How do you watch for boss mechanics while healing?

[Jacost]

Focus target, set to the biggest size possible for a UI element. That lets me keep an eye on the boss's cast bars while still healing.

[winsock]

I'm partial to mouse over macros.

[Lyrica_Ashtine]

You could just monitor the entire field, rather than tunneling on a splash of text and bars. Identify the movement and particles that's going on on the field. Spot something strange or that looks like damage? Take a glance at the party list. It's similar to driving a car, if you happen to have a license; Eyes on the road, glance at the mirrors once in a while.

[AskaRay]

I focus target the boss, like everyone else.
I have all my damage spells macroed to fire at my target, my FT, and then my target's target, so I can see what the boss is doing AND attack them at the same time (especially if I'm healing the tank).
(None of my healing is macroed since it can cause delay and... well as a healer that's the last thing I want.)

Also, just practice. The more you do it the more you learn when a boss is gonna pull something.

[Kabzy]

As others have mentioned, I also keep my party list and focus target bar together. As a healer main I also keep the party list sort of mid right to my character. Some people really dislike that, but for me it made things a lot easier when I first started healing.

But yeah the more you play the role, the easier it will get. You won't even need to look at the party list half the time. It happens to all of us, I suffer from the same problem when DPSing. :'D

[gehrtalert]

There's a lot of helpful videos on YouTube you can watch. You can find one for just about every instance in the game. You're told about specific mechanics and what to watch for. They're definitely worth watching if you're still confused about certain fights or whatever.

[Gemina]

I can't speak for the weeping city, but a particular mechanic I struggled with was in aurum Vale and the gigas boss' 1000 ton swing. I keep getting one shotted by it until I finally used focus target so I could see the cast bar on my screen. I also manipulated my HUD to make it stand out even further.

I don't know if you're using FT, but if not it should be quite helpful so you can always see what the boss is doing. I've definitely noticed that certain mechanics can be easier to deal with through the game's customizations.

[Lyrica_Ashtine]

I don't know if you're using FT, but if not it should be quite helpful so you can always see what the boss is doing. I've definitely noticed that certain mechanics can be easier to deal with through the game's customizations.

I'll just point out that this isn't always the case. Not every action that does significant amount of damage or requires attention has a cast bar or indicates where the damage is going. Some examples:
Any cleave-like attack without a cast bar
A particular dragon type you can find in Stone Vigil hard, The Aery, Nidhogg EX and other areas
Tailscrew in Satasha Hard
When the gorilla gets agitated in Hullbreaker Isle

So, again, I suggest you to keep your eyes on the field and not glued to the text. Glance at it frequently, but don't tunnel on it.

[Zari]

I'll just point out that this isn't always the case. Not every action that does significant amount of damage or requires attention has a cast bar or indicates where the damage is going. Some examples:
Any cleave-like attack without a cast bar
A particular dragon type you can find in Stone Vigil hard, The Aery, Nidhogg EX and other areas
Tailscrew in Satasha Hard
When the gorilla gets agitated in Hullbreaker Isle

So, again, I suggest you to keep your eyes on the field and not glued to the text. Glance at it frequently, but don't tunnel on it.

I don't think people are trying to say to keep your eyes glued to the cast bar. That will get you killed in most places really. They just mean having it there makes it easier because if the boss IS doing a casted mechanic you will be much more likely to notice than if you aren't using FT since you might not be targeting said boss at the time

[AreciaRhi]

Focus target boss. That's what I always do.