With the release of phase 2 in Mists of Pandaria Classic, we now have access to new raids to progress and clear. This brings new items and a shift in the meta, especially for healers, who are the backbone of any raid group. We will focus on the healer tier list and break down which ones are the best. Players preparing to clear raids can get some items after they buy Pandaria gold, giving them a big head start.
What’s Important for Healer Spec in Raid Settings
This tier list covers the strengths and weaknesses of each healer and ranks how they perform in the current Pandaria Classic raids. It is important to note that all of the healer specs are capable of healing and clearing the current raids at the highest difficulty. However, some of the specs might require a specific team composition, some might struggle with mana management in certain encounters, and others show little to no weaknesses.
The most important element of a healer is healing/shielding and their ability to manage their mana. External cooldowns, utility, and damage output also influence their ranking. If you struggle to keep up with the current raids, you can purchase Pandaria gold and use it to get items that will improve your character’s performance.
S Tier – The Best Healer Specs
The specializations in the S tier are essential for a smooth and fast raid clear. Their healing throughput alone surpasses the rest of the healing roster, and combined with unique and powerful cooldowns, they are the most effective and valuable healers in the current raids.
Discipline Priest
One of the top raid healers for this phase is the Discipline Priest. This spec offers excellent healing throughput, good mana management, and, importantly, contributes significantly to overall damage. Disc Priests convert a portion of their damage into healing, which can help the raid bypass certain mechanics and phases. This spec primarily focuses on shields rather than raw healing, as preventing damage is generally more effective than healing it after the fact.
In some encounters, Disc Priests shine even more because many fights increase the boss’s damage taken, further amplifying their healing throughput. Discipline Priests also have access to Power Word: Barrier, widely regarded as the best raid defensive cooldown, as it provides damage reduction for the entire group.
The main weakness of a Disc Priest occurs during moments or fights with no targets to hit. Without healing transferred through Atonement, their healing throughput can drop below average, making it difficult to meet some heal checks.
If you have a hard time in a raid, you can purchase WoW gold Pandaria and use it to further enhance your gear quality.
Restoration Shaman
Even after the nerfs in WoW Mists of Pandaria Classic, Restoration Shaman remains at the top. Their healing throughput is likely the highest in the game currently, and their healing profile is designed to handle large groups effectively. They excel at both AoE and spot healing.
While they do not directly contribute damage like a Discipline Priest, they bring Stormlash Totem, which provides significant extra damage for the group. Their mana sustain is consistent, making them the best all-around healer for this phase. Another advantage is that they face less competition for gear, as they are the only healer using Mail-type equipment.
Key strengths of Restoration Shaman:
- High healing throughput, especially for large groups
- Strong AoE and spot healing
- Stormlash Totem adds extra damage for the group
- Consistent mana sustain
- Less competition for gear due to Mail-type equipment
Main downside:
- Many abilities are AoE-based, so the group needs to be stacked for maximum effectiveness
- Performs worse in encounters where players must stay spread out
A Tier – Above Average Healer Specs
In the A tier, you will find specs that are very close to the top healers but fall slightly short. Their healing throughput is high, but a lack of versatility, utility, or strong cooldowns lowers their ranking. Despite this, they remain an excellent choice and provide significant value to the raid.
Mistweaver Monk
Mistweaver Monk has the highest healing output potential in the game currently. Their offensive power is also very high, making them comparable to or even stronger than a Discipline Priest in some encounters. They shine at spot healing and can either heal through damage or cast direct healing spells as needed. Mana management is excellent, and it is rare for a Mistweaver Monk to run out of mana during a fight.
Strengths:
- Highest healing output potential
- Strong offensive contribution, comparable to Disc Priest in some fights
- Excellent spot healing
- Flexible healing through damage or direct spells
- Very good mana management
Weaknesses:
- Lack of strong raid cooldowns
- Revival provides only AoE healing and mass dispel, which Priest specs already offer
Tip: Using Pandaria gold strategically can make the difference between completing new raids successfully or struggling.
Holy Paladin
Holy Paladin received its share of buffs in Pandaria Classic. Their healing output is solid, but it requires good timing with cooldowns. As a melee healer, positioning can be a bit tricky at times. Holy Paladin excels at tank healing and focuses primarily on single-target healing, with some strong options for AoE healing. It is also very effective at preserving and generating mana, making it a solid choice for long encounters. While it has great defensive cooldowns, it contributes little to no damage in raids.
Holy Priest
The strength of Holy Priests lies in their pure healing output. At the right moments, they can deliver impressive healing numbers. In AoE situations, their throughput is nearly unmatched. Mana management is adequate, but it can be challenging in encounters that require constant hardcasting over an extended period.
The biggest drawback is that, unlike Discipline Priests, they provide no external damage reduction cooldowns. All of their cooldowns focus purely on healing output. Their defensive cooldown for tanks, Guardian Spirit, can be effective in certain situations, but overall, it is not very strong. Holy Priests also have almost no damage output unless they stop healing and actively use damage abilities.
B Tier
The specializations in this tier struggle somewhat with healing throughput and have other noticeable weaknesses. When played near perfectly, they can compete with the rest of the roster, but for the average player, clearing the raid without issues will be much more difficult.
Restoration Druid
Restoration Druid received several improvements for Mists of Pandaria Classic. However, the spec provides less overall value than many other healers, mainly because most of its healing is over time. This means that during instances of heavy, consecutive damage, a Restoration Druid might struggle to keep the group alive.
Strengths:
- Good range for healing
- Effective AoE and single-target healing when properly set up
- Raid cooldowns provide strong AoE healing
Weaknesses:
- Struggles with back-to-back heavy damage
- Mediocre mana sustain
- Damage output is very low, making offensive GCDs almost useless
- Requires preparation and setup to maximize effectiveness
Tip: Using WoW Pandaria gold to acquire better items and gear can significantly enhance your character’s performance.
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