How viable is healing as DPS Scoundrel?

[enthrop]

Traditionally in other MMOs I've played, you can get away with healing "regular" instances/flashpoints with a DPS spec, or a hybrid one getting bare minimum "required" healing talents.

 

I plan on being a healer once I get to level 50, but until then, I've always preferred leveling/questing as DPS. But, I want to be able to heal flashpoints too, or at least know how capable I would be doing that.

 

Is it feasible? Are there a few healing specs that are almost "mandatory" and I should use a hybrid spec? Or should I just be a dutiful DPS.

[PinnyFox]

I'm pretty sure if you want to heal as a scoundrel, you need to be sawbones spec.

 

Why, you ask? Because aside from underworld medicine and kolto pack we don't gain any other healing skills over the course of leveling. We get everything else (slow release medpack, emergency medpack, kolto cloud) from talents.

 

Not to mention you're going to need the talents sawbones gives that gives UWM a 100% chance to give you upper hand, as well as having SRM ticks having a 30% chance to give upper hand. Or letting emergency medpack refund upperhand when used on people with less than 30% HP.

[stayonboard]

After about level 20 (max) I'd say no chance healing flashpoints as a DPS spec.

 

Im not saying it can't be done (before anyone attacks/chime in saying they leveled X flashpoint as DPS) but I certainly wouldn't be running mid-upper level content without a healer who put their points in the appropriate spec. If you want to heal, go sawbones. Leveling won't be that much slower and you'll actually learn your spec as you level. If you wanted, Im sure you could dps up until 30 doing marginal flashpoints and then switch over and start healing.

 

Also note, healing on a scoundrel takes some time before it becomes effective. IMO 30+ but Im sure you can argue it's viable a little sooner than that. With that in mind, don't give up on it if you do end up trying it at low level, it definitely gets better