Reduce Lag Now
Introduction
Welcome to Method's Restoration Shaman Guide for Midnight. I’m Radio, and I’m a Healer for Method. I actively play all healers but focus on Priest, Shaman and Evoker. Before joining Method in Patch 11.1 during Liberation of Undermine Farm, I played for the Swedish Guild “Laget”.
Restoration Shaman Overview
Restoration Shaman is a utility and throughput-rich healer, with access to numerous crowd control spells, damage, raid damage reduction, movement buffs and protection spells. This makes Restoration Shamans an always-desirable pick for any raid composition or Mythic+.
What to expect from Restoration Shamans in Mythic+: A strong and multi-purpose reactive healer, that has the widest toolkit of spells out of all healers perhaps. Shaman brings tools such as Bloodlust/Heroism, Spirit Link Totem, Wind Rush Totem, Capacitor Totem etc. They also have the ability to deal significant damage on both single target and AoE.
What to expect from Restoration Shamans in raids: A utility or throughput machine that has the ability to swap talents and playstyle to fit any encounter. With spells such as Healing Tide Totem, Ascendance etc. they can fill any role needed as a healer in raids. Restoration Shamans can single handedly carry the whole raid’s health for a long period of time if need be. They are also excellent spot healers due to Healing Surge and Healing Wave.
What has changed
Midnight Restoration Shaman Changes
Since prepatch and Midnight, a lot of classes have had major changes and a lot of abilities pruned, Shaman being no exception. That being said, they are still keeping their niche, now being the ONLY Healer with a kick / interrupt, a lot of Utility with totems, and also healing through the use of multiple different totems!
The following are some of the important changes to be aware of going into Midnight:
Restoration lost the following abilities in Midnight: Healing Surge, Cloudburst Totem, Ancestral Protection Totem, Earthen Wall Totem, High Tide, Mana Tide, Spiritwalker's Tidal Totem, Master Of The Elements, Tidebringer, Undulation, Wellspring, Totemic Recall, Stone Bulwark Totem and Thunderstorm.
Chain Heal and Healing Wave have been rebalanced, they now have a 2 seconds cast time and their power has been adjusted so both spells heal for a similar total amount. Chain Heal is still very expensive mana wise and Healing Wave is still very cheap.
Ascendance and Healing Tide Totem are now on a choice node.
Unleash Life now only works on Riptide, Healing Wave or Chain Heal and it is always just a flat healing increase and cast time reduction. It can no longer be used with Healing Rain or Downpour.
Therazane's Resilience and Reactive Warding have been moved to the class tree.
I want to preface that going into Midnight release, Resto shaman is currently feeling undertuned, and not performing as good as the other healers numbers wise. However, it still has its niches and so it has a good chance to be brought to Raid / Mythic+ content.