Healing

Healing is the restoration of Health to a damaged character. Healing a character will increase their Health by the stated amount, up to but not beyond their current maximum Health.

Healing effects or Restore Health effects are effects which restore Health. These may be Hero Powers, spells or abilities such as Battlecries or Deathrattles. Most healing effects affect a single character (these effects can be targetable or select the target automatically or at random), while some others have an area of effect.

Healing is distinct from granting a minion increased Health, which increases both the current and maximum Health for the target. Increasing a minion's Health is usually achieved through enchantments (or removing them through Silences), while healing is usually achieved through effects.

Healing is available to all classes through neutral cards, but is most strongly associated with the priest class, and to a lesser extent paladins, shamans and druids.

Notes

• Although healing effects (including targetable ones) can target undamaged characters, attempting to restore Health to a character already at their current maximum Health will have no effect and will not count as healing for game purposes (for example, on-heal triggers such as Lightwarden will not trigger).
• Healing effects with an area of effect (such as Circle of Healing) heal all affected targets before any on-heal triggered effect (such as Shadowboxer) triggers.
• Auchenai Soulpriest, Auchenai Phantasm, and Embrace the Shadow make your healing effects deal damage instead (for additional details see the Advanced rules section below).
• Prophet Velen doubles the healing of your healing spells and Hero Powers (for additional details see the Advanced rules section below). Note that Prophet Velen will NOT double the healing recieved by minions with Lifesteal.
• Healing a character to full Health will remove its damaged status and thus any Enrage effect currently active, which can be very useful for denying enemy minions' Enrage effects.

Strategy

Healing can be very useful for sustaining friendly minions, allowing them to survive another round, or trade favourably with enemy minions. It can also be used to restore Health to the hero, preventing defeat and moving the hero out of lethal range. Healing is often used as a counter to aggro decks, which focus on quickly reducing an opponent's Health before they have time to counter.

Healing works best in control-based strategies, especially hero healing, which can allow the player to outlast their opponent. Reno Jackson is an especially powerful neutral healing option, single-handedly forming the basis of many control deck types. Minion healing can allow for superior trades and card efficiency, but works best with synergy cards like Northshire Cleric. Priests have the widest range of healing options in general, as well as almost exclusive access to healing synergy cards. Lesser Heal works especially well to heal either themselves or their minions, while AoE heals like Circle of Healing and Holy Nova allow for powerful combos with cards like Northshire Cleric.

A few priest cards (Auchenai Soulpriest, Embrace the Shadow) and ((Auchenai Phantasm)) have the effect of converting healing into damage, allowing for some very efficient plays especially when combined with cheap healing cards like Flash Heal and Circle of Healing.

Advanced rules

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Healing Events

Healing effects work by creating and resolving Healing Events:

• Healing effects that affect a single target create one Healing Event, and then immediately resolve it;
• Healing effects that affect "multiple targets" (Binding Heal) creates and resolves the Healing Event of each target before moving to the next one;
• Healing effects with an area of effect first create all Healing Events (one for each affected character, in play order), and then resolve all Healing Events (queuing and resolving triggers) in play order.

Spells and effects with two steps (like Light of the Naaru, Moonglade Portal and Lay on Hands) resolve the Healing Event before they query the target's condition (e.g., if the target of Light of the Naaru is damaged) or move to their next step.

Creating a Healing Event

Each Healing Event has its own source (usually, the healing effect that created the Event; notice that, in the case of Power Word: Glory, the source of the Healing Event is the enchantment created by the spell, not the spell itself), target and proposed healing:

• Most healing effects have as proposed healing a fixed number explicitly stated in their text (for example, Lesser Heal simply reads "Restore 2 Health");
• Some healing effects have a variable proposed healing which may depend on the damage dealt by a source (Queen of Pain, Hallazeal the Ascended, Wickerflame Burnbristle), on the cost of a card (Ivory Knight), on available mana (Forbidden Healing) or on the number of enemy minions (Cult Apothecary);
• Stoneskin Gargoyle's proposed healing is equal to the difference between its maximum Helth and its current Health;
• All other effects that restore a character to full Health (like Ancestral Healing, Reno Jackson, Tree of Life and Hozen Healer) have a proposed healing equal to that character's maximum Health.

Then, if the controller of the source of the Healing Event also controlled an unsilenced Auchenai Soulpriest since the last Aura Update (Other) Step or controls the enchantment created by Embrace the Shadow, the Healing Event is prevented and replaced with a Damage Event: this Damage Event has the same source and target of the Healing Event and has a proposed damage equal to its proposed healing (for additional details, see Damage#Advanced rules).

• Example: If a player with an Auchenai Soulpriest active casts Tree of Life all characters will suffer damage equal to their maximum Health, usually causing them all to die.
• Example: In combination with Auchenai Soulpriest, Queen of Pain will instead deal damage to the controlling player; however, since that damage is counted as damage dealt by the Queen of Pain herself, her effect will trigger again and again until the controlling hero is destroyed.

Then, if the the source of the Healing Event is a Hero Power or a spell (notice that this does not include the enchantment created by Power Word: Glory) and its controller also controlled an unsilenced Prophet Velen since the last Aura Update (Other) Step, double the proposed healing of the Healing Event. Multiple Prophet Velens stack, each one doubling the proposed healing.

Finally, the character's current Health is increased by the Healing Event's proposed healing, up to but not beyond its current maximum Health.

Resolving a Healing Event

If the Healing Event was prevented or if it did not change the character's current Health, it will not run any triggers.

Otherwise, on-heal triggers (listed in the following table) queue and resolve in play order.

Name / Desc	Rarity	Type	Subtype	Class	Cost	Atk	HP	Description
Northshire Cleric	Common	Minion	General	Priest	1	1	3	Whenever a minion is healed, draw a card. They help the downtrodden and distressed. Also they sell cookies.
Holy Champion	Common	Minion	General	Priest	4	3	5	Whenever a character is healed, gain +2 Attack. She really likes seeing people get better. That's why she hurts them in the first place.
Hooded Acolyte	Common	Minion	General	Priest	4	3	6	Whenever a character is healed, give your C'Thun +1/+1 (Wherever it is). Wait, what kind of acolyte doesn't wear a hood?
Lightwarden	Rare	Minion	General	Any	1	1	2	Whenever a character is healed, gain +2 Attack. She’s smaller than her sisters Mediumwarden and Heavywarden.
Shadowboxer	Rare	Minion	Mech	Priest	2	2	3	Whenever a minion is healed, deal 1 damage to a random enemy. Punching is its primary function. Also, its secondary function.
Soup Vendor	Rare	Minion	General	Any	2	1	4	Whenever you restore 3 or more Health to your hero, draw a card. Fresh from the floor of the arena!
Nightscale Matriarch	Rare	Minion	Dragon	Priest	7	4	9	Whenever a friendly minion is healed, summon a 3/3 Whelp. Everywhelp, get in here!
Mana Geode	Epic	Minion	Elemental	Priest	2	2	3	Whenever this minion is healed, summon a 2/2 Crystal. Gadgetzan, where even the pet rocks have pet rocks.
Showing all 8 cards

Cards with healing effects

For Wild format listings, see Healing/Wild format

Collectible

Name / Desc	Rarity	Type	Subtype	Class	Cost	Atk	HP	Description
Ancestral Healing	Free	Spell		Shaman	0			Restore a minion to full Health and give it Taunt. I personally prefer some non-ancestral right-the-heck-now healing, but maybe that is just me.
Sacrificial Pact	Free	Spell		Warlock	0			Destroy a friendly Demon. Restore 5 Health to your hero. This is the reason that Demons never really become friends with Warlocks.
Radiance	Free	Spell		Priest	1			Restore 5 Health to your hero. Because you're worth it!
Voodoo Doctor	Free	Minion	General	Any	1	2	1	Battlecry: Restore 2 Health. Voodoo is an oft-misunderstood art. But it is art.
Holy Light	Free	Spell		Paladin	2			Restore 6 Health. If you are often bathed in Holy Light, you should consider wearing sunscreen.
Aldrachi Warblades	Free	Weapon		Demon Hunter	3	2	2	Lifesteal The ancient Aldrachi were the greatest warriors in the universe. Imagine their power if they'd put the handle at the END of the blade.
Drain Life	Free	Spell		Warlock	3			Deal 2 damage. Restore 2 Health to your hero. "I've just sucked one year of your life away."
Healing Touch	Free	Spell		Druid	3			Restore 8 Health. 8 Health, no waiting.
Soul Cleave	Free	Spell		Demon Hunter	3			Lifesteal Deal 2 damage to two random enemy minions The way to a demon's soul is through its stomach.
Holy Nova	Free	Spell		Priest	4			Deal 2 damage to all enemy minions. Restore 2 Health to all friendly characters. If the Holy Light forsakes you, good luck casting this spell. Also, you're probably a jerk.
Truesilver Champion	Free	Weapon		Paladin	4	4	2	Whenever your hero attacks, restore 2 Health to it. It Slices, it Dices. You can cut a tin can with it. (But you wouldn't want to.)
Darkscale Healer	Free	Minion	General	Any	5	4	5	Battlecry: Restore 2 Health to all friendly characters. Healing is just something she does in her free time. It's more of a hobby really.
Guardian of Kings	Free	Minion	General	Paladin	7	5	6	Battlecry: Restore 6 Health to your hero. Holy beings from the beyond are so cliché!
Circle of Healing	Common	Spell		Priest	0			Restore 4 Health to ALL minions. It isn't really a circle.
Crystal Power	Common	Spell		Druid	1			Choose One: Deal 2 damage to a minion; or Restore 5 Health. Often used as healing crystals, but also good for throwing at people.
Potion Vendor	Common	Minion	General	Any	1	1	1	Battlecry: Restore 2 Health to all friendly characters. Everyone gets two because that's all she can hold.
Renew	Common	Spell		Priest	1			Restore 3 Health. Discover a spell. I am rejuvenated, I am renewed, I am my own nightlight!
Penance	Common	Spell		Priest	2			Lifesteal Deal 3 damage to a minion. This is what happens when you don’t give a sincere apology.
Vilefiend	Common	Minion	Demon	Any	2	2	2	Lifesteal Dreamed of becoming a Stylefiend, but fel was never in season.
Bronze Explorer	Common	Minion	Dragon	Paladin	3	2	3	Lifesteal Battlecry: Discover a Dragon. Always ready to explore new friendships! Except with Deathwing.
Earthen Ring Farseer	Common	Minion	General	Any	3	3	3	Battlecry: Restore 3 Health. He can see really far, and he doesn't use a telescope like those filthy pirates.
Ancestral Guardian	Common	Minion	General	Paladin	4	4	2	Lifesteal Reborn No one knows whose ancestor he is, but he's still upset that you never call.
Ashtongue Battlelord	Common	Minion	General	Demon Hunter	4	3	5	Taunt Lifesteal Demons have destroyed the lives of the Ashtongue draenei. Now he’s got a shoulder-axe to grind.
Hench-Clan Shadequill	Common	Minion	General	Priest	4	4	7	Deathrattle: Restore 5 Health to the enemy hero. The Hench-Clan has a point.
Traveling Healer	Common	Minion	General	Any	4	3	2	Divine Shield Battlecry: Restore 3 Health. Some heroes have soft hearts and hard shells.
Amber Watcher	Common	Minion	Dragon	Paladin	5	4	6	Battlecry: Restore 8 Health. Healing really resin-ates with him.
Sandhoof Waterbearer	Common	Minion	General	Priest	5	5	5	At the end of your turn, restore 5 Health to a damaged friendly character. Used to carrying for his team.
Aranasi Broodmother	Common	Minion	Demon	Warlock	6	4	6	Taunt When you draw this, restore 4 Health to your hero. She's got a big brood and a big mood.
Priestess of Elune	Common	Minion	General	Any	6	5	4	Battlecry: Restore 4 Health to your hero. If she threatens to "moon" you, it's not what you think.
Walking Fountain	Common	Minion	Elemental	Shaman	8	4	8	Lifesteal, Rush, Windfury The weirdest part is that it doesn't have legs.
Holy Ripple	Rare	Spell		Priest	2			Deal 1 damage to all enemies. Restore 1 Health to all friendly characters. I still prefer the taste of banana fudge ripple.
Lightwell	Rare	Minion	General	Priest	2	0	5	At the start of your turn, restore 3 Health to a damaged friendly character. It isn't clear if people ignore the Lightwell, or if it is just invisible.
Neferset Ritualist	Rare	Minion	General	Any	2	2	3	Battlecry: Restore adjacent minions to full Health. The Neferset are great—they'll always make sure their friends are feline fine.
Hidden Oasis	Rare	Spell		Druid	6			Choose One - Summon a 6/6 Ancient with Taunt; or Restore 12 Health. Amazing that it's been hidden, given the twenty-foot treant splashing around in it.
Khartut Defender	Rare	Minion	General	Any	6	3	4	Taunt, Reborn Deathrattle: Restore 3 Health to your hero. Gesundheit!
Siphon Soul	Rare	Spell		Warlock	6			Destroy a minion. Restore 3 Health to your hero. You probably should avoid siphoning your own soul. You might create some kind of weird infinite loop.
Overflow	Rare	Spell		Druid	7			Restore 5 Health to all characters. Draw 5 cards. It's a high five followed by a low tide.
Witch's Brew	Epic	Spell		Shaman	2			Restore 4 Health. Repeatable this turn. The swill has eyes!
Eye Beam	Epic	Spell		Demon Hunter	3			Lifesteal. Deal 3 damage to a minion. Outcast: This costs (1). Sometimes looks CAN kill.
Ancient of Lore	Epic	Minion	General	Druid	7	5	5	Choose One - Draw a card; or Restore 5 Health. Go ahead, carve your initials in him.
Lay on Hands	Epic	Spell		Paladin	8			Restore 8 Health. Draw 3 cards. A grammatically awkward life saver.
Libram of Hope	Epic	Spell		Paladin	9			Restore 8 Health. Summon an 8/8 Guardian with Taunt and Divine Shield. "Think you got lethal? Libram of NOPE!"
Reliquary of Souls	Legendary	Minion	General	Priest	1	1	3	Lifesteal Deathrattle: Shuffle 'Reliquary Prime' into your deck. These three represent Anger, Desire, and Suffering. Much like raid night guild chat.
Kronx Dragonhoof	Legendary	Minion	General	Any	6	6	6	Battlecry: Draw Galakrond. If you're already Galakrond, unleash a Devastation. The only one who knows how to properly prepare Galakrond's coffee.
Nozari	Legendary	Minion	Dragon	Paladin	10	4	12	Battlecry: Restore both heroes to full Health. In another timeline, she was called Yeszari.
Showing all 45 cards

Uncollectible

Name / Desc	Rarity	Type	Subtype	Class	Cost	Atk	HP	Description
Crystal Dryad	None	Minion	General	Druid	1	1	2	Lifesteal
Heal	None	Hero Power		Priest	2			Hero Power Restore 4 Health.
Lesser Heal	None	Hero Power		Priest	2			Hero Power Restore 2 Health.
Obelisk's Eye	None	Hero Power		Priest	2			Hero Power Restore 3 Health. If you target a minion, also give it +3/+3.
Desperate Dreadlord	None	Minion	Demon	Warlock	5	5	5	Lifesteal
Reliquary Prime	None	Minion	General	Priest	7	6	8	Taunt, Lifesteal Only you can target this with spells and Hero Powers.
Healing Totem	Free	Minion	Totem	Shaman	1	0	2	At the end of your turn, restore 1 Health to all friendly minions.
Showing all 7 cards

Related cards

For Wild format listings, see Healing/Wild format

Name / Desc	Rarity	Type	Subtype	Class	Cost	Atk	HP	Description
Lightwarden	Rare	Minion	General	Any	1	1	2	Whenever a character is healed, gain +2 Attack. She’s smaller than her sisters Mediumwarden and Heavywarden.
Crystal Stag	Epic	Minion	Beast	Druid	5	4	4	Rush. Battlecry: If you've restored 5 Health this game, summon a copy of this. Arrives alone, but usually leaves with a friend just like him.
Activate the Obelisk	Legendary	Spell		Priest	1			Quest: Restore 15 Health. Reward: Obelisk's Eye. A one-eyed, one stone, towering purple minion healer.
Showing all 3 cards

See also

• Damage

References

	Cards
By type	Hero card Minion (Permanent) Spell Weapon
By class	Demon Hunter Druid Hunter Mage Paladin Priest Rogue Shaman Warlock Warrior
By minion type	All Beast Demon Dragon Elemental Mech Murloc Pirate Totem General
By ability	Evergreen keywords	Battlecry Choose One Combo Deathrattle Discover Divine Shield Freeze Lifesteal Outcast Overload Poisonous Rush Secret Silence Spell Damage Stealth Taunt Windfury
	Other keywords	Adapt Casts When Drawn Charge Choose Twice Dormant Echo Immune Inspire Invoke Jade Golem Lackey Magnetic Mega-Windfury Overkill Passive Quest Reborn Recruit Sidequest Spare Part Start of Game Twinspell
	Other abilities	Can't attack Cast spell Copy Deal damage Destroy Discard Draw cards Elusive Enrage Equip Force attack Forgetful Gain Armor Generate Highlander Joust Modify cost Put into battlefield Put into hand Refresh Mana Remove from deck Replace Restore Health Return to hand Shuffle into deck Spend mana Summon Take control Transform Unlimited attacks Upgradable
	Non-Constructed	Auto-Attack Auto-cast Shrine Start of Combat
By effect type	Area of effect In-deck effect In-hand effect On-discard effect On-draw effect Ongoing effect Positional effect Random effect Resurrection effect Triggered effect
By card set	Standard	Basic Classic Rise of Shadows Saviors of Uldum Descent of Dragons Galakrond's Awakening Demon Hunter Initiate Ashes of Outland
	Wild	Hall of Fame Naxxramas Goblins vs Gnomes Blackrock Mountain Grand Tournament The League of Explorers Whispers of the Old Gods One Night in Karazhan Mean Streets of Gadgetzan Journey to Un'Goro Knights of the Frozen Throne Kobolds & Catacombs The Witchwood The Boomsday Project Rastakhan's Rumble
By rarity	Free Common Rare Epic Legendary