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Whether you're searching for a new class to try or you're an experienced player looking to explore the upcoming changes and innovations, we're excited to present our WoW The War Within Preservation Evoker Guide. Here, you'll find all the details about the key TWW Preservation Evoker changes, hero talents, rotation, builds, best-in-slot gear, and much more.
Table of Contents
Preservation Evokers specialize in stacked environments where they can make full use of their extremely strong AoE heals. With abilities like Dream Breath and Emerald Blossom, they can thrive when their party and raid members are within their small area. Preservation Evoker also brings many forms of utility through a party-wide damage reduction in Zephyr, raid buffs in Time Spiral and Blessing of the Bronze, and even their version of Time Warp through Fury of the Aspects.
Strengths
Weaknesses
Preservation Evoker, like any healer, is all about using your abilities strategically. Rather than a fixed rotation, you will be using your flexible spell kit to adapt and overcome whatever the game throws at you.
Preservation Evoker has two main types of abilities. The first of these are empowered abilities that gain benefits as you channel the ability for longer. Dream Breath and Spiritbloom are your two empowered heals, while Fire Breath is your empowered DPS ability. These abilities you want to cast as frequently as possible, as they are quite powerful when used correctly. The other form of ability uses Essence. Essence is a unique resource to the Evoker class and can be spent on either Emerald Blossom or Echo for healing, and Disintegrate for damage. Which ability you decide to spend your Essence on will be situational and dependent on what type of content you are doing.
Preservation Evoker has received minimal changes in Patch 11.1. The primary changes it did receive have to deal with Dream Breath and Flameshaper.
With the changes to Engulf, Haste now gains considerable value as a secondary stat. While it isn't enough to beat out Mastery, at 20% Haste you will be able to fit two Engulf casts between each Stasis use. Any haste beyond this point is effectively worthless, but as it stands Haste will gain some value. You will still want to make sure you always have two Engulf in each Stasis, this just gives you more healing between each Stasis use.
Preservation Evoker is an extremely fast leveling class largely due to the very high mobility it has compared to other classes. Not to mention, you also can heal dungeons for a faster queue time.
At lower levels, you will often have the easiest time leveling up by playing Preservation and queueing for dungeons due to the nearly instant queue time. Even if you find yourself uncomfortable healing, early leveling dungeons aren't too difficult, so they are a good opportunity to learn! At higher levels where questing becomes faster and, in some cases, mandatory (expansion campaign), you will want to spec into Devastation Evoker as it will offer you the most overall DPS, giving you the fastest possible questing experience.
When leveling up, always choose the piece of loot with the highest item level. The only exception to this rule is if you have a Ring or Necklace with a slightly lower item level but 2 secondary stats on it instead of 1.
Preservation Evokers have most of their core abilities available to them once they begin leveling.
Copy the Preservation Evoker talents, paste them into the game.
You can consider the other options essentially down to preference.
For details on how to play in Preservation Evoker PvP, please visit our Preservation Evoker PvP page.
Chronowarden has powerful synergy throughout the talent tree. Reverberations and Golden Opportunity both provide massive boosts to the Echo playstyle. Chrono Flame and Afterimage cause Living Flame to skyrocket up the meter breakdowns without even much thought.
Double-time adds a significant amount of healing to Dream Breath, which not only makes it an even larger percentage of our total healing but also a viable choice for Echo consumption.
Last but quite possibly the most interesting is Temporal Burst, which transforms Tip the Scales into a personal cooldown, granting you a ton of haste, movement speed, and cooldown reduction for the next 30 seconds. In many ways, you can think of it as your own personal lust on a 30-second cooldown, which is not only incredibly strong but incredibly fun as well. Any empowers you cast during Temporal Burst will also grant players Threads of Fate, and each time you cast an empower, its cooldown will be reduced by 6 seconds thanks to Instability Matrix.
Overall, these Hero Talents will massively amplify your passive Living Flame healing and your Spiritbloom and Dream Breath healing, as well as give you more haste and cooldowns so that you have a way to deal with any damage pattern coming your way.
Flameshaper plays very differently than Chronowarden, but it is still quite powerful. The focus of this Hero Talent will be on maximizing your Engulf casts while also making sure to always store two of them inside Stasis.
There are quite a few interactions to keep in mind when playing this Hero Talent, so it is recommended that you read through the rotation page fully. A simple guide would focus on making sure you always buff Dream Breath with Verdant Embrace and then ALWAYS cast Engulf on a target with Dream Breath, otherwise, it will do no healing.
Chronowarden will be the best choice for not only healing but damage as well. Chrono Flame and Afterimage both add a ton of extra damage and healing to the rotation without any extra work.
Instability Matrix continues to be the way to go in order to get extra empowers out for more Afterimage procs and simply more Fire Breath casts.
Flameshaper does not offer nearly as much damage or healing as Chronowarden in Mythic+, but it does offer Lifecinders, which is one of the strongest hero talents in the entire game across any spec.
This transforms Renewing Blaze into a massive external cooldown. Placing this on any player will allow them to survive nearly any damage event in Mythic+ settings, no matter how high the damage intake is. As long as it does not kill them instantly, they will receive so much healing from this single ability that it makes Flameshaper an extremely interesting choice, even if it does fall behind a bit.
The stat priority for a Preservation Evoker varies based on your spell selection, fight duration, proximity to healing targets, and talents. While secondary stats are close in value, Intellect is currently the strongest stat, making item-level upgrades generally worth equipping. Use this information to compare similar item-level gear and determine the superior choice.
Mastery: Life-Binder increases healing done when your max health percentage is higher than your target’s. While strong on its own, it does not provide any damage increase, which lowers its value in content where dealing damage is important. Other secondary stats contribute to damage, even if slightly, while Mastery does not.
If playing Flameshaper, Haste gains significant value in certain situations. With at least 20% Haste, you can fit two casts of Engulf between each Stasis use. Any Haste beyond 20% is wasted, so Mastery should be prioritized instead. However, since Stasis is not always used on cooldown, you may already fit two Engulf casts between uses, making additional Haste unnecessary. This depends on specific fight timers and mechanics.
Stat priority in Mythic+ shifts slightly due to the focus on dealing damage. While Mastery is the best stat for maximizing healing, it contributes little to damage, making it the weakest stat for Mythic+.
Although tertiary stats like Speed, Leech, and Avoidance appear randomly on gear, Leech is particularly valuable for healers. It provides free self-healing, allowing you to focus more on your allies. Its effectiveness depends on incoming damage, but it is typically as valuable as, if not more than, secondary stats. When comparing gear, consider whether a lower item-level piece with Leech might be preferable to a higher item-level piece without it.
Intellect is your primary stat and should be prioritized in all upgrades. It provides Spell Power, increasing the effectiveness of your heals.
Critical Strike increases the chance of spells and abilities critically hitting. Critical hits deal double damage by default, with some effects further enhancing their power.
Haste reduces the global cooldown and cast times, allowing for faster spellcasting.
Mastery (Mastery: Life-Binder) increases healing when your target's health percentage is lower than your own. The amount of increase scales with your Mastery stat.
Versatility boosts all damage and healing while also reducing incoming damage.
The Flameshaper build focuses on maximizing Consume Flame healing through Dream Breath and Engulf. The key interaction to remember is that Consume Flame's healing is increased by the healing from Dream Breath. Call of Ysera is crucial, requiring you to use Verdant Embrace before casting Dream Breath.
It's important to note that Echo-applied Dream Breaths do not benefit from Call of Ysera. Avoid using Engulf on Dream Breaths applied via Echo, as this would result in a significant healing loss. Fortunately, normal Dream Breath casts have different Spell IDs than Echo-applied versions, allowing for easy tracking on raid frames. Since Dream Breath always applies to yourself, you can cast Engulf on yourself to ensure full healing.
During downtime, focus on generating as many Echoes as possible by spending Essence and casting Temporal Anomaly. Consume these Echoes with Verdant Embrace to trigger the Lifebind effect and activate the 4-piece tier bonus,Insurance!. You can also use Engulf during this Lifebind window for massive burst healing, but always save two charges for your next Stasis.
Your overall rotation and priority:
This Mythic+ build emphasizes damage, crowd control, and utility options from the class tree to ensure success in any key. While this serves as a default build, certain talents can be swapped depending on the dungeon and affixes. For example, if additional healing is needed, Renewing Breath can provide extra output. Some class tree talents may also be adjusted based on weekly affixes and dungeon requirements.
For Mythic+, the general rule is to always store at least one max-rank empowered ability in Stasis, preferably Spiritbloom or Dream Breath. This allows for emergency healing when reactivated. Ideally, Spiritbloom is preferred, but when not possible, a max-rank Dream Breath is a good alternative. Both can be stored, but casting them back-to-back can leave you vulnerable to burst damage. Additional spells like Temporal Anomaly or Emerald Blossom can be included in Stasis for extra healing. When using Emerald Blossom, aim it at a well-stacked player to maximize its effectiveness when reactivated.
Lifebind is an incredibly powerful tool in the Evoker kit. Whenever you cast Verdant Embrace on an ally, both of you gain the Lifebind buff. If multiple Echo effects are active, every affected player will also receive Lifebind. There are two main ways to maximize its healing potential:
Essence Burst should be spent on the best Essence-consuming ability based on your content and build. While Disintegrate may seem appealing when no healing is needed, it is inefficient if Scarlet Adaptation and Lifeforce Mender are talented. Even without those, it requires Energy Loop and Natural Convergence to be viable.
One of the biggest differences between a strong and weak healer is effective cooldown management. Preservation Evoker has numerous options available:
Evokers excel at managing cooldowns, compensating for weaker sustained healing with powerful burst options. Abilities like Spiritbloom and Dream Breath are key to overcoming difficult encounters. The biggest mistake is holding onto cooldowns for too long—use them proactively to address healing challenges.
We highly recommend using QuestionablyEpic to sim your character's ideal gems and enchants, as they might differ from our general recommendations.
The best stat for raiding Preservation Evokers is Mastery, so that is what we recommend gemming for.
In one socket, use Elusive Blasphemite. Then, make sure to include one gem of each type in other sockets to maximize the Movement Speed effect, ideally Masterful Ruby, Deadly Onyx, Masterful Sapphire, and Masterful Emerald. Fill in the remaining sockets with Deadly Onyx.
The best stats for Mythic+ Preservation Evokers are Haste and Crit, so we recommend gemming for those.
In one socket, use Elusive Blasphemite. Then, ensure you have one gem of each type in other sockets to maximize the Movement Speed effect, ideally Quick Ruby, Quick Onyx, Quick Sapphire, and Deadly Emerald. Fill in the remaining sockets with Deadly Emerald.
Note that at higher levels of keys, Versatility can gain value due to the damage reduction it provides. This is especially relevant for very, very high-level keys, but it’s worth mentioning.
Flask of Tempered Mastery will be your go-to choice for maximizing your healing output. In situations like Mythic+, where you do not need extra healing, you can instead choose to run Flask of Tempered Aggression.
Use Slumbering Soul Serum to regenerate Mana when you have time for downtime. If that’s not an option, then Algari Mana Potion is a better choice. Tempered Potion offers the best stat benefit for personal performance, but in most cases, Potion Bomb of Power is more beneficial for boosting group damage. Many of these potions, like Fleeting Tempered Potion, can be acquired from Cauldrons created by Alchemists.
Grotesque Vial is also useful as it can be used when dead, potentially making the difference between victory and defeat in critical encounters.
Keep a stock of Algari Healing Potions for emergency use when you're at low health. If a Warlock is in your group, make sure to grab their Healthstones as well, but avoid macros for these items; they should be used individually. You can also obtain Fleeting Algari Healing Potion from Cauldrons spawned by Alchemists.
Always consume Feast of the Midnight Masquerade for the bonus to your primary stat. If you can’t access this feast, alternatives like Outsider's Provisions, Beledar's Bounty, Jester's Board, or Empress' Farewell will provide additional amounts of your highest secondary stat, typically Mastery.
If possible, use Crystallized Augment Rune to boost your primary stat. Augment Runes are costly and will disappear upon death, so make sure to use them wisely!
Slot | Enchantment |
Necklace | Magnificent Jeweler's Setting (adds up to 2 sockets to a Ring or Neck) |
Weapon |
Enchant Weapon - Authority of Fiery Resolve Enchant Weapon - Stonebound Artistry (At very high level of HPS) |
Chest | Enchant Chest - Crystalline Radiance |
Bracers | |
Legs | Sunset Spellthread |
Boots | |
Rings |
Enchant Ring - Radiant Mastery Enchant Ring - Radiant Critical Strike (Mythic +) |
Cloak | Enchant Cloak - Chant of Leeching Fangs |
This section will cover everything you need to know about equipping your character correctly.
Slot | Item | Source |
Helm | Opulent Treasurescale's Crowned Jewel | One-Armed Bandit/Matrix Catalyst/Great Vault |
Neck | Strapped Rescue-Keg | Cinderbrew Meadery / Great Vault |
Shoulder | Opulent Treasurescale's Gleaming Mantle | Rik Reverb/Matrix Catalyst / Great Vault |
Cloak | Test Pilot's Go-Pack | Sprocketmonger Lockenstock in Liberation of Undermine |
Chest | Opulent Treasurescale's Tunic | Sprocketmonger Lockenstock/Matrix Catalyst / Great Vault |
Bracers | Glyph-Etched Vambraces | Crafting |
Gloves | Opulent Treasurescale's Gold-Counters | Cauldron of Carnage / Matrix Catalyst / Great Vault |
Belt | Maniacal Monarch's Girdle | Operation: Mechagon / Great Vault |
Legs | Chemical Blaster's Legguards | The MOTHERLODE!! / Great Vault |
Boots | Treads of the Galvanic Skysoarer | The Rookery / Great Vault |
Ring #1 | The Jastor Diamond | Chrome King Gallywix in Liberation of Undermine |
Ring #2 | Bloodoath Signet | Siren Isle |
Trinket #1 | Eye of Kezan | Chrome King Gallywix in Liberation of Undermine |
Trinket #2 | Mister Pick-Me-Up | Sprocketmonger Lockenstock in Liberation of Undermine |
Main Hand | Big Earner's Bludgeon | Mug'Zee in Liberation of Undermine |
Off Hand | Vagabond's Torch | Crafting |
The optimal Embellishment for Preservation Evoker is Darkmoon Sigil: Ascension. Since this requires a weapon to use, it grants early access to a high item-level weapon while also providing a valuable embellishment bonus. After crafting this, your next step should typically be Writhing Armor Banding, which will significantly amplify the power of your weapon embellishment. Other options are available, but they’re less impactful. You can choose between Dawnthread Lining, Duskthread Lining, or even Binding of Binding if your focus is purely on extra DPS.
For pure healing, Haste/Mastery is a solid stat combination. Alternatively, if you plan to engage in a balanced mix of Mythic+ and Raiding, Haste/Versatility could be a better option.
The Tier Set consists of 5 items, all featuring the Opulent Treasurescale's name. Unique bonuses are unlocked when wearing 2 or 4 pieces from the set:
Evoker Preservation 11.1 Class Set 2pc — Your healing spells have a chance to apply Insurance! to targets, healing them over time and triggering a significant heal if the target falls below 40% HP. While Reversion is currently weak in raids, this bonus shines in Mythic+, offering passive healing and allowing for more DPS time.
Evoker Preservation 11.1 Class Set 4pc — Verdant Embrace will always apply Insurance! to both you and your target, and its cooldown is reduced. It's important to note that this effect can be echoed.
Although this tier set might not be the most exciting, it becomes quite powerful when paired with Echo and standard Lifebind ramps.
Note: For Preservation Evoker-specific WeakAuras, Wago is a great resource with many tailored options.
WeakAuras is an essential tool for Preservation Evoker and Healers, offering unparalleled customization to enhance your gameplay. Rather than focusing on specific examples, we recommend exploring Wago.io, where you’ll find an extensive library of WeakAuras to suit your needs.
If you are unfamiliar with WeakAuras, it is an incredibly powerful and widely-used AddOn that allows you to create custom displays for nearly everything in the game. This includes tracking buffs, debuffs, cooldowns, Focus, resources, and much more.
To import a WeakAura, visit Wago.io and select one that fits your preferences. Click the "Copy WeakAura Import String" button to copy it to your clipboard. Next, log into the game and type /wa
in the chat box to open the WeakAuras interface. Navigate to the "Import" section, press Ctrl+V to paste the copied string, and click "Import". You’re ready to go!
Mastering WeakAuras and customizing it to your playstyle is highly recommended for any serious raider. With countless options available on Wago.io, you can tailor your interface to optimize your performance and focus on what truly matters in combat.
Your talent choices will determine the better option:
The most effective spell to pair with Echo depends on tuning and your build. Consult the rotation and talent guides for specific recommendations on when to cast Echo and which abilities to consume it with for maximum impact.
While it might seem best to only use high-value spells during Stasis, it’s perfectly fine to include medium-power abilities. Ideally, aim to include Spiritbloom and Dream Breath in your Stasis window. You can fill the remaining slots with Emerald Blossom.
When Stasis is reactivated at a critical moment, it will provide rapid and powerful healing, often faster than your other abilities. Use it proactively to prepare for challenging situations and make them more manageable.