Holy or Disc?

[Pertha]

I know pvp (arena) disc is the way to go. And, as far as PVE i have seen a mix between disc and holy. Just wanted some opinions, I'm lvl 81 and deciding what to make my main spec disc or holy. I will be doing this for raiding purposes. So Just kinda want some input and which one would be better for PVE purposes (Strictly healing not dps/heal)

[Gorthok]

Depends on a few things in my opinion:

1. The biggest one is what you're raid composition requires from you. Do they need a strong tank healer (Disc), or a great raid healer (Holy) with a decent tankhealing abilities.
2. Find out which one you like playing as more, personally I've always liked holy since i've had my priest for raiding... but i truly do enjoy pvp healing as disc as well. I've done just about everything you can do as a priest healer on mine, and enjoyed them all (even Archangel / Atonement healing was pretty fun to do).

Now my question is, why not just have a pvp healing spec with a pve holy dual spec? If you need to heal a raid as disc you still can (albeit, not as well if you had the pure pve spec), and you'll do exceptional as holy as well for healing.

[Teixeira]

Discipline, if you play Holy you're a fucktard.

...Right. Let's move on, shall we? --Kel

[Chort]

Discipline, if you play Holy you're a fucktard.

impending doom is coming
On the topic: i like disc more - nice solo target heal and just awesome absorption abilities.

[Pertha]

In response to Gorthok's question, I wont be doing duel spec with both heals. I will also be shadow, just figuring out which healing spec i seem to like the best and which one seems more of the crowd favorite.

[Rfx]

Both specs are very strong. Priests are in a very good position and have been for pretty much the entire expansion except the start of the expac. 5 man dungeons say hi.
They can both 'tank heal' and can both 'raid heal' to a very high level if played correctly. As Gorthok said, what does your raid need more at the present time? Not to mention it's good to have both specs, they're pretty similar. It comes down to what you want to do and what the raid requires of you as a healer. There really is no 'crowd favorite'.

Anyway,
GL leveling your priest and finding out what you want to do.
PS: Disc is awsome.

[Dorfie]

Can this questions just get insta-locked just like the Holy haste vs mastery discussions. Feels it's asked every single day and the answers are always the same.

[Gorthok]

Make sure you give them both a try with higher levels of gear, cuz they get different with higher ilvl

[Moinaldo]

I have way more fun playing holy. I suggest you to try both specs.

[LastLaugh]

If you are doing 10 or 25 mans may also influence the choice a great deal. For my money disc is the most versatile and "best" healer in 10mans at the moment. Also there is some leeway in play style of disc itself between atonement or not. It will boil down to "play what you like" but personally disc seems the more dynamic and engaging.

[Rivellana]

Honestly you should give them all a try when you hit 85 and see which style you like the best. You can try holy raid healing, you can try discipline straight healing, you can try discipline with an atonement/archangel spec...and they're all pretty different.

I thought for sure I'd like disc so that's what I started with when I hit 85 and it was great for dungeons and gearing up, even great when I started raids. Then I decided since I was so bad at shadow that I'd try out holy and fell in absolute love with it. If given the choice, most of the time I will be in holy now unless it's a guild DS run on a specific fight where disc works better for my raid setup (there are a few, like Hagara, Warmaster Blackhorn, and Madness).

I haven't played shadow that much but I believe shadow is supposed to stack haste? If you want to run a lot of the same gear set that would be optimal for holy.

[Bullarkie]

For 10 Disc hands down

Go to WoL look at 10 H

[Zurii]

Imo, its not about which spec is better because it comes down to the player in the end. You could have the perfect build and great gear but suck because you don't know how to utilize your abilities, in which case, it won't matter if you're holy or disc.

Like everyone else is saying in this thread, try both, whatever you are the most comfortable with and have the most fun healing as, roll with that. Don't pick a spec because a majority of people like it better.

Ps. Holy is fun.

[dryankem]

Yeah play what you enjoy unless you have a specific raid spot you want to fill out (ie tank or raid healing). If it's just using the Raid/Dungeon finder then play whichever you find more enjoyable. Personally I'm finding atonement the most fun right now, because you can add some DPS while things are slow (plus I know healing isn't about the numbers but I'm usually very competitive with very little over heal).

[Kasierith]

Generally it's based on what your raid needs, and which matches your personal play preferences. I enjoy holy more because its more versatile.. there are more spells available that you can use to optimize your healing, though at the same time if you don't know how to utilize your larger spell base well you'll drain your mana pool. Disc has a much more unique niche among other healers, however. You can arguably change out a holy priest with a resto druid in many situations, possibly even a shammy, but a disc has a very unique playstyle that gives it a special role among other healers. Disc excels in single target healing. I've also found that disc handles better in 25 mans if you have a computer with lag problems. I would start out as holy until you hit 85, because it has a higher learning curve if you want to keep your mana intact, then switch to disc to get a feel of both sides when you start doing heroics, and from there decide which one you want to be your main spec.

[CoolNitro]

Disc has a much more unique niche among other healers, however. You can arguably change out a holy priest with a resto druid in many situations, possibly even a shammy, but a disc has a very unique playstyle that gives it a special role among other healers.

This very much is true, the way I see it Holy is your run of the mill classic throughput healer so there isn't much to add to that, but Disc is more of a support class opting instead of pure healing but to increase a players HP above normal ( absorbs are basically extra health ) making it so the damage incoming is less then it would normally be which in turn makes the healing requirement for your other healers and the stress levels of the group lower, which in my opinion is exactly what a support class should do.

Absorbs are like a buff going without it is fine but having it is advantageous for your group, well that said it's dependent on your group setup and the encounters.

[paintrain616]

I always loved Disc. I agree with CoolNitro. Great support.

[Terrorsquid]

Dont raid as disc if you have another disc healer, i found that very frustrating.
Holy is more fun IMO, but its personal preference.

[Szenty]

Both specs are very strong. Priests are in a very good position and have been for pretty much the entire expansion except the start of the expac.

Umm, not sure if you play holy but I'm going to have to disagree with you. Disc is fine imo, but Holy is very lackluster, especially in 10man. I don't think holy is bad, I just think there are better options then holy. If you want proof check out WoL. THERE ISN'T EVEN 10 PARSES FOR HOLY PRIESTS ON HEROIC 10man MADNESS

[Themos]

Umm, not sure if you play holy but I'm going to have to disagree with you. Disc is fine imo, but Holy is very lackluster, especially in 10man. I don't think holy is bad, I just think there are better options then holy. If you want proof check out WoL. THERE ISN'T EVEN 10 PARSES FOR HOLY PRIESTS ON HEROIC 10man MADNESS

And on spine Holy is generally the better spec for heroic mode ... umm CAPS ZOMG CHECK WOL
The nuances of bleeding edge mean nothing to the OP, he's only lvl 81.

@OP
Try both out and see which one you like more. Both are solid specs in DS and have their own strengths.