Are Blood Elf Holy Paladins the best healers in WoW?

Yes

Here are a few reasons why:

1)  We are the only Class/Spec combination with gear specifically made just for us.

2)  We have awesome Hair.

3)  We are not only Tank Healers, but Raid Healers as well.

4)  5 out of 10 Zergadins are Paladins.

5)  We Heal with Hate®.

6)  We can bubble hearth again.

7)  Lay on Hands.

8)  The same spell we use to burn our victims, we use to heal our friends.

9)  When 5.0.4 drops this Tuesday Nothing changes.

10)  When 5.0.4 drops this Tuesday Everything changes… If you want it to.

Nuts and Bolts

Here is a link to the official Talent and Spell breakdown dropping on Tuesday.  Go ahead, check it out, I’ll be waiting for you when you get back.

So let me explain all that for you.  Nothing that you do currently when you play a Holy Paladin (Blood Elf right?) is going to change on Tuesday.  You will still have all the same procs, buffs, and spells you need to Heal with Hate and look good while doing it.

There is one major change that was made to all healers that you need to know about.  All healing specs Mana was, and will always be, normalized to 100k at level 85.

(Note:  After testing and research at noxxic.com, it seem after intellect that Spirit is a Holy Paladin’s most desired stat.  Untill you have enough mana to last an entire encounter, stack Spirit.)

The other few changes that were made, are minor tweaks.

Auras?  All gone but one.. The devs left us the only one we needed anyway, Devotion Aura.

Blessings got tweaked a bit.  If Panzer casts Blessing of Might (Mastery buff), you go Kings (Stats Buff).  If Panzer goes Kings, you go Might.  Easy.

Seal of Insight does what it is doing now.  4% Mana back, chance of, on melee hit, and 4% of 100k is 4,000 Mana back.

(Confirmed testing is that is is less than 4k mana.  In fact I’m getting 800 mana back on white melee hits.  I’m getting no Mana back on Judgements.  White hits only!  I’m getting 2k health back on white melee hits). 

What I’m not seeing it do on Tuesday is give a Mana Regen buff on Judgment.  It appears that all Mana Regen will be handled with Spirit, which Holy gets to have 50% of it while in combat, and melee hits.  That means we are in melee range. Right where I was telling you to stand all along!

There are only TWO passives that are baked into the spec when 5.0.4 drops that are new.  Daybreak, and Boundless Conviction.  Daybreak buffs Holy Shock with an AoE component after you Cast Holy Radiance.  Conviction lets you bank 5 Holy Power.  Think about what you just read….. good,  Told ya we were the best healers in the game.

Now referring to #9 in my list, nothing really changed.

“Whoa wait a minute there Zyley, what about #10?” says the Holy Paladin the front row “I’m still reading because I want things to change.  I want to be an Awesome, Gorgeous, Healer of Hate as well.  How do I do that?”

Well comrade, that’s easy.

On Tuesday we are given a very powerful tool.  Choice.  We have to choose our Talents and Glyphs to round out how, you, the individual want to play.

Glyphs first, but only the ones that matter.

Glyph of Divine Plea – Hmm, that is a nice one.  Especially if you know when you are going to use it.  Let’s think about this for a moment.  This changes how you play right now.  On Tuesday, this is not a wise choice.  Let’s keep things the same for now untill we find a more powerful glyph.

Glyph of Divinity – We have this one now.  Pretty nice, but it not something that you’ll see a lot of use out of.  Good, but there’s got to be a better one.

Glyph of Flash of Light – OK, now we are talking!  Zyley is a Flash of Light healer, I love that spell.  This one has merit!

Glyph of Illumination – 1% Mana back on Holy Shock crits, but 10% less Mana back from Holy Insight.  This one has potential.  Yet, I’m not sold.

Glyph of Light of Dawn – We have this one now too.  Less targets more healing?  10 man Raiding potential.

Glyph of Protector of Innocent – Heals you when you use WoG on another target.  Not bad, earmarked.

Glyph of Ascetic Crusader – That’s what I’m talking about baby!  I know you are going to say. “who give a flying flip Zyley, I don’t need either of those in my rotation.”  I’ll respond with “Never Doubt the Zyley!  All will be revealed in time.”

(Note: I can not pull this glyph on WoWhead, and it’s an option on the WoW site anymore.  What it did do, was remove the Mana Cost of Crusader Strike and Judgment.  Obviously Blizz read this blog, and nerfed us b/c of the awesomeness we would have been capable of!)

Glyph of Battle Healer – Damn right, I’ll be in melee range anyway.  Now re-read the above glyph…. Now you are beginning to understand.

Next Up, Talents.

Level 45 –

Selfless Healer – This talent was Jelly to the Glyph of Ascetic Crusader, which it seems was removed.  Too Bad, I’m passing on this one now.

Eternal Flame – This turn WoG, into Super WoG.

Sacred Shield – Are you a Tank healer?  Oh that’s right, your a Blood Elf Paladin.  That means you’re going to heal everyone, so pass.  If you are assigned to the Tank only, it would not be a bad choice.

Level 60 –

Hand of Purity – If you have one target, and one target only, I’d go with this one.  If you have multiple healing assignments, there are better choices.

Unbreakable Spirit – To me, this talent is more about LoH Mana return getting a shorter cool down, but still, not a bad choice.

Clemency – Hmmm, double Hand of Sacrifice?  Double time Hand of Protection?  Hard to pass up… (Link to How to use your Hands, dated but still relevant)

Level 78 –

Holy Avenger – Forget what this does, it adds a healing cool down on a 2 min CD.  More CD’s are a good thing, if you remember to use them.

Sanctified Wrath – This modifies your Avenging Wrath.  Powerful to be sure.  Choose what fits your play-style.  Avenging Wrath is a 3 min CD.  It also pairs well with Glyph of Illumination.

Divine Purpose – Passive Proc that will increase healing output.  I’ve personally procced it 4 times in a row, as each spec.  Pick this one if you never remember to use your CDs.

Binding the Big stuff

• You’ve got 100k Mana.
• Mana is regained Passively with Spirit, and actively with Melee hits.  (Because your always using Seal of Insight)
• You want to be in Melee range, hitting things with your Weapon of Choice. (To gain Mana, and because you look good doing it)

Things to Consider

You must think about how you’re going to regain Mana.  There are many choices in your toolkit.  Once you decide that, tailor your talents and glyphs to that play-style.