Holy light builds VS Flash light builds.

Inspired by Ophelie of The Bossy Pally i am going to post the long time due HOL VS FOL+SS builds.


I've been a FOL+SS fan from the start of this expansion, thats how i rolled in TBC, my first Heroic dungon, and thats how i started doing TOC 10.
Untill i got into the guild that i am currently in, Lets Go Burgling.

I've done a couple of TOC 25 man pugs before, i saw the need of HOL spam in some fights, but the first time i stepped into TOGC 10 or 25, i knew that FOL+SS spec won't work, thankfully, i had my stand by Holy build spec and gear, so i equiped them.

qouting from Ophelie, because she can spell better than me:

So, um, what are these Builds you speak of?

As the names imply, a Holy Light build revolves around using Holy Light (HL, big heal) as your primary spell and a Flash of Light revolves around using Flash of Light (FoL, little heal) as your primary spell. The Holy Light build is what you’ll see most often in PvE, with Int Gems in every socket save one to activate the meta gem. The key is to this build is to have enough mana to pump out a lot of strong, toe-curling, in yo’ face heals for the whole fight. You’ll still use the Flash of Light spell, but your gear is tuned towards using Holy Light as much as you need to. The Flash of Light build is one you’ll see occasionally, but not as often. Spell Power gems all over with some haste and mp5 gems to get every ounce of Spell Power socket bonuses. The point is to make Flash of Light a powerful, nearly instacast spell. It also gives Sacred Shield some extra oomph, although never having seen an FoL pally in action, I couldn’t tell you exactly how much oomph that is.

Are there talent builds that are connected to each type?

Not exactly. There are two common specs for PvE as a paladin, the “crit spec” (holy/ret to get Conviction and sometimes Sanctity of Battle) and the “bubble spec” (holy/prot to get Divine Sacrifice). The crit spec has advantages for both types of play, maximum mana return due to crit (always good) and extra output for a FoL spec. Bubble spec, however, gives you the glorious Divine Sacrifice and delightful reduction on the hand of protection CD. Utility is important as a paladin, if you’re not making yourself useful, you fall into the paladin cliché who does nothing but spam 1-2 spells the entire time. Whats the fun in that?

Many holy paladins actually have both specs and swap between them depending on the fight. If you don’t have an offspec you frequently use, this is a great option.

Glyphs, on the other hand, change depending on whether you want to go FoL or HL:

Holy Light Glyphs
1- Glyph of Holy Light
2- Glyph of Seal of Wisdom
3- Glyph of Divinity, Glyph of Flash of Light, Glyph of Beacon of Light or Glyph of Holy Shock (all depending on your style and raid environment)

Flash of Light Glyphs
1- Glyph of Flash of Light
2- Glyph of Seal of Light
3- Personal Choice

After reading all about ICC instance, and the ''Chill of the throne'' debuff that everyone will be having, i am advicing EVERY Paladin to go HOL spam, tanks will have less dodge, and thats less avoidance, not to mention that bosses hit harder, you'll have to consider your mana though, if you are below 31k unbuffed, you'll have some troubles with getting mana back, even with Divine Plea.
Gem int, and keep some haste and most importantly, crit.
forget about the MP5 that Blizz is fooling us with, its not worth it.
feel free to check my armory, Almaster of Arthas, i am usually using holy light build with crit from Ret tree.

Feel free to throw a comment, if you need more explination.

Shared Topic: Best Change to the Game

The new shared Topic i picked for my readers today, is this one from Bloz Azeroth

Many things have changed and improved within the game between Vanilla, BC & Wrath. Which change that Blizzard released, made a fundamental difference to your gaming experience?

A possible expansion to this topic would be what really irritates you that they still haven't gotten around to fixing?

Best Change to the game?
Dual spec, hands down.

nothing effected players in all aspects of the game like dual spec, all hybards were reqired to respec mostly every day, sometimes twice a day, it was a major loss in gold, and the reason people used to farm so much.

Is dual spec the only good change to the game? no way, is it perfect? hell no.
I have 3 holy specs (1 PVP, 1 holy bubble spec holy/prot, 1 holy crit spec holy/ret)
1 tanking spec, and when i need to farm rep or something, i have a ret spec.

a shout out for Blizz, Gimmme 5 dual specs. kkthnxbai.

I would like to mention all the changes that i liked in this game, changes from Vanilla to TBC to WOTLK.

First change everyone noticed in this game, going from 40 man raids to 25 man raids, this was so sweet, that when i heared about it i started doing my victory dance and shouting Fuck yeah!
carrying many bads, starting the fights with 40 man and ending with only 20 that knows how to play, and just the thought of 40 people talking in vent. bad.
waiting for 40 people to log online for a raid. bad.

2nd change that i really liked, professions being actually helpful for people, on my warrior in vanilla wow, i had enchanting and blacksmithing, enchanting for d/eing items only, with a skill of 25 (back then, at skill of 25, you can disenchant everything from greens to epics) and blacksmithing, just because of my thoughts of the warrior being able to craft plate items.
in TBC, i changed enchanting to mining, since they fixed enchanting to actually increase your skill to be able to disenchant items, blacksmithing was really helpful.
the 2h and 1h weapons you could craft was awesome, and you can upgrade then while you progress, that was a really cool idea from blizz.

3rd change i liked? BOA items, with the 20% xp from killing monsters and completing quests, its awesome, the reason i didn't have many alts back in TBC and vanilla was because i hate doing 1 million quests in 1 area, i like to change areas every now and then.

4th change, Haste, for both melee and casters, the haste stat is wonderfull, and i am pretty sure everyone loved it.

the things that should have changed, chinese farmers, wait, i am not racist, i just dont like to see a lvl 80 BE going underground or flying and getting my mining nod, i just hate it.
and when you make a ticket or e-mail Blizz about it, they'll tell you that they are invistegating about it, and ofcourse, the next day you will find the same BE getting your nods! damn them farmers!


Now, the best changes that i liked for a paladin, from Vanilla to TBC to WoTlK.

1- Sacred shield, plus the effect of SS with FOL, the hot, its really HOT!
2- Beacon of light we really needed it, especially in WOTLK where you will need 2 tanks for a boss, or 2 tanks for 2 bosses, heal one to heal the other = win!
3- Blessing of kings not being in talent, i loved it!

I'd really love to see MP5 really working for Holy paladins, and would love to see Ret paladins with skills other than Jong.

that would be the end of my post today, i know i've been slacking with the posts recently, but as Gnomergaddon said in his post, Palading blogs are boring, they only have 2 healing spells!

The voices in my head

Are telling me to post!

so i am going to talk about something that has been bothering me the most.
My helm!

Right now, i am using Valorous Aegis Headpiece, for the people who are too lazy to check the link, its T8 helm.
Conqueror's Aegis Headpiece is an upgrade, however, its not that big upgrade, i can easily get it, i have like 200 badges.
I've been running Ony 10 and 25 for a chance of getting Judgement Cover from 10 man or Judgement Crown from 25 and today i will get enough emblems to get Heaume of the Restless Watch.

I'm really disappointed with my choices, the only major upgrades that i'd take is Heaume of the Restless Watch and Judgement Crown.


thinking i will be getting Heaume of the Restless Watch, my guild is at Anubarak TOTGC 25, and i am the less geared holy paladin in the guild, now don't get me wrong, i am trying to upgrade what is needed to upgrade, but still i dont upgrade something that is not a major upgrade, i am not cheap i have around 30k gold on all of my chars, but i just don't like to take a piece of gear if its not a major upgrade for me, i just dont.

Almaster and out!

Faction Champs Secrets Uncovered

A new day at work means to search websites and blogs that i am following for something new or interesting.

Today, I've found something both new and interesting on The Bossy Pally blog a post about Faction Champions fight in TOC and how it works.

Althought Oph wasn't the one making that project, Maintankadin did.

Please have a look on both Oph's post and Joanadark's post.

Announcement: World of Warcraft Raid for the Cure!

Read the full article at big bear buff blog.

Paladin T10 / Season 8

Just saw those pictures on MMO-Champion.

the pics are huge, so clicky for full version.

Paladin T10.



I actually think its cool, IF IT CAME WITH PANTS AND NOT A GOD DAMN KILT.


Season 8.





Finally some big shoulder animation, i am loving it!

Soon, i will post about the new set bonus and item bonus.

A Questionnaire?

I had comments on my last post from Ophelie from The Bossy Pally and the Giant Spoon, so i decided to check out her blog.
Something caught my eyes very quickly, A Questionnaire? (my first thought was WTH does that even mean? :P)

This post called ''My first meme-that-is-not-a-meme!''
and i wanted to get in!
So here how it goes.

• What is the name, class, and spec of your primary healer?

Almaster, Paladin, Holy.

• What is your primary group healing environment? (i.e. raids, pvp, 5 mans)

Mostly raiding, daily heroic and such, wanted to PVP but i was never a big fan of it.

• What is your favorite healing spell for your class and why?

FOL, or flash of light, i love the numbers it heals, plus the HOT from FOL and SS.

• What healing spell do you use least for your class and why?

Divine Favor. Why? Because i crit half of the time already!

no seriously, i rarely use it, i don't know why, i have it keybinded already, but rarely find the chance to use it for a critical setuation.

• What do you feel is the biggest strength of your healing class and why?

Burst healing, the ability to keep tanks alive during all the fight, and finishing with more than half of your mana bar remaining. also waering plate with a shield is awesome.

• What do you feel is the biggest weakness of your healing class and why?

the lack of raid healing spells, and being not able to move casting holy light, some setuations you are casting the big holy light cast, the tank is low on health, and the boss thinks that it would be awesome to throw a big fire under your feet, so its either you stay there and take damage from that fire and you might die, or move and cast holy light again just as the tank dies.

• In a 25 man raiding environment, what do you feel, in general, is the best healing assignment for you?

Healing tanks, DUH!

beacon of light and SS are very powerful tools, you can heal both of the OT and the MT with no stress at all.

• What healing class do you enjoy healing with most and why?

I'd say resto druid or disc priest, i tried resto druid before, but my gear and skill was lacking so i didn't have much fun.

• What healing class do you enjoy healing with least and why?

Shamans, i had a 70 shaman back when i was playing horde, a TROLL shaman! but all i did was Chain heal, Chain heal, chain heal, chain heal.

i remember one time i was watching House, and chain pressing 1 untill i heared the raid leader calling my name saying that the boss died and i didnt have to chain heal anymore.

• What is your worst habit as a healer?

I like challenges, sometimes in heroics, i leave the tank or the dps health to go too low and then start healing them, just to get the thrill of doing something rather than just using FOL every 5 secs.

• What is your biggest pet peeve in a group environment while healing?

I'd say for all healers its - I really hate when people say “so and so needs heals!” over vent.

i agree with Oph and Jes here.

• Do you feel that your class/spec is well balanced with other healers for PvE healing?

As i said, the lack of raid heals might cause a problem for some pallys, although i enjoy it.

beacon the tank, cast FOL on the raid = full healed raid and tank.

• What tools do you use to evaluate your own performance as a healer?

As long as my target or anyone that i am assigned for healing is still alive, i am FUCKING PRO!

last time i went to TOC 25 man, someone thought it would be funny to die from Icehowl's charge, and the boss went enraged, i remembered one spell that i didn't use since the time me and Headstab were doing arena in last season, so i used it.

Hand of sacrifise, its awesome with a bubble, mitigates a lot of damage, also i use hand of freedom a little bit too much, since i made a macro when i use it, i yell the phrase from Braveheart movie.

''They might take our lifes, but what they'll never take, OUR BLESSING OF
FREEDOM!''

:D

• What do you think is the biggest misconception people have about your healing class?

I don't believe there is any misconceptions people have about holy paladins, we are very OP'ed :P

• What do you feel is the most difficult thing for new healers of your class to learn?

Timing thier heals, big or small heals needs some timing, but i learned fast, as i learned healing when i was doing Illidan lol.

i was port before i switched to healing, i had SSC/Tk gear and was healing Illidan fight hehe.

• If someone were to try to evaluate your performance as a healer via recount, what sort of patterns would they see (i.e. lots of overhealing, low healing output, etc)?

Well, it depends on the fight, so i don't see this as a valid question for paladins, in TOTGC with major damage for tanks, i usually be the first on healing meters, in lest say TOC 25 faction champion fight, i am usually the last in healing, with 184 dispells lol.

but anyhow, if you for example check my healing for 1 fight, it will depend on the fight itself, otherwise check my overall preformace, and you'll be happy of what you'll see :D

i'll make sure to post a screenshot of my recount sometimes soon.

• Haste or Crit and why?

both, i'd say, crit was the major mana regen for paladins, but not anymore, it still get us mana back, but not that much, also too much haste can get a paladin OOM fast.

so a mix of them both will be good.

• What healing class do you feel you understand least?

Shamans, hands down.

I've failed on my troll shammy before, but i can see Shamans in my guild owning the healing meters.

i need to understand them more.

• What add-ons or macros do you use, if any, to aid you in healing?

I don't have that many macros, addons, i have many, check out my post about my addons.

• Do you strive primarily for balance between your healing stats, or do you stack some much higher than others, and why?

Right now, i am stacking Int, i didn't want to at the start, as i said before SP is gets your SS OP'ed but sadly with nerfs hitting us, i decided to go for Int, be a good pally is better than QQing all the time :P

Now is the hard part, i need to tag another healing class blog.

Armaggedon isn't a new blogger, and he isn't even a healer, but then came Squidly! his alt shammy that from reading his blog, i see he is enjoying playing him a lot.

A Touch of Arcane, also not a new blogger, but one of my favorites, he really knows what he is talking about!

The original post by Jess from Miss Medicina

Jes Miss Medicina's Circle of healing

Ophelie's POV

Nerfed to the ground

I knew this day would come, the nerf hammer just hit us!

• We interrupt our regular programming to bring you a square kick in the balls:

1. Sacred Shield can now only occur every 30 sec. (Up from 6 sec)
2. Lay on Hands can no longer be cast on yourself.
3. Infusion of Light now also reduces the cooldown on the effect of Sacred Shield by 12/24 sec.
4. Aura Mastery now lasts 6 sec. (Down from 10 sec)

4 Nerfs in 1 patch notes, OUCH!

Sacred Shield can now only occur every 30 sec. (Up from 6 sec)

Sacared Shield nerf is critical to paladins that focused on SP more than Int stacking, like i used to do, since the absorb effect stacks with SP.

to avoid this, i started mindlessly stacking Int like other pallys, and guess what?

i fucking hate it.

Lay on Hands can no longer be cast on yourself.

This sucks too, its one of our most used to survive during PVP or even PVE with a shit load of damage happening to both of you and the tank, its also a major spell to regenerate mana, i use it most of the time on myself to get mana back, its awesome, and they broke it! damn Blizz

Infusion of Light now also reduces the cooldown on the effect of Sacred Shield
by 12/24 sec.

Oh yeah? i want it back to 6 secs kkthnxbai.

Aura Mastery now lasts 6 sec. (Down from 10 sec)

This is a big nerf, i used to use Aura Mastery at hodir for the frozen blows, If i used it on the first one,the cooldown would finish right after Hodir uses his frozen blows for the 3rd time, thats half of the healing for 2 frozen blows and maximum healing at the 2nd, its not that big nerf, but still its a nerf.

Well, maybe my LVL 63 hunter will get some lvling and loving now.

No i am not quiting because of some nerfs that hit us, i just dont want to QQ anymore :P