Best Healer to Duo with a Zerker Long-Term?

[Barruk]

Hello all, The wife and I are going to start a set of alts (eventually to be mains?), and while it seems alot of what's said here is negative about zerkers, I really like the concept of the class and I'm going with it. Can anyone suggest the best healer subclass to go with as a partner to a zerker? Thanks in advance! <div></div>

[OgApostrap]

Probably a cleric? But who knows, shamans are getting their wards fixed....

[Darkd]

I would like the mystics once they get fixed.  Avatar is one awesome spell.

[DrMarshmall]

I 2 boxed a zerker and warden to 50 and loved it.

[yzyh]

<P>If you only plan to duo o with one fot he druid or shaman class. They can heal good in duo and be nice buffer.</P> <P> </P> <P>If you plan to group temp/inq are the 2 best healer in games so it can be good. But druid would be good also. If you plan to group alot just avoide shamans sine most poeple don,t want a shaman as main healer in many zone.</P>

[Pnaxx]

<DIV>A Templar and I rocked as a Duo. That being said, any healer is fine.</DIV>

[Daemo]

<P>Played my inquisitor to 50 and got bored. Started a zerker on my second account, and am 48 now. I can say, the sick haste, and Act of Faith proc, combined with the very vague *dps increasing heals*, really do make my dps soar.</P> <P> </P> <P>I hit 223% in attack speed buffs for 35 seconds. Intolerant Healing and Zealotry stack with our zerks, and combine for a blurr of damage.</P> <P> </P> <P>/show_window MainHUD.Character</P> <P> </P> <P>Go to the bottom right scroll window, and attack speed is listed about 10-15 stats down from the top.</P> <P> </P> <P>I have been 2 boxing since EQ1, just because I refuse to ever sit LFG again. And this is a very fun/rewarding combo for me.</P>

[Adrenachro]

<DIV>I have duo'ed with all the healer classes for long bouts at a time, and the overriding comment I have is that they are ALL great.  Each class has some amazing buffs and abilities that are all incredibly useful, it's difficult to objectively say which is 'best'.  The only thing that matters to me is: Does the healer you're grouped with know their class?  If they do, ANY healer works, and works very well.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>The best actual healing is hands down done by Inquisitors/Templars due to their reactive heals.  If you like seeing your health full a lot, these are the ones for you!  They are also the most defensive of the three healer classes so they perhaps don't have the same 'utility' and offensive buffs as the other two classes.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I regularly duo with a Warden and Defiler, so I'll comment on them.  I love their SoW (and Warden's other run buff, Pact of the Pride).  Stacking with JBoots, my Warden buddy and I run at around 140% speed, which means a lot less time messing around (and easier getaways!).  Cast Spirit totem of the Wolf on top of that, and we absolutely FLY.  Sure, it doesn't help winning fights, but stuff like doing the Rune collection quest in To Speak as a Dragon is incredibly quick :smileywink:</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>In terms of stat buffing and actually winning tough fights, in my opinion and experience a shaman-class healer might have a slight advantage.  Shammies buff strength a lot (clerics do this too I think?), which is very important in a duo since as a Zerker, you're the main damage dealer, so with str well above 200 the extra bonus - and power - is extremely beneficial.  On top of that, Defilers have the most insane debuffs in the game, which, alongside the Zerker's great damage potential, means your Zerker/Defiler duo kills mobs ridiculously quickly.  What's the icing on the cake for me is that Shammies ALSO get wards.  They really are an awesome class.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I'll add for the case of Wardens, their heal-over-times can be quite useful as they often nicely counteract the damage I'm taking, leaving my hitpoints relatively untouched.  My Warden buddy also has a Master I of the Damageshield buff, and I find when tanking I can actually be a bit lazier with taunting because of the extra damage that buff gives me every time I hit.  Wardens also have evac, which can be very handy when duoing (especially if you love pulling groups and constantly using Blood Rage like I do :smileyvery-happy: ).  Furies (the other druid class) get group invisibility, which again can be extremely useful.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>All three classes are great.  Above all, remember that the best healer to duo with is a good friend that you enjoy playing with and that -knows their class-.  It just so happens that my Warden and Defiler friends are also my good friends in RL!</DIV><p>Message Edited by Adrenachrome on <span class=date_text>07-06-2005</span> <span class=time_text>03:08 PM</span>

[Aeeri]

I 2 box with a templar and it has been great. There are a few levels where it is tough to find single dbl up mobs to xp on (like level 30) but i can and usually fight dbl ups 2-3 levels above me and have no problems whatsover getting 1.6 - 2.0% per kill.

[Strewth]

The best combo imho is Zerk and Fury (group invis, gets you to the tough spots) or Zerk and Warden, evac gets you out of the tough spots.. I have a tendancy to like a bit of utility, makes your hunting options a little more versatile.. <div></div>

[Stovokh]

<P>I have 3 healer types on 1 account (Fury, Shaman and Templar) that I have used off/on with my Berzerker.</P> <P>Hands down, I can handle more / tougher mobs with the Templar (not even close) as of level 42. While the Fury was nice for SoW and the buffs/dots/DS are nice - still, there was no comparison when it came to taking on ^^ and even Epic mobs. Those that were impossible with the Fury were doable with the Templar. Unfortunately, the Shaman buff issues took it out of the running, so I quit leveling it in the mid 20's.</P> <P> </P>

[Adrenachro]

<P>Wow that's an interesting find Stov, didn't know there was that much difference.</P> <P>Can someone elaborate on these Shaman buff issues.  Also, what is wrong with their wards?</P>

[Dae]

I think the damage mitigation your armour grants is calculated after the ward absorbs damage. Therefore using a ward to prevent damage is less efficient than just directly healing the damage. <div></div>

[RiotActer]

<DIV>I started a Froglok Berserker.  He's now lvl 29.  I've been duo-ing with an Inquistor since the beginning.  I feel this is a really strong combo.  The debuffs are great and really increase damage.  Our main toons are a lvl 50 pally and 49 warden.  I must say that is a great combo too.</DIV>

[Stovokh]

<P>Daerv is correct - and as a result, the healing power of the Shaman wards are greatly reduced.</P> <P>The basic 'healing mechanics' are such that the templar wards are more efficient than the others as they are reactive (and from a hate standpoint still seem to generate primarily towards the tank), whereas the Fury/Warden regen types heal 'x' per tick. If you are fully healed, the remaining regen is wasted/lost, whereas the ward waits until you are hit (or timer expires). Plus, the total amount the templar ward heals per spell / power cost is much greater. </P> <P>The Fury of course is a much better damage dealer than the Templar and quite frankly more fun to play, but when duo-boxing, I mostly just ward and throw a debuff / nuke or two when time permits.</P> <P>Hopefully, they will change this in one of the upcoming LU's to bring the Shaman wards back into line - but as they are now - that class (IMO) is at the bottom of the list (healing wise).</P> <P>All of that said, a well played Fury/Warden (not duo-boxed) with proper Adept I/III spells, does pretty well. I have grouped with some and played my Fury solo and done ok as primary healer. So, it all comes down to playstyle, etc. All of my tests were purely based on duo-boxing.</P> <P> </P> <P> </P>

[Sabin the Gre]

I'd have to say that for duo'ing all through the game go warden.  Early they have the nice HoT's, coupled with offensive capabilities.  Later they add avoidance + Elemental resists which are massive.  Late game I can duo just about any small group instance with a good warden (the exception being the ^^^ Valkerie in Everfrost), which unless your raiding is what duo'ing is all about (this includes BoF). 

[Sokolov]

Something I didn't hear mentioned about wards is that they suck even more than what has been described. If you are about to be attacked for 1000 damage, and you mitigate 50%, you take 500 damage for either a cleric or druid to heal - straight forward enough. If you are about to be attacked for 1000 damage, and you mitigate 50% and have a ward on for 500 damage, the ward absorbs 500, and the rest of the damage hits you, UNMITIGATED for 500.  Thus, the Ward placed on you in that case?  Totally useless. You can see how this would suck on big hitters, but it crops up even in XP groups when your ward has absorbed a lot of damage already or something like a Nightblood Barrages for 900. <div></div>