The heroics at level 90 won’t be as punishing as the initial heroics for Cataclysm or Burning Crusade. In fact, they’re designed to be the rough equivilent of normal mode instances right now in Cataclysm.
Now if you’re anything like me, you’re looking for the fastest way to ready your character for raiding. The first option is to power up your professions or buy crafted gear. Second would be to grind out as much reputations with the various factions and purchase rewards that way. The last tried and true method would be to run heroics.
For us priests, Gate of the Setting Sun has potentially 7 drops that you can use. Some of the items may not have spirit, but you can reforge into it as necessary. Siege of Niu Zao Temple has 6 items that will provide any upgrades over quest greens and blues.
Shaman healers will want to try their luck in Scholomance and Temple of the Jade Serpent. The temple has 7 items (although 1 of them has a really low drop rate as it’s an epic weapon) whereas Scholomance has 6.
Pickings for druid and monk healers are slim. Temple of the Jade Serpent has the most leather drops followed by Siege of Niuzao and Shado-Pan Monastary.
Paladin healing plate just seems to be all over the place. Avoid Scarlet Halls and Temple of the Jade Serpent if you’re looking for purely plate armor drops. Stormstout Brewery’s your best bet if you’re looking to get the most chances on gear.
Each dungeon has a notable quest or two attached to it. While they’re not the greatest rewards, it’s a good way to replace that marginal green item you’ve been using since level 87.
Below I’ve compiled and organized a list with relevant healing gear drops from heroics. It’s divided up by armor and item type. Enjoy!
T = Trinket
W = Weapon
R = Ring
O = Off-hand
C = Cloak
N = Neck
Gate of the Setting Sun
Quest: That’s a Big Bug!
Reward: Cloak of Collective Thought
Mogu’shan Palace
| Cloth | Leather | Plate | Other | ||
| Trial of the King | Hurricane Belt | ||||
| Gekkan | Hexxer’s Lethargic Gloves | Glinktrok Sollerets | C: Cloak of Cleansing Flame | ||
| Xin the Weaponmaster | 1: Regal Silk Shoulderpads 2: Soulbinder Treads |
Mind’s Eye Breastplate | W: Firescribe Dagger N: Mindcapture Pendant |
Quest: A New Lesson for the Master
Reward (All 430): Watchful Dreamer’s Trousers, Dreamer’s Vigil Leggings, Leggings of Clever Entrapment, Legplates of the Scattered Tribes,
Quest: Relic of the Four Kings
Reward (All 430): Cuffs of the Endless Shadow, Bindings of Impeccable Strategy, Armbands of the Reawakened, Lost Heritage Bracers, Bracers of Inner Knowledge
Scarlet Halls
| Cloth | Leather | Plate | Other | ||
| Houndmaster Braun | R: Beastbinder Ring | ||||
| Armsmaster Harlan | |||||
| Flameweaver Koegler | Vellum-Ripper Gloves | Bradbury’s Entropic Legguards | W: Melted Hypnotic Blade R: Vithrak, Gaze of the Deadman N: Temperature-Sensing Necklace |
Scarlet Monastary
Scholomance
Quest: An End to the Suffering
Rewards (All 440): Patchwork Flesh Armor, Coldforge Carapace, Ghoulskin Vestments, Darkmaster’s Spare Robe
Shadow-Pan Monastary
Siege of Niuzao Temple
Quest: Take Down the Wing Leader
Reward: Hardened Resin Pendant (Neck) or Mantid Eye Amulet (Neck)
Stormstout Brewery
| Cloth | Leather | Plate | Other | ||
| Ook-Ook | Bracers of Displaced Air | Barreldodger Boots | T: Empty Fruit Barrel | ||
| Hoptallus | C: Cloak of Hidden Flasks O: Bottle of Potent Potables |
||||
| Yan-Zhu the Uncasked | Fermenting Belt | Uncasked Chestguard | Sudsy Legplates | R: Alemental Seal |
Temple of the Jade Serpent
Thank you, Thank you, Thank you for this list! I’ve been putting together a list of what I need to get and farm to be ready to raid, and this helps tons.
High five and your welcome!