Shadow Priest DPS Artifact Talents/Traits and Relics (Legion 7.2.5)

Table of Contents

• +Introduction
  • 1. Class Overview
  • 2. Patch 7.2.5 Changes
  • 3. Patch 7.2 Changes
  • 4. Strengths
  • 5. Weaknesses
  • 6. Viability in the Current Patch
  • 7. Contents
  • 8. ChangeLog
• +Easy Mode
  • 1. The Basics
  • 2. Talent Choice
  • 3. Stat Choice
  • 4. Basic Rotation
  • 5. ChangeLog
• +Spell Summary
  • 1. Introduction
  • 2. Main Resource
  • 3. Basic Abilities
  • 4. Cooldowns
  • 5. ChangeLog
• +Builds and Talents
  • 1. Talent Choices
  • 2. Talent Cheat Sheets
    • 2.1. Raid Encounters
      • 2.1.1. Single Target & Light Cleave
      • 2.1.2. Surrender to Madness
      • 2.1.3. Mythic+
    • 2.2. For General Use
  • 3. Tier 1 (Level 15) Talents
  • 4. Tier 2 (Level 30) Talents
  • 5. Tier 3 (Level 45) Talents
  • 6. Tier 4 (Level 60) Talents
  • 7. Tier 5 (Level 75) Talents
  • 8. Tier 6 (Level 90) Talents
  • 9. Tier 7 (Level 100) Talents
  • 10. ChangeLog
• ×Artifact Traits and Relics
  • 1. Artifact Progression
  • 2. Relic Choice
  • 3. ChangeLog
• +Rotation, Cooldowns, and Abilities
  • 1. Preface
    • 1.1. Shadowform
  • 2. Single Target Priority
  • 3. Multiple Target Rotation
    • 3.1. Persistent Enemies
      • 3.1.1. Against 2-3 Targets
      • 3.1.2. Against 4 or More Targets
    • 3.2. Short Lasting Enemies
  • 4. Cooldowns
  • 5. Important Notes
    • 5.1. Insanity
      • 5.1.1. Generating Insanity
      • 5.1.2. Insanity Generation Modifiers
      • 5.1.3. Insanity Drain
    • 5.2. Voidform and Lingering Insanity
    • 5.3. Void Bolt
    • 5.4. Talent Synergies
      • 5.4.1. Lingering Insanity + Legacy of the Void
      • 5.4.2. Surrender to Madness + Reaper of Souls + Twist of Fate
    • 5.5. Void Eruption and DoTs
      • 5.5.1. Single Target
      • 5.5.2. Multiple Targets
    • 5.6. More on Cooldowns
      • 5.6.1. Shadowfiend
      • 5.6.2. Dispersion
      • 5.6.3. Void Torrent
    • 5.7. More on Talents
      • 5.7.1. Tier 6 Talents
      • 5.7.2. Tier 7 Talents
  • 6. ChangeLog
• +Stat Priority
  • 1. Basics
  • 2. Getting a Better Understanding
    • 2.1. Statistics Explanations
  • 3. ChangeLog
• +Gems, Enchants, and Consumables
  • 1. Mastery vs Haste
  • 2. Gems
  • 3. Enchants
  • 4. Consumables
  • 5. ChangeLog
• +Macros and Addons
  • 1. Macros
    • 1.1. Generic Macros for Priests
    • 1.2. Specific Macros for Shadow Priests
      • 1.2.1. Dispersion Cancelaura Macro
      • 1.2.2. Mind Flay Camera Spin
  • 2. Addons
    • 2.1. Generic Addons for Priests
      • 2.1.1. ElvUI
      • 2.1.2. Boss Mods: Deadly Boss Mods or Bigwigs
      • 2.1.3. GTFO
      • 2.1.4. Parrot or Mik's Scrolling Battle Text
      • 2.1.5. Weak Auras
      • 2.1.6. Recount / Skada / Details!
    • 2.2. Specific Addons for Shadow Priests
      • 2.2.1. WeakAuras Thread
      • 2.2.2. SPTimers
  • 3. ChangeLog
• +Gear, Legendaries, and Best in Slot
  • 1. Tier 20 Set Bonuses
  • 2. Legendary Items
    • 2.1. Explanations
      • 2.1.1. Anund's Seared Shackles (Wrist)
      • 2.1.2. Sephuz's Secret (Finger)
      • 2.1.3. Mangaza's Madness (Waist)
      • 2.1.4. Heart of the Void (Chest)
      • 2.1.5. Soul of the High Priest (Ring)
      • 2.1.6. Zek's Exterminatus (Back)
      • 2.1.7. The Twins' Painful Touch (Finger)
      • 2.1.8. Mother Shahraz's Seduction (Shoulder)
      • 2.1.9. Kil'jaeden's Burning Wish (Trinket)
      • 2.1.10. Zenk'aram, Iridi's Anadem (Head)
  • 3. Loot Competition
  • 4. ChangeLog

General Information

This page shows you how to level up the Artifact and how to choose the right Relics for your Shadow Priests. It is updated for World of Warcraft Legion 7.2.5.

The other pages of our Shadow Priest guide can be accessed from the table of contents on the right.

About Our Author and Reviewer

This guide has been written by Furty, who has an illustrious history in the World of Warcraft raiding scene and race for World First. He has been a member of guilds such as Serenity, Midwinter, and many more, and is currently raiding in Future. He plays most classes at the highest level. You can follow him on Twitter and watch him play on Twitch.

This guide has been reviewed by Atroxe, a Shadow Priest who plays in Encore, and by DjRiff, a theorycrafter at HowToPriest. You can watch Atroxe play on YouTube and Twitch, and you can watch DjRiff stream on Twitch.

1. Artifact Progression

1. Void Torrent
2. Void Siphon
3. Unleash the Shadows
4. To the Pain
5. Thrive in the Shadows
6. From the Shadows
7. Mind Shattering
8. Mass Hysteria
9. Thoughts of Insanity
10. Touch of Darkness
11. Call to the Void
12. Sinister Thoughts
13. Creeping Shadows
14. Sphere of Insanity
15. Void Corruption
16. Mental Fortitude
17. Death's Embrace
18. Darkening Whispers

Patch 7.2 has replaced the 35-54 Paragon system with several additional new traits becoming available upon acquisition of the 35th point. All of the previous traits will also unlock a 4th rank, along with a new Paragon system becoming available after all traits have been filled (via Concordance of the Legionfall) which all additional Artifact Power will be spent on.

Detailed below is our suggested maxing order after 35 traits:

1. Darkness of the Conclave
2. Fourth rank of Touch of Darkness
3. Fourth rank of To the Pain
4. Fourth rank of Creeping Shadows
5. Fiending Dark
6. Mind Quickening
7. Lash of Insanity
8. Fourth rank of Mind Shattering
9. Fourth rank of Unleash the Shadows
10. Fourth rank of Death's Embrace
11. Fourth rank of Void Corruption
12. Fourth rank of From the Shadows
13. Fourth rank of Thoughts of Insanity
14. Concordance of the Legionfall

2. Relic Choice

When choosing which Relics to use, always take the one that grants you the highest item level (more on this below), regardless of the benefit it offers. When having to choose between Relics that grant the same item level, you should prioritise them based on this list:

1. Fiending Dark
2. To the Pain
3. Touch of Darkness
4. Creeping Shadows
5. Mind Shattering (with Mangaza's Madness)
6. Unleash the Shadows
7. Mind Shattering
8. Death's Embrace
9. Void Corruption

It is worth using Creeping Shadows over To the Pain and Touch of Darkness if it is at least 2 weapon item levels higher. It is worth using To the Pain over Touch of Darkness if it is at least 1 weapon item level higher. It is worth using any relic over the advised relics if it is at least 3 weapon item levels higher.

Regarding the item level difference when choosing Relics, consider the following.

• In case of a 1 item level difference, it is not worth replacing a higher-ranked Relic with a lower one.
• In case of a 3 item level difference, you can replace a higher-ranked Relic with a lower one (from the list above).
• In case of a 5 item level difference, you can replace any Relic from the list above with any other Relic, whether the new Relic contributes to your DPS output or not.

3. ChangeLog

+ show all entries - show only 10 entries

• 14 Jun. 2017: Minor adjustment to post 35 maxing order.
• 12 Jun. 2017: Page reviewed and deemed updated for 7.2.5.
• 01 May 2017: Moved Touch of Darkness and To the Pain higher in 7.2 order priority. Added paragraph discussing item levels for relics.
• 28 Mar. 2017: Added path for new 7.2 traits.
• 10 Jan. 2017: Updated Relic priority for Patch 7.1.5.
• 31 Oct. 2016: Added a mention of how having Mangaza's Madness can affect Relic choice and also added a clarification of how to account for item level differences provided by different Relics.
• 10 Oct. 2016: Updated the Relic priority.
• 29 Aug. 2016: Added.