Best Race for a Priest
Race matters less than the talents you pick, but the racials below are free and permanent, so pick the one that fits how you play. Verdicts are short on purpose; the racial text under each one is exactly what the Forever beta client says. Open any race in the calculator to see your full level-60 stat sheet.
Quick verdict
| Race | Faction | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Human | Alliance | Healing. 2% crit, 5% Spirit, and Divine Grace: an instant big heal for a friend under half health. |
| Dwarf | Alliance | Healing and PvP. Desperate Prayer is a self-heal that saves lives, Chastise roots, Stoneform clears bleeds. |
| Night Elf | Alliance | Shadow DPS. Starshards is a free damage channel and Elune's Light is 10% crit for 15 seconds. |
| Gnome | Alliance | Healing. 5% more mana, Contingency Plan wards an ally, Escape Artist for snares. |
| Undead | Horde | Shadow and PvP. Will of the Forsaken, Dark Sacrifice trades health for mana, Touch of Weakness punishes melee. |
| Troll | Horde | Shadow DPS and PvP. Berserking haste on Mind Flay, Hex of Weakness cuts a melee attacker's power. |
Level-60 base stats by race
Naked, before gear, buffs and talents (CMaNGOS 1.12 database values that Forever inherits). Races marked — are new to Forever and not in that database yet.
| Race | Strength | Agility | Stamina | Intellect | Spirit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Human | 35 | 40 | 50 | 120 | 131 |
| Dwarf | 37 | 36 | 53 | 119 | 124 |
| Night Elf | 32 | 45 | 49 | 120 | 125 |
| Gnome | — | ||||
| Undead | 34 | 38 | 51 | 118 | 130 |
| Troll | 36 | 42 | 51 | 116 | 126 |
Every racial, race by race
Human Alliance
Best for: Healing. 2% crit, 5% Spirit, and Divine Grace: an instant big heal for a friend under half health.
Ruthless
Increases your critical strike chance with all spells and attacks by 2%.
Increases your critical strike chance with all spells and attacks by 2%.
The Human Spirit
Spirit increased by 5%.
Spirit increased by 5%.
Perception
Instant, 3 min cooldown. Dramatically increases stealth detection for 20 sec.
Instant, 3 min cooldown. Dramatically increases stealth detection for 20 sec.
Will to Survive
Instant, 3 min cooldown. Instantly removes all Stun effects.
Instant, 3 min cooldown. Instantly removes all Stun effects.
Priest-only racial spells
Divine Grace
40 yd range, Instant, 10 min cooldown. Instantly heals a friendly target below 50% Health for 1,285 to 1,513 and removes Weakened Soul from that target. Cannot be cast on self.
40 yd range, Instant, 10 min cooldown. Instantly heals a friendly target below 50% Health for 1,285 to 1,513 and removes Weakened Soul from that target. Cannot be cast on self.
Feedback
230 Mana, Instant, 3 min cooldown. The priest becomes surrounded with anti-magic energy. Any successful spell cast against the priest will burn 105 of the attacker's Mana, causing 1 Shadow damage for each point of Mana burned. Lasts 15 sec.
230 Mana, Instant, 3 min cooldown. The priest becomes surrounded with anti-magic energy. Any successful spell cast against the priest will burn 105 of the attacker's Mana, causing 1 Shadow damage for each point of Mana burned. Lasts 15 sec.
Dwarf Alliance
Best for: Healing and PvP. Desperate Prayer is a self-heal that saves lives, Chastise roots, Stoneform clears bleeds.
Find Treasure
Instant. Allows the dwarf to sense nearby treasure, making it appear on the minimap. Lasts until canceled.
Instant. Allows the dwarf to sense nearby treasure, making it appear on the minimap. Lasts until canceled.
Stoneform
Instant, 3 min cooldown. Instantly removes and grants immunity to all Bleed, Poison, and Disease effects, and reduces all Physical damage taken by 10% for 8 sec.
Instant, 3 min cooldown. Instantly removes and grants immunity to all Bleed, Poison, and Disease effects, and reduces all Physical damage taken by 10% for 8 sec.
Earth Fury
Increases your critical strike bonus to damage and healing by 2%.
Increases your critical strike bonus to damage and healing by 2%.
Big Game Hunter
Damage dealt versus Beasts increased by 5%.
Damage dealt versus Beasts increased by 5%.
Priest-only racial spells
Chastise
225 Mana, 20 yd range, Instant, 2 min cooldown. Chastise the target, causing 272 to 306 Holy damage and Immobilizing them for up to 2 sec. Only works against Humanoids. This spell causes very low threat.
225 Mana, 20 yd range, Instant, 2 min cooldown. Chastise the target, causing 272 to 306 Holy damage and Immobilizing them for up to 2 sec. Only works against Humanoids. This spell causes very low threat.
Desperate Prayer
Instant, 10 min cooldown. Instantly heals the caster for 1,285 to 1,513.
Instant, 10 min cooldown. Instantly heals the caster for 1,285 to 1,513.
Night Elf Alliance
Best for: Shadow DPS. Starshards is a free damage channel and Elune's Light is 10% crit for 15 seconds.
Shadowmeld
Instant, 10 sec cooldown. Activate to slip into the shadows, reducing the chance for enemies to detect your presence. Lasts until cancelled or upon moving. Using this ability in combat discourages enemies from attacking you, but increases the cooldown to 2 min.
Instant, 10 sec cooldown. Activate to slip into the shadows, reducing the chance for enemies to detect your presence. Lasts until cancelled or upon moving. Using this ability in combat discourages enemies from attacking you, but increases the cooldown to 2 min.
Quickness
Dodge chance increased by 1% and movement speed increased by 2%. Night Elf Rogues and Druids are harder to detect in Stealth as if they were 1 level higher.
Dodge chance increased by 1% and movement speed increased by 2%. Night Elf Rogues and Druids are harder to detect in Stealth as if they were 1 level higher.
Wisp Spirit
Transform into a wisp upon death, increasing movement speed by 75%.
Transform into a wisp upon death, increasing movement speed by 75%.
Elune's Light
Instant, 3 min cooldown. Increases your critical strike chance with all spells and attacks by 10% for 15 sec.
Instant, 3 min cooldown. Increases your critical strike chance with all spells and attacks by 10% for 15 sec.
Priest-only racial spells
Elune's Grace
3% of base mana, Instant, 5 min cooldown. Reduces the chance you'll be hit by melee and ranged attacks by 50% for 15 sec or until you are missed 3 times.
3% of base mana, Instant, 5 min cooldown. Reduces the chance you'll be hit by melee and ranged attacks by 50% for 15 sec or until you are missed 3 times.
Starshards
350 Mana, 30 yd range, Channeled, 30 sec cooldown. Rains starshards down on the enemy target's head, causing 1,800 Arcane damage over 6 sec.
350 Mana, 30 yd range, Channeled, 30 sec cooldown. Rains starshards down on the enemy target's head, causing 1,800 Arcane damage over 6 sec.
Gnome Alliance
Best for: Healing. 5% more mana, Contingency Plan wards an ally, Escape Artist for snares.
Escape Artist
Instant, 2 min cooldown. Instantly escape the effects of any movement impairing effect and gain immunity to those effects for 3 sec.
Instant, 2 min cooldown. Instantly escape the effects of any movement impairing effect and gain immunity to those effects for 3 sec.
Expansive Mind
Maximum Mana, Rage or Energy increased by 5%, whichever your class uses.
Maximum Mana, Rage or Energy increased by 5%, whichever your class uses.
Engineering Specialization
Your gnomish ingenuity reduces the rate of engineering devices failing or backfiring when you use them by 20%.
Your gnomish ingenuity reduces the rate of engineering devices failing or backfiring when you use them by 20%.
Eureka!
Instant, 2 min cooldown. For 8 sec, your non-periodic damaging abilities cost 10% less (Mana, Rage or Energy) and deal 10% more damage. For Priests, your non-periodic damaging or healing abilities cost 10% less Mana and do 10% more damage or healing. Periodic effects get nothing from it; a channeled spell is not periodic. The Mage's own tooltip is the one that leaves out non-periodic.
Instant, 2 min cooldown. For 8 sec, your non-periodic damaging abilities cost 10% less (Mana, Rage or Energy) and deal 10% more damage. For Priests, your non-periodic damaging or healing abilities cost 10% less Mana and do 10% more damage or healing. Periodic effects get nothing from it; a channeled spell is not periodic. The Mage's own tooltip is the one that leaves out non-periodic.
Priest-only racial spells
Confounding Flash
3% of base mana, 0.5 sec cast, 2 min cooldown. Confuses up to 5 enemies within 8 yds for 3 sec. Any damage taken will break the effect.
3% of base mana, 0.5 sec cast, 2 min cooldown. Confuses up to 5 enemies within 8 yds for 3 sec. Any damage taken will break the effect.
Contingency Plan
30 yd range, Instant, 10 min cooldown. Place a Holy ward on an ally for 30 sec. The next time this ally takes damage dropping their Health below 35%, they will gain a shield absorbing 926 damage and begin healing for 670 Health over 15 sec. A target may be affected by only one Contingency Plan.
30 yd range, Instant, 10 min cooldown. Place a Holy ward on an ally for 30 sec. The next time this ally takes damage dropping their Health below 35%, they will gain a shield absorbing 926 damage and begin healing for 670 Health over 15 sec. A target may be affected by only one Contingency Plan.
Undead Horde
Best for: Shadow and PvP. Will of the Forsaken, Dark Sacrifice trades health for mana, Touch of Weakness punishes melee.
Underwater Breathing
Underwater breath lasts 300% longer than normal.
Underwater breath lasts 300% longer than normal.
Will of the Forsaken
Instant, 2 min cooldown. Instantly removes all Charm, Fear and Sleep effects.
Instant, 2 min cooldown. Instantly removes all Charm, Fear and Sleep effects.
Cannibalize
5 yd range, Instant, 2 min cooldown. When activated, regenerates 7% of total Health and 7% of total Mana every 2 sec for 10 sec. Only works on Humanoid or Undead corpses within 5 yds. Any movement, action, or damage taken while Cannibalizing will cancel the effect.
5 yd range, Instant, 2 min cooldown. When activated, regenerates 7% of total Health and 7% of total Mana every 2 sec for 10 sec. Only works on Humanoid or Undead corpses within 5 yds. Any movement, action, or damage taken while Cannibalizing will cancel the effect.
Touch of the Grave
Your spells and attacks with a damage part have a chance (30% for casters, 20% for Paladins, Rogues and Warriors) to drain Health from the target, up to 5% of your maximum Health. 25 sec internal cooldown. Does not break crowd control.
Your spells and attacks with a damage part have a chance (30% for casters, 20% for Paladins, Rogues and Warriors) to drain Health from the target, up to 5% of your maximum Health. 25 sec internal cooldown. Does not break crowd control.
Priest-only racial spells
Dark Sacrifice
Instant, 10 min cooldown. Cannibalize 1,600 of your own Health over 15 sec to gain 1,600 Mana, plus your Spirit.
Instant, 10 min cooldown. Cannibalize 1,600 of your own Health over 15 sec to gain 1,600 Mana, plus your Spirit.
Touch of Weakness
195 Mana, Instant. The next melee attack on the caster will cause 56 Shadow damage and reduce the attacker's melee attack power by the attacker by 204 for 2 min.
195 Mana, Instant. The next melee attack on the caster will cause 56 Shadow damage and reduce the attacker's melee attack power by the attacker by 204 for 2 min.
Troll Horde
Best for: Shadow DPS and PvP. Berserking haste on Mind Flay, Hex of Weakness cuts a melee attacker's power.
Berserking
Instant, 3 min cooldown. Increases your spellcasting and attack speed by 10% for 10 sec.
Instant, 3 min cooldown. Increases your spellcasting and attack speed by 10% for 10 sec.
Regeneration
Health regeneration rate increased by 20%. In addition, 20% of total Health regeneration will continue during combat.
Health regeneration rate increased by 20%. In addition, 20% of total Health regeneration will continue during combat.
Beast Slaying
Damage dealt versus Beasts increased by 5%.
Damage dealt versus Beasts increased by 5%.
Rapid Regeneration
Channeled, 3 min cooldown. Regenerate 50% of your maximum Health over 6 sec. Any movement, action, or damage taken will cancel the effect.
Channeled, 3 min cooldown. Regenerate 50% of your maximum Health over 6 sec. Any movement, action, or damage taken will cancel the effect.
Priest-only racial spells
Hex of Weakness
240 Mana, 30 yd range, Instant. Weakens the target enemy, reducing melee attack power by 204 and reducing the effectiveness of any healing by 20%. Lasts 2 min
240 Mana, 30 yd range, Instant. Weakens the target enemy, reducing melee attack power by 204 and reducing the effectiveness of any healing by 20%. Lasts 2 min
Shadowguard
250 Mana, Instant. The caster is surrounded by shadows. When a spell, melee or ranged attack hits the caster, the attacker will be struck for 96 Shadow damage. Attackers can only be damaged once every few seconds. This damage causes no threat. 3 charges. Lasts 10 min.
250 Mana, Instant. The caster is surrounded by shadows. When a spell, melee or ranged attack hits the caster, the attacker will be struck for 96 Shadow damage. Attackers can only be damaged once every few seconds. This damage causes no threat. 3 charges. Lasts 10 min.
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Priest leveling guideSpec, spells by level, zonesStarter buildsAll 27 specsWarriorBest racePaladinBest raceHunterBest raceRogueBest raceShamanBest raceMageBest raceWarlockBest raceDruidBest race
Racial text is from the beta client. The quick verdicts are editorial. Data from talentsforever.com (CC BY 4.0), read from the WoW Forever beta client, build 1.60.1.70425. Updated 2026-10-24. World of Warcraft is a trademark of Blizzard Entertainment; this is a fan site.