So just curious here. I have no problems killing mobs at all, and kill quite fast. I LOVE healing (always have).
Just wondering if it would be more efficient to go Shadow at 40? I plan on raiding at 60, and want to heal, so I don’t want to gimp myself 
This is my build right now - classic(dot)wowhead(dot)com/talent-calc/priest/05012-00505-5
This is my planned build at 60 - classic(dot)wowhead(dot)com/talent-calc/priest/055230130205151-205051-5
You can respect multiple times, so switching to Shadow doesn’t gimp you at all (except for the 5g fee for your second respec).
That being said, Shadow will help you grind faster/more efficiently, but it’s hardly mandatory. If you want to stay primarily specc’d as healer, just out five points into Spirit Tap and the rest in Disc/Holy as appropriate.
play whatever build as long as you have spirit tap and wand mastery
Do people’s replies change depending on PvE VS PvP server?
I specced into shadow to get to mind flay then disc for the useful stuff there. I am on a PVP server and felt super gimped in WPVP without mindflay and psychic scream cool down reduction.
I feel like going beyond spirit tap is unnecessary unless you want to spec shadow permanently for PvE/PvP. With a level-appropriate wand, all I’ve needed to solo effectively was 5 Spirit Tap and 5 Wand Specialization.
Of course shadow it’s going to be far more efficient and fun! And you don’t really need healing talents for healing dungeons so don’t worry about that.
It’s your priest, play it your way. However if you’re seeking efficiency you must go with shadow talents since day 1
Shadow isn’t worth it until level 42. You go deep disc and then swap to a hybrid build at 42 if you’re going for efficiency. The reason being: you can’t go deep enough into shadow until level 40 for it to be worth it, and you want to make sure you have wand spec at all times. Disc does more damage and you will have less downtime, due to imp pw: shield, mana regen, and reduced instant cast cost. You CAN level as shadow, but so many of the talents just aren’t worth it while you’re just getting started. Also, if you’re looking for a more in depth explanation, check out hydra’s website: deathblind . com (remove spaces obv). He has a comprehensive breakdown of specs while leveling and his reasoning behind each, as well as rotation suggestions.
I leveled to 60 in dungeons, as holy… if I did anything outside the dung, I was gimped… figure out your play style, and pick talents that work for you, not someone elses guilds
I am full shadow spec at the moment but will be switching to holy/disc for raids. Honestly, your leveling spec doesn’t matter too much as long as you get 5/5 spirit tap and 5/5 wand spec.
Shadow is good for protecting yourself in PVP, and is decent damage per mana spent so you’re not drinking a bunch. But any spec is viable for leveling to 60. It all depends on how you want to play. Want to mostly go solo? Shadow is great. Heck, I healed a dungeon run without having a single point in Holy last night and not a single party member died once.
Priest right now is just too good. You can’t go wrong with it.
I spec healer and don’t take spirit tap or wand specialization that every guide insists is needed. Just holy fire/smite and win.
I love Disc too much to switch over. Play what you want, and what works best for you
you’re missing out on sooooo much without those two talents. I imagine you have quite a bit of down time between pulls. I’m sure they die fast, but when you go oom and have to stop and drink every pull it slows you down A LOT. With spirit tap and wand spec, and as long as you make smart pulls, you literally have zero down time. It is significantly quicker than any other leveling spec for priest.
I’m personally just going level disc and stay disc
Yeah. With ANY build I’ll have 5/5 Spirit Tap.
I don’t think I’ve gone under 80% mana while leveling lmao. Spirit Tap is an amazing talent.
I had them for a while, but didn’t feel they were important so i respec’d out of it. Slow wand killing and mana drinking feel equally slow. I’d rather just blow stuff up and drink.
Well, if you have a good wand you should be killing pretty fast with it.
Within 3 seconds on a 1.5 speed wand, its done nearly as much damage as a 2 second smite o: and you’ve saved mana 
I started this way, and got to 26/0/0.
Then I respec’d to 21/0/5, proceeded to add Improved SW:P, and am chipping away at Shadow Focus. My idea is to switch back to Discipline or possibly go Holy tri-spec once I have Improved Pscyhic Scream and Mind Flay (i.e., 21/0/15 for PvP server; I wouldn’t go past Improved SW:P on a PvE server).
I have to say, I immediately noticed the difference after picking up Spirit Tap and Improved Shadow Word: Pain. I kill stuff so much more efficiently. Within one level I made back the 1G I spent respec’ing simply by not buying water.
It’s all up to personal preference. I was doing a lot of dungeons so I stayed heal spec, especially since I did good enough damage for the times I was out solo questing. If you want to stay heal spec, just do it. If you’ll be doing a ton of soloing, then Shadow might be worth it because it’ll have faster kill times after the early 40’s, so it’s up to you. But I like healing better as well so I did heal spec all the way to 60.