Updated: July 31, 2026
Season: World of Warcraft: Midnight Season 2
Patch: 12.1 – The Curse of Ula'tek
Ranking status: Season 2 launch projection updated for Blizzard's July 16, July 21, July 23 and July 31 healer tuning, the complete Venomous Abyss class sets and the July 26 Mythic+ testing ranking.
This WoW Midnight Season 2 healer tier list ranks every healing specialization separately for Mythic+ and The Venomous Abyss raid. It replaces the July 17 version, which stopped at the July 16 healer pass and therefore missed the large Restoration Shaman update, Restoration Druid's follow-up nerf, Holy Paladin's class-set mana penalty, the latest Holy Paladin and Holy Priest buffs, and additional Mistweaver and Discipline changes.
The current launch picture is no longer “Restoration Druid is the safest all-around healer.” Holy Paladin and Restoration Shaman lead Mythic+, while Preservation Evoker retains the strongest pure raid-throughput projection. Mistweaver remains highly competitive but has moved below the top dungeon pair after repeated reductions.
This is a pre-season projection, not a live-log ranking. Season 2 begins on August 18 in North America and August 19 in Europe. The tables should be converted to live rankings after enough representative Mythic+ and raid data exists.
For talents, rotations, stats and healing mechanics, use the WoW Midnight class guide hub. For every Season 2 set effect, see our Midnight Season 2 tier set guide.
Midnight Season 2 Healer Tier List: Quick Answer
| Goal | Best current choice | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Best Mythic+ healer | Holy Paladin | Excellent priority healing, repeated throughput buffs and one of the strongest utility packages in the role. |
| Best Mythic+ utility healer | Restoration Shaman | Wind Shear, Bloodlust, Skyfury, Purge, control totems and heavily improved Riptide and Farseer Chain Heal. |
| Best healer damage | Mistweaver Monk or Discipline Priest | Mistweaver combines healing with melee damage; Discipline can provide exceptional single-target damage while maintaining Atonement. |
| Best raid-throughput specialist | Preservation Evoker | Powerful prepared healing, empowered spells, Rewind and strong scaling during sustained raid damage. |
| Best reactive beginner healer | Holy Priest | Clear direct-healing tools and another 5% healing increase in the July 31 build. |
| Best proactive raid healer | Restoration Druid | Strong HoT preparation, movement utility and external support, although the July 23 Regrowth nerf lowers its all-around position. |
What Changed After the Previous Healer Guide?
| Healer | Important post-July 16 changes | Ranking impact |
|---|---|---|
| Holy Paladin | Received 5% more healing with the July 23 class-set adjustment and another 5% healing increase on July 31. The four-piece now increases Holy Light's mana cost by 60%. | Remains Mythic+ S tier, but the guide must no longer describe the four-piece as nearly free mana efficiency. |
| Restoration Shaman | Unleash Life healing doubled, Riptide direct healing increased by 25%, periodic healing doubled, Healing Rain now covers six targets, and Farseer Chain Heal was substantially improved. The four-piece absorb was reduced by 30%. | Moves into Mythic+ S tier and gains raid value, despite low healer DPS and positional dependence on Healing Rain. |
| Restoration Druid | Regrowth healing was reduced by 20% on July 23 after the earlier 25% increase. Abundance bugs were fixed. | Drops from the old all-around top position to Mythic+ A tier and remains a strong raid ramp healer. |
| Mistweaver Monk | Morning Breeze effectiveness was reduced by 60% after the earlier 8% overall healing reduction and Mastery redistribution. | Drops from early S-tier expectations to A+ in Mythic+; still retains excellent healer damage. |
| Discipline Priest | Void Shield absorption gained 3%, but Atonement still falls off more sharply above five targets. | Retains strong dungeon damage and mitigation but remains limited in large-group raid healing. |
| Holy Priest | Prayer of Mending and Prompt Prognosis were improved on July 16, followed by a 5% general healing buff on July 31. | Improves as a raid and beginner option, though it still brings less dungeon utility than Holy Paladin or Restoration Shaman. |
| Preservation Evoker | Earlier raid overperformance was reduced while core dungeon triage received buffs; later builds fixed and improved several set and talent interactions. | Remains the leading raid-throughput projection but stays lower in Mythic+ because of range, positioning and group-buff limitations. |
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Healer Tier List Methodology
The rankings assume similar Season 2 item level, an active four-piece class set, appropriate talents and progression-focused play.
Mythic+ Factors
- emergency triage and tank recovery;
- sustained group healing and mana efficiency;
- healer damage when active healing is not required;
- interrupts, crowd control, offensive dispels and party buffs;
- mobility, personal survival and pug reliability;
- how reliably the Season 2 set works when the party spreads.
Raid Factors
- raid-wide throughput and planned ramp healing;
- major healing and damage-reduction cooldowns;
- spot healing and external defensives;
- mana performance during long progression encounters;
- movement, range and positional restrictions;
- raid buffs, movement tools, immunities and encounter utility.
Midnight Season 2 Mythic+ Healer Tier List
The Mythic+ ranking follows the July 26 testing field and applies Blizzard's later July 31 buffs to Holy Paladin and Holy Priest. Those buffs strengthen their positions but do not justify inventing an entirely new order without another full dungeon test cycle.
| Tier | Healers | Current assessment |
|---|---|---|
| S | Holy Paladin, Restoration Shaman | The strongest combination of healing, emergency tools and party utility. |
| A+ | Mistweaver Monk | Excellent HPS and healer damage, but repeated reductions prevent a current S-tier placement. |
| A | Restoration Druid | Strong utility and mobility, but current throughput and direct recovery are less dominant than the old guide claimed. |
| B+ | Discipline Priest, Preservation Evoker | Powerful specialists with meaningful damage or throughput, but more demanding mana, range or setup requirements. |
| B | Holy Priest | Improved throughput and easy reactive healing, but limited Mythic+ control and damage keep it below the utility leaders. |
Holy Paladin: Best Mythic+ Healer
Holy Paladin combines strong priority healing with Devotion Aura, Aura Mastery, Blessing of Sacrifice, Blessing of Protection, Lay on Hands, Divine Shield and combat resurrection. Blizzard increased its healing by 5% in the July 23 build and by another 5% on July 31. The trade-off is the revised four-piece: Holy Light costs 60% more mana while the set effect is active, so inefficient Holy Light usage can create real mana pressure.
Restoration Shaman: Best Utility Package
Restoration Shaman received the largest positive healer update after the previous article. Riptide, Unleash Life and Farseer Chain Heal are much stronger, while Healing Rain can cover six allies. Wind Shear remains the only regular healer interrupt, and Bloodlust, Skyfury, Purge, Tremor Totem, Capacitor Totem and multiple dispels solve common dungeon weaknesses. Its drawbacks are low personal damage and reduced value when ranged players do not remain inside Healing Rain.
Mistweaver Monk
Mistweaver still combines excellent mobility, strong recovery, Leg Sweep, Ring of Peace and high healer damage. The earlier 8% healing reduction and the later 60% Morning Breeze reduction lowered the expected healing ceiling. It remains an excellent choice, especially for players who can maintain melee uptime and use Rising Sun Kick or Rushing Wind Kick efficiently.
Restoration Druid
Restoration remains mobile and versatile, with Mark of the Wild, combat resurrection, Ironbark, Stampeding Roar, Soothe and strong proactive HoT coverage. The July 23 Regrowth reduction directly weakens the emergency-triage argument that previously justified its top overall ranking. It is still strong when damage is predictable, but less convincing when the party takes sudden unplanned damage.
Discipline Priest and Preservation Evoker
Discipline contributes exceptional damage and proactive mitigation through Atonement, Power Word: Barrier and Pain Suppression. Its weaknesses are mana pressure and healing limitations when the group requires repeated raw recovery. Preservation can produce very high healing through Echo, Dream Breath, Spiritbloom, Rewind and Stasis, but the 25-yard range and positional requirements are more punishing in uncoordinated keys.
Holy Priest
Holy Priest is the easiest healer to understand and received another 5% healing buff on July 31. Holy Words, Prayer of Mending, Guardian Spirit and direct recovery make it effective for ordinary progression. The lower Mythic+ position reflects utility and damage rather than an inability to heal the content.
For weekly Vault progress and specific key levels, see our WoW Mythic+ services and custom Midnight Mythic+ runs.
The Venomous Abyss Raid Healer Tier List
Raid placements are launch projections based on public testing, healer tuning and the Season 2 sets. They are intentionally broader than the Mythic+ ranking because Ula'tek was not fully tested publicly and healer value changes strongly by raid size, damage timing and assignment.
| Tier | Raid healers | Assessment |
|---|---|---|
| S | Preservation Evoker | The strongest raw raid-throughput projection with powerful prepared healing and recovery cooldowns. |
| A | Holy Paladin, Restoration Druid, Holy Priest, Restoration Shaman | Strong progression healers with different advantages in spot healing, ramp, reactive recovery or raid utility. |
| B+ | Mistweaver Monk, Discipline Priest | Fully viable, but repeated Mistweaver reductions and Discipline's large-group Atonement falloff create more uncertainty. |
Preservation Evoker
Preservation retains the best overall raw-raid-healing projection despite earlier reductions. Echo, Dream Breath, Spiritbloom, Rewind, Dream Flight, Stasis, Zephyr and Time Dilation provide both planned throughput and emergency recovery. The main limitations remain range and positioning.
Holy Paladin
Holy Paladin's two additional 5% healing increases after July 16 materially improve its raid profile. Aura Mastery, Devotion Aura, Beacon healing and powerful externals make it a strong progression choice. Mana must be managed carefully with the four-piece Holy Light penalty.
Restoration Druid
Restoration remains excellent at preparing for predictable damage through Rejuvenation, Wild Growth, Tranquility and Incarnation. The Regrowth nerf lowers reactive recovery, but Innervate, Ironbark and Stampeding Roar preserve meaningful raid value.
Holy Priest
Holy Priest gains from stronger Prayer of Mending, Prompt Prognosis and the July 31 healing buff. It offers clear raid recovery through Holy Words, Divine Hymn and Guardian Spirit. It lacks a mandatory raid buff, but current throughput is more competitive than the previous B-tier article implied.
Restoration Shaman
The July 21 changes significantly improved Riptide and Farseer Chain Heal. Spirit Link Totem, Wind Rush Totem, Mana Tide Totem and Ancestral Protection Totem can be progression-defining. The reduced four-piece absorb and Healing Rain positioning prevent an automatic S-tier projection.
Mistweaver Monk and Discipline Priest
Mistweaver still offers movement, Revival, Life Cocoon and Mystic Touch, but repeated healing reductions lower its projected raid ceiling. Discipline remains valuable when Barrier, Pain Suppression and planned absorbs prevent deaths, although stronger Atonement falloff above five targets directly limits large-group throughput.
For the eight-boss raid, rewards and available difficulties, use the The Venomous Abyss raid hub and our Midnight raid guides.
Largest Healer Movers
| Healer | Previous position | Updated position | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|
| Restoration Shaman | Mythic+ A/B discussion | Mythic+ S | Large Riptide, Unleash Life and Farseer Chain Heal improvements. |
| Restoration Druid | Best all-around / top group | Mythic+ A | Regrowth reduced by 20% and less dominant current HPS profile. |
| Holy Paladin | Mythic+ S | Mythic+ S, stronger | Two 5% healing passes, balanced by a 60% Holy Light mana-cost penalty. |
| Mistweaver Monk | Early S | A+ | Repeated healing reductions and Morning Breeze adjustment. |
| Holy Priest | B | B in M+, A in raid projection | Stronger Prayer of Mending, Prompt Prognosis and another 5% healing increase. |
Healer Tuning Changelog
July 31, 2026
- Holy Paladin healing increased by 5%.
- Holy Priest healing increased by 5%.
- ExpCarry raid and Mythic+ rankings rewritten around the latest build.
July 23, 2026
- Restoration Druid Regrowth reduced by 20%.
- Mistweaver Morning Breeze effectiveness reduced by 60%.
- Holy Paladin four-piece increased Holy Light mana cost by 60%, while all healing increased by 5%.
- Discipline Void Shield absorption increased by 3%.
July 21, 2026
- Restoration Shaman received major Riptide, Unleash Life, Chain Heal and talent improvements.
- The Restoration Shaman four-piece absorb was reduced by 30%.
July 16, 2026
- Holy Shock healing increased substantially and became cheaper.
- Mistweaver healing reduced by 8% with stronger Mastery.
- Discipline Penance improved, while large-group Atonement scaling was reduced.
- Holy Priest Prayer of Mending and Prompt Prognosis improved.
How to Choose a Healer Main
- Holy Paladin: best current Mythic+ default, strong externals and party-saving utility.
- Restoration Shaman: best for players who want interrupts, Bloodlust and many dungeon answers.
- Preservation Evoker: best raid-throughput specialist for players comfortable with shorter range and setup.
- Restoration Druid: best for proactive HoT healing, movement and role flexibility.
- Mistweaver Monk: best for mobile melee healing and high healer damage.
- Discipline Priest: best for proactive mitigation and damage-to-healing gameplay.
- Holy Priest: easiest reactive healer and a strong first healing specialization.
Players preparing a new healer can use our WoW Midnight leveling boost and Season 2 gearing services.
Midnight Season 2 Healer FAQ
What is the best Mythic+ healer in Patch 12.1?
Holy Paladin is the safest current launch choice. Restoration Shaman shares S tier because its utility and July 21 healing improvements are exceptionally valuable.
What is the best raid healer?
Preservation Evoker has the strongest raw-throughput projection. Holy Paladin, Restoration Druid, Holy Priest and Restoration Shaman are strong alternatives depending on assignment and encounter.
Is Restoration Druid still the best all-around healer?
No. It remains strong, but the July 23 Regrowth nerf and improvements to other healers invalidate the previous No. 1 conclusion.
Did Holy Paladin receive another buff?
Yes. Blizzard increased all Holy Paladin healing by 5% in the July 23 build and by another 5% on July 31. Its four-piece also makes Holy Light 60% more expensive, so the gain is not free.
Is Holy Priest now S tier?
Not automatically. The July 31 buff improves its output, especially in raid, but its Mythic+ damage and utility remain below the leading pair.
When should this guide be updated again?
After the next major healer pass and after the first representative live-data window of Season 2.
Final Healer Ranking
Holy Paladin and Restoration Shaman are the current leading Mythic+ launch choices. Mistweaver Monk remains the strongest challenger, followed by Restoration Druid, Discipline Priest, Preservation Evoker and Holy Priest according to their specific strengths.
For The Venomous Abyss, Preservation Evoker retains the strongest raw-throughput projection. Holy Paladin, Restoration Druid, Holy Priest and Restoration Shaman form the main progression alternatives.
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Sources and Update Policy
The tuning record is based on Blizzard's official Curse of Ula'tek development notes and the July 16 healer tuning post. Mythic+ placement uses the July 26 Patch 12.1 healer testing ranking with Blizzard's July 31 changes applied. Replace projections with live data after Season 2 opens.
