Healing in a Full Party

[Leih]

When you get to the 8 player full parties, what roles should the two healers take? I understand it may differ depending on the party, but what are some general thoughts?

[Rushx21]

I'm guessing the 2 healers should heal, but that's just me

[Fiosha_Maureiba]

It may depend on if the content splits the attention of the tanks. If it does, then each healer should take responsibility for the tank and potentially two DPS that will assist the tank in the content.

In content that stresses a single tank or when enmity swapping tank tactics occur, both healers should focus on the main tank. If excess time exists, this may allow one or both healers an opportunity to DPS. I tend to ride the wave that most other healers will play more defensively and take the opportunity to do damage and possibly accelerate a phase and/or convert MP that would have been used for healing into killing the enemy sooner so that those heals may not ever have to come to pass. But will certainly dance out of Cleric's Stance to assist the other healer with the healing when the time comes.

[MXMoondoggie]

It'll vary but for most general content it's simply MT has priority and just free role for the rest as they take damage. Most of the time there is no need to split up the party or have a healer focus only on one person. Just watch the other healer see if they are quite overzealous on heals then you might not want to overdo it yourself and burn MP for no reason.

[Urthdigger]

Depending on the content I do one of two things:

1: Both tanks are taking different mobs. In this case each healer picks a tank (Good example of this is any example where an off-tank may tank adds, such as Coil turn 1)
2: Heavy party damage is expected. In this case, one healer focuses on the main tank, while the other focuses on the party (Good example is during Garuda, when you have three mobs spamming AoE in a small area)

Regardless, both healers should be aiding their own as they can. For example, a WHM focusing on the party should still keep Regen up on the tank, and a SCH healing the tank should still toss Sacred Soil over the DDs before a massive AoE, things like that.

[Leih]

Thanks everyone!

[ceiimq]

Most of the time you'll just be healing whatever takes damage and trying not to overheal too much but no real coordination required.

When the whole party starts taking big hits is when you need a little coordination. There are basically two roles
- Cure debuffs and keep the MT alive. Scholars are better suited for this thanks to their off-gcd Lustrate and their infinite MP pool for spamming Leeches.
- Heal up the whole party. White mages are better suited for this thanks to their much stronger area heals.

So there you have your basic role repartition, and also part of the reason why WHM+SCH is the most useful healing configuration.

[Al_Harrington]

I like to play a game called, Let's see how long I can DPS before the other healer figures out I am not helping him. In seriousness though this is a great time to start learning how to balance your DPS potential on WHM with keeping people alive. If I am in a DF party for some odd reason and the other heal does just that, heals, I will DPS even more then normal. Up to this point you might have been keeping people topped off and not really engaging the mobs. At 50 a WHM can do just the opposite. I will DPS so long that I have to use a Beny on the tank letting him go under 1k HP. Divine Seal / Regen the tank and start blowing things up.

[CalvatE]

Regardless, both healers should be aiding their own as they can. For example, a WHM focusing on the party should still keep Regen up on the tank, and a SCH healing the tank should still toss Sacred Soil over the DDs before a massive AoE, things like that.

Absolutely agree. In Turn 1 on the split, I heal the PLD and the SCH heals the WAR, and if I don't have Regen up on the WAR then slowly, piece by piece the Warrior will pretty much begin to die. If I take the time to mega-heal the PLD and then throw over a Regen as fast as I can then things go easy peesy.

In random parties I heal all around the place but try to focus mainly on the MT. Although with any party you should be adaptive, if there's too much heals going on the MT and the other healer isn't really healing anyone else then make it your job~

If I'm in raid then usually I'm focusing on solely the tanks and the SCH does AoE/Raid Healing since it doesn't affect their mana as much, unless some mega attack is coming out or we get to a point where I need to throw off a Medica.

[FinagleABagel]

Totally depends on the level of coordination with the group. Splitting up healing duties 50/50 is poor execution and bad strategy. However, if you aren't in communication with the other healer, clearer duties make for easier planning.

It also depends on what you are fighting. Generally speaking, the WHM is a raid healer and the SCH is a pre-shielding single target. However, on ADS, the roles switch - SCH goes AoE heal and WHM goes single target due to the constant Vacuum AoE mechanics.

The key is to understand your fight and know what WHM vs. SCH are good at. Never pigeonhole yourself. Be willing to switch stuff up in a way that counters scripted mechanics.