Raid Rx: Really cool Coliseum healing loot
Every week, Raid Rx will help you quarterback your healers to victory! Your host is Matt Low, the grand poobah of World of Matticus and a founder of No Stock UI, a new WoW blog for all things UI, macro, and addon related. It's time to gear us up some healers! Let's take a look at all the phat loot the coliseum has to offer.
The Crusader's Coliseum offers a wide variety of gear and equipment for both new and veteran healers. It's time for us to start equipping ourselves in order to be prepared when Icecrown Citadel hits. While we're not exactly going to be healing Arthas to death, it's a good idea to start working on our stuff now.
We'll start with Trial of the Champion for the fresher 80s before we move to Trial of the Crusader where all the good stuff is.
Trial of the Champion
Paladins will want to start off with Greaves of the Grand Paladin and Helm of the Bested Gallant. There's not a whole lot of selection from either normal or heroic mode. Once you're done farming in there, look into acquiring Gauntlets of Revelation and Legplates of the Argent Armistice. That'll cover the feet, helm, gloves and leg pieces respectively.
Shamans, like Paladins, are also limited. Out of normal ToC, the Carapace of Grim Visions is a solid pickup for any Resto Shaman while Leggings of the Bloodless Knight can serve in either capacity for Resto or Elemental Shamans. Lastly, if you need a decent belt, Girdle of the Dauntless Conqueror comes from the heroic.
Druids will want to pick up Gloves of Dismal Fortune and Leggings of the Snowy Bramble from the heroic. Run normal mode to replace the blues. Check out Gaze of the Somber Keeper, Mantle of Gnarled Overgrowth, and Binding of the Tranquil Glade.
The Priests have a few more options here. I'd highly recommend Handwraps of Surrendered Hope and Mantle of Inconsolable Fear for either Discipline or Holy. It's mostly due to the haste. Holy Priests will wish to consider The Confessor's Binding and Leggings of the Haggard Apprentice for the Spirit. Those in need of a new chest, run heroic to snag Embrace of Madness.
Tears of the Vanquished will benefit all healers looking for an increase to their mana pool and their mana regen. It only drops from normal. Signet of Purity is a ring drop that's also from normal which only benefits Druids and Priests. Shamans and Paladins won't need the Spirit.
Lastly, every new healer needs a weapon! Thankfully, Mariel's Sorrow is an mp5 mace that is suited for any of the four healing classes.
Trial of the Crusader
Alright, enough is enough. Let's get to the really cool gear! For the sake of my sanity, I'll be sticking to the Alliance versions of these items.
Let's start with weapons.
The Argent Resolve is a fine mace which drops from Anub'Arak on 10 man ToC. Perfect for any healer. Shamans and Paladins may wish to pair it with Vigilant Ward (which also comes from the oversized frost beetle). There's also two excellent staves. Cold Convergence (Anub'Arak) and Enlightenment (Val'kyr Twins) are handy for Druids or Priests. I'd give a slight edge to Enlightenment just because of the extra blue socket. I'd forgo the socket bonuses myself and just add extra spell power red gems instead.
By the way Priests, if you want a wand the only one that will drop from the area comes from 10 man ToC. The Rod of Imprisoned Souls is dropped by the Northrend Beasts.
There are two options when it comes to healing trinkets. Solace of the Defeated and Binding Light are two good upgrades. Binding Light comes from the Faction Champions on 10. It provides a static mp5 increase and has an on use effect allowing healers to gain a stacking spell power bonus up to 528. Sadly, it only lasts 20 seconds. The Solace of the Defeated works in the opposite direction. It provides a static 150 spell power increase and grants a stacking mp5 bonus of 128.
With regards to rings, take a look at Ring of the Darkmender (Lord Jaraxxus). It's a suitable ring for any class. Priests and Druids who would like some extra Spirit should consider snagging a Band of Deplorable Violence (Anub'arak).
For back pieces, there are two choices. Anub'arak drops Maiden's Favor is better suited for Paladins and Shamans (although it's good for any class). Northrend Beasts will cough up Shawl of the Refreshing Winds which is going to end up being used by Druids and Priests.
Lastly for neck pieces, Twin Val'kyrs drops the Wail of the Val'kyr is an intriguing choice but you may wish to pass it off to your DPS casters first. Out of 10 man, Lord Jaraxxus drops the Amulet of Binding Elements which has mp5 on it.
There's a huge variety of non-tier set pieces that are enough to keep us healers busy until we get the token and the badges for them. These drop from 25 man Trial of the Crusader.
Paladins
And the above mentioned pieces don't have any mp5 on them. For the Paladins that do need mp5 (if there are any out there):
Shamans
It seems every spell power mail piece has mp5 on it.
Boots of Tremoring Earth are the exception. No ounce of mp5 on them at all.
Druids
Priests
The Gloves of the Lifeless Touch don't have any Spirit on them, but the other items do.
Good luck picking these up, healers! May your dice rolls be high!
Want some more advice for working with the healers in your guild? Raid Rx has you covered with all there is to know! Looking for less healer-centric raiding advice? Take a look at our raiding column Ready Check.
