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World of Warcraft: Forever · class guide

Holy Priest: Races

Every race Holy Priest can be, ranked against each other: best first, with how much the choice matters.

Best races for Holy Priest

Best races for Holy Priest in PvE

Race matters a lot

Mana sustain decides Holy Priest, and the gap is wide. Undead Cannibalize and Dark Sacrifice return mana that no other race can, while the others differ by about 1 to 3% in healing. Gnome is the best Alliance pick. Undead is the best Horde pick.

  • Best Alliance pick: Gnome D tier
  • Best Horde pick: Undead S tier

  1. Undead S tier

    Cannibalize gives Undead the strongest healing here, which makes it the best pick for Holy Priest.

    Why S, and its scores

    Cannibalize restores 35% of health and mana per 2 minutes near a corpse, and Dark Sacrifice turns health into mana. Touch of the Grave needs damaging spells, so Holy rarely procs it. Will of the Forsaken removes Charm, Fear and Sleep every 2 minutes, and Cannibalize heals 35% of health between pulls. Safety scores 4 of 5 for Holy Priest. Cannibalize restores 35% of health and mana near a corpse every 2 minutes, which cuts drinking and eating time. Dark Sacrifice adds more mana between fights. Leveling scores 5 of 5.

    It has no race ahead of it. The next race, Gnome, trails by 1.70 and sits in tier D. It falls short on healing (Eureka! against Cannibalize, 3 of 5 to 5) and leveling (Expansive Mind against Cannibalize, 2 of 5 to 5).

    Scores for Undead for Holy Priest
    CriterionWeightScore
    The spec's job55 5
    Survival and utility25 4
    Leveling and downtime20 5

    Weighted score 4.75, the best for this spec, which is S tier.

    What would move it: It would lose first place if testing showed Eureka! on Gnome worth more than the estimate for Holy Priest now, or if Cannibalize were cut in a patch.

    The Undead race page

  2. Gnome D tier

    Eureka!, the Gnome racial, trails Undead's Cannibalize on healing.

    Why D, and its scores

    Expansive Mind adds 5% maximum mana. Eureka! adds about 0.67% on direct heals and Power Word: Shield, but not Renew. Contingency Plan gives an absorb and a heal over time at 35% health on a 10 minute cooldown, and Confounding Flash confuses up to 5 targets for 3 seconds. Safety scores 4 of 5 for Holy Priest. Expansive Mind adds a larger resource pool, and Escape Artist helps with kiting. Leveling scores 2 of 5.

    Ahead of it: Undead. The best, Undead, is 1.70 ahead because it is stronger on healing (Cannibalize, 5 of 5 against 3) and leveling (Cannibalize, 5 of 5 against 2). Tier D covers up to 1.83 behind; tier C needs 1.50 or less.

    Scores for Gnome for Holy Priest
    CriterionWeightScore
    The spec's job55 3
    Survival and utility25 4
    Leveling and downtime20 2

    Weighted score 3.05, 1.70 behind the best race for this spec, which is D tier.

    What would move it: Closing about 0.20 of weighted score, through a higher tested value for Eureka! or a change to Cannibalize on Undead, would lift it to tier C.

    The Gnome race page

  3. Human F tier

    Human's Ruthless trails Undead's Cannibalize on healing.

    Why F, and its scores

    Ruthless adds 2% crit, about 1% on crit heals, and The Human Spirit adds 5% Spirit, a strong healer stat. Divine Grace is an emergency heal. Will to Survive removes all stuns on a 3 minute cooldown, and Perception detects stealth for 20 seconds. Safety scores 3 of 5 for Holy Priest. The Human Spirit adds 5% Spirit, which helps regen a little. Leveling scores 2 of 5.

    Ahead of it: Undead and Gnome. The best, Undead, is 1.95 ahead because it is stronger on healing (Cannibalize, 5 of 5 against 3), leveling (Cannibalize, 5 of 5 against 2) and safety (Will of the Forsaken, 4 of 5 against 3). That is beyond 1.83 behind the best, which is tier F.

    Scores for Human for Holy Priest
    CriterionWeightScore
    The spec's job55 3
    Survival and utility25 3
    Leveling and downtime20 2

    Weighted score 2.80, 1.95 behind the best race for this spec, which is F tier.

    What would move it: Closing about 0.12 of weighted score, through a higher tested value for Ruthless or a change to Cannibalize on Undead, would lift it to tier D.

    The Human race page

  4. Night Elf F tier

    Night Elf's Elune's Light trails Undead's Cannibalize on healing.

    Why F, and its scores

    Elune's Light adds 10% crit for 15 seconds per 3 minutes, about 0.4% on average for heals, an estimate. Shadowmeld can be used in combat to discourage attacks (2 minute cooldown in combat), and Quickness adds 1% dodge. Safety scores 3 of 5 for Holy Priest. Quickness adds 2% movement speed that stacks with other speed effects, and Wisp Spirit adds 75% speed as a wisp. Leveling scores 3 of 5.

    Ahead of it: Undead, Gnome and Human. The best, Undead, is 2.30 ahead because it is stronger on healing (Cannibalize, 5 of 5 against 2), leveling (Cannibalize, 5 of 5 against 3) and safety (Will of the Forsaken, 4 of 5 against 3). That is beyond 1.83 behind the best, which is tier F.

    Scores for Night Elf for Holy Priest
    CriterionWeightScore
    The spec's job55 2
    Survival and utility25 3
    Leveling and downtime20 3

    Weighted score 2.45, 2.30 behind the best race for this spec, which is F tier.

    What would move it: Closing about 0.47 of weighted score, through a higher tested value for Elune's Light or a change to Cannibalize on Undead, would lift it to tier D.

    The Night Elf race page

  5. Dwarf F tier

    Dwarf's Earth Fury trails Undead's Cannibalize on healing.

    Why F, and its scores

    Earth Fury adds 2% to the crit bonus of healing, about 0.1 to 0.4% more healing, an estimate. Stoneform removes bleed, poison and disease, grants immunity to them and cuts physical damage taken 10% for 8 seconds, every 3 minutes. Safety scores 4 of 5 for Holy Priest. Big Game Hunter helps only against Beasts, and Stoneform handles poison. Leveling scores 2 of 5.

    Ahead of it: Undead, Gnome, Human and 1 more. The best, Undead, is 2.80 ahead because it is stronger on healing (Cannibalize, 5 of 5 against 1) and leveling (Cannibalize, 5 of 5 against 2). That is beyond 1.83 behind the best, which is tier F.

    Scores for Dwarf for Holy Priest
    CriterionWeightScore
    The spec's job55 1
    Survival and utility25 4
    Leveling and downtime20 2

    Weighted score 1.95, 2.80 behind the best race for this spec, which is F tier.

    What would move it: Closing about 0.97 of weighted score, through a higher tested value for Earth Fury or a change to Cannibalize on Undead, would lift it to tier D.

    The Dwarf race page

  6. Troll F tier

    Troll's Berserking trails Undead's Cannibalize on healing.

    Why F, and its scores

    Berserking adds 10% casting speed for 10 seconds, but haste does little for most healing spells, so it is worth well under 0.6% on average. Rapid Regeneration heals 50% of maximum health over 6 seconds, but any movement, action or damage cancels it. Regeneration adds 20% health regen. Safety scores 2 of 5 for Holy Priest. Regeneration adds 20% health regen (20% of it works in combat), and Beast Slaying adds 5% damage to Beasts. Leveling scores 3 of 5.

    Ahead of it: Undead, Gnome, Human and 2 more. The best, Undead, is 3.10 ahead because it is stronger on healing (Cannibalize, 5 of 5 against 1), safety (Will of the Forsaken, 4 of 5 against 2) and leveling (Cannibalize, 5 of 5 against 3). That is beyond 1.83 behind the best, which is tier F.

    Scores for Troll for Holy Priest
    CriterionWeightScore
    The spec's job55 1
    Survival and utility25 2
    Leveling and downtime20 3

    Weighted score 1.65, 3.10 behind the best race for this spec, which is F tier.

    What would move it: Closing about 1.27 of weighted score, through a higher tested value for Berserking or a change to Cannibalize on Undead, would lift it to tier D.

    The Troll race page

How these are ranked

Forecast. Rated from the client data and our research, before anyone has played it at this level on this build. Where the data stops, the write-up says what it assumed. Rated as of , build 1.60.1.70450.

For each of the 28 specs, every race that can play it, ranked against each other for that spec: what the race's racials give it in PvE, leveling 1 to 60 and then in dungeons and raids at 60. It answers one question per spec: which race should I pick for it?

A tier says how far a race trails the best race for the same spec, never how it compares with another spec's races: an S Dwarf Protection Warrior and an S Undead Fire Mage are each the best for their own spec. The best race of every spec is S. Each spec also says how much the choice matters: on some specs the best and worst races are a few percent apart, on others one racial decides it.

The scores are the racials' worth on fixed anchors (1 to 5). The tier comes from the weighted score's gap to the spec's best: 5 minus 1.5 times the gap, against the thresholds, so S is within 0.50 of the best and F more than 1.83 behind.

The racials are rated from their tooltips and the client's numbers; none has been measured in play. The percentages are estimates, and no racial is worth more than about 3% of a spec's output, so a damage spec's races are often close and its pick is a matter of a few percent.

Where a racial answers something a spec cannot do without, the gap is larger: Stoneform for a tank, a mana return for a healer, a fear break for a melee spec. Those specs say race matters a lot.

The rubric: each criterion scored 1 to 5
CriterionWeightWhat it measures
The spec's job55What the racials add to what the spec is for at 60: damage for a damage spec, healing and mana for a healer, survival and threat for a tank. 5: about 3% or more of the spec's output, or one racial the role leans on most fights (a tank's Stoneform, a healer's large mana return). 3: about 1 to 1.5%, or a role racial that helps on some fights. 1: nothing that adds to the spec's job.
Survival and utility25Racials that keep this spec alive or help its group, beyond its main job: removing or ignoring a common danger (fear, poison, disease, curse, stun), a damage cut, a threat drop, an interrupt or stun the spec lacks. 5: helps on most fights. 3: one racial that helps on some fights. 1: nothing.
Leveling and downtime20Makes leveling this spec quicker or easier: less eating and drinking, more health, speed, a strong solo cooldown. 5: a large help throughout. 3: helps a little, or helps some of the levels. 1: nothing.
S 0.50 or less behind the best
The best race for this spec, or as good as makes no difference.
A 0.83 or less behind the best
A little behind the best; a fine pick if you prefer it.
B 1.17 or less behind the best
Behind the best, but nothing you will notice most nights.
C 1.50 or less behind the best
Clearly behind the best on what this spec needs.
D 1.83 or less behind the best
Well behind the best; pick it for other reasons.
F more than 1.83 behind
The furthest behind for this spec.

What the ratings assume:

  • Racials as of the stated build: the client's tooltips, cooldowns and numbers, after the 15–16 Oct racial rework.
  • The spec played as its class guide sets it out, in its usual group role at 60, and leveled as that spec.
  • Gear: leveling gear, then pre-raid blues at 60.
  • No Legacy perks and no world buffs.
  • Faction is not rated. Both factions' races sit on one scale; each spec names the best pick on each side.
  • The game rules of the stated build. A patch that changes a racial makes a new version.

Best races for Holy Priest in PvP

Race matters a lot

Holy is a sustain healer with no Silent Resolve, so every stun, fear and lockout hits harder. Racial spells matter here as much as breaks: Elune's Grace and Desperate Prayer against a stun break or a fear answer. The spread is 1.50, so the choice matters a lot. Gnome is the best Alliance pick. Undead is the best Horde pick.

  • Best Alliance pick: Gnome S tier
  • Best Horde pick: Undead A tier

  1. Gnome S tier

    Gnome leads Holy Priest: Escape Artist gives it the best breaks, and Contingency Plan adds defense.

    Why S, and its scores

    Breaks scores 3 of 5: Escape Artist frees you from any movement impairment and gives 3 seconds of immunity on a 2 minute cooldown. Burst scores 2 of 5: Eureka! adds 10% non-periodic damage and cuts costs 10% for 8 seconds on a 2 minute cooldown. Eureka! raises Greater Heal and shields for 8 seconds. Defensives scores 3 of 5: Contingency Plan gives an absorb and a heal over time at 35% health on a 10 minute cooldown. Mobility scores 3 of 5: Confounding Flash confuses five enemies for 3 seconds.

    No race is ahead of it. The next race, Human, is 0.10 behind and sits in tier S. It falls short on defensives (Contingency Plan, 3 of 5, against Divine Grace, 2), burst (Eureka!, 2 of 5, against Ruthless, 1) and mobility (Confounding Flash, 3 of 5, against Perception, 2).

    Scores for Gnome for Holy Priest
    CriterionWeightScore
    Breaks and escapes30 3
    Burst25 2
    Defensives25 3
    Mobility and detection20 3

    Weighted score 2.75, the best for this spec, which is S tier.

    What would move it: It would lose first place if testing how much Eureka! adds to shields and healing went against it, or if its Escape Artist were cut in a patch. Human is 0.10 behind, so a small change could close it.

    The Gnome race page

  2. Human S tier

    Human stays close to Gnome for Holy Priest: Will to Survive keeps it in tier S, short on defense and burst.

    Why S, and its scores

    Breaks scores 5 of 5: Will to Survive frees you from all stuns on a 3 minute cooldown. Burst scores 1 of 5: Ruthless adds 2% crit. Defensives scores 2 of 5: Divine Grace and Feedback give a small defense (Feedback drains an attacker's mana). Divine Grace and the extra Spirit give a small defense and some regeneration. Mobility scores 2 of 5: Perception is a 20 second stealth detection on a 3 minute cooldown, and Spirit is 5% higher.

    It is 0.10 behind Gnome, the best race for this spec, and sits in tier S. The gap comes from defensives (Contingency Plan, 3 of 5, against Divine Grace, 2), burst (Eureka!, 2 of 5, against Ruthless, 1) and mobility (Confounding Flash, 3 of 5, against Perception, 2). It does lead on breaks (5 of 5 against 3).

    Scores for Human for Holy Priest
    CriterionWeightScore
    Breaks and escapes30 5
    Burst25 1
    Defensives25 2
    Mobility and detection20 2

    Weighted score 2.65, 0.10 behind the best race for this spec, which is S tier.

    What would move it: Settling how often stuns chain on Forever (diminishing returns there are undocumented) could close the 0.10 gap to Gnome: one more point on breaks is worth 0.30.

    The Human race page

  3. Undead A tier

    Undead stays close to Gnome for Holy Priest: Will of the Forsaken keeps it in tier A, short on mobility and defense.

    Why A, and its scores

    Breaks scores 4 of 5: Will of the Forsaken removes Charm, Fear and Sleep on a 2 minute cooldown. Burst scores 1 of 5: Touch of the Grave has a 20% or 30% proc chance and drains up to 5% of your health on a 25 second internal cooldown, worth about 1 to 2% damage as an untested estimate. Defensives scores 2 of 5: Dark Sacrifice and Touch of the Grave give a small defense. Mobility scores 1 of 5: Undead has nothing here.

    It is 0.60 behind Gnome, the best race for this spec, and sits in tier A. The gap comes from mobility (Confounding Flash, 3 of 5, against 1 here), defensives (Contingency Plan, 3 of 5, against Dark Sacrifice, 2) and burst (Eureka!, 2 of 5, against Touch of the Grave, 1). It does lead on breaks (4 of 5 against 3).

    Scores for Undead for Holy Priest
    CriterionWeightScore
    Breaks and escapes30 4
    Burst25 1
    Defensives25 2
    Mobility and detection20 1

    Weighted score 2.15, 0.60 behind the best race for this spec, which is A tier.

    What would move it: Reaching Gnome means making up 0.60. One more point on burst is worth 0.25, so settling how large Touch of the Grave is in practice (untested) would not be enough by itself. It would take a patch to its racials.

    The Undead race page

  4. Dwarf A tier

    Dwarf stays close to Gnome for Holy Priest: Desperate Prayer keeps it in tier A, short on breaks and burst.

    Why A, and its scores

    Breaks scores 2 of 5: Stoneform cleanses Bleed, Poison and Disease, a narrow family. Burst scores 1 of 5: Earth Fury adds a tiny 2% crit bonus. Defensives scores 3 of 5: Desperate Prayer is an emergency heal on a 10 minute cooldown, and Stoneform cuts Physical damage 10% for 8 seconds. Mobility scores 2 of 5: Chastise roots a humanoid for 2 seconds on a 2 minute cooldown.

    It is 0.75 behind Gnome, the best race for this spec, and sits in tier A. The gap comes from breaks (Escape Artist, 3 of 5, against Stoneform, 2), burst (Eureka!, 2 of 5, against Earth Fury, 1) and mobility (Confounding Flash, 3 of 5, against Chastise, 2).

    Scores for Dwarf for Holy Priest
    CriterionWeightScore
    Breaks and escapes30 2
    Burst25 1
    Defensives25 3
    Mobility and detection20 2

    Weighted score 2.00, 0.75 behind the best race for this spec, which is A tier.

    What would move it: Reaching Gnome means making up 0.75. One more point on defensives is worth 0.25, so settling the real size of Stoneform's 10% Physical cut would not be enough by itself. It would take a patch to its racials.

    The Dwarf race page

  5. Night Elf A tier

    Night Elf stays close to Gnome for Holy Priest: Elune's Grace keeps it in tier A, short on breaks and burst.

    Why A, and its scores

    Breaks scores 1 of 5: Night Elf has no break from control. Burst scores 1 of 5: Starshards is a damage-over-time spell. Defensives scores 4 of 5: Elune's Grace cuts the chance to be hit by 50% for 15 seconds on a 5 minute cooldown, and dodge is 1% higher. Mobility scores 2 of 5: Shadowmeld and 2% extra speed help a little.

    It is 0.80 behind Gnome, the best race for this spec, and sits in tier A. The gap comes from breaks (Escape Artist, 3 of 5, against 1 here), burst (Eureka!, 2 of 5, against Starshards, 1) and mobility (Confounding Flash, 3 of 5, against Shadowmeld, 2). It does lead on defensives (4 of 5 against 3).

    Scores for Night Elf for Holy Priest
    CriterionWeightScore
    Breaks and escapes30 1
    Burst25 1
    Defensives25 4
    Mobility and detection20 2

    Weighted score 1.95, 0.80 behind the best race for this spec, which is A tier.

    What would move it: Reaching Gnome means making up 0.80. One more point on mobility is worth 0.20, so settling whether Shadowmeld discourages attacks in combat against players (untested) would not be enough by itself. It would take a patch to its racials.

    The Night Elf race page

  6. Troll C tier

    Troll trails Gnome for Holy Priest on breaks and mobility, and Hex of Weakness does not make up the difference.

    Why C, and its scores

    Breaks scores 1 of 5: Troll has no break from control. Burst scores 1 of 5: Berserking adds 10% attack and casting speed for 10 seconds on a 3 minute cooldown. Defensives scores 2 of 5: Hex of Weakness lowers a melee attacker's attack power and the healing it takes. Mobility scores 1 of 5: Troll has nothing here.

    It is 1.50 behind Gnome, the best race for this spec, and sits in tier C. The gap comes from breaks (Escape Artist, 3 of 5, against 1 here), mobility (Confounding Flash, 3 of 5, against 1 here) and defensives (Contingency Plan, 3 of 5, against Hex of Weakness, 2).

    Scores for Troll for Holy Priest
    CriterionWeightScore
    Breaks and escapes30 1
    Burst25 1
    Defensives25 2
    Mobility and detection20 1

    Weighted score 1.25, 1.50 behind the best race for this spec, which is C tier.

    What would move it: Reaching Gnome means making up 1.50. One more point on burst is worth 0.25, so settling how much Berserking's 10% adds in a real fight (an estimate) would not be enough by itself. It would take a patch to its racials.

    The Troll race page

How these are ranked

Forecast. Rated from the client data and our research, before anyone has played it at this level on this build. Where the data stops, the write-up says what it assumed. Rated as of , build 1.60.1.70450.

For each of the 28 specs, every race that can play it, ranked against each other for that spec in PvP: what the race's racials give it at level 60 in open-world fights and battlegrounds, against players of similar level and gear. It answers one question per spec: which race should I pick for it in PvP?

A tier says how far a race trails the best race for the same spec, never how it compares with another spec's races. The best race of every spec is S. Each spec also says how much the choice matters.

The scores are the racials' worth on fixed anchors (1 to 5). The tier comes from the weighted score's gap to the spec's best: 5 minus 1.5 times the gap, against the thresholds, so S is within 0.50 of the best and F more than 1.83 behind.

The racials are rated from their tooltips and the client's numbers; none has been measured in play, and diminishing returns on control in this build are not yet confirmed.

A break from the control a spec suffers most weighs most: a stun break for a melee spec that must stay on its target, a fear break for a spec that can't answer fear itself. Where a spec already has its own answer, the racial is worth less to it.

The rubric: each criterion scored 1 to 5
CriterionWeightWhat it measures
Breaks and escapes30Racials that free this spec from the control it suffers most. 5: an on-use break from a whole family of control (all stuns, or all fears and charms) on a cooldown of 2 to 3 minutes, or an always-on cut to control that works every fight. 3: a break for a narrower family (roots and slows, or one effect type such as curses or poisons), or one that only partly fits how this spec is controlled. 1: nothing.
Burst25Racials that raise this spec's damage (or a healer's healing) against players in its burst window. 5: about 10% or more, lined up with its own cooldowns, or an always-on gain the spec uses fully. 3: a smaller gain, or one the spec only partly uses (a physical bonus on a mostly spell spec). 1: nothing.
Defensives25Racials that keep this spec alive against players. 5: one that turns a losing fight: a large damage cut or immunity on use, more health, or healing in combat that a player can't stop. 3: a small or narrow one: a few % cut against one school, a small health or dodge gain, a heal that damage interrupts. 1: nothing.
Mobility and detection20Tools that win fights outside the numbers. 5: an area stun or interrupt the spec lacks, stealth or stealth detection that changes its fights, a lasting speed boost that works in combat. 3: one such tool, or several small ones (a short sprint, a safe fall). 1: nothing.
S 0.50 or less behind the best
The best race for this spec, or as good as makes no difference.
A 0.83 or less behind the best
A little behind the best; a fine pick if you prefer it.
B 1.17 or less behind the best
Behind the best, but nothing you will notice most nights.
C 1.50 or less behind the best
Clearly behind the best on what this spec needs.
D 1.83 or less behind the best
Well behind the best; pick it for other reasons.
F more than 1.83 behind
The furthest behind for this spec.

What the ratings assume:

  • Racials as of the stated build: the client's tooltips, cooldowns and numbers, after the 15–16 Oct racial rework.
  • The spec in a PvP-minded build, as its class's open-world PvP research sets it out.
  • Gear: pre-raid blues. No honor gear yet.
  • Opponents of any class and race, so a racial is worth what it does against the whole field, not one matchup.
  • Faction is not rated: population, queue times and which faction's classes are stronger are not part of the score. Each spec names the best pick on each side.
  • The game rules of the stated build. A patch that changes a racial makes a new version.