Valzan1a wrote: »

I'm curious if before I test it someone can save me some time that has already tested it. The ancient knowledge passive has lightning staves increasing your aoe damage by 8 percent while having the staff equipped and ability slotted. Now I know increased spell damage increases your healing as well. My question is with a lightning staff and a destruction skill slotted will that aoe damage buff apply to your aoe heals? If the same logic applies. Increased damage equals increased healing. I realize this would only apply to non resto staff heals . But would still be worth it.

I can confirm, through testing and experience, that @WrathOfInnos is correct.

The confusion arises from "spell damage" as a stat increasing damage and healing. The stat is simply poorly named. Spell Power would be a more accurate term.

Passives like Ancient Knowledge however do not apply an 8% bonus to your Spell Damage stat, they appy a bonus to the damage your damaging abilities (of a particular type) do.

As a general rule, if something says "increases damage done or healing done by X%" it will directly increase damage or healing, but not both. If something says "increases Spell Damage by X%" it will increase the stat itself, which will affect anything the stat affects, whether that be damage or heals. So Ancient Knowledge affects only damage. Something like Expert Mage (Sorc passive) increases the Spell Damage stat which affects damage and healing.

There are exceptions though, as ESO has a significant issue with consistency in ability/item descriptions.