What does it take to become a Healer in Star Wars the Old Republic? If you’ve never thought about filling that role, or want more information on how to start, read on fellow Medic.
How do you become a Healer in SWTOR? The first step is choosing the right advanced class.
- Imperial Agents > Operatives using the Medicine Talent Tree
- Smugglers > Scoundrels using the Sawbones Talent Tree
- Inquisitors > Sorcerers using the Corruption Talent Tree
- Consular > Sage using the Seer Talent Tree
- Bounty Hunter > Mercenary using the Bodyguard Talent Tree
- Trooper > Commando using the Combat Medic Talent Tree
This page at Torhead contains all the Advanced Class Talent Trees. Check out the Healing skill tree for each Advanced Class to get a feel for it. This will help you pick the right flavor Healing class.
!Note: Subscribers get free Talent Tree Respecs. That means you can go from your Damage Dealing Talent Tree to the Healing Tree for free. You can change talent points by talking to this guy.
Located here on the Vaiken Spack Dock.
Located here on Carrick Station.
!Note: You can purchase the Field Respec ability for 200k. Purchase it from the Character Perks selection on your Legacy Tab.
When choosing to focus the Healing, you’ll gain these advantages while playing.
• High survivability while playing Solo.
• Rapid grouping options when filling the Heal role.
• Access to a viable DPS spec off spec.
There is one thing you’ll never be able to do when choosing Heal as an advanced class, Tank. Currently there is no triple roll class in SWTOR.
!Important Safety Tip: To perform at your class’s maximum, you must equip your appropriate off hand item. The advanced class trainer gives the first one to you for free.
After picking your advanced class, it’s time for on the job training. It is highly recommended you level from 1 – 50 using your Class’ Healing Talent Tree. MMO developers pace leveling to learn the class in bite size chunks. Don’t rush the leveling. Enjoy and learn the ins and outs of your skills and class.
!Note: Leveling as a Healer contains a slight modification with companions. Instead of them being an autonomous damage dealer or healing partner, you need to proactively command them. Tell your companion to attack first. Let them gain aggro so you can fall into your triage role and help take out the enemies.
Following the story line, you’ll find yourself with the ability to enter level appropriate Flash Points (Dungeons) as a Healer. Your first Flash Point Experience will be faction based. Republic classes get The Esseles. Empire classes will get The Black Talon. Enjoy the story and practice the few healing abilities you have. The one thing to remember, as the Healer, is to keep your group alive, that doesn’t mean at 100% health. Early on in leveling you will have precious few healing abilities. Just focus on keeping all members at 50% health, and you’ll do fine.
Now you can start learning the mechanics of Healing. Lets go over the basics.
Growing your User Interface
The default User Interfaces looks like this (picture on left). That’s not gonna cut it for a dedicated healer. You’ll want something more, maybe like the picture on the right.
I use an advanced set up, and the grid mirrors my Razer Peripherals. There are countless combinations that you can create. Bottom line is this, your UI must communicate the vital information you need to Heal the group. Let your UI morph as you level. You’ll gain more abilities and the change will happen slowly.
Setting up your Party Frames
The default Party frames are bad. B. A. D. I can grasp the need to start simple, but these frames will need some work to be used effectively.
Here is what your party frames start out as.
The first thing you need to change is the way you look at the party. Click on preferences. Scroll Down to User Interface.
Change the way you view the party. Select Use Operations Frames as Group Frames. This way you will always use the same frames. 4 man Flash Points to 8 and 16 Man Ops.
This is, in my opinion, the bare minimum of information you must have. There is still more work to be done to get the most out of the frames.
You can change Scale, Bar size, etc… Play with it for a while to get an idea of what it can do.
Here is a pic of the maximum size you can make it (left). Here is the size I use (right).
One you decide on a size, you need to land on a position. Place my frames to the right of my avatar. This keeps my eyes on my position, as well as the team.
You will find what’s right for you as you heal with the frames. It will mature into what is the best set up for your play style.
Practicing your Art
Que up for the Group Finder and select Heal as your role, once a group is found you can shuttle to the Flash Point.
You heal the team using a priority system.
- Heal yourself
- Heal the Tank
- Heal the DPS
- Mitigate Group Damage.
Mitigation group damage is what separates a beginning healer from an advanced healer.
The easiest way to mitigate damage is to remove an enemy from the fight. Every Healing class has a long ranged Crowd Control ability that puts the enemy to ‘sleep.’ Use it proactively to reduce the amount of damage taken. You may be asked to use it by the group leader. If not, use it anyway. It will make your role easier to accomplish. You can also stun an enemy. For about 7 seconds each class can stop an enemy from attacking by using your class stun ability.
Healers can also attack.
“Inconceivable!” You might say, but one of the most effective ways to prevent damage is to eliminate and enemy. Once you are comfortable with your healing toolkit, you’ll find yourself using it less and less in favor of eliminating enemies. As you fully grasp how to Triage heal the group, you’ll learn when to heal and when to mitigate.
Just like a certified Medical Doctor, a Healer in SWTOR practices their art. Reaching the zenith of your profession is an ongoing learning process.
This lesson is only a primer on how to get started. Use the above information to launch your healing career.
The Silverstrike Legacy can be found on The Bastion’s Vaiken Spacedock and in the company of his fellow Zergadins.
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