rustyiron
Iron Veterans
Never Surrender, Sometimes Retreat
Posts: 431
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Post by rustyiron on Apr 11, 2012 8:48:14 GMT -5
They are one of the classes that are not common on the list..but there are some out there (like me) that are leveling priests. I found the priest easier than the rogue, but I'm no expert. Here's what I do, so far: - upgrade gear when you can. Some starting areas have cloth armor vendors, some don't. Make sure to upgrade weapons, when you can.
- Carry some spring water for backup. Blood elves get arcane torrent for some mana regeneration. Take a few minutes for mana to recoup between mobs.
- I use Shield and smite as my main moves. The shadow word: pain and mind blast are ok, but use more mana. I use them as finishing spells.
But I haven't gotten past 15 yet so maybe a word from someone who has seen 20 or so on a priest...
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Zych
Cadet
Posts: 13
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Post by Zych on Apr 11, 2012 13:32:02 GMT -5
Having recently reached 35 I can offer the following advice, but with this disclaimer. Shortly after starting my priest, I found trying to do level 10 quests as a level 10 just wasn't working for me. Not saying they were impossible, just extremely frustrating and not fun. 5 minute respawns when you can only kill 2 mobs per minute is just rough, so I decided to work on Loremaster as I leveled, even went so far as to go do the starting zone quests for every race. It worked out nicely, got a bunch of extra rep for cheap bags, and some freebie gear that basically set me up for level 10 and beyond. While I do end up doing a few grey quests in each zone, I'm still getting decent xp, and the lower agro radius sure is nice. I've also earned close to 700g already just from cloth and random green drops that I auctioned. But anyways just keep in mind that the rotations I outline below are designed for mobs well below your level. General Tips: Save your money until level 20! Always keep at least 3 stacks of the best water you can find on hand. Armor: Quest rewards will work just fine, I didn't bother with vendor sets until level 22, but after that I would recommend buying the vendor sets as soon as they become available (Padded-22; Russet-32; Embroidered-45). Search the auction house for shoulders & cloaks, since besides drops that's the only way to get them (the woolen cloak made by tailors only takes 3 cloth to make and is BiS for a long time, so get one if you can afford it). Weapon: I prefer to use a dagger, for a couple of reasons. Daggers are fast, do decent damage, and leave my offhand free for Bouquet of Scarlet Begonias. But seriously, you can do surprisingly well with just a decent dagger & a renew rolling on yourself. Upgrade your wand as soon as possible and always have the best one available. Rotation:Level 1-9 - Smite, smite, smite. Avoid using SW:Pain and shield/renew since they cost so much mana. Fall into the habit of, kill 2 mobs, drink, kill 2 mobs, drink. Keep Inner Fire up since it's your only source of spellpower. Level 9-18 - Mind Blast! Yes, this costs more mana than Smite but it scales much better and will soon be doing twice as much damage. I pull with it and use it on CD. At this point I am still only healing out of combat - kill 2 mobs, renew, drink. Level 18-28 - Holy Fire! Great spell, annoying range, so I still pull with MB, Holy Fire, fill with Smite. Still only healing ooc. Level 28-32 - Devouring Plague! MB>DP>HF>Smite, only using SW:P for named mobs with lots of HP. Still only healing ooc. Level 32-?? - SW:Death is great, relatively cheap finisher, just wish I could use the glyph
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thedr
Challenger
Posts: 81
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Post by thedr on Apr 18, 2012 18:43:49 GMT -5
Having recently reached 35 I can offer the following advice, but with this disclaimer. Shortly after starting my priest, I found trying to do level 10 quests as a level 10 just wasn't working for me. Not saying they were impossible, just extremely frustrating and not fun. 5 minute respawns when you can only kill 2 mobs per minute is just rough, so I decided to work on Loremaster as I leveled, even went so far as to go do the starting zone quests for every race. It worked out nicely, got a bunch of extra rep for cheap bags, and some freebie gear that basically set me up for level 10 and beyond. While I do end up doing a few grey quests in each zone, I'm still getting decent xp, and the lower agro radius sure is nice. I've also earned close to 700g already just from cloth and random green drops that I auctioned. But anyways just keep in mind that the rotations I outline below are designed for mobs well below your level. General Tips: Save your money until level 20! Always keep at least 3 stacks of the best water you can find on hand. Armor: Quest rewards will work just fine, I didn't bother with vendor sets until level 22, but after that I would recommend buying the vendor sets as soon as they become available (Padded-22; Russet-32; Embroidered-45). Search the auction house for shoulders & cloaks, since besides drops that's the only way to get them (the woolen cloak made by tailors only takes 3 cloth to make and is BiS for a long time, so get one if you can afford it). Weapon: I prefer to use a dagger, for a couple of reasons. Daggers are fast, do decent damage, and leave my offhand free for Bouquet of Scarlet Begonias. But seriously, you can do surprisingly well with just a decent dagger & a renew rolling on yourself. Upgrade your wand as soon as possible and always have the best one available. Rotation:Level 1-9 - Smite, smite, smite. Avoid using SW:Pain and shield/renew since they cost so much mana. Fall into the habit of, kill 2 mobs, drink, kill 2 mobs, drink. Keep Inner Fire up since it's your only source of spellpower. Level 9-18 - Mind Blast! Yes, this costs more mana than Smite but it scales much better and will soon be doing twice as much damage. I pull with it and use it on CD. At this point I am still only healing out of combat - kill 2 mobs, renew, drink. Level 18-28 - Holy Fire! Great spell, annoying range, so I still pull with MB, Holy Fire, fill with Smite. Still only healing ooc. Level 28-32 - Devouring Plague! MB>DP>HF>Smite, only using SW:P for named mobs with lots of HP. Still only healing ooc. Level 32-?? - SW:Death is great, relatively cheap finisher, just wish I could use the glyph thanks zych! this really has me wanting to start an iron-priest now... quick question: are you still avoiding a shield before combat at your higher levels, or did you start incorporating that in?
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Zych
Cadet
Posts: 13
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Post by Zych on Apr 23, 2012 20:04:16 GMT -5
No, I never used PW:Shield, just too expensive. I did change my rotation a bit tho - for level 30+ named mobs (with lots of HP) I didn't use dots, just MB>HF>Smite, much more mana efficient.
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rustyiron
Iron Veterans
Never Surrender, Sometimes Retreat
Posts: 431
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Post by rustyiron on Apr 23, 2012 23:06:16 GMT -5
At low levels I use Mind blast, smite and shield if needed..if I think the danger level is high, I shield... *because I am a chicken*
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Post by techboy1 on May 2, 2012 5:27:55 GMT -5
Gopher is currently a mere 15 (second attempt after getting an unwanted tunneler add in Loch Modan at Lev 14 - sad sad sad !). I do second the use of shield whenever possible but always when facing new types of mobs as I've found that the variance of damage between different mobs is quite high.
Really many thanks for making this challenge. It's put an angle into the game that should become a Blizz achievement or a hard mode one day on a par with Loremaster.
TB
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Kyrie
Iron Veterans
Posts: 213
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Post by Kyrie on May 17, 2012 10:26:40 GMT -5
Thanks for the tips and info! I found it very helpful. I actually was getting bored with my lvl 34 priest on my main realm so I decided to start an ironman one to hopefully renew my interest. I've been having lag issues lately, so I have been hesitant to play on my pally. Having had an extra add come in the middle of the fight, I am glad I was sticking with Smite and MB. I had plenty of mana to take care of the other one and throw myself a heal. I had been using MB as a finisher until I read your post. I'll play with it. I liked using MB for the shorter cast when the target was hitting me. I can see how I'll have to adjust with mobs of larger hps. I have only used PW:Shield once, and I plan on trying to not using it again by doing as Zach said....staying in green zones. At lvl 11, I just finished the lvl 1-10 quests in Azuremyst. I did some on Teldrassil, but I am heading to Elwynn Forest since I am the most familiar with these quests. My plan is to stay in zones 5-10 until I hit 14/15 then move to 10+ zones. Slow and steady..and can't wait for PW:Fortitude
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rustyiron
Iron Veterans
Never Surrender, Sometimes Retreat
Posts: 431
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Post by rustyiron on May 17, 2012 10:44:33 GMT -5
I use PW shield because i fight "at level" mobs and even though it takes some mana, you get a head start on damage without losing health...so I can get the mobs about half then finish them without shield...I just like the no worry about some mob critting me in the beginning and having to scramble to catch up...ends up being shield, heal, heal, heal...run, squealing all the way home otherwise... I did switch to using mind blast more, but low level wands are like hitting mobs with a dishrag, just gets them irritated but little damage done..the idea is to hit hard and fast and do as much damage as possible in the 15 seconds shield is up...I can recover mana if playing blood elf (some), and with a Tauren I stomp and heal (same move with a tauren shaman)...my priests have died more from stupid neglectful things rather than combat..like walking away from the computer when they were not really in a safe place...
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Kyrie
Iron Veterans
Posts: 213
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Post by Kyrie on May 18, 2012 8:20:11 GMT -5
I didn't mean to imply that using Shield is a bad idea. It's definitely the "bubble" needed when we get in a "oh no" position. If I were fighting mobs at level, I'm sure I would be using it every time. I haven't tried. I decided I'm going to play it "safe" from the beginning. Good luck, rustyiron, with your toon...or I should say with Internet connection, the server you're on not tossing you off on dc, etc.
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rustyiron
Iron Veterans
Never Surrender, Sometimes Retreat
Posts: 431
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Post by rustyiron on May 18, 2012 11:18:12 GMT -5
everyone has their own playstyle..I am more than chicken and not an expert so I read the tips, adjust, and try..whatever works for you..
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Post by sensulato on May 20, 2012 8:23:44 GMT -5
I previously started Ironman challenge with a shaman, who met his untimely end at lvl 14 or so (mobbed to death by one too many a satyr). Wisened up from my failures, or so I thought, I decided to take up Priest. It's been one hell of a ride...
Lyssan is an inspiration for me, I don't know if he even reads these forums nor have I talked with him - but always being a good 15 levels ahead of me encourages me to keep up leveling in his wake.
Ironman challenge as a priest is one uphill battle. Experiencing levels 20-30 should give some insight into the process... with some exceptions, it won't get any easier or interesting (one exception is level 58, when I noticed my spells suddenly almost doubled in power).
It's very boring to kill mobs as a priest, that's the fair truth, no matter your level. I've developed two basic rotations... the names I call these in my mind are "forwards" and "backwards". To you readers I understand my jargon must make no sense ;D and I should instead explain what I mean:
"Forwards" = Open with a Holy Fire -> Mind Blast -> Smite -> *activate autoattack* -> (Smite/Autoattack until Holy Fire becomes available) -> Repeat. This rotation allows you more time and movement at start, but HF and MB CD's replenish at the same moment, which slightly lowers the uptime you can have on them.
"Backwards" = Open with a Mind Blast -> Holy Fire -> *activate autoattack* -> (Smite/Autoattack until Mind Blast becomes available) -> Repeat. This rotation maximises full MB and HF usage since their CD's won't overlap, but you lose some time and movement at start.
These two rotations I mix together and use depending on the situation. They look similar, but they are very distinct and both have their purpose. The low amount of spells we get forces us to be mindful of these kind of details.
While fighting, my goal is to save as much mana as possible, while also killing off the mob as quickly as I can. I don't use shields normally until I feel it's needed. I tend to use renew instead. From lvl 58 and onwards, Renew heals you fully with just a few ticks. I use Devouring Plague and SW: Pain seldomly, if ever. With stronger bosses, I use Fear as a defensive CD to regain mana and gain distance from the mob. I always equip the strongest dagger I can get, to be able to get a hit or two in between spell CD's sometimes.
EDIT: Funny thing is, once you activate Inner Fire, you can never deactivate it (unless you die). But be sure to cast Inner Fire, Fortitude and Shadow Protection each time you gain a level, since these buffs won't update your stats automatically until you renew them.
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rustyiron
Iron Veterans
Never Surrender, Sometimes Retreat
Posts: 431
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Post by rustyiron on May 20, 2012 20:20:55 GMT -5
you have been doing a great job along with Lyssan..an inspiration to my own two priests, Rustycross and Rustyiron...keep it up!
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gopher
Iron Veterans
Always Clumsy !
Posts: 248
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Post by gopher on May 26, 2012 3:28:41 GMT -5
Hehe - I notice that Lyssan is now at level 81 so it proves we can do it and get that far. However, I nearly bought it last night when "Cliff Jumper", that lovely level 30 rare in the Hinterlands saw through my lack of fortitude buff and ate my health rather too quickly.
Lesson to self - Don't leave brain /afk !
I am still vary wary of the disconnect possibility as I do not trust the BT filters that separate the broadband from the voice and my wife uses the phone quite a lot (!) so I am almost in second habit now of drinking after every fight and using the mana on shields and the three DoTs casts...... just in case.
Still really enjoying this challenge. Diablo 3 hard mode is nowhere near as fun as this. Bet blizz. are kicking themselves on losing such a brilliant idea for an achievement.
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Post by Lyssan on Jun 15, 2012 21:30:09 GMT -5
I'm writing here some insights from my experience as a priest ironman while I still have this fresh in memory. So, here it is: - Renew: keep this up at all times during fights. Until level 80 it is strong enough to heal all the damage you receive from normal mobs. 98% from Lyssan's healing is from Renew. Very strong. - Power Word Shield: use only in emergencies or during special mobs fights. Very mana intensive - make sure you keep enough mana in reserve to throw an emergency shield. - Holy Fire: best damage to mana ratio all the way to 85, use whenever off cd. Very strong. - Mind Blast: best damage overall, it really shines after level 81 when it has a 90% crit chance with 3 casts of Mind Spike. Use when off cd when you have enough mana. - DOTs: their damage is very low and mana required is prohibitive. The only times I used one of them with Lyssan was when Shadowfiend was out during some special mob fights. Mostly useless - Smite: useless after level 20. - Shadow Word: Death: use as a finisher or against runners. Situational. - Mind Soothe: I used this extensively against humanoids in quests that didn't require any killing or to move in confined spaces. A soothed target will not usually detect you even when standing near it. Very useful. - Shackle Undead: situational use. The shackled target will not put you in combat even if it detects you until the spell finishes, so you can do your thing and ride away without entering combat. - Psychic Scream: situational use. I used it only as an interrupt (because we don't have a real one) and only very rarely. In a crowded area, it's a dangerous thing to use as the target can go and bring some friends. Use only when there is no other alternative. - Shadowfiend: I'm not sure I could've done a lot of the high level quests without the little bugger. It gives you back 30% of your mana and does some (pretty good) damage as well. Long cooldown though, so make sure it is ready whenever you go against high HP mobs. Very important. To be successful as a priest you need to find the right amount of damaging and healing spells within the mana constraints, which is not easy to do. My rotation from about level 20 up to level 81 was: - Holy Fire (longest cd) - Mind blast - Renew - wand - wand...(wait for Holy Fire cd)...Holy Fire - Mind Blast - Renew - repeat until target dead. I sometimes finished with SW:D. From level 81 onward my rotation changed mainly because Renew was not really healing much and it cost a lot of my precious mana needed for dps: - Holy Fire - Mind Spike - Mind Spike - Mind Spike - Mind Blast - (Shadowfiend if needed) - repeat until out of mana or target dead Again a special note for Shadowmeld. I don't know if I could've make it to 85 without it - maybe not. What I know is that sometimes I took some risks just knowing that Shadowmeld is there to save me if I fail. You cannot do this when you don't have Shadowmeld (or Vanish, or Feign Death for that matter). So, to all NE priests out there, play it safe but don't forget about SM - it can save your life. To all other priests, always have an escape plan and, if you have any doubts about a quest - don't do it. Just go and kill some boars instead
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gopher
Iron Veterans
Always Clumsy !
Posts: 248
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Post by gopher on Jun 16, 2012 3:06:55 GMT -5
Many thanks for the sound advice Lyssan. I'll have to have a play with Mind Sooth as I have never really used it before. (I'll practice on one of the mains first - hehe) I totally agree with Smite being useless - as well as not having a very good animation either but at least it has a nice biblical name and seems to hit the mob even if it moves slightly behind you during the cast - or is that my lag ?? We do love our Shadowfiends and it would be nice to give them names. I plump for "ImWithStupid" just to give the onlookers a laugh. They certainly are useful and I can't wait until Gopher gets his...... mind you, I'll probably be divorced by then as the wife (bless) doesn't understand why WoW does not have a pause mode. As for 'Shadowmeld' - hopefully, I won't need a spirit healer to tell me off for being a gnome. I'll let you know on that. At the time of writing this, I'm a lowly level 44 about to attempt the latter quests near Mudsprocket. Only scaries have been caused by two disconnects - one, I was near to mobs but out of combat, the second one was solved by having shield and the DoTs running. My biggest bugbear though so far is that I forget to renew PW:Fortitude !! The journey continues............. Congratulations again. Gopher
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