Mists of Pandaria introduces a completely revamped talent system that fundamentally changes how you customize your character. Instead of the traditional talent trees, you now choose one talent from a selection of three options every 15 levels (at levels 15, 30, 45, 60, 75, and 90). These talents can be quickly changed between encounters using Tomes of the Clear Mind, allowing you to adapt your build to each specific fight.
This guide covers every class and every talent option available in MoP Classic, providing detailed breakdowns of when to use each talent, which specializations benefit most from each choice, and how to optimize your selections for both PvE and PvP content.
Priest
The Priest class receives excellent improvements in Mists of Pandaria across all three specializations. Shadow Priest sees Devouring Plague now consuming all Shadow Orbs, Discipline Priest gains increased Atonement range and the powerful Spirit Shell cooldown, and all specs benefit from the new talent system. If you enjoyed any Priest specialization in Cataclysm, you will find it enhanced and refined in MoP.
Level 15 Talents: Control and Crowd Control
Level 30 Talents: Movement
Body and Soul is a passive effect carried over from Cataclysm. Casting Power Word: Shield or Leap of Faith increases the target's movement speed by 60% for 4 seconds. The limitation is that it's sometimes applied to targets who do not need the speed boost, reducing efficiency.
Angelic Feather has 3 charges with a 10-second recharge. It places a feather at a target location; allies walking through it gain 80% increased movement speed for 6 seconds. The 80% speed increase exceeds many class sprint abilities (which are typically 70%). Can be pre-placed for anticipated movement. Create an "at player" macro to instantly place feathers at your feet for personal speed boosts.
Phantasm removes all movement-impairing effects when you Fade, and your movement speed is unhindered for 5 seconds. Primary use is PvP situations where removing snares is critical. PvE application is rarely necessary in raid environments.
Level 45 Talents: Damage and Resource Generation
From Darkness, Comes Light works differently based on spec. For Discipline and Holy, it provides a 15% chance when casting Smite or a healing spell to make your next Flash Heal instant cast and cost no mana, stacking up to 2 charges. For Shadow (Surge of Darkness), periodic damage from Vampiric Touch has a 20% chance to make your next Mind Spike instant cast, cost no mana, deal 50% additional damage, and not consume your damage-over-time effects. This is strongest on heavy multi-dotting fights with many Vampiric Touch applications.
Mindbender has a 1-minute cooldown and 40-yard range. It replaces Shadowfiend with an improved version that deals substantially more damage and generates more mana. Usable by all Priest specializations and excellent for heavy movement fights where you can deploy it while repositioning.
Solace and Insanity varies by spec. For Discipline and Holy, Power Word: Solace replaces Holy Fire with an instant-cast ability on a 10-second cooldown that deals instant damage plus damage over time, restores 1% maximum mana per cast, and the damage heals a nearby low-health friendly target within 40 yards for 100% of damage dealt (50% when healing yourself). For Shadow, Insanity causes Mind Flay to deal 33% additional damage per orb consumed by Devouring Plague when the target is affected by it.
Level 60 Talents: Survival
Desperate Prayer is a 2-minute cooldown that provides an instant heal on the caster for 30% of total health. Simple emergency heal requiring no setup.
Spectral Guise has a 30-second cooldown. Your shadow blurs into darkness, leaving your true form behind. While in shadow form, you are stealthed but remain in combat. Lasts 6 seconds or until your true form receives 3 direct attacks. In PvP, it's extremely powerful for escaping targeting. In PvE, it can break fixate mechanics and reset boss cast timers when used correctly. Highly recommended for all Priests to learn optimal usage.
Angelic Bulwark is a passive effect. When a damaging attack brings you below 30% health, you gain a shield equal to 20% of your total health for 20 seconds with a 90-second internal cooldown. Requires no active management.
Level 75 Talents: Throughput Enhancement
Twist of Fate is a passive effect. After damaging or healing a target below 35% health, you deal 15% increased damage and healing for 10 seconds. Extremely powerful for Shadow Priests and Discipline Priests. Target low-health adds to trigger and maintain this buff as frequently as possible. Expected to be the dominant choice for the vast majority of Priests.
Power Infusion has a 2-minute cooldown that increases haste by 20%, all damage by 5%, and reduces mana cost of all spells by 20%. Important change: now only affects the Priest (cannot be cast on other players), making it less attractive than previous expansions.
Divine Insight varies by spec. For Discipline, casting Penance gives a 100% chance that your next Power Word: Shield ignores and does not cause the Weakened Soul effect. For Holy, casting Greater Heal or Prayer of Healing gives a 40% chance that your next Prayer of Mending does not trigger its cooldown and jumps to each target instantly. For Shadow, periodic damage from Shadow Word: Pain has a 5% chance to reset the cooldown of Mind Blast and make your next Mind Blast within 12 seconds instant and cost no mana.
Level 90 Talents: Major Abilities
Halo has a 40-second cooldown and creates a ring of holy energy that expands outward, growing in power up to 30 yards away. Deals Holy damage to enemies and significant healing to allies, with maximum effectiveness at 25 yards from the caster. Learning to judge the 25-yard sweet spot is critical for maximum effectiveness.
Divine Star has a 15-second cooldown and fires a projectile traveling 24 yards forward, dealing Holy damage to enemies and healing allies within 4 yards of its path. Returns to the caster, dealing damage and healing again on the return trip. Best when raid members are stacked in a line or when frequent, smaller bursts are preferable.
Cascade has a 40-second cooldown and launches a holy bolt that grows in power as it travels, dealing damage to enemies or healing to allies. Bounces from allies to allies or enemies to enemies, splitting into two bolts with each bounce, preferring targets further away. Best when raid members or enemies are spread across the encounter area.
Warlock
The Warlock is exceptionally powerful in Mists of Pandaria, scaling remarkably well throughout the expansion. While competitive with other classes in the first tier, Warlocks increasingly dominate as gear improves. The resource system changes significantly for all three specializations, but the class retains its familiar feel while becoming more powerful.
Level 15 Talents: Survivability and Healing
Dark Regeneration has a 2-minute cooldown that instantly heals you and your pet for 30% of maximum health, then increases healing received by 25% for 12 seconds. Best for encounters with predictable heavy damage phases where the healing received bonus provides value.
Soul Leech is a passive effect. When you cast Incinerate, Fel Flame, Shadowburn, or Chaos Bolt, you and your pet gain a shadowy shield absorbing 10% of damage dealt for 15 seconds. No active management required. Over the course of a fight, typically provides more effective health than Dark Regeneration's burst heal. Expected default choice for approximately 90% of situations.
Harvest Life increases Drain Life damage by 50% and healing by 150%. However, Drain Life is not part of any Warlock specialization's optimal rotation, so using it for healing results in DPS loss.
Level 30 Talents: Control and Crowd Control
Howl of Terror has a 20-second cooldown that sends a cone of dark energy before you, reducing movement speed of all targets hit within 10 yards by 50% for 6 seconds. Functional but generally outclassed by the other options.
Mortal Coil has a 45-second cooldown that causes an enemy target to run in horror for 3 seconds and heals you for 15% of maximum health. Default choice in many situations due to the healing component.
Shadowfury has a 30-second cooldown providing an area-of-effect stun for 3 seconds. Excellent in Challenge Modes and heavy add fights. Can function as an AoE interrupt when multiple enemies are casting simultaneously.
Level 45 Talents: Pet Synergy and Survival
Soul Link is a passive effect where 20% of damage taken is split with your summoned demon. Additionally, 3% of all damage you deal is converted to healing on you and your summoned demon. Strong for Demonology and Affliction. Do not combine Soul Link with Grimoire of Sacrifice (no pet means no damage split).
Sacrificial Pact has a 1-minute cooldown. Your demon sacrifices 25% of its current health to shield you for 400% of the sacrificed health for 20 seconds. Can be cast while stunned or under crowd control effects. Massive personal defensive cooldown allowing "cheesing" of numerous mechanics.
Dark Bargain has a 3-minute cooldown that prevents all damage for 8 seconds. When the shield fades, 50% of damage prevented is dealt to you over 8 seconds. Can be cast while stunned and is useful for surviving specific lethal mechanics.
Level 60 Talents: Utility and Movement
Blood Horror costs 5% maximum health with a 30-second cooldown. While active, enemy melee attacks cause the attacker to run in horror for up to 4 seconds. Primarily a PvP talent with minimal PvE application.
Burning Rush drains 4% of maximum health per second to increase movement speed by 50%. Movement-impairing effects cannot reduce you below 100% of normal movement speed while active. Lasts until cancelled. Excellent for repositioning without using Demonic Circle.
Unbound Will costs 20% maximum health with a 1-minute cooldown and purges all magic effects, movement-impairing effects, and loss-of-control effects. Functions similarly to a PvP trinket.
Level 75 Talents: Demon Enhancement
Grimoire of Supremacy transforms your demons into more powerful versions dealing 20% more damage with enhanced abilities (Fel Imp, Voidlord, Shivarra, Observer, Abyssal, Terrorguard). Solid choice for Demonology and Affliction.
Grimoire of Service has a 2-minute cooldown that instantly summons a second demon that fights for 20 seconds. The demon immediately uses one of its special abilities when summoned. Competitive with Grimoire of Supremacy for Demonology.
Grimoire of Sacrifice has a 30-second cooldown. Sacrifice your demon to gain one of its abilities, increase single-target spell power by 15%, and regenerate 2% maximum health every 5 seconds for 1 hour. Primary choice for Destruction Warlocks. Pair with Dark Bargain instead of Soul Link for strong personal defensives.
Level 90 Talents: Major Cooldowns
Archimonde's Darkness grants a second charge of Dark Soul. With two charges, you can maintain Dark Soul for 40 seconds during Bloodlust/Heroism. Expected default choice for most encounters.
Kil'jaeden's Cunning allows casting Malefic Grasp (Affliction), Incinerate (Destruction), and Shadow Bolt (Demonology) while moving. On medium to heavy movement encounters, may provide greater DPS increase than Archimonde's Darkness.
Mannoroth's Fury has a 1-minute cooldown that increases the area of Seed of Corruption, Hellfire, Immolation Aura, and Rain of Fire by 500% and damage by 100% for 10 seconds. Rarely optimal compared to alternatives.
Shaman
The Shaman class is exceptional in Mists of Pandaria across all three specializations: Elemental, Enhancement, and Restoration. Each spec brings valuable raid utility alongside strong throughput.
Level 15 Talents: Survival
Nature's Guardian is the current Cataclysm talent made available to all specs. When a damaging attack brings you below 30% health, your maximum health increases by 25% for 10 seconds, and threat toward the attacker is reduced with a 30-second internal cooldown. Generally less impactful than alternatives.
Stone Bulwark Totem has a 1-minute cooldown and places a totem for 30 seconds that grants the caster a shield absorbing damage for 10 seconds, with additional absorbs every 5 seconds for the totem's duration. Strong option due to large upfront absorb plus sustained protection.
Astral Shift has a 1.5-minute cooldown providing 40% damage reduction for 6 seconds. Having a second major defensive cooldown alongside Shamanistic Rage is valuable.
Level 30 Talents: Control and Crowd Control
Frozen Power causes Frost Shock to also root the target in ice for 5 seconds. Strong PvP option.
Earthgrab Totem has a 30-second cooldown. The totem pulses every 2 seconds, rooting enemies within 10 yards for 5 seconds. Enemies previously rooted are instead slowed by 50%. Useful in both PvP and PvE for add control.
Windwalk Totem has a 1-minute cooldown and grants all party and raid members within 40 yards immunity to movement-impairing effects. Excellent raid utility for specific mechanics.
Level 45 Talents: Totem Management
Call of the Elements has a 3-minute cooldown that immediately resets the cooldown of all totems with a base cooldown shorter than 3 minutes. Does not reset major totems like Stormlash Totem or Spirit Link Totem.
Totemic Persistence is a passive effect where summoning a second totem of the same element no longer destroys the first totem. Exception: Does not work with Fire totems. Maximizes totem uptime.
Totemic Projection has a 10-second cooldown and relocates your active totems to a specified location. Extremely powerful with Capacitor Totem for AoE stuns. Expected default choice for most Shamans.
Level 60 Talents: Throughput Enhancement
Elemental Mastery grants a 30% haste buff for 20 seconds. Functions as a personal mini-Bloodlust.
Ancestral Swiftness has a 1.5-minute cooldown making your next spell with a base cast time less than 10 seconds become instant. Passive bonus increases spell haste by 5% or melee haste by 10%.
Echo of the Elements is a passive effect. When one of your spells causes direct damage or healing, you have a chance to gain Echo of the Elements, duplicating the spell's effect. Strong for all three specializations.
Level 75 Talents: Healing and Support
Rushing Streams causes Healing Stream Totem to heal two targets at once with 15% additional healing.
Ancestral Guidance has a 2-minute cooldown. For 10 seconds, 40% of direct damage or 60% of direct healing is copied as healing to up to three nearby injured party or raid members. Highly recommended for progression content.
Conductivity extends Healing Rain duration by 3.5 seconds when casting Healing Wave, Greater Healing Wave, Healing Surge, or Chain Heal. Allows Healing Rain to last up to 40 seconds total.
Level 90 Talents: Major Abilities
Unleash Fury empowers Unleash Elements with additional effects based on weapon imbue. Primarily benefits Enhancement Shaman and scales well in later tiers.
Elemental Blast has a 12-second cooldown dealing significant direct damage and grants approximately 3,500 Critical Strike, Haste, or Mastery for 8 seconds. Primary choice for Elemental Shaman.
Primal Elementalist transforms elementals into Primal Elementals that are 80% more powerful and act as directly controllable pets. For Restoration, Primal Elementalist with Earth Elemental using Reinforce is mandatory for the 10% healing increase and 20% damage reduction.
Rogue
The Rogue receives excellent talent options in Mists of Pandaria, with many previously specialization-locked abilities now available to all specs. If you loved Combat but wanted Shadowstep, or enjoyed Assassination but missed Cheat Death from Subtlety, you can now access these abilities regardless of specialization.
Level 15 Talents: Stealth and Movement
Nightstalker increases movement speed while stealthed by 20% and damage dealt from stealth by 50%. Combined with Burst of Speed, allows movement at 204% speed while stealthed—faster than epic ground mount speed.
Subterfuge causes Stealth to break 3 seconds after dealing or receiving hostile actions, rather than immediately. Particularly strong for Subtlety, allowing multiple Ambushes before stealth breaks.
Shadow Focus makes abilities cost 75% less energy while stealthed. Strong for Combat and Assassination for efficient openers.
Level 30 Talents: Utility
Deadly Throw is a ranged finishing move that reduces target movement speed by 50% for 6 seconds. With 3+ combo points, it interrupts spellcasting and prevents casting in that school.
Nerve Strike reduces target damage dealt by 50% (25% on players) and healing done by 10% for 6 seconds after Kidney Shot or Cheap Shot fades. Primarily PvP-focused.
Combat Readiness has a 2-minute cooldown. Each enemy attack deals 10% less damage, stacking up to 5 times for 20 seconds. Defensive option when tanking adds or during tank deaths.
Level 45 Talents: Survival and Self-Sustainability
Cheat Death causes an attack that would kill you to instead reduce you to no less than 10% health, with damage taken reduced by 85% for 3 seconds. Now available to all specializations. Enables mechanical manipulation in raid encounters.
Leeching Poison is a non-lethal poison where melee attacks have 50% chance to poison target for 10 seconds. Weapon strikes against poisoned targets heal you for 10% of damage dealt.
Elusiveness causes Feint to also reduce all damage taken by 30% for 5 seconds. Feint already reduces AoE damage taken by 50%, so this provides on-demand damage reduction during heavy raid damage.
Level 60 Talents: Movement
Burst of Speed costs 15 energy and increases movement speed by 70% for 4 seconds, removing movement-slowing effects. Does not break Stealth and has no cooldown. Combined with Nightstalker while stealthed, provides up to 204% movement speed.
Shadowstep has a 20-second cooldown and teleports you behind the target, increasing movement speed by 70% for 2 seconds. Now available to all specializations.
Cloak and Dagger allows Ambush, Garrote, and Cheap Shot to be used from 40 yards away, teleporting you behind the target. Functions as a passive Shadowstep for opener abilities.
Level 75 Talents: Damage Enhancement
Prey on the Weak causes enemies disabled with Kidney Shot, Cheap Shot, Gouge, Sap, or Blind to take 10% increased damage from all sources for the duration. Provides raid damage increase on controlled targets.
Paralytic Poison is a non-lethal poison where each strike has 20% chance to poison the enemy. Stacks 4 times; fourth application stuns target for 4 seconds.
Dirty Tricks removes the energy cost from Gouge and Blind and prevents them from breaking from poison and bleed damage. Primarily PvP-focused.
Level 90 Talents: Major Abilities
Shuriken Toss costs 40 energy with 30-yard range. If target is further than 10 yards, auto attacks become ranged shurikens for up to 10 seconds. Niche use for extended range phases.
Marked for Death has a 1-minute cooldown that instantly generates 5 combo points on the target. If target dies within 1 minute, cooldown resets. Excellent for add-heavy fights.
Anticipation is a passive effect. When an attack generates a combo point on a target at 5 combo points, you gain an Anticipation charge (maximum 5). Eliminates wasted combo points from procs. Expected default choice for all three specializations in most content.
Druid
The Druid class undergoes significant changes in Mists of Pandaria, most notably the split of Feral into two distinct specializations: Feral (cat DPS) and Guardian (bear tanking). All four specializations receive strong talent options.
Level 15 Talents: Movement
Feline Swiftness is a passive effect that increases movement speed by 15% at all times.
Displacer Beast teleports the Druid up to 20 yards forward, activates Cat Form, and increases movement speed by 50% for 4 seconds. Functions as a Blink/Dash combination.
Wild Charge provides different functionality based on current form: No Shapeshift flies to an ally, Bear Form charges and immobilizes for 4 seconds, Cat Form leaps behind enemy dazing for 3 seconds, Moonkin Form provides a disengage-style backward leap, and Travel Form leaps forward 20 yards. Expected default choice for most players.
Level 30 Talents: Healing and Survival
Ysera's Gift is a passive effect that heals you for 5% of maximum health every 5 seconds. If at full health, heals the most injured nearby ally instead.
Renewal has a 2-minute cooldown that instantly heals the Druid for 30% maximum health. Usable in all forms.
Cenarion Ward has a 30-second cooldown that protects a friendly target. Damage taken triggers healing for 30,000 every 2 seconds for 6 seconds. Strong for Guardian Druids as a self-healing option.
Level 45 Talents: Crowd Control
Faerie Swarm is an improved Faerie Fire that also reduces target movement speed by 50% for 15 seconds.
Mass Entanglement roots target in place for 30 seconds, spreading to additional nearby enemies. Damage may interrupt the effect.
Typhoon provides a frontal cone knockback within 30 yards, dazing targets for 6 seconds.
Level 60 Talents: Throughput Enhancement
Soul of the Forest varies by spec. Balance: Wrath, Starfire, and Starsurge casts have 8% chance to make Astral Communion instant. Feral: Finishing moves grant 4 energy per combo point. Guardian: Mangle generates 30% more Rage and deals 15% more damage. Restoration: Swift Mend grants 100% haste for your next spell.
Incarnation has a 3-minute cooldown and 30-second duration. Balance (Chosen of Elune): 25% increased Arcane and Nature damage while Eclipse is active. Feral (King of the Jungle): Use all stealth abilities, Prowl in combat, and Ravage has no positional requirement. Guardian (Son of Ursoc): Reduces cooldown of melee abilities and Growl to 1.5 seconds. Restoration (Tree of Life): 15% increased healing, 120% increased armor.
Force of Nature summons Treants with different behaviors based on specialization. Generally considered weaker than Soul of the Forest and Incarnation.
Level 75 Talents: Crowd Control
Disorienting Roar invokes the spirit of Ursoc to roar, disorienting all enemies within 10 yards for 3 seconds. Strong as a mass interrupt.
Ursol's Vortex slows enemies entering the area and pulls them back when they try to leave.
Mighty Bash has a 50-second cooldown providing a 5-second stun usable in all shapeshift forms.
Level 90 Talents: Major Abilities
Heart of the Wild passively increases Stamina, Agility, and Intellect by 6% at all times. Active cooldown (6 minutes) enables performing another role temporarily for 45 seconds. Highly flexible for progression content.
Dream of Cenarius varies by spec. Balance: Healing Touch increases next Eclipse damage bonus by 25%. Feral: Healing Touch causes next two melee abilities to deal 30% additional damage—non-negotiable for maximizing Feral DPS. Guardian: Mangle critical strikes have 40% chance to make next Healing Touch instant and free.
Nature's Vigil has a 1.5-minute cooldown and 30-second duration that increases all damage and healing by 12%. Simpler than Dream of Cenarius but lower potential ceiling.
Paladin
The Paladin receives excellent talent options in Mists of Pandaria, with each tier offering meaningful choices for all three specializations.
Level 15 Talents: Movement
Speed of Light has a 45-second cooldown providing 70% movement speed for 8 seconds.
Long Arm of the Law causes successful Judgment to increase movement speed by 45% for 3 seconds. Judgment has a short cooldown, allowing frequent speed boosts.
Pursuit of Justice passively grants 15% movement speed at all times, plus 5% additional per charge of Holy Power (up to 3). Maximum 30% at 3 Holy Power.
Level 30 Talents: Crowd Control
Fist of Justice has a 30-second cooldown providing a 6-second stun. Replaces Hammer of Justice with a significantly more powerful stun on shorter cooldown.
Repentance has a 15-second cooldown providing a 1-minute incapacitate.
Evil Is a Point of View allows Turn Evil to be used on Humanoids and Beasts. Situational utility.
Level 45 Talents: Healing
Selfless Healer causes successful Judgments to reduce cast time and mana cost of next Flash of Light by 35% per stack (3 stacks maximum), improving effectiveness by 20% per stack when used on others.
Eternal Flame replaces Word of Glory, consuming up to 3 Holy Power to place a protective holy flame that heals immediately and applies a heal-over-time for approximately 30 seconds. HoT is increased by 50% when used on the Paladin. Strong for Holy and Protection.
Sacred Shield has a 6-second cooldown and protects target with a shield absorbing up to approximately 1,100 damage every 5 seconds for 30 seconds.
Level 60 Talents: Utility
Hand of Purity places a Hand on a friendly target, reducing damage taken by 10% and damage from harmful periodic effects by an additional 80%. Extremely strong for encounters with dangerous DoT effects.
Unbreakable Spirit passively reduces cooldown of Divine Shield, Divine Protection, and Lay on Hands by 50%.
Clemency allows all Hand spells to be used twice before incurring their cooldowns. Provides flexibility for utility usage.
Level 75 Talents: Throughput Enhancement
Holy Avenger has a 2-minute cooldown and 18-second duration. Abilities that generate Holy Power deal 30% additional damage and healing and generate 3 charges of Holy Power.
Sanctified Wrath passively makes Avenging Wrath last 50% longer with specialization-specific bonuses. For Retribution at higher gear levels, often the preferred choice.
Divine Purpose is a passive effect. Abilities that cost Holy Power have 25% chance to trigger Divine Purpose, making the next Holy Power ability consume no Holy Power and cast as if 3 Holy Power were consumed. Default choice for Holy Paladins.
Level 90 Talents: Major Abilities
Holy Prism has a 20-second cooldown. On enemy target: deals Holy damage and heals 5 nearest allies within 15 yards. On friendly target: heals significantly and deals Holy damage to 5 enemies within 15 yards. Default choice for Holy Paladins.
Light's Hammer has a 1-minute cooldown and 14-second duration. Hurls a hammer to a target location, blasting a 10-yard area with Arcing Light that deals Holy damage to enemies (with 50% slow) and heals all allies every 2 seconds. Strong for stacked encounters.
Execution Sentence has a 1-minute cooldown. On enemies, a hammer slowly falls from the sky dealing increasing Holy damage over 10 seconds with a final burst. Strong single-target damage option.
Death Knight
Death Knight talents are unique among classes in Mists of Pandaria. You receive a talent at levels 56, 57, 58, 60, 75, and 90 (starting at level 55 means you catch up by level 60). The talent options focus heavily on utility and survivability rather than direct DPS increases, as major damage abilities come from your specialization choice.
Level 56 Talents: Disease Management
Roiling Blood causes Blood Boil to trigger Pestilence if it strikes a diseased target. Useful for AoE fights for all three specializations.
Plague Leech has a 25-second cooldown that consumes diseases on the target to activate 2 random fully-depleted runes as Death Runes. Use before diseases expire, then immediately reapply with Outbreak. Default choice for single-target encounters.
Unholy Blight has a 1.5-minute cooldown and 10-second duration. Surrounds the Death Knight with unholy insects, applying both diseases to enemies within 10 yards. Best for encounters with adds spawning at set intervals.
Level 57 Talents: Survival
Lichborne has a 2-minute cooldown and 10-second duration. Become undead, immune to Charm, Fear, and Sleep effects. Death Coil heals you while Lichborne is active.
Anti-Magic Zone has a 2-minute cooldown and 10-second duration. Places a zone that reduces magic damage taken by party/raid members standing within it. Expected default choice for most raid encounters.
Purgatory is a passive effect. When you would take fatal damage, you instead enter Purgatory, absorbing incoming healing equal to damage prevented for 3 seconds. Strong for tanks as a second chance.
Level 58 Talents: Movement and Control
Death's Advance prevents you from being slowed below 70% of normal movement speed. Active grants 30% movement speed increase and cannot be slowed below 100%. Default choice for most PvE content.
Chilblains causes victims of Frost Fever to be slowed by 50%. Chains of Ice immobilizes targets for 3 seconds.
Asphyxiate has a 30-second cooldown, replacing Strangulate. Lifts an enemy target and crushes their throat, stunning them for 5 seconds. Primarily PvP-focused.
Level 60 Talents: Self-Healing
Death Pact has a 2-minute cooldown that heals you for 50% of maximum health. Your minion suffers damage equal to 50% of its maximum health. No resource cost (no DPS loss). Default choice for most situations.
Death Siphon costs 1 Death Rune, dealing Shadow/Frost damage to an enemy and healing you for 150% of damage dealt. Using Death Runes reduces DPS.
Conversion is a toggle ability that continuously converts Runic Power to health, restoring 3% maximum health per second. Runic Power consumption reduces DPS.
Level 75 Talents: Rune Management
This is the only talent row that significantly affects Death Knight DPS.
Blood Tap generates 2 Blood Charges per Death Coil, Frost Strike, or Rune Strike (maximum 12). Active ability converts 5 Blood Charges to activate a random fully-depleted rune as a Death Rune. Highest DPS gain with perfect usage for all specs.
Runic Empowerment is a passive effect. Landing a damaging Death Coil, Frost Strike, or Rune Strike has 45% chance to activate a random fully-depleted rune. Strong for Frost Death Knights.
Runic Corruption is a passive effect. Landing a damaging Death Coil, Frost Strike, or Rune Strike has 45% chance to trigger Runic Corruption, increasing rune regeneration rate by 100% for 3 seconds. Good for Blood Death Knights.
Level 90 Talents: Major Abilities
Gorefiend's Grasp has a 1-minute cooldown. Shadowy tendrils coil around all enemies within 20 yards of a hostile or friendly target, pulling them to that location. Excellent for stacking adds for AoE.
Remorseless Winter has a 1-minute cooldown and 8-second duration. Surrounds the Death Knight with a swirling tempest, chilling enemies within 8 yards every second. Upon fifth application, target is stunned for 6 seconds. Excellent for Challenge Modes.
Desecrated Ground has a 2-minute cooldown and 10-second duration. Corrupts the ground in an 8-yard radius, providing immunity to loss-of-control effects. Primarily PvP-focused.
Monk
The Monk is the new class introduced in Mists of Pandaria, with three specializations: Windwalker (melee DPS), Brewmaster (tank), and Mistweaver (healer). All Monk abilities and talents are new to the game.
Level 15 Talents: Movement
Celerity gives Roll and Chi Torpedo an additional charge (3 total) and reduces cooldown by 5 seconds.
Tiger's Lust has a 30-second cooldown that instantly clears immobilizing and movement-impairing effects and increases movement speed by 70% for 6 seconds. Can be cast on yourself or allies.
Momentum is a passive effect. Each Roll or Chi Torpedo increases movement speed by 25% for 10 seconds (stacks 2 times).
Level 30 Talents: Healing and Damage
Chi Wave has a 15-second cooldown that causes a wave of Chi to bounce 7 times between enemies and allies. Default choice for most Windwalker and Brewmaster situations.
Zen Sphere has a 10-second cooldown and 16-second duration. Places a sphere on a target that heals them and damages a nearby enemy every 2 seconds. For Brewmaster: Guaranteed self-healing that scales with Vengeance.
Chi Burst has a 30-second cooldown. Channeled ability firing a beam that heals allies and damages enemies in its path. Excellent when stacked.
Level 45 Talents: Chi and Energy Management
Power Strikes is a passive effect. Every 20 seconds, your next Jab, Soothing Mist, Spinning Crane Kick, Expel Harm, or Crackling Jade Lightning generates 1 additional Chi.
Ascension is a passive effect that increases energy regeneration by 15% and maximum Chi by 1. For Mistweaver: Increases maximum mana by 15%.
Chi Brew has a 45-second cooldown with 2 charges. Instantly restores 2 Chi and generates 2 stacks of Tigereye Brew (Windwalker) or Mana Tea (Mistweaver). Default for Windwalker and Mistweaver.
Level 60 Talents: Crowd Control
Ring of Peace has a 45-second cooldown and 8-second duration. Creates a sanctuary where enemies are silenced and disarmed for 4 seconds. Strong PvP ability.
Leg Sweep has a 45-second cooldown that knocks down all enemies within range, stunning them for 5 seconds. Default choice for most PvE content.
Charging Ox Wave has a 30-second cooldown. A mighty ox rushes forward 30 yards, stunning all enemies in its path for 3 seconds.
Level 75 Talents: Defensive Abilities
Healing Elixirs is a passive effect. Every 18 seconds, gain Healing Elixir. The next time you fall below 35% health or drink a brew/tea, you heal for 15% of total health.
Dampen Harm has a 1.5-minute cooldown and 45-second duration. The next 3 attacks that deal 20% or more of your total health are reduced by half. Primary tank defensive for heavy physical damage.
Diffuse Magic has a 1.5-minute cooldown that reduces all spell damage taken by 90% and clears all magic effects. Primary defensive for magic damage encounters.
Level 90 Talents: Major Abilities
Rushing Jade Wind replaces Spinning Crane Kick. Deals damage around you and healing (as healer) for its duration with near-100% uptime on AoE. Default AoE choice for Windwalker and Brewmaster.
Invoke Xuen, the White Tiger has a 3-minute cooldown and 45-second duration. Summons Xuen to fight alongside you. Scales with Attack Power (Brewmaster's Vengeance makes Xuen extremely powerful). Default single-target choice for all specializations.
Chi Torpedo replaces Roll, traveling further and dealing Nature damage to enemies and healing to allies in your path. For Mistweaver on stacked encounters, can become top healing.
Mage
Mage talents in Mists of Pandaria provide excellent flexibility, with many previously specialization-locked abilities now available to all specs. Cauterize, Presence of Mind, Ice Barrier, and Blazing Speed are all talent choices rather than specialization requirements.
Level 15 Talents: Casting and Movement
Presence of Mind has a 1.5-minute cooldown making your next Mage spell with a base cast time less than 10 seconds become instant cast. Not on the global cooldown. Often the default choice for Fire Mages.
Blazing Speed has a 25-second cooldown that suppresses movement-slowing effects and increases movement speed by 150% for 1.5 seconds. Can be activated while casting.
Icy Flows has 3 charges with 20-second recharge. Allows you to move while casting and channeling your next Mage spell with a base cast/channel time less than 4 seconds. Default choice for Arcane and Frost on movement-heavy encounters.
Level 30 Talents: Survival
Temporal Shield has a 25-second cooldown providing a shield for 4 seconds that reduces damage taken by 15%. All damage taken while shielded is healed back over 6 seconds. Not on the global cooldown (zero DPS loss). Default choice for most situations.
Flameglow is a passive effect that absorbs a small amount of damage from each attack.
Ice Barrier absorbs a significant amount of damage for 1 minute. On the global cooldown (small DPS loss).
Level 45 Talents: Crowd Control
Ring of Frost has a 45-second cooldown and 10-second duration. Places a ring of frost on the ground; enemies entering are frozen for 10 seconds. Excellent for controlling add packs.
Ice Ward has a 20-second cooldown. Places a ward on a friendly target; when struck, all enemies within 10 yards are frozen for 5 seconds.
Frostjaw has a 20-second cooldown that silences and freezes a target in place for 8 seconds (4 seconds vs. players). Default choice for dungeons and Challenge Modes.
Level 60 Talents: Major Survival Cooldowns
Greater Invisibility has a 1.5-minute cooldown providing instant invisibility for 20 seconds with 90% damage reduction while invisible and for 3 seconds after. Removes 2 DoT effects. Excellent for encounters with dangerous DoT effects.
Cauterize has a 2-minute internal cooldown. An attack that would kill you instead brings you to 50% health. You burn for 40% of your health over 6 seconds (can Ice Block to cancel).
Cold Snap has a 3-minute cooldown that instantly resets the cooldown on Ice Block, Frost Nova, and Cone of Cold, and heals you for 30% of maximum health. Enables double Ice Block usage.
Level 75 Talents: Bomb Abilities
The optimal choice is directly tied to target count.
Living Bomb is a DoT that explodes for AoE damage. Strongest when applied to 1-2 targets.
Nether Tempest is a DoT that periodically deals damage and fires bolts at nearby enemies. Strongest when applied to 3-4 targets.
Frost Bomb is a DoT that explodes for massive AoE damage. Strongest when the explosion hits 5+ stacked targets.
Level 90 Talents: Major Abilities
Invocation removes the cooldown of Evocate and reduces channel time by 50%. Completing Evocate causes 15% increased spell damage for 1 minute. Default choice for Frost Mages.
Rune of Power places a Rune on the ground lasting 1 minute. While within 5 yards, mana regeneration increases by 75% and spell damage increases by 15%. Required for Arcane Mages.
Incanter's Ward has a 25-second cooldown that absorbs damage for 8 seconds. Absorbed damage restores up to 18% maximum mana, and when the effect ends, gain 15% increased spell damage for 25 seconds.
Warrior
The Warrior class is exceptionally fun in Mists of Pandaria, bringing incredible damage, amazing raid cooldowns, and powerful external cooldowns for tanks.
Level 15 Talents: Movement
Juggernaut reduces Charge cooldown to 12 seconds (from 20 seconds). More frequent gap closing.
Double Time gives Charge 2 charges with 20-second recharge. Rage generation only occurs once every 12 seconds.
Warbringer causes Charge to also root the target for 4 seconds and reduce movement speed by 50% for 15 seconds. Primarily PvP-focused.
Level 30 Talents: Self-Healing and Survival
Enraged Regeneration has a 1-minute cooldown that instantly heals for 10% of total health, plus an additional 10% over 5 seconds. Healing is doubled when Enraged. Default choice for Protection Warriors.
Second Wind is a passive effect. When below 35% health, regenerate 3% health per second.
Impending Victory has a 30-second cooldown costing 10 Rage, replacing Victory Rush. Deals damage and heals for 20% of maximum health. Default choice for DPS Warriors.
Level 45 Talents: Crowd Control
Staggering Shout has a 40-second cooldown that roots all nearby snared enemies for 5 seconds.
Piercing Howl costs 10 Rage and snares all enemies within 15 yards, reducing movement speed by 50% for 15 seconds.
Disrupting Shout has a 40-second cooldown that interrupts all spellcasting within 10 yards and prevents any spell in that school from being cast for 4 seconds. Default choice for most content.
Level 60 Talents: Damage
Bladestorm has a 1.5-minute cooldown and 6-second duration. Spin around dealing massive damage to all nearby enemies. Immune to movement impairing and loss of control effects. Default choice for any encounter with multiple targets.
Shockwave has a 40-second cooldown (20 seconds if hitting 3+ targets). Frontal cone dealing damage and stunning all targets within 10 yards for 4 seconds.
Dragon Roar has a 1-minute cooldown dealing massive damage to all enemies within 8 yards and knocking them back. Always critically strikes and ignores all armor. Default choice for single-target encounters.
Level 75 Talents: Utility and External Cooldowns
Mass Spell Reflection has a 1-minute cooldown that reflects the next spell cast on you or any party/raid member within 20 yards for 5 seconds.
Safeguard has a 30-second cooldown. Intervene to an ally, taking the next melee or ranged attack intended for them and reducing their damage taken by 20% for 6 seconds.
Vigilance has a 2-minute cooldown and 12-second duration that reduces target's damage taken by 30%. Extremely powerful external cooldown for tanks. Default choice for most DPS Warriors.
Level 90 Talents: Major Damage Abilities
Avatar has a 3-minute cooldown and 24-second duration. Transform into a colossus, breaking all roots and snares and increasing damage dealt by 20%. Generally outperformed by alternatives.
Bloodbath has a 1-minute cooldown and 12-second duration. Melee special attacks deal an additional 30% damage as bleed over 6 seconds. Expected default choice for most situations (~70% of encounters).
Stormbolt has a 30-second cooldown. Hurl your weapon at an enemy, dealing 125% weapon damage and stunning for 4 seconds. Deals 500% weapon damage to targets permanently immune to stuns. Strong for burst damage phases on bosses.
Hunter
The Hunter class offers strong talent options with meaningful choices for all three specializations (Beast Mastery, Marksmanship, Survival).
Level 15 Talents: Movement and Survival
Posthaste causes Disengage to free you from all movement-impairing effects and increase movement speed by 60% for 8 seconds.
Narrow Escape activates a web trap when you Disengage, encasing all targets within 8 yards in webs and rooting them for 8 seconds.
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Chimera reduces Disengage cooldown by 10 seconds and Deterrence cooldown by 60 seconds. Strong for encounters requiring frequent Deterrence usage.
Level 30 Talents: Crowd Control
Binding Shot fires an arrow that creates a tether zone. Enemies within 5 yards become tethered; moving more than 5 yards away stuns them for 5 seconds. Default choice for most content.
Wyvern Sting has a 45-second cooldown providing a 30-second sleep (damage breaks effect).
Intimidation has a 1-minute cooldown commanding your pet to stun target for 3 seconds.
Level 45 Talents: Survivability
Exhilaration has a 2-minute cooldown that instantly heals you for 30% and your pet for 100% of total health.
Spirit Bond is a passive effect. While pet is active, you and your pet regenerate 3% total health every 2 seconds.
Aspect of the Iron Hawk passively replaces Aspect of the Hawk, adding 10% damage reduction. Fire and forget; no active management.
Level 60 Talents: Focus Management
Fervor has a 30-second cooldown that instantly restores 50 Focus to you and your pet, plus an additional 50 Focus over 10 seconds. With optimal usage, provides the highest DPS for Survival.
Dire Beast has a 30-second cooldown that summons a powerful wild beast to attack for 15 seconds. Each attack grants 5 Focus. Default choice for Beast Mastery and Marksmanship.
Thrill of the Hunt is a passive effect. 30% chance when firing a ranged attack that costs Focus to reduce the Focus cost of next 3 Arcane Shots or Multi-Shots by 20.
Level 75 Talents: Pet Enhancement and Damage
A Murder of Crows has a 2-minute cooldown that summons a flock of crows to attack the target. If target dies while affected, cooldown resets. Highest single-target DPS for Survival.
Blink Strikes is a passive effect. Pet's basic attack deals 50% increased damage and can be used from 30 yards away, instantly teleporting pet behind target. Default choice for Beast Mastery.
Lynx Rush has a 1.5-minute cooldown. Pet rapidly charges from target to target, attacking 9 times over 4 seconds.
Level 90 Talents: Major Abilities
Glaive Toss has a 15-second cooldown costing 15 Focus. Hurl two glaives at the target, reducing movement speed by 30%. Primary target takes 4x damage from each strike. Highest single-target DPS of this tier.
Barrage has a 30-second cooldown costing 30 Focus. Rapidly fire a spray of shots forward dealing 640% weapon damage to primary target. Default choice for AoE (5+ targets).
Powershot has a 45-second cooldown costing 15 Focus. Wind up a powerful shot dealing 600% weapon damage to target and 300% to enemies between you and the target with knockback.
Conclusion
The Mists of Pandaria talent system provides meaningful choices for every class and specialization. Unlike previous expansions where optimal builds were rigidly defined, MoP encourages adapting your talents to each encounter. Keep Tomes of the Clear Mind readily available to swap talents between boss fights, and take time to learn which options provide the most value for each specific challenge.
Movement talents should be selected based on encounter positioning requirements. Survival talents often come down to predictable damage reduction vs. emergency cooldowns. Throughput talents frequently have minimal DPS differences, allowing personal preference. Utility talents provide significant raid value and should be coordinated with your group. Level 90 talents often represent the biggest gameplay impact and should be carefully matched to encounters.
Experiment with different combinations as you progress through content, and remember that the "best" talent is often the one that best fits your current challenge rather than a universal optimal choice.