The advice I see online for Hpal PvE is to avoid using flash of light or holy light and to focus on using your crusader strike and holy shock to build up power to heal. Should I be diving into melee to do this in arena or should I hang back and hardcast?
Try to hardcast holy light as much can you can, and keep your beacons on the right targets. Its ok to use flash of light to juke, or use it with divine favor when you need a casted heal quick. If you need a casted heal really bad and dont have time for a holy light then use flash of light.
You also want to use crusader strike as little as possible, as it costs 900 mana which is pretty expensive. I will say though, sometimes its ok to use crusader strike to help generate holy power if a melee cleave is training you, just try to use it sparingly.
does flash of light cost too much?
The basic problem with FoL right now is that its a very inefficient spell. Use Light of the Martyr when you can instead of flash of light.
LoTM: costs 700 mana, and heals for 4700,
FoL: costs 2200 mana and heals for 3700
So generally the only time you want to use FoL is with divine favor, or if you have to hardcast on yourself and you dont have time to use a holy light.
Thank you for the advice!