DPSing as a healer - best practices

[FinagleABagel]

Oh and remember that Benediction isnt affected by Cleric Stance. So long as that is available to use, you should have confidence to add in some DPS on trivial content in case something goes wrong.

If you use Benediction? Just hold back on Cleric Stance for a bit. Also dont forget that you can still do damage outside of Cleric Stance. Every little bit helps, even if it's just an Aero now and then.

Stoneskin is significantly better to use on WHM when in CS. Benediction is a safety valve that you really should never use.

On SCH I suggest using Lustrate when in CS. The CD isn't nearly as bad as Benediction. Use Adlo prior to jumping into CS, drop a DoT rotation, Lustrate, and continue w/e DPS rotation you prefer.

[TastiestFrank]

Stoneskin is significantly better to use on WHM when in CS. Benediction is a safety valve that you really should never use.

We're talking about speeding up trivial content like WP and AK, right?

I'd argue that Benediction is a tool to be used like any other, and I'm saying that you can afford to play riskier while it's available, and you play tigher when it's not.

If you'd rather play like you should 'never use it', take it off your bar.

A Swiftcast Stoneskin may get you safely out of Cleric Stance back into regular healing, but you never want to get stuck chain-Stoneskinning in Cleric Stance.

It's not efficient healing even on the best geared tanks.

[Odd]

It doesn't sound like you're talking about speed runs, but I'll mention this anyways.

What I do for each pack of mobs:
1. Always Stoneskin the tank at the start of the dungeon, and right start casting it again right as the last mobs of each pull are almost dead.
2. At the start of each pull cast Divine Seal
3. Cure 2 the tank
4. Regen the tank
5. Medica 2 the group
6. (If necessary) Cure 2 tank again.
7. Use Cleric stance
8. Holy spam (at least 4)

With the stun effect of Holy you wont have to throw out any more cures if the group is properly geared. This is helped by the DS regen and medica. An awesome PLD taught me this method and it works amazingly. This, and only this is how sub 10 minute WP runs are possible.

Just be sure to have Shroud ready because as I'm sure you know multiple Holy's (Holies?) pull a lot of hate, and us whms are squishy!

[FinagleABagel]

We're talking about speeding up trivial content like WP and AK, right?

I'd argue that Benediction is a tool to be used like any other, and I'm saying that you can afford to play riskier while it's available, and you play tigher when it's not.

If you'd rather play like you should 'never use it', take it off your bar.

A Swiftcast Stoneskin may get you safely out of Cleric Stance back into regular healing, but you never want to get stuck chain-Stoneskinning in Cleric Stance.

It's not efficient healing even on the best geared tanks.

Speed runs have zero to do about mana efficiency so long as you have enough to continuously DPS and keep the tank alive. My point is that Benediction is one shot and then you are basically out of it for awhile. Unlike Lustrate, you can't depend on having a quick spike available on every single pull.

You shouldn't need to chain cast SS. Given a 6k HP Tank - stoneskin is 1080 mitigation. That's a good "heal".

[TastiestFrank]

Speed runs have zero to do about mana efficiency so long as you have enough to continuously DPS and keep the tank alive. My point is that Benediction is one shot and then you are basically out of it for awhile.

You shouldn't need to chain cast SS. Given a 6k HP Tank - stoneskin is 1080 mitigation. That's a good "heal".

If you dont have a Bard, efficiency can impact speed, but generally I agree with you there. The OP's question is about dealing with unexpected spikes and surprises - Benediction is one tool in our kit for offsetting that exact problem.

I agree with you that relying on it for every pull is poor play, but that wasnt what I advocated. I do a few speedruns every day on my WHM and rarely need Benediction - I usually use it so I can Holy a few more times to further speed up a run since I know the pulls like clockwork and don't need it.

[Sirantha]

Thanks to everyone for the tips! And for reference, I am specifically referencing WP/AK.

It doesn't sound like you're talking about speed runs, but I'll mention this anyways.

Thanks for your tips! I always Stoneskin at the beginning of each group in an SR, and Divine Seal into Regen, but I had never thought of using Medica II, that'll be useful! I need to get better at Holy spam. My gear has been quite cruddy until recently, so my first and only SR was mostly me spamming heals during trash then DPSing in boss fights, but it went super well anyway. I just need more practice.

[Klive]

First, know your tank. Watch a few pulls and see how they handle themselves.

Second, have a plan. I have lustrates up for when I dps for "oh crap" spikes. WHM a regen and a stoneskin should give enough to get a few Stone II in. Keep a swiftcast stoneskin for "oh crap" spikes.

Third, use debuffs before dpsing. Virus, eye for an eye, bind, and sleep; give extra time for you to dps.

Forth, play SCH and have your fairy cover it.

[TaneshimaPopura]

Basically what I do...

1.>Stoneskin
2.>Let Tank drop to 55-65% (Cure 1 if tank takes a hit which brings him down to 30%)
3.>Out of CS Divine Seal Regen
4.>Stoneskin
5.>CS DPS (Quickcast Stoneskin if QC is available and Stoneskin is down)
Repeat from step 2.

[Hysterior]

As Scholar I stay in Cleric stance for all trash mobs in WP or AK
I place my fairy all the time so she is a bit better at healing and she is usually sufficient
If problem I use lustrate (not affected by cleric stance)
I switch out of CS and cast succor between pulls then back to DPS mode

[Delvish]

As Scholar I stay in Cleric stance for all trash mobs in WP or AK
I place my fairy all the time so she is a bit better at healing and she is usually sufficient
If problem I use lustrate (not affected by cleric stance)
I switch out of CS and cast succor between pulls then back to DPS mode

Bah, as SCH you may as well stay CS the entire dungeon! With a decent group (even in DF) I only drop out of CS to be an actual healer during Demon Wall (AK) after the second repel, Tonberry King (WP) just before Everyone's Grudge for pre-shielding, and during faster runs in both dungeons when Embrace simply just will not cut it and Lustrate usage actually impairs my DPS (Bane). Naturally in a not so good group, you have to adjust to accommodate, but typically I will push that limit far further than I probably should (i.e. more than just the tank below 50%).

It's fun to make the party sweat.