Opting for the best mesmer healing skill

[Scleameth 19]

Mirror:

1x 3915 heal - Not a strong heal, but reflects projectiles for 2 seconds. Not really a good option in my opinion, reflecting projectiles is the least of my problems when trying to heal against sword attacks or condition damage.

15 seconds cool down

1.25 seconds casting time

16.25 between heals

Ether Feast:

1x 5560 + 640 per illusion = possible 7480 heal. Some argue this is the best heal to use for the mesmer since it's grants the largest health restoration.

20 seconds cool down

1 second casting time

21 between heals

Mantra of Recovery:

2x 2620 = 5240 heal. Not as much as Ehter Feast but my argument comes into play with the cool down.

10 seconds cool down.

3.25 seconds casting time.

13.25 between heals + the fraction of time between the #1 and #2 power return. I think it's .5 seconds = total 13.75 seconds between heals.

So to get all heals on an equal playing field, let's look at the total health gained between 3 casts to get Mantra of Recovery's CD into play. And from a state of rest with mantras charged. And getting 3 heals off in one battle is probably a good upper limit.

Mirror = 1.25s for 3915 + 2*16.25s for 7830 = 11745 over 33.75 seconds

Ether Feast = 1s for 7480 + 2*21s for 14960 = 22440 over 43 seconds

Mantra of Recovery = 0s for 2620 + 0.5s for 2620 + 2x13.75s for 10480 = 15720 over 28 seconds

To match it all up nicely let's compare all against Ether Feast:

Ether Feast = 22440 health in 43 seconds

Mirror = 11745/33.75 * 43 = 14964 health in 43 seconds

Mantra of Recovery = 15720/28 * 43 = 24141 health in 43 seconds

Mantra of Recovery wins the race over Ether Feast in this scenario by a large margin only just, but bring it down to a good average of 2 heals per skirmish in WvW and look:

Mirror = 1.25s for 3915 + 16.25s for 3915 = 7830 over 17.5 seconds

Ether Feast = 1s for 7480 + 21s for 7480 = 15680 over 22 seconds

Mantra of Recovery = 0s for 2620 + 0.5s for 2620 + 13.75s for 5240 = 10480 over 14.25 seconds

Compare again against Ether Fest:

Ether Feast = 15680 health in 22 seconds

Mirror = 7830/17.5 * 22 = 9843 health in 22 seconds

Mantra of Recovery = 10480/14.25 * 22 = 16180 health in 22 seconds !!! WOW - 338% improved healing EDIT: not so WOW

So Mantra of Recovery wins the race no questions asked in my opinion. Any arguments against it?

I'm not that familiar with the gains to +health and +power have on the 3 healing skills, but calculated at base values Mantra of Recovery appears to be the obvious choice? Why then do so many builds opt for Ether Feast?

The only issue of Mantras is that I sometimes forget to charge it, but I'm rather used to using my healing skill retrospectively now and is actually messing up my game play when playing with my guardian.

EDIT: Flaws in my calculations.

EDIT: Mantra of Recovery's CD starts when the 2nd charged heal is spent. And not after it is cast, so my calculations had a very fundamental flaw. End result: Mantra of Recovery is still better but not by such a WOW factor. Only about 3.2% better. So it turns out that this post will be to prove that Mirror is useless and not that Mantra of Recovery is so great... sry about that!

Edited March 8, 2013 by Scleameth

[lujate 578]

Also, Mantra of Recovery cannot be interrupted and can be used when knocked down or reviving. It can also be traited for a group heal on charge.

[Scleameth 19]

So Mantra of Recovery the clear winner in your opinion?

[lujate 578]

 

So Mantra of Recovery the clear winner in your opinion?

Yes, without a doubt.