Holy Priest Healing Easy Mode in Battle for Azeroth (BfA) 8.0.1

Table of Contents

• +Introduction
  • 1. Class Overview
  • 2. Patch 8.0.1 changes for Holy Priests
  • 3. Contents
  • 4. ChangeLog
• ×Easy Mode
  • 1. Foreword
  • 2. The Basics of Holy Priests
  • 3. Talent Choice for Holy Priests
  • 4. Stat Choice for Holy Priests
  • 5. Basic Playstyle for Holy Priests
    • 5.1. Dungeon Healing
    • 5.2. AoE/Raid Healing
  • 6. Cooldown Usage for Holy Priests
  • 7. ChangeLog
• +Spell Summary
  • 1. Introduction
  • 2. Main Resource of Holy Priests
  • 3. Basic Abilities for Holy Priests
    • 3.1. Utility for Holy Priests
  • 4. Important Procs for Holy Priests
  • 5. Cooldowns for Holy Priests
  • 6. ChangeLog
• +Builds and Talents
  • 1. Talent Choices for Holy Priest
  • 2. Talent Cheat Sheet for Holy Priests
    • 2.1. Raids
    • 2.2. Dungeons
  • 3. Tier 1 (Level 15) Talents for Holy Priests
  • 4. Tier 2 (Level 30) Talents for Holy Priests
  • 5. Tier 3 (Level 45) Talents for Holy Priests
  • 6. Tier 4 (Level 60) Talents for Holy Priests
  • 7. Tier 5 (Level 75) Talents for Holy Priests
  • 8. Tier 6 (Level 90) Talents for Holy Priests
  • 9. Tier 7 (Level 100) Talents for Holy Priests
  • 10. ChangeLog
• +Azerite Traits and Armor
  • 1. Disclaimer
  • 2. Azerite Gear for Holy Priest
  • 3. Outer Ring Traits for Holy Priest
  • 4. Middle Ring Traits for Holy Priest
  • 5. Inner Ring Traits for Holy Priest
  • 6. Azerite Traits Details and Rotation Changes for Holy Priest
    • 6.1. Stacking Azerite Traits
  • 7. Find Azerite Armor By Trait/Power
  • 8. ChangeLog
• +Rotation, Cooldowns, and Abilities
  • 1. Rotation for Holy Priests
    • 1.1. Single Target Healing
    • 1.2. AoE/Raid Healing
    • 1.3. Binding Heal Playstyle
  • 2. Cooldown Usage for Holy Priests
  • 3. Optional Read: Mastering Your Holy Priest
    • 3.1. Holy Word Cooldown Reduction
    • 3.2. Healing Cooldowns in Detail
      • 3.2.1. Divine Hymn
      • 3.2.2. Guardian Spirit
      • 3.2.3. Symbol of Hope
    • 3.3. Talents
      • 3.3.1. Tier 5 Talents
      • 3.3.2. Tier 6 Talents
      • 3.3.3. Tier 7 Talents
  • 4. ChangeLog
• +Mythic+ Tips
  • 1. Coming soon!
• +Common and Worst Mistakes
  • 1. Common Holy Priest Mistakes
    • 1.1. Mana: Casting Renew Too Much
    • 1.2. Performance: Not Planning For Movement
    • 1.3. Mana: Not Running Out Of Mana Early
    • 1.4. Mana: Casting During Raid Cooldowns
    • 1.5. Performance: Not Effectively Using Cooldowns
  • 2. ChangeLog
• +Frequently Asked Questions
  • 1. Battle for Azeroth Holy Priest Changes
    • 1.1. What Changed for Holy Priest in BfA?
    • 1.2. Why is my /cancelaura Macro for Spirit of Redemption Not Working?
    • 1.3. Are Holy Priests Good For Mythic+?
    • 1.4. Will There Be A Holy Priest Spreadsheet For BfA?
  • 2. Talents and Stats
    • 2.1. What Talent Build Do I Use Now?
    • 2.2. What Stats Are Good for Holy Priest in BfA?
  • 3. Gameplay
    • 3.1. Is Renew Better Now?
    • 3.2. How Do I Use the New Symbol Of Hope?
    • 3.3. Why Does Binding Heal Not Work with Enduring Renewal?
  • 4. ChangeLog
• Boss by Boss Strategies
• +Stat Priority
  • 1. The Basics of Stats for Holy Priest
    • 1.1. Raids
    • 1.2. Dungeons
    • 1.3. Stat Gain Per Rating
  • 2. Getting a Better Understanding of Holy Priests Stats
    • 2.1. Statistics Explanations
  • 3. ChangeLog
• +Gems, Enchants, and Consumables
  • 1. Gems for Holy Priests
    • 1.1. Raiding
    • 1.2. Dungeons
  • 2. Enchants for Holy Priests
    • 2.1. Raids
    • 2.2. Dungeons
  • 3. Consumables for Holy Priests
  • 4. ChangeLog
• +Macros and Addons
  • 1. Macros
    • 1.1. Generic Macros for Priests
      • 1.1.1. Leap of Faith Mouseover Macro
    • 1.2. Specific Macros for Holy Priests
      • 1.2.1. Self-Casting Angelic Feather Macro
      • 1.2.2. Holy Word: Sanctify Under Cursor
  • 2. Addons
    • 2.1. Generic Addons for Priests
      • 2.1.1. ElvUI
      • 2.1.2. Clique
      • 2.1.3. Boss Mods: Deadly Boss Mods or Bigwigs
      • 2.1.4. GTFO
      • 2.1.5. Parrot or Mik's Scrolling Battle Text
      • 2.1.6. Weak Auras
      • 2.1.7. Recount / Skada / Details!
    • 2.2. Specific Addons for Holy Priests
  • 3. ChangeLog
• +Gear and Best in Slot
  • 1. Trinkets for Holy Priests
    • 1.1. Dungeons
    • 1.2. World Bosses
    • 1.3. Crafted
    • 1.4. Uldir
  • 2. Best in Slot List for Holy Priests in Uldir
  • 3. ChangeLog
• +Simulations
  • 1. Simulating your Holy Priest

About Our Author

This guide has been written by Niphyr, a generally knowledgeable, long-time healing Priest and theorycrafter. You can follow him on Twitter.

1. Foreword

This page is intended for players who are new to the game or class, have no intentions of raiding Mythic difficulty, or simply want a more straightforward way to play their specialisation without being overwhelmed by the numerous subtleties and active abilities that need to be taken into consideration for optimal play.

2. The Basics of Holy Priests

Holy Priests are better suited to AoE/raid healing, where they are able to provide relatively smooth output. That said, they are also capable single target healers. Most of the stronger Holy Priest spells require standing still to cast, which requires some forward thinking to play optimally, meaning periods of heavy movement can sometimes be punishing and should be planned ahead.

3. Talent Choice for Holy Priests

These are currently the easiest talent choices to perform well as a Holy Priest. Note that some of the suggestions sacrifice a bit of performance for ease of use, but overall the difference is not great. Consult the detailed talents page for the complete picture.

• Level 15: Enlightenment (raids) or Trail of Light (dungeons)
• Level 30: Angelic Feather
• Level 45: Cosmic Ripple
• Level 60: Any
• Level 75: Binding Heal (raids) or Surge of Light (dungeons)
• Level 90: Halo (raids) or Divine Star (dungeons)
• Level 100: Holy Word: Salvation (raids) or Apotheosis (dungeons)

4. Stat Choice for Holy Priests

Currently, you will want to prioritise secondary stats as follows for raid content:

1. Leech
2. Avoidance
3. Mastery
4. Critical Strike
5. Haste
6. Versatility
7. Speed

For dungeon content, the priority is:

1. Avoidance
2. Leech
3. Critical Strike
4. Haste
5. Versatility
6. Mastery
7. Speed

5. Basic Playstyle for Holy Priests

5.1. Dungeon Healing

Dungeon healing is primarily focused around single target healing, as outlined below. A lot of your decision making will be based on incoming damage and the cooldowns you have available. It is better to use your cooldowns early and often, than it is to save them for unknown future situations.

• low to medium single target damage: use Heal and Prayer of Mending (on cooldown). While moving you can also use Renew.
• medium to high single target damage: begin incorporating Flash Heal, particular any time you have a Surge of Light proc. Use Holy Word: Serenity to help catch up on low allies.
• high or very high single target damage: use Apotheosis with Flash Heal and Holy Word: Serenity to keep your group alive. If this is still not enough, you also have access to Guardian Spirit.
• high or very high AoE damage: use Apotheosis with Prayer of Healing and Holy Word: Sanctify to keep your group alive. If this is still not enough, you also have access to Divine Hymn.

Divine Star should be used regularly in all situations outside of the high single target damage, as it both provides healing to your group as well as some additional damage.

Dealing damage while in dungeons is often overlooked by healers. While any additional damage is beneficial to your group, it should not come at the cost of keeping your group alive, which is your main priority.

5.2. AoE/Raid Healing

• low damage: use Prayer of Mending on cooldown, and use Heal (or Binding Heal if you have it talented) on the players that require healing. You can supplement this healing with Holy Word: Serenity as needed.
• high sustained damage: turn to Holy Word: Sanctify and Prayer of Healing. In addition to this, you should continue to use Holy Word: Serenity and Prayer of Mending. Renew and Heal are too slow to be worth using.

Halo should be used as often as it will do healing to 5 or more people.

Holy Word: Salvation should be used during a period of heavy raid wide damage. Keep in mind, however, that your raid leader may instruct you to use it a very specific time.

6. Cooldown Usage for Holy Priests

As a Holy Priest, you have three baseline cooldowns. Here is how you should use them:

• Divine Hymn should be used during periods of very intense raid damage. Keep in mind, however, that your raid leader may instruct you to use it a very specific time.
• Symbol of Hope should be used towards the end of a raid encounter to give the highest potential mana back to all healers in your group. A good guide is either when you are at 20% mana, or the boss is at 20% health remaining.
• Guardian Spirit should be used depending on many factors, including on your raid leader's instructions. If you do not have to save Guardian Spirit for a specific event, then just use it as a "life-saver" on the tank or another raid member who needs it.

7. ChangeLog

• 13 Aug. 2018: Updated for Battle for Azeroth launch.
• 19 Jul. 2018: Clarified introduction wording regarding movement.

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