How to Maximize Your DPS in Shadow Priest

Select 31 required points from the shadow talent tree to reach dispersion and eight from the discipline tree to get to archangel, choosing ones that increase DPS or mana efficiency. Avoid PvP talents, as they are not actually DPS increases. Place your two optional points into Mental Agility for the reduced mana cost of instant cast spells.

Choose Mind Flay, Shadow Word: Death and Shadow Word: Pain for prime glyphs. None of the major or minor glyphs actually increase DPS, although Mass Dispel is a situationally useful major glyph if you are asked to help out with dispels and levitate the must-have minor glyph.

Stack hit to the 17 percent hit cap, ideally using spirit rather than hit gear, although if you have a choice between intellect and hit, you may want to choose intellect. Your most important stats are intellect, followed by spellpower and then haste.Test haste on dummies to see how your latency affects plateaus. Mastery and crit are weak stats for shadowpriests in Patch 4.2. Fully gem, enchant and reforge to increase your best stats.

Cast Shadow Word: Pain early in your rotation. Use Shadowfiend and Dark Angel situationally if mana is an issue, or else off cool down. Once you have Shadow Word: Pain up, your priority casts are keeping Vampiric Touch and Devouring Plague on your target. Next in priority is to cast Mind Blast when it's available, not waiting for orbs, and Mind Flay as filler, Use Shadow Word: Death when available if the target is under 25 percent health.

Flask and food buffs are essential DPS boosts for raiding. Make sure to eat feasts and take flasks from cauldrons if provided.