Savage is the healer parity barometer not because it's a privilege. It's actually where they design content that uses EVERY skill a healer has. Fatebreaker Savage cycle damage actually has a nasty bleed while more burst damage comes out. Where you actually need to have a heals and HoTs lined up for the first thunder hit and then another for the second hit otherwise you will kill the party because the bleed tick hurts so bad. The normal mode just throws burst damage that a simple HoT heals. That's what savage is like, where you actually have to have a plan for your skills, along with the raid group using things like Addle or Reprisal to lessen the damage.

You cannot compare dungeon or normal content to that where you can practically get away with an Indom or some Aspected Helios and be on your merry way. Heal and DPS checks are real in savage, they are not in most casual content anymore.

Astro is still the best in raid dps damage, along with also being among the best opening healer because of cards, divination, star and oGCDs immediately available followed by Scholar with Chain and pre-pull mitigation and fairy. White Mage to this day still is in last place when it comes to healing opener damage without consuming a GCD. Lilies take time to generate, Asylum is a HoT, and assize is mainly used for opener damage, holding it too long stuns MP gain and can be overall lost damage in a fight.

Quote Originally Posted by LisSquid View Post
I am in desperate need of damage buttons. I don't care if the average DF healer can't find the time to cast a single holy. I do and I'm bored. The only reason I play AST now is that at least cards give me something to do besides spamming malefic. I feel joy on the occasion I have to asp helios. Whm feels like walking through sand until 80, and I know it's only because smashing that misery button is like putting a token in the serotonin machine.

I spam learning parties just to feel something. :/
Heavensward was a good time for healers, a real damage rotation along with Cleric Stance.