Healer Rotation & Cooldowns
This rotation guide provides a quick, basic understanding of which abilities to prioritize when playing a Restoration Shaman, along with additional details on important cooldowns at the bottom. Updated for the latest patch in World of Warcraft: The War Within (11.0.5).
Single Target
Ensure Water Shield and Earth Shield are active before the encounter begins.
- Refresh if expired or close to expiring.
- Use before high damage phases for healing multiplier.
- Use on cooldown for HoT and low Mana cost.
- Use on cooldown for free Riptide and boost next heal.
- Use to boost next heal, low Mana cost.
Maintain Earth Shield and use Cloudburst Totem before damage spikes. Keep Riptide on cooldown and utilize Primordial Wave for free healing.
AoE
- Use when 6+ injured allies are present.
- Use to heal targets within Healing Rain.
- Use when multiple allies are injured.
- Use when multiple allies are injured, especially with High Tide active.
For AoE healing, prioritize Healing Rain for multiple injured allies, followed by Downpour and Wellspring for effective healing.
Cooldowns
- Use to stabilize group health during high damage.
- Use for high healing-over-time to multiple allies.
- Use during high damage phases for smart healing.
- Use when Mana is low for regeneration.
- Use to duplicate healing among allies.
- Use for instant healing during emergencies.
Utilize Spirit Link Totem for group stabilization, Healing Tide Totem for burst healing, and Ascendance to maximize healing output.