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Levitate
Spell holy layonhands
  • Levitate
  • Level 12 priest ability
  • 30 yd range
  • 0.9% of base mana
  • Instant
  • Levitates a party or raid member for 10 min, floating a few feet above the ground, granting slow fall, and allowing travel over water.
Properties
Class Priest
School Holy
Cooldown None/Global Cooldown
Other information
Level learned 12
Related buff
Spell holy layonhands
  • Magic
  • Levitate
  • Levitating.
  • Duration: 10 minutes

Levitate is a priest utility spell that allows the target to levitate, reducing the rate of fall and allowing on-foot travel over water and water-like surfaces. Levitate cannot be cast upon mounted targets, and mounting will cancel the effect, as will any damage.

Although not obviously the most useful of spells, players have found a wide variety of uses for Levitate, be it in combat, for traveling or simply for entertainment.

Tips and tactics[]

General tips[]

  • Unlike the mage spell Spell magic featherfall [Slow Fall], riding is not possible while levitating.
  • in areas where flying is prohibited, such as battlegrounds, Levitate can be used to cross great distances by launching oneself off of a cliff or edge. Although casting Levitate will dismount mounted players, as the movement speed of a falling character is determined by his speed when he begins to fall, by casting Levitate immediately after riding (as opposed to running) off of a cliff or edge, the total distance traveled by the falling player can be increased proportionately, allowing the priest to reach more distant destinations, or simply providing a greater lead on his pursuers.
  • In situations where mounting is not possible (such as while in combat, or indoor areas) the Spell holy symbolofhope [Body and Soul] and Ability priest angelicfeather [Angelic Feather] talents can be used to provide a similar benefit to users of Levitate. As with mounted players, increased movement speed will increase the distance traveled proportionately (in this case up to 160% run speed). Other speed buffs can of course be used to similar effect.
  • Although instant-cast, like all spells players may notice a slight delay between casting Levitate and it taking effect, due to server lag. In situations where timing is critical, players must be careful to take this into account.
  • Priests can still cast instant-cast spells while falling. This can be particularly useful when levitating down in battlegrounds such as Arathi Basin. Levitating priests can sometimes cast several offensive or defensive spells in the time it takes for them to reach the ground.
  • Players can cast Levitate mid-fall. This allows priests to jump from high edges without hesitation or preparation, provided they subsequently cast Levitate in time. As any damage will cancel levitation, speedy mid-fall casting can be more reliable than preemptive casting when escaping attackers, especially when the global cooldown is taken into account. Additionally, by waiting until the last moment to cast Levitate, players can save time that levitating would otherwise take floating slowly to the ground.
  • Players can also cancel Levitate mid-fall. This can save time spent waiting to land, especially once the remaining fall distance is not of concern. Be advised however that the priest may fall the remaining distance rather more rapidly than would normally be the case.
  • As with the mage spell Spell magic featherfall [Slow Fall], while Levitate is mostly self-cast, it is possible to levitate an entire group of players, allowing for some novel tactics. However, compared to Slow Fall's 30 second duration, the 10 minute duration of Levitate makes group levitation (especially long distance) much more achievable.
  • If being used to negate fall damage while falling from a great height, the reduced fall speed will increase the horizontal distance traveled and the landing place will be quite far from the cliff. This effect can be minimized by casting the spell mid-fall.
  • Conversely, this extended horizontal distance can be used to reach places that normally a player would be unable to get to. This may not be particularly practical, but it can lead to some interesting locations.
  • Be aware that losing the Levitate buff (such as when taking damage) will cause the levitating character to drop back to earth. This drop will break any spells or abilities being cast or channeled at that time.
  • In situations where flying is prohibited (such as battlegrounds) Levitate allows travel across bodies of water at full run speed, as opposed to the usually slower swim speed. Spell holy symbolofhope [Body and Soul] and Ability priest angelicfeather [Angelic Feather] allow an even greater advantage.
  • When flight is not an option (such as in Tol Barad Peninsula) Levitation can be useful for gathering underwater herbs. Levitate allows you to traverse the water much more quickly than swimming (especially with Inner Will) and swimming will not remove the buff. Simply direct your character down into the water in order to gather the herbs, and return to the surface afterwards.
  • Allows the priest to fish in the middle of larger bodies of water.
  • Allows the priest to eat and drink on water.

PvP uses[]

  • Levitate is a wonderful way to escape from other players by running to the nearest cliff or body of water. This strategy is particularly effective when escaping gankers on PvP servers. However, it is possible for attackers to cancel your Levitate buff by dispelling it or simply by causing damage to you. Luckily it is possible to re-cast Levitate while falling; when afflicted by DoTs it is recommended to wait until the last minute before re-casting.
  • Levitate can be used to prevent fall damage from being punted (suffering knockback) over an edge by other players.
  • Using Levitate, it is possible to launch an aerial attack upon players on flying mounts mid-air (on PvP servers). By positioning oneself above the target, Levitate provides opportunity to cast several instant-cast spells in the time taken to fall past him. Any attempt at retaliation by the target will dismount him, causing him to fall.
  • In situations where flying is prohibited (such as battlegrounds) Levitate allows full run speed (as opposed to swim speed) while traversing bodies of water. This can allow the priest to reach locations more quickly, and can also be used to pursue shaman (using Spell frost windwalkon [Water Walking]), death knights (using Spell deathknight pathoffrost [Path of Frost]) and druids (in their aquatic form). If your target is swimming at the unbuffed swim speed, you will be able to catch up to them. Speed buffs such as Priest icon innewill [Inner Will] and Ability priest angelicfeather [Angelic Feather] can be useful when pursuing players in this way.
  • When Levitating players, don't forget to re-cast it should they take damage.

Notes[]

  • This spell breaks on damage.
  • Levitate does not usually allow the caster to walk on lava, although it is possible in some cases (such as the lava pools in the Molten Front).
  • Levitate can only be cast upon players in your raid or party.
  • Levitate cannot be cast on mounted players. Casting Levitate while mounted will cause you to dismount.
  • The height of levitation is the same as the height of a straight jump.
  • Mages have a similar skill - Spell magic featherfall [Slow Fall] - although there are some differences.
  • With the release of 3.2, and Trial of the Crusader, this spell used to be able to hover over the Fire Bomb ability in the Beasts of Northrend, Gormok the Impaler section. This was removed around the release of 3.2.2, as it allowed the fight to be conducted much more easily.
  • Before flying mounts were usable in Azeroth, players used Levitate to travel great distances by launching themselves from heights. The 'Wall Climbing' and 'Wall Gliding' bugs (now fixed) even allowed levitating players to skip certain bosses in dungeons, and reach otherwise unreachable locations in pre-flight Azeroth.
    • Players cannot jump while levitating. This can prevent players from traversing certain areas where jumping is normally required.
  • Levitating players can use the Archaeology skill Inv misc shovel 01 [Survey] while floating over water, however the surveying equipment will not appear on the surface of the water - it will appear on the bottom of the body of water the player is standing on.
  • Levitating players can still swim; simply direct your character down into the water. The Levitation buff is not removed by swimming.
  • Players can sit, sleep, eat and drink while levitating. Sitting in certain chairs will cause the player to slowly levitate above the chair.
  • Players can dance while levitating - try it!
  • The Levitate graphic can become "stuck" on to players, constantly playing even though the actual effect is long gone. The ideal solution is to have a priest recast the spell and then manually remove it yourself. The other is to kill yourself.
    • The same can happen with combat pets. The only solution is to get them killed.

Trivia[]

  • In the Stonecore dungeon priests can use Levitate to protect players from the Quake ability of Crystalspawn Giants. This effect may be a reference to the Float spell from the Final Fantasy series, which made party members immune to the Quake spell in the game.

Patch changes[]

  • Dragonflight Patch 10.0.0 (2022-10-25): Now learned at level 12 (was 21).
  • Shadowlands Patch 9.0.1 (2020-10-13): Now learned at level 21 (was 28).
  • Legion Patch 7.3.0 (2017-08-29): Players can now jump while under the effect of a priest's Levitate.
  • Legion Hotfix (2017-09-01): Discipline Priests will no longer shuffle in the air when combining Levitate and Inv staff 2h artifacttome d 01 [Light's Wrath].
  • Legion Patch 7.0.3 (2016-07-19): Now learned at level 28 (was 34).
  • Mists of Pandaria Hotfix (2014-02-26): Can no longer be cast on players that are under the effects of a Nitro Boost.
  • Mists of Pandaria Patch 5.0.4 (2012-08-28): No longer requires Inv feather 04 [Light Feather].
  • Cataclysm Patch 4.3.0 (2011-11-29): Players no longer use their running animation when moving under Levitate's effect.
  • Cataclysm Patch 4.0.6 (2011-02-08): Duration has been increased to 10 minutes, up from 2.
  • Wrath-Logo-Small Patch 3.3.0 (2009-12-08): This spell can now activate trinkets that can trigger from casting a helpful spell.
  • Wrath-Logo-Small Patch 3.0.8 (2009-01-20): Levitate is now castable on others.
  • Wrath-Logo-Small Patch 3.0.2 (2008-10-14): Now costs 3% of base mana.
  • WoW Icon update Patch 1.4.0 (2005-04-19): Duration and mana cost increased.
  • WoW Icon update Patch 1.1.0 (2004-11-07): Will now be cancelled if any damage is taken, now requires a reagent.

See also[]

External links[]

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