I realize that this is a VERY popular forum topic, and that there is a post just a few lines down that details almost the same question. But...I wanted to address it more specifically.
I am all about the drood healz. I would, in a perfect world, love to level all the way to 80 with resto...but as I have heard time and time again, this sounds like a pretty massive time sink. I am in no rush, but also do not want the leveling to feel like a grind, if you will pardon the pun. What are your thoughts on this as a leveling tactic? And if it is as atrocious as I predict many of you will claim, what are some good alternatives?
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Leveling as Restro. A good idea?Follow
Using the LFG tool it is certainly doable. I'll be queueing regularly while leveling. If you want to quest though, it is likely to be VERY painful if you are not in a group. Really, you have many months to scrape together 1k gold (very easy these days) and grap a dual spec. You can even dual Moonkin and basically just use your healing gear for Boom - the lack of hit won't be a big issue while leveling.
I'd suggest: dual spec. The very second you can.
I'm leveling a druid right now and if it were possible, I'd vastly prefer to level her exclusively through battlegrounds as resto. But I soon discovered that it's not possible, or at least not practical, when the queues are half an hour long. I hear that dungeon queues are shorter, but I imagine there will still be times when the wait is long or you need a level or two to get to a comfortable spot for the next dungeon or you've just hit your threshold for the number of BFD runs you can stand (for me, this threshold is 1). In other words, I think you're going to have to quest at some point.
I've phased back in from battlegrounds in front of mobs (before I had flight form and figured out I could just go up in the air and it would put me back that way) and had to fight them with my resto spec. It's doable, sure. But when I can switch back to feral and kill the same hellboar in a quarter of the time, it feels silly. I'm not in a hurry to get this character to 80 either, but I still don't like killing hellboars enough to want to prolong it.
I'm leveling a druid right now and if it were possible, I'd vastly prefer to level her exclusively through battlegrounds as resto. But I soon discovered that it's not possible, or at least not practical, when the queues are half an hour long. I hear that dungeon queues are shorter, but I imagine there will still be times when the wait is long or you need a level or two to get to a comfortable spot for the next dungeon or you've just hit your threshold for the number of BFD runs you can stand (for me, this threshold is 1). In other words, I think you're going to have to quest at some point.
I've phased back in from battlegrounds in front of mobs (before I had flight form and figured out I could just go up in the air and it would put me back that way) and had to fight them with my resto spec. It's doable, sure. But when I can switch back to feral and kill the same hellboar in a quarter of the time, it feels silly. I'm not in a hurry to get this character to 80 either, but I still don't like killing hellboars enough to want to prolong it.
You should level as Retro instead. I hear it's groovy, man.
Sorry, couldn't help myself. It's a pet peeve of mine when people use 'Restro' and 'Destro' as shorthands for 'Restoration' and 'Destruction', because as you can see, there's only one 'R' in 'Resto' and no 'O' in 'Destru'.
Sorry, couldn't help myself. It's a pet peeve of mine when people use 'Restro' and 'Destro' as shorthands for 'Restoration' and 'Destruction', because as you can see, there's only one 'R' in 'Resto' and no 'O' in 'Destru'.
Please "talk up" if your comprehension white-shifts. I will use simple-happy language-words to help you understand.
I'm leveling my baby druid as resto.
When Aeth is there, we'll do dungeons, and when he isn't there, I do battlegrounds and farm herbs while queuing. Just spamming Wrath is overpowered in resto spec when you've got full heirlooms.
I'm probably going to buy dual spec as soon as possible (that's in 11 levels) because I like kittypwn in BG's so far when I'm not in a position to cast spells beyond the ones to keep me alive, and I enjoy going kitty between heals in dungeons, so I want my kitteh spec even though I know I'm gonna be horrible at it.
I really don't want to quest while leveling, not beyond what's necessary anyway. I've leveled enough characters that way, including a resto shaman and a holy priest back when holy DPS was almost non-existant.
When Aeth is there, we'll do dungeons, and when he isn't there, I do battlegrounds and farm herbs while queuing. Just spamming Wrath is overpowered in resto spec when you've got full heirlooms.
I'm probably going to buy dual spec as soon as possible (that's in 11 levels) because I like kittypwn in BG's so far when I'm not in a position to cast spells beyond the ones to keep me alive, and I enjoy going kitty between heals in dungeons, so I want my kitteh spec even though I know I'm gonna be horrible at it.
I really don't want to quest while leveling, not beyond what's necessary anyway. I've leveled enough characters that way, including a resto shaman and a holy priest back when holy DPS was almost non-existant.
If you like the random 5-mans or have a few friends to run instances with, healing isn't going to feel any longer than anything else. However if you have any ambition to solo content, going resto is going to be painful. Dual spec is good. 
I hate this!
Especially when I'm on my warlock and my pet is set on aggressive, and I wake up in the middle of a pack of beasts, with seduction on autofire...
teacake wrote:
I've phased back in from battlegrounds in front of mobs
I hate this!
Especially when I'm on my warlock and my pet is set on aggressive, and I wake up in the middle of a pack of beasts, with seduction on autofire...
That monster in the mirror, he just might be you. -Grover
I don't like doing PvP when I not healing.
There I said it.
There I said it.
Hellbanned
idiggory wrote:
Drinking at home. But I could probably stand to get laid.
Scholar
20 posts
Well, the issue for me is that this is a brand new account, and this is, for all intensive purposes, my "first" character. This means no heirlooms, no gold coming in from mains, and to top it all off, I am on an RP server and am trying my very hardest to Roleplay this toon (hence the whole "not worried about leveling fast".) I am sure it is still easy-ish to raise 1k gold *gulp* but as this is my only character, it will take a while. Hmmm....so much to think about.
Horsemouth wrote:
I don't like doing PvP when I not healing.
There I said it.
There I said it.
Just because every other class in the game is better at PvP DPS than us.
The first time around, getting hit (not crit) for 2k damage by the weapon buff of a Protection Paladin in Retribution gear, I was kind of dubious about the entire affair. Then I started hanging out with healers and things got fun. Even hanging out with another DPS is fun. You do need some decent amounts of resilience, which will in turn gimp your damage output to pathetic levels, but at least you'll be able to up against Protribution Paladins on your own and survive - maybe...
Please "talk up" if your comprehension white-shifts. I will use simple-happy language-words to help you understand.
I leveled my mage with a friend who was leveling a resto druid. It wasn't the most effective pairing, but having someone around with you makes the process better. He was not happy soloing that character.
I later leveled a resto druid with a retribution paladin. Now that was a good pairing. So... recruit a friend?
If dual spec is too pricey for you, collect tanking gear and go solo as a bear, the necessary talents for solo survival are cheap. You won't be great (or fast), but it's better than wrath spam.
I later leveled a resto druid with a retribution paladin. Now that was a good pairing. So... recruit a friend?
If dual spec is too pricey for you, collect tanking gear and go solo as a bear, the necessary talents for solo survival are cheap. You won't be great (or fast), but it's better than wrath spam.
Horsemouth wrote:
I don't like doing PvP when I not healing.
There I said it.
There I said it.
PvP healing has gotta be my favorite as well. But sometimes I just spend too much time healing and need a change of pace. I also get tired of being tied to others in a BG; since a healer isn't usually going to kill anyone on their own. I mean sometimes it's fine, and sometimes you get stuck farming HKs at midfield because that's the only place the people who are defending you want to hang out.
Warlock is just so disruptive it's fun. People don't like being CC'd much, and it's very satisfying being able to hold down a node in a 3v1 situation long enough for help to arrive.
That monster in the mirror, he just might be you. -Grover
While healing people in PvP is awesome, sometimes there simply is no match for shooting arrows into a gnome's face.
I must admit I love PvPing on my hunter. There is a tree near behind the hill near the graveyard before the bridge to the alliance base that makes a great spot. Tab targeting someone on the other side of the hill and shooting through the hill while they are fighting other attackers can net you 20+ kills before anyone even realises you are there :)
2 posts
I have a druid healer and although its frowned upon to be leveling one i find that its SO easy! Ok so we cant do ultimate DPS but if you do it right your healing keeps you going and with added innervate you almost never stop for a mana break, by the time i need another innervate its been waiting there for a while - To level quicker just get in dungeon ques - Its EXTREMLY rare not be instantly invited to one (only exception is no tanks online) and they can easily add a level.
They also make stacks of gold! - No need to buy anything as it all drops from starter quests and dungoens from there onwards.
Getting the right talent tree is a must - i started in balance and have 11 points there this to begin with in both healing and some added early DPS for soloing
So id advise anyone to give it a go. It depends on server and the economy there of course but id say druid healer for leveling was the best kept secret ive ever found
They also make stacks of gold! - No need to buy anything as it all drops from starter quests and dungoens from there onwards.
Getting the right talent tree is a must - i started in balance and have 11 points there this to begin with in both healing and some added early DPS for soloing
So id advise anyone to give it a go. It depends on server and the economy there of course but id say druid healer for leveling was the best kept secret ive ever found
I'm not frowning upon levling a resto druid. I think it's more fun, but play styles vary.
As for dps, it's fun to go all out on hurricane after hotting up as necessary. Makes for some fun dps meters while healing. (Admitedly this works better at lvl 80, although you can teach it at 70)
As for dps, it's fun to go all out on hurricane after hotting up as necessary. Makes for some fun dps meters while healing. (Admitedly this works better at lvl 80, although you can teach it at 70)
I went from 70-73 as resto on my first druid since I had finished TBC as a healer. This was the point where I just couldn't stand the lack of speed anymore. The first few levels in Northrend aren't too bad because of the way the starting areas and quests are laid out, especially with a good number of short chains leading straight into Nexus and UK.
But as the XP demands increase, so do the dungeon quests decrease, and in dps-spec soloable group quests start taking over.
I started another druid a while back, and I have been consequently leveling as resto. I've reached level 30 now, and I don'f feel handicapped yet. Random dungeons are plain awesome to level, and they result in gear that make questing fast enough for my taste. I hardly get to do quests, though, because the demand for healers seems high enough to keep me in dungeons pretty much as long as I want.
I mean after all Azeroth has been very well cleaned up anyway. Most of the grind has been removed thanks to increased drop rates for quest items. You're getting the most of your points from actually completing the objectives rather than killing things along the way, and being able to just prowl to whatever needs killing is rather effective.
I'm also looking at how druids start. The first 10 levels you're playing as caster anyway, whether you want to or not. No talent points to worry about either yet. Bear form is so damn slow that for the most part you stay caster until you absolutely have to shift to survive (or get an Iron Counterweight if you can). Early cat form isn't exactly a winner yet either.
On the resto side, though, Nature's Focus is an instant winner, and at 22 you have Intensity maxed out for plenty of mana for the very much uninterrupted Wrath spam. Azeroth gear has always been high on Spirit, so you can be sure to get the most out of it.
Balance needs to wait until 37 for full Dreamstate, and cats don't get the only decent solo-finisher Ferocious Bite until 32.
My plan is to get dual-spec right at 40 when Moonkin form becomes available. There are still plenty of interesting Dungeons left at that time, like the newly split-up Maraudon, or Zul'Farrak, but eventually you WILL end up in BRD for a good amount of time, and I'm sure as hell not having that. Felwood and Un'Goro are a so much better place to spend the early to mid-50s. A little bit of Dire Maul or Scholomance then before heading to Outland... (I think they became available at 56 when I recently finished Azeroth with my pally)
In short, a dps spec is always better whenever questing becomes a priority. Anything else can be done as resto without it being too painful.
One thing to keep in mind, though, is that you can just as well heal with a Balance spec. Normal dungeons are forgiving enough, and the only one spell that sets me apart from Balance druids at this level is Nature's Swiftness. The majority of the talents that actually increase healing are so far down in the tree that it's damn hard to even feel a difference. Also, many of the Balance talents are on the bottom line quite similar to what you get on the resto side.
For example, Intensity is good and great and all, but Moonglow is just as good (Cheaper spells vs more regeneration) and there are a couple more talents like that.
But as the XP demands increase, so do the dungeon quests decrease, and in dps-spec soloable group quests start taking over.
I started another druid a while back, and I have been consequently leveling as resto. I've reached level 30 now, and I don'f feel handicapped yet. Random dungeons are plain awesome to level, and they result in gear that make questing fast enough for my taste. I hardly get to do quests, though, because the demand for healers seems high enough to keep me in dungeons pretty much as long as I want.
I mean after all Azeroth has been very well cleaned up anyway. Most of the grind has been removed thanks to increased drop rates for quest items. You're getting the most of your points from actually completing the objectives rather than killing things along the way, and being able to just prowl to whatever needs killing is rather effective.
I'm also looking at how druids start. The first 10 levels you're playing as caster anyway, whether you want to or not. No talent points to worry about either yet. Bear form is so damn slow that for the most part you stay caster until you absolutely have to shift to survive (or get an Iron Counterweight if you can). Early cat form isn't exactly a winner yet either.
On the resto side, though, Nature's Focus is an instant winner, and at 22 you have Intensity maxed out for plenty of mana for the very much uninterrupted Wrath spam. Azeroth gear has always been high on Spirit, so you can be sure to get the most out of it.
Balance needs to wait until 37 for full Dreamstate, and cats don't get the only decent solo-finisher Ferocious Bite until 32.
My plan is to get dual-spec right at 40 when Moonkin form becomes available. There are still plenty of interesting Dungeons left at that time, like the newly split-up Maraudon, or Zul'Farrak, but eventually you WILL end up in BRD for a good amount of time, and I'm sure as hell not having that. Felwood and Un'Goro are a so much better place to spend the early to mid-50s. A little bit of Dire Maul or Scholomance then before heading to Outland... (I think they became available at 56 when I recently finished Azeroth with my pally)
In short, a dps spec is always better whenever questing becomes a priority. Anything else can be done as resto without it being too painful.
One thing to keep in mind, though, is that you can just as well heal with a Balance spec. Normal dungeons are forgiving enough, and the only one spell that sets me apart from Balance druids at this level is Nature's Swiftness. The majority of the talents that actually increase healing are so far down in the tree that it's damn hard to even feel a difference. Also, many of the Balance talents are on the bottom line quite similar to what you get on the resto side.
For example, Intensity is good and great and all, but Moonglow is just as good (Cheaper spells vs more regeneration) and there are a couple more talents like that.
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