Cataclysm Classic Discipline Priest Stat Priority

The stat priority for Discipline Priest is as follows:

1. Intellect
2. Spirit
3. Haste Rating
4. Mastery Rating
5. Critical Strike Rating

Intellect is the new main stat for all casters, including Discipline Priests, replacing Spell Power on every gear slot except for your weapon. Intellect increases your maximum Mana, which increases your Mana regeneration as spells like Hymn of Hope and talents like Rapture restore maximum Mana, meaning the more Mana you have, the more gets restored. Every 1 point of Intellect gives 1 Spell Power, making it by far the best stat for Discipline. Your Intellect gets further increased by buffs like Blessing of Kings, and your unique Discipline passive Enlightenment. This makes Intellect your best stat by far, meaning you should prioritize it over all other stats whenever possible.

Spirit has been changed to Cataclysm to be only found on healer gear. This is primarily a healer stat that grants increased Mana regeneration while not casting. As Discipline you get Meditation, allowing 50% of your Spirit Mana regeneration to continue even while casting. This is your main way of regenerating Mana during combat, and the majority of your gear should have Spirit on it. Your Spirit gets further increased by buffs such as Blessing of Kings, or the Human racial, The Human Spirit.

Haste Rating is the best secondary stat for Discipline as it allows you to quickly push out heals when and where they are needed. Haste is also the best stat available for the Atonement spec, as it is the main way to get more Smites off while the Holy Fire debuff is applied to your target. The main downside of Haste is the added Mana cost during a fight of casting more frequently.

At Level 85:

• 128.05 Haste Rating = 1% Haste

In Cataclysm, Haste adds additional ticks to damage over time and healing over time spells if you reach certain breakpoint numbers. This increases the potency of your healing spells such as Renew by giving them more healing in the same HoT duration. The breakpoints will vary depending on what buffs or racial you have such as the Dark Intent Haste buff, if you are a Goblin with Time is Money, are under the effect of something like Bloodlust, or have your Borrowed Time talent active. Compare the Haste percentages on the chart below to your in-game character sheet.

Ticks Gained	Renew	Divine Hymn	Hymn of Hope
1 Extra Tick	12.51%	12.52%	12.52%
2 Extra Ticks	37.52%	37.51%	37.51%
3 Extra Ticks	62.47%	62.54%	62.54%
4 Extra Ticks	87.45%	87.53%	87.53%

Mastery is the new stat added in during Cataclysm and provides a different, unique benefit for every single specialization in the game. For Discipline Priests, Mastery gives Shield Discipline, increasing the potency of all your absorption spells. As preventing damage with absorbs is the main theme of Discipline, this Mastery goes very well with the spec, only being slightly behind Haste Rating in terms of raw healing output.

At Level 85:

• 179.28 Mastery Rating = 1% Mastery

While Crit Rating is your worst stat, it isn't bad at all and is very strong when it comes to tank healing especially. Critting with heals will proc Divine Aegis, placing a shield on the healed ally for 30% of the amount healed. The shield from Divine Aegis also scales with your Mastery, Shield Discipline.

At Level 85:

• 179.28 Crit Rating = 1% Crit