Best Class for a "Shield Healer" Build?

Seraphayel · May 29

Hey there,

using shields to heal has always been my favorite playstyle in any MMORPG, let it be Discipline Priest in WoW, the Purifier in Rift or the Scholar in Final Fantasy XIV.

After the class rework the Dragon Knight has become a formidable healer and also got some (more) class skills applying shields to absorb damage. Their Basalt-Blooded Warrior class set also improves shields by 14%. So is Dragon Knight (baseline) the best class for said healing / support playstyle? Or is there another class that works better that way?

And if so, with what kind of class skill lines / weapons / sets would you build a playstyle like that? More for PvP than PvE. I'm out of the loop for some years now, just occassionally lurking and playing, but nothing "deep", that's why I'm not that up to date with sets, builds and playstyles.

What do you guys think?

ESO_Nightingale · May 29

Arcanist im pretty sure. Can also spec into earthen heart.

Seraphayel · May 29

Thanks, maybe I should’ve added besides Arcanist because I friggin hate the visuals of the class.

But if Arcanist really is that good, I might pivot.

Elendildur · May 29

Next patch, Sorcerer will get a class mastery related to shielding allies, but Sorcerer is such a bad class for healing that I wouldn't recommend them. Arcanist or Dragonknight are probably the best classes, since they both have shields for allies in their class skills

Kalthea · May 29

Elendildur wrote: »

Next patch, Sorcerer will get a class mastery related to shielding allies, but Sorcerer is such a bad class for healing that I wouldn't recommend them. Arcanist or Dragonknight are probably the best classes, since they both have shields for allies in their class skills

The Sorcerer rework might be adjusting things in their favor for shield healing, so their masteries might be a placeholder for that.

As for shielding, I would also love to know good sets for this. I know there's the Combat Physician set out of Wayrest Sewers, but can't think of many others.

CP5 · May 29

Tidal Chakram is one of my favorite healing skills in the game, healing for its full value every second while active on up to 4 people per cast, when you use 3 crux, and in any fight with oblivion damage as the main pressure that skill alone solves those. If you go fully into arcanist then you also have the tank skill trees shield ultimate that is very good for dealing with long duration instances of high damage, so that class is hard to top when it comes to shields, though DK has Magma Shell which is fantastic, Fragmented Shield for general mitigation, and Volcanic Ward for emergencies, which would be another good option to look in, though like others said, the Sorc class rework may add more shield things there as well.

Foxtrot39 · May 29

BRP resto staff is likely a must for you then as it buff the restoration skill which is all about healing and shielding

YandereGirlfriend · May 29

Seraphayel wrote: »

Thanks, maybe I should’ve added besides Arcanist because I friggin hate the visuals of the class.

But if Arcanist really is that good, I might pivot.

You can just take the subclass and slot the abilities for the passives. And then... just not use the abilities.

tsaescishoeshiner · May 30

Arcanist base class can Scribe Wield Soul, Soul Burst, or Ulfsild's Contingency to grant a damage shield that gives you a Crux. Then you have Crux for Tidal Chakrams (the only arcanist shield you need—plus you get to throw frisbees).

Earthen Heart is great for the Major Mending and 3 extra shield skills. This is what my arcanist healer uses, and it's very nice.

You get to pick your third skill line. For me, I use Herald of the Tome because I enjoy beaming while everyone is shielded. But you can go with Green Balance or Restoring Light or Grave Lord for Elemental Alchemist or whatever you enjoy.

You'll still need 1 burst heal for certain heal absorb or burst damage mechanics (Curative Runeforms has one), and I find damage shields work amazingly with heals-over-time, and there are a few options for that, as well.

If you really want to avoid arcanist, you're right with Earthen Heart, but will be hard-pressed to find long-range multi-target damage shields.

There's a nice monster set called The Blind that gives allies a damage shield and critical damage. Jorvuld's is probably nice for the duration bonus, and it pairs well with Spell Power Cure or other Major Buffs that you like.

Treeshka · May 31

I think the best base class would be Arcanist. Arcanist has a passive that increases your damage shield strengths by %10 and also reduces the costs of shield skills, ultimates included. You just need to slot one skill from Curative Runeforms. Chakram Shields is good ranged shielding ability that goes to multiple targets.

This build below is the build we use for our organized trifecta progs. You can see that the build has Nightblade's Siphoning skill line, which is there purely to boost ultimate generation. Meanwhile Sorcerer's Daedric Summoning is purely there to provide %5 more Magicka and Stamina and also further reduce the cost of ultimate abilities.

Sets wise, there is Blind and Combat Physician, both of those procs damage shields on targets on critical healing.
In addition to that there are sets like Prayer's Shawl which works very similar to Combat Physician.
Lunar Bastion which comes from Maw of Lorkhaj and procs with synergies, but allies has to stand inside the circle.
Blind Path's Induction increases your damage shield strengths if you are near your allies.

ViggyBoi · June 9

Arcanist for sure not even close

CameraBeardThePirate · June 10

You can go a few different combinations of classes. The best pure classes would be Arcanist or Necromancer.

Arcanist has Bubble, Chakrams, and a pretty solid class set for shielding. They also have a great passive for shielding in the Curative Runeforms line.

Necromancer has the highest health pool you can reach with Goliath. Pop Goliath, and for 20s you can spam Contingency+Soul Burst for about as much shielding as a Barrier ultimate.

If you want to subclass, other strong lines include Earthen Heart for Magma Shell (basically a stronger Barrier), Shadow for juicy % based health scaling, and Green Balance for 10% extra health (although honestly you're probably better off taking a different line than GB).