Since you asked about it specifically, [Insightful Earthsiege Diamond] is going to give you the most mana of any meta, if you're having mana problems. It's definitely not the wrong answer. I chose to go the more balanced [Ember Skyflare Diamond] route for now, though I am a little disappointed that the passive spellpower bonus on the meta gems isn't as significant compared to our total overall healing spell power in this expansion as the +26 healing/[insert secondary effect] metas in BC. Hopefully this time around we'll see some epic quality meta gems, where at least the static effect is increased.

At the current gear level, [Insightful Earthsiege Diamond] gives roughly the same amount of int than the [Ember Skyflare Diamond], for myself anyways. So then you have to compare the 25 +heal to the mana return proc. Numbers show that the effect is a 5% chance proc to return 600 mana. I do not believe it has an internal cooldown, and my rough estimates put the proc somewhere at around 50 mp5 (very rough, don't quote me). From a pure itemization budget point of view, it's obvious 50mp5 will give you more itemization points than 25 +heal, but then again, as a tree druid, Spell Power is probably your most important stat, or second most. In any case, I believe the Insightful Earthsiege is the way to go, especially considering the nature of our spells and how often they are cast (trees will probably get more mp5 than 50). Perhaps at later gear levels the Ember Skyflare will prove to be more valuable.

The other alternative is [Tireless Skyflare Diamond] and then putting 18 spirit on your boots. So then you compare 21 int/mana return/9 or 15 stam with 25 SP/18 spirit. Disregarding stam is acceptable, but even then, Insightful Earthsiege seems to win, simply because of the mana return.

If you find yourself having mana issues then go for the [Insightful Earthsiege Diamond] once you gear up and find that you are having fewer and fewer mana problems it may be time to swap to the [Ember Skyflare Diamond]. I know that this was what alot of people did with the BC eversions of the same meta gems.

If you're having mana issues, I certainly don't think that a meta gem will be THE change that will fix that. Also, as a healer you can't just throw out arbitrary numbers for healing or regen, because they are always subject to change and are not surefire bets to increase your ability. Our performance does not rely so heavily on hard statistics and numbers, so it's vital to approach gearing with a balanced mindset. This entails getting as much itemization from budget points as possible. There is a reason we don't gear for mp5 because it is simply too expensive in the item budget while not providing the same amount of benefit that an equivalent amount of spirit would. Also, 25 spell power seems a bit trivial so you can't really make a case for it unless there indeed will be an epic quality of that meta gem.

Hit is like most of the other important stats, you need to consider the overall balance of your stats, and your target situation. Assuming you're talking about raid bosses as targets, being at or very near 0% missed attacks (RAWR does a great job of letting you figure this out) is extremely important. All the strength in the world does you no good if you miss. Being at the hit cap of 296 is no guarantee you will not miss. This is why you also have to get the expertise up. You can't get to 0% missed attacks just by being hit capped.

Hit and expertise together are modeled in RAWR to inform you what % or your attacks will be missing, so play with the buffs tab, the enchants, and your gear choices to attempt to reach as close as you can to 0% missed attacks. Once you achieve this goal, then start putting in strength through gems, scrolls, food or elixirs to build your dps.

It actually is a guarantee that you will not miss. You can get to 0% missed attacks by being hitcapped.

That doesn't mean 100% of your attacks will land; you need to also have expertise, which will reduce dodges.

Edit: Maybe I should check if page 3 is the last page first before replying :P

I stand corrected on terminology. You are right on the mark with that comment. RAWR uses the term "Avoided Attacks" and I was referring to reaching the goal of 0% Avoided Attacks, which cannot be done just by being hit capped. While 296 means you don't "miss" you can still have the attack not land, which is the point of any attack. The key is to focus on getting to 0% "Avoided Attacks", not just hit capped.

Rawr still has Str as better for me even when I'm not hit/expertise capped. With the talent that reduces the energy loss from finishers misses I do not see any real need to stack hit (and expertise just seems to come with all the gear anyways...).

I have about as simple a question as it gets.

I've heard that there's math showing that int is about equal to spirit (or even slightly better) for regen if you have replenishment. Can anyone link me those maths? Can't find it anywhere on here >.<

Edit - have a second question I just remembered. In my current spec, I took 5/5 Tranquil Spirit for the Nourish mana cost reduction, but I find myself using it pretty infrequently and instead use Regrowth as my main flash heal. I see my options for moving those points as either going Replenish and maybe 1 in Imp Tranquility (for the CD reduction), or going for the 3% haste in Balance. What is the verdict on Replenish right now?

Regen from 10 Intellect/Spirit per t seconds with kings/living spirit and 100% time in 5sr.


If you innervate yourself change the 1 in the first part of the intellect equation to 2.

Thanks uliko.

I've been considering using Rejuv in place of single Lifeblooms (that I let bloom) for topping off DPS that don't need heals ASAP. 3 ticks of Rejuv do about 100 more healing than 9 second LB + bloom for me if the bloom doesn't crit.

Are you taking into consideration that some other healer might heal them during the duration of your hot. In my raids I find that unless the person is taking continuous damage that I know will occur on him, and I try to raid heal with single target hots someone else will just quickly top that person off before the hot does much healing.

I find that the best way to deal with spot healing is to take a proactive approach. For example, there are people that I absolutely know will take raid damage, usually melee. So I will usually put up a LB a couple seconds up ahead of time, that way I can use nourish if they are in dire need of spot heals, and nourish will be, shall I say, less inefficient. However, it looks like unless it's just one solitary person taking damage or if 3 or more people have received damage, I just spot heal with a WG.

Hey, i was wondering if it would be worth it to get the Healing touch glyph and use Healing Touch instead of Nourish, because it would be a better *flash heal.* Right now i have the glyphs HT,swiftmend, and innervate. It would make Nourish useless, but healing touch would be really useful. I read around and found that the healing touch glyph isn't that good, but i thought it was a very good idea.

As a raiding druid that has now cleared all current content (including Sartharion + 3 drakes) what are the optimal professions to max out your character ?

I raid as restoration and feral so consideration of possible professions would have to keep this in mind. Atm i have Inscription which seems a bit lack luster as it doesn't offer anything other then the shoulder enchants, which only offers 31 extra dodge rating over the SoH exalted enchant, as defence is wasted on bears. The healing Inscription shoulder enchant is quite good however.

I also have alchemy, which offers quite a nice perk in Mixology. This not only gives double duration to the flask / elixir, but increases its benefit if you can make it. Whilst i'm not concerned about the extra duration (dailies ftw), is the increase in stats whilst under the effect of the buff really worth it over say the JC only gems or the BS extra sockets or the LW fur lining ? I have done alot of research both on these forums and in game and the buff received is in the range of 25 - 40% extra stats from the flask or elixir.

I'm unsure if this topic requires a new thread, if anyone feels this way ill gladly make it. I am of the thinking that maxing out your character is the least you can do to help your guild progress.

The best possible Feral Min/Max currently is Leatherworking/Jewelcrafting. You benefit from the spectacular wrist enchants of Leatherworking and the three JC-only gems via Jewelcrafting. Enchanting is an option if you don't want to take Leatherworking, as the 2x AP ring enchants + standard wrist enchant match the LW wrist emboss, but the cheap cost of LW to level and the incredibly cheap self-only leg patches make LW very attractive.

For the healing side of things, almost all of the professions offer roughly the same buffs (taken from Shadowpriest.com):
Everything is roughly the same (37 SP) except for JC and BS - JC's prismatics are nice for meta requirements and the BS sockets offer a very nice boost. Beyond that they are pretty much equal. As a resto druid I am going to go JC/Alch once I get my miner/herbalist into northrend. Alchemy for the additional SP and duration from flasks and pots, JC for the ease of hitting meta requirements (and these are two professions people are always needing - either for cuts or for making flasks).

Proactive healing is definitely the way to go if you can (mashing Lifebloom til you have carpal tunnel 9 seconds before the aura wears off on Loatheb, ex.), but there are some much more sporadic/unpredictable sources of damage (say, spikes on Anub'arak) that need topped off too in a not super time-critical fashion. Replenish looks bad on paper even for those situations though, since they're generally so infrequent that you'd be giving out a negligible amount of power. I specced into the 3% haste in Balance and am digging it.

Hello. I need some advice. I can't seem to find a suitable healing rotation (if any) in this xpac. Everything that I've been doing so far is very situational which I tend to use any healing spell at any given situation. Edit: Meaning, I find myself concentrating on healing raid wide when I can instead of just focusing on tanks. Seems right so far. I am doing my job in keeping people alive. I guess I just can't get used to the fact that I can't press 1, 2, 3, 4 rinse repeat anymore. Don't get me wrong. It's great!! I love the fact that I can throw out WG for AE damage and RG and Nourish for certain things. I've read and talked to other druids as to what their rotation is and it seems pretty similar. I still get the oddball healers that still roll LB's.

I guess I'm asking 'coz I seem to be hurting when I look at the meters. I know I know. Meters shouldn't matter as long as you keep your target alive. Which I've been doing. But what kills me is that when I analyze the meters, with the overall encounter, I top it. When it comes to certain boss fights, I don't. This I can understand. There are fights where other healers will shine. What hurts even more is that another druid is topping meters on boss fights and I'm either 2nd or 3rd. Take note that the druid has a lower mp5 regen and has lower spellpower. But we're doing the same thing. I just don't get it.

I've never had to ask anyone about help about healing or how to play. I guess the new mechanics is kind of throwing me off. I'm asking the community for advice because I need feedback on how to be better. This is the only place I know I can ask.

You can armory me HERE to see what my gear and build looks like.

For glyphs I'm using the following:
Regrowth
Swiftmend
Innervate
Gift of the Wild
Rebirth
Thorns (couldn't think of anything else to use other than aquaform)

I appreciate any feedback.

Thanks guys.

You're doing it wrong.

Full hots on the tank(s). That includes stacking LB. If the tank doesn't need more heals, heal the raid. pre-heal people you think might need it. WG when raid damage occurs. Be aggressive with your heals, waste some mana, it does no good if you end the fight with a full mana bar and are afraid to roll LB on the tank because LB uses more mana now.

So rolling LB's like the way we used to in BC is still viable regardless of the weakened healing coefficient? I still do put up hots on tanks but not a full stack of LB's. A combination of rejuv and maybe 1 or 2 LB's. Once that happens, I turn my attention to the raid to do spot heals using regrowth, nourish, etc. I usually keep an eye on both the hot timer on the tank and the tank's hp. if ever they need a heal, I hit them with a swiftmend or a regrowth/nourish.

It's interesting that you mentioned full LB's on tanks considering the amount of posts mentioned here in EJ and other sources about how rolling LB's are a thing of the past. Hmm...some things to think about. I will try the old rotation again with my new gear to see if it's doable.

Thank you.