My take on the simplicity of healers and the healer problem

[Semirhage]

1. WHMs toolkit is an utter beast. Adding shields on top could make it a bit OP. Why bring a shield healer?

Why not? You already don't need to bring a regen healer because the shield healers are overpowered.

[Tiramu]

Why not? You already don't need to bring a regen healer because the shield healers are overpowered.

I think a WHM with AOE shields would just be too much.

[Semirhage]

I think a WHM with AOE shields would just be too much.

This isn't directed specifically at you, but this is a pattern that's been in healer discourse since Heavensward. And it confuses me every time it comes up.

"A strong ability? On White Mage? Heavens to Murgatroyd, perish the thought! White Mage is already so powerful that adding something strong would tip the balance and make it overpowered!"

>White Mage, the healer that's had the weakest damage output and the least free healing throughput, making it squarely the worst healer in the game for about seven years straight.

"Scholar/Sage (previously Noct AST and Scholar) wouldn't be able to keep up with a White Mage that had a strong ability added to it."

>Scholar, the healer that's ranged between solidly meta to so-powerful-you're-griefing-if-you-don't-take-it in every single raid tier this game's ever released, and Astro, the healer that's had the same distinction with the exception of ARR and its first two rocky raid tiers.