Starting Out as a Level 80 Healer in World of Warcraft

Starting out as a brand new level 80 healer can be a challenge in World of Warcraft but the rewards of healing are great and will help you gear up your character and get badges quickly. As soon as you turn level 80 invest in a full blue spell power set and get rid of any green items you have from leveling. Many groups will assume that if you are wearing greens that you are not going to be able to heal them in heroics.

By getting your entry level healing set, you will have good starting stats and be able to keep groups alive in regular Tournament of Champions and heroics. Do not invest in crafted epics because most of those are a waste of money and you will immediately replace most of them with items from your heroic runs. Unless you can easily get the materials needed to make the epic, do not invest in it.

For example, if you are a jewel crafter and miner definitely consider making yourself a spell titanium spellshock ring and spellshock necklace so you can save your heroic badges for armor pieces. The epic offhand created by inscription, Faces of Doom, is perfect for a healer and the materials are cheap, a frozen orb and a handful of inks and paper. The sooner you are wearing epic armor, the easier your job will be, so save your badges for the good stuff.

Once you reach level 80 start running daily quests each day and you should have enough money to buy what you need. Start doing the Argent Tournament quests in Icecrown when you reach level 77 so you can have an epic weapon when you reach level 80. You may also want to complete the Sons of Hodir quest line in The Storm Peaks for the Greater Inscription of the Storm shoulder enchants. Once you start doing heroics, work on your reputation with the Kirin Tor so that you can have the Arcanum of Burning Mysteries enchantment for your helmet. I recommend spell power, intelligence and critical strike over spellpower, spirit, mana regeneration and haste for most healing classes because critical heals are not only more effective but often trigger additional effects including mana regeneration.

What is more important than your starting gear is completely understanding how to play your healing class to maximum effect and staying focused on the task of healing and mitigating damage. Do not try to deal damage when you first start out. Focus on reacting instantly to damage and try to keep people topped off if your mana permits. Immediately dispel any poison, disease or magic that is on your tank. Prevent damage so that you won't have to heal it on top of whatever burst damage your tank may get.

I have found that if you quickly dispel tanks and keep their hit points up over 75% at all times that they will consistently invite you back for more runs. Keeping the tank alive should always be a priority, followed by keeping everyone else over 40% hit points or at full health. No healer should let their tank die as a matter of pride but looking out for yourself is job #1.

Dead healers don't do anything for their group, so get into the habit of keeping yourself topped off and being aware of your surroundings. Don't be the newbie healer who stands too close to a boss and killed by a whirlwind or cleave or sit in a fire and die because you are too busy healing to pay attention! Learning how to react quickly and being aware of your soundings will prepare you to be a successful raider and master your role as a healer.