Restoration Shaman Healing Gear and Best in Slot — Midnight Pre-Patch (12.0)

Welcome to our Gear and BiS Page for Restoration Shaman for the Midnight Pre-Patch. Check this page to learn everything you need to know about gearing a Restoration Shaman, including the BiS Gear from all sources, Raiding and Mythic+, information on the best Trinkets, Tier Sets, and much more.

With the Midnight pre-patch, all item levels were squished, which means the numbers on all items and their item level was massively reduced, but so was the difficulty of the pre-patch content, allowing for all numbers to grow again throughout Midnight and future content without becoming too large to understand.

For detailed information on gear stats and what you want to chase, check out our Stats page below.

Also, if you have a new piece of gear that you need gems and enchants advice for, you can find everything you need on our dedicated page below.

1.

BiS Gear for Restoration Shaman

Overall BiS List Manaforge Omega BiS List Mythic+ only BiS List

2.

Overall BiS List for Restoration Shamans

As usual, prioritize Leech / Avoidance pieces and the highest item level equipment you have, regardless of its secondary stat distribution.

The crafted items you should use depends on what loot you have out of the list below, but assuming a clean slate, you will want a crafted Vagabond's Torch Off-Hand, 1h, or 2h weapon with Darkmoon Sigil: Ascension and a wrist crafted item with Writhing Armor Banding on it to double its effects at minimal stat cost when compared to fully upgraded Myth track gear.

FAQAre Two-Handed weapons viable?

While using a Shield is typically better due to the armor benefits, and certainly mandatory in PvP, in PvE you will rarely be taking damage that can be mitigated by armor. This makes using two-handed weapons completely viable, as long as they have high item level and good secondary stats, or a powerful unique effect.

Early on in the tier nothing beats crafting a two-handed weapon to save Gilded crests, followed by crafting your off-tier slot to gain as many stats as quickly as possible for early progression! The list below assumes an end of tier situation where crests and sparks to craft with are unlimited.

Slot	Item	Source/Note
Weapon	Voidglass Kris	Fractillus in Manaforge Omega
Off-hand	Vagabond's Torch with Darkmoon Sigil: Ascension, Versatility and Critical Strike	Crafted — Inscription
Helm	Aspect of Channeled Fury	Forgeweaver Araz in Manaforge Omega
Neck	Bloodstained Memento	Priory of the Sacred Flame
Shoulder	Claws of Failed Resistance	Dimensius The All Devouring in Manaforge Omega
Cloak	Reshii Wraps with Pure Precise Fiber	Season 3 Storyline Campaign
Chest	Furs of Channeled Fury	Revival Catalyst, or Fractillus in Manaforge Omega
Bracers	Glyph-Etched Vambraces with Writhing Armor Banding, Versatility and Critical Strike	Crafted — Leatherworking
Gloves	Claws of Channeled Fury	Revival Catalyst, or Soulbinder Naazindhri in Manaforge Omega
Belt	Colossal Lifetether	Loom’ithar in Manaforge Omega
Legs	Tassets of Channeled Fury	Revival Catalyst, or Loom’ithar in Manaforge Omega
Boots	Interloper's Chain Boots	The Soul Hunters in Manaforge Omega
Ring #1	Band of the Shattered Soul	Dimensius The All Devouring in Manaforge Omega
Ring #2	Logic Gate: Alpha	Plexus Sentinel in Manaforge Omega
Trinket #1	Astral Antenna	Loom’ithar in Manaforge Omega
Trinket #2	So'leah's Secret Technique	Tazavesh: So'leah's Gambit

2.

Raid only BiS List for Restoration Shaman

This list contains only items from the Manaforge Omega raid. As usual, prioritize Leech / Avoidance pieces and the highest item level equipment you have, regardless of its secondary stat distribution.

Slot	Item	Source/Note
Weapon	Voidglass Kris	Fractillus in Manaforge Omega
Off-hand	Ward of the Weaving-Beast	Loom’ithar in Manaforge Omega
Helm	Aspect of Channeled Fury	Forgeweaver Araz in Manaforge Omega
Neck	Chrysalis of Sundered Souls	Soulbinder Naazindhri in Manaforge Omega
Shoulder	Claws of Failed Resistance	Dimensius The All Devouring in Manaforge Omega
Cloak	Reshii Wraps with Pure Precise Fiber	Season 3 Storyline Campaign
Chest	Furs of Channeled Fury	Revival Catalyst, or Fractillus in Manaforge Omega
Bracers	Pactbound Vambraces	Nexus King Salhadaar in Manaforge Omega
Gloves	Claws of Channeled Fury	Revival Catalyst, or Soulbinder Naazindhri in Manaforge Omega
Belt	Colossal Lifetether	Loom’ithar in Manaforge Omega
Legs	Tassets of Channeled Fury	Revival Catalyst, or Loom’ithar in Manaforge Omega
Boots	Interloper's Chain Boots	The Soul Hunters in Manaforge Omega
Ring #1	Band of the Shattered Soul	Dimensius The All Devouring in Manaforge Omega
Ring #2	Logic Gate: Alpha	Plexus Sentinel in Manaforge Omega
Trinket #1	Astral Antenna	Loom’ithar in Manaforge Omega
Trinket #2	Loom'ithar's Living Silk	Loom’ithar in Manaforge Omega

2.

Mythic+ only BiS List for Restoration Shaman

This list contains only items available in Mythic+ dungeons in the Midnight Pre-Patch. As usual, prioritize Leech / Avoidance pieces and the highest item level equipment you have, regardless of its secondary stat distribution.

Slot	Item	Source/Note
Weapon	Gluttonous Rondel	Tazavesh: Streets of Wonder
Off-hand	Starlit Safeguard	Eco-Dome Al'dani
Helm	Aspect of Channeled Fury	Revival Catalyst
Neck	Bloodstained Memento	Priory of the Sacred Flame
Shoulder	Fangs of Channeled Fury	Revival Catalyst
Cloak	Reshii Wraps with Pure Precise Fiber	Season 3 Storyline Campaign
Chest	Furs of Channeled Fury	Revival Catalyst
Bracers	Consecrated Baron's Bindings	Priory of the Sacred Flame
Gloves	Claws of Channeled Fury	Revival Catalyst
Belt	Portable Power Generator	Operation: Floodgate
Legs	Divine Pyrewalkers	Revival Catalyst
Boots	Greaves of the Wild Pair	Eco-Dome Al'dani
Ring #1	Devout Zealot's Ring	The Dawnbreaker
Ring #2	Ring of the Panoply	Tazavesh: Streets of Wonder
Trinket #1	Signet of the Priory	Priory of the Sacred Flame
Trinket #2	So'leah's Secret Technique	Tazavesh: So'leah's Gambit

While leveling as a healer is generally not recommended, if you intend to do so we recommend picking up your tier set for the large 16% healing increase provided by their combined bonuses, acquiring Loom'ithar's Living Silk which is the best small group healing trinket, and also Perfidious Projector for its very large on use damage effect against boss enemies.

The Reshii Wraps cloak introduced in Season 3 was an Artifact obtained through the campaign and which completely replaces your cloak slot for the remainder of the Midnight Pre-Patch, as no other cloaks drops in current content. Make sure to customize it with Critical Strike or Haste for optimal results.

Note the special boots Interloper's Chain Boots boost the cloak's effect even more, making them best in slot for us, and that Band of the Shattered Soul also has a special defensive power associated with the new cloak.

For more information on how to acquire or upgrade this cloak, make sure to check out our dedicated guide below:

Turbo Boost offered a way to acquire specific items from Manaforge Omega as well as Mythic+ Trinkets through Puzzling Cartel Chips. You can use these chips to buy Heroic level items but in order to get Myth level items you need to get all +12 keys timed for the Mythic+ trinkets or to have killed the Mythic boss that drops the item at least once.

For more information about this system and how it works as well as the location of the vendors, check out our dedicated Puzzling Cartel Chip section!

Choosing what items to spend Puzzling Cartel Chips on will largely depend on what items you already have. Someone with Mythic Interloper's Chain Boots will obviously not need to buy them from the vendor and thus can spend Cartel Chips on other items. Below we will list some of the key items, in order of importance:

• Interloper's Chain Boots - These boots are one of the best upgrades available for Restoration, come from a hard raid boss to pug, and no other boots come close to their power, making them a great choice to use your first coin on.
• Voidglass Kris - This weapon has a special effect on top of regular weapon stats, which makes it the best weapon in game for Restoration. It is not higher in the list because the effect is not particularly powerful and Restoration has better trinket options than Diamantine Voidcore, making the trinket only good when it activates the set, but never ahead of the other best trinkets.
• Astral Antenna - Excellent trinket which can single-handedly take care of your Critical Strike needs if your gear is heavy on Haste and Versatility.
• So'leah's Secret Technique - Another great trinket, especially due to its simplicity and the flexibility to pick which stat to gain, allowing you to avoid diminishing returns for longer.
• Empowering Crystal of Anub'ikkaj - This trinket provides a huge amount of stats, but has the downside of these stats being given randomly, while Restoration would rather avoid Mastery.
• Loom'ithar's Living Silk - Not the best for raiding, but invaluable for Mythic+ due to its frequent party-wide large shields which can counter mechanics and prevent one-shots in high keys.
• Band of the Shattered Soul - If all other items are accounted for, this ring has fantastic stats for Restoration and a free defensive effect on top, making it a great souvenir for the remainder of the expansion.

With the Midnight pre-patch, all healer set bonuses were changed to grant 6% more healing with the 2-piece bonus and 10% more healing with the 4-piece bonus, keeping them strong, but also no longer having any impact on your rotation or spell and talent choices.

FAQBest Trinkets for Restoration Shamans?

From Mythic+, the best trinkets are So'leah's Secret Technique and Signet of the Priory, while the best trinkets from Raid are Diamantine Voidcore, provided you have the weapon for its set bonus, Astral Antenna, and Loom'ithar's Living Silk. These trinkets have high stats and a mix of powerful passive and on-use effects that you can use alongside your raid cooldowns.

Take note that a trinket's worth might vary wildly between types of content. For example, there are trinkets not listed below that are specifically created and tailored for PvP, while PvE players mostly chase stat sticks, as those improve healing (and damage) reliably, without the burst and bust characteristic of proc or on-use trinkets.

Every trinket not listed below, when at its maximum upgrade level possible, can be considered as being of lower than C-tier.

The ranking system is as follows:

1. S Tier: the strongest and most generally useful trinkets; these are always good choices;
2. A Tier: these trinkets are slightly weaker than the S Tier traits, but are still solid choices;
3. B Tier: a below-average trinket that should be picked only in the absence of an S or A Tier trinket;
4. C Tier: only use these if you have no other option.

• Diamantine Voidcore (with set bonus)
• Astral Antenna
• So'leah's Secret Technique
• Signet of the Priory
• Empowering Crystal of Anub'ikkaj
• Loom'ithar's Living Silk

• Ara-Kara Sacbrood
• Algari Alchemist Stone
• Lily of the Eternal Weave
• Darkfuse Medichopper
• First Class Healing Distributor

• Mister Pick-Me-Up
• Essence-Hunter's Eyeglass
• Manaforged Aethercell
• Araz's Ritual Forge
• Twisted Mana Sprite

• Mug's Moxie Jug
• Eye of Kezan
• Carved Blazikon Wax
• Reverb Radio
• Nexus-King's Command
• Burin of the Candle King
• House of Cards

Embellishments are special effects that are either found on crafted pieces by default or can be added to crafted pieces during the crafting process. A character can have two embellishments equipped at any time. The following are our recommended embellishments:

• Darkmoon Sigil: Ascension can only be placed on a weapon, but is very strong if you can afford it. Darkmoon Sigil: Symbiosis is also good, especially on long fights and Delves, but since you can only use one of these, Ascension is the current general recommendation;
• Writhing Armor Banding works with Darkmoon Sigil: Ascension and Darkmoon Sigil: Symbiosis and doubles their positive and negative effects, making it a great way to get double the effect of embellishments you can only use one of;
• Dawnthread Lining provides a large amount of Critical Strike as long as you are above 80% Health, making it a very strong option, especially for raiding;
• Duskthread Lining provides a large amount of Versatility as long as you are above 80% Health, making it a very strong option, especially for dungeons;
• Binding of Binding provides a large stat proc that goes on a random ally unless both of you have one of these rings bound to each other. The stat proc is strong, and in some scenarios, it can be helpful that you get a lower benefit than your ally when healing is a lesser concern than DPS maximization;
• Blessed Weapon Grip causes your damage to have a chance to increase your highest secondary stat. As this bonus fades over time and requires you to do damage for a weaker boost than most other options, it is not very appealing;
• The Embrace of the Cinderbee set, as seen in Busy Bee's Buckle, has a decent effect but takes both of your embellishment slots and requires you to notice and move to collect a fiery orb nearby every so often, making it much weaker in practice than most alternatives.

Our current recommendation is to use your first Spark to craft a one-hand weapon with Darkmoon Sigil: Ascension, such as the Everforged Dagger from Blacksmithing.

Alternatively, if you want to maximize your power as quickly as possible rather than aiming for overall best in slot, you can craft a two-handed weapon such as Vagabond's Bounding Baton or Charged Invoker, instead. These will give you the power of a 1h plus off-hand for half the Gilded crest investment, but without a shield, you will have much lower armor against physical attacks, which is not a big deal in PvE but not recommended for PvP and soloing.

You can also opt to craft your Darkmoon Sigil: Ascension on Vagabond's Torch instead, in order to free your main-hand for a maximum item level Myth track weapon. This is a risky option, but also the one with highest potential payoff, and the best end game setup of the patch for crafted gear. Once done with your weapon, double Darkmoon Sigil: Ascension's benefit with Writhing Armor Banding.

Dawnthread Lining, Duskthread Lining, and Binding of Binding are also quite strong, but their power is dependent on how much uptime you can get and how much you value the stats of your allies relative to your own, respectively.

You will usually want to start with upgrading your weapon, followed by trinkets, and then any leech/avoidance pieces or items you won't be replacing for a long time. These would be great choices, for example:

1. Highest item level weapon you have;
2. Highest item level trinket(s) of S-rank you have;
3. Any Leech / Avoidance pieces of high item level.

Simulating your damage is mostly a thing that DPS players do, as Healers need to interweave their healing with damage, which means their damage potential is always contingent on how much healing is needed.

For the most part, all you need to think about for damage is avoiding the Mastery stat, which has no DPS value. Learn more about how to optimize your damage rotation below.

For healing, we recommend analyzing your performance in past encounters instead. Tools such as Warcraft Logs, WoW Analyzer, and QE Live are capable of giving you an accurate stat weight and tips on how to improve based on your logs.

You can find more details on how to make the most out of these tools in the specialized page below.