Leveling as a Healer in WoW Forever: Priest, Paladin, Shaman and Druid

You can level as a healer in WoW Forever, and it is easier than in Classic. Blizzard reworked healing gear so bonus healing now also includes one third as much bonus damage, "giving healing specializations more support when questing and adventuring in the world" (Blizzard deep dive recap). Caster weapons now carry spell damage and healing too. Even so, a damage spec usually quests faster solo, so the most common plan is: quest as damage, heal dungeons, and keep both specs with Dual Spec from level 40.

Healer leveling at a glance

Healer	Best solo leveling spec	Healing spec in dungeons	Forever change that helps healers
Priest	Shadow	Holy or Discipline	Holy Binding: Flash Heal on others also heals you
Paladin	Retribution	Holy	Reverence, Infusion of Light, Holy Strike for damage
Shaman	Enhancement	Restoration	Water Shield triggers from any critical spell
Druid	Feral	Restoration	Bloom, a new Restoration talent

Solo specs are from our class guides (Priest, Paladin, Shaman, Druid). Blizzard hasn't published leveling-speed numbers by spec, so treat "faster" as community experience, not data.

Which healer is best for leveling?

There is no single best healer, because no healing spec is fast solo. Our pick depends on how you level:

• Solo questing: a Paladin or Shaman. Both fight in melee with mail or plate and can heal themselves, and you can switch to Holy or Restoration for dungeons.
• Duo with a damage dealer: a Discipline Priest. Power Word: Shield and Penance keep a partner alive, and Power in Light gives Smite real damage (Discipline Priest guide).
• Dungeon leveling: whichever healer you enjoy. Holy Priest gains Prayer of Mending, Restoration Druid gains Bloom, and caster weapons now carry spell damage and healing for every healer.

This is our editorial reading of the talent changes, not measured data.

What Forever changed for healers

• Bonus healing includes bonus damage. Healing gear now adds one third as much spell damage, so your damage spells aren't weak while you wear healing gear. This is the biggest change for healers who quest (Blizzard).
• Caster weapons with spell power. Spellcaster-oriented weapons now grant spell damage and healing, so healers get level-up weapons like melee classes do.
• Hit and crit combined. Spell, melee and ranged hit and crit are now single stats, which helps hybrids.
• Downranking is weaker. Since 1 October, spell ranks far below your level get less benefit from Spell Healing and Spell Damage (Blizzard). Train new ranks of your heals.
• Dual Spec at 40. Level as damage, keep a healing spec for groups. See talents and dual spec.

Priest

• Holy Binding replaced Binding Heal on 2 November: when you heal someone else with Flash Heal, 50% of that healing is also done to you, without threat (Blizzard). It makes healing a group while you take damage much safer.
• Penance was tuned on 8 October to keep "a consistent advantage in mana efficiency" over the Heal/Greater Heal family (Blizzard).
• Lesser Heal and Heal ranks were adjusted so new ranks are always an upgrade.
• For solo leveling, Shadow remains the usual pick; our Priest guide covers it.

Paladin

Blizzard's Paladin deep dive says Holy Paladins "gain tools that encourage more varied healing and support occasional damage-focused play":

• Reverence regenerates mana from Spirit while casting.
• Infusion of Light: Holy Shock and Flash of Light critical heals shorten Holy Light's cast.
• Improved Holy Strike lowers the cooldown of Holy Strike (level 6); Holy Shock moves to a 10-second cooldown.
• Light's Vigil can reset Holy Shock and trigger either extra damage or party-wide healing.
• 2 November talents: Oath of Light (row 4) boosts your healing on one sworn ally, Boundless Light (row 5) raises Holy Shock crit on everyone else, and Holy Power now raises critical healing instead of crit chance (Blizzard).

A Holy Paladin can still quest in plate with a weapon, which makes it one of the more comfortable healers to level. For pure speed, see Retribution or Protection.

Shaman

• Water Shield can now trigger from any critical spell, not only critical heals (15 October; Blizzard).
• Riptide (31-point talent; 2 November): about 40% cheaper, 12-second cooldown (was 6) and now heals over time only, with no initial heal (Blizzard).
• Restorative Totems now improves the whole Healing Stream Totem effect.

Enhancement is the usual leveling spec (Shaman guide); a Restoration Shaman still has melee and shocks for questing.

Druid

• Bloom (2 November, row 3): when Rejuvenation or Regrowth expires, the target is healed for 100% of your Spirit (Blizzard).
• Genesis (a Balance talent) now increases periodic damage and healing by 2/4/6/8/10% (was 1–5%), which also helps Rejuvenation and Regrowth.

Feral is the usual leveling spec (Druid guide); as a healer you keep Bear and Cat Form for questing.

How to level as a healer

1. Quest in a damage spec until 40, or in a healing spec if you prefer: Forever's healing gear now carries damage too.
2. Heal dungeons when they come up. Healers are usually in demand for groups. Compare the XP in dungeons vs questing and see the dungeon list.
3. Duo with a damage dealer or tank. A healer and a damage friend can take on elite and group quests; see duo leveling.
4. Pick up Dual Spec at 40 and save gold for it with your mount: see gold while leveling.
5. Keep your heals trained. Low ranks lose value in Forever.

What isn't confirmed

• Leveling speed by spec. No Blizzard data; tier lists are opinions.
• Talents past level 30. The beta capped at 30, so later talent picks haven't been widely tested. Check your class guide for updates.

A route addon doesn't heal for you, but it saves the time you spend looking for quests between dungeons. Our RestedXP dungeon guide explains how routes handle dungeons.

Frequently asked questions

Can you level as a healer in WoW Forever?

Yes. Blizzard changed itemization so bonus healing now also includes one third as much bonus damage, which it says gives healing specs more support when questing. Solo questing is still usually faster in a damage spec, so most healers level as damage and switch with Dual Spec at 40, or heal in dungeons.

Which healer is best for leveling in WoW Forever?

For solo questing as a hybrid, a Paladin or Shaman is the most comfortable because both fight well in melee, and Holy Paladins gain Holy Strike and new talents for occasional damage. A Priest levels best as Shadow and heals in dungeons. Blizzard hasn't published any leveling-speed data by spec.

When can I switch between a healing and a damage spec?

Dual Specialization unlocks at level 40 in WoW Forever. Before that, you reset talents at your class trainer for gold.

Do low spell ranks still work for healing in WoW Forever?

Partly. Blizzard's 1 October notes say spells cast with ranks far below your level get less benefit from Spell Healing and Spell Damage and a lower chance to trigger class talents. Keep your heals up to date at the trainer.

Should a healer heal dungeons while leveling?

If you like it, yes. Healers are usually in demand, and Forever's dungeons give quest XP and blue boss drops. Compare the XP in our dungeons vs questing guide.