• Added Phase 2 BiS Equipment
• Added Phase 3 BiS Equipment
• Reviewed Talent Builds, Consumables, and Rotations

Human and Night Elf are not even close to Dwarf when it comes to the utility provided by racials. Dwarf's Fear Ward is one of the strongest PvE and PvP racials in the game (it lets you bypass some Boss mechanics, and makes you much stronger against Warlocks in PvP). Stone Form makes Dwarf more durable and allows him to remove some annoying effects from your character. And Desperate Prayer can save his life in some situations.

1. Healing Power - Increases your Healing done with Healing Spells. The healing bonus from Healing Power is calculated differently for different Spells and their Ranks, but in general, this is the best statistic for Priests.

2. Mp5 (Mana per 5 seconds) - Regenerates X mana every 5 seconds. This effect continues while casting, which makes it much better than Spirit when it comes to the sustain that it provides.

3. Spirit -  Increases your mana regeneration while not casting (5-second rule). It synergizes with Meditation Talent that allows some of your Spirit-based mana regen to continue while casting. This stat is more valuable for Holy builds, thanks to the Spiritual Guidance Talent

4. Intellect - Increases your total Mana Pool and provides you with additional Spell Critical Chance (59,2 Int = 1% Spell Critical Strike Chance). Spell Critical chance is not that important for healers, but a bigger mana pool comes handy during incoming-damage-heavy encounters, as it improves your sustain by a bit.

5. Spell Crit - Increases your chance to land a Critical Strike with your Spells. Criticals made with healing spells tend to overheal your targets which is wasteful, but Spell Crit gets better if you are down-ranking your spells a lot.

Statistic Priority for a Healer Priest:

Healing Power ⇒ Mp5 ⇒ Spirit ⇒ Intellect ⇒Spell Crit

Holy Priest PvE Healer Build

Discipline Tree:

• 5/5 Unbreakable Will - Makes you resist Silences, Fears, and Stuns 15% of the time. This can come in handy during some encounters (a lucky high roll can turn a potential wipe into a great attempt).
• 1/5 Silent Resolve - You don't really need threat reduction as a Holy Priest, but a point has to go somewhere to unlock higher tier Talents.
• 2/2 Improved Power Word: Fortitude - PW: Fortitude is one of the most powerful buffs in the game, and this talent makes it 30% stronger. A must-have.
• 3/3 Improved Power Word: Shield - makes your shields absorb 15% more damage. Instant heals are rare in Classic, which makes PW: Shield quite unique. It can be used to save teammates that are about to die or to mitigate incoming damage, but it does not scale well with gear, so this Talent is the best way of improving it.
• 1/1 Inner Focus - allows you to cast a spell for free and gives the spell an additional 25% Critical Chance. Big Heal Crit can be literally life-saving, so this ability is nice to have. Works espetially great with max Ranks of Prayer of Healing and Greater Heal.
• 3/3 Meditation - helps with your sustain by a lot.
• 5/5 Mental Agility - allows you to save some mana on PW: Fortitude, Divine Spirit, Renew, PW: Shield, and other instant casts.
• 1/1 Divine Spirit - buff that increases friendly Target's Spirit. Not very powerful, but it can make a bigger difference than Lightwell...

Holy Tree:

• 2/3 Improved Renew - there are better HoT spells than Renew, and Priests do not specialize in Healing over Time, but you will still use Renew, especially when on the move and in 5-man dungeons.
• 5/5 Holy Specialization.
• 5/5 Divine Fury - Makes your Greater Heal stronger by reducing its casting time by half a second.
• 1/1 Holy Nova - AoE spell that Heals friendlies and Damages enemies. Very strong, and very mana-ineffective. This spell can burn through your mana incredibly quickly, so use it only if necessary.
• 3/3 Inspiration - your Crits made with healing spells now increase Target's armor by 25% for 15s. This effect is incredibly useful on Tanks, as it allows them to soak up even more punishment.
• 1/2 Holy Reach - Some additional range is always nice.
• 3/3 Improved Healing - Improves your mana efficiency by a lot.
• 5/5 Spiritual Guidance - This Talent turns Spirit into a valuable statistic.
• 5/5 Spiritual Healing - makes your healing spells 10% better.

Why no Lightwell? Short version: Because it's bad. Long version: It is very clunky, as it requires your teammates to click on the well if they want to be healed, which is very impractical during a Raid encounter. Moreover, taking Damage cancels the effect, so Lightwell is useless during fights with any kind of AoE damage, and it can't be used to heal tanks ever (because they get hit constantly). One of the worst abilities in the game, especially considering that it is a final Talent.

Discipline Priest PvE Healer Build

Discipline Tree:

• 5/5 Unbreakable Will.
• 5/5 Silent Resolve.
• 2/2 Improved Power Word: Fortitude.
• 3/3 Improved Power Word: Shield.
• 1/1 Inner Focus.
• 3/3 Meditation.
• 5/5 Mental Agility.
• 5/5 Mental Strength - gives you 10% more mana, which helps with your sustain by quite a bit.
• 1/1 Divine Spirit.
• 1/1 Power Infusion - Increases Target's Spell Damage and Healing by 20% for 15 seconds on a 3-minute Cooldown. The Damage increase part is the most important, as it increases Raid's burst damage potential. Magic Damage Dealers will beg you to cast this on them, however, you should pick a Target based on his performance and availability of his own Cooldowns.

Holy Tree:

• 2/3 Improved Renew. 
• 5/5 Holy Specialization.
• 5/5 Divine Fury. 
• 1/1 Holy Nova. 
• 3/3 Inspiration. 
• 1/2 Holy Reach. 
• 3/3 Improved Healing. 

• Pre-Raid - The Hammer of Grace (Contained in Chest of The Seven, Blackrock Depths)
• Phase 1 - Benediction (Quest Reward from "The Balance of Light and Shadow", Priest Class Quest)
• Phase 2 - Benediction 
• Phase 3 - Lok'amir il Romathis (Drop from Nefarian, Blackwing Lair) 
• Phase 4 - TBA
• Phase 5 - TBA
• Phase 6 - TBA

• Pre-Raid - Thaurissan's Royal Scepter (Drop from Emperor Dagran Thaurissan, Blackrock Depths)
• Phase 1 - none; Benediction requires both hands
• Phase 2 - none; Benediction requires both hands 
• Phase 3 - Lei of the Lifegiver (Alterac Valley Reputation Reward - Exalted) 
• Phase 4 - TBA
• Phase 5 - TBA
• Phase 6 - TBA

• Pre-Raid - Bonescreeper Stylus (drop from Darkmaster Gandling, Scholomance)
• Phase 1 - Bonescreeper Stylus
• Phase 2 - Mana Channeling Wand (Drop from Cho'Rush the Observer, Dire Maul North) 
• Phase 3 - Dragon's Touch (Drop from Flamegor, Blackwing Lair) 
• Phase 4 - TBA
• Phase 5 - TBA
• Phase 6 - TBA

• Pre-Raid - Second Wind  (Golem Lord Argelmach, Blackrock Depths)
• Phase 1 - Talisman of Ephemeral Power (drop from Baron Geddon, Gaar, Golemagg the Incinerator, and Magmadar, Molten Core)
• Phase 2 - Talisman of Ephemeral Power 
• Phase 3 - Talisman of Ephemeral Power / Royal Seal of Eldre'Thalas
• Phase 4 - TBA
• Phase 5 - TBA
• Phase 6 - TBA

• Pre-Raid - Royal Seal of Eldre'Thalas (Quest Reward from "Holy Bologna: What the Light Won't Tell You", Dire Maul) / Mindtap Talisman (drop from Magister Kalendris, Dire Maul West)
• Phase 1 - Royal Seal of Eldre'Thalas / Mindtap Talisman
• Phase 2 - Royal Seal of Eldre'Thalas 
• Phase 3 - Rejuvenating Gem (Various Bosses, Blackwing Lair) 
• Phase 4 - TBA
• Phase 5 - TBA
• Phase 6 - TBA

• Pre-Raid - Animated Chain Necklace (Drop from Ramstein the Gorger, Stratcholme)
• Phase 1 - Choker of the Fire Lord (drop from Ragnaros, Molten Core)
• Phase 2 - Choker of the Fire Lord
• Phase 3 - Choker of the Fire Lord
• Phase 4 - TBA
• Phase 5 - TBA
• Phase 6 - TBA

• Pre-Raid - Fordring's Seal (Quest Reward from "In Dreams", Western Plaguelands; Tirion Fordring Chain)
• Phase 1 - Cauterizing Band (contained in Cashe of the Firelord, Molten Core)
• Phase 2 - Cauterizing Band 
• Phase 3 - Cauterizing Band 
• Phase 4 - TBA
• Phase 5 - TBA
• Phase 6 - TBA

• Pre-Raid - Maiden's Circle (BoE World Drop; can be purchased on AH)
• Phase 1 - Cauterizing Band (not unique, you can equip two) / Band of Sulfuras (drop from Ragnaros, Molten Core)
• Phase 2 -  Cauterizing Band 
• Phase 3 -  Cauterizing Band / Pure Elementium Band (Drop from Nefarian, Blackwing Lair) 
• Phase 4 - TBA
• Phase 5 - TBA
• Phase 6 - TBA

• Pre-Raid - Green Lens of Healing (Engineering recipe, requires 245 Engi to use) / Cassandra's Grace (BoE World Drop; can be purchased on AH)
• Phase 1 - Halo of Transcendence (drop from Onyxia, Onyxia's Lair)
• Phase 2 - Halo of Transcendence
• Phase 3 - Halo of Transcendence / Mish'undare, Circlet of the Mind Flayer (Drop from Nefarian, Blackwing Lair) 
• Phase 4 - TBA
• Phase 5 - TBA
• Phase 6 - TBA

• Pre-Raid -  Truefaith Vestments (Tailoring Recipe that drops from Balnazzar, Stratcholme; note: the robe is Bind on Pickup, which means that you have to craft it yourself. It does not require Tailoring Skill to use, however)
• Phase 1 - Truefaith Vestments 
• Phase 2 - Truefaith Vestments
• Phase 3 - Truefaith Vestments
• Phase 4 - TBA
• Phase 5 - TBA
• Phase 6 - TBA

• Pre-Raid - Padre's Trousers (drop from Illyanna Ravenoak, Dire Maul West)
• Phase 1 - Leggings of Transcendence (drop from Ragnaros, Molten Core)
• Phase 2 - Leggings of Transcendence
• Phase 3 - Empowered Leggings (Drop from Chromaggus, Blackwing Lair) 
• Phase 4 - TBA
• Phase 5 - TBA
• Phase 6 - TBA

• Pre-Raid - Hands of the Exalted Herald (drop from Princess Moira Bronzebeard, Blackrock Depths)
• Phase 1 - Hands of the Exalted Herald / Gloves of Prophecy (drop from Gehennas, Molten Core)
• Phase 2 - Gloves of Prophecy
• Phase 3 - Handguards of Transcendence (various bosses, Blackwing Lair) 
• Phase 4 - TBA
• Phase 5 - TBA
• Phase 6 - TBA

• Pre-Raid - Boots of the Full Moon (drop from Captain Kromcrush, Dire Maul North) / Omnicast Boots (drop from Golem Lord Ardelmach, Blackrock Depths)
• Phase 1 - Boots of Prophecy (drop from Shazzrah, Molten Core) / Boots of the Full Moon
• Phase 2 - Boots of Prophecy / Boots of the Full Moon
• Phase 3 - Boots of Transcendence (Drop from Broodlord Lashlayer, Blackwing Lair) / Boots of Pure Thought (Trash Mobs, Blackwing Lair) 
• Phase 4 - TBA
• Phase 5 - TBA
• Phase 6 - TBA

• Pre-Raid - Burial Shawl  (drop from multiple bosses, Scholomance) / Elder Wizard's Mantle (BoE World Drop; can be purchased on AH)
• Phase 1 - Elder Wizard's Mantle / Mantle of Prophecy (drop from Sulfuron Harbinger, Molten Core)
• Phase 2 - Mantle of Prophecy
• Phase 3 - Pauldrons of Transcendence (Drop from Chromaggus, Blackwing Lair) 
• Phase 4 - TBA
• Phase 5 - TBA
• Phase 6 - TBA

• Pre-Raid - Magiskull Cuffs (BoE World Drop; can be purchased on AH)
• Phase 1 - Vambraces of Prophecy (BoE drop from Trash mobs, Molten Core)
• Phase 2 - Vambraces of Prophecy
• Phase 3 - Bindings of Transcendence (Drop from Razorgore the Untamed, Blackwing Lair) 
• Phase 4 - TBA
• Phase 5 - TBA
• Phase 6 - TBA

• Pre-Raid - Dustfeather Sash (drop from Solakar Flamewreath, Upper Blackrock Spire)
• Phase 1 - Girdle of Prophecy (BoE drop from Trash mobs, Molten Core)
• Phase 2 - Girdle of Prophecy 
• Phase 3 - Belt of Transcendence (Drop from Vaelestrasz the Corrupt, Blackwing Lair) 
• Phase 4 - TBA
• Phase 5 - TBA
• Phase 6 - TBA

• Pre-Raid - Cloak of the Cosmos (drop from Immol'thar, Dire Maul West) / Archivist Cape of Healing (drop from Archivist Galford, Stratcholme; note: The item has a Random Enchantment)
• Phase 1 - Sapphiron Drape (drop from Onyxia, Onyxia's Lair)
• Phase 2 - Hide of the Wild (Leatherworking Recipe from Dire Maul) 
• Phase 3 - Hide of the Wild / Shroud of Pure Thought (Drop from Flamegor, Blackwing Lair) 
• Phase 4 - TBA
• Phase 5 - TBA
• Phase 6 - TBA

Downranking

Downranking is a method of conserving Mana by using lower ranks of spells. Using this method is flat out necessary to not run out of mana before combat ends. You should memorize how much Health different Ranks of your spells restore and use them accordingly in order to preserve resources.

Note: Higher Rank of any spell is always more cost-effective than lower Rank, but Healing Power changes the math significantly and makes lower Rank spells more cost-effective than their higher Rank counterparts.

Note2: Lowest Ranks of spells have a much lower Healing Power coefficient than higher Ranks do (they receive much less benefit from your Healing Power statistic). This means that you don't usually want to use Spell Ranks lower than 3 (unless Rank 1 or Rank 2 is enough to top your Target on Health).

1. If you want to do more Healing, sustain yourself throughout encounters better, and stand out from your Raid competition, Stack Consumables. Spending some additional Gold or a few extra hours grinding might secure you a spot in a Raid, as Raid leaders prefer dedicated and well-prepared players.

2. Downrank your Spells.  As mentioned in the previous paragraph, Downranking is the key to your success as a Healer as it allows you to preserve your resources for when you actually need them.

3. Don't Cast spells if you don't have to. Try to obey the 5-second rule and take advantage of your Spirit-based mana regeneration whenever possible.

4. Always try to improve. Get an addon that tracks your performance and try to optimize your equipment and rotation.

END NOTE

This Guide should help you to prepare yourself for that legendary Vanilla  Raiding Experience and allow you to progress through Raid Tiers efficiently and with a good amount of fun.

We hope that you have found this guide useful and informative.  If we have missed a piece of information that is important to you, please let us know! 

Please do note that this is an early version of our guide, and we will be happy to receive constructive criticism, that will help us improve it, so leave your suggestions in the comments section below.