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TBC ANNIVERSARY - PHASE 3

PaladinHolyHealer

Holy Paladin Healer Guide - Mount Hyjal & Black Temple

A tank-healing specialist guide with a spell-rank ladder, mana and throughput loadouts, blessing coverage, cooldowns and every BT/Hyjal healing assignment.

GUIDE SCOPE

Built for repeatable Phase 3 raid execution

This searchable web edition is adapted from the original MCK Boost carrier handbook. It focuses on the included class, specialization and role only; it does not create placeholder coverage for missing specializations.

Build
45 / 11 / 5
Role
Healer
Raid tier
Phase 3
Source
20-page PDF

The universal framework keeps the complete healing and mana core while adding Kings, improved Wisdom and improved Might coverage.

View chapter index

01 - Raid plan

The raid-ready Holy Paladin

One build, one primary lane: keep a priority target alive while the raid executes.

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What you are best at

Stable, efficient single-target healing; excellent cooldowns; Blessing of Light scaling; armor, auras, cleanses and emergency blessings that change encounters.

What exposes you

Heavy simultaneous raid damage, movement, a lost Light's Grace buff, Holy Shock range, late mana consumables, or leaving the assigned tank to chase the meter.

LayerCarrier standardOutput payoff
Assignment
A named tank/target, backup healer, movement lane and dispel owner.No lethal gaps while raid healers solve the room.
Cast model
Light's Grace active; Holy Light ranks bound; Flash and Holy Shock used deliberately.Right heal size at the right speed and cost.
Mana
Potion early, rune planned, Divine Illumination mapped to a damage window.Full output still available in the final minute.
Utility
Blessing sheet, aura plan, Cleanse ownership, BoP/Freedom/LoH rules.The Paladin slot saves pulls beyond raw HPS.

02 - Raid plan

Race, professions, and raid access

Alliance racials barely change healing; choose the small edge that helps the whole preparation path.

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FactionBest raceWhyVerdict
Alliance
HumanDiplomacy accelerates the many reputation unlocks behind head, shoulder and other raid preparation. The Human Spirit is only a minor benefit because Spirit is weak while casting.Best current all-round recommendation.
Alliance alt
DwarfStoneform removes poison, disease and bleed effects and adds armor. It is a genuine personal survival button, not a throughput racial.Best defensive flavor.
Alliance alt
DraeneiHeroic Presence helps physical-hit party members; Gift of the Naaru is a slow supplemental heal. Neither raises core Holy throughput.Good fixed-roster utility.
Horde
Blood ElfOnly Horde Paladin race. Arcane Torrent is an instant AoE silence and mana-return utility button.Automatic best/only choice.
  • Enchanting is the personal-output anchor: Ring - Healing Power on both rings for +40 healing total.
  • Use Leatherworking only when your party needs its drummer; Tinnitus means the roster needs one, not five.
  • If the party already has drums, Jewelcrafting is the clean second personal-gain option.
  • Complete Vials of Eternity/Hyjal and the live Black Temple access chain required by the Anniversary rules.
  • Carry Symbols of Kings, water, spare shield/librams, resistance pieces and two extra wipe cycles of consumes.
  • Preferred min-max answer: Enchanting + roster-needed Leatherworking; otherwise Enchanting + Jewelcrafting.

03 - Talents

Default raid build: 45 / 11 / 5

All healing throughput and mana talents, Kings, improved Wisdom and improved Might in one universal framework.

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45 / 11 / 5

04 - Abilities

Rank ladder and Light's Grace

Healing is a size-and-speed decision, not one spell copied to every key.

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ButtonJobCarrier rule
Cheap Light's Grace refresh and small steady damage.Cast before the 15-second buff expires; do not let it create a tank gap.
Medium heal when max rank would overheal or drain the fight.Bind separately; choose from incoming damage, not current missing health alone.
Maximum throughput for tank spikes and danger phases.Default progression response when the next swing can kill.
Fast, cheap filler for low-to-moderate damage and 4pc T6 value.Do not substitute it for the heal size the assignment needs.
Holy Shock (Rank 5)
Instant emergency or movement heal at only 20 yards.Use when a cast cannot complete; watch range and high mana cost.
Cast-speed model

Light's Grace changes Holy Light from 2.5 to 2.0 seconds. Haste then divides cast time by 1 + haste percentage. Keep Grace first; haste never excuses losing the buff.

Cancel-cast model

Begin the next predictive heal and stop it only when the target is safe and the next swing is covered. Do not wait for health to fall before starting a 2-second cast.

05 - Gear & items

Build for the assignment, not a universal

BiS

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PriorityWhat it givesHow to use it
1. Healing Power
Largest direct increase to each heal.Compare similar items by healing first, then Intellect and sustain.
2. Intellect
15 mana per point; about 80 Intellect per 1% spell crit; 35% converts to healing through Holy Guidance.Excellent combined throughput and fight-length stat; never stack it without context.
3. Spell Crit
1.5x heal and Illumination mana return.Strong Holy Light sustain; valuable bonus, not an exclusive gem rule.
4. MP5
Reliable mana while casting.Best when fight length and cast density make the final minute the limiter.
5. Stamina
10 health per point.Carry enough to survive raid mechanics; dead healers have zero output.
Haste
About 15.77 rating per 1% at level 70; lowers cast time and GCD.No universal cap. Use selected haste when speed matters more than the lost sustain.
Saved setStat shapeUse
HL-SUSTAIN
Healing + Intellect + crit + MP5; 2pc T6.Default progression tank healing, long Council/Illidan, uncertain kill time.
FAST-CAST
Selected haste without sacrificing safe mana/health.Shorter reaction window, planned burst phases, fast boss swings.
FLASH
High healing; 4pc T6 if the assignment truly supports repeated Flash.Stable moderate tank damage and farm lanes.
MOVEMENT
Stamina plus instant-heal planning; movement speed enchant remains mandatory.Archimonde, Supremus, Illidan transitions.
SHADOW
Raid-assigned shadow resistance plus enough healing/mana/health.Mother Shahraz and any explicit raid resistance plan.

Phase 3 supports Holy Light sustain and fast-cast/Flash configurations; neither is correct everywhere.

06 - Gear & items

Black Temple + Hyjal endpoint map

A slot guide with explicit sustain and haste alternatives; loot priority still belongs to the raid.

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SlotPrimary endpointAssignment alternative
Head
Lightbringer GreathelmArchimonde; Tier 6 anchor.
Neck
Nadina's Pendant of PurityMother Shahraz; strong healing/sustain profile.
Shoulders
Lightbringer PauldronsMother Shahraz; Tier 6 anchor.
Back
Shroud of the HighborneIllidan haste route; Shroud of the Final Stand for non-haste sustain.
Chest
Lightbringer ChestpieceIllidan; Tier 6 anchor.
Wrists
Blessed Adamantite BracersRage Winterchill; Dawnsteel Bracers for haste route.
Hands
Glorious Gauntlets of CrestfallLady Vashj; use Lightbringer Gloves when completing 4pc.
Waist
Girdle of HopeAzgalor; strong Phase 3 healing belt.
Legs
Lightbringer LeggingsCouncil; Leggings of Eternity for off-set optimization.
Feet
Pearl Inlaid BootsNaj'entus; keep Boar's Speed on the equipped pair.
SlotEndpoint choicesDecision
Rings
Blessed Band of Karabor; Ring of Calming Waves; Band of the Eternal Restorer.Haste, sustain and reputation progression are all valid lanes.
Trinkets
Memento of Tyrande + Essence of the Martyr.Keep Scarab Brooch or Pendant of the Violet Eye for the assignment they solve.
Weapon
Crystal Spire of Karabor; Hammer of Atonement; Lightfathom Scepter.Crystal Spire is powerful and contested; raid value beats personal list order.
Off-hand
Felstone Bulwark; Bastion of Light; Scepter of Purification.Shield is the safe Phase 3 default; caster off-hand is a deliberate output swap.

07 - Gear & items

Two-piece first; four-piece by cast profile

Tier bonuses are tools. Equip them only when the spell they enhance is part of the actual assignment.

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Bonus / relicEffect on the planUse
Lightbringer 2pc
+5% Holy Light critical strike chance.High-value default for Holy Light throughput and Illumination sustain.
Lightbringer 4pc
+5% Flash of Light healing.Strong only when repeated Flash casts make up a meaningful part of the assignment.
Improves Blessing of Light's effect.Excellent when you own Blessing of Light and the tank-heal lane.
Holy Light-focused relic.Use for sustained Holy Light when it wins against the blessing relic.
Flash of Light-focused relic.Equip with the FLASH set, not by habit.
Alternative Holy Light throughput relic.Keep available and compare in the exact set.
QuestionYesNo
Will Holy Light carry the dangerous windows?
Lock 2pc T6 before evaluating off-pieces.Model the actual Flash/healing profile first.
Will Flash of Light dominate safe, repeatable damage?
Test 4pc T6 and Libram of Light.Do not give up stronger off-pieces only for the 4pc label.
Is cast speed the wipe limiter?
Load FAST-CAST and protect enough mana/health.Remain in HL-SUSTAIN.
Does the raid need Blessing of Light?
Use it and test Souls Redeemed.Use the assigned blessing and a spell-specific libram.

Set decision tree

08 - Gear & items

Gems and enchants

Current Wowhead favors Intellect-heavy finishing for Holy Light while retaining healing-power alternatives.

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SocketDefaultAlternative
Meta
Insightful Earthstorm DiamondMandatory mana-proc meta for the raid set.
Red
Teardrop Crimson Spinel / Living RubyMaximum healing power.
Yellow
Brilliant Lionseye / DawnstoneIntellect-heavy Holy Light route.
Orange
Luminous Pyrestone / Noble TopazHealing plus Intellect hybrid.
Blue
Royal Shadowsong Amethyst / NightseyeHealing plus MP5 and meta activation.
Green
Dazzling Seaspray Emerald / TalasiteIntellect plus MP5 hybrid.
SlotCurrent defaultOutput alternative
Head
Glyph of RenewalNone for general healing.
Shoulders
Greater Inscription of FaithOracle if already Scryer; do not reroll solely for the small gap.
Back
Major ResistanceMajor Armor or Subtlety by encounter.
Chest
Exceptional StatsRestore Mana Prime for a pure sustain choice.
Bracers
Major IntellectSuperior Healing for raw heal size.
Gloves
Major HealingNo meaningful raid-output alternative.
Legs
Golden SpellthreadSilver Spellthread only as temporary economy.
Boots
Boar's SpeedVitality only when movement speed is supplied another way.
Weapon
Major IntellectMajor Healing for raw heal size.
Shield
IntellectMajor Stamina for a survival-only resistance set.
Rings
Healing Power x2Enchanter-only; +40 healing total.

09 - Consumables

Mana is scheduled before the pull

Use the first potion when enough mana is missing, not when the bar is already empty.

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Dark Rune

Independent mana cooldown; costs health

SituationPackageRule
Progression
Distilled Wisdom, Brilliant Mana Oil, Skullfish Soup, Super Mana Potion, Dark Rune.Safest long-fight baseline.
Healing Power + Draenic Wisdom elixirs, oil, healing/crit food.Use only when flask persistence is not needed.
Hyjal waves
Water, extra potions/runes, Symbols of Kings, bandages.Drinkwalk after every safe wave; rebuff deaths immediately.
Resistance fight
Same mana package plus the raid's resistance consumables.Never sacrifice enough health to die to the mechanic.

10 - Abilities

Turn reactions into bindings

Raid frames must show your assignment, incoming heals, aggro, range, debuffs and temporary blessings.

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Lay on Hands

Wipe-prevention heal; consumes nearly all mana

Macro
#showtooltip Holy Light
/cast [@mouseover,help,nodead][@target,help,nodead][@player]
Holy Light(Rank 11)
Macro
#showtooltip Holy Light
/cast [@mouseover,help,nodead][@target,help,nodead][@player]
Holy Light(Rank 5)
Macro
#showtooltip Flash of Light
/cast [@mouseover,help,nodead][@target,help,nodead][@player]
Flash of Light(Rank 7)
Macro
#showtooltip Cleanse
/cast [@mouseover,help,nodead][@target,help,nodead][@player]
Cleanse
Macro
#showtooltip Divine Favor
/cast Divine Favor
/cast [@mouseover,help,nodead][@target,help,nodead] Holy
Light(Rank 11)
Macro
#showtooltip Lay on Hands
/cast [@mouseover,help,nodead][@target,help,nodead] Lay on
Hands
  • Track Light's Grace at 15 seconds with an audible warning before expiry.
  • Show Divine Illumination, Divine Favor, potion and rune availability beside the assignment frame.
  • Use a click-cast setup or equivalent mouseover binds; no target swapping for routine heals.
  • Recommended information stack: compact raid frames, boss timers, WeakAuras, Details and Method Raid Tools.

11 - Abilities

Blessings, auras, dispels, and immunities

Every temporary blessing overwrites the normal blessing. Rebuff after the emergency.

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AuraDefaultEncounter override
Concentration
Cast pushback protection when no stronger assignment exists.Excellent when raid damage hits healers during casting.
Devotion
Tank group armor when the Protection Paladin is not providing it.Physical-heavy tank assignment.
Fire Resistance
Never by habit.Anetheron Infernals, Azgalor fire overlap, Illidan Flames if assigned.
Frost Resistance
Rare raid default.Winterchill plan if the raid values it over other auras.
Shadow Resistance
Shadow-heavy encounter plan.Kaz'rogal, Azgalor, Teron, Mother and Demon Illidan as assigned.

Lay on Hands consumes nearly all remaining mana; Cleanse cannot remove curses. Assign each tool and its backup before the pull.

12 - Encounter

Wave healing operating procedure

Holy Paladin owns the wave tank or another priority target; raid healers own the broad damage pattern.

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MomentPaladin actionReason
Before spawn
Full mana, Light's Grace ready, tank frame focused, aura/blessing sheet checked.Hyjal gives little recovery time after a messy wave.
Pack lands
Pre-cast Holy Light on the wave tank; hold your position outside caster cones and mana burns.The first Abomination stun or caster volley is the lethal window.
Stable pack
Use the smallest safe rank; Flash only when damage pattern supports it; Cleanse assigned magic/poison/disease.Save mana without abandoning the tank.
Priority hazard
Spot-heal Icebolt/Infernal or loose-add targets only when the tank has another completed heal inbound.One good save cannot create a tank death.
Last mob
Refresh Light's Grace if useful, stop expensive casts, drink immediately and rebuff deaths.The next wave begins during cleanup.
MobHealing threatResponse
Abomination
Knockdown removes tank avoidance and creates a spike.Pre-cast Holy Light; do not rely on Flash reacting after the stun.
Necromancer / Banshee
Shadow volleys, anti-magic utility and curses.Spread, use Shadow aura if assigned; Paladin cannot remove curses.
Fel Stalker
Mana burn can remove the final-minute budget.Stay at safe range and kill priority; do not donate mana.
Infernal
Immolation and fire damage on its tank/group.Named Infernal-tank assignment and Fire aura if required.
Frost Wyrm / Gargoyle
Ranged damage away from the main pack.Keep line of sight; do not chase out of tank-heal range.

Mob hazards

13 - Encounter

Winterchill, Anetheron, Kaz'rogal

Movement, healer positioning and mana discipline define the first three boss assignments.

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BossBest assignmentHoly Paladin playbook
Rage Winterchill
Main-tank healer.Pre-cast through Frost Armor attack slow; step out of Death and Decay without outranging the tank. Cleanse Frost Nova roots. Holy Shock an Icebolt victim only after tank coverage is secure.
Anetheron
Boss tank or Infernal-tank healer.Spread so Carrion Swarm does not suppress multiple healers' output. If Swarm hits you, communicate the 75% healing-done reduction and let the backup cover. Keep the Infernal tank in range without standing in Immolation.
Kaz'rogal
Main-tank healer with a mana plan.Mark drains mana and explodes at zero. Potion/rune early, avoid unnecessary overheal, and enter the last minute with a reserve. Pre-cast through War Stomp and use Shadow aura only if assigned.
Winterchill movement

Move laterally, keep the tank within 40 yards, and use Holy Shock only during the step. Divine Shield can save you from a personal emergency, but positioning remains the output gain.

Kaz'rogal budget

Set a minimum mana reserve for the final Marks. A first potion used at high missing mana creates another potion later; waiting until 10% mana removes that option.

  • Reconfirm Blessing of Light ownership, aura, tank assignment and backup healer.
  • Refresh Greater Blessings after deaths and count Symbols of Kings.
  • Start Light's Grace with a safe low-rank Holy Light before the first dangerous boss swing.

14 - Encounter

Azgalor and Archimonde

Silence, Fear and movement are healer-coverage problems solved before the pull.

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BossAssignmentHoly Paladin playbook
Azgalor
Main-tank or Doomguard-tank healer.Howl of Azgalor silences: pre-cast and coordinate healers at different timings/positions. Step out of Rain of Fire; never chase a doomed player and lose the tank. Cover the Doomguard tank immediately when Doom resolves.
Archimonde
Dedicated main-tank healer.Preassign Fear coverage with Fear Ward, Tremor and PvP trinkets. Maintain 40-yard range through Doomfire movement, use Tears correctly after Air Burst, and never run across the raid to pad a Grip target. Paladin cannot remove curses.
Danger windowPre-pull answerYour action
Azgalor silence
At least two tank healers with staggered cast coverage.Begin Holy Light before Howl; Holy Shock after if movement or timing requires.
Doom resolves
Named Doomguard tank and healer.Acquire the tank frame immediately; do not wait for the add to reach camp.
Archimonde Fear
Named removal for each Fear cycle.Stand in Tremor range or use the assigned trinket; continue tank casts immediately.
Doomfire movement
Personal escape lane, no crossing through camp.Use short steps and Holy Shock; resume Holy Light before the next swing.
Air Burst
Tears of the Goddess bound and tested.Land safely, reacquire range and restore Light's Grace if it fell.

15 - Encounter

Naj'entus through Teron Gorefiend

Early BT tests burst-cycle timing, movement and dispel ownership.

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BossBest assignmentExecution focus
High Warlord Naj'entus
Main-tank healer.Keep raid health high before Tidal Shield breaks, then use Divine Illumination for the post-break healing surge. Tank coverage never stops while the raid recovers.
Supremus
Current boss or Hateful Strike tank healer.Use Holy Light while stationary; during kite phase, move early and bridge with Holy Shock. Reacquire the correct tank immediately when Phase 1 returns.
Shade of Akama
Add-tank healer, then burn support.Pre-cast on the add tank as waves merge; Cleanse assigned debuffs and keep line of sight near the doors. During the burn, use the smallest rank that keeps the tank safe.
Teron Gorefiend
Main-tank healer and Incinerate dispel backup.Stable Holy Light lane. Cleanse Incinerate only if assigned and without clipping tank coverage. If targeted by Shadow of Death, move to the designated area early and hand off the tank.
EncounterDivine IlluminationDivine Favor
Naj'entus
Shield-break recovery cycle.A max-rank Holy Light when tank and raid burst overlap.
Supremus
Sustained Phase 1 damage if mana allows a second use later.Hateful/tank spike after movement.
Shade
Only if add-tank damage is sustained enough to justify it.Loose-add or add-tank emergency.
Teron
On cooldown if it returns; otherwise final burn reserve.Tank spike or after returning from movement.

Cooldown map

16 - Encounter

Gurtogg and Reliquary

One fight is a single-target healer showcase; the other changes the healing rules every phase.

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Boss / phaseAssignmentHoly Paladin playbook
Gurtogg P1
Current tank in the rotation.Track tank swaps, Acidic Wound stacks and Bewildering Strike. Heal the active tank, not the threat leader from three seconds ago.
Gurtogg Fel Rage
Primary Fel Rage target healer.This is the ideal Paladin lane: max-rank Holy Light with Light's Grace, Divine Illumination and Divine Favor. The target gains health but also takes extreme damage; begin casting immediately.
Reliquary P1 - Suffering
No normal healing.Aura of Suffering prevents healing. Stop wasting mana, follow positioning, and prepare to recover during the transition/adds.
Reliquary P2 - Desire
Tank plus reflected-damage support.Maximum mana shrinks over time; use mana early and cast decisively. Interrupt coverage is more important than padding; never feed an unsafe Spirit Shock cast.
Reliquary P3 - Anger
Tank healer through escalating raid damage.Front-load Divine Illumination, potion/rune and maximum Holy Light. The phase is a race; preserve the tank while raid healers handle the rising aura.

'rotation' is wrong three times. Change your cast and cooldown plan at each essence.

17 - Encounter

Mother Shahraz and Illidari Council

Resistance survival and long-fight assignment discipline decide the late-instance healing check.

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BossAssignmentHoly Paladin playbook
Mother Shahraz
One of the Saber Lash tank healers.Wear the raid's shadow-resistance target while preserving enough healing, mana and health. Pre-cast Holy Light into Saber Lash. Fatal Attraction players move away; do not chase them and abandon the tanks.
Illidari Council
Gathios tank or another named tank healer.Stay with the assignment through Consecration, Flamestrike and Blizzard movement. Cleanse magic/poison effects only by plan. Save mana for the late overlap; Council is long enough to punish a late first potion.
Saved setMotherCouncil
HL-SUSTAIN
Only if the raid's shadow-resistance requirement is already met.Default; long encounter and repeated tank danger.
FAST-CAST
Useful only if survival and mana remain safe.Selected for fast movement recovery or tank spike coverage.
FLASH
Risky if Saber Lash requires larger heals.Can work on a lower-damage assignment, not automatically on Gathios.
SHADOW
Primary saved set; validate fully buffed resistance and health.Not required unless the raid uses an unusual strategy.
  • Start moving before Blizzard/Flamestrike covers the cast point; bridge with Holy Shock only if needed.
  • Potion at the first high missing-mana window so another is available late.
  • Do not Cleanse every visible icon if it creates a tank-heal gap; honor the dispel assignment.

18 - Raid plan

Five phases, one protected assignment

Every transition names a new damage pattern, tank and cooldown question.

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PhaseHoly Paladin assignmentExecution
P1 ground
Illidan main-tank healer.Pre-cast through Shear windows and Draw Soul; move from Flame Crash with short steps. Keep the tank in range while positioning for Parasites.
P2 Flames
Dedicated Flame tank healer.Follow one Flame of Azzinoth lane, avoid Blaze and Eye Beam, and keep the fire-resistance tank in range. Use Holy Shock only for movement; Holy Light carries Flame Blast.
P3 ground
Main tank plus Agonizing Flames spot support.Reacquire after the threat reset, keep the tank covered, and only help the debuffed raid target when another tank heal is inbound.
P4 Demon
Warlock shadow-tank healer.Equip/activate the raid's shadow plan, spread for Shadow Blast, stay outside dangerous Aura of Dread positioning and maintain range through movement.
P5 final
Main-tank healer through Frenzy and trap movement.Spend the remaining mana: Divine Illumination, potion/rune, max Holy Light and planned Lay on Hands. Movement must preserve the tank cast lane.
CheckPass condition
Build
45/11/5 trained; every heal rank and utility spell learned.
Sets
HL-SUSTAIN, FAST-CAST, FLASH, MOVEMENT and SHADOW saved and enchanted.
Bindings
Ranks 5/9/11 Holy Light, Flash, Holy Shock, Cleanse, BoP, Freedom, LoH and bubble are mouseover-ready.
Timers
Light's Grace, potion/rune, Divine Illumination/Favor and boss danger windows visible.
Roster
Tank, backup, aura, blessing, dispel and movement lane named for every phase.
Bag
Two extra wipe cycles, Symbols of Kings, water, oils, resistance pieces and repaired gear.

Pull-ready checklist

assignment never abandoned without a handoff; emergency blessing followed by the normal rebuff.

19 - Raid plan

Current research and clickable references

Class guidance was cross-checked against live 2026 TBC updates and encounter references.

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World of Warcraft, Blizzard and related names/art are trademarks or copyrights of Blizzard Entertainment. Wowhead icons are used for descriptive in-game identification. This is an independent player handbook.

ORIGINAL MCK BOOST HANDBOOK

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Keep the original designed handbook for offline reference. It includes the full layout, linked identification references and printable preparation cards.

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