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6 races can be a Priest in WoW Forever: Human, Dwarf, Night Elf and Gnome in the Alliance and Undead and Troll in the Horde. New combination in Forever: Gnome Priest. There is no official "best race": what sets them apart is their racials, so the choice depends on what you are after.
For PvE, the weapon racial Priests can use is Mace Specialization (Dwarf), and the active racials that raise damage or healing are Elune's Light (Night Elf), Eureka! (Gnome) and Berserking (Troll). For PvP, the ones that remove or shorten loss-of-control effects are Will to Survive (Human), Escape Artist (Gnome) and Will of the Forsaken (Undead). And if what matters to you is the faction, the starting zone or the looks, that is further down too.
Races that can be a Priest
These are the races that can be a Priest in the Forever client. The ones marked "new combination" or "new race" could not be one in Classic.
The Skyborne cannot be Priests: they can be Warriors, Hunters, Mages, Rogues, Druids and Shamans.
What to pick for what you want
No ranking: races follow the game's order and each racial shows the effect it has for a Priest according to the beta client (build 1.60.1.70205).
PvE: dungeons and raids
Active racials that raise damage, healing or survival, passive bonuses and weapon specializations a Priest can use.
The Human Spirit PassiveSpirit increased by 5%.
Stoneform ActiveInstantly removes and grants immunity to all Bleed, Poison, and Disease effects, and reduces all Physical damage taken by 10% for 8 sec.
Big Game Hunter PassiveDamage dealt versus Beasts increased by 5%.
Mace Specialization PassiveIncreases your critical strike chance with all spells and attacks by 1% while you have a mace or two-handed mace equipped.
Priests can use one-handed maces, but not two-handed maces.
In the site's BiS lists, a mace is the top weapon in 10 of 15 lists (3 specializations, levels 20 to 60).
Elune's Light ActiveIncreases your critical strike chance with all spells and attacks by 10% for 15 sec.
Quickness PassiveDodge 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.
The stealth part only affects Rogues and Druids.
Eureka! ActivePriest version: Your next 3 non-periodic damaging or healing abilities have their Mana cost reduced by 10% and deal 10% more damage or healing.
Expansive Mind PassivePriest version: Maximum Mana increased by 5%.
Touch of the Grave PassivePriest version: Your spells and attacks have a 10% chance to drain Health from the target, up to 5% of your maximum Health.
Berserking ActiveIncreases your spellcasting and attack speed by 10% for 10 sec.
Beast Slaying PassiveDamage dealt versus Beasts increased by 5%.
PvP: control and defense
Racials that remove or shorten loss-of-control effects, reduce damage taken, stun enemies or have to do with stealth (spotting it or hiding).
Perception ActiveDramatically increases stealth detection for 20 sec.
Will to Survive ActiveInstantly removes all Stun effects.
- Stoneform Active
Instantly removes and grants immunity to all Bleed, Poison, and Disease effects, and reduces all Physical damage taken by 10% for 8 sec.
Shadowmeld ActiveActivate 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.
Escape Artist ActiveInstantly escape the effects of any movement impairing effect and gain immunity to those effects for 3 sec.
Will of the Forsaken ActiveInstantly removes all Charm, Fear and Sleep effects.
Leveling, travel and professions
Out-of-combat regeneration, movement speed and profession perks.
Find Treasure ActiveAllows the dwarf to sense nearby treasure, making it appear on the minimap. Lasts until cancelled.
- Quickness Passive
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.
The stealth part only affects Rogues and Druids.
Wisp Spirit PassiveTransform into a wisp upon death, increasing movement speed by 75%.
Engineering Specialization PassiveYour gnomish ingenuity reduces the rate of engineering devices failing or backfiring when you use them by 20%.
Cannibalize ActiveWhen 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.
Underwater Breathing PassiveUnderwater breath lasts 300% longer than normal.
Rapid Regeneration ActiveRegenerate 50% of your maximum Health over 6 sec. Any movement, action, or damage taken will cancel the effect.
Regeneration PassiveHealth regeneration rate increased by 10%. In addition, 10% of total Health regeneration will continue during combat.
Faction, starting zone and looks
If performance does not matter to you, pick by looks, faction or where the race starts (every starting zone is listed in Races that can be a Priest).
What is special about the new combinations
- GnomeAlliance
New combination in Forever: in Classic a Gnome could not be a Priest. New priest racials: Contingency Plan and Confounding Flash.
What does nothing for a Priest
Racials of these races that a Priest cannot make use of.
Sword Specialization HumanPriests cannot use swords, so this racial does nothing for them.
Racials of each race
The four racials of each race with their effect in Forever: open a race to see them. New in Forever is a racial that did not exist in Classic, Changed one that works differently and Same as Classic one that did not change. Struck through, the Classic racials that race no longer has.
New in ForeverChangedSame as Classic
Human
AlliancePerceptionWill to SurviveSword SpecializationThe Human Spirit
- PerceptionActiveSame as Classic
Dramatically increases stealth detection for 20 sec.
- Will to SurviveActiveNew in Forever
Instantly removes all Stun effects.
- Sword SpecializationPassiveChanged
Increases your critical strike chance with all spells and attacks by 2% while you have a sword or two-handed sword equipped.
- The Human SpiritPassiveSame as Classic
Spirit increased by 5%.
No longer has: Diplomacy, Mace Specialization
Dwarf
AllianceFind TreasureStoneformBig Game HunterMace Specialization
- Find TreasureActiveSame as Classic
Allows the dwarf to sense nearby treasure, making it appear on the minimap. Lasts until cancelled.
- StoneformActiveChanged
Instantly removes and grants immunity to all Bleed, Poison, and Disease effects, and reduces all Physical damage taken by 10% for 8 sec.
- Big Game HunterPassiveNew in Forever
Damage dealt versus Beasts increased by 5%.
- Mace SpecializationPassiveNew in Forever
Increases your critical strike chance with all spells and attacks by 1% while you have a mace or two-handed mace equipped.
No longer has: Frost Resistance, Gun Specialization
Night Elf
AllianceElune's LightShadowmeldQuicknessWisp Spirit
- Elune's LightActiveNew in Forever
Increases your critical strike chance with all spells and attacks by 10% for 15 sec.
- ShadowmeldActiveChanged
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.
- QuicknessPassiveChanged
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 SpiritPassiveChanged
Transform into a wisp upon death, increasing movement speed by 75%.
No longer has: Nature Resistance
Gnome
AllianceNew combinationEscape ArtistEureka!Engineering SpecializationExpansive Mind
- Escape ArtistActiveChanged
Instantly escape the effects of any movement impairing effect and gain immunity to those effects for 3 sec.
- Eureka!ActiveNew in Forever
Priest version:Your next 3 non-periodic damaging or healing abilities have their Mana cost reduced by 10% and deal 10% more damage or healing.
- Engineering SpecializationPassiveChanged
Your gnomish ingenuity reduces the rate of engineering devices failing or backfiring when you use them by 20%.
- Expansive MindPassiveChanged
Priest version:Maximum Mana increased by 5%.
No longer has: Arcane Resistance
Undead
HordeCannibalizeWill of the ForsakenTouch of the GraveUnderwater Breathing
- CannibalizeActiveChanged
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.
- Will of the ForsakenActiveChanged
Instantly removes all Charm, Fear and Sleep effects.
- Touch of the GravePassiveNew in Forever
Priest version:Your spells and attacks have a 10% chance to drain Health from the target, up to 5% of your maximum Health.
- Underwater BreathingPassiveSame as Classic
Underwater breath lasts 300% longer than normal.
No longer has: Shadow Resistance
Troll
HordeBerserkingRapid RegenerationBeast SlayingRegeneration
- BerserkingActiveChanged
Increases your spellcasting and attack speed by 10% for 10 sec.
- Rapid RegenerationActiveNew in Forever
Regenerate 50% of your maximum Health over 6 sec. Any movement, action, or damage taken will cancel the effect.
- Beast SlayingPassiveSame as Classic
Damage dealt versus Beasts increased by 5%.
- RegenerationPassiveChanged
Health regeneration rate increased by 10%. In addition, 10% of total Health regeneration will continue during combat.
No longer has: Bow Specialization, Throwing Specialization
Priest racial spells
On top of their racials, each priest race learns class spells of its own. These are the ones in the Forever client, with the level they are learned at and, when they change, what they were in Classic.
HumanInstantly heals a friendly target below 50% Health for 1269 to 1497 and removes Weakened Soul from that target. Cannot be cast on self.
HumanThe 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.
DwarfInstantly heals the caster for 1269 to 1497.
In Classic: Instantly heals the caster for 1324 to 1562.
Only for Human and Dwarf in Classic.
DwarfChastise 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.
Night ElfRains starshards down on the enemy target's head, causing 1800 Arcane damage over 6 sec.
In Classic: Rains starshards down on the enemy target's head, causing 936 Arcane damage over 6 sec.
Night ElfReduces the chance you'll be hit by melee and ranged attacks by 50% for 15 sec or until you are missed 3 times.
In Classic: Reduces ranged damage taken by 95 and increases chance to dodge by 10% for 15 sec.
GnomeConfuses up to 5 enemies within 8 yds for 3 sec. Any damage taken will break the effect.
GnomePlace 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 ? damage and begin healing for ? Health over 15 sec. A target may be affected by only one Contingency Plan. (the beta client does not show these amounts yet)
UndeadThe 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.
In Classic: The next melee attack on the caster will cause 64 Shadow damage and reduce the damage caused by the attacker by 20 for 2 min.
UndeadCannibalize 1600 of your own Health over 15 sec to gain 1600 (+100% of Spirit) Mana.
- Troll
Weakens the target enemy, reducing melee attack power by 204 and reducing the effectiveness of any healing by 20%. Lasts 2 min
In Classic: Weakens the target enemy, reducing damage caused by 20 and reducing the effectiveness of any healing by 20%. Lasts 2 min.
TrollThe 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.
In Classic: The caster is surrounded by shadows. When a spell, melee or ranged attack hits the caster, the attacker will be struck for 116 Shadow damage. Attackers can only be damaged once every few seconds. This damage causes no threat. 3 charges. Lasts 10 min.
No longer tied to a race
In Classic only some races learned them; in the Forever client every Priest does.
Devouring PlagueLevel 20Afflicts the target with a disease that causes 848 Shadow damage over 24 sec. Damage caused by the Devouring Plague heals the caster.
Only for Undead in Classic.
Fear WardLevel 20Wards the friendly target against Fear. The next Fear effect used against the target will fail, using up the ward. Lasts 3 min.
Only for Dwarf in Classic.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best race for a Priest in WoW Forever?
For PvE, the weapon racial Priests can use is Mace Specialization (Dwarf), and the active racials that raise damage or healing are Elune's Light (Night Elf), Eureka! (Gnome) and Berserking (Troll). For PvP, the ones that remove or shorten loss-of-control effects are Will to Survive (Human), Escape Artist (Gnome) and Will of the Forsaken (Undead). There is no official ranking, so the best race is the one that fits what you are after: performance, PvP, faction or looks.
Which races can be a Priest in WoW Forever?
6: Human, Dwarf, Night Elf and Gnome in the Alliance and Undead and Troll in the Horde. New combination in Forever: Gnome Priest.
Can the Skyborne be Priests?
No. The Skyborne can be Warriors, Hunters, Mages, Rogues, Druids and Shamans, but not Priests.
Can a Gnome be a Priest in WoW Forever?
Yes. It is one of the new race and class combinations in Forever: it did not exist in Classic. New priest racials: Contingency Plan and Confounding Flash.
Do racials change in WoW Forever?
Yes. Of the 24 racials of the races that can be a Priest, 7 are new, 12 work differently and 5 are the same as in Classic. Gone: Diplomacy (Human), Mace Specialization (Human), Frost Resistance (Dwarf), Gun Specialization (Dwarf), Nature Resistance (Night Elf), Arcane Resistance (Gnome), Shadow Resistance (Undead), Bow Specialization (Troll) and Throwing Specialization (Troll).
Are Devouring Plague and Fear Ward still racial spells?
No. In the Forever client, Devouring Plague and Fear Ward no longer depend on the race: every Priest learns them. In Classic they were racial: Devouring Plague (Undead) and Fear Ward (Dwarf).
See also
Priest changesEverything that changes for the Priest in Forever compared with Classic.
Priest guideSpecializations, leveling, stats and gear.
Talent calculatorThe Priest trees with the Forever talents.
Priest BiSThe best pieces by specialization and level.
Priest spellsAll abilities with their ranks and changes.
Which race to pickEvery race with its racials, classes and starting zone.
Races and racialsWhich race can be each class and the racial changes.Best race for other classes
Hunter
Mage
Rogue
Warlock
Paladin
Druid
ShamanA The Forever Era guide. Anything specific to Forever comes from Blizzard's official announcements or the beta client; general Classic knowledge is marked as such. We never invent numbers or rankings, and the guide is reviewed with every build.