From: This thread
By: Rafiki
Captured at: 8-8-2005

Part I: Gear aims // info etc

Overview

For PvE focused set you want Int + Spi , while a PvP set will be focusing on Int + Sta. +mana regen, +healing and +spells are also desireable for either set type.

1 INT = 15 mana
100 INT = +1% spell crit rate
1 STA = 10hp
1 SPI= +0.25 mana a tick

1 mana per 5sec is equivalent to 1.6spirit in terms of regen outside the 5sec rule. However this is misleading as the mana/sec items give their bonuses while under the 5sec rule, while spirit doesnt.

Also, +healing or +magic stats do not apply equally to all spells. Long cast time spells like Greater heal will take 100% of the bonus, while shorted spells like flash heal will only take a percentage (flash heal takes 66%). Damage and heal over times take the full amount (spread over each tick).

Some people go for class sets for the bonuses, other mix and match. Whatever gives you the best stats is whatever works basically.

Gear Builds

There are alot of ideas and opinions on how what sort of gear to go for, ill just add the basic, and a few of my own opinions.

When you are new to 60, youll most likely want to get either gear for pvp and/or pve. Pvp gear is fairly simple to get, just work your way up the honor system, it has the easiest good pvp items to get. Another idea is to maximise survivability, which is particularly usefull due to priests being high priority targets in pvp. For this, max out +armor and +sta/hp items and enchants. There are also several usefull trinkets with damage absorbing abilities.

Seing as most of your time will be initially spent in 5-15man instances, where the fights are reasoniably short, youll want to max your mana pool. Reason would say to collect magisters or random non set piece gear, but youll want to probably get some devout because....

....of tier two instances. Molten Core and Blackwing Lair both feature very long fights, where you definantly will chew through all your mana. Here regen and efficency are much more important. The traditional MC set will be high in spirit and intellect, making full devout a good choice, along with items like Tooth of Gnar, Seal of Rivendares etc. High spirit, combined with good heal rotations and meditation is teh pwn.

Of course thats not the only way to go. Another option is gear with a regen bonus to mana over 5sec, and +healing. The mana regen bonus happens during casting, unlike spirit. +Healing gives your heals more power, meaning you could be getting more bang for your buck in the long term. Things to consider:

-Mana/sec bonuses are considerably less than what you would regen with spirit. However since they happen inside the 5sec rule you must determine which you prefer, depending on the raw amount given (obviously 10mana/sec is better than +2spi) and your play style. Traditional MC healing rotations, with fairly long breaks between casts probably favour spirit. However priests able to sustainably cast and regen would be a great asset.

-The +healing stat can be less appealing than it seems. Often, much of the bonus is lost in overhealing. Also some spells are not given the full bonus. Again, a judgement call on how much raw stats your willing to sacrifice for this.

Also remember that you can switch weapons in combat. Changing from a high int weapon once youve used its mana pool bonus, to a regen or +healing weapon is a good idea.

Class Sets

  • Vestements of the Devout
    http://www.thottbot.com/?set=182
    65sta 134int 115spi
    3: Increases Shadow spells and effects by up to 7.
    5: Increases damage to Undead by spells and 14.
    6: +15 Shadow Resistance.
    7: +20 Spirit.
    8: Increases healing done by up to 55.
  • Our much debated class sets. Many despise it for the emphasis on spirit. It is a good pve option, much more so with the 7 and 8 piece bonuses.

  • Magisters Regalia
    http://www.thottbot.com/?set=181
    59Sta 167Int 79Spi
    3: Increases Frost spells by up to 7.
    5: +5 Frost+Fire+Arcane Resistance.
    6: Increases Arcane spells by up to 21.
    7: Increases Fire spells by up to 27.
    8: Restores 8 mana every 5 sec.
    8: +10 Intellect.
  • The mages class set, with a heavy focus on Int. Many of the pieces are great substitutes or replacements for the devout pieces. A combination of magisters/dreadmist/randoms is a good pvp option. The 8piece bonuses are very nice, but the lack of sta/spi means its probably not worth getting large amounts of the set.

  • Dreadmist Raiment
    http://www.thottbot.com/?set=183
    110Sta 116Int 95Spi
    3: +4 Fire and Shadow Resistance.
    5: Increases damage done to Demons by magical spells and effects by up to 14.
    6: Increases damage done by Shadow spells and effects by up to 21.
    7: Restores 2 health every 5 sec.
    8: Improves your chance to get a critical strike with Shadow spells by 2%.
  • The dreadmist set, good for pvp because of its high stamina. However the differences between several of the devout and DM pieces are often minor. Usefull to have a few pieces for a pvp set, but some of the pieces arent worth it (especially since the set bonuses arent great for priests).

  • Lieutenant Commander's Raiment
    http://www.thottbot.com/?set=344
    99sta 83int 16spi +96spells (only 6 pieces)
    2: +23 to spells
    4: Increases Psychic Scream duration by 1 sec.
    6: +15 Stamina.

  • Necropile Rainment
    http://www.thottbot.com/?set=122
    A 5 piece set that drops mostly in stratholme. Some of them have a heap of stamina, making them great pvp options. Getting 3 pieces gives you an additon 10int, but the bracers and mantle arent very good.

  • The Postmaster
    http://www.thottbot.com/?set=81
    A wierd set. Lots of varied stats and set bonuses. Some of the pieces are nice, others not.

  • Vestements of the Propehcy
    http://www.thottbot.com/?set=202
    +113sta +168int +114 spi +100heal +30 spells +18mana/sec and resists.
    3: -0.1 sec to Flash Heal cast.
    5: Improves critical of Holy spells by 2%.
    8: Increases critical of Prayer of Healing by 25%.

  • Vestements of Transcendance
    http://www.thottbot.com/?set=211
    114Sta 176Int 138Spi +251heals +1%crit +14shadow spells and resists.
    3: 15% of your regen to continue while casting.
    5: When struck in melee there is a 50% chance you will Fade for 4 sec.
    8: When you cast Greater Heal, you now automatically cast Renew (Rank 5) as well for free.
  • Currently only the Halo and Gloves (I think) drop. The set bonuses are just godly.

    Devout Drop Info (ty grimmus)

  • Lower Blackrock Spire:
    ------------------------------
    Devout Belt - Random 1%

  • Upper Blackrock Spire:
    ------------------------------
    Devout Mantle - Solakar Flamewreath 13%
    Devout Robe - General Drakkisath 9%
    Devout Belt - Random 1%

  • Scholomance:
    ------------------------------
    Devout Crown - Darkmaster Gandling 9%

  • Stratholme:
    ------------------------------
    Devout Gloves - Archivist Galford 13%
    Devout Bracers - Random 1%
    Devout Skirt - Baron Rivendare 10%
    Devout Sandals - Maleki the Pallid 13%

    Part II : Quest Items // Common drops

    This section is basically for the relatively new 60 who is looking for some easy to get upgrades, either from quests or common drops.

    2Hand Weapons

  • Trindlehaven – 30int 12sta
    http://www.thottbot.com/?i=5291
    A good pvp staff that drops fairly commonly from Overlord Wyrmthalak in LBRS.

  • Argent Crusader – 30int 6sta 10spi
    http://www.thottbot.com/?i=19796
    This staff is a quest reward from an argent dawn chain, which requires doing a 5man stratholme. This has about 10spirit over trundle, making it the better pve choice.

  • Staff of Hale Magefire – 25int 22spi
    http://www.thottbot.com/?i=19726
    This is a random world drop, so either hope to get lucky or check your AH often (should go for about 100-200g).

  • Sarah’s Guide - 20sta 15int
    http://www.thottbot.com/?i=4960
    A horde only quest reward that is a great for those wanting a big sta boost.

  • Dancing Sliver – +12 Intellect+29 Spirit
    http://www.thottbot.com/?i=18883
    A quest reward requiring some prerequisites and a 5man scholomance. Lots of spirit obviously makes this a winner for long fight sets.

    One Handers/Offhand:
  • Lorespinner – 5sta +6int 5spi 3mana/5sec
    http://www.thottbot.com/?i=35617
    A quest reward with some well balanced stats. A decent enough one hander.

  • Gift of the Elven Magi +5 Stamina +10 Intellect +6 Spirit
    http://www.thottbot.com/?i=17773
    About a 20% drop from balnazzar in stratholme, similar to lorespinner.

  • Penelopes Rose - +10 Stamina +11 Intellect +11 Spirit
    http://www.thottbot.com/?i=19080
    A scholomance quest reward with some plenty of stats.

  • Brightly Glowing Stone – 7sta +31 heals
    http://thottbot.com/?i=35796
    20-30% drop from a boss in Diremaul. Great +heals, particularly considering you could pair this with a one handed weapon with Healing Power for about +90 to heals. Can apparently be traded for http://www.thottbot.com/?i=40571 (+53 heal 3mana/sec) once exhalted with your alterac faction.

    Wands

  • Stormrager – 8int 5sta
    http://www.thottbot.com/?i=4895
    Most casters will want to get this staff at some point. The quest chains take a group, but the staff is one of the best.

    Neck

    Archlight Talisman – 8sta 10int 10spi
    http://www.thottbot.com/index.cgi?i=6910
    A quest reward for completing the darrowshire line, good all round stats.

    Back

    Shroud of Exile - +7 Stamina+15 Intellect+7 Spirit
    http://www.thottbot.com/index.cgi?i=18376
    Quest reward that involves a 5man scholo.

    Rings

  • Blood of the Martyr – 15sta 10int
    http://www.thottbot.com/?i=17127
    Great ring, good pvp stats and is easy to get, can be gotten in a single strat run.
  • Royal Seal of Alexis - +10 Stamina+10 Intellect+8 Spirit
    http://www.thottbot.com/?i=39936
    Quest reward, requires a 5man stratholme. Possibly to get two as they used to be BoE.
  • Seal of Rivendare – 17int 7spi
    http://www.thottbot.com/?i=14960
    Lots of Int, with some spirit on the side. A fairly common baron drop (15%?). Get two of these you’ll be set for pve.

    Enchants:


  • Enchant 2H Weapon – Major Intellect
    A +9 int enchant that basically all enchanters have. The most common caster enchant youll see.

  • Enchant 2H Weapon - Major Spirit
    +9spirit enchant, great for a regen staff/build.

  • Enchant Weapon - Healing Power (Staff)
    +55 to healing. Definantly a great option for dedicated healers, however the recipe is a fairly rare drop.

  • Enchant Weapon - Spell Power
    Another rare drop, it adds +30 to all spells and effects. The choice between this and healing power comes down to availability and if you want to focus on pure healing.

  • Boot Enchants
    +5spi or +7sta are the caster options. Another pve/pvp choice.

  • Bracer Enchants
    +9 int/spi/sta are all available.

  • Chest Enchants
    +100 hp or +100 mp.

  • Cloak Enchants
    +5 to all resistances or +70 armor.

  • Glove Enchants
    Basically the only options are either a slight mount speed increase or a tradeskill increase.

  • Librams
    Through a series of drops, you can enchant +100hp or +100mp to your head or legs slot. Be sure to look into which libram drops you need for which!

    Part III Drops to watch/farm for

    2Handers

  • Quel'dorai Channeling Rod
    http://www.thottbot.com/?i=35686
    Pretty good stats, especially suited for long fights due to the 8mana/tick. Is about a 5% drop of a Dire Maul boss.

  • Rod of the Ogre magi
    http://www.thottbot.com/?i=35933
    Usually regarded as a mage pvp staff, but is definantly an option for priests. Good round selection of stats, and the +22 spells is nice. The +1% spell crit isnt really usefull for priests as MindFlay, dot's cant crit, and alot of healing crits get wasted as overheal.

    1Handers/Offhands
  • Milli's Lexicon - 7int 6sta 6mana/sec
    http://wow.allakhazam.com/item.html?witem=18536
    Good balanced stats, paricularly the regen.

  • Spellbound Tome - 17int 6sta 3spi
    http://www.thottbot.com/?i=37240
    Drops in scholo.

  • The Hammer of Grace - +31 heals
    http://www.thottbot.com/?i=4931
    This +healing power enchant, and a decent +healing offhand could give you about +80-110 to healing.

    Wands

  • Bone creeper stylus
    http://www.thottbot.com/?i=18952
    This is the other wand I hear mentioned. Its about a 10% drop rate, and probably isnt to hard to farm for. The +11 to spells is nice, though many prefer stormrager for the extra Sta and Int.

  • Oblivion's Touch - 11int
    http://www.thottbot.com/?i=37307
    Scholomance drop.

  • Mana channeling wand
    http://www.thottbot.com/?i=35717
    Probably a better pve wand than stormrager, due to the nice mana/tick bonus. Drops in Diremaul

    Neck

  • Tooth of Gnarr
    http://www.thottbot.com/index.cgi?i=20126
    A BRS drop (20%) with 15int and 10spi. A good pve option.

  • Animated chain necklace
    http://www.thottbot.com/?i=37252
    Nice amount of +healing with minor stats on the side.

    Back

  • Hide of the Wild
    http://www.thottbot.com/index.cgi?i=6910
    A craftable purple, with nice stats, especially the +healing. Requires a 300 tribal leather worker with the recipe, the total material cost (from AH) is around 200g (but can be farmed for).

  • Cloak of the Cosmos
    http://wow.allakhazam.com/item.html?witem=18389
    Like Hide of the Wild except crappier. Drops in DM.

  • Royal Tribunal Cloak
    http://wow.allakhazam.com/item.html?witem=13376
    Good pvp option; featuring a load of int with sta on the side. Drops from magistrate in stratholme.

  • Archivist cloak of the owl
    http://www.thottbot.com/?i=19043
    Mana/sec and spirit make this a good regen choice.

  • Frostweaver Cape
    http://www.thottbot.com/?i=16551
    UBRS drop, with decent stats for a cape.

    Boots

  • Dragonrider Boots -16int 5sta 10fire +18spells
    http://wow.allakhazam.com/item.html?witem=18102
    Very nice boots, drop from Rend in UBRS.

  • Boots of the full Moon
    http://www.thottbot.com/?i=35634
    Nice +healing and average stats. A DM drop.

    Chest

  • Truefaith Vestements
    http://www.thottbot.com/index.cgi?i=24750
    Only 300 tailors with the recipe can make this (the item is BoP) but its a very nice item.

  • Mindsurge Robe - 13int 12sta 10mana/sec
    http://wow.allakhazam.com/item.html?witem=18532
    Drops in DM North, nice regen.

  • Mooncloth Robe
    http://www.thottbot.com/index.cgi?i=35727
    Nice, craftable robe. Made by tailors, it goes for about 100g at auction. Most class set robes are slightly superior though.

  • Robes of the Exhalted - 11spi 5int
    http://wow.allakhazam.com/item.html?witem=13346
    Uber +healing from the Baron.

    Gloves

    Shadowy Laced Handwraps - 15int 5mana/sec
    http://wow.allakhazam.com/item.html?witem=18730
    A nice baroness drop, particularly for pve.

    Head

  • Crown of Caer Darrow -20int 20spi
    http://www.thottbot.com/?i=21093
    Quest reward from a chain, requires 5man scholomance.

    Legs

  • Padre's Trousers
    http://www.thottbot.com/index.cgi?i=35781
    THE priest leggins. Nice Int, Regen and +healing. Drops in Diremaul (15%)

  • Spiritshroud Leggins
    http://www.thottbot.com/index.cgi?i=19207
    Drops of the beast in BRS, good for pve due to the 21 Int and Spi.

    Waist

  • Whipvine Cord - +9Int 6mana/sec +31 heals
    http://wow.allakhazam.com/item.html?witem=18327
    Another great DM drop, ideal for long fights.

    Rings

  • Ring of the Hierophant
    http://wow.allakhazam.com/item.html?witem=13096
    Random world drops with some great overall stats. Hope to get lucky, or look in the AH.

  • Emerald Flame Ring
    http://www.thottbot.com/?i=35701
    Good all round stats, with a +15 to healing bonus. 15% boss drop in DireMaul. Get two of these and youll be set.

  • Ring of Demonic Guile - 10int 6mana/sec
    http://wow.allakhazam.com/item.html?witem=18314
    A DM drop that is great for pve.

    Wrist

  • Flamecore Wraps - 8int 10fire 9mana/sec
    http://wow.allakhazam.com/item.html?witem=18263
    Created by tailors, these are great MC bracers.

    Trinkets

    There are lots of usefull trinkets. Many have mana regen bonus's, which are great for instances. Others have usefull effects, many that are great for pvp.

  • Insignia of the Horde
    Require pvp rank grunt. Better have it if you want to pvp.

  • Engineering Based:
    Gnomish Net Projector is great for getting that warrior with an AR out of your face. Gnomish cloaking device is good, but doesnt work if your in combat.

  • Eye of the Beast
    http://www.thottbot.com/?i=13106
    Everyones favourite +2% chance to spell crit trinket. A BRS quest reward, so no worrying about drop rates.

  • Nifty Stopwatch
    http://www.thottbot.com/?i=37490
    Great gadget, super speed is always usefull. Easy to get quest reward.

  • Mind Tap Talisman
    http://www.thottbot.com/?i=35819
    11 mana/tick makes this a pve winner. 5-10% drop on Kalendris in Dire Maul.

  • Second Wind
    http://www.thottbot.com/?i=16372
    Gives 300mana over 10 seconds, and adds +22 to spells and effects. Drops from golemag in BRD (7%)

  • Royal Seal of Eldre'Thalas
    http://www.thottbot.com/index.cgi?i=38410
    Comes from a quest, that is gotten from a book that drops in DM. Great pve ring, the +healing and mana regen makes it perfect for instances.

    Part IV Epics

    2Handers:

  • Glowing Brightwood
    http://www.thottbot.com/?i=5621
    Better than trindlehaven and crusader, but its a random world drop, and doesnt appear very often. Its BoE, so alot are sold, and usually go for around 500g-1000g at the AH. Whether its worth this much is a matter of opinion.

  • Staff of Dominance
    http://www.thottbot.com/?i=37319
    Similar to the Rod of the Ogre magi in stats, except it has more of them :p. A great caster staff, though the spell crit isnt particularly usefull. Drops in MC.

  • Grand Marshal's Stave
    http://www.thottbot.com/?i=Grand%20Marshal's%20Stave
    Requires the hgihest pvp rank possible, but has some seriously nice raw stats. Obviously a great pvp staff.

  • Headmasters Charge
    http://www.thottbot.com/?i=26135
    Seriously low drop rate, but a great weapon. It effectively gives 30int 30sta and 20spi. However the +30 int buff can be only used every 30mins, so it wont always be up if you pvp a lot.

  • Anathema/Benediction
    http://www.thottbot.com/?i=38169
    http://www.thottbot.com/?i=37916
    Best staff in the game, dual forms basically teh uber (one is a pvp focused form, the other is pve). Unfortunately it requires getting a 30% drop from majordomo (end boss in molten core) and only one priest will get it. After that you need to get another drop of either Lord Kazzak (guaranteed drop) or of Demon mobs (very low drop rate). Then you just need to complete an insanely hard healing challenge (alone) and youve got it!
    Cannot be enchanted though.

    1Handers + Offhands

  • Sorcerous Dagger
    http://www.thottbot.com/?i=37351
    Great dagger, if you can get it (MC drop).

  • Book of the Dead
    http://www.thottbot.com/?i=26731
    Requires a lucky drop, but has good stats, and the skeleton it summons is alright.

  • Fire Runed Grimoire
    http://wow.allakhazam.com/item.html?witem=19142
    21int 12sta and +11 spells.

    Wands

  • Crimson Shocker
    http://wow.allakhazam.com/item.html?witem=17077
    10 Int and a whole lot of dps. A MC drop.

    Chest

  • Robes of Volatile Power
    http://wow.allakhazam.com/item.html?witem=19145
    Nice overall stats, but goodluck fighting of the mages going for uber crit rate. MC boss drop.

  • Alanna's Embrace
    http://wow.allakhazam.com/item.html?witem=13314
    20 of every caster stat, with +20 to spells added in. Very rare scholo drop.

    Leggs

  • Manastorm Leggins
    http://wow.allakhazam.com/item.html?witem=18872
    Great stats and godly regen. Probably the best leggingsm available. MC boss drop.

    Rings

  • Dragonslayer's Signet
    http://www.thottbot.com/?i=36041
    Turn in Onyxias head for this nice ring. Unfortunately only one person gets the head per onyxia run, so you might have to do a few.

  • Seal of Acrhmagus
    http://wow.allakhazam.com/item.html?witem=17110
    +11 spi/sta/int, +5 to all resistances and 3mana/sec. =winnar.

    Trinkets

  • Talisman of Ephemeral Power
    http://wow.allakhazam.com/item.html?witem=18820
    +175 to spells is great, drops in MC.

  • Shard of the Scale
    http://www.thottbot.com/?i=36048
    16 mana/5sec, but is a 3% onyxia drop