TBC Anniversary Healer Tier List for Phase 1

TBC Anniversary Healer Tier List Quick Summary:

• Restoration Shaman is the best Healer you can pick in Phase 1 TBC Anniversary due to unmatched AoE healing, Mana Tide Totem, and overall utility.
• Holy Paladin and Holy Priest both take their place in the A-Tier and turn out to be valuable picks. They just demand better positioning and Mana control.
• Restoration Druid and Discipline Priest are in the B-Tier because they can’t deal with damage spikes consistently, which is what players value in raids more than anything else. Also, the utility isn’t that great either.

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How We Ranked the Best Healer Classes

You can argue and compare all the specs relying on different criteria, but this is what I used to see how they perform. The idea is to keep it simple and see what each spec offers in all the categories I go over below. Our team has done some testing specifically for Phase 1 content to choose the strongest ones. Here’s how we ranked the best Healer classes in TBC Anniversary:

• Healing Per Second: That’s like the very baseline you want to start with. If a Healer can’t do enough raw healing when damage ramps up, it can never be in the S-Tier. Personally, I would rather play Resto Druid, but I understand that it wouldn’t compare to Restoration Shaman. The ones that provide the best burst healing and can deal with real pressure in the raid are ranked higher.
• Utility and Cooldowns: I’m talking about totems, shields, damage reduction, Mana tools, and even emergency buttons. You definitely want a Healer that combines as many of these factors as possible. Yes, Mana Tide Totem would fit perfectly in this criterion here.
• Versatility: This is the last but not least factor on this list. A strong healer should handle both single-target healing and raid damage. You also want the one that can adapt to different damage patterns. All that allows a particular spec to be ranked in either the S or A tiers.

Note: I’ve gone over all the Healer specs not to push you to pick only the ones from the S-Tier. On the contrary, play whoever you want because every spec is unique in its own way. Choose the playstyle you want. I’m just sharing the meta view you can always check on. Save this tier list to your bookmarks and return here once in a while to see the way Healers ranked in WoW TBC Anniversary.

In case you also want to try different roles, you can explore my DPS tier list or Tank tier list specifically for TBC Anniversary. There's also a general class tier list coming together with a YouTube video for your convenience.

Current Healer Rankings for TBC Anniversary

The tier list I’ve prepared isn’t about “can you clear the content.” Like I’ve said, you can choose anyone you want, especially if you play well (that’s smart, isn’t it?). Yet certain specs are just stronger, smoother, and can bring more value to your raid comp. Others sitting in lower tiers also work fine, but you notice the cracks more often. Here are the current Healer rankings for TBC Anniversary:

You’ll be hitting the highest heal numbers if you pick the ones from S or A tier. These specs also feature a ton of tools to add extra value. B-Tier doesn’t mean bad at all. You’ll just have to be more about planning and anticipation.

This is especially true with Resto Druid, as they’re based on HoT spells like Rejuvenation, Lifebloom, and others. That’s not for everybody, and this is the main reason it’s taking the B-Tier in these WoW TBC Anniversary Healer rankings at the moment. That, of course, can change in later Phases.

S-Tier Explained

Currently, there’s only one spec sitting in the S-Tier, and that’s for a good reason. I’m talking about Restoration Shaman. This can change after the devs release a series of buffs and nerfs, but that’s what we’ve got so far. We’ll go into details and explain what makes this spec so strong now.

Restoration Shaman

Restoration Shaman is the best Healer in TBC Anniversary due to its AoE healing appreciated much in any PvE content. I mean, no spec can beat Resto Shaman in terms of AoE healing, and that’s exactly what you need in raids/dungeons. Chain Heal is the basic stuff, but this is what makes Resto Shaman recognized. You see your party takes damage, you press one button, and HP bars jump back up. All that goes well along with Earth Shield to make the main Tank live longer.

Mana Tide Totem would be the perfect fit for your ranged casters, and not to mention abilities like Bloodlust/Heroism. You bring a ton of value that no raid party can deny. I’m not talking about healing alone, you’ve got everything potentially needed for a fight. Yet you’re not the most mobile Healer, but there must be something weak about the spec after all.

A-Tier Explained

The specs you see in the A-Tier remain valuable and strong, don’t get me wrong here. I’m sure many of you would even put Holy Paladin all the way to the S-Tier instead. That’s controversial here. But this is what it looks like to me. Go for any of the specs in this tier, as they’re actually capable of carrying the raid even from the deepest hole. You just need to play it smarter. BLOG20

Holy Paladin

Holy Paladin is a top Healer in TBC Classic, especially when it comes to single-target Tank healing. Despite getting a nerfed version of Illumination, I still think that Holy Paladin deserves to be in the A-Tier. Also, this is a great spec for beginners because you won’t die that easily, unlike ranged Healers.

You’ve got plenty of Mana, and you’ll probably never run out of it in a mid-fight. As for the utility part, the spec has a ton to offer here as well. Specifically, Seal of Wisdom, Hand of Protection, Divine Shield, and so on. I would recommend Holy Paladin as a solid pick just to get your work done, but nothing too impressive:

1. Extremely strong single-target healing, but you’ll need an AoE healer to keep your raid going.
2. Great mana efficiency over long fights.
3. Powerful emergency tools like Lay on Hands and others I’ve listed earlier in the section.

Get glued to your main Tank, and they’ll become even stronger. This seems like a fair deal, especially if you’ve got another AoE healer to level your downsides on that part.

Holy Priest

Holy Priest could be the strongest Healer in TBC Anniversary, as they’ve got answers for almost everything that can happen in a raid. I’m talking about shields, HoTs, big direct heals, instant casts, absolutely anything you can think of. Yet it still can’t hit the S-Tier because of its complexity and Mana management issues.

Anyway, your Circle of Healing and Prayer of Mending are the main tools for raiding. Also, the basics like Power Word: Shield stay here to absorb extra damage. In other words, you’ve got plenty of buttons to press, but there’s nothing worse than having them and not being able to use them. You’ll see what I’m talking about if you pick this spec.

B-Tier Explained

And we’ve made it to the very bottom of the tier list. The specs you see in the B-Tier aren’t awful or anything. You can still pick the one you like, but don’t expect to be the star of the raid. Or maybe you will be; it’s just a matter of how you play it. Also, a sudden patch with a batch of buffs and nerfs can revolutionize the meta. You never know.

Restoration Druid

Resto Druid looks strong on paper, yet you’re unlikely to match with Resto Shamans in practice. The reason is simple: HoT healing isn’t what carries a raid. You need a ton of raw healing to deal with damage spikes, and your Lifebloom or Tree of Life won’t do that in the most critical moment.

The spec also lacks burst AoE heals and strong buttons like Heroism/Bloodlust. But don’t hesitate to go for Restoration Druids just because you like it. After all, your Rejuvenation ticking on Tanks will never be extra.

Discipline Priest

Discipline Priest stays in the B-Tier just because it doesn’t have Circle of Healing. That’s the only reason, actually (joking). But seriously, you’ll never outheal a ton of incoming damage with this spec. This is similar to Resto Druid we’ve just talked about. Your Pain Suppression, Power Infusion, and Divine Spirit are strong tools, but they’re more about prevention. And if a damage spike happens, you have nothing to help your raid with.

I’ve got a short list of why Disc Priest isn’t likely to rule the meta during Phase 1:

1. Mana Inefficiency is the biggest concern here, especially if we compare the spec to Holy Pals.
2. Niche Utility is especially seen when it comes to 25-man raids, and there’s no way you want a Disc Priest in there instead of Resto Shaman.

But it still stays a solid defensive support and can help in the back when things go wrong. If that’s your playstyle, go ahead with it.

Read our other TBC Classic Anniversary guides:

• Leveling Guide
• Gearing Guide
• PvP Classes Tier List
• Gold Farming Guide

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