Shield Discipline

Shield Discipline is the Discipline priest Mastery, becoming available at level 80. It increases the potency of Power Word: Shield and Divine Aegis.

Shield Discipline increases the potency of the damage absorption 'shields' cast by the priest, significantly improving and encouraging the use of these signature aspects of the Discipline repertoire. Because of this, above level 80, a Discipline priest's Power Word: Shield will always outstrip those of Holy (or Shadow) priests. This means shielding of targets should ideally be left to Discipline priests, in terms of mana efficiency and also power, as a Holy PW:S will absorb less damage before disappearing.

Although primarily affecting the priest's damage mitigation spells, by increasing the potency of Divine Aegis, this Mastery potentially improves every healing spell capable of achieving a crit. Prayer of Healing in particular benefits from these additional shield effects, as Divine Aegis is guaranteed to proc from its heals.