So I've seen some priests comment that Lightwell can be very beneficial in Ulduar 10. More specifically hardmodes (which I probably won't see for awhile).
My question is, should I pick this up for the benefit of the raid - And if I do...Will anybody use it?
Or will I just end up with a platform I can /levitate on and dance... :-\
The value Lightwell is entirely dependent on the people you raid with. If your fellow raid members (usually the DPS) understand how the spell works and how to use it properly, it is right up there with Circle of Healing in terms of value. It is an amazing spell, but if people don't understand how to use it, it's crap.
I would suggest picking it up and trying it out, along with some patience and some willingness to explain how it's used.
To DPS raid members that might be reading this:
"Creates a Holy Lightwell. Members of your raid or party can click the Lightwell to restore [Whatever the value is + some spellpower value] health over 6 sec. Attacks done to you equal to 30% of your total health will cancel the effect. Lightwell lasts for 3 min or 10 charges."
Originally, the healing would be canceled on ANY damage, but now it's much better. Just run over and click it ONCE. Do NOT keep clicking it or you will use up all the charges. And yes Warlocks, it's pretty much like an extra mana potion for you.
You know... this spell might be good on the General fight.
I found this for the DPS:
http://www.youtube.com/v/-QadZXE8umA&hl=en&fs=1&
(dammit, why can't we have a button to link a youtube video!!! Cripes there's one there for flash!!!)
Also here's some info that even I didn't know about Lightwell (since I've never spec'd into it):
1) Lightwell can be clicked while running.
I point this out mainly because a couple of my dps mates thought they needed to be at a standstill in order to use the Lightwell. They probably thought this because the animation effect is delayed from after when you click it. So, it's worth making sure people know they can click it as they run past or through it and the heals will start ticking in a few seconds later.
2) Lightwell can be clicked while suffering any adverse effects.
You can use the Lightwell while stunned, feared, frozen, knocked over, wrapped in snakes or spider silk, etc, etc. I think the Lightwell is fantastic in situations like when you're Ice Tombed by Prince Keleseth in UK - the Lightwell will keep you live/topped-up easily.
3) Lightwell can be clicked during the GCD.
Some dps are suspicious of using the Lightwell because they think it might slow down their dps, which is not an unreasonable assumption since dpsers often get threatened with no loot or being kicked by harsh raid leaders if their dps falls below a certain threshold. However, it's not true, so you might need to educate your dps friends that they can click the Lightwell and re-target the mob while waiting for their next spell to become available.
4) Yes! Lightwell can even be clicked while you're casting spells!
Casting a Greater Heal? Why not heal yourself while you're waiting for your cast to go off? That's right, click the Lightwell while you're casting and you'll probably get your first tick from the Lightwell about the same time your GH lands on the tank. Same for Flash Heal, same for any spell. Basically, the only time you can't click on a Lightwell is when you're actually clicking your spell casts. So tell the other peoples about this fact too. Click the Lightwell ANY DAMN TIME YOU PLEASE. It neither affects nor is affected by cooldowns (so far as I can tell).
A word of warning. The Lightwell does become your target when you use it. This definitely irks dpsers. Not a problem when fighting a solo boss or one with a few adds, but this can be difficult for dpsers when fighting bosses with lots of adds. It these situations, you most likely should keep the Lightwell close to yourself for self-heals. They also tend to be the fights where you stack close to the tank so melee can utilise it too. Desperate/smart group members will always come and give it a hug if need be. Also, make sure you re-target your tank properly each time you use a Lightwell. I'm ashamed to admit that on at least one occassion I have done a /face-palm after realising that I had just thrown thousands of heal points into the Lightwell instead of the tank. The problem is lag, so in laggy situations I tend to double-click the tank to make sure the Lightwell is no longer the target.
Other pains? Yes, you'll no doubt need to tell the Huntards that it is a HoT spell with 3 ticks, and that there's no point them clicking on it unless they have taken, or are going to take, damage. Telling people how to use it can be tiresome. In a PUG, a good way to demonstrate the Lightwell's effectiveness is at the end of the first boss fight, and several people need topping up, to refuse to heal. Just drop a lightwell and /point at it. They should get it after that.
I use Lightwells on boss fights. If I don't have any particular strategy for it, I'll just plant it next to myself and use it for free self-heals. Lots of times I may not need it, but it's like an insurance policy that doesn't cost anything other than the talent point I put in it. Lightwell can be great if you need to run between certain points. Place the Lightwell in the mid-point and everyone can click it as they transverse. Warlocks should gravitate to it like bears to a honeypot.
Looking at my current spec I can give up my one point in Desperate Prayer and just pickup Lightwell. I think that is what I'll do then see if I can find some posts on what raid bosses would be good to use it on.
One suggestion was 10m Sapphiron when he goes into the air, just drop the lightwell when you are behind the iceblock and everyone else can click on it to get the benefit as they run back to the boss.
And apparently it takes 30% damage in a single attack to break Lightwell Renew. It's not 30% damage from several attacks.
It will tick for ~2800 with around 2200spellpower (which I'm just a bit above with my inner fire) over 6 seconds for about 8500 healing.
Vitandus mentioned something about the General fight and one comment on Wowhead that might shed some light:
"Lightwell is not affected if dropped in a Shadow Crash on the General Vezax encounter. With about 2000 spellpower, that's nearly 60k healing for 600 mana, very efficient. :)"
I love the new Lightwell and am sad when I don't see it used more often. It's a very nice way to heal the Melee DPS if you put one next to them or the ranged DPS for those once-in-awhile AoEs. Like others said, it's dependent on if the people you want to use it for understand how to and when to use it. I'm pretty sure this guild has the brainpower to use it correctly, but it might take some time to get used to.
Almost every boss fight has something during it that warrants a Lightwell really...and General seems to have the most going for it until they fix it someday.