Mistweaver Monk Healing Guide

Updated for Warlords of Draenor Stats, Gems, & Enchants

Warlords of Draenor brings a number of significant changes to Mistweavers, beyond the ten levels and new talents. There’s a long list of changes, beyond the many Monk abilities that were removed. Check out our Mistweaver changes in WoD post for all the details.

As an example, Blizzard says, “Having two play styles in one spec (Eminence and traditional Mistweaving, healing primarily through casting heals) proved challenging to balance, because we don’t want players to take the best parts of both and stack them into an unintended superior spec. The most notorious of these cases was “Jab-Jab-Uplift”. In order to solve this problem, we’re giving Mistweavers two stances. Stance of the Wise Serpent will continue to be the stance from which to do traditional Mistweaving. The new Stance of the Spirited Crane will be the stance to use for Eminence. You can swap stances at will, with only the cost of a GCD and any current Chi that you’ve accrued. The intention is that Crane Stance allows Mistweavers to trade healing for damage; it should fall somewhere in the middle between being a full healer, and being a full damage dealer.”

This Mistweaver Monk guide is primarily intended for use at level 100. However, the principals will still apply during the leveling process. If you want the same in-game step by step leveling guide that we use to get to level 100 as fast as possible, take a look at our favorite in-game leveling guide.

Mistweaver Contents Mistweaver Talents Glyphs mist Stats Rotations Gems Enchants Food and Flasks Professions Races Videos Leveling Quickly

Our Other Monk Guides: Brewmaster tanking Windwalker DPS Windwalker gearing guide Monk Leveling Guide

 

 

Mistweaver Talents

Our picks are checked: . The picks below represent the most generally useful picks, but keep in mind that certain talents are better for some situations, while other talents might be better at other times. Keep a stack of Tome of the Clear Mind handy for switching talents as the need arises.

Tier 1 offers us three mobility enhancing talents. Depending on the situation (which means you’ll have to know the fights,) you might want to change picks to suit the fight.

1. Celerity is one of two options this tier that enhance roll and Chi Torpedo, increasing the limit of charges by 1 and reducing the cooldown time by a small amount. Not as useful as the others.
2. Tiger’s Lust gives us a speed increasing spell that can be cast on both ourselves and others. It also breaks snares and roots giving it much greater utility that the other two talents. Basically it’s a partial PvP trinket and movement boost with a short enough cooldown. It let’s you move right now, when you really need it, though the others have more general use.
3. Momentum is a passive that causes our Roll and Chi Torpedo abilities to grant us a speed increase for a short time, stacking up to 2 times. This is my personal favorite for situations where a lot of constant movement is needed.

The choice for this tier is largely preference based. Tiger’s Lust offers the greatest speed increase, but also has the shortest duration. The other two improve your consistent mobility, but can’t be cast on other players.

1. Chi Wave is a basic chain heal type ability. Possibly the most generally useful of the three.
2. Zen Sphere summons a sphere that periodically heals the target and damages a nearby enemy. Zen Sphere can be detonated early for a small burst of AoE healing.
3. Chi Burst is best used for healing a stacked up raid. With 5.2 it does more healing and a lot more damage and has no Chi cost. If you groups tend to pile up then this is your pick.

1. Power Strikes causes our Jab to generate an additional 1 Chi once every 20 seconds. Power Strikes grants the greatest overall Chi generation, making it the superior option the majority of the time.
2. Ascension increases your maximum Chi by 1, increases your mana, and increases energy regen. Since this one does not increase mana regen, it loses out to Power Strikes.
3. Chi Brew instantly restores all of our Chi on a 1.5 minute cooldown.

1. Ring of Peace: New – Ring of Peace forms an 8 yard sanctuary around one friendly target for 8 seconds and causing all enemies (both players and NPCs) in the area of effect to be disarmed for 4 seconds. In addition, enemies that cast a damaging spell while within the area of effect will be silenced for 3 seconds, aftercasting the spell. The ability has a 45-second cooldown. This will reduce damage done by enemies near the target and it a good thing to put on your tank.
2. Charging Ox Wave sends out a mighty ox head which stuns all targets in its path up to 30 yards away. Nice if you have to get out of the middle of something. Not targeted, so you have to face the correct direction. Does not do knockback.
3. Leg Sweep stuns all enemies within a 5 yard radius. This might be the best choice for dealing with groups of trash mobs. Stunned enemies don’ t do damage. Unlike Ring this isn’t ranged.

Your choice from this tier should be based on the encounter you’re currently facing.

1. Healing Elixirs adds a small heal to our use of Brew/Tea abilities. A useful healing ability given how often it’ll trigger.
2. Dampen Harm probably won’t be of much use for us,unless we somehow are under heavy assault. Then it’s great.
3. Diffuse Magic could be a very helpful damage mitigation cooldown on fights with heavy magic damage against you.

Healing Elixir offers a frequent healing effect, making it the optimal choice the majority of the time save for when dealing with heavy magic damage in which case Diffuse Magic is optimal.

1. Rushing Jade Wind is a nice boost to our AoE healing, increasing healing done by your Spinning Crane Kick.
2. Invoke Xuen, the White Tiger is a poor choice, as you’re neither tank nor DPS.
3. Chi Torpedo offers a bit of healing every time you use Roll, not a bad choice.

All three options this tier could be useful depending on the situation/healing demanded.

 

Mistweaver Monk Glyphs

The “best” glyphs depend on the fight and what you’re doing. Swap ’em as necessary, using the same Tome of the Clear Mind as you do for talents. All of the significant ability modifiers are with the Major glyphs.

Major Glyphs

• Glyph of Mana Tea – Your mana tea becomes instant, which is pretty useful, but now has 10 sec. cooldown.
• Glyph of Surging Mist – Surging Mist now longer requires a target. Now it finds and heals the lowest health party member within 40 yrs.
• Glyph of Renewing Mists – Now your Mists travels to the furthest (up to 40 yrs) injured target, rather than the nearest.
• Glyph of Uplift – Your Uplift no longer requires Chi, which is nice, but now costs mana instead.
• Glyph of Life Cocoon – Can now be cast while stunned.
• Glyph of Zen Meditation – Can now cast your Zen Mediation while moving. Pretty situational, but very nice when that situation pops up.

Minor Glyphs

These are mostly cosmetic, but the three shown have occasional utility.

• Glyph of Spirit Roll – Roll while dead. Hopefully you won’t have much use for this.
• Glyph of Water Roll – Roll over water.
• Glyph of Zen Flight – Nothing is better than flying on a meditative cloud, right?

 

Mistweaver Monk Stat Priorities

Warlords Notes: Hit, Expertise, and reforging are dead, along with any abilities dealing in those stats. Your Int no longer adds to your Crit rating, but you now start with a base of 5%. There are two new stats, Multistrike and Versatility, which may prove to be valuable. You now have something called an “Attuned Stat,” Multistrike in your case, gained from your new level 90 Jade Mists ability.

Note that gems and enchants no longer add to primary stats, so all of your Int will come from effects and gear.

• Warlords stat Priority: Multistrike > Crit > Int > Versatility > Haste > Mastery

Multistrike gives you a chance to get one or two additional strikes (heals) at 30% effect. With you new Jade Mists ability, “Your Renewing Mist and Rising Sun Kick have a chance equal to your multistrike chance to not go on cooldown when used.”

Crit You have a chance equal to your crit strike to proc extra Mana Tea.

Spirit needs to be stacked until you are happy with your mana usage. You don’t need to be at 100% mana in your fights, but you want to be very sure that you don’t run out. Spirit will have to come primarily from gear.

Intelligence is your main “power” stat. It’s down in the priority last since you can’t really stack it anymore. Gems and Echants only have the secondary stats. Otherwise it improves everything that you do.

Versatility is an add to your heals, your damage, and your damage reduction. It doesn’t speed up anything or proc anything, so isn’t as valuable as the others.

Haste lowers your cooldown and cast times, and also your global cooldown. It speeds up everything you do and helps to burn mana faster.

Mastery gives a chance for your heals to summon a Healing Sphere near an ally.

Stacking stats is something that you will do with gear choices and the few gems and enchants that

 

 

In-Depth Rotation Guide

Mistweaver Monks have a very active healing style, and to get full use of their abilities requires that you constantly utilize a variety of Chi building attacks and finishing moves in addition to regular healing. During times of heavy damage, the use of your regular attacks may be impossible as the healing role demands your full attention.

Also see the video, below.

Stance of the Wise Serpent and your Jade Serpent Statue should always be active.

Eminence and Serpent’s Zeal allow you to heal while damaging a boss, making it optimal to stay within melee range as often as possible so long as doing so won’t interfere with your direct healing duties.

1. Jab is your standard melee, Chi building attack.
2. Crackling Jade Lightning is a channeled attack spell with a 25% chance of generating 1 Chi each tick of damage. This best used when you are unable to melee a target.
3. Expel Harm damages your target, generates a Chi point and heals you.
4. Blackout Kick grants you a stack of Serpent’s Zeal when used, this effect stacks up to 2 times and should be maintained as often as possible, meaning using Blackout Kick once every 30 seconds.

Using Tiger Palm grants us stacks of the Vital Mists buff which reduces the cast time and mana cost of your next Surging Mist by 20% per stack, stacking up to a maximum of 5 times.

1. If a target is taking low to moderate damage, simply using Soothing Mist and the occasional Enveloping Mists should be enough. If they start taking heavier damage, add Surging Mist into your rotation.
2. Soothing Mist is a low-mana single target heal best used for periods of low to moderate damage. Using Soothing Mist makes both Enveloping Mist and Surging Mist instant cast, making it beneficial to continue channeling Soothing Mist on your target at all times, throwing in either of your other heals as is necessary.
3. Enveloping Mists heals the target and increases the healing the target receives from Soothing Mist by 30%. Enveloping Mist is instant cast if used when you are already channeling Soothing Mist.
4. Surging Mist is an emergency heal with a high mana cost, but short cast time. Use this if you have 5 stacks of Vital Mists or when a target is taking heavy damage. Surging Mist is instant cast if used while channeling Soothing Mist.
5. Healing Sphere creates sphere that heal an ally when they walk through it, use this to place on-demand heals for raid members.

AoE/Multi-Target Healing

When healing multiple targets, use Renewing Mist for moderate damage, and add in Uplift when possible if the extra healing is necessary. Continue to make use of Soothing Mist and Surging Mist to generate Chi for use with Uplift.

• Revival heals all members of the raid and removes all Poison, Magical, and Disease effects present making it an effective dispel tool in addition to a heal.
• Renewing Mist places both a HoT effect on your target and a healing effect which jumps up to 3 nearby allies, healing them as well.
• Uplift instantly heals all targets with the Renewing Mist HoT. The duration of the Renewing Mist HoT can be refreshed by using Uplift in conjunction with Thunder Focus Tea.
• Spinning Crane Kick is a channeled AoE heal with an 8 yard radius. Spinning Crane Kick can be channeled while moving, allowing for mobile AoE healing.

Cooldowns

Mana Tea stacks are generated through use of Chi. Mana Tea is a channeled spell that restores mana based on the number of Mana Tea stacks you have, and is best used when you have free time where channeling won’t prevent you from healing as necessary. Taking the glyph makes Mana Tea instant cast, allowing you to work it into your normal rotation.

1. Cast Life Cocoon on any target that is taking or is about to take heavy damage.
2. Use Thunder Focus Tea as often as possible.

Tier 2 Talent Abilities

1. Chi Wave is a bouncing heal most effective on moderate numbers of players.
2. Zen Sphere has a fairly weak HoT and is best used with the intent of detonating the sphere for burst AoE healing, although this will cost 4 Chi making it expensive and fairly inefficient.
3. Chi Burst is a useful, directed AoE heal effect best used on a stack of players.

Tier 3 Talent Abilities

1. Power Strikes is a passive increase to Chi generation.
2. Chi Brew can be used for burst healing as it allows you to instantly cast any Chi-costing heal.
3. Ascension passively increases your maximum Chi.

Tier 6 Talent Abilities

1. Rushing Jade Wind is a powerful AoE healing effect that also boosts the effect of Spinning Crane Kick. Use this for periods of heavy raid damage.
2. Invoke Xuen, the White Tiger grants indirect healing due to Eminence.
3. Chi Torpedo replaces roll, adding a healing effect on top of the regular roll action.

Also see the video, below.

 

Mistweaver Monk Gems

Note: Gems and enchants can be expensive. If you find yourself short of the cash needed to buy expensive gems then you should see this post.

Your Leather bonus adds to any Int gem bonuses, making them worth 5% more Int. That bonus does not add to other stats.

For gem slot in gear under item level 600:

Note that if you’re lower than 85 you can use similar gems for your level: Brilliant, reckless, etc.

• Meta: If you can do the legendar quest, then the Courageous Primal Diamond is good for the mana savings and, obviously, the Int. Otherwise get the Revitalizing Primal Diamond
• Red slots: Brilliant Primordial Ruby:
• Yellow slots: Reckless Vermilion Onyx
• Blue slots: Sparkling River’s Heart or Purified Imperial Amethyst
• Belt buckle or Blacksmithing slots: Brilliant Primordial Ruby

Warlords Gem Notes

• Gems sockets are actually few and far between Also, there are no meta gems or sockets, there are no socket bonuses, and all sockets are “prismatic,” which means that they will take any available gem.
• The gem themselves are actually available. They are all prismatic, meaning they fit into any socket. None have Int, they all have secondary stats (Mastery, etc.) Apparently there are no Meta sockets or gems.
• Older (Mists of Pandaria) gems work until item level 600, but the item squish cut them down a bit. What used to be 160 Int is now 10, for example. The new Prismatic gems are 50 points of Mastery or whatever.
• Older gems (Mists of Pandaria and lower) that used to code for Hit now do Crit, gems that had Expertise are now Haste.

Warlords Gemming: Gem for Multistrike and Crit.

Gems for warlords of Draenor
Prismatic		Greater Multistrike Taladite: +50 MultiStrike Multistrike Taladite: +35 Multistrike Greater Critical Strike Taladite: +50 Crit Critical Strike Taladite: +35 CritThe lesser gems are far less expansive.
Mists of Pandaria Gems, for gear under ilevel 600.
Meta		Courageous Primal Diamond: +20 Intellect and chance on beneficial spell to make your spells cost no mana for 4 sec. Sinister Primal Diamond: +20 Critical Strike, and chance on spell damage to gain 30% spell haste Capacitive Primal Diamond: +20 Critical Strike, and chance on melee or ranged hit to gain Capacitance Burning Primal Diamond: +14 Int & 3% Increased Crit Effect Ember Primal Diamond: +14 Intellect and +2% Maximum Mana Revitalizing Primal Diamond: +27 Spirit & 3% Increased Crit Effect
Red		Brilliant Primordial Ruby: 10 Int
Yellow		Smooth Sun’s Radiance: +20 Crit
Blue		Sparkling River’s Heart: +20 Spirit Rigid River’s Heart: +20 Crit Lightning Wild Jade: +10 Haste and +10 Crit
Orange		Potent Vermilion Onyx: +5 Int & +10 Crit Reckless Vermilion Onyx: 5 Int, 10 Haste Artful Vermilion Onyx: +5 Int & +10 Mastery
Green		Energized Wild Jade: +10 Haste, +10 Spirit Sensei’s Wild Jade: +10 Crit and +10 Mastery
Purple		Purified Imperial Amethyst: +5 Int, +10 Spirit Veiled Imperial Amethyst: 5 Int and 10 Crit
Cogwheel		Sparkling Tinker’s Gear: 38 Spirit – requires an engie helm, such as this. Quick Tinker’s Gear: 38 Haste Smooth Tinker’s Gear: 38 Crit

 

Mistweaver Enchantments

Short on gold? If you want to buy the best enchants, fund all of your alts, donate to the guild, etc., but don’t have the cash, then see what the Tycoon Addon can do about about fixing your poverty.

Warlords Notes: There are no head enchants, all shoulder enchants come from the Inscription profession and are only for items under items level 600.

There are new enchants for Neck, Cloak, Weapons, and your Rings. Not for any other pieces. (Not yet, anyway.)

Enchant for: Multistrike, then Crit. There is a Spirit enchant is available for your weapon(s.)

Warlords of Draenor Enchantments
Weapons, Main & Off-Hand	Warlords: Enchant Weapon – Mark of the Thunderlord – Chance for +500 Crit for 6 seconds, your crits might increase the duration. Enchant Weapon – Mark of Shadowmoon – Sometimes increases Spirit by 500 for 6 seconds. Enchant Weapon – Mark of the Frostwolf – Sometimes increases your Multistrike by 500 for 6 seconds, this effect can stack twice. Note: There is a “Glory of” version of each of these enchants which looks just the same as the above, so they are not included here. Mists: Enchant Weapon – Jade Spirit: Sometimes increases Int by 83, might increase Spirit by 750 if mana is low. Enchant Weapon – Windsong: Sometimes increase Crit, Haste, or Mastery by 75 for 12 seconds. Off Hand: Enchant Off-Hand – Major Intellect: +25 Int
Cloak	Warlords: Enchant Cloak – Gift of Critical Strike – +100 Crit and +10% movement speed Enchant Cloak – Gift of Multistrike– +100 Multistrike and +10% movement speed Note: There is a “breath of” version of each of these enchants which have the same stats, but without the 10% movement bonus, and which is probably cheaper. Mists: Enchant Cloak – Superior Intellect: +15 Int
Rings	Warlords: Enchant Ring – Gift of Critical Strike: +50 Cri Enchant Ring – Gift of Multistrike: +50 Multistrike Note: There is a “breath of” version of each of these enchants with +30 Stats, instead of +50.
Neck	Warlords: Enchant Neck – Gift of Critical Strike: +75 Crit Enchant Neck – Gift of Multistrike: +75 Multistrike Note: There is a “breath of” version of the above enchant which provides +40 to the stats, instead of +75
Enchants for item levels below 600.
Shoulders	Greater Crane Wing Inscription: +15 Int and 5 Crit
Chest	Enchant Chest – Glorious Stats: +9 to all Stats Enchant Chest – Mighty Spirit: +25 Spirit
Bracers	Enchant Bracer – Super Intellect: +15 Int
Gloves	Enchant Gloves – Superior Mastery: +25 Mastery
Belt	Livingsteel Belt Buckle: Gem slot for a nice Int gem
Leggings	Greater Pearlescent Spellthread: +19 Int and +11 Spirit Greater Cerulean Spellthread: +19 Int and +11 Crit
Boots	Enchant Boots – Greater Precison: +12 Crit rating Enchant Boots – Pandaren’s Step: +10 Mastery, slight run speed increase.

 

Consumables for Mistweavers

Note that Pandarens get twice the food buff. All food buffs last one hour. Alchemists get about 30% more effect and an extra hour from Flasks and Elixirs.
Foods

In Warlords there are no elixirs that give stats, but your flasks, potions, and foods do.

Foods

• Rylak Crepes: 75 multistrike for 1 hour.
• Fiery Calamari: 75 multistrike for 1 hour.
• Mogu Fish Stew: 34 Int
• Steamed Crab Surprise: 34 Spirit
• Braised Turtle: 31 Int
• Fire Spirit Salmon: 31 Spirit

Flasks

• Greater Draenic Intellect Flask: 250 Int for one hour
• Draenic Intellect Flask: 200 Int for one hour.
• Flask of the Warm Sun: 114 Int for an hour.
• Flask of Falling Leaves: 114 Spirit for an hour.

Potions

• Draenic Intellect Potion: 1,000 Int for 25 seconds
• Potion of the Jade Serpent: 456 Int for 25 seconds. If you pop one immediately before combat you will be able to pop another during combat.
• Master Healing Potion: Heals 12k HP
• Master Mana Potion: About 6k Mana

 

 

 

Professions for Mistweavers

Profession bonuses are dead in Warlords. You can make your starting raid gear, but the resource cost will mean at least a couple of weeks to make each piece (limited in how many resources you can get per day.)

Mistweaver Professions
Tailoring
Leatherworking
Jewelcrafting
Enchanting
Inscription
Alchemy
Engineering
Blacksmithing
Skinning
Herbalism
Mining

 

Race Choices for the Mistweaver Monk

Worgen and Goblins are the only races which cannot become Monks. Perhaps they’re not serene enough…

In Warlords all racial abilities with Hit or Expertise are gone. Some were replaced. All races now have something that will add to your heals.

Pandaren

• Can be either Horde or Alliance
• Better buffs from food is a nice benefit. Pick an Int, Spirit, etc. buff as the situation demands.
• Rested XP lasts longer, for faster leveling.
• Melee range stun will be occasionally useful to allow you to get some range.
• Take less falling damage.

Alliance Monks

Human

• Diplomacy skills make rep gains less grinding
• Escape ability will have occasional use, but is more for PvP
• Increased Versatility.

Dwarf

• Storm form washes away some effects and reduces damage by 10%, which will have occasional use.
• +2% effect from your critical damage or critical heals

Night Elf

• 2% Dodge is a rarely useful stat for healers.
• Shadowmeld is great for when the opposition comes looking to make you into lunch.
• 2% faster run
• +1% Crit by day, +1% Haste by night.

Gnome

• Your Escape will find occasional use, but more in PvP.
• Increased manapool might find some use.

Draenei

• Increased Int (and Ag for your Walkwalker spec.)
• The self-heal might be useful once in a great while.

Horde Monks

Orc

• Blood Fury is very nice for those times when you a bit more spell power for a few seconds.
• Resistance to stun effects will only be rarely useful, it’s more for PvP.

Troll

• Berserk is very nice for those times when you need some burst healing.
• Increased XP from beast slaying is nice for leveling.

Undead

• The ability to remove fear and other effects is occasionally useful.
• Touch of the Grave is a small DPS add and also heals you for the amount that it drains.
• Underwater breathing might be useful somewhere.

Tauren – My mind boggles at Taurens doing spinning kicks.

• Additional Stam doesn’t scale well at very high levels, but is still nice.
• War stomp will have definite use when the opposition closes in.
• +2% effect from your critical damage or critical heals

Blood Elf

• Arcane Torrent will silence casters, which is situationally useful.
• +1% Crit rating.

Mistweaver Videos

This is a guide on “How to Mistweaver” in patch 5.3.

 

The Fast Monk Leveling Guide

Once upon a time, while leveling, you had to look up quest details on some website. There was no in-game help and you had to trundle along as best you could. That was when there were only 60 levels. Now we have the new(ish) Monk class, 100 levels, thousands of quests, and a bazillion mobs to kill. Whether or not you’re playing a Monk that’s still a daunting task.

Here’s how to make it easy: Now you have a guide which sits in-game, in a small window, and shows you step-by-step where to go, what to do, and everything you need to know to make leveling easier. Dugi’s Guide shows you the best and fastest path to complete those quests and get yourself to the top levels ASAP.

Want to get a level, or several levels, in the dungeons or in PvP? No problem. Dugi’s will remember where you left off and then it will figure out where you should be at your new level and pick up from there.

Brand new to WoW? Decked head to toe in Heirlooms? Mixing up questing with PvP and/or dungeons? No problem, Dugi has your back all the way from level 1 to the level cap, or whichever level you start from.

Dugi’s in-game guide is always quickly updated for all patches and expansions, including Warlords of Draenor, so it’s never obsolete. Grab yours here and get leveled fast.