How Will Class Tuning, Essences and Corruption Change the Healer Meta in 8.3? - An Analysis

PTR Posted 2019/12/15 at 5:12 PM by Jaydaa

'Why are Disc Priests and Holy Paladins the Most Popular Healers in Mythic Eternal Palace?'The Eternal PalaceAwakenedNy'alotha, the Waking CityAutomaticJakDiscipline PriestHoly Priest guide writerJaydaaRestoration Druid guide writer8.3 PTR Healer Class TuningThe Eternal Palace

Warcraftlogs Healer Throughput and Distribution Comparison

Raider.io Healer Distribution Mythic+ 15+

Discipline Priest

Blizzard

Priest

Discipline

Penance healing increased by 15%.
Atonement healing reduced to 50% (was 55%).
Purge the Wicked damage reduced 10%.
damage reduced 10%.
Shadow Word: Pain damage reduced 9%.
Mastery: Grace effectiveness increased by 12%.
Developers’ notes: Discipline’s ability to contribute both damage and healing is slightly too high for what one character can bring to a group composition. At the same time, we’re making their Mastery stat slightly more attractive.

Schism now increases damage done from Priest spells and abilities only.

Developers’ notes: This is intended to be consistent with other class cooldowns.

Damage Tuning & SchismSchismThe Crucible of FlameCyclotronic BlastThe Eternal PalaceAtonement Nerf & Mastery BuffAtonementMastery: GraceMastery: GraceMastery: GraceHaloPurge the WickedDefensive Penance TuningPenancePenanceAtonementRestoration Druid

Blizzard

Druid

Restoration

Mastery: Harmony healing bonus reduced by 9%.
High Noon (Azerite Trait) damage reduced by 34%.

Developers' note: Restoration Druid has an overall package of healing, damage, and utility that is very hard to compete with in solo-healed content. Two things that stand out in particular are the efficiency of focused healing on a single target with high Mastery, and the ease of contributing DPS with very little GCD usage on Improved Sunfire.

Mastery Nerf Mastery: HarmonyAwakenedTranquilityIncarnation: Tree of LifeFlourishInner PeaceSpring BlossomsTranquilityHigh Noon NerfSunfireHigh NoonMoonfireWrathSunfireMoonfireWrathHoly Paladin

Blizzard

Paladin

Holy

Glimmer of Light (Azerite Trait) may now be applied to a maximum of 8 targets.

Developers' notes: Over the past year, builds centered around this trait have steadily pulled ahead of all other Holy Paladin playstyles, and to some extent all other healers in high-end content. This change is meant to preserve the gameplay of the trait, but limit the ability to increase its value drastically by stacking every possible bonus that reduces Holy Shock cooldown.

Glimmer Target Cap & NerfGlimmer of LightGlimmer of LightGlimmer of LightGlimmer of LightNy'alotha, the Waking CityGlimmer of LightGlimmer of LightHoly ShockHoly ShockMistweaver

Class Tools

Brewmaster

Talents

Mistweaver

Talents

Windwalker

Talents

Enveloping Mist Wraps the target in healing mists, healing for (216%237.6% of Spell power) over 6 sec and increasing healing received from your other spells by 0%

Life Cocoon Encases the target in a cocoon of Chi energy for 12 sec, absorbing Spell power * 11) + 0 * (1 + Versatility)] damage and increasing all healing over time received by 50%.
Developers' note: This ability had gotten weaker compared to player health pools since the start of the expansion, and this will help it better maintain its value.

Renewing Mist Surrounds the target with healing mists, restoring (140%161% of Spell power) health over 20 sec.
If Renewing Mist heals a target past maximum health, it will travel to another injured ally within 20 yds.
Cost changed from 2.8% of base mana to 2.5% of base mana

Revival Heals all party and raid members within 40 yards for (200%225% of Spell power) and clears them of all harmful Magical, Poison, and Disease effects.

Vivify Causes a surge of invigorating mists, healing the target for (95%101% of Spell power) and all allies with your Renewing Mist active for (70%74% of Spell power)

Rising Mist Rising Sun Kick heals all allies with your Renewing Mist, Enveloping Mist, or Essence Font for (15%25% of Spell power), and extends those effects by 24 sec.
Developers' note: This talent is currently overshadowed on its row, and we want to make sure it's competitive enough to make its unique playstyle a viable option.

Rising MistRising MistRising MistRenewing MistEssence FontRefreshing Jade WindRising Sun KickThunder Focus TeaTeachings of the MonasteryMana TeaNy'alotha, the Waking CityLife CocoonLife CocoonLife CocoonLife CocoonFlat Ability BuffsEssence FontSoothing MistEssence ChangesNew EssencesUnwavering WardSpirit of PreservationVivifySpirit of PreservationVivify

As a note for Mistweaver monks, a bug was recently fixed with regards to Spirit of Preservation's minor Essence effect and how it interacts with Vivify.Prior to this bug fix, both the increased healing amount and critical strike chance from the minor Essence applied to all healing effects of Vivify, not just the primary target healing. This wasn't intended. The essence should only be affecting the primary Vivify target's healing value and crit chance, similar to how it works with something like Flash Heal or . A future PTR build should have this bug fix in it.

The Formless VoidNy'alotha, the Waking CityEssence of the Focusing IrisPlease Note:Condensed Life-ForceExisting Essence Changes

Blizzard

Worldvein Resonance

Major rank 1, when used, now additionally causes you to gain +50% bonus to stats from Lifeblood Shards for 10 seconds.

Worldvein Resonance

Blizzard

Vitality Conduit

We've rebuilt the way this Essence works, and it should be visually more impactful, as you will now see healing on your targets.

Vitality Conduit

Blizzard

Vision of Perfection

Proc rate increased by 12%.

Avenging WrathHoly ShockSanctified WrathGlimmer of LightGlimmer of LightCorrupted GearCorrupted AffixesGlimpse of ClarityHoly ShockRiptideGlimpse of ClarityCorrupted WeaponsNy'alotha, the Waking City

Vorzz Yoq'al: Gain Void Ritual, giving your spells and abilities a chance to increase all secondary stats by 10 every sec for 20 sec. This chance is increased if at least 2 nearby allies also have Void Ritual. (Usable by All Healers)
+35 Corruption

Mar'kowa, the Mindpiercer: Your mind's true potential is unlocked, causing your spells to grant you flashes of insight. Gain between 1% and 8% Intellect at all times. (Usable by Mistweaver Monks, Restoration Shamans, and Holy Paladins)
+25 Corruption

Eyestalk of Il'gynoth: Your Spells and Abilities have a chance to show you the Ineffable Truth, increasing the rate your cooldowns recover by 50% for 10 sec. (Usable by Priests only)
+50 Corruption

Glimpse of ClarityEyestalk of Il'gynothIneffable TruthPower Word: Radiance

Tier 1: Your Spells and Abilities have a chance to show you the Ineffable Truth, increasing the rate your cooldowns recover by 30% for 10 sec.

Tier 2: Your Spells and Abilities have a chance to show you the Ineffable Truth, increasing the rate your cooldowns recover by 50% for 10 sec.
+50 Corruption

Tier 1: Gain Void Ritual, giving your spells and abilities a chance to increase all secondary stats by 7 every sec for 20 sec. This chance is increased if at least 2 nearby allies also have Void Ritual.
+15 Corruption

Tier 2: Gain Void Ritual, giving your spells and abilities a chance to increase all secondary stats by 10 every sec for 20 sec. This chance is increased if at least 2 nearby allies also have Void Ritual.
+35 Corruption

Tier 3: Gain Void Ritual, giving your spells and abilities a chance to increase all secondary stats by 13 every sec for 20 sec. This chance is increased if at least 2 nearby allies also have Void Ritual.

Ineffable TruthHoly ShockCrusader StrikeGlimmer of LightVision of PerfectionIssues of Corrupted Gear System for HealersCorruption System Overview GuideHealers in Mythic+

Competition for the KingBeguilingSamh'rek, Beckoner of ChaosDivine ShieldCascading TerrorRevivalMass DispelRising MistEnveloping MistRenewing MistBeguilingTwist of FateSchismSins of the ManySpirit of PreservationHealers in Ny'alotha, the Waking City?Has the type of healing required changed?The Eternal PalaceQueen's CourtOrgozoaQueen AzsharaNy'alotha, the Waking CityProphet SkitraHIvemindShad'har the InsatiableMautThe Eternal PalaceRa-denIl'gynothN'Zoth the CorruptorG'huunLady Jaina ProudmooreQueen AzsharaN'Zoth the CorruptorDamage Contribution from HealersKing RastakhanJadefire MastersLady AshvaneQueen's CourtThe End Boss Problem of Battle for AzerothN'Zoth the CorruptorG'huunQueen AzsharaN'Zoth the CorruptorN'Zoth the CorruptorArgus the UnmakerKil'jaedenWhat can change for 8.3?Power Word: BarrierPower Word: BarrierAtonementBarrier for the DevotedN'Zoth the CorruptorSootheSootheRagingUnstable Temporal Time ShifterUnstable Temporal Time ShifterWhat needs to change for Shadowlands?healers love to heal!Rising Mist

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Comment by ZygosI feel bad for shaman... feels like they should have at least one spec where they really excel.Comment by jabarri1What wasn't mentioned regarding the healer M+ meta is how the rest of the comp also determines what healer is needed. While resto druids stand strong on their own, another major part is they provide a battle rez in a meta that doesn't typically have one as far as pushing goes. Engineer rez is great and all, but nowhere near the strength of utility a druid rez has.Comment by WasselinHoly Priest doesn't even get a heading. 😭Comment by abris1995I feel bad for shaman... feels like they should have at least one spec where they really excel.Comment by belgaerI feel bad for shaman... feels like they should have at least one spec where they really excel.Comment by ZeroEdgeirSmall note to correct: The 1H Axe listed for healer Corrupted weapons - Shamans can use axes as well, not just Paladins and Monks.Comment by ToughenAlso, shaman using Vision is becoming more prevalent. With the increased proc rate, this will only accelerate their raid healing. It's not uncommon for HTT to become one of your top healing abilities because of this.

With this being said, shaman output is generally under reported due to a large number of "battle shaman" players. I personally play battle shaman for my guild, so essentially I just take all dps traits, trinkets, essences, and just dps while the holy pally/disc priest take care of the healing. Consider it a CD battery, while also pumping 25-30k dps.Comment by thalarion000I think all healer specs should have a CR, it would help towards balancing the M+ metaComment by livieReally nice article, and ty for mentioning it more than once: HEALERS LOVE TO HEAL!

It's a really awkward playstyle to learn but once you get it, you fall in love with it and get used to being valued for that. I'm all for diversity but the metas are going too far in every direction, and changes hitting both content types (raid and m+) disproportionately is not the answer either.Comment by JetLightWolfHoly Priest doesn't even get a heading. 😭Comment by bloctoadOh so ~~Blizzard~~ Ion wants a hybrid tax again, eh?Comment by AutomaticJakHoly Priest doesn't even get a heading. 😭Comment by DhrallI wish Blizz would start teasing class changes or a new class for Shadowlands. The same thing that has happened before is starting to happen again. Losing interest because of an incredibly stale meta in PvP and absolutely no changes/balance in the PvP scene for a year. And nothing seems to be coming soon either..Comment by ShouldranI feel bad for shaman... feels like they should have at least one spec where they really excel.Comment by HenkielThis is depressing. The community is so open to help fixing such a huge issue and all we get is silence or ridiculous tuning changes.

Holy paladin will be even more broken for the entirety of 8.3, which will most likely be lasting 'till the end of 2020.Comment by coldwinter18suprise suprise... restoration shaman garbage tier again...Comment by JetLightWolfHoly Priest doesn't even get a heading. 😭Comment by GrimmHookeI think all healer specs should have a CR, it would help towards balancing the M+ metaComment by JetLightWolfsuprise suprise... restoration shaman garbage tier again...Comment by deenmanI feel bad for shaman... feels like they should have at least one spec where they really excel.

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