discipline to keep themselves away from the brink of insanity. Many would say the ends justify the means; scriptures both virtuous and vile should be studied and understood to protect the congregation.''

Holy
A versatile healer who can reverse damage on individuals or groups and even heal from beyond the grave.

Holy priests are versatile healers who possess a variety of tools to support their group. In contrast to Discipline, the Holy specialization focuses primarily on reactive healing. Holy priests supplement their powerful direct healing with heal over time effects such as Renew and their mastery, Mastery: Echo of Light, which attaches a powerful heal over time effect to the priest's initial heal. They also have access to impressive group effect healing such as Prayer of Mending, a preemptive healing spell that bounces between allies.

Holy priests also have access to several powerful abilities with long cooldowns, including the Holy Word abilities: Holy Word: Sanctify, a powerful ground-targeted heal; Holy Word: Serenity, a truly massive single-target heal; and Holy Word: Chastise, a single-target nuke and crowd-control spell. Even death itself proves to be no match for the healing prowess of the Light, allowing Holy priests to save an ally from certain demise by invoking a Guardian Spirit to protect them, or even heal from beyond the grave as a Spirit of Redemption - for a time.

''After spending much of their lives in temples studying ancient doctrine, preaching the tenets of their faith, and pledging their full devotion to the divine powers they follow, the most adept priests leave their houses of worship to serve on the battlefield, as shepherd to flock. There, they use their holy powers to bless allies and mend wounds. And while most stay behind the frontlines to aid their comrades, these holy champions are also capable of smiting foes and carrying out sacred justice. They’re also morally opposed to the use of Shadow and Void magic—rather, they are exemplars of the incredible grace and power of the divine and the Light, and even death cannot fully stop their healing capabilities.''

Shadow
Uses sinister Shadow magic and terrifying Void magic to eradicate enemies.

Shadow priests are born damage-dealers, instantly recognizable by their signature Shadowform - a distinctive aura that increases shadow damage and survivability. They tend to focus on afflicting multiple targets with potent damage over time effects, such as Shadow Word: Pain and Vampiric Touch, as well as unleashing psychic agony on a single target with their Mind Blast, Mind Flay, and Mind Sear spells. Drawing on their dark powers causes Shadow priests to accumulate Insanity and this, in turn, fuels potent spells such as Devouring Plague, a grim mockery of the priestly ability to Purify Disease. The height of a shadow priest's power is heralded by a massive Void Eruption that twists their Shadowform into Voidform, which further increases their spell damage, grants Mind Blast additional charges, and enables use of the powerful Void Bolt spell. Shadow priests can even call down beings from the Void itself, conjuring a Shadowfiend or Mindbender to assail their enemies.

Shadow priests also excel at crowd control, capable of using a Psychic Scream to fear enemies, weaponizing the minds of their enemies with a Mind Bomb to stun them, or silencing and interrupting casters with the aptly named Silence. In the hands of a skilled Shadow priest, these abilities can be utilized to provide windows of opportunity that can prove fatal to even the most battle-hardened healer. Shadow priests also have a powerful survival ability in Dispersion, and can convert their damage into healing for their allies through Vampiric Embrace.

A large percentage of a Shadow priest's damage comes from damage over time effects, allowing them to deal damage simultaneously to multiple targets and to continue dealing damage even while the priest is incapacitated or hidden out of line of sight. This tactic, known as multi-dotting, allows them to excel at add fights. While dedicated damage dealers, when need be Shadow priests are also decent emergency healers; an attentive Shadow priest can potentially turn a disastrous wipe into an unexpected victory with a well-placed Shadow Mend or Power Word: Shield.

''The Light in which many priests bathe is brilliant and effervescent, granting them immense divine power. But the brightest light casts the darkest shadow—and from within this blackness, a rival power dwells. Shadow priests fully embrace this opposing polarity, their faith equally resolute as their holy counterparts—but focused on shadowy magics and mental manipulation. Like all priests, they dedicate much of their lives to worship—but they derive their power from the Void, straying dangerously close to the domain of the Old Gods. To truly understand such ancient, corruptive influence is to be driven mad. This is the state in which these dark priests thrive, embracing insanity and feeding off of the minds of their opponents to reach terrifying new limits.''

In the RPG
The priest prestige class was eliminated from the World of Warcraft RPG and replaced with the priest core class.

Priests practice a complex, organized form of spirituality built around moral philosophy, the worship of a particular deity (such as Elune) in some cases, and/or idol worship, rather than around the reverence of the elements that shamans practice, or the close divine connection with animals and the wilderness that druids maintain. Priests serve not only as influential religious figures in their respective societies, but also as powerful practitioners of divine magic, which they use to heal and protect, or harm and weaken.

Devotion to the faiths of Azeroth leads many priests to the paths of courage and heroism. In dark times, priests carry the Light of faith with them as a reminder of the powerful forces at work beyond the comprehension of the peoples who walk the land. Powerful healers with an intimate connection to the divine, priests are empowered with abilities that aid them in times of dire need.

Priests comprise quite a varied group in Azeroth. A female priest is called a "priestess". Many are followers, in some manner, of the Holy Light. Some priests choose to be pyremasters or High Priest, while some of the most experienced become epic priests. There are also racial restrictions to some titles, such as witch doctor for trolls and Priestess of the Moon for night elf females.