CANT DECIDE ON WHICH HEALER

[Risvertasashi]

I think there's been a pretty thorough coverage of the healers so far, particular from SovereignAegis. I just want to round out the info with WHM a little more on 2 points:

1. WHM actually has excellent single target healing. Cure II has always been considerably more powerful than lustrate, even on tanks pre-heavensward. In fact, cure I + Divine Seal would do that.
The strength of lustrate is that it's 1. instant and 2. 1 second recast. WHM spells have significant lead time -- as another poster said, you need to be very proactive on WHM, while SCH's lustrate excels at emergency healing.
Also, just as SCH has gotten more tools to help with AoE healing, WHM has gotten a few more instant heals with the expansion to help with the whole lead time thing.

2. DPS. WHM can actually do pretty good DPS, especially with the expac now. The catch is there's no healing pet to keep up healing in the DPS stance. However, bismarck ex and ravana ex, as examples, both have burn phases without much or any damage going out. Throw out HoTs, hit cleric, and nuke away -- in this circumstance WHM does OK, and may even have advantages in certain circumstances as its damage is front loaded.

Generally, however, if you want to focus on maximizing DPS while healing, SCH is the way to go.

My AST is not 60 yet but it's DPS abilities seem to be a 1:1 copy of WHM dps skills, but with 10 less potency.

[Seryl199]

Don't forget that AST's native DoT's are unaffected by accuracy, so they are able to put a reliable 690 potency on the board in less than three seconds, especially with Diurnal's 5% cast speed buff.

For your first healer, I'd recommend SCH or WHM. SCH has a low skill floor and the fairy will heal alongside you, this is really good if you're uncomfortable healing in general since it makes it more forgiving. SCH's have a much easier time managing MP. If you are interested in AST, WHM is a great trainer, as it will teach you MP management, which is vital considering MP is much less abundant on these classes, and a lot of the base skills share similarities between the jobs.

Of course, don't feel committed to a job if you continue to level it and it doesn't do anything for you. Healing between all three jobs is pretty varied, so if you find that one class doesn't float your boat, try another. Also, low level dungeons that will test your mettle while leveling include Brayflox, Stone Vigil, and Aurum Vale, just don't be surprised to encounter a couple speed bumps along the way. Good luck regardless of what you choose, and come back with any questions you run into.

[NorthernLadMSP]

Here's my opinion if you are starting as a brand new healer.

SCH is by far the easiest to learn. Essentially unlimited MP, fairy sidekick, normal heals, instant heals, shields.

WHM is more complicated, not in terms of heals, but in terms of MP management and enemy aggro management, but they have the most powerful heals in the game.

AST is by far the most complicated, as you will need to learn both of their stances (which are similar to SCH and WHM), but they also have even greater MP management issues than a WHM does, less potent heals, plus the added complication of learning when to use their cards and on whom to use them.

[SovereignAegis]

@sovereign

While I enjoyed the praise for astro, you do have one fact incorrect. Using time dialation on someone only increases the buffs that astro has put on them. So regen, aoe regen, and a card is your best bet. Also can't use time dialation on yourself.

I knew time dilation couldn't be used on self, but it truly cannot extend other buffs that that person has?

That is actually outright disappointing and I feel mislead now, I swore I saw that before many times.

[Tal72]

Methinks some posters have rose colored goggles. AST is not best of both worlds (WHM and SCH)--more like watered down versions but with buffs included. AST RNG is being seriously glossed over--and no you cannot "dramatically improve the chance" to get the card you want. Pass over what you're smoking. Not that AST can't do the job--but it's pretty clear from the many other threads there are a lot of people with issues (and it's not because they are all bad players). Also Selene's buff is not inconsequential not to mention SCH can give 10% dmg reduction without RNG and on demand and AOE absorb. Personally, I am having a hard time settling on a healing main myself, because they all have their pros and cons.

[VanEinstein]

Methinks some posters have rose colored goggles. AST is not best of both worlds (WHM and SCH)--more like watered down versions but with buffs included. AST RNG is being seriously glossed over--and no you cannot "dramatically improve the chance" to get the card you want. Pass over what you're smoking. Not that AST can't do the job--but it's pretty clear from the many other threads there are a lot of people with issues (and it's not because they are all bad players). Also Selene's buff is not inconsequential not to mention SCH can give 10% dmg reduction without RNG and on demand and AOE absorb.

All of this. The RNG curbs the jobs potential. There are moments when I score just the right cards when I need em', and a host of other times when I draw the same card 8 or more times in a row, shuffles included. Let's not forget that the spear card is presently lackluster without voice communication (and even then, it can still be a pain).

[Selli]

I'd say try them all out, OP. They're each different in their own way, and you might like one more than the other. I started as a WHM and I did loose interest for a while and tried to be a SCH, but I found my comfort was much stronger as a WHM, so that's the class I've stayed with.