What level do you get Shadow Word: Death in WoW Forever?

Level 32; its 4 ranks come at 32, 40, 48 and 56 (beta client spellbook, build 70291).

Is Shadow Word: Death a talent in WoW Forever?

No. Shadow Word: Death is in the Shadow tab of the Priest spellbook, and no Priest talent teaches it. One talent changes it: Early Demise.

Did Shadow Word: Death change from Classic?

Yes. New in WoW Forever: Classic had no Shadow Word: Death.

What is the cast time and cooldown of Shadow Word: Death?

Instant at every rank; cooldown 15 sec. From the beta client's tooltip, build 70291.

Shadow Word: Death: WoW Forever Priest Ability

Talents Forever › Priest abilities › Shadow Word: Death

Shadow Word: DeathShadow Word: Death is a Priest ability in WoW Forever, learned at level 32, with 4 ranks to level 56 (beta client spellbook, build 70291). At rank 4: 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 10% of your maximum health.

In the Shadow tab of the Priest spellbook. Every rank: 30 yd range, Instant, 15 sec cooldown. Shadow school. Scales with 42.9% of spell power (direct).

What Shadow Word: Death does, rank by rank 4 ranks

Level	Rank and what it does
32	Rank 1 new 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 10% of your maximum health. 175 Mana.
40	Rank 2 new 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 10% of your maximum health. 205 Mana.
48	Rank 3 new 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 10% of your maximum health. 250 Mana.
56	Rank 4 new 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 10% of your maximum health. 340 Mana.

What changed from Classic

New in WoW Forever: Classic had no Shadow Word: Death.

On the Priest abilities list: New Shadow nuke, 15 sec cooldown, ranks at 32, 40, 48 and 56. If the target survives you take 10% of your max health. Early Demise adds 15 or 30% crit on targets at or below 20% health.

Talents that change Shadow Word: Death 1

Early DemiseShadow row 6 (level 35), 2 ranks. At 2/2: Increases Shadow Word: Death's critical strike chance on targets at or below 20% health by 30%.

Questions

What level do you get Shadow Word: Death in WoW Forever?: Level 32; its 4 ranks come at 32, 40, 48 and 56 (beta client spellbook, build 70291).
Is Shadow Word: Death a talent in WoW Forever?: No. Shadow Word: Death is in the Shadow tab of the Priest spellbook, and no Priest talent teaches it. One talent changes it: Early Demise.
Did Shadow Word: Death change from Classic?: Yes. New in WoW Forever: Classic had no Shadow Word: Death.
What is the cast time and cooldown of Shadow Word: Death?: Instant at every rank; cooldown 15 sec. From the beta client's tooltip, build 70291.

Last checked against beta build 1.60.1.70291 on 8 Oct 2026.

Before it in the Shadow tab: Prayer of Shadow Protection. After it: Shadow Word: Pain. Every Priest spell by level, every Priest talent and the Priest calculator.