A Shadow priest can easily top DPS (damage per second) meters in any instance. A good shadow priest will have DPS gear loaded with intelligence and damage. These two stats allow for more damage over a longer period of time. In addition to damage, a shadow priest can also regenerate mana and health for herself and her group. She can also fear, shackle, mind control and in a worse case scenario resurrect. Toping out the DPS meter is not the shadow priest's ultimate goal. The goal is to be a vital and well-rounded team member.

In addition to the proper gear, suitable glyphs, enchants and the appropriate placed talents, spell rotation is crucial. Use your DoTs (damage over time) casts first then hit the opponent with your damage spells. Go into shadowform. First buff yourself and your group with your Shadow Protection and Power Word: Fortitude. Add Inner Fire and Vampiric Embrace to your own buffs.

Set your focus on the tank. In some instances - most instances - you will attack whatever the tank is attacking. However, sometimes your ranged DPS is needed on the adds. Once he grabs the aggro, begin your spell rotation. Be careful not to pull aggro off the tank though. Now begin the following rotation:

1. Mind Spike -- hit this two or three times
2. Mind Blast
3. Vampiric Touch
4. Shadow Word: Pain
5. Devouring Plague
6. Shadow Fiend -- depending on the boss or the mob
7. Mind Sear
8. Mind Flay
9. Repeat Vampiric Touch & Shadow Word: Pain
10. Repeat Mind Sear & Mind Flay

Hit your Archangel as needed when it procs. As tempted as you may be to use Power Word: Death, be careful. This instant cast does inlifct 3056 shadow damage but you need to save this cast for your kill shot. If the target is not killed by this cast, then the caster also will take damage. That damage is the same as the damage inflicted.

Another tempting spell is your Psychic Scream. A word of caution with this spell however as it tends to aggro other critters. You scream. The enemy runs off and all of a sudden he comes back with friends. While he is fleeing, you will still be in combat so you will not be able to eat or mana up during that time.

Keep your Dispersion handy on either your upper action bar or you side action bars. This spell allows you to become full shadow energy allowing you to regenerate your mana. Mind Soothe, Mind Control and Shackle Undead are also handy to keep in your top action bar.

A final word of caution: keep an eye on your tank. If you over DPS and draw the aggro, you may have to come out of Shadowform and be prepared to heal. If you do have to do that, remember to go back in Shadowform and re-buff.