There’s been a lot of discussion regarding Lightwell and Lightspring; which is better and under what circumstances. First and foremost, we all need to keep in mind that the Lightspring glyph is a Major Glyph, and we’ll need to dedicate a Glyph slot.
The crux of the arguments have been hovering around people debating the scaling of Lightwell being greater to that of Lightspring, and the automatic-smart healing that Lightspring can do. Layered into that has been the HPM debate of the overheal– Lightspring is arguably less likely to overheal given that it is a smart heal, and that it targets players sub 50%. HP. (However, the counter argument is that players under 50% HP would have likely been targeted by other healers and would contribute to Lightspring’s overheal.
There are a lot of unknown variables at hand here: players actually clicking Lightwell and overheal percentages of each of the spells. First, lets take a look at comparing Lightwell in a 0%/25%/50%/75% Overheal to a fully consumed Lightspring at 0%/25/50% Overheal.
This graph illustrates the cross-overpoint for the number of charges a Lightwell would have to consume to outpace the HPM (Healing Per Mana) of a fully consumed Lightspring (For purposes of analysis, lets assume that the Lightspring used all 15 charges. Read: the number of times your raid would have to click your Lightwell for it to outpace Lightspring using all 15 charges under different overheal situations.
Now, of course, if your Lightspring does NOT use all 15 charges– the crossover point to where Lightwell is superior is earlier than that of Lightwell. Additional factors to consider would be Lightswell/spring Renewal HoTs breaking early due to the incoming damage negating the buff and forcing it to drop off.
Arguably the biggest factor to consider is the likelihood of your Main Tank dropping below 50% HP, triggering the Lightspring effect, and then wasting a charge when they are hit for 30% of their Health, thus dropping the Lightspring Renewal… this will dramatically effect the HPM/HPS of Lightspring.
With Lightspring costing a Major Glyph slot, inferior scaling to Lightwell, Tank Triggering, and my raid being fairly good at using Lightwell at request… I do not see this being my go-to Glyph of choice unless there is a PVE Mechanic that favors it. That said, it depends on how good your raid is at using it and its Overheal % in your raid to determine one over the other for you and your raid… and of course your desire for other Major Glyphs…
Editor’s Comment: This is currently based upon the information available as of Mists of Pandaria Beta Build 15689 and is subject to change.
Post Publication Comment:
The build that was announced yesterday (Beta Build 15699) has a change to Lightwell’s calculation. Making the Spellpower % the same, however, Lightwell has a x3 multiplier that LS does not have… this calculates to a net BUFF to Lightwell. I will change these graphs in the next 24-48 hours, however the long and short of it is that this change BUFFS lightwell making it mathematically stronger than Lightspring. (TLDR: the crossover point under the above overhealing and clicking assumptions is earlier than in previous beta builds).
Lightwell
Friendly players can click the Lightwell to restore ((5,735 + 55.3% of Spell Power) * 3) over 6 sec
Lightspring
Lightspring will attempt to heal party and raid members lower than 50% health for (5,735 + 55.3% of SP) over 6 sec.
Post Publication Comment II:
Here’s a video of Lightspring on Beta as of current BOTH Lightwell and Lightspring are healing for the identical amounts.
