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Priest · Shadow tab

Shadow Word: Death

New in Forever4 ranksLevel 32

Shadow Word: Death

Rank 4Shadow

340 Mana30 yd range

Instant18 sec cooldown

Learned at level 56

A word of dark binding that inflicts 444 to 472 Shadow damage to the target. If your target is not killed by Shadow Word: Death, you take backlash damage equal to 30% of your maximum health.

Spell power coefficient: 42.9% of spell power (direct)

All ranks of Shadow Word: Death

Rank	Level	Cost / range / cast	Effect	Classic 1.12
Rank 1	32	175 Mana · 30 yd range · Instant · 18 sec cooldown	A word of dark binding that inflicts 293 to 311 Shadow damage to the target. If your target is not killed by Shadow Word: Death, you take backlash damage equal to 30% of your maximum health. Coefficient 42.9% of spell power (direct)	new
Rank 2	40	205 Mana · 30 yd range · Instant · 18 sec cooldown	A word of dark binding that inflicts 368 to 390 Shadow damage to the target. If your target is not killed by Shadow Word: Death, you take backlash damage equal to 30% of your maximum health. Coefficient 42.9% of spell power (direct)	new
Rank 3	48	250 Mana · 30 yd range · Instant · 18 sec cooldown	A word of dark binding that inflicts 402 to 426 Shadow damage to the target. If your target is not killed by Shadow Word: Death, you take backlash damage equal to 30% of your maximum health. Coefficient 42.9% of spell power (direct)	new
Rank 4	56	340 Mana · 30 yd range · Instant · 18 sec cooldown	A word of dark binding that inflicts 444 to 472 Shadow damage to the target. If your target is not killed by Shadow Word: Death, you take backlash damage equal to 30% of your maximum health. Coefficient 42.9% of spell power (direct)	new

Talents that modify Shadow Word: Death

Early Demise (Shadow row 6): Increases Shadow Word: Death's critical strike chance on targets at or below 20% health by 30%.

Source: beta client 1.60.1.70753. Spell ID 1309636.

Questions players ask

When do Priests learn Shadow Word: Death?

Rank 1 at level 32, with later ranks at 40, 48, 56. Visit a class trainer in any capital.

Did Shadow Word: Death change from Classic?

Shadow Word: Death is new in WoW Forever and had no Classic 1.12 equivalent for Priests.

Snapshot 2026-11-03, client 1.60.1.70753.