I’ve been trying to pick a healing class for Classic. Based on the research I have been doing (kargoz and other guides) it looks like if I plan to raid a dwarf priest is the only way to go.
I hope to raid on some level but to what degree, I can’t say just yet.
I’d like some down time from leveling a main DPS (likely warlock) so a healer would be a great break and allow me to find groups easily for dungeons while I level.
I’ve been leaning towads a druid for a different leveling/questing experience but I don’t know if it’s in any way effective to level as resto in comparison to a wand/smite based priest build which seems more viable however, I realize neither are the fastest builds.
Thoughts or opinions on leveling a druid vs. leveling a priest in particular a resto based build vs. a holy based build?
After level 20, Druid is actually very efficient and probably #2 or #3 fastest to hit level 60 (in feral). The problem is that their numbers at 60 are terrible for any of the roles, so they tend to be one of the lowest played classes. But they do get into raids! Druids have the only battle rez in the game and they also have innervate, which Priests need in order to keep their heals going.
There aren't that many fights that fear ward is relevant for, but when it helps, it helps a lot, which is why people prefer dwarves. That being said, leveling a priest is boring and slow. You will wand most things down.
Also, you absolutely can level up in DPS builds and still heal dungeons. A bit less with priest after level 40 if you switch to full shadow, but definitely as feral, so I wouldn't subject yourself to trying to level as resto/holy in either case.
There aren't that many fights that fear ward is relevant for, but when it helps, it helps a lot, which is why people prefer dwarves. That being said, leveling a priest is boring and slow. You will wand most things down.
Also, you absolutely can level up in DPS builds and still heal dungeons. A bit less with priest after level 40 if you switch to full shadow, but definitely as feral, so I wouldn't subject yourself to trying to level as resto/holy in either case.
Keep in mind you can level in a dps spec and still heal 5mans perfectly fine all the way up to the mid 50s or so.
You can't level up only in dungeons like you can on retail. The exp runs out well before the next lvl dungeon opens up to you so it will make questing as holy/resto really, really painful and unnecessarily slow.
All in all play what class you want to play. If you want to level holy/resto go for it! Plenty of people have done it.
You can't level up only in dungeons like you can on retail. The exp runs out well before the next lvl dungeon opens up to you so it will make questing as holy/resto really, really painful and unnecessarily slow.
All in all play what class you want to play. If you want to level holy/resto go for it! Plenty of people have done it.
Actually most the server and world 1sts for leveling are by druids
Before I give you my thoughts, I'd recommend playing what makes you feel happy and feel the most attached to your character because you'll be in for the long haul unless you've got time to level multiple 60s.
That being said, leveling a druid is going to be suffering unless you go feral really (it's efficient af and can still do some 5 man healing), and even then you have to worry about regearing to heal at 60 unless you can take up a spot as a feral for the first few raids since MC can be done with 20 mouthbreathers in pirate hats and greens. Leveling a priest is basically max out wand spec and spirit tap till 20, then mostly into shadow/little bit of disc for a better shield and after hitting 40 going and respeccing into shadowform. You'll have the worst 40 levels of your life which will be spent casting SW:P and wanding. The pay off with priest is you'll be one of the most sought after players in any raid, group, w/e regardless of whatever race you chose and you'll never have to worry about a raid spot as long as you have a pulse and a raid frame addon.
The key take away is that with Vanilla, it's about the journey, so even if it takes longer or it's harder, just make it your own and enjoy your time instead of worrying about what is the "optimal" set up.
That being said, leveling a druid is going to be suffering unless you go feral really (it's efficient af and can still do some 5 man healing), and even then you have to worry about regearing to heal at 60 unless you can take up a spot as a feral for the first few raids since MC can be done with 20 mouthbreathers in pirate hats and greens. Leveling a priest is basically max out wand spec and spirit tap till 20, then mostly into shadow/little bit of disc for a better shield and after hitting 40 going and respeccing into shadowform. You'll have the worst 40 levels of your life which will be spent casting SW:P and wanding. The pay off with priest is you'll be one of the most sought after players in any raid, group, w/e regardless of whatever race you chose and you'll never have to worry about a raid spot as long as you have a pulse and a raid frame addon.
The key take away is that with Vanilla, it's about the journey, so even if it takes longer or it's harder, just make it your own and enjoy your time instead of worrying about what is the "optimal" set up.
You left out the fact getting everyone keyed and geared and the right classes together will take forever at 1st. You can't clear MC with 20 players in greens who hit 60 yesterday. It's very different when there is noone to carry you though. In the 1st MC run noone has any MC gear let alone BWL gear. There will be no level 80+ people either.
Dwarf is vastly overrated for priests if your focus is solely on pve. Fear ward is only relevant on a handful of fights and even then is pretty unimportant if you have competent warrior tanks. Stoneform is almost completely irrelevant in pve content.
On the other hand, the human spirit bonus is always relevant.
Also, as others have stated, there is no reason at all to level up with a healing build. You can heal every dungeon in the game with a shadow build (you could do it pre-revamp when you couldn't reach meditation and the dungeons hadn't been nerfed so post-revamp with nerfed dungeons it will certainly be possible).
On the other hand, the human spirit bonus is always relevant.
Also, as others have stated, there is no reason at all to level up with a healing build. You can heal every dungeon in the game with a shadow build (you could do it pre-revamp when you couldn't reach meditation and the dungeons hadn't been nerfed so post-revamp with nerfed dungeons it will certainly be possible).
why not a paladin?
most efficient healers and never run out of mana around aq40 / naxx level gear.
most efficient healers and never run out of mana around aq40 / naxx level gear.
11/11/2018 05:09 PMPosted by ZumwonAfter level 20, Druid is actually very efficient and probably #2 or #3 fastest to hit level 60 (in feral). The problem is that their numbers at 60 are terrible for any of the roles, so they tend to be one of the lowest played classes. But they do get into raids! Druids have the only battle rez in the game and they also have innervate, which Priests need in order to keep their heals going.
There aren't that many fights that fear ward is relevant for, but when it helps, it helps a lot, which is why people prefer dwarves. That being said, leveling a priest is boring and slow. You will wand most things down.
Also, you absolutely can level up in DPS builds and still heal dungeons. A bit less with priest after level 40 if you switch to full shadow, but definitely as feral, so I wouldn't subject yourself to trying to level as resto/holy in either case.
I have to agree man. I had a 7/8 t2 Dwarf Priest. I raided up to the end of AQ 40. Fear ward was cool to have but it wasn't anything to write home about. I would have traded my dwarf for a NE by the end in a second just because they looked better in the gear hah.
11/11/2018 05:16 PMPosted by EllilaineDwarf is vastly overrated for priests if your focus is solely on pve. Fear ward is only relevant on a handful of fights and even then is pretty unimportant if you have competent warrior tanks. Stoneform is almost completely irrelevant in pve content.
On the other hand, the human spirit bonus is always relevant.
Also, as others have stated, there is no reason at all to level up with a healing build. You can heal every dungeon in the game with a shadow build (you could do it pre-revamp when you couldn't reach meditation and the dungeons hadn't been nerfed so post-revamp with nerfed dungeons it will certainly be possible).
I was thinking gnome for my priest is the intel bonus significant?
11/11/2018 05:39 PMPosted by Axêll
I have to agree man. I had a 7/8 t2 Dwarf Priest. I raided up to the end of AQ 40. Fear ward was cool to have but it wasn't anything to write home about. I would have traded my dwarf for a NE by the end in a second just because they looked better in the gear hah.
Such a stupid thing to say. While it is possible to do everything without Dwarf priests, it just makes everything so much easier. The Human Spirit bonus is a far 2nd, and anyone who picks Night Elf priest should never be invited to groups for anything. Force them to reroll.
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11/11/2018 06:07 PMPosted by StevospeedoSuch a stupid thing to say. While it is possible to do everything without Dwarf priests, it just makes everything so much easier. The Human Spirit bonus is a far 2nd, and anyone who picks Night Elf priest should never be invited to groups for anything. Force them to reroll.
It makes specific mechanics easier, but in all honesty, it's 14 year old content. Unless Blizzard specifically tunes content to be hard, it's not needed.
It's attitudes like this that give the rest of us a bad name. And were I to play a Priest, I'd make it an NE, just for you.
11/11/2018 06:07 PMPosted by Stevospeedo11/11/2018 05:39 PMPosted by Axêll
I have to agree man. I had a 7/8 t2 Dwarf Priest. I raided up to the end of AQ 40. Fear ward was cool to have but it wasn't anything to write home about. I would have traded my dwarf for a NE by the end in a second just because they looked better in the gear hah.
Such a stupid thing to say. While it is possible to do everything without Dwarf priests, it just makes everything so much easier. The Human Spirit bonus is a far 2nd, and anyone who picks Night Elf priest should never be invited to groups for anything. Force them to reroll.
Yes would anyone take a slow leveling class and make it a fast leveling race to ease the pain.
11/11/2018 05:45 PMPosted by PøøtinI was thinking gnome for my priest is the intel bonus significant?
It would be nice but gnome priests were a very late addition to the game. In vanilla you had to be undead, troll, human, dwarf, or nelf...
11/11/2018 06:07 PMPosted by Stevospeedo11/11/2018 05:39 PMPosted by Axêll
I have to agree man. I had a 7/8 t2 Dwarf Priest. I raided up to the end of AQ 40. Fear ward was cool to have but it wasn't anything to write home about. I would have traded my dwarf for a NE by the end in a second just because they looked better in the gear hah.
Such a stupid thing to say. While it is possible to do everything without Dwarf priests, it just makes everything so much easier. The Human Spirit bonus is a far 2nd, and anyone who picks Night Elf priest should never be invited to groups for anything. Force them to reroll.
Fear ward makes something like 5 fights easier...IF you have bad warriors or are using druid/paladin tanks on fights that clearly favor warriors. 5% spirit makes every fight easier (again, assuming a pve-centric viewpoint). Saying human spirit is a distant 2nd is the "stupid thing to say", there's a reason it was one of very few racials to be nerfed during vanilla...
If I remember right we always had 1 dwarf priest in the raid.
11/11/2018 06:10 PMPosted by Ellilaine11/11/2018 05:45 PMPosted by PøøtinI was thinking gnome for my priest is the intel bonus significant?
It would be nice but gnome priests were a very late addition to the game. In vanilla you had to be undead, troll, human, dwarf, or nelf...
Ahhh gnome mage
human priest it is
dwarf hunter n human warrior to round out the ally side :D
Which for Shammys?
11/11/2018 06:18 PMPosted by LorissaIf I remember right we always had 1 dwarf priest in the raid.
Not the worst thing but hardly necessary. We were working on Twin Emperors before we got a dwarf priest in the group (so in other words we were past every fight where FW actually mattered). When he joined, the warrior class lead told him flat out he'd be g-kicked if he ever put FW on a warrior and that the warrior would go along for the ride if he found out they asked for it...
11/11/2018 06:21 PMPosted by PøøtinWhich for Shammys?
I never played horde so take this with a grain of salt but I think the preference was trolls for berserking.
11/11/2018 06:21 PMPosted by PøøtinWhich for Shammys?
Troll for Ele/Resto, Orc for Enh. Orc is also largely better in PvP due to Hardiness, a bonus 25% chance to resist stuns is utterly insane - especially against Rogues. I don't think it's a flat 25%, but it does increase resistance to stuns.