The Shadow Priest attack pattern in World of Warcraft's PVE game is more complex than it might appear at first. For example, what is the best spell to open with for a Shadow Priest? Mind Blast? Mind Flay? Shadow Word: Pain?

All Shadow Priest fights eventually reach melee range, so there is some merit to the theory that opening with Mind Flay is a good option. The reason being is that in melee, Mind Flay normally cannot tick more than once. Shadow Word: Pain, on the other hand, is an instant, as is Devouring Plague, so they can be cast in melee.

Opening with Mind Flay for three ticks, then using Shadow Word: Pain, then Psychic Scream, then Mind Blast, allows for a three attack opening rotation with no possibility of interruption. Players in single opponent pve should also try to downrank Psychic Scream to save mana, and utilize wands wherever possible. Good mana management is the key to efficient and successful pve battles