Holy Priest Healing Castle Nathria Raid Guide — Dragonflight 10.2.5

Last updated on Jan 15, 2024 at 15:00 by Niphyr 44 comments
General Information

On this page, you will find tips, tricks, and strategies tailored to your Holy Priest for each boss of the following raid: Castle Nathria. All our content is updated for World of Warcraft — Dragonflight 10.2.5.

For the Holy Priest Boss Advice we got together with Shelanne, moderator for Warcraft Priests and author of their popular Holy Priest guide.

1.

Holy Priests in Castle Nathria

In this section, you will find information and guidance for healing Castle Nathria as a Holy Priest. These are not complete encounter guides, but rather provide specific tips for healing as a Holy Priest.

During the Dragonflight Pre-Patch, Castle Nathria, Sanctum of Domination, and Sepulcher of the First Ones will be simultaneously featured as Fated Raids. During this time encounters within each specific raid will include an additional mechanic and items will drop at increased item levels. If you would like to learn more general information about the Fated Raids system as a whole, please see our overview below. Otherwise, continue to use this page for specialization-specific tips.

2.

Talent and Legendary Cheatsheet

You can easily import the talent tree below into the game with the following string:

  • BEQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQDAAAAAAAAoRChkIkkkIKJUAAAAAgkGaJBgIJhEJFQSCpA

The above recommendations all presume you are using the recommended Legendary Flash Concentration Icon Flash Concentration.

3.

Shriekwing

We advise you to use the following Legendary against Shriekwing: Flash Concentration Icon Flash Concentration.

3.1.

Tips

Priority healing will be required for allies targeted with Echolocation Icon Echolocation. If you are the target of Echolocation Icon Echolocation, use Angelic Feather Icon Angelic Feather to move out quickly and consider using Desperate Prayer Icon Desperate Prayer if you drop low.

Aim to have tanks topped up prior to them being hit with Exsanguinating Bite Icon Exsanguinating Bite as it prevents them from receiving healing for a short period of time.

  • Kyrian: Avoid using Boon of the Ascended Icon Boon of the Ascended during the intermission as it is difficult to properly build stacks.
  • Necrolord: If you use Unholy Transfusion Icon Unholy Transfusion during intermission, cast it on the stacked raid group for the immediate heal, as people won't be attacking the boss enough to gain healing from Unholy Transfusion Icon Unholy Transfusion.
  • Night Fae: Guardian Faerie Icon Guardian Faerie can be useful for a tank with Exsanguinating Bite Icon Exsanguinating Bite. Soulshape Icon Soulshape is great for quickly moving in and then out with Echolocation Icon Echolocation.
  • Venthyr: No specific tips. Use Mindgames Icon Mindgames as often as possible.

For more information, please refer to our Shriekwing guide.

4.

Huntsman Altimor

We advise you to use the following Legendary against Huntsman Altimor: Flash Concentration Icon Flash Concentration.

4.1.

Tips

Aim to have Holy Word: Sanctify Icon Holy Word: Sanctify and Circle of Healing Icon Circle of Healing ready for the Vicious Lunge Icon Vicious Lunge — having two instant cast abilities you can cast to top up the soaking group while you are moving will make healing this easier.

Prioritise healing the Rip Soul Icon Rip Souls as they spawn during the Bargast Phase. Guardian Spirit Icon Guardian Spirit, coupled with the Guardian Angel Icon Guardian Angel talent, works well to increase the speed your raid can heal these to full.

In Mythic, the smaller Rip Soul Icon Rip Soul adds are perfect targets for a well-placed Holy Word: Sanctify Icon Holy Word: Sanctify and Circle of Healing Icon Circle of Healing. Topping these up ASAP should be a priority so none reach the boss.

  • Kyrian:Try to time your Ascended Eruption Icon Ascended Eruption for a time when your raid is stacked up for Vicious Lunge Icon Vicious Lunge.
  • Necrolord: Primarily use this on the target the DPS are focusing. This will heal the Melee and provide Unholy Transfusion Icon Unholy Transfusion healing to all DPS.
  • Night Fae:Your tank may call for damage reduction from Guardian Faerie Icon Guardian Faerie during some of the harder-hitting abilities that the "hounds" on this fight use, such as Jagged Claws Icon Jagged Claws by Margore. Otherwise, you can use this ability early and often to make use of the extra cooldown reduction on Divine Hymn Icon Divine Hymn, and the mana return.
  • Venthyr:No specific tips. Use Mindgames Icon Mindgames as often as possible.

For more information, please refer to our Huntsman Altimor guide.

5.

Hungering Destroyer

We advise you to use the following Legendary against Hungering Destroyer: Flash Concentration Icon Flash Concentration.

5.1.

Tips

Be sure to have the raid at full health for both Consume Icon Consume and Desolate Icon Desolate, as these abilities are the most dangerous sources of raid-wide damage.

Spot heal the players having their health leeched during Gluttonous Miasma Icon Gluttonous Miasma. If only 1 or 2 players are leeching, prioritise them with Heal Icon Heal and Holy Word: Serenity Icon Holy Word: Serenity. If up to 5 players are stacked up, prioritise Holy Word: Sanctify Icon Holy Word: Sanctify, Circle of Healing Icon Circle of Healing, and Prayer of Healing Icon Prayer of Healing. Regardless of the number of targets, Prayer of Mending Icon Prayer of Mending works well when cast on any leeching player.

  • Kyrian: Aim to trigger Ascended Eruption Icon Ascended Eruption near players stacked for Gluttonous Miasma Icon Gluttonous Miasma, or when the raid is moving for Consume Icon Consume.
  • Necrolord: Fleshcraft Icon Fleshcraft is great for when you are targeted with Gluttonous Miasma Icon Gluttonous Miasma to reduce your damage taken.
  • Night Fae: Your tank may call for damage reduction for Overwhelm Icon Overwhelm, which will deal heavy physical damage. Otherwise, you can use this ability early and often to make use of the extra cooldown reduction on Divine Hymn Icon Divine Hymn, and the mana return.
  • Venthyr: Door of Shadows Icon Door of Shadows can be saved for Consume Icon Consume to move further away. Use Mindgames Icon Mindgames as often as possible.

For more information, please refer to our Hungering Destroyer guide.

6.

Artificer Xy'Mox

We advise you to use the following Legendary against Artificer Xy'Mox: Flash Concentration Icon Flash Concentration.

6.1.

Tips

This fight has periods of heavy movement. Be sure to make the most of your instant-cast abilities such as Holy Word: Sanctify Icon Holy Word: Sanctify, Holy Word: Serenity Icon Holy Word: Serenity, Prayer of Mending Icon Prayer of Mending, and Circle of Healing Icon Circle of Healing to continue healing while moving around the arena.

There is also a lot of spot healing required throughout the encounter, particularly from Withering Touch Icon Withering Touch and Hyperlight Spark Icon Hyperlight Spark. A well-timed Guardian Spirit Icon Guardian Spirit can be a life-saver.

Raid cooldowns are used for Glyph of Destruction Icon Glyph of Destruction, which is the perfect time for Holy Word: Salvation Icon Holy Word: Salvation. Divine Hymn Icon Divine Hymn can be tricky to use as you might need to cancel your cast if targeted by a Fleeting Spirit, so check your boss ability timers before casting Hymn.

If running X'anshi, Return of Archbishop Benedictus Icon X'anshi, Return of Archbishop Benedictus, there are many spots during this encounter that you could plan a death in order to heal the raid for free when using it. You could either stand in one of the Seeds of Extinction Icon Seeds of Extinction to kill yourself or stay in during an Edge of Annihilation Icon Edge of Annihilation cast.

Mythic: There are not really any changes to how you need to heal when doing this encounter on Mythic. The difficulty of the fight is focused on the overlap of mechanics which will require even more movement.

  • Kyrian: Time your Boon of the Ascended Icon Boon of the Ascended usage around having it available for Edge of Annihilation Icon Edge of Annihilation in phase 3. The movement speed increase and instant-cast spells will while the wormhole is active, and the raid is stacked up providing good benefit for Ascended Eruption Icon Ascended Eruption.
  • Necrolord: No specific tips. Use Unholy Nova Icon Unholy Nova as often as possible.
  • Night Fae: Your tank may call for damage reduction from Guardian Faerie Icon Guardian Faerie to help with Glyph of Destruction Icon Glyph of Destruction which is a heavy DoT that the tanks will need to take out of the raid, limiting the healing they can receive. Otherwise, you can use this ability early and often to make use of the extra cooldown reduction on Divine Hymn Icon Divine Hymn, and the mana return.
  • Venthyr: No specific tips. Use Mindgames Icon Mindgames as often as possible.

For more information, please refer to our Artificer Xy'Mox guide.

7.

Sun King's Salvation

We advise you to use the following Legendary against Sun King's Salvation: Flash Concentration Icon Flash Concentration.

7.1.

Tips

This encounter revolves around healing multiple targets as quickly and efficiently as possible. There are multiple priority targets you need to be aware of that need healing as part of this fight, not just your fellow raid members.

Kael'thas — It is extremely common to dump all possible healing into Kael'thas in the first minute of the encounter in order to skip any shields and go right into the next phase. You may want to use Divine Hymn Icon Divine Hymn right off the bat for the increased healing, and coordinate your first Guardian Spirit Icon Guardian Spirit and Power Infusion Icon Power Infusion with your healing group to get the most out of your healing as you can. While healing Kael'thas, try to keep Renew Icon Renew on him for maximum uptime of Renewed Faith Icon Renewed Faith.

Soul Pedestal — Spot heal these raid members that are channelling their Health into the Soul Pedestals. They take increasing damage as they channel so continued priority healing is required.

Essence Font — You will need to spot heal the Essence Fonts as they drop, as they will heal Kael'thas in turn.

Lasting Spirit Icon Lasting Spirit is a great conduit choice for progressing on Sun King's Salvation when you take into account the healing increase you are providing others in your raid group. You should run this alongside Resonant Words Icon Resonant Words utilising two Potency Conduit slots if possible.

Mythic: Kael'thas will occasionally cast Unleashed Pyroclasm Icon Unleashed Pyroclasm. The only way to interrupt this is by healing a significant amount of damage from his Cloak of Flames Icon Cloak of Flames shield. Guardian Spirit Icon Guardian Spirit with the Guardian Angel Icon Guardian Angel talent is perfect for helping all healers break this shield as quickly as possible.

  • Kyrian: You will be able to get great value out of the Ascended Eruption Icon Ascended Eruption and Ascended Nova Icon Ascended Nova during the DPS phase of this encounter, as the group will be stacked and following the Shade of Kael'thas. The Ascended Blast Icon Ascended Blast will be a very good way to efficiently spot heal your raid as well, which is wonderful since efficiency is very important in this encounter.
  • Necrolord: Make sure you are casting Unholy Nova Icon Unholy Nova on the priority target to maximise healing from Unholy Transfusion Icon Unholy Transfusion.
  • Night Fae: Your tank may call for damage reduction from Guardian Faerie Icon Guardian Faerie during Vanquishing Strike Icon Vanquishing Strike from the Rockbound Vanquisher. Otherwise, you can use this ability early and often to make use of the extra cooldown reduction on Divine Hymn Icon Divine Hymn, and the mana return.
  • Venthyr: No specific tips. Use Mindgames Icon Mindgames as often as possible on the priority target.

For more information, please refer to our Sun King's Salvation guide.

8.

Lady Inerva Darkvein

We advise you to use the following Legendary against Lady Inerva Darkvein: Flash Concentration Icon Flash Concentration.

8.1.

Tips

Spot healing is required for targets affected by Shared Suffering Icon Shared Suffering and Shared Cognition Icon Shared Cognition.

Be prepared to heal the raid with Holy Word: Salvation Icon Holy Word: Salvation or Divine Hymn Icon Divine Hymn if a vial of Bottled Anima Icon Bottled Anima shatters, causing Unleashed Volatility Icon Unleashed Volatility.

Mythic: Not much changes from a healing perspective in Mythic. It is more about positioning while triaging tanks and healing priority debuff targets.

  • Kyrian: No specific tips. Use Boon of the Ascended Icon Boon of the Ascended as often as possible.
  • Necrolord: No specific tips. Use Unholy Nova Icon Unholy Nova as often as possible on the priority target.
  • Night Fae: There are not currently any heavy-hitting abilities where a tank may require external damage reduction. Use Fae Guardians Icon Fae Guardians early and often to make use of the extra cooldown reduction on Divine Hymn Icon Divine Hymn, and the mana return.
  • Venthyr: No specific tips. Use Mindgames Icon Mindgames as often as possible on the priority target.

For more information, please refer to our Lady Inerva Darkvein guide.

9.

The Council of Blood

We advise you to use the following Legendary against The Council of Blood: Flash Concentration Icon Flash Concentration.

9.1.

Tips

This fight has a ton of ticking raid-wide damage. First, the raid will have a constant Oppressive Atmosphere Icon Oppressive Atmosphere, which can get overwhelming and may require a healing cooldown such as Holy Word: Salvation Icon Holy Word: Salvation or Divine Hymn Icon Divine Hymn.

Spot healing will be required for raid members targeted with Drain Essence Icon Drain Essence, these are perfect Holy Word: Serenity Icon Holy Word: Serenity targets.

Mythic: Dancing Fever Icon Dancing Fever is a new mechanic which can be dealt with in two different ways. If your raid team chooses to stagger the jumping so the damage is spread out, then you will prefer Prayer of Healing Icon Prayer of Healing, Circle of Healing Icon Circle of Healing, and Holy Word: Sanctify Icon Holy Word: Sanctify. If your raid team chooses to jump at once then you can deal with this damage using Holy Word: Salvation Icon Holy Word: Salvation and Divine Hymn Icon Divine Hymn.

  • Kyrian: Boon of the Ascended Icon Boon of the Ascended can be used to either help deal with the increased stacks of Oppressive Atmosphere Icon Oppressive Atmosphere, or on Mythic difficulty, it can be used to help counter Dancing Fever Icon Dancing Fever.
  • Necrolord: Unholy Nova Icon Unholy Nova can be used to either help deal with the increased stacks of Oppressive Atmosphere Icon Oppressive Atmosphere, or on Mythic difficulty, it can be used to help counter Dancing Fever Icon Dancing Fever.
  • Night Fae: Damage reduction will be helpful for Duelist's Riposte Icon Duelist's Riposte and Evasive Lunge Icon Evasive Lunge, the tank swap mechanics that will deal more damage each time they are cast and require a tank swap. Otherwise, use this ability on cooldown to make use of the cooldown reduction on Divine Hymn Icon Divine Hymn and the mana return.
  • Venthyr: No specific tips. Use Mindgames Icon Mindgames as often as possible on the priority target.

For more information, please refer to our The Council of Blood guide.

10.

Sludgefist

We advise you to use the following Legendary against Sludgefist: Flash Concentration Icon Flash Concentration.

10.1.

Tips

Every 30 seconds, Colossal Roar Icon Colossal Roar is cast and deals raid wide damage. You are unlikely to use raid cooldowns for most of these, making them perfect times for Prayer of Healing Icon Prayer of Healing, Circle of Healing Icon Circle of Healing, and Holy Word: Sanctify Icon Holy Word: Sanctify.

Mythic: After Sludgefist charges using Hateful Gaze Icon Hateful Gaze, Destructive Impact Icon Destructive Impact will deal raid-wide damage. During this time, it is very important that the entire raid soaks the falling debris, which will do even more damage. You can use Holy Word: Salvation Icon Holy Word: Salvation right after the damage starts and still be able to move and soak, or you can use Divine Hymn Icon Divine Hymn after everyone has soaked and you can stand still and channel.

  • Kyrian: Timing a Boon of the Ascended Icon Boon of the Ascended cast with Destructive Impact Icon Destructive Impact will help maximise its healing.
  • Necrolord: No specific tips. Use Unholy Nova Icon Unholy Nova as often as possible on the boss.
  • Night Fae: No specific tips. Use Fae Guardians Icon Fae Guardians as often as possible on the boss.
  • Venthyr: No specific tips. Use Mindgames Icon Mindgames as often as possible on the boss.

For more information, please refer to our Sludgefist guide.

11.

Stone Legion Generals

We advise you to use the following Legendary against Stone Legion Generals: Flash Concentration Icon Flash Concentration.

11.1.

Tips

You will need to use Purify Icon Purify on targets afflicted with Heart Rend Icon Heart Rend. Once dispelled, Heart Rend will turn into Heart Hemorrhage Icon Heart Hemorrhage, requiring spot healing for the player that had Heart Rend and, on Mythic difficulty, the player that dispelled it. You can use Heal Icon Heal on this or Flash Heal Icon Flash Heal if emergency triage is necessary.

There will be a lot of ticking damage from multiple bleeds such as Serrated Tear Icon Serrated Tear or Wicked Laceration Icon Wicked Laceration, which will require consistent damage to the majority of the raid. While most of the time, you can heal through this using our general rotation, you may need to use a cooldown. Damage will also spike when the raid needs to soak a Pulverizing Meteor Icon Pulverizing Meteor and may require a cooldown like Holy Word: Salvation Icon Holy Word: Salvation and Divine Hymn Icon Divine Hymn well.

Mythic: You will need to deal with the Stonegale Effigy Icon Stonegale Effigy, a pushback that has the opportunity to knock you off of the platform and kill you. This is a great opportunity to use Leap of Faith on any raid members that need help dealing with the pushback.

  • Kyrian: Boon of the Ascended Icon Boon of the Ascended can be used here when the Ascended Eruption Icon Ascended Eruption will happen during the Pulverizing Meteor Icon Pulverizing Meteor, or just when damage is high via the many bleeds in this fight. On Mythic difficulty, there is a chance a Pulverizing Meteor will happen during Stonegale Effigy Icon Stonegale Effigy, and the movement speed increase that Boon provides is very helpful during that pushback.
  • Necrolord: No specific tips. Use Unholy Nova Icon Unholy Nova as often as possible on the priority target.
  • Night Fae: Tanks may need damage reduction for a few abilities throughout this encounter, including Serrated Swipe Icon Serrated Swipe and Stone Fist Icon Stone Fist. If they do not, then you can use this ability early and often to make use of the cooldown reduction on Divine Hymn Icon Divine Hymn and the mana return.
  • Venthyr: No specific tips. Use Mindgames Icon Mindgames as often as possible on the priority target.

For more information, please refer to our Stone Legion Generals guide.

12.

Sire Denathrius

We advise you to use the following Legendary against Sire Denathrius: Flash Concentration Icon Flash Concentration.

12.1.

Tips

Normal and Heroic: In the first phase, you will need to heal the raid as they take damage from Cleansing Pain Icon Cleansing Pain so that they can drop their Burden of Sin Icon Burden of Sin stacks. The raid will be split up into groups for Cleansing Pain, so you will be able to easily heal them up via Prayer of Healing Icon Prayer of Healing and Holy Word: Sanctify Icon Holy Word: Sanctify.

In phase two you will need to spot heal with Heal Icon Heal and possibly Flash Heal Icon Flash Heal when players are hit with Impale Icon Impale. You will also need to heal the raid after Hand of Destruction Icon Hand of Destruction, though that damage will decrease if you take a mirror portal away from the boss.

In the last phase, there will be a lot of raid-wide damage when Ravage Icon Ravage is cast, which will be a great time for Divine Hymn Icon Divine Hymn or Holy Word: Salvation Icon Holy Word: Salvation. If you are using Divine Hymn Icon Divine Hymn, make sure you position and time your cast well so you will not be knocked back by Shattering Pain Icon Shattering Pain or hit by the Massacre swords.

  • Kyrian: No specific tips. Use Boon of the Ascended Icon Boon of the Ascended as often as possible.
  • Necrolord: No specific tips. Use Unholy Nova Icon Unholy Nova as often as possible on the priority target.
  • Night Fae: Tanks may need damage reduction for Shattering Pain Icon Shattering Pain during this encounter. If they do not, then you can use this ability early and often to make use of the cooldown reduction on Divine Hymn Icon Divine Hymn and the mana return.
  • Venthyr: No specific tips. Use Mindgames Icon Mindgames as often as possible on the priority target.

For more information, please refer to our Sire Denathrius guide.

13.

Changelog

  • 25 Oct. 2022: Updated for Dragonflight pre-patch.
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