Restoration Shaman Healing Nerub-ar Palace Raid Guide — The War Within (Season 1)
On this page, you will find tips, tricks, and strategies tailored to your Restoration Shaman for each boss of the following raid: Nerub-ar Palace. All our content is updated for World of Warcraft — The War Within (Season 1).
Introduction
Below, you can find class and spec-specific advice for every fight in Nerub-ar Palace. If you are looking for a general overview of the Raid that is not spec-specific, check out our dedicated Nerub-ar Palace guides.
This page assumes that you already understand most of the mechanics of each encounter. These can be found on the full raid guide, so what is contained here are details specifically tailored toward Restoration Shaman and how you can deal with each fight as best as possible.
All recommendations are progression-based tips and will not necessarily be the best for hitting the best healing rankings possible.
Nerub'ar Palace Boss Guides for Restoration Shaman
Nerub'ar Palace Raid Builds, Tips, and Tricks for Restoration Shaman
Tips for Ulgrax the Devourer for Restoration Shaman
Damage Pattern
Ulgrax's primary damage comes from two abilities: Venomous Lash during phase one and Juggernaut Charge during phase two. There will also be some damage from the raid pulls, circles, and the boss hungry phase at the end of each phase two.
Healing Cooldowns
Example Cooldowns
Ulgrax Heroic Icy-Veins Example Restoration Shaman Timings Talents: Standard Totemic Chain Heal {time:00:08} - PLAYER {spell:108280} {time:00:32} - PLAYER {spell:114052} {time:02:07} - PLAYER {spell:98008} {time:02:43} - PLAYER {spell:108280} {time:02:51} - PLAYER {spell:114052}
To utilize the above example cooldowns in the game, you will need both the Method Raid Tools and WeakAuras addons. The note above is pasted into a personal note via Method Raid Tools and read out using the Kaze Weakaura found here: https://wago.io/n7l5uN3YM.
Defensive Usage
Use Astral Shift and / or Stone Bulwark Totem for the end of each Phase 2 or whenever you drop low on health, especially if you have a circle or add on you, or are being pulled towards the boss.
Raid Frame Setup
Ensure you are tracking the following buffs/debuffs on whatever raid frames you are using so you can focus heal them during the encounter:
- Digestive Acid - 435138
Best Talents
Be sure to make use of the 'Export Talents' button to import the build directly into your game!
Tips for Bloodbound Horror for Restoration Shaman
Damage Pattern
There are really only 3 primary mechanics that are relevant on this fight from an incoming damage/heal absorb perspective. Gruesome Disgorge is the tank frontal that you stand in to go to the other realm. This mechanic deals a large amount of up front damage and then deals constant ticking damage to you for the entire duration you spend in the other realm.
Goresplatter is a large damage over time effect that follows being forced to run away from the boss. This happens infrequently, requires a lot of movement, and often results in limited people being in range, prompting more focused healing on fewer targets. The final mechanic is a large heal absorb on a 30 second cadence called Crimson Rain, which will need to be healed through with area heals and cooldowns.
Healing Cooldowns
Example Cooldowns
Bloodbound Horror Heroic Icy-Veins Example Restoration Shaman Timings Talents: Standard Totemic Chain Heal {time:00:15} - PLAYER{spell:108280} {time:00:48} - PLAYER{spell:114052} {time:02:12} - PLAYER{spell:98008} {time:02:25} - PLAYER{spell:108280} {time:02:50} - PLAYER{spell:114052}
To utilize the above example cooldowns in the game, you will need both the Method Raid Tools and WeakAuras addons. The note above is pasted into a personal note via Method Raid Tools and read out using the Kaze Weakaura found here: https://wago.io/n7l5uN3YM.
Defensive Usage
Use a defensive for Goresplatter and Gruesome Disgorge explosions, or if you absolutely need to cross a lot of tentacles being spawned by players in front of you.
Best Talents
Be sure to make use of the 'Export Talents' button to import the build directly into your game!
Tips for Sikran for Restoration Shaman
Damage Pattern
The primary incoming damage on this fight revolves around the core Cosmic Simulacrum mechanic. The boss will summon Simulacrums of various players targeted by a mechanic, which will pulse damage while active. These Simulacrums need to be shattered by Decimate, causing significant raid damage through Cosmic Shards.
If any Simulacrums are still alive, the boss will destroy them all themselves with Shattering Sweep. While there is a decent amount of damage taken just from the Simulacrums being alive, your primary ramp targets will be when the Simulacrums are destroyed via Decimate as this will cause significant damage over a short period of time. Shattering Sweep itself also does significant damage on its own even when not destroying any Simulacrum.
Healing Cooldowns
Example Cooldowns
Sikran Heroic Icy-Veins Example Restoration Shaman Timings Talents: Standard Totemic Chain Heal {time:00:48} - PLAYER{spell:108280} {time:01:17} - PLAYER{spell:114052} {time:01:38} - PLAYER{spell:98008} {time:02:49} - PLAYER{spell:108280} {time:03:25} - PLAYER{spell:114052}
To utilize the above example cooldowns in the game, you will need both the Method Raid Tools and WeakAuras addons. The note above is pasted into a personal note via Method Raid Tools and read out using the Kaze Weakaura found here: https://wago.io/n7l5uN3YM.
Defensive Usage
Use a defensive if you are targeted by any mechanic or for the Shattering Sweep, especially if there are still any Simulacrums active.
Best Talents
Be sure to make use of the 'Export Talents' button to import the build directly into your game!
Tips for Rasha'nan for Restoration Shaman
Damage Pattern
While there is a variety of mechanics causing damage on this fight, the primary raid damage mechanic is Erosive Spray plus the Lingering Erosion DoT it leaves. There will also be the occasional web mechanic called Spinneret's Websnap that is caused by players snapping their web strands, but while this is raid wide damage, the timing is a bit inconsistent due to being player driven and is not nearly as much damage as the Erosive Sprays.
Healing Cooldowns
Example Cooldowns
Rasha'nan Heroic Icy-Veins Example Restoration Shaman Timings Talents: Standard Totemic Chain Heal {time:00:06} - PLAYER{spell:108280} {time:00:31} - PLAYER{spell:98008} {time:01:05} - PLAYER{spell:114052} {time:02:51} - PLAYER{spell:108280} {time:03:20} - PLAYER{spell:114052} {time:03:37} - PLAYER{spell:98008}
To utilize the above example cooldowns in the game, you will need both the Method Raid Tools and WeakAuras addons. The note above is pasted into a personal note via Method Raid Tools and read out using the Kaze Weakaura found here: https://wago.io/n7l5uN3YM.
Defensive Usage
Use your defensives as each Erosive Spray begins and if you need to cross a lot of damaging puddles during boss movement periods.
Raid Frame Setup
Ensure you are tracking the following buffs/debuffs on whatever raid frames you are using for focused healing purposes:
- Spinneret's Strands - 439784
Best Talents
Be sure to make use of the 'Export Talents' button to import the build directly into your game!
Tips for Broodtwister Ovi'nax for Restoration Shaman
Damage Pattern
Much of the raid damage in this encounter comes from Volatile Concoction, which deals raid wide damage when it expires from the tank and happens very often. Unstable Infusion is a heal absorb placed on the entire raid constantly throughout the encounter, which adds to the healing requirement.
Finally, Ingest Black Blood happens 3 times during the encounter and causes massive damage and healing absorbs to go out on the raid, making it the best mechanic to use healing cooldowns on.
Healing Cooldowns
Example Cooldowns
Broodtwister Ovi'nax Heroic Icy-Veins Example Restoration Shaman Timings Talents: Standard Totemic Chain Heal {time:00:24} - PLAYER{spell:114052} {time:01:01} - PLAYER{spell:108280} {time:01:58} - PLAYER{spell:98008} {time:02:27} - PLAYER{spell:114052} {time:03:49} - PLAYER{spell:108280} {time:05:18} - PLAYER{spell:98008} {time:06:10} - PLAYER{spell:114052}
To utilize the above example cooldowns in the game, you will need both the Method Raid Tools and WeakAuras addons. The note above is pasted into a personal note via Method Raid Tools and read out using the Kaze Weakaura found here: https://wago.io/n7l5uN3YM.
Defensive Usage
As there is constant damage and healing absorbs on this encounter, use your defensives freely whenever you drop low, or if you are targeted by any mechanics.
Raid Frame Setup
Ensure you are tracking the following buffs/debuffs on whatever raid frames you are using in order to predict the Volatile Concoction raid damage and be able to heal and dispel Sticky Web:
- Volatile Concoction - 441362
- Sticky Web - 446349
Best Talents
Be sure to make use of the 'Export Talents' button to import the build directly into your game!
Tips for Nexus-Princess Ky'veza for Restoration Shaman
Damage Pattern
The primary damage on this fight will come from 2 mechanics. Nether Rift does significant raid wide damage while active and the intermission mechanic, Starless Night, also does a large amount of damage. Targeting either of those mechanics for healing cooldown usage is a good idea. There is not much complexity damage pattern wise on this fight as it is almost entirely a movement and positioning encounter. Managing your movement and positioning properly is the most important factor to success.
Healing Cooldowns
Example Cooldowns
Ky'veza Heroic Icy-Veins Example Restoration Shaman Timings Talents: Standard Totemic Chain Heal {time:00:59} - PLAYER{spell:108280} {time:01:48} - PLAYER{spell:114052} {time:03:02} - PLAYER{spell:98008} {time:03:03} - PLAYER{spell:108280} {time:03:48} - PLAYER{spell:114052}
To utilize the above example cooldowns in the game, you will need both the Method Raid Tools and WeakAuras addons. The note above is pasted into a personal note via Method Raid Tools and read out using the Kaze Weakaura found here: https://wago.io/n7l5uN3YM.
Defensive Usage
Using defensives for the dangerous raid damage of Nether Rift and Starless Night is a good idea, and you should also use something whenever targeted by a mechanic or if you get hit by the flying daggers.
Raid Frame Setup
Ensure you are tracking the following debuff on whatever raid frames you are using so you can know who to focus heal during the fight:
- Queensbane - 437343
Best Talents
Be sure to make use of the 'Export Talents' button to import the build directly into your game!
Tips for The Silken Court for Restoration Shaman
Damage Pattern
This fight is broken up into 3 phases with 2 intermissions between said phase. Each phase has a variety of different mechanics that deal significant damage. In phase 1, Venomous Rain occurs every so often dealing solid damage to a select number of players. Burrowed Eruption deals a large amount of damage as the boss prepares to charge across the room, which is the best moment to use healing cooldowns at.
As you transition out of Phase 1, you will enter the first intermission where Entropic Barrage will be the primary damage source until the boss' absorb shield is broken. Using healing cooldowns here is also a good idea if you have any to spare.
Once into phase 2, Web Vortex and Stinging Burst become the primary sources of damage. Web Vortex happens when the boss grips everyone across the room towards the boss and webs them together. This involves a large burst of damage when it occurs. As this involves a large amount of movement from both the pull and the movement afterwards to break your web, it is a great mechanic to use Shaman cooldowns on, as you can stay fully mobile with Spiritwalker's Grace! The other primary mechanic in this phase is Stinging Burst which occurs whenever a debuff is dispelled, and this will generally be staggered and healed slowly over time.
Moving into the final intermission, Seismic Upheaval provides constant damage throughout the phase until the bosses absorb shield is broken. Finally, in Phase 3 of the fight, Unleashed Swarm is a large AoE channeled by the boss for a short duration, which is a great time to use a healing cooldown.
Healing Cooldowns
Example Cooldowns
The Silken Court Heroic Icy-Veins Example Restoration Shaman Timings Talents: Standard Totemic Chain Heal {time:00:35} - PLAYER{spell:108280} {time:01:29} - PLAYER{spell:114052} {time:01:35} - PLAYER{spell:98008} {time:02:41} - PLAYER{spell:108280} {time:03:31} - PLAYER{spell:114052} {time:04:33} - PLAYER{spell:98008} {time:04:46} - PLAYER{spell:108280} {time:06:19} - PLAYER{spell:114052} {time:06:49} - PLAYER{spell:108280}
To utilize the above example cooldowns in the game, you will need both the Method Raid Tools and WeakAuras addons. The note above is pasted into a personal note via Method Raid Tools and read out using the Kaze Weakaura found here: https://wago.io/n7l5uN3YM.
Defensive Usage
Use a defensive if you are targeted by mechanics or are about to fail at dodging out of the way of anything, as many of the abilities are likely to one shot you if you are caught unprepared.
Raid Frame Setup
Ensure you are tracking the following debuff on whatever raid frames you are using so that you can help dispel them in a controlled fashion:
- Stinging Swarm - 438677
Best Talents
Be sure to make use of the 'Export Talents' button to import the build directly into your game!
Tips for Queen Ansurek for Restoration Shaman
Damage Pattern
In Phase 1, Ansurek has a variety of damaging mechanics, but the Frothy Toxin damage will be the most dangerous. This is a large burst of damage shortly after jumping the Venom Nova. Silken Tomb can also be quite dangerous, especially if people are overlapping their circles or take too long to be freed, thus opening them to be hit by Web Blades as well.
After leaving Phase 1, you will be dealing with the Wrest mechanic on the boss shield intermission and small platform intermission, as the Queen attempts to pull you into her or off the platform with her webs. Each time she does so, it deals a significant amount of damage, making it a good time to use healing cooldowns. On the middle platform there will also be a dispel mechanic called Gloom Blast, which deals a massive amount of damage when removed and needs to be dispelled in a controlled way.
Once entering Phase 3, the primary damage is going to come from three mechanics: Gorge, Royal Condemnation, and Queen's Summons. Each of these results in a large amount of damage and all of them are good healing cooldown targets.
Healing Cooldowns
Example Cooldowns
Queen Ansurek Heroic Icy-Veins Example Restoration Shaman Timings Talents: Standard Totemic Chain Heal {time:00:22} - PLAYER {spell:108280} {time:00:43} - PLAYER {spell:114052} {time:00:44} - PLAYER {spell:98008} {time:02:37} - PLAYER {spell:108280} {time:02:46} - PLAYER {spell:114052} {time:03:45} - PLAYER {spell:98008} {time:04:42} - PLAYER {spell:108280} {time:05:16} - PLAYER {spell:114052} {time:06:51} - PLAYER {spell:108280} {time:06:53} - PLAYER {spell:98008} {time:07:17} - PLAYER {spell:114052}
To utilize the above example cooldowns in the game, you will need both the Method Raid Tools and WeakAuras addons. The note above is pasted into a personal note via Method Raid Tools and read out using the Kaze Weakaura found here: https://wago.io/n7l5uN3YM.
Defensive Usage
Use a defensive if you are targeted by any mechanics, as all of them hit very hard. It can also be very useful to swap the standard Gust of Wind for Spirit Walk in order to break the first and third set of roots in Phase 1, which will allow you to only have to risk going in or require an external root break for the second set.
Best Talents
Be sure to make use of the 'Export Talents' button to import the build directly into your game!
General Defensive Usage Notes
Restoration Shaman has multiple defensive tools that you can plan to use to survive through targeted or high raid damage mechanics. Rotate between Astral Shift and Stone Bulwark Totem before high damage moments, and remember to refresh Ancestral Vigor and Earth Shield on yourself ahead of time!
Earth Elemental is also a good tool for its 15% health increase and potential 5% damage reduction with Primordial Bond, but keep in mind its long 1-minute duration and even longer 5-minute cooldown!
General Cooldown Usage
Restoration Shaman has a few healing and damage reduction cooldowns to consider when doing the encounters of Nerub-ar Palace:
- Healing Tide Totem — is a simple 3-minute baseline cooldown totem that heals everyone around it for a large amount over 10 seconds; use it against bursts of raid damage that happen over a lengthy period;
- Spirit Link Totem — redistributes the health of players around it, provides 15% damage reduction and also a large heal (with Spouting Spirits) on a 3-minute baseline cooldown. Use it against large raid damage burst events, especially if they are mixed with high single-target damage that would likely kill whoever is hit;
- Ascendance — is either 3-minute and extra powerful with Preeminence or 2-minute with First Ascendant, and allows you to replicate your healing to nearby allies and thus do much more raid healing with your regular rotation than you usually can. Rotate it, and Healing Tide Totem against large bursts of raid damage over time;
- Ancestral Guidance — copies 10% of your healing to three targets in the raid every second for 10 seconds. Due to producing many small targeted healing events, Guidance is great at focusing the extra healing of Ascendance on the targets that need in your group and is thus usually used alongside Ascendance.
Take into account that Water Totem Mastery will randomly reduce the cooldown of your totems, leading to them having a lower cooldown than the typical 3-minute baseline. Totemic Surge also contributes towards cooldown totems having a lower cooldown than their tooltip indicates. Healing Tide Totem can then also benefit from Current Control reducing its cooldown even further, making it usable much more often than its 3-minute baseline cooldown would suggest!
In addition to the general rotation, you want to keep in mind that your goal is to use your cooldowns as often as possible during an encounter. With that in mind, your secondary goal is to use them at the correct time. You will also want to manage your Mana accordingly in order to finish the fight close to zero Mana, but also not run out too fast, as that will prevent you from doing high healing when needed as you wait for regen in between casts.
Changelog
- 06 Oct. 2024: Tips added for most bosses.
- 09 Sep. 2024: Guide added.
More Shaman Guides
Guides from Other Classes
This guide has been written by Seksi, member of Arctic Avengers and healing aficionado. You can find him answering questions and discussing Restoration Shaman gameplay on the Ancestral Guidance and Earthshrine Discords.
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