Shadow Priest PvE Guide - Cataclysm Classic

Cataclysm Classic Shadow Priest Rotation

Shadow Priests bring a handful of useful cooldowns to a raid.
Dispersion
allows them avoid large chunks of damage and can result in a DPS increase if used properly on certain encounters,
Divine Hymn
which is a powerful 3 person channeled heal, and
Hymn of Hope
which restores mana to 3 raid members. They also gain a new mechanic called
Shadow Orbs
. The buff this provides will be something you usually don't need to worry about since you will be casting
Mind Blast
on cooldown, but it does add a bit of RNG to your opener.

Opener

1. Pre-pot
   Volcanic Potion
   .
2. Pre-cast
   Mind Spike
   .
3. Cast
   Shadowfiend
   if using
   Bloodlust
   on pull.
4. Cast
   Shadow Word: Pain
   .
5. Cast
   Mind Flay
   until you generate a
   Shadow Orb
   .
6. Cast
   Mind Blast
   .
7. Cast
   Devouring Plague
   .
8. Cast
   Vampiric Touch
   .
9. Cast
   Mind Flay
   until you are at 5 stacks of
   Evangelism
   .
10. Cast
    Archangel
    .
11. Proceed with single target rotation.

Single Target

1. Use
   Inner Fire
   . You can switch to
   Inner Will
   during heavy movement.
2. Maintain
   Empowered Shadow
   .
3. Maintain 5 stacks of
   Evangelism
   .
4. Maintain
   Shadow Word: Pain
   .
   Mind Flay
   will usually take care of this with
   Pain and Suffering
   .
5. Maintain
   Vampiric Touch
   . Refresh in between the second to last and last tick.
6. Maintain
   Devouring Plague
   . Refresh in between the second to last and last tick.
7. Cast
   Shadowfiend
   . Best used right before
   Bloodlust
   to maximize DPS. Its cooldown will be reduced thanks to
   Sin and Punishment
   .
8. Cast
   Archangel
   .
9. Cast
   Mind Blast
   .
10. Cast
    Shadow Word: Death
    if the target is below 25% HP because of
    Mind Melt
    , if the target will die before you can finish a
    Mind Blast
    or
    Mind Flay
    cast, if you need Mana thanks to to talent
    Masochism
    , or if you are moving.
11. Cast
    Mind Flay
    . Interrupt after the second or third tick of damage if any of the previous steps are available.
12. Cast
    Dispersion
    if you need mana or if it will avoid large amounts of damage.

AoE

2 - 3 targets:

1. Maintain
   Vampiric Touch
   and
   Shadow Word: Pain
   on all of them.
2. Maintain
   Devouring Plague
   on one of them.
3. Proceed with single target rotation, but cast
   Mind Sear
   when there are 3 enemies.

For large pulls:

4. If the targets will live long enough, cast
   Vampiric Touch
   on a few of them.
5. Cast
   Mind Sear
   .

Cataclysm Classic Shadow Priest Talents

Standard Build

Cataclysm Classic Shadow Priest Glyphs

Prime:
Mind Flay
,
Shadow Word: Pain
,
Shadow Word: Death
Major:
Spirit Tap
,
Inner Fire
,
Mass Dispel
Optional:
Psychic Scream
,
Fear Ward
Minor:
Shadowfiend
,
Levitate
,
Fortitude

Cataclysm Classic Shadow Priest Best Consumables

Flasks and Elixirs

Best:
• Flask of the Draconic Mind

Food

Best:
• Seafood Magnifique Feast
  ,
• Severed Sagefish Head
  ,
• Fortune Cookie

Alternatives:
• Broiled Dragon Feast
  ,
• Pickled Guppy

Potions

Best:
• Volcanic Potion

Cataclysm Classic Shadow Priest Best Races

Alliance

1. Draenei:
   Heroic Presence
2. Human:
   The Human Spirit
3. Worgen:
   Viciousness
   and
   Darkflight
4. Gnome:
   Expansive Mind

Horde

1. Troll:
   Berserking
2. Goblin:
   Time is Money
   ,
   Rocket Barrage
   , and
   Rocket Jump
3. Blood Elf:
   Arcane Torrent

Cataclysm Classic Shadow Priest Best Professions

1. Engineering:
   Synapse Springs
   .
2. The rest of the professions are very close in power, with Blacksmithing becoming better with epic gems in T13.