Best healer class in WoW Forever

The short answer

Priest is the most complete and the safest healer for dungeons and raids. Paladin is the best tank healer. Shaman brings the most for its group. Druid heals best on the move and can switch to tank or damage.

All four can heal everything in the game. Pick by playstyle: big direct heals (Paladin), shields and many tools (Priest), group heals and totems (Shaman) or heals over time (Druid).

Priest: the complete healer

Holy: Spiritual Guidance turns Spirit into healing, Prayer of Mending heals five people as damage comes in, and Litany of Light refunds mana when you alternate heals. Prayer of Healing covers a whole group. Holy build.

Discipline: a shield healer. Power Word: Shield is stronger and comes back sooner, Renewed Hope gives more crit on shielded targets, Divine Aegis turns crits into more shields and Penance heals on the move. Power Infusion helps a raid caster. Discipline build.

Utility: Power Word: Fortitude, Dispel Magic, Shackle Undead and Psychic Scream to save a bad pull.

Paladin: the tank healer

Holy Light is the biggest direct heal for a tank, and Oath of Light on the main tank makes it even bigger. Illumination gives back mana on crits, and Holy Power makes those crits heal much more.

What is new: Light's Vigil makes your next Holy Shock free and heals the whole party of the target, so the Paladin is no longer stuck healing one person. Lay on Hands and Divine Shield save the day when things go wrong. Holy build.

Utility: blessings for the whole raid, Cleanse, and resistance auras for fights like Onyxia.

Shaman: the group healer

Chain Heal jumps between allies, and the new Riptide heals over time and makes the next Chain Heal on that target 25% stronger. Healing Way boosts Healing Wave for the tank.

Totems help your whole group: Mana Spring Totem and Healing Stream Totem, made stronger by Restorative Totems, and Mana Tide Totem for long fights. Nature's Swiftness gives an instant emergency heal. Restoration build.

Druid: heals over time

Rejuvenation and Regrowth keep working while you move, Swiftmend turns one of them into an instant heal, and the new Wild Growth heals a whole party. Bloom heals again when your heals over time run out.

Utility: Rebirth brings back a dead player during a fight, Innervate refills a healer's mana and Mark of the Wild is a raid buff. Restoration build.

Dungeons or raids?

Dungeons: any of the four works. The Priest and Paladin are the most forgiving when the tank takes a lot of damage; the Druid and Shaman shine when the whole group takes damage.

Raids: a raid wants a mix. Paladins on the tanks, Priests and Shamans on the raid, and a Druid for heals on the move and combat resurrection. Our raids guide covers what each class brings to Barrow Deeps, Hyjal Summit and Onyxia's Lair.

Which race for a healer

Alliance: Human for The Human Spirit (+10% Spirit, best for Holy Priests and Paladins) or Dwarf for Stoneform when a boss turns on the healers. Druids can be Night Elf, for Shadowmeld to drop aggro, or High Order Skyborne for Haste and less drinking.

Horde: Undead for Cannibalize, which now restores mana, or Troll for Berserking in emergencies. Shamans and Druids can be Windshaper Skyborne for 2% Haste on every cast, or Tauren for extra health.

Tips for new healers

Watch your mana more than the health bars: a healer out of mana is a wipe. Use your cheap heals while damage is low and save the big ones for the tank. Stand where you can see the tank and still move away from damage on the ground.

When you level, you do not need to heal: every healer levels faster as a damage spec. Our solo guide explains which ones level best.