Pretty much as the title says - healing falling into the range of hit point renewal, status recovery, resurrections, removal of curses, and the whole gamut of "white mage" style magic.
Which is the flat-out best? Among them, which archetypes, spirits, domain combinations (limited to listed Golarion deities and demigods), mysteries, hexes, revelations, and other choices would you recommend? How about feats, traits, or races, if any of those is an impact?
Obvious contenders seem to be a life oracle with lifeline, energy body, and channel, or a life shaman with channel, heal hex.
Assume a 15-point buy, so MAD vs SAD is a factor, which may offer an advantage to an Oracle.
Versatility is a bonus, but not the point of the exercise; it is better to be able to do more than healing alone, however the point of the question is whom is the best healer, so versatility is an afterthought, almost a tie breaker, really.
Are we going to limit this conversation to single class comparisons, or should the floor also be open to discussion of which classes most efficiently multiclass.
I'm going to say Spirit Guide Life Oracle probably. Pick Life spirit at the start of the day to have two Channel pools that both benefit from your key stat CHA. Also Life Oracle can turn surplus healing into massive temp HP "barriers" and swift action cast cures, while getting +level to Cure spells and passing out free action hp with life link.
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wizard, use magic to protect allies from bad effects in the first place :P
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I'm going to say Spirit Guide Life Oracle probably. Pick Life spirit at the start of the day to have two Channel pools that both benefit from your key stat CHA. Also Life Oracle can turn surplus healing into massive temp HP "barriers" and swift action cast cures, while getting +level to Cure spells and passing out free action hp with life link.
Aasimar that takes the FCB that adds +1/2 level to one revelation and puts it in channel revelation every level. By 2nd level you're already at 2 dice of channeling.
I'm going to say Spirit Guide Life Oracle probably. Pick Life spirit at the start of the day to have two Channel pools that both benefit from your key stat CHA. Also Life Oracle can turn surplus healing into massive temp HP "barriers" and swift action cast cures, while getting +level to Cure spells and passing out free action hp with life link.Aasimar that takes the FCB that adds +1/2 level to one revelation and puts it in channel revelation every level. By 2nd level you're already at 2 dice of channeling.
I like this idea...however, a strict reading of both the life spirit and the life mystery state that they grant the channel ability as a cleric...not that they grant additional channel pools or the like. Considering the recent "No double-dipping ability score bonuses" FAQ, it is not unreasonable for a GM to say those two uses of channel do not allow two pools of channeling keyed off charisma.
In light of that, what would you say?
Cleric. On demand status removal.
Cleric. On demand status removal.
How is it on demand? Only cure spells are spontaneous. The rest have to be prepared...oracle has the same list but all spontaneous...and shaman has most of those spells too.
EDIT - I'm not asking these things to immediately shoot down, but rather I'm genuinely curious as to how you arrived to that conclusion, if perhaps I missed something.
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Sadly, the Spirit Boost revelation only works on healing spells, not channel energy. But yes, aasimar spirit guide life oracle is the best healer in the game by a landslide.
I'm going to say Spirit Guide Life Oracle probably. Pick Life spirit at the start of the day to have two Channel pools that both benefit from your key stat CHA. Also Life Oracle can turn surplus healing into massive temp HP "barriers" and swift action cast cures, while getting +level to Cure spells and passing out free action hp with life link.Aasimar that takes the FCB that adds +1/2 level to one revelation and puts it in channel revelation every level. By 2nd level you're already at 2 dice of channeling.I like this idea...however, a strict reading of both the life spirit and the life mystery state that they grant the channel ability as a cleric...not that they grant additional channel pools or the like. Considering the recent "No double-dipping ability score bonuses" FAQ, it is not unreasonable for a GM to say those two uses of channel do not allow two pools of channeling keyed off charisma.
In light of that, what would you say?
That you get two separate pools.
Yes, I understand that is your interpretation, and personally I don't find it game breaking enough where I disagree with allowing it, even if I disagree with the wording.
Let me rephrase...hypothetically, if a GM disagrees with allowing two pools, (and again, I'm not saying I personally do, but I have a strong feeling my GM would) what would you then say is best?
I believe Life Oracle has the largest potential pool of healing done per day.
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I'm going to say Spirit Guide Life Oracle probably. Pick Life spirit at the start of the day to have two Channel pools that both benefit from your key stat CHA. Also Life Oracle can turn surplus healing into massive temp HP "barriers" and swift action cast cures, while getting +level to Cure spells and passing out free action hp with life link.Aasimar that takes the FCB that adds +1/2 level to one revelation and puts it in channel revelation every level. By 2nd level you're already at 2 dice of channeling.I like this idea...however, a strict reading of both the life spirit and the life mystery state that they grant the channel ability as a cleric...not that they grant additional channel pools or the like. Considering the recent "No double-dipping ability score bonuses" FAQ, it is not unreasonable for a GM to say those two uses of channel do not allow two pools of channeling keyed off charisma.
In light of that, what would you say?
Actually, they are two different abilities from two different sources that do similar things. You end up with two different channel pools; one that is fixed and gains extra dice via FCB, and another that can be freely swapped in and out on a daily basis, but which is unaffected by the FCB.
The only way they wouldn't stack is if they were the exact same ability; it doesn't matter that they are both based on and emulate a third ability.
Yes, I understand that is your interpretation, and personally I don't find it game breaking enough where I disagree with allowing it, even if I disagree with the wording.
Let me rephrase...hypothetically, if a GM disagrees with allowing two pools, what would you then say is best?
Teaching the GM that it has two pools, just like a witchdoctor life shaman would have two pools. Just like a cleric 1, oracle 1, paladin 4 would have 3 different pools.
It is important to note that while both pools would be based on your charisma, that does not make your channel pools "ability score bonuses", and thus they are not affected by the FAQ. Nor are they technically the same class ability, as one is a daily chosen spirit and the other must be a permanently chosen revelation; this means they don't violate the hybrid/parent class stacking restriction.
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EDIT - Apologies, I'm a little tired and grumpy. For what it's worth, I agree, especially in light of the clarifying statements. I was just asking in case it's denied.
Aasimar spirit guide life oracle, then... So, are there any feats or traits you would say are "must have" for this ideal?
Cleric. On demand status removal.How is it on demand? Only cure spells are spontaneous. The rest have to be prepared...oracle has the same list but all spontaneous...and shaman has most of those spells too.
EDIT - I'm not asking these things to immediately shoot down, but rather I'm genuinely curious as to how you arrived to that conclusion, if perhaps I missed something.
Oracle has to spend Spells Known to get them or gets them late via their Mystery.
Shaman is probably as good though.
Ability to make them as scrolls and prepare more useful slots is a big plus though.
EDIT - Apologies, I'm a little tired and grumpy. For what it's worth, I agree, especially in light of the clarifying statements. I was just asking in case it's denied.
Aasimar spirit guide life oracle, then... So, are there any feats or traits you would say are "must have" for this ideal?
I don't know who you are apologizing to, or for what, but no worries. :)
Fateful Channel is good if you worship Pharasma.
Channeled Revival is a MUST HAVE considering how many channels you have lying around; and before you question it, here is the FAQ on the reach.
Clarifying Channel if you worship Shelyn.
Liberation Channel is CRAZY good if you worship Cayden.
And of course Extra Channel, Improved Channel, and Selective Channel can all be super useful (especially Selective Channel) if you can find room for them.
There aren't any traits that really stand out as must haves in terms of healing, though Sacred Conduit gives an additional +1 to the DC.
Thats pretty much all I can think of at the moment.
I typed something snarkier up before I edited. The apology was for any who saw the pre-edit version.
Is an oracle limited to worshipping only one deity for the purposes of feats? Because their fluff text says they gain power from multiple deities, and a NG oracle would be one alignment away from all three of those deities...
Beacon of Hope for Milani
Bestow Hope for Sarenrae
And if you use the non-tradmark-using versions of the feats on d20pfsrd.com, you can get many of these at once, because they only require that you worship a good god, or a god with a certain portfolio.
Unfortunately the Life Mystery lists Gozreh, Pharasma, and Sarenrae as it's contributing Deities, although I believe it is still considered acceptable to worship multiple deities as long as your class doesn't restrict you to just one (like Clerics or Inquisitors), and nothing says an Oracle must only worship gods that are connected to their Mysteries.
I'd allow it in any case.
I typed something snarkier up before I edited. The apology was for any who saw the pre-edit version.
Is an oracle limited to worshipping only one deity for the purposes of feats? Because their fluff text says they gain power from multiple deities, and a NG oracle would be one alignment away from all three of those deities...
You don't actually have to worship any diety as an Oracle. You get the curse and divine power whether you do or not. So you can pick whatever mystery you want regardless. Check out the Hangover Cleric guide for some fun ways to (ab)use, your stupid high channeling.
Beacon of Hope for Milani
Bestow Hope for Sarenrae
And if you use the non-tradmark-using versions of the feats on d20pfsrd.com, you can get many of these at once, because they only require that you worship a good god, or a god with a certain portfolio.
Ooooh I missed those two! I especially like Beacon of Hope for the bard-like bonuses.
I am now picturing a crazy angel-descended Oracle that worships all deities equally. Cool for the fluff, and awesome for the channel feats. :)
Some builds can heal a lot more hit points than clerics.
Clerics still come out on top because of flexible casting and the wide choice of all the status removal spells. If you don't have one, you can pray for it tomorrow.
Hangover clerics cannot be oracles, because oracles cannot channel negative energy or take Versatile Channeling. Has to be a cleric. Luckily, all it takes is a 1 level dip in cleric to get a negative channel pool, which is more than enough to daze everything in a 30 foot radius all day err' day.
Yes.
Is the trait that gives 1 extra channel a day cleric only?
Cleric and member of the Pathfinder Society are the prerequisites, so yeah, cleric only. :(
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Does 'Damage Mitigation' count as healing ability? I ask, because the most efficient way to heal is often to prevent the damage in the first place. Should we voluntarily limit this discussion to 'allies are hurt so we patch them up'? Is there any value in including 'prevent allies from getting hurt in the first place' in this discussion?
I.e. Given my druthers I'd take a 'healer' able to heal 0.75X HP damage and mitigate 0.75X HP over a 'healer' able to heal 1.00 X HP. If one ignores damage mitigation ability one undervalues some approaches. Perhaps this is the distinction between a 'healer' and a 'support caster'.
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Is the trait that gives 1 extra channel a day cleric only?Cleric and member of the Pathfinder Society are the prerequisites, so yeah, cleric only. :(
Depends on the source. The trait in the Faction Guide requires you to be a cleric. The trait in the Shattered Star Player's Guide does not. (The Shattered Star trait is not PFS legal, which is why this distinction matters to a lot of people.)
I am always curious why people recommend Aasimar for the life oracle. The half elf loses out on a +2 to a secondary stat but gets to pick the same revelation boosting FCB from Elf...
...Because that's not true. The half-elf FCB is a spells known, same as human and half-orc. Makes for an overall awesome FCB on a spontaneous caster, but it's not the revelation booster, unfortunately.
Darn, paragon surge would've been nice to add to the mix.
I suppose I could use scion of humanity and racial heritage to get access to the spell...
Unfortunately the Life Mystery lists Gozreh, Pharasma, and Sarenrae as it's contributing Deities, {. . .}
You don't actually have to worship any diety as an Oracle. You get the curse and divine power whether you do or not. {. . .}
This got me to look at the Archives of Nethys version of the Mystery class feature, which has the stuff specific to Pathfinder Campaign Setting, instead of the one on d20pfsrd.com, which removes it. The table in the Archives of Nethys version implies that you need to worship a deity connected to your Mystery, but the accompanying text doesn't come right out and say so.
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The table is just for ease of reference. If you actually look at the Oracle class on the PRD, there is no requirement to worship a deity.
I am always curious why people recommend Aasimar for the life oracle. The half elf loses out on a +2 to a secondary stat but gets to pick the same revelation boosting FCB from Elf......Because that's not true. The half-elf FCB is a spells known, same as human and half-orc. Makes for an overall awesome FCB on a spontaneous caster, but it's not the revelation booster, unfortunately.
Darn, paragon surge would've been nice to add to the mix.
I suppose I could use scion of humanity and racial heritage to get access to the spell...
Half elves can choose both elf and human FCB's. So they can take the bonus to a revelation or the extra spells known.
I admit I had forgotten that the half elf Oracle FCB was extra spells known but it doesnt detract from the original point. The half elf can both boost channel dice and gain new spells.
Well I'll be darned, you're right. That's a lot simpler than a scion of humanity aasimar with racial heritage.
Cleric.... Half-elf FCB and a couple of feats and you'll be able to channel 2 X 18 d6 per round by 20th...
At very high levels (15+), I'd put in an argument for Life Spirit shamans with the Fluid Magic hex. 8th-level Mass Heals are no joke; allows for many more casts and doesn't require you to burn precious 9th level slots on them. Their spontaneous condition removal and Breath of Life through their spirit spells is also much more useful than spontaneous cures.
Boosting channel is iffy to me, channel is great after combat healing, in combat you need a feat and 2 uses to do as a move, and a second feat to exclude enemies. However getting more spells known sure helps the Oracle know all the appropriate removal spells.
Each to their own tho.
lots of buffing and healing? Bards can do that job, too, but better on the buffing then the healing.
==Aelryinth
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As can Evangelist Clerics. Thus my earlier question about damage mitigation. Those classes usually fill the support caster role, which is a superset of the healer role. Neither Bard nor Evangelist can flat out heal as well as a dedicated healer, but both have far more damage mitigation potential. Which is more valuable to allies depends a lot on the party in question.
For straight hp restoration, Life oracle.
For status removal, it's hard to beat an animist shaman (Advanced Class Guide): Wrangle Condition 1/2 shaman level + Wis mod times per day; which is a Diplomacy check to succeed (and becomes automatic for certain conditions as the shaman increases in level). And Exorcism can get rid of domination/possession effects.
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Witch with the Grand Hex Summon Spirit can get any spell at any time for a bit of cash.
Add in the Major Hex Major Healing with the spell Hex Vulnerability for maximum HP healing.
They also get Cure X, Heal, Remove Blindness/Deafness, Remove Curse, Remove Disease, Raise Dead, Regenerate, Reincarnate, Resurrection, and Summon Monster X.
Restoring stat points is the most difficult, below Heal, but can be done.
/cevah