Priest • Holy • PVE
Holy Priest (PVE)
High-throughput PvE healer specializing in raid-wide and AoE healing.
Talents
Holy Priest PvE talent builds in The Burning Crusade are highly constrained, with very little room for creative deviation. Most talents directly increase healing throughput or mana efficiency, making optimal setups fairly rigid. The two viable builds revolve around whether or not Circle of Healing is taken. The Circle of Healing build dominates most raid environments, while an Improved Divine Spirit variant exists primarily for early progression or niche assignments.
Circle of Healing Build
Primary Use Case
The Circle of Healing build excels in encounters with consistent raid-wide damage. It is the premier raid healing specialization for Holy Priests and becomes increasingly valuable as the expansion progresses.
Why Circle of Healing
Circle of Healing is an instant, mana-efficient AoE heal with exceptional healing per second. It allows Holy Priests to heal while moving and respond instantly to burst raid damage.
Tank Healing Misconception
A common misconception is that this build is poor at tank healing. In practice, the loss of Improved Divine Spirit is more than compensated by Circle of Healing and additional Empowered Healing points. Despite this, raid healing remains its strongest role.
Assignment Priority
Circle of Healing Priests should be the last healers assigned to tank healing, even after Shamans. Their value is maximized when focused on stabilizing raid-wide damage.
Circle of Healing Raid Healing Build
This is the standard Holy Priest PvE build and the most commonly played specialization throughout TBC. It focuses on maximizing raw healing throughput while maintaining strong mana efficiency.
Improved Divine Spirit Tank Healing Build
This alternative build sacrifices Circle of Healing to gain Improved Divine Spirit. It is only recommended in early phases or in raids that already have sufficient raid healers.
Improved Divine Spirit Build
When to Use This Build
This build is primarily used in early progression when raid damage is low, or when a raid already has an excess of raid healers. Only one Priest should ever provide Improved Divine Spirit.
What You Give Up
The build sacrifices Circle of Healing and two points in Empowered Healing, significantly reducing AoE healing potential. As a result, this specialization is almost exclusively assigned to tank healing.
Raid Composition Considerations
If your raid already has a Discipline Priest providing Improved Divine Spirit, this build offers no additional value and should not be used.
Talent Choices and Flex Points
Improved Healing vs Holy Specialization
Improved Healing is commonly dropped in favor of Holy Specialization, as Circle of Healing Priests rarely cast Greater Heal. If you are frequently assigned to tank healing, Improved Healing becomes a valid alternative.
Healing Prayers Priority
Both points in Healing Prayers are generally more valuable than the final point in Holy Concentration. Prayer of Mending is an extremely efficient global cooldown and should be cast as often as possible.
Optional Utility Adjustments
One point of Holy Specialization can be shifted into Holy Nova for soloing or downtime damage. In 25-man raids, Improved Power Word: Fortitude or Absolution can be dropped for Silent Resolve if threat becomes an issue.
What Not to Take
Do not sacrifice core throughput talents for Silent Resolve beyond the listed points. Threat issues are almost always caused by misplay or missing Blessing of Salvation rather than talent allocation.
Advanced Notes
Improved Divine Spirit Snapshotting
It is possible to apply Improved Divine Spirit, respec into Circle of Healing, and rejoin the raid. All other players retain the buff for one hour, though you will not be able to refresh it. This is primarily useful for speedruns.
Power Infusion Consideration
Spending additional Discipline points to reach Power Infusion is not recommended. The haste component does not stack with Bloodlust, and the overall gain does not justify the talent investment.