Midnight Buffs: Holy Priest, Paladin, Resto Shaman Update
Midnight PTR healing class changes explained β Holy Priest +12% throughput, Holy Paladin direct-healing redistribution, and Stormstream Totem adjustments for Resto Shaman.
By:
John Langan
Key Takeaways
- Holy Priest received the biggest throughput increase: Flash Heal, Prayer of Healing, Holy Word: Serenity, Holy Word: Sanctify, and Renew all buffed by 12%.
- Holy Paladin healing was redistributed β overall output reduced 12%, but direct spells (Word of Glory, Eternal Flame, Dawnlight, Sun's Avatar) individually increased.
- Restoration Shaman Stormstream Totem proc rate from Riptide reduced from 10% to 6%, with a 10% Healing Stream Totem output boost to compensate.
- Nature's Swiftness at Rank 3 now synergises with Stormstream Totem, giving Resto Shaman more control over healing burst windows.
- The Holy Priest Ultimate Serenity build performs well in five-player content, extending Renew to the full party for consistent group healing.
- Preservation Evoker and Restoration Druid lead the current healing rankings entering Midnight Season 1.
Full spec-by-spec breakdown follows below.
Class Changes in the Latest PTR Patch
A recent PTR patch brought targeted changes to several healing specialisations, including Holy Paladin, Restoration Shaman, and Holy Priest. These adjustments aim to balance healing output across the three specs and provide a more consistent gameplay experience in both raid and Mythic Plus content.
Holy Paladin Adjustments
Holy Paladins received a redistribution of their healing output. Overall healing was reduced by 12% to pull back passive splash healing, while several direct healing spells saw targeted increases:
- Increased Direct Healing Spells:
- Word of Glory: increased
- Eternal Flame: increased
- Dawnlight: increased
- Sun's Avatar: increased
- Reduced Incidental Healing:
- Hammer and Anvil: reduced
- Beacon of the Savior Absorb: reduced
Despite these changes, Holy Paladins still rely heavily on Holy Light to meet burst healing demands, which remains mana-intensive. Sustaining high throughput without depleting mana remains the core tension of the spec.
The intent is to reward deliberate spell selection over passive incidental healing Π²Πβ a meaningful shift for how Holy Paladin plays in group content.
Restoration Shaman Updates
Restoration Shamans received changes aimed at making their healing more consistent by reducing reliance on random procs and improving control over key cooldowns:
- Nature's Swiftness now synergises with Stormstream Totem at Rank 3, giving healers more control during critical moments.
- The proc chance for Stormstream Totem from Riptide was reduced from 10% to 6%, with a 10% boost applied to the Healing Stream Totem output to compensate.
- Primal Catalyst and Healing Wave received additional tweaks to support these goals.
The shift from random splash healing to more controlled outputs suits both Mythic Plus (where positioning and timing matter more) and progression raid healing.
Looking to push healing content in Midnight? You can compare Midnight raid carry tiers to find the right entry point for your spec and gear level.
Holy Priest Enhancements
Holy Priests received a broad throughput pass after lagging behind other healers in PTR testing. Several spells and talents were adjusted:
- Healing Spells Increased by 12%:
- Flash Heal
- Prayer of Healing
- Holy Word: Serenity
- Holy Word: Sanctify
- Renew
- Archon and Benediction Talents:
- Benediction ranks now increase Cosmic Ripple healing by 15% (Rank 1) and 30% (Rank 2).
- Empowered Surges adjusted to control the power level and consistency of the healing burst.
The changes address the imbalance between direct healing output and the Archon hero talent's passive healing power, bringing Holy Priest closer to the throughput floor needed for current content.
Comparative Overview
| Class | Notable Increases | Notable Reductions |
|---|---|---|
| Holy Paladin | Word of Glory, Eternal Flame, Dawnlight | Beacon of the Savior Absorb, splash healing |
| Resto Shaman | Healing Stream Totem output | Stormstream Totem proc rate (10% Π²β β 6%) |
| Holy Priest | Flash Heal, Serenity, Renew (+12%) | Archon passive power level |
These changes represent a strategic effort to refine each healing specialisation's role and reward intentional play over passive throughput inflation.
Holy Priest Adjustments and Expectations
The tuning pass draws attention to Prayer of Healing, which becomes increasingly effective relative to Flash Heal in multi-target situations. A notable build pairs Prayer of Healing talents with the Ultimate Serenity build in five-man content, combining moderate AOE healing with Ultimate Serenity's cleave effect to extend Renew to the full party.
- Ultimate Serenity Build: Provides Renew cleave to four additional party members.
- Renew Application: Extends Renew's HoT to all allies, enhancing group healing over time.
- Renewed Faith: Offers a consistent 10% healing buff while Renew is active on the target.
Whether Prayer of Healing becomes a core talent in these builds depends on further raid testing. Initial impressions are positive, but the final standing of Holy Priest against other healing specs will become clearer as Midnight Season 1 raid testing progresses.
With those adjustments in place, the broader healing landscape shapes which specs land in raids and Mythic Plus groups heading into Season 1.
Current Healing Landscape
The overall healing picture in Midnight raids and Mythic Plus places Preservation Evoker strong in raids and Feral-adjacent Druid forms dominant in dungeon settings. Each class's distinct role in group content is under active evaluation as developers collect live data:
- Healing Specialisation Standings: Preservation excels in raids; Restoration Druid remains strong in Mythic Plus.
- Upcoming Evaluations: Raid testing will refine standings and may prompt additional tuning passes as the season matures.
Each healer class continues to hold a distinct role, with developers gathering data to maintain the healing ecosystem remains balanced across both raid progression and high-key Mythic Plus content.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which healer got the biggest buff in the WoW Midnight PTR patch?
Holy Priest received the most substantial throughput increase, with five core healing spells Π²Πβ Flash Heal, Prayer of Healing, Holy Word: Serenity, Holy Word: Sanctify, and Renew Π²Πβ all increased by 12%. The goal was to close the gap between Holy Priest and other healers.
Was Holy Paladin nerfed or buffed overall?
Both. The overall healing output was reduced by 12% to pull back splash healing, while direct spells like Word of Glory, Eternal Flame, and Dawnlight were individually increased. The net effect depends on playstyle Π²Πβ deliberate direct healing benefits; passive incidental healing falls off.
What is Stormstream Totem and why did it get adjusted?
Stormstream Totem is a Restoration Shaman cooldown that provides burst chain healing when triggered. The Riptide proc chance was reduced from 10% to 6% to make the totem's output more predictable and to reduce the randomness of the spec's healing spikes.
Is Holy Priest viable for Midnight raid progression?
After the 12% across-the-board buff to its core spells, Holy Priest is expected to be viable for progression raiding in Midnight. The Ultimate Serenity build performs well in five-player content, and raid testing will determine its final standing relative to Preservation and Restoration Druid.
What is the Dawnlight spell for Holy Paladin?
Dawnlight is a Holy Paladin ability that applies a burst of radiant healing combined with a HoT effect. It received a targeted increase in this PTR pass as part of the direct-healing redistribution, shifting output away from passive splash sources.
How does the Nature's Swiftness change affect Restoration Shaman?
At Rank 3, Nature's Swiftness now synergises with Stormstream Totem, letting healers time the totem proc to a critical moment rather than relying on passive Riptide chance. This gives Restoration Shaman more control over their healing throughput in burst windows.