Some Healer play-style feedback/advice please?

evolvingmass

Looking to create an Argonian Templar, and wanted some input:
The build
Very much a newbie to the healer scene in general. I have a couple basics down(focus majority of heals on tanks, don't stand in one spot, don't spam heals unnecessarily) but I'm worried about my own survivability in dungeons/magicka costs. I mainly play on Ebonheart with my friends (I intend to solo as little as possible with this guy), and I do not have pre-order bonuses, so I have the choice of Argonian, Dunmer or Nord(or Imperial). I like Argonians, and their racials sound interesting to me. I picked bow mainly for the minor ranged CCs/self KB on Magnum Shot(I realize that could do more harm than good) and that I can use my stamina over the magicka CCs. Medium Armor was tossed in on the off-chance I did have stamina problems. Any information sharing or thoughts in general would be appreciated, especially in just playing the healer in ESO.

crowfl56

Well first off, everyone can heal.
But if you want to spec a true healer, then you are going to keep mana in the soft cap. Which means most of your points will go into majicaka.
Up to lvl 15, when u can have 2 weapon type's to switch to, I would go with some type of 2h weapon for fast dmg.
When u hit lvl 15 start using a restro staff and build your healer line up.
The one thing to remember is a good healer is one of the most difficult char's to play and at time's thankless.
Do a lot of reading in the forums and other sites, the builds are many and reasons good.
Have fun.

ElliottXO

Basics: you need a restoration staff, because the heavy attack restores magicka and you need light armor because you can't heal with stamina.

Your setup won't work with 90% of the parties and they will blame you for failing.

Spryt

I think not using resto shield is a miss. I find it very useful. Also morphing the templar instant heal to give back mana is a waste. The amount of mana you get back is pointless. I find the heal 3 people up instantly morph is one of the best in game.

Awesometographer

First thought: Buy the explorer pack code on ebay, it's like $5. Sure the restoration staff bonus is good to get it maxed, but then it's 100% a useless trait, and the other bonuses give nothing towards being a healer, as with the other EP races. IMO Breton (cost redux and + magicka) is best, followed by altmer (+ magicka and regen)

Coming from a 100% healing standpoint.

Healing springs is great, and will be one of your main healing spells.

Mutagen over Rapid Regen morphs. A long, smaller HOT that gives a burst heal when low on health is a better option than one that heals a little bit more, but has to be cast more often.

Breath of Life over Honor the Dead. The extra 2 healed is nice, and the mana regen from HTD is pretty damn bad. They have to be below 50% AFTER the heal is done for it to proc... and they have to be low (20/35%) for it to work... it's lackluster, finnicky, doesn't stack... and healing more people, earlier is much better.

Lingering ritual is good... something I pop after AOE damage, or if there are a few people low, and I've got a moment of breathing room.

I see no point in Radiant Aura... most people don't have enough static regen for this to make much of a difference.

Harness Magicka is okay if you're in a magic damage heavy fight, but otherwise 'meh'

Remembrance is a good OH *** button. Take less damage whilst topping everyone off is good.

---

Consider:

Extended Ritual. It's a decent HOT to add to the mix.

Steadfast ward (healing ward): A little bit of a heal, then a shield / heal... it's nice to have.

Travail

I would definitely recommend every Templar run with Extended Ritual, for 3 reasons:

- It provides a heal over time effect to anyone standing in the ring, and the ring is large. Stacking this with Regeneration is often all you need to keep your group topped up.
- It increases the healing of all other Templar heals by 30% on anyone standing inside the ring. This makes Breathe of Life and Healing Ritual (either morph) way better.
- It comes with a free synergy which provides and instant heal to anyone who uses it, and also cleanses negative effects (which is very helpful in most fights, and almost necessary in some.)

I'd be swapping that in for Radiant Aura, which is really only a good tool if you're party is full of players using stamina-heavy builds (the stamina regen is more useful than the health regen.)

Basically, on an average pull I hit Rapid Regen twice (which should hit all 4 group members) and then lay down Extended Ritual, and then just use Breathe of Life when instant heals are needed. The other two abilities are up to you, but I'd recommend Power of the Light (not a heal, but it helps your group with damage output on bosses.)

Harness magicka is really better to use when you are taking damage, which might be ok for trash pulls, but it isn't needed all the time. I generally don't take any CC, either, leaving that primarily up to the tank (a single DK with Talons will put any CC you have to shame, anyway.) The Templar doesn't have any good AoE CC, but if you really want to take something to help with trash, take Volcanic Rune or keep Bombard on your second hotbar (like you, I keep a bow as my second weapon as well.)

Personally, I find Bone Shield is better than CC for a healer to take for trash pulls, anyway. It gives you as much armor as a tank for the duration, and your group mates can get a free 60% damage shield every 6 seconds.

-Travail.

Awesometographer

Purifying Light is also great to have on your second bar.

Pop it any time you have a free moment (and some magicka) to cast during a boss fight. It does considerable damage, plus pops 7 seconds of healing.

evolvingmass

Thank you all for the comments.

@ElliottXO: You sound as if you didn't even look at my build, which hurts my feelings.
@Spryt: Shield sounds interesting. I'll give it a go.
@Awesometographer: A HUGE thank you for that 'First Thought'. Took that one to the bank. (*)
@Awesometographer & Travail: Thanks a lot for the in-depth skills analysis and the strategies. That was exactly what I was hoping I'd get.

Since I can play any race willy-nilly now, I'm gonna give the Breton a try using your guy's suggestions.

Thanks again!