Assigning Healing Strategy – Part 3: The Pivot Healer

Welcome to the third in a 5 part series here on World of Matticus. For the next several weeks, I’ll be covering the rare topic of assigning raid heals. No one really wants to do it but it’s the most important job in the raid and I’ll provide a basic overview of the process and some advanced tips!

In case you missed it:

  1. Week 1: Recognizing Class Strengths
  2. Week 2: Double Shifting Your Healers

Last week, I discussed the concept of double shifting your healers. I instructed that it is possible to assign one person to look after more than 2 people simultaneously. This week, I’m going to discuss the pivot healer.

What is the pivot healer?

Simply put, pivot healers are single target healers that switch between two or more assignments. It’s a technique to make life a little easier for your healing lead. It’s a way to minimize idle healers and recycle them.

A case study

Still unsure of what I’m referring to? Let me give you an example.

The first dual phase fight that comes to my mind is that of Leotheras. There are two main tanks required for the encounter and they alternate themselves depending on what phase Leo is. If Leo is a demon, the Warlock tanks him. If Leo is in his Elf form, he get’s controlled by a standard tank.

In true Matticus-like fashion, I’ll park 2 Paladins and a Priest on the main tank during Elf mode. Once phase 2 hits and Leo turns super saiyan, the same 2 Paladins and Priest immediately pivot over to the Warlock tank. At this point in time, the main tank is no longer taking the brunt of the damage so the healers that were on them can be rotated off of them.

pivot

And that’s today’s lecture! Hopefully the really cheesy graphic above can help illustrate what I’m trying to say. Remember they switch targets after a phase is over and look after whoever is holding the attention of the boss!

BETA: Instance Discipline Talents: Did Matt Choose Right?

70-spec

Note: If you wish to avoid reading about beta related information, feel free to navigate away or mark this post as read.

Click the picture on the left to navigate to the Wrath WoW Head Priest talent page with my choices on it

You might be thinking to yourself upon closer inspection that this isn’t a leveling spec.

You’re right! It’s not!

My colleagues at WoW Insider asked me if I wanted to help them heal a run tonight in Utgarde Keep and I responded with an immediate yes!

As a result, I’ve picked my talents out as best I could with a strong emphasis towards the Discipline tree to find out how it plays. I’m contemplating liveblogging the run later on tonight when I go in there (it’ll be around 10 PM PST).

The Group

Warrior
Cat Druid
Hunter
Paladin
Priest

Notice that I intentionally skimped out on Power Infusion because out of the 5 classes, I’m the only caster that would be able to utilize it. I don’t think I’ll really need it at all and none of the other players will use it anyway.

Remember, this is not a leveling build. I just picked this set of talents out to try out Disc healing out of the box as a 70.

Thoughts?

Matticus Joins the Wrath Club

I scored a beta key from a friend and guildie today! I’m so incredibly happy! I’ve scoured the Internet and various WoW blogs as much as I could but I could not find much beta stuff from the perspective of a Priest.

Today that will change.

I’ll post a beta journal every few days or so chronicling what I’ve been up to, what I’ve found to work, what doesn’t and such. Master Lume informs me that the name Matticus has been taken. In case my other alternative names are taken, then I’m at a loss as to what I should name my Priest.

In any case, don’t expect too much just yet. I still have exams to write at the end of the week. But after that, that’s when the real fun begins. With luck, I hope I can continue to be a tried and true source of information for all of us Holy Priests as we gradually shift towards the expansion.

Of course, I need to download the client first.

And it takes 5 years.

Canada just got cable TV and running water last week.

Two cans and a string is what consists of our Internet connection.