The Healer class in D&D 3.5 is a specialized class focused on providing exceptional healing and support to party members, utilizing divine magic to cure ailments and restore health.
Renowned for its efficient healing capabilities, the Hospitaler[1] can cast empowered, maximized, and quickened cure spells, featuring a powerful unicorn companion for additional support.
The Master of Life and Death[2] combines healing and arcane spellcasting, offering high-level spells from both wizard and healer lists, making it a formidable spellcaster with strong battlefield control.
The Medic[3] excels in combat healing, providing sanctuary and temporary hit points, supported by a unicorn companion for high mobility and additional healing prowess.
Focused on powerful healing and support, the New Life[4] build can cast Regenerate and True Resurrection without material components, offering unparalleled healing capabilities.
Unique for its ability to transform into a Dire Bear at will, the Mother Bear[5] combines healing, tanking, and summoning abilities, commanding a cavalry of dire bears for powerful battlefield control.
The New Life[4]build focuses on powerful healing and support, with unique abilities that allow it to cast Regenerate and True Resurrection without material components once per day. This build’s spells surpass regular healing spells, making it an incredibly strong support option.
Capable of casting powerful healing spells like Regenerate and True Resurrection without material components, providing immense healing support.
Limited offensive capabilities and the need to rely heavily on companions for combat support.
Utilize the companion’s defensive and support abilities to protect yourself while focusing on healing the party.
The Medic[3] excels in combat healing, providing sanctuary, reflex bonuses, and temporary hit points while maintaining strong healing capabilities. This build also features a unicorn companion for high mobility and additional support.
Strong combat healing abilities with added defensive bonuses like sanctuary and temporary hit points.
The reliance on specific items and abilities to maintain combat efficiency can be limiting.
Leverage the unicorn companion’s high mobility to move quickly around the battlefield, providing healing and support where needed most.
This build merges healing and arcane spellcasting, allowing the healer to cast level 9 spells from both the wizard and healer lists, making it a versatile and powerful spellcaster. Though slightly behind in healing compared to other builds, it compensates with significant battlefield control and damage potential.
Access to high-level spells from both wizard and healer spell lists, providing unmatched versatility in spellcasting.
Slightly lower healing capability compared to pure healing builds, with no unicorn companion.
Use a monkey familiar to wield wands for additional healing, compensating for any minor healing deficits.
The Hospitaler[1] is the ultimate healer, capable of casting empowered, maximized, and quickened cure spells without increasing spell levels, making it the best healer build in the game. It features a powerful unicorn companion and a mix of healing and clerical abilities focused on protection and support.
Extremely efficient healing capabilities, capable of casting powerful healing spells multiple times in a round.
Limited offensive capabilities and low combat durability due to the reliance on healing and support roles.
Utilize the unicorn companion not only for its combat abilities but also for its healing and support during battles.
The Mother Bear[5] can transform into a bear at will, casting powerful healing and nature-based spells while commanding a cavalry of dire bears. This build offers a unique combination of healing, tanking, and summoning abilities, making it one of the most versatile and interesting healer builds.
Ability to transform into a Dire Bear, providing strong tanking and combat capabilities alongside healing.
Use the Cavalry of Dire Bears ability to summon a powerful force of dire bears once a week, overwhelming enemies and providing significant battlefield control.
FAQ
What makes the Healer class unique in D&D 3.5?
The Healer class is specialized in divine magic focused on curing ailments and restoring health. It excels in providing exceptional healing and support to party members, making it an essential class for maintaining party longevity and resilience.
Which Healer build offers the best combat healing abilities?
The Medic[3]build is the best for combat healing, providing sanctuary, reflex bonuses, temporary hit points, and strong healing capabilities. Its unicorn companion adds high mobility and additional support during battles.
The Master of Life and Death[2] build is highly versatile due to its ability to cast high level spells from both wizard and healer lists. This makes it a powerful spellcaster with strong battlefield control and healing capabilities, though it has slightly lower healing compared to pure healer builds.
What is a unique feature of the Mother Bear[5] Healer build?
The Mother Bear[5] build allows the healer to transform into a Dire Bear at will, providing strong tanking and combat capabilities. It also includes the ability to summon a cavalry of dire bears for powerful battlefield control, making it a highly unique and versatile build.
Can the New Life[4] build cast high level healing spells without material components?
Yes, the New Life[4]build can cast powerful healing spells like Regenerate and True Resurrection without material components once per day, offering unparalleled healing capabilities thus making it an extremely strong support build.
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Writer, Editor, GM, Technologist – Andrew’s been playing TTRPGs since as far back as he can recall… at least sometime in the nineties… or was it the early 2000s?
As the young ranger finally got to the location where Gaea’s Healer was supposed to be, all she found was a man and a unicorn. They were fighting hordes of undead servants.
She spewed a curse, for she was too late, the enemy got here before her. In a moment, she pulled her axes and charged in the fray.
The man, using his bow, and the unicorn cleared a path that they might join force.
“Are you here to see Gaea’s Healer? Please stranger, help us protect this sacred grove! ” He shouted at her.
“Already on it,” answered the she-wolf as she decapitated two zombies cleanly.
Race
Human
Class
Healer 9/Cleric 1/Radiant Servant of Pelor 10
Ability Scores
Str 8/Dex 10/Con 16/Int 10/Wis 10/Cha 18
Skills
Heal 5, Knowledge(Religion) 9
Equipment
While you are proficient with all martial weapons, all it means is that you can start with a heavy crossbow and switch to a longbow when you get the chance. Still wearing studded armor though.
Goal
This is the ultimate healer to heal them all.
Empowered Maximized Quickened Cure Critical spells without raising their spell level. Alternatively, quicken Mass Heal to cast it twice a round to heal completely absurd amounts of HP.
Congrats, you are probably the single best healer in the game. And yes, you have a friggin’ unicorn, too.
The woman was sitting alone in her tower, deep in the woods, pondering her orb. She caressed the monkey’s head that was sitting on the table next to the orb.
Her attention was rapt as she followed the progress of the huntress. This huntress slowly, but surely, made her way to Gaea’s Healer. Who is the greatest healer in the world. At least that’s what they say, mused the woman to no one in particular.
She scratched her chin. What was this one’s intention?
It was unclear, though if that old man in his clearing gave her the directions. Well, that meant he trusted her.
She sighed and leaned back. As she was much less trusting that he. At the same time, though, their leader was more than capable of defending herself.
At last, after a moment, she relented. Rose from her seat, and walked down the stairs. The young woman was about to knock at her door, and she would ask her the same riddle as she did countless times before.
No armor, no weapons either. Don’t worry, it’s fine. Just your spellbook and your holy symbol will do fine.
Goal
I wanted to make this build to demonstrate how completely and utterly absurd you can get with spellcasting here.
You can cast level 9 spells from both wizard AND healer. This makes you capable of absolutely wrecking the battlefield with powerful evocations, all the while without crippling your healing capabilities.
While your heals are slightly behind the other builds, and while you don’t have a unicorn companion, you are capable of much more battlefield control and damage.
All the while, you’re are extremely flexible in your options, and you still get a familiar. Who, if you chose a monkey, can then use wands to further heal. This, then, compensates somewhat for that (very small) gap if you so chose.
As the wolf girl left the clearing, and the old man let out a sad sigh.
He heard a woman’s voice from no where in particular, “Are you sure giving her indications on how to find her was a good idea? Do you trust her that much? She and her sister ARE werewolves.”
The old man shook his head.
“Just as much as I trust I already told you that I do not appreciate you spying on my private conversations, young lady.”
“…Sorry,” said the beautiful aasimar, as she and her unicorn reappeared.
“Apologies accepted, and as to answer your question, I do trust her. You heard the problems they are facing.“
“I have. Don’t you think that her fight is our fight, too?” Asked the young woman.
The old man stared at her for a moment.
“Perhaps, but that is up to her to decide if we are to rise and fight. Not us.“
“Which is why you gave her directions. To see if…“
“Yes. See if this threat is worth considering for us, too.“
Race
Aasimar
Class
Healer 8/Combat Medic 5/Contemplative 7 (2 LA Buyback)
Ability Scores
Str 8/Dex 10/Con 16/Int 10/Wis 12/Cha 20
Skills
Concentration 4, Heal 8, Knowledge(Religion) 13
Flaws
Noncombatant, Feeble
Equipment
Again, Heavy Crossbow, Studded Leather and a Holy Symbol.
Goal
Okay remember how I said combat healing ain’t worth it?
Yeah, take that sentence and throw it out the window with this build. You not only heal as well as the previous build, but you also give Sanctuary, Reflex bonuses, Aid temporary hp, and you have access to additional spells from domains.
Furthermore, although your companion will remain a unicorn, it still gives you high mobility.
The old man was sitting on a standing stone in the clearing, monitoring the edge of the forest.
“She is here,” said the gynosphinx that was lazily sitting underneath the stone formation.
“I know old friend, I know.”
He was slowly puffing his pipe, pensively. He remembered when he found her, grievously wounded in the woods after a terrifying battle. She had waged war against some unholy incursor.
At last, he saw her, with her two axes at her hips. She was walking lightly, followed by her dire wolf companion.
Stopping at a respectful distance she bowed.
“I have questions.“
The old man smiled, letting out a smoke ring in the air.
“And just like last time, I have answers.“
Race
Human
Class
Healer
Ability Scores
Str 8/Dex 10/Con 16/Int 10/Wis 10/Cha 18
Skills
Heal, Concentration, Diplomacy
Equipment
Studded Leather armor, a Heavy Crossbow and your holy symbol.
Goal
Healing in combat 95% of the time is not a viable option. As for most healers, healing spells don’t keep up with incoming damage.
Your healing spells, however, far surpass regular healing spells. This allows you to keep healing while your Unicorn/Gynosphinx/Androsphinx (depending on level) provides cover and support.
This is a very, very strong support build. Since most of your spells don’t requires a saving throw, you can completely forfeit Wisdom for Dynamic Priest as well as Charisma. At higher levels you can use a standard action Regenerate and True Resurection without material components 1/day. This makes this build completely bonkers!
As the three of them, despite fighting like devils against this unending horde of undead, were finally surrounded the ground began to shake.
“What now?” the young woman asked.
As if to answer her, the roots of trees rose from the ground. They entangled the zombies, holding them in place. Meanwhile, the skies darkened whilst thunder and lighting boomed across the valley. Multiple bolts struck the abominations as this torrential downpour flooded the area.
“No need to worry anymore,” the old man replied with a sigh of relief. “She heard us. “
As the young woman turned to him with confusion, she finally saw what gave him hope. Near the tree lines, a cavalcade of dire bears – a good dozen of them – charged the undead army. The hoard was completely annihilated, and the bears were unharmed by the raging elements. It was as if Gaea, herself, rose up to destroy this most unholy intruders.
It took less than a minute, a still quiet returned to the grove. Earth swallowed the dark army, and the skies cleared up. The bears all disappeared back into the woods. All but one, who came to stand in front of the young woman.
“Welcome young wolf,” said the gigantic bear with a soft, warm, and welcoming female voice. The young ranger’s jaw dropped.
“I have heard that you were looking for me. So here I am.”
Race
Human or Strongheart Hafling (For 1st level bonus feat.)
Class
Healer 5/Sentinel of Bharrai 10/Contemplative 1/Holt Warden 4
Starting level 7 you can permanently take the form of a bear at will, eventually a Dire Bear.
Not only are your heals completely through the roof, but you are a friggin’ bear casting spells and commanding nature itself. You can summon A Cavalry of Dire Bears, which is literally the single coolest ability in 3.5 bar none.
Oh yeah, also you can talk, and thus cast spells perfectly fine in your bear form, because being able to take a bear form AT WILL just wasn’t enough.
Level Spread
Level
Class
HD
Feat
Special
1
Healer
11
Dynamic Priest(Cha), Sacred Vow, Vow of Poverty, Cosmopolitan(Knowledge-Arcana)
Healing Hands, AC +4
2
Healer
1d8+3
Skill Focus(Heal), Vow of Obedience
–
3
Healer
1d8+3
Maximize Spell
Cleanse Paralysis, AC +5, Endure Elements
4
Healer
1d8+3
Favored of the Companions
Cleanse Disease, +1 Cha, Exalted Strike +1(Magic)
5
Healer
1d8+3
–
Cleanse Fear, Sustenance
6
Sentinel of Bharrai
1d4+3
Mastery of Day and Night, Track, Touch of Golden Ice
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