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Holy/Disc or Holy raiding and usefullness
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Post by
Lasai
Hi guys,
Curious, right now have a shadow priest and wanting to spec over to Holy or a Disc/Holy build. My question is, with end game and instances, which would be most needed and useful? I plan on doing as much runs as I can, both 5, 10, 25 and heroics. Also BGs. Would it be better to go down all the way on Holy or do a Disc/Holy hybrid, getting SoL? I'm doing the 5/5 in spirit tap because as shadown, it's damn nice to have that mana come back after a kill. Not sure about the wand specialization. I'll have to see how it goes as I'm smiting and holy fire, holy nova, etc. Thanks for the input.
Post by
Aylia
We might be able to help out more if you
linked
to the builds you were considering.
It sounds sort of like you're looking for a smite DPS build? As far as the viability of that goes, I guess it depends on what you were wanting to do in groups. If you want to heal as smite spec, you would probably be fine in 5-mans. Healing in BGs would also probably be fine. Heroics and 10-mans would be a little more iffy. It's pretty unlikely that you would be able to find a guild or raiding group that would take you as anything other than an actual healing spec.
If you were planning on lolsmiting your way through content, you would probably do alright in BGs. Beyond that, it's going to be somewhere between difficult and impossible to find people who are willing to group with a smite priest for anything.
Post by
Lasai
Ah okay, thanks. I'm planning to be healing mostly. The smite was just to level if I can't find any instance groups. My question was more if I should just go full holy spec to CoH or stop earlier and move down the Disc tree. I appreciate the advice and can see where my viability as just a smite priest would make me a bit lacking.
Post by
Aylia
Ahh, okay, I wasn't aware that you were still leveling. That's different in that case. Leveling as smite spec is viable. It's not going to be as quick as shadow is generally, but it's definitely doable. I'd probably aim for something
like this
. Not sure what level you are currently, but I'd say probably to get Spirit Tap first, then Wand Spec, then fill out holy up to SoL, then fill out disc, then go back and put the remaining points in holy. You would have pretty effective smite DPS for soloing, and you'd have some advantages for healing instances that you wouldn't have as shadow.
It's definitely not worth going for CoH while you're still leveling. CoH is pretty gear dependant, it's not worth speccing for unless you're at or above 1400 healing. If you respec to a full healing build when you get to 70, you would be better off starting out with a DS build.
Post by
Lasai
Okay, that works better. I'm only 29 at the moment. I'm wondering about Holy Nova. I've only really used it on BGs and seems to do me no good really for the massive cost in mana. Something like 380 mana per cast. Would it be prudent then to go to the wand spec along with spirit tap? Right now currently, I have 5/5 in ST, and then holy up to holy nova. Should i respec to get the 5/5 in Wand spec then? I have noticed that atm my wand dmg is a bit negilble hitting for only 48 on avg. Hmm...so go down Holy and then through disc till 70 and then respec full holy. I am actually really enjoying this because i'm getting great practice and experience in healing groups which i did't really have lvling as Shadow. Thanks again.
Post by
131584
This post was from a user who has deleted their account.
Post by
Lasai
Thanks for that breakdown. I'm curious about at 30 there is no talents in Holy. Will that hinder me in healing in instances or would it be better to go holy first and then at 40 start doing disc? Just curious and very grateful for the feed back
Post by
oddbrown
As has been said many times before, a shadow priest can heal an instance run without any major problems.
It may require a little more CC, a little more care in pulling and a few more mana breaks, but (with the right gear) any priest of any spec can heal most instances before level 68 without too much hassle.
I healed both ZF and ST runs as a shadow priest without any real challenge, and even had fun in Mara as a healer. That being said, if you want to play holy and are not in any hurry to reach the higher levels, then have fun playing holy.
The really important thing with the above specs is to fill the disc tree as early as possible (once you have Spirit Tap and Imp SW:P ofc) until IDS. The disc tree offers a vital aid to mana efficiency no matter which spec you choose. Cheaper instant casts, and the all important Inner Focus make life much easier and will ensure you need to drink less often between mobs/pulls.
It should be noted that a shadow priest will level MUCH faster than a disc/holy or disc or holy priest purely because soloing mobs and quests is much easier as shadow.
Post by
131584
This post was from a user who has deleted their account.
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