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The War Within Healer Rankings: Manaforge Omega Raiding Tier List (Patch 12.0 / Midnight Pre-Patch)

Last updated on Jan 20, 2026 at 01:00 by Seksixeny 27 comments

World of Warcraft has never been perfectly balanced, and Midnight is no exception. Some classes are better than others at the high end for raiding, and inevitably, a meta will exist. This guide will try to explain and rank the viability and strength of the various healing specializations for the current patch.

Disclaimer: This list will be updated as new tuning and class changes come out throughout the pre-patch.

TABLE OF CONTENTS OF THIS PAGE
1.

About the Tier List

Midnight Pre-Patch Update: despite the extreme amount of changes to healing in the Midnight pre-patch, Mistweaver Monk is looking like one of the best pre-patch healers in Manaforge Omega, while Discipline Priest is just as strong but much less popular. Restoration Druid is also doing quite well, with the rest of the healers being relatively weaker.

The rankings below reflect the current War Within raid meta and will be updated over time as more hotfixes and patches hit the live servers.

To understand why these rankings are the way they are, you first need to understand what is most valued in a raid setting. For healers, we value healing throughput, cooldowns, DPS output, and other miscellaneous utility.

1.1.

A Final Warning

Just because a healer is currently low ranked in the tier list, it does not mean that it is not viable or that it will not become much better after balance changes. Also, excellent players will always be deserving of a raid spot, regardless of their specialization.

The main exception is when you require a specific healer to bring utility that is needed for a particular encounter (such as Rescue Icon Rescue for low mobility classes), or one of the main raid buffs, such as Mark of the Wild Icon Mark of the Wild, Power Word: Fortitude Icon Power Word: Fortitude, or Devotion Aura Icon Devotion Aura.

2.

The War Within Healer Tier List for Manaforge Omega

You can find the summarized healer tier list below, but make sure to also check the individual section for each healer in order to understand our ranking reasoning and specialization perks.

Pre-Patch Disclaimer The Midnight Pre-Patch brings many changes to virtually every class in the game, and we expect morechanges to each spec over the course of the Pre-Patch itself. On top of that, Apex Talents will not be accessible until Midnight officially launches, and many classes rely on their Apex Talent to fully flesh out the redesign they have gone under. As a result, the rankings below are to be taken with a grain of salt for the Pre-Patch, due to the game being in a state of flux right now. For a more accurate representation of each specialization's strengths, we recommend checking out or Midnight Beta Tier Lists instead.
S
Mistweaver Monk Mistweaver Monk

Mistweaver Monk still has strong burst healing with its cooldowns, as well as decent sustained healing. Combined with flexible mobility and plentiful survivability tools on top of being a melee spec that is not targeted by some mechanics, it remains a good option in the current meta, although Mana problems might bring it down in the near future.

Mistweaver Monk Guide
Discipline Priest Discipline Priest

Discipline Priest bring their powerful Power Infusion Icon Power Infusion, Lenience Icon Lenience and Power Word: Barrier Icon Power Word: Barrier abilities to raid groups, and their new Evangelism Icon Evangelism makes ramping to maximum Atonement Icon Atonement very easy. Finally, the new Holy Ray Icon Holy Ray is incredible when min maxed, allowing for massive Penance Icon Penance numbers which transfer into huge Atonement healing.

Discipline Priest Guide
Restoration Druid Restoration Druid

Restoration Druids have great Mana management through Abundance Icon Abundance and Innervate Icon Innervate, and their ramps have the unique perk of allowing them to perform the best spot healing in the game at their peak through guaranteed critical Regrowth Icon Regrowth casts that crit harder than usual through Intensity Icon Intensity, instead of simply doing more area healing like most other healers. This playstyle perk combined with them being among the best candidates for bringing Mark of the Wild Icon Mark of the Wild makes them quite strong in the current patch.

Restoration Druid Guide
A
Preservation Evoker Preservation Evoker

Preservation Evoker still has great unique utility in Rescue Icon Rescue, Zephyr Icon Zephyr, Time Spiral Icon Time Spiral, and Spatial Paradox Icon Spatial Paradox, all of which are just as strong when brought by the second Evoker as the first, incentivizing the usage of multiple Evokers in a raid. They also do excellent healing, much of which is tied to percent health recovery effects that do not depend on gear to be strong, such as Rewind Icon Rewind and Golden Hour Icon Golden Hour.

Preservation Evoker Guide
Restoration Shaman Restoration Shaman

Restoration Shaman is a specialization with unique utility which passively increases the survivability of the raid, such as Spirit Link Totem Icon Spirit Link Totem and the potential health buffer provided by Ancestral Vigor Icon Ancestral Vigor. They can also self-resurrect when things go wrong with Reincarnation Icon Reincarnation but their healing suffers when the raid is spread or in heavy movement due to the limitations of Healing Rain Icon Healing Rain and their talent and tier set rework were especially punishing in the Pre-Patch.

Restoration Shaman Guide
Holy Priest Holy Priest

Holy Priest has both high healing potential and easy gameplay. Restitution Icon Restitution is the only healer cheat death that resets on pull, making them extremely reliable even when not piloted well. They also have Piety Icon Piety for converting overhealing into effective healing when playing as Oracle, or huge raw healing potential with Halo Icon Halo and Surge of Light Icon Surge of Light combos when playing as Archon.

Holy Priest Guide
Holy Paladin Holy Paladin

Holy Paladin is one of the best healers to bring for solo healing raid spreading situations with their powerful Beacon of Virtue Icon Beacon of Virtue group healing. Their utility is also still one of the best among all healers, with tools to deal with many situations in an efficient way.

Holy Paladin Guide
2.1.

DPS and Tank Class Rankings

If you are interested in other rankings for the Midnight pre-patch, please click the links below.

Midnight Pre-Patch Raid Tank Rankings Midnight Pre-Patch Raid DPS Rankings
3.

Full Healer Class Rankings

As the raid to world first unfolds, the healing meta becomes clearer, and this new list should more adequately display the current state of things. Regardless, we will be continuing to monitor and update the healing tier list as new hotfixes are deployed or new playstyles are developed.

3.1.

S-Tier

3.1.1.

Mistweaver Monk

Utility Package
Functionality Spells Notes
Core Mystic Touch Icon Mystic Touch Causes enemies you damage to take a small amount of increased Physical damage for the rest of the encounter.
Core Life Cocoon Icon Life Cocoon Applies a large absorb shield to the target.
Core Revival Icon Revival Removes a few Magical effects and all PoisonPoison and DiseaseDisease effects on nearby allies. Can be turned into Restoral Icon Restoral if removing Magic effects is harmful.
Core Leg Sweep Icon Leg Sweep Stuns enemies around the Monk for a short duration.
Optional Tiger's Lust Icon Tiger's Lust Increases the movement speed of its target significantly and also removes all roots and snares from its target when used.
Optional Ring of Peace Icon Ring of Peace Creates a ground effect for a short duration that pushes back enemies that try to enter its area.
Optional Detox Icon Detox Removes all Magic effects from its target and can be upgraded with Improved Detox Icon Improved Detox to also remove PoisonPoison and DiseaseDisease effects.
Optional Paralysis Icon Paralysis Single-target crowd control effect and Enrage Icon Enrage dispel when used with the Pressure Points Icon Pressure Points talent.
Mistweaver Monk Guide
3.1.2.

Discipline Priest

Utility Package
Functionality Spells Notes
Core Pain Suppression Icon Pain Suppression External-defensive cooldown which can be used on an ally for large damage reduction for a period.
Core Power Word: Barrier Icon Power Word: Barrier Summons a barrier reducing the damage taken by all allies within the area.
Core Power Infusion Icon Power Infusion Grants a large Haste buff for a short duration to an ally, and also to yourself when Twins of the Sun Priestess Icon Twins of the Sun Priestess is talented.
Core Power Word: Fortitude Icon Power Word: Fortitude Grants a small health buff to all allies.
Core Psychic Scream Icon Psychic Scream AoE crowd control effect that causes affected enemies to flee from the priest.
Core Mind Soothe Icon Mind Soothe It reduces the range at which the targets will attack you. Great for trash skips.
Core Mass Dispel Icon Mass Dispel Dispels magic effects within its radius, great when multiple debuffs are applied to nearby allies.
Optional Dominate Mind Icon Dominate Mind Allows you to take over an enemy as a guardian pet instead of forcing you to channel the mind control effect, making it much more useful.
Optional Shackle Undead Icon Shackle Undead Crowd-controls an Undead target for a long duration, but breaks if damage is dealt to the target.
Optional Purify Disease Icon Purify Disease Enables Purify Icon Purify to also remove DiseaseDisease effects on its targets.
Discipline Priest Guide
3.1.3.

Restoration Druid

Utility Package
Functionality Spells Notes
Core Mark of the Wild Icon Mark of the Wild Increases the Versatility of your group by a significant amount, making it one of the best raid buffs due to the high amount of secondary stats provided.
Core Ironbark Icon Ironbark Provides moderate damage reduction for its target for a short duration on a moderate cooldown.
Optional Innervate Icon Innervate Gives yourself or a friendly healer Mana-free spell casting for a short duration.
Optional Stampeding Roar Icon Stampeding Roar Increases the movement speed of nearby allies significantly for a short duration on a short cooldown.
Optional Nature's Cure Icon Nature's Cure Removes Magic effects from friendly targets, and can be improved by Improved Nature's Cure Icon Improved Nature's Cure to also remove CurseCurse and PoisonPoison effects when used.
Optional Soothe Icon Soothe Removes all Enrage Icon Enrage effects from its target on a short cooldown.
Optional Incapacitating Roar Icon Incapacitating Roar AoE disorient effect which can be used to prevent casts of multiple enemies at once.
Optional Mighty Bash Icon Mighty Bash Long duration single-target stun.
Optional Typhoon Icon Typhoon AoE knockback with a short cooldown.
Optional Mass Entanglement Icon Mass Entanglement AoE root effect with a short cooldown.
Optional Ursol's Vortex Icon Ursol's Vortex Creates a vortex at a nearby location which pulls enemies that try to leave it to the center of the vortex once per enemy.
Restoration Druid Guide
3.2.

A-Tier

3.2.1.

Preservation Evoker

Utility Package
Functionality Spells Notes
Core Blessing of the Bronze Icon Blessing of the Bronze One of the weakest raid buffs, it reduces the cooldown of movement related abilities of its targets.
Core Fury of the Aspects Icon Fury of the Aspects Massively increases the haste of your group for a decent duration, with a long cooldown being applied in between usages.
Core Naturalize Icon Naturalize Removes all Magic and PoisonPoison effects from an ally.
Core Wing Buffet Icon Wing Buffet Pushback effect on demand, useful to reposition enemies or situationally stop enemy casts.
Core Tail Swipe Icon Tail Swipe Knock-up effect on demand, useful to stop enemy casts without repositioning enemies.
Core Rewind Icon Rewind Heals 33% of damage taken in the last 5 sec by all allies.
Optional Cauterizing Flame Icon Cauterizing Flame The only spell which can remove BleedBleed effects outside of immunity effects such as Blessing of Protection Icon Blessing of Protection, and also heals the target.
Optional Source of Magic Icon Source of Magic Mana sustain buff that can only be applied to other healers in the group that can be further bolstered by Potent Mana Icon Potent Mana
Optional Zephyr Icon Zephyr Area-of-effect damage reduction (party only).
Optional Rescue Icon Rescue Allows you to quickly move yourself and a nearby ally to any point near to yourself. Can be improved by Twin Guardian Icon Twin Guardian to double movement speed and allow casting while moving for a few seconds.
Optional Oppressing Roar Icon Oppressing Roar Increasing the duration of all crowd-control effects on the affected enemies by 50%. You can improve it with Overawe Icon Overawe to also remove 1 Enrage effect from each enemy hit and reduce its cooldown.
Optional Sleep Walk Icon Sleep Walk Single-target crowd-control effect that forces the enemy to move towards you.
Preservation Evoker Guide
3.2.2.

Restoration Shaman

Utility Package
Functionality Spells Notes
Core Skyfury Icon Skyfury One of the strongest raid buffs in the game, especially for melee classes which get extra benefits from its effects.
Core Bloodlust Icon Bloodlust Massively increases the haste of your group for a decent duration, with a long cooldown being applied in between usages.
Core Purify Spirit Icon Purify Spirit Removes all Magic effects from a friendly target, and can also remove CurseCurses when Improved Purify Spirit Icon Improved Purify Spirit is talented.
Core Earth Elemental Icon Earth Elemental A powerful elemental summon that increases your health if used with Primordial Bond Icon Primordial Bond. It can also tank non-boss-enemies for you when used without that talent.
Core Spirit Link Totem Icon Spirit Link Totem Reduces damage taken to allies around the totem by a significant amount and redistributes their health evenly frequently while active, making anyone inside virtually immortal.
Optional Ancestral Vigor Icon Ancestral Vigor Increases the maximum health of allies hit by your single target heals or the first target of Chain Heal Icon Chain Heal. This can be a very powerful talent when incoming damage is very bursty and one shots become a problem.
Optional Capacitor Totem Icon Capacitor Totem A totem that stuns enemies in an area shortly after being placed, making it a great crowd control tool against non-boss enemies.
Optional Wind Rush Totem Icon Wind Rush Totem On-demand extra movement speed to your group, which can be improved by Jet Stream Icon Jet Stream to remove snares or Ascending Air Icon Ascending Air to reduce its cooldown and increase duration of the movement speed buff.
Optional Purge Icon Purge Removes a beneficial Magic effect from an enemy, or two if Greater Purge Icon Greater Purge is talented.
Optional Poison Cleansing Totem Icon Poison Cleansing Totem Removes poison effects from nearby party members constantly for a short period.
Optional Tremor Totem Icon Tremor Totem Removes Fear, Charm and Sleep effects from nearby party members constantly for a short period.
Optional Elemental Resistance Icon Elemental Resistance Reduces Fire, Frost, and Nature damage taken by players healed by Healing Stream Totem Icon Healing Stream Totem for a short duration.
Restoration Shaman Guide
3.2.3.

Holy Priest

Utility Package
Functionality Spells Notes
Core Guardian Spirit Icon Guardian Spirit Tank external with a short duration and long cooldown which increases healing received by its target significantly and also prevents its death one time.
Core Power Word: Fortitude Icon Power Word: Fortitude Grants a small health buff to all allies.
Core Psychic Scream Icon Psychic Scream AoE crowd control effect that causes affected enemies to flee from the priest.
Core Mind Soothe Icon Mind Soothe It reduces the range at which the targets will attack you. Great for trash skips.
Core Mass Dispel Icon Mass Dispel Dispels magic effects within its radius, great when multiple debuffs are applied to nearby allies.
Optional Dominate Mind Icon Dominate Mind Allows you to take over an enemy as a guardian pet instead of forcing you to channel the mind control effect, making it much more useful.
Optional Shackle Undead Icon Shackle Undead Crowd-controls an Undead target for a long duration, but breaks if damage is dealt to the target.
Optional Purify Disease Icon Purify Disease Enables Purify Icon Purify to also remove DiseaseDisease effects on its targets.
Holy Priest Guide
3.2.4.

Holy Paladin

Utility Package
Functionality Spells Notes
Core Devotion Aura Icon Devotion Aura Permanently reduces damage taken by nearby allies by a small amount while active.
Core Lay on Hands Icon Lay on Hands Heals an ally for a massive amount, on a large cooldown.
Core Intercession Icon Intercession Combat-resurrection.
Core Hammer of Justice Icon Hammer of Justice Single target long stun with a moderate cooldown.
Optional Blessing of Sacrifice Icon Blessing of Sacrifice Reduces the damage taken by a single nearby ally significantly and transfers the reduced damage to yourself.
Optional Blessing of Protection Icon Blessing of Protection Grants physical immunity for a short duration, which is situationally very helpful.
Optional Blessing of Freedom Icon Blessing of Freedom Grants immunity to movement impairing effects and also increases movement speed with its supporting talents.
Optional Improved Cleanse Icon Improved Cleanse Causes Cleanse Icon Cleanse to also remove all PoisonPoison and DiseaseDisease effects from its target.
Optional Turn Evil Icon Turn Evil Fears any Undead, Aberration or Demon for extra crowd control.
Holy Paladin Guide
4.

Changelog

  • 20 Jan. 2026: Further updates.
  • 16 Jan. 2026: Reviewed and updated for the Midnight Pre-Patch.
  • 01 Dec. 2025: Reviewed and updated for Patch 11.2.7.
  • 03 Oct. 2025: Updated for the midpoint of Season 3 of The War Within.
  • 04 Aug. 2025: Updated for Season 3 of The War Within.
  • 01 Apr. 2025: Updated for mid Season 2.
  • 16 Feb. 2025: Updated for Season 2 of The War Within.
  • 13 Dec. 2024: Reviewed and updated for the 11.0.7 Patch.
  • 29 Nov. 2024: Updated with a new Tier List format.
  • 21 Oct. 2024: Reviewed and updated for the 11.0.5 Patch.
  • 21 Sep. 2024: Updated mid world first race.
  • 22 Aug. 2024: Updated for Season 1 of The War Within.
  • 27 Jul. 2024: Pre-patch rankings update post first week of raiding.
  • 04 Jun. 2024: Further rankings update for Awakened raids hotfixes.
  • 04 May 2024: Further rankings update for Aberrus statistics.
  • 26 Apr. 2024: Updated with early Season 4 healing statistics.
  • 17 Apr. 2024: Updated for Season 4 post healer nerfs.
  • 19 Mar. 2024: Reviewed for patch 10.2.6.
  • 20 Jan. 2024: Reviewed for the upcoming 23th Jan hotfixes.
  • 12 Jan. 2024: Updated for patch 10.2.5.
  • 17 Nov. 2023: Updates mid road to world first progression.
  • 30 Oct. 2023: Reviewed and updated for Patch 10.2.
  • 22 Aug. 2023: Updates for this reset's hotfixes.
  • 08 Aug. 2023: Updates for this reset's hotfixes.
  • 23 Jul. 2023: Further updates considering upcoming hotfixes.
  • 05 Jul. 2023: Updated for patch 10.1.5.
  • 07 May 2023: Updated for Season 2 of Dragonflight.
  • 06 Feb. 2023: Updated for patch 10.0.5.
  • 22 Nov. 2022: Updated for Season 1 of Dragonflight.
  • 18 Aug. 2022: Updated for Season 4.
  • 23 Jun. 2022: Check-in since last update.
  • 25 Apr. 2022: Updated after first few weeks of Mythic.
  • 18 Feb. 2022: Updated for patch 9.2.
  • 06 Nov. 2021: Updated for patch 9.1.5.
  • 04 Aug. 2021: Updated for first couple of Mythic weeks.
  • 13 Jul. 2021: Updated after Heroic week.
  • 24 Jun. 2021: Page added.
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