Healer DPS or no?

[NovaLevossida]

I expect healers to follow the same rule I do when tanking: I'm going to do my role first and then maximize DPS. So, keep me and the others alive, then fit in as much damage as you can. Keeping us alive does not equal cure spamming and overhealing and making sure we're above 95% HP at all times, etc. just the same way I'm not going to use 15 power slashes in a row to "get a lot of enmity to tank better" when it's not remotely required.

[Ogulbuk]

Simple enough, I may have started tanking but I certainly don't have remotely the level of experience most of you have. The debate rages on in the saltiest place on earth (see: healer forum) but I'm curious if tanks care whether or not their healers DPS.

I know there are details here but if possible I'd like to go with broad generalizations. I get DRK's don't enjoy Holy spam and no one wants to die because your healer tunnel visioned but in general how do you guys feel about it? You are the most effected party member in most situations after all.

Without reading other's replies:

Healer AoE dps can certainly exceed tanks, especially White Mages, so using it is, in my book, a good idea. However, healing is more important than DPSing. Some healers don't know how to multi-task well and end up letting people die, or accidentally healing themselves because their heal was focused on the enemy they last attacked.

Another important thing, if you going to spam Holy, you better know how to avoid AoEs. I seen more WHM than I can point fingers at die because they just stand in everything as they spam Holy.

Finally: I understand "I only need one HP to live" but when you let a tank get too low in HP, he cant know if you are doing it just to optimize Benediction or because you are distracted, this may result in a wasted Living Dead/Holmgang/Hallowed Ground, and again: more than once I have died because I wasted that big cooldown earlier to a "false emergency."

Without reading other's replies:

Healer AoE dps can certainly exceed tanks, especially White Mages, so using it is, in my book, a good idea. However, healing is more important than DPSing. Some healers don't know how to multi-task well and end up letting people die, or accidentally healing themselves because their heal was focused on the enemy they last attacked.

Another important thing, if you going to spam Holy, you better know how to avoid AoEs. I seen more WHM than I can point fingers at die because they just stand in everything as they spam Holy.

Finally: I understand "I only need one HP to live" but when you let a tank get too low in HP, he cant know if you are doing it just to optimize Benediction or because you are distracted, this may result in a wasted Living Dead/Holmgang/Hallowed Ground, and again: more than once I have died because I wasted that big cooldown earlier to a "false emergency."

Keep in mind a single wipe can slow down things so badly that you may as well had not done a single point of damage.

[Fernosaur]

I've co-mained tank and healer for three years now, and at least play all three healers quite competently. Not pro-level but wtv.

I'll say this: whenever I tank, I always do my best to open up DPS opportunities for healers. It is very annoying when they don't take them, specially because I know that, if I was healing and the tank was mitigating like I am, I'd be DPSing my brains out because it would be 100% safe.

So yeah, it really annoys me to see healers not DPSing, or not making use of their full toolkit in order to open up DPS windows for themselves.


That said, I never really confront them. If they ask, I'll offer my best advice with a smile. If they're a sprout in a levelling dungeon, I'll ask if they know about it and if they don't feel safe, and reassure them that it's nothing to be scared of. If I get no response, I'll just let it be.

[Rosekitten]

So long as I'm not near death I'm fine with the healer dealing some damage. I'm not expecting nor demanding it of them and if they want to stand there and let the dps and myself kill things then by all means. What annoys me is when the dps start to die from the healer not healing or I get so low on hp I feel I have to pop some of my larger cds to stay alive or if I'm on Pld spam heal myself. With how much hp tanks have at end game there is no excuse for their hp to drop drastically low. I also have run as a healer in randoms so I know even bad tanks can be healed and some dps can be dished out.

[aqskerorokero]

A healer that does not dps is bad, a healer that delays a heal because of movement is worse, a healer that miss a live/death heal because of dpsing is trash.

[Seoulstar]

A healer that does not dps is bad, a healer that delays a heal because of movement is worse, a healer that miss a live/death heal because of dpsing is trash.

I always a felt that a healer that can't keep their party or themselves alive would be considered bad. But then I assume thats the lovely thing about opinions.

[Opus]

As long as my health is within the range of 5% to 100% and the healer knows what they are doing, it's good.
A good healer would know the fight and anticipate damage spikes and would adjust my HP accordingly. Failing that I still have my tank oh-shit skill.

I take pride in needing less heals as a tank via self-mitigation/skill.

[testname]

I am ok if healer is not doing dmg, and the run in dungeon will be longer

If a healer want to clear the dungeon faster then he would need to make damage especially aoe on trash pulls

That's about it

[Freyyy]

I always a felt that a healer that can't keep their party or themselves alive would be considered bad. But then I assume thats the lovely thing about opinions.

Did you even read his post ?

[AziraSyuren]

If I'm going to bother with a proper CD rotation, especially for trash pulls, the healers damn well better DPS.