Cataclysm Changes - Restoration

[Deleted]

Restoration Information

Restoration spells:

Healing Wave (level 4): While the shaman already has an ability called Healing Wave, we're adding another spell to the class's direct-healing arsenal and giving it a familiar name. The current Healing Wave will be renamed Greater Healing Wave, and the intent is for the 'new" Healing Wave to be the shaman's go-to heal. Lesser Healing Wave and Greater Healing Wave will be used on a more situational basis.

Unleash Weapon (level 81): Unleashes the power of your weapon enchants for additional effects (see below). A dual-wielding Enhancement shaman will activate the effects of both of their weapon enchants. Instant cast. 30-yard range. 15-second cooldown. Undispellable.

Here are a few examples of effects we're considering for this ability:

* Windfury Weapon – Hurls a spectral version of your weapon at a target, dealing 50% weapon damage and increasing the shaman's Haste for the next five swings.
* Flametongue Weapon – Deals instant Fire damage and buffs the shaman's next Fire attack by 20%.
* Earthliving Weapon – Heals the target slightly and buffs the shaman's next healing spell by 20%.


Healing Rain (level 83): An area-effect heal-over-time (HoT) spell that calls down rain in a selected area, healing all players within it. There is no limit to the number of players who can potentially be affected; however, there are diminishing returns when healing a large number of targets, much like the diminishing returns associated with AoE damage spells. This should give Restoration shaman another healing tool that improves their group-healing and heal-over-time capabilities. 2-second cast time. 30-yard range. 10-second duration. 10-second cooldown.
(Q: Is Healing Rain channeled? A: No, it's not a channeled spell.)

Spiritwalker's Grace (level 85): When this self-targeted buff is active, your spells are no longer interrupted by movement and possibly even by your own attacks. This will give shaman of all three specs another way to heal or do damage when it’s necessary to move in both PvE and PvP. Instant cast. 10-second duration. 2-minute cooldown.


Mastery Passive Talent Tree Bonuses
* Healing
* Meditation
* Deep Healing


Deep Healing: Your direct heals will do more healing when the target's health is lower. This will scale to damage (e.g. someone at 29% health would receive more healing than someone at 30%) rather than have arbitrary break points.


Talents/Spells lists:
Level 10 abilitys
Shaman - Restoration
A healer who calls upon ancestral spirits and the cleansing power of water to mend allies? wounds.

* Earth Shield
* Purification (+healing)
* Healing Focus
* Meditation

Talents: http://www.wowtal.com/#k=.9mn.shaman
Spells: http://www.mmo-champion.com/threads/...d-12479-Shaman

Other Resto info
Restoration shaman and other healing classes will need to pay attention to mana more than they've had to during Wrath of the Lich King. Spirit will be the Restoration shaman's primary mana-regeneration stat.

We're making changes to which classes and specs are able to dispel magic, diseases, curses, and poison, largely for PvP purposes. Shaman will have Cleanse Spirit as a baseline ability, but it will only remove curses. Restoration shaman will have a talent that will improve Cleanse Spirit so that it also removes magic. Shaman will no longer be able to remove poison.

Cleansing Totem will be removed from the game, as we want dispels to be a decision for players, not something done mindlessly. To that end, all dispels will cost slightly more mana, and you will waste the spell if you cast it when there is nothing to remove. (Currently, the dispel is only cast when there is something to remove, which encourages spamming 'just in case.") We will balance PvE dispelling with this new model in mind.

Spirit Link will likely be worked back into deep Restoration in some form. The idea is that you will be able to link targets together so they share damage. When we had previously tried to implement Spirit Link, it was hard to balance and a little confusing. However, we really liked the concept -- and so did players -- so we are trying to bring it back.

[Deleted]

Discuss the Restoration changes in Cataclysm here.

[Arcsecant]

Was spirit link released in WOTLK beta? How did it work? Was it the nearest players of your target?

[Toad]

Am I the only one dissapointed in cleansing totem change. As a pvp resto it was a great totem and helped the worst healer pvp class alot. It was pretty much essential on rogues and now i think rogues are going to lock us down like never before.

[Gunwolf]

Was spirit link released in WOTLK beta? How did it work? Was it the nearest players of your target?

I think one form of it was that the damage was split between the healer and the target. Or it might have been just two targets within a certain range of each other. One of the reasons they removed it other then the complicated programming or whatever was possible ways to take advantage of it in pvp like breaking cc's such as incapacitate or sheeps.


Also, I agree about the dispel change. I would MUCH rather prefer poision cleanse over curse, and I'm sure many other shaman would as well. I feel like blizzard is trying to make rogue the official counter for shamans, since we counter most casters (beast cleave anyone?). Should petition for poision instead of curse imo. The other possibility is that rogues will be reworked to rely less on stuns and poisions, so it wont be as bad.....but thats a long shot lol.

[Aziak]

For this totem change...dk's diseases are already undispelable and poisons stack too fast so this totem doesn't always remove what we want,but it was helpful,lets hope we get some kind of power word shield or sacred shield...absorb Death Coil->dispel disease.

[KresnikHellfire]

One of the reasons they removed it other then the complicated programming or whatever was possible ways to take advantage of it in pvp like breaking cc's such as incapacitate or sheeps.

I don't understand why they'd remove it because of that... backlash damage is how SWD for priests and hand of sacrifice for paladins work right now. Perhaps I'm wrong, perhaps it was overpowered on shamans, I duno =/

[Radux]

The shared damage from Spirit Link was linked between 3 targets (you can include yourself in that if you want) but it was not like the backlash from SWD. Basically one would just link 3 tanks together. Spirit Link, in theory, is completely awesome. I could actually see, if implemented correctly, a raid having rough spots without a resto shaman on a progression night.

Also, Healing Rain looks disgustingly awesome.

EDIT: Clarity

[lllBlackSunlll]

the aoe Hot is nice... but I really really don't feel that shaman's need it... all this could help is healing tanks/melee but Chain heal does that just fine, I'd see this more of a paladin thing if anything.

[Ashrana]

Think its abit silly shaman lose the ability to remove poisons, after all they are (lorewise) very close to nature.

[JSeilaS]

From what we've been given so far, I don't think PvP will be a great place for Shaman
Hopefully we get something to compensate for it else Rogues will obliterate us.
I'm sure we'll get something to help us out in those toughies

[Khana]

Actually 'Healing Rains' is cast by the copies of a Resto shaman in ICC around the upper spire.
The removal of poison and disease cleansing makes little sense to me, for shamans being 'close to nature' and all.

Otherwise, the changes they have planned look very ace, can't wait to test these out

[conscript]

Actually 'Healing Rains' is cast by the copies of a Resto shaman in ICC around the upper spire.
The removal of poison and disease cleansing makes little sense to me, for shamans being 'close to nature' and all.

Otherwise, the changes they have planned look very ace, can't wait to test these out

Yep only Revitalizing Rains is a channeled affect. I am definitely looking forward to that ability and the super amazing graphic it is bound to have.

[Hypernetic]

Yep only Revitalizing Rains is a channeled affect. I am definitely looking forward to that ability and the super amazing graphic it is bound to have.

Yeah, Healing Rain could be very useful. For instance a situation where raid heals and heavy tank heals are required. I think I'd have to play around with to really gauge it's usefulness, but I could see it being really helpful in 10 mans especially.

It could also be used in conjunction with HST to keep the healer group up through raid damage in 25s while you continue to heal melee or tanks, for example.


I REALLY hope we get spirit link. Resto shamans really lack the kind of key ability/cooldown other healers have. I'd even be cool with spirit link being on a CD similar to pain suppression or guardian spirit.

[Deleted]

So far im very happy with the changes.
Spirit link: This ability was awesome in wotlk beta, but way to game changing, not sure how they are going to fix it this time that you don't have to have a restoration shaman every fight (although I wouldn't mind that it goes agianst the bring the player not the class). Also in pvp this ability is going to be very powerful.

Healing wave: Sounds good, a new spell thats between the cheap and fast LHW and the expensive and slow HW (soon to be greater healing wave). I assume this is to help our mana effeincty while tank healing in cata.

Unleashed Weapon: This idea has been surgested many times on the forums in some form or another. If the instant heal from it is powerful enough or the ability is off the global cooldown, this would be used everytime possable. Another instant heal while moving is very nice as well (thats another if we do still have riptide in cata ).

Healing rain: Sounds like a great spell and somthing very different. A aoe hot, sounds really nice. Pop it on melee /dance?

Spiritwalker's Grace: Another really really cool ability. Going to be fantastic in pve when you have to move from fire. In pvp its great for restoration, but its not equal with other healer's cooldowns. Don't get me wrong it's sick, but unless theres a glyph or a talent in restoration that lets you used it when stunned its not going to solve our problem of dieing in the second kidney.

Change in mana: I like that we are moving onto spirit, I don't like the idea that we might all be going oom soon. Becuase that was SO fun in vanilla/tbc content.

Deep healing: A really cool mastery, have to see how it scales and how it compares with the other healers. But its basically free extra healing, so looks nice.

[Hypernetic]

So far im very happy with the changes.
Spirit link: This ability was awesome in wotlk beta, but way to game changing, not sure how they are going to fix it this time that you don't have to have a restoration shaman every fight (although I wouldn't mind that it goes agianst the bring the player not the class). Also in pvp this ability is going to be very powerful.

Healing wave: Sounds good, a new spell thats between the cheap and fast LHW and the expensive and slow HW (soon to be greater healing wave). I assume this is to help our mana effeincty while tank healing in cata.

Unleashed Weapon: This idea has been surgested many times on the forums in some form or another. If the instant heal from it is powerful enough or the ability is off the global cooldown, this would be used everytime possable. Another instant heal while moving is very nice as well (thats another if we do still have riptide in cata ).

Healing rain: Sounds like a great spell and somthing very different. A aoe hot, sounds really nice. Pop it on melee /dance?

Spiritwalker's Grace: Another really really cool ability. Going to be fantastic in pve when you have to move from fire. In pvp its great for restoration, but its not equal with other healer's cooldowns. Don't get me wrong it's sick, but unless theres a glyph or a talent in restoration that lets you used it when stunned its not going to solve our problem of dieing in the second kidney.

Change in mana: I like that we are moving onto spirit, I don't like the idea that we might all be going oom soon. Becuase that was SO fun in vanilla/tbc content.

Deep healing: A really cool mastery, have to see how it scales and how it compares with the other healers. But its basically free extra healing, so looks nice.

Healing rain would heal you while stunned! You could pretty much keep it up on top of you at all times. I wonder how much it would heal for on a single target though.

In regards to mana, I don't think we will be going OOM if we are smart. I think the idea is to take away the spammyness (lol) and make healing more of a thinking man's game. Even in it's current state smart healers are better than idiots, but I think this kind of change will widen the gap even more, which is good.

Also IIRC, a while back they talked about healers wanting to keep their targets alive rather than topped off. So having a tank at 50-80% HP rather than topped or dead would be ideal. Depending on just how much the mastery bonus affects our heals waiting for them to go even lower before hitting a big heal might be the way to go.

It's really hard to gauge these things without actually seeing the raid content in Cata, at least for me.

I'm generally really excited to test all these new things out though.

[Shamburger]

Spirit Link is something i cant wait for. I remember Beta, everyone wanted a R-shaman. glad its coming back.

[Instant]

Spirit Link will get a CD, much like Guardian Spirit, it will be our 'cooldown' that's able to save a tank that would otherwise be dead

Obviously it wont be as reactive as Guardian Spirit, but will be helpfull. On 2 minutes CD or similiar, it wont be 'necessary' but definitely helpfull, and raid that will have such tool will be happy.

Healing Rain is AWESOME cause it's casted not channeled. 2 secs are quite long (hoped for it to be instant like CoH or WG, but i guess shaman nature is to be actually casting) but meh. It can be great tool that we can cast 'before' damage comes (like on Pungent Blight for example on fester, or when people are linked on BQ - just tell them to run to shaman who'll go with Healing Rain). But there are couple of buts. First of all, no information about radius. It needs at least 15 yards to make it usefull in 25 man raids, otherwise there will be few people taking benefit from this healing. Second thing is dimnishing returns. I hope that it wont be usual dimnishing returns, but rather fixed (or closed to fixed) amount of healing, divided on people under rain. So if you cast it on just 2 people, it's not wasted

Unleashed weapon. I hope that healing numbers will be changed to 'significant' so we do get another instant cast spell, cause we suck badly in that department 20% buff is excellent tool, that experienced shaman will use to help his raid on every CD.

Burst in pvp will be smaller problem, so im not worried that Spiritwalker's Grace wont be usefull That new mechanic - casting while running is TOTALLY AWESOME, and im so happy that it's shaman who'll get it :]

Im very, very happy with changes, obviously many things can change, and we dont know half the stuff that will come, but so far its looking nice :]

Edit:

Clarity - radius =/= range

[Kissmyhammer]

Im looking at these changes with stars in my eye's aswell.

I like that they are giving us soemthing to use our weapon buff to, instead of it just being passive. Depending on how its gonna work it will probably be one of those use it when ready spells if the bonus is that big. Otherwise it looks like a great on the run heal.

Healing wave - I have for a long time been missing the "heal in between" looks like that is what they are bringing /cheer

Healing Rain - As im seeing this, this will be a spell used once, run and do other healing for 8-10 seconds and then cast it again. This might not at all be like that, but i would rather have it channelled and then be more powerfull with, say a 30 second CD so its not just something that need's to have 100% uptime. Gonna be tirering if that will be the same with the new Unleashed Weapon Spell.

I love the Idea of not interrupted while running. This looks like a big "buff" and even tho its on a 2 min CD ( so far ) im loving the idea. IMo having this and gettin a couple of more on the Run heals is going to be a big change in my healing style !

Mana - Thinking of when to use mana is something that ive missed. I ran a 10m where we hadnt any replenishment and my mana was going up and down because i was just used to keep on using spells. I like the idea that we need to think of what we are doing instead of just pushing chain heal for 5 mins if thats what you want, and still do good on mana.

The Deep healing thing will be huge. This will even counter overhealing done, as some other healing classes maybe gets "increases healing by x%" this will actually counter that overhealing, by making heals more effective on those who need more effective heals.
This might aswell be a good help to tank healing shamans and change the way that we heal now by huge amount.

Overall im loving some of these changes. Im gonna be excited to see how they are gonna work when tested, but my fingers are crossed for just having a few of them going all the way through and being our new "beloved" spells ! ;D

[KOUNTERPARTS]

I remember back when I heard Blizzard talking about they wanted to make shamans more as raid healer than tank healers. Healing Rain is something I completely didn't expect. I was thinking they were gonna increase the jump range + affected targets of Chain Heal. I like the idea of Healing Rain but my question is:

If it isn't channeled (ie: Tranquility) yet you can select the area (ie: Blizzard/Flamestrike) how will it work? And instant cast of 10 seconds?

EDIT: I read over the OP and other posts to see if this question was answered, and it wasn't. I'll try to clarify it:

If Healing Rain isn't channeled, what is the 10 second duration for?