Healer etiquette and general tips for a noob healer

[NorthernLadMSP]

My biggest piece of advise is to have a thick skin.

You will get hated on for everything. Everything will be your fault, and you'll be subjected to thread after thread after thread on the forum where people will complain about every aspect of a healer's existence.

[Jafar_Aldurah]

Hey everyone!

Im actually in a similar spot as the OP only as a WHT mage in the late 30's. Though most of the advice has been tailored toward AST, i did pick out some really useful info here.

Playing a healer main is a very different feel from my usual DD main. One thing that i have found is that with especially dumb tanks (or DPS) i often run low or sometimes out of MP keeping everyone alive. Is this normal for this level? Will the MP gain in later levels make this obsolete? I've taken to only casting a DoT once in a boss fight and focusing on healing the tank in an effort to save MP. I even have MP pots in my bar, but id like to hope that this isn't necessary in later levels.

[NorthernLadMSP]

Yes, it will drastically change at higher levels (for the better). You will gain access to a lot of powerful skills that are free heals and two that even give extra MP back (Assize) or make all casts completely free for a time (Thin Air).

[jstamos]

Hey everyone!

Im actually in a similar spot as the OP only as a WHT mage in the late 30's.

Sounds like you're overhealing. You shouldn't have MP issues on a boss in particular. You DEFINITELY shouldn't need MP pots.

You don't need to bring everyone to 100% all of the time; unless they're going to take a hit that will kill them, they do not need to be healed.

Make sure Regen is running on your tank at all times AFTER the pull. Use Cure instead of Cure 2. You can pre-cast a bit with Cure; if they're about to take damage, start casting now and it will keep them at higher HP, and you won't be panicking trying to Cure 2 everyone.

[Jafar_Aldurah]

Sounds like you're overhealing. You shouldn't have MP issues on a boss in particular. You DEFINITELY shouldn't need MP pots.

You don't need to bring everyone to 100% all of the time; unless they're going to take a hit that will kill them, they do not need to be healed.

Make sure Regen is running on your tank at all times AFTER the pull. Use Cure instead of Cure 2. You can pre-cast a bit with Cure; if they're about to take damage, start casting now and it will keep them at higher HP, and you won't be panicking trying to Cure 2 everyone.

Good to know! Yea, i often try to keep everyone at either full or close to and that seems to be the problem. I ALWAYS keep regen on the tank as it helps maintain their life over the 3/4 mark while i heal others.


This is all solid advice for a fledgling healer, thanks guys.

[Iveriad]

Playing a healer main is a very different feel from my usual DD main. One thing that i have found is that with especially dumb tanks (or DPS) i often run low or sometimes out of MP keeping everyone alive. Is this normal for this level? Will the MP gain in later levels make this obsolete? I've taken to only casting a DoT once in a boss fight and focusing on healing the tank in an effort to save MP. I even have MP pots in my bar, but id like to hope that this isn't necessary in later levels.

As WHM, you might want to use Regen more than Cure or Cure 2 around that level. Otherwise you'll ran out of MP quick.

You should only use Cure when their HP drops below 50%.
And you need to decide, if you want Cure or Cure 2. Try not to overheal.

[Tridus]

Playing a healer main is a very different feel from my usual DD main. One thing that i have found is that with especially dumb tanks (or DPS) i often run low or sometimes out of MP keeping everyone alive. Is this normal for this level? Will the MP gain in later levels make this obsolete? I've taken to only casting a DoT once in a boss fight and focusing on healing the tank in an effort to save MP. I even have MP pots in my bar, but id like to hope that this isn't necessary in later levels.

That can happen in the 30s, especially since people may or may not overgear it. If you're using current level white/pinks and the others are similar, it's a LOT harder than when you get a group in 70 blues via roulette. You've gotten some great advice, but here's a bit more:


In most dungeons (and especially at that level), damage on people who aren't the tank tends to come in waves. As in, some damage will come, and then nothing for a while. That means you don't need to be frantic about getting everyone back to full quickly. If only two people are down, just toss a Regen on each of them and then let it work. If three are down, toss a Medica (or Cure 3 if everyone is stacked up) and then let natural healing tick. They do NOT need to be at 100% all the time in those dungeons, and trying to keep them there will really harm your MP.

On the tank, keep Regen up after the pull. Use Cure as your primary heal. Use Cure 2 only if you need it, or anytime Freecure pops (since that one is free). Again, you don't need to keep the tank at 100% all the time, so your goal is trying to get efficiency out of your MP. Letting them take a couple hits and then healing them back up will get full healing out of your spell without overheal, and that will make your life far simpler.

Lastly, don't save Lucid Dreaming. Lots of newer healers keep it until they're low on MP, but then you won't get it back until you're running out. In a boss fight, you can use it when you're anywhere near half MP and it'll bring you most of the way back to full. By time you run out, it's probably close to being ready to use again.

Healing is different from DPS in that your mindset is more about triage (who needs healing now) and effeciency (what spell will do what I need for the least cost), rather than simply putting out as much as possible. You'll get the hang of it, don't worry.

[Elyann]

- Tanks are you best friend, always give them a commendation, because they usually give you one too.

Tanks....a healer's best friends....

*has vietnam-like flashbacks of tanks pulling whole dungeons without popping defensive cds, making the healer run out of mp and get ptsd due to the fight's toughness*

Yea... O,O

[Ilenya]

Something people will tell you not to do, and I used to as well, is not to use regen before a pull. (dungeons, not bosses)
Honestly with how bad my tanks are 99% of the time, I suggest starting with regen. Just make sure to stay within the tanks location, so the mobs on you dont leave the range of their AoE.

Please don't do this. Regen before the pull means the tank no longer has control over where the enemies go before they start to do their AoE aggro generators, and if you guess wrong and the tank is doing multiple pulls, you either are forcing the tank to use them ahead of time, or are going to be sitting there being smacked about while they are moving to the next position.

[Pyrii]

If you have a disagreement in a raid or party about yet another hero/suicide/compensating tank, just don't say anything, unless you don't mind sacrificing commendations.

You'll always get praise when things go well, but when somebody screws up and wipes the party, it's always your fault.

I feel like reading Healbot blues again...