Dungeons and Dragons‘ 2024 Player’s Handbook included an overhaul of the 12 core classes. The changes that came to the core classes included standardizing the number of subclasses per class to four each and at which level that the subclasses become available, as well as streamlining class functions and abilities to make their purpose clearer. One of the biggest changes came to how healing works, which impacts one of the core roles that have been a part of Dungeons and Dragons since the beginning.
Healers have become powerful and fun to play thanks to the changes made to basic and advanced healing spells and mechanics in the 2024 Player’s Handbook. Healers have always played a crucial role in Dungeons and Dragons but, in the past, encounters could be managed with health potions, and it was often more efficient to deal damage in order to get combat over with as soon as possible. Thanks to adjustments to the amount of hit points that healing spells now restore, healers now add so much more to the party, and open the door for more strategy and creativity in combat for both players and DMs.
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Changes to Dungeons and Dragons Healers
The healing role in Dungeons and Dragons role has been spread across several classes, but has been most prominently carried by Clerics and Paladins. Clerics traditionally have the best healing spells on their spell lists, while Paladins have Lay on Hands, which conveniently doesn’t use a spell slot.
Healing spells have seen some impressive changes with the 2024 PHB, with improvements to the range and numbers of healing spells. Both low and high-level healing spells were affected positively by the rules update, making them more powerful and versatile. Rather than having healing feel like a pointless endeavor, healing has taken the spotlight and is once again and is no longer not only a vital role, but one that is fun to play in combat.
Spells like Healing Word and Cure Wounds now heal twice the dice rolls that previous versions allowed. At base level, Healing Word has changed from restoring 1d4 HP to 2d4, while Cure Wounds has changed from restoring 1d8 to 2d8. This is a game-changer at lower levels and could possibly restore all of a character’s Hit Points, but could also get characters back into the fight with a chance at higher levels. Healing spells now also heal undead and constructs, which is helpful for keeping necromantic summons on the field.
Playing a Healer in Dungeons and Dragons Using the 2024 PHB
The best classes to play a healer in Dungeons and Dragons are the Cleric and Paladin, but other classes include subclasses that are also well-equipped to fill the role. The Life Cleric is the best pure healer, as their spell list and subclass abilities are centered on empowering allies, curing ailments, and enhancing their healing spells for maximum staying power.
Paladins work as healers thanks to one of their core class abilities, Lay on Hands, which grants them a pool of hit points to bestow on other party members. As half-spellcasters, they only get access to basic healing spells like Healing Word and Cure Wounds later than full spellcasters, but Lay on Hands does the job until they get access to it.
Other classes that are good options for a healer include the Lore Bard, who work well as a support spellcaster class by preventing damage. They also get access to the Cleric, Druid, or Wizard spell list with Magical Secrets, giving the Lore Bard access to powerful healing spells. The Circle of Stars Druid is also a good option for a Healer, as the Chalice form granted at Level 3 gives bonuses to all healing.
- Franchise
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Dungeons & Dragons
- Original Release Date
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1974
- Designer
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E. Gary Gygax, Dave Arneson