Healing with 1H and shield - hear me out

Seranai-fromWoW

I had an idea.

Should I try healing with a 1h and shield equipped? I'm a templar, so the vast majority of the time I'm healing dungeons exclusively with class skills - I only really use resto staff when I need to spam Healing Springs, or when I want to put Siphon Spirit on a boss. I don't really have mana issues that can't be solved by casting fewer DPS spells. I do find that I get hit a lot though, especially on trash. I'm not quite clear how aggro mechanics in this game work, but there always seems to be a mob or three that go for me. So, I was thinking, why not try 1H and shield?

Pros

- Gain blocking perks: more mobility while blocking, cheaper blocking, cheaper bash, more effective blocking
- Gain some armour, an extra armour trait and an extra armour enchant on the shield
- Replace one item (staff) with two, allowing me to get another 2-piece set bonus in
- Option to slot Absorb Magic

Cons

- Lose heavy attack healing, also weapon attacks become pretty much useless as they are melee and stamina based on a magic user
- Will have to put resto staff abilities on 2nd bar for when I need them - perhaps a "boss bar" with siphon spirit and healing springs?
- Lose the resto staff passive that gives me extra healing on low health allies and the one that gives me mana regen when blocking spells

Thoughts?

NewBlacksmurf

Well my question to you is why not swap between the two as needed.

I did this on one of my VR characters and it was a win/win

My other faction Templar doesn't use a shield but does swap between two different weapon/skills while playing.

I assume you swap too but just to point out that limiting your play to one weapon is a recipe for disaster in group content.

p_tsakirisb16_ESO

I do not see where is the issue mate.

If I am not the dedicated healer, by using the numerous class abilities from the healing tree, while either DW or 1H+S (in Heavy armour), is providing great benefits to the team.

asteldian

It works fine, but I see little reason in playing exclusively healer at that point. Best perk of Templar is being able to play tank and healer at same time. Since you are going sword n board, slap on 5 heavy and do the job of 2 people

traigusb14_ESO2

My VR 14 temp doesn't even have any skill in resto. and has been healing from day 1 of early access... mostly as a reaction to people being jerks about it.

I sword and board heal in heavy armor. I usually also off tank when the crappy DK can't keep aggro when I heal him... and I don't die because I'm not fighting in my jim-jams.

There are tons of valid healing builds and equipment styles. All of them work in groups with friends where you all know each other's builds (and can tweak some skills to cover each other).

Much Trickier in PUGs where there is a lot of expectation of cookie cutter builds and a lot of people have no idea what templar heals/buffs even look like (stay in the damn circle for bonus heals. and grab the damn spear for free STA you DK ***! :'( ).

It is a good choice if you like being a not-dead healer. Expect people to give you grief over it too.

Not as much as my NB healer friend gets, but hey.

BloodStorm

Do What you want. Resto staff is must for pure healer though. Heavy attacks heal allies and generate more magicka. The resto staff skills are useless on templars in my opinion though. Breath of Life is best heal in game and auto targets group. Extended ritual aoe ability does HoT and people forget allies inside the ritual aoe are healed 30% more by breath of life!!!!! You wouldn't believe how many people forget with the passives extended ritual and morphs buff breath of life. Sooooooo many people forget that and end up using other skills being much less effective healers and make healing way more complicated. Inner light and repentance on bar are great also for magicka / crit/ regen. i would rather cast another breath of life than waste magicka on resto staff skills. The staff is godly for passives on templars though. The actual spells on the skill tree are inferior.

AlnilamE

I don't see why you can't have resto on your main bar and S+B on the other and switch as needed?

As you mentioned, the passives and magicka return from resto are good, but having a shield to switch to in a pinch would come in handy.

RazzPitazz

The main question that will flesh out the build is what type of content do you plan on playing with this? I'm assuming not PvP?

Robbmrp

The nice thing about this game is there's no right or wrong way to heal. If it works for you and your group go for it.

When I'm the only healer in my group I use resto staff on both bars. I will toss up Mutagen before combat to help keep people's health up. Throw in a Breath of Life spell here and there amidst the DPS spells I'm tossing around. I only use a Sword and Board when I'm the tank. Never done any "off tanking" as I have only been a healer so far in AA and DSA.