Top WoW SoD Healer Tier List and Build for Phase 8

If you're diving into World of Warcraft's Season of Discovery Phase 8, you're probably asking the same question a lot of raiders are: Who’s topping the healer charts right now? With the release of Scarlet Enclave, healing has gotten a shake-up, and players are scrambling to figure out the best healer classes and builds for progression.

As a longtime WoW player who’s been through every expansion and meta shift, I know firsthand that healer rankings aren’t just about raw numbers on a WarcraftLogs report. It’s about versatility, synergy with your raid team, and how forgiving a healer is when the fight doesn’t go perfectly. And trust me, in Scarlet Enclave, things rarely go perfectly.

Before we get deep into rankings, a quick shoutout if you’re gearing up: you might want to buy WoW SoD gold from trusted sources like PVPBank to help smooth out the grind. Gold can really make those consumables, enchants, and gear enhancements way more accessible as you push progression.

Why the Healer Meta Feels Different in Phase 8

The healer meta for Phase 8 of WoW SoD feels more dynamic than past phases. With Scarlet Enclave throwing a mix of burst AoE and sustained damage at your raid, different healing styles shine on different encounters. You can’t just stack the highest HPS healer and hope for the best; raid leaders are having to balance proactive healers like Discipline Priests with reactive healers like Restoration Shamans.

And here’s the thing—while WarcraftLogs data is still rolling in (because Scarlet Enclave is taking longer for widespread clears), we already see some trends. This tier list reflects both usage data and actual in-raid performance, so you’re not just chasing charts; you’re setting up a raid comp that works.

Let’s get into it.

WoW SoD Phase 8 Healer Tier List (Preliminary)

S-Tier

• Discipline Priest

Right now, Discipline Priests are pulling ahead in Phase 8 due to their insane ability to mitigate incoming damage with shields while still pumping solid healing numbers. In fights with predictable burst damage, they shine by reducing the damage before it even lands. If your guild is progressing through Scarlet Enclave’s tougher bosses, having a Disc Priest isn’t just nice—it’s borderline required.

Build Tip: Focus on talents that boost Atonement uptime and reduce cooldowns on Power Word: Barrier. Pair it with trinkets that enhance throughput during burst windows.

A-Tier

• Restoration Druid

Resto Druids are a classic pick, and they continue to stay strong thanks to their mobility and HoT-based toolkit. In Scarlet Enclave, fights with movement and spread mechanics reward healers who can "set it and forget it" with Rejuvenation and Wild Growth.

Build Tip: Prioritize talents that enhance Wild Growth coverage and Swiftmend resets. Mastery-heavy gear works great with the stacking nature of raid-wide damage.

• Holy Paladin

Holy Paladins are solid in Phase 8, especially when it comes to tank healing and spot healing priority targets. Their throughput isn’t quite topping the meters across all fights, but their utility (Blessing of Protection, Aura Mastery) makes them super valuable.

Build Tip: Focus on talents that boost Glimmer of Light for raid healing support, while still keeping Beacon of Light on your tanks.

B-Tier

• Restoration Shaman

I love playing Resto Shaman, but right now, they feel a bit overshadowed in certain encounters. That said, their cooldowns like Spirit Link Totem and Healing Tide Totem can absolutely save wipes. You won’t regret bringing one to Scarlet Enclave—just don’t expect them to top the meters every pull.

Build Tip: Max out talents that buff Chain Heal and Healing Rain, especially for stacked phases.

• Holy Priest

Holy Priests are okay, but they lack the mitigation and utility of Disc or the throughput of Resto Druid in current content. Great if you want a simple healer that focuses on big, direct heals—but in Phase 8’s mechanics-heavy fights, they feel a little one-dimensional.

Build Tip: Lean into talents that boost Prayer of Healing and Circle of Healing for raid-wide bursts.

C-Tier

• Mage Healer

The novelty of Mage Healers has cooled off a bit. Don’t get me wrong—a skilled Mage Healer can put up incredible numbers on the right fight. But their ceiling is high because their skill floor is also super high. Played perfectly, they’re viable. Played even slightly off, and they’re a liability.

Build Tip: Focus talents on keeping Ignite stacks rolling and maximizing Arcane healing bursts, but be prepared for a steep learning curve.

The Bottom Line: Healer Composition Matters More Than Ever

Here’s the big takeaway: Scarlet Enclave in Phase 8 isn’t a healing race. It’s about bringing the right tool for the right job. Fights are designed around both burst and sustained damage, so stacking one healer type just won’t cut it.

For progression, I’d recommend:

• 1 Discipline Priest (mandatory shields and pre-healing)

• 1 Restoration Druid (great sustained raid healing)

• 1 Holy Paladin (tank healing and clutch utility)

Fill in with either a Resto Shaman or Holy Priest depending on what your raid needs most.

And if you’re experimenting with a Mage Healer? Kudos for pushing the meta—just make sure your raid knows the risks.

Final Thoughts and Moving Forward

As more guilds clear Scarlet Enclave, I expect to see shifts in this WoW SoD Phase 8 Healer Tier List. The meta always evolves as logs roll in, strategies tighten, and players get more comfortable with the mechanics.

If you’re a healer looking to get the most out of your class, keep practicing, stay flexible with your builds, and communicate with your raid. And seriously—don’t underestimate the power of prepping properly. Consumables, enchants, and gear upgrades can make or break a progression night. Again, if you’re short on resources, it’s worth checking out where you can buy WoW SoD gold from PVPBank has been reliable in the market.

At the end of the day, healing isn’t just about topping the meters. It’s about keeping your team alive through chaos. Play smart, play adaptable, and you’ll be an invaluable asset no matter what class you choose.

Good luck out there, healers. May your cooldowns always be up when you need them.