WoW SoD Phase 2 Healer Tier List (40 Level) - Best Healer Ranking in Season of Discovery Phase 2

With Phase 2 of WoW Classic's Season of Discovery approaching, healers will also have a new set of abilities, talents, runes, and gear to work with. How will the healer meta shape up in the new phase? We will answer this with our updated WoW Season of Discovery Phase 2 healer tier list, which features an overview of each healer in terms of healing and DPS.

WoW SoD Phase 2 Best Healer Ranking - Season of Discovery Phase 2 Healer Tier List

While classes like Shaman and Druid healers are expected to gain strengths in Phase 2 with the addition of abilities like Chain Heal for Shamans, Priests should not worry too much about their role or viability. While logs may show large throughput from HoT classes, Priests bring invaluable utility with dispels and flexibility that optimize groups will continue to value. Their strength in being able to effectively heal raids alone will also keep them desired. We suggest that while the healing meta may diversify with some classes performing better on certain fights, Priests have core strengths in dispelling, flexibility, and raid healing that will ensure they remain strongly represented and important healers, especially for organized and progression groups, as Phase 2 of Classic WoW progresses. With that being said, we've sorted out the following WoW SoD Healer Ranking for Phase 2!

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1. Arcane Mage (S Tier)

Arcane Mage brings unmatched hybrid healing and damage capabilities to both PvE and PvP. Temporal Beacon gives them strong tank healing through damage spells like Arcane Blast. Combined with buffs like Arcane Intellect, they provide valuable support for groups while doing competitive healing and top-tier damage at the same time. Their versatile toolkit makes them an ideal "swing" healer that can adapt between damage and healing depending on the situation. While their heals are mana expensive, Arcane Mage is an invaluable addition to any group.

Arcane Mage

Healing: Very strong tank healing through Temporal Beacon while still being able to do high damage. Healing spells have increased effectiveness in Season of Discovery.

Damage: By far the highest damage output of any healer through Arcane spells proccing healing on targets with Temporal Beacon up. Effectively allows doing damage and healing at the same time.

PvE: Excellent in both 5-man dungeons and raids due to strong healing and high damage. Provides Arcane Intellect buff.

PvP: High damage threat while still being able to provide healing. Useful in both Arena and Battleground settings. Can turn the tide of battles by dealing high burst damage.

Discipline Priest (S Tier)

Discipline Priests provide reliable, efficient healing and damage mitigation through spells like Power Word: Shield, Renew and Flash Heal. With new additions like Prayer of Mending and Penance, their areas healing is also potent. While their damage is lacking, Discipline fills an important role in raids with strong healing through various situations. The versatility of their toolkit makes them a safe choice for any PvE or PvP group.

Healing: Strong single target and area healing. Excellent mana efficiency.

Damage: Low damage, mainly using Smite for healing or damage.

PvE: Excellent raid healer with versatile tool kit. Provides Power Word: Fortitude group buff.

PvP: Very strong single target healing spells like Power Word: Shield make them difficult to kill in PvP. Weaker damage output.

Holy Priest (S Tier)

Holy Priests focus purely on healing throughput. With strong single target heals like Flash Heal and area heals like Circle of Healing, they can handle heavy raid damage well. While lacking Discipline's utility and the ability to contribute damage, Holy remains a top-tier raid healer with strong throughput healing in all situations.

Healing: Very strong single target and area healing throughput. Slightly stronger than Discipline.

Damage: Even lower damage than Discipline with mostly utilizes Smite.

PvE: Excellent raid healer. Outheals Discipline slightly but provides less utility.

PvP: Similar to Discipline but stronger healing capabilities come at the cost of utility and damage potential.

Restoration Druid (A Tier)

Restoration Druids focus on HoTs but have excellent area healing through Wild Growth. Their healing ramps up over time which is weaker in 5-mans but excels in raid healing. Fury of Stormrage gives flexibility along with buffs like Mark of the Wild. While not as strong as Priests in all situations, Druids have their niche as top-tier raid healers.

Healing: Strong healing over time and area healing such as Rejuvenation, Wild Growth and Lifebloom. Weaker direct heals.

Damage: Low damage but can take advantage of Fury of Stormrage for instant cast heals and Wrath spam.

PvE: Excellent raid healer. Bring Mark of the Wild and combat res. Weaker in 5-mans due to reliance on HOTs.

PvP: HOT style healing is weaker in PvP where targets can switch rapidly. Fury of Stormrage attacks help. Rebirth useful in battlegrounds.

Restoration Shaman (A Tier)

Resto Shaman rely heavily on Healing Rain, but bring valuable group buffs, utility and strong group raid healing. While their healing is weaker in smaller groups, Shaman provide good all-around healing and party support for raids.

Healing: Strong AoE healing through Healing Rain and Riptide. Direct heals through Healing Wave.

Damage: Low damage, mostly relies on auto attacks in between heals.

PvE: Strong throughput healer in raids, weaker in 5-mans. Provides utility like bonus armor, stun and interrupts.

PvP: Healing Rain excels in clustered battles. Overall toolkit and healing is solid, if not spectacular.

Holy Paladin (A Tier)

Holy Paladins bring valuable support through buffs while focusing on tank healing via Beacon. Their quick direct heals also work well on raids. However, severe mana drain and lack of damage holds them back compared to other healers.

Healing: Strong, quick direct heals through Flash of Light and Holy Light. Tank healer through Beacon of Light.

Damage: No damage capabilities besides auto attacks in between heals.

PvE: Excellent tank healers. Provides raid buffs like Kings and Blessing of Salvation. Mana intensive.

PvP: Strong burst healer but lack of damage hurts. Beacon of Light excellent for flag carriers. Mana issues.

Restoration Paladin (B Tier)

Resto Paladins can heal well in a pinch but lack the support buffs, mana efficiency and healing styles of other healers. Their single heal focus works best with a coordinated group optimizing mana usage.

Healing: Direct healing focus like Holy Paladin but weaker. Strong single target heals but lack support tools.

Damage: No damage outside of auto attacks.

PvE: Provides weaker tank and party healing than other healers. Struggles with mana costs.

PvP: Burst healing inferior to other healers. Little utility beyond direct heals.

Holy Priest (Shadow Spec) (B Tier)

Shadow Priests offer variety but find it hard to balance meaningful damage and healing. While utility talents help, their effectiveness is reduced compared to specialized roles.

Healing: Weaker healing than dedicated specs due to split talents.

Damage: Shadow damage output competitive but cannot do both well.

PvE: Brings some Shadow damage and utility but lacks healing focus.

PvP: Utility from Shadow helps but struggle healing effectively in PvP.

Balance Druid (Restoration Affinity) (C Tier)

Balance Druids can heal in a pinch but lack core healing abilities and damage potential of other specs. Utility is limited, making them suboptimal without excelling at either role.

Healing: Very weak heals compared to dedicated Resto Druid.

Damage: Damage output still below Feral or other DPS.

PvE: Lack of healing skills for 5-mans and damage for raids.

PvP: Too much healing and not enough damage or utility to excel.

As Season of Discovery Phase 2 launches and progresses, tweaks and itemization could shift specs up or down in the rankings. Skill and composition will also be deciding factors as the top-tier healers have very minor differences. The diversity of options provides room for any class to excel. Season of Discovery continues delivering compelling healer gameplay.