1. Damage Mitigation -- While recount may spit out average numbers for Discipline healer, it is very important to remember that damage mitigation is not calculated. Recount only records the latter. Every time a Power Word: Shield is cast power leveling, you lose 1.5 seconds of healing due to your global cool down (according to Recount) even though you are instantly preventing thousands of damage. Furthermore, if talents are placed properly, critical heals trigger both the Divine Aegis talent. Let's not forget Pain Suppression, a high-tier talent that reduces damage taken by 40% for 6 seconds; a true lifesaver against bosses who frenzy. Finally, the core Discipline heals stack Grace, which reduces damage taken by 6%. None of this data will appear, so don't be disheartened if your numbers seem to be slightly lower than what you'd hoped. If you're looking at 400 healing per second while you're fighting Patchwerk, there's obviously a problem about power leveing. Just don't let a few digits here and there get you down.

 

2. Area Healing -- One of the major arguments against Discipline is its lack of area-of-effect healing. While this is true to a degree, the gap between the two builds isn't as much of a chasm as it first appears. The two best ways to maximize your group healing potential involve glyphs and Discipline's haste abilities. Obviously, Holy Nova has a substantial range disadvantage, but the lack of a cool down gives it its own edge in fights that don't require heavy spacing. Prayer of Healing is also extremely powerful in the hands of a Discipline priest, especially if you acquire the glyph that heals for 20% of the initial amount over the next 6 seconds. Their spells will pack more of a punch, but yours will fire off faster power leveing. Prayer of Healing has a long cast time, making it difficult to use in some situations. This is where the Discipline twist comes in. Discipline can obtain a natural 5% spell haste through the Enlightenment talent, and Power Word: Shield grants a nifty 25% haste buff to the next spell cast. By chaining it on to the end of Greater Heal or Pennance, you can spread quick, power leveling single target heals to the rest of your party, using Flash Heals to fill the cool down gaps. If the shield is chained correctly, you should easily be able to pull off a hasted Prayer of Healing if things get rocky.