Would Like To Play Healer: But Which? :)

I would like to know what the general concensus is on which primary/secondary makes the best healers

What are the differences between an El/Mo and a Mo/El, for example? A friend suggested I try an El/Mo, but I am really not sure which way to go. I am sure there are other great healer combinations.

I could use some educated advice!

Thank you

Mo/Me seems to be popular

Playing a monk primary means you have access to the DIVINE FAVOR attribute. These skills boost your healing powers (3 points of healing for each point in D.F.) So with 16 points in D.F. you will heal for an additional 51 points for every monk spell you cast.
Some divine favor skills help you manage your energy too (such as divine spirit and blessed signet).

An E/Mo, while having an initially larger energy pool, will soon run low on energy and the lack of runes/divine favor makes healing less effective.

My advice...monks were made for healing

Thank you two for the replies

I was told that El/Mo was more efficient because they have more energy. Supposedly the idea is that a Monk primary heals far more than is necessary and has less energy. So, an El/Mo's more energy and slightly smaller heals makes for an efficient healer. I have no idea if this is correct.

A monk primary sounds good though But I am not sure what secondary to choose! Mesmer is popular and I have seen Elementalist too. Can anyone give me some perspectives on what secondary goes 'best' with Monk for a healer focused character?

The more energy, smaller heals idea means you need to cast more spells and thus your heals are coming slower. When the enemy is putting out high enough damage to endanger anyone (ie: the times when a healer shows if he's worth his salt), the slower heals spell death. Also, if the enemy uses energy denial, more efficient heals quickly trump more base energy from Energy Storage.

As for good secondaries, from what I understand Mesmer and Necromancer both have good energy management capabilities with Necro edging out as more efficient after the changes to Energy Drain.

monk primary is the best you can swap secondary later

I also agree with a monk as a primary. Divine Favor, and the runes, makes it much worth it.

As for secondary, I personally don't use any skills from secondary professions.

Some people like to use Energy Tap, so Mo/Me. Some Offering of Blood, so Mo/N. Some like Armour of Earth, Obsidan Flesh or Kinntic Armour, so go Mo/E. It's up to you.

With my Mo/Me in arena, I used to use Hex Breaker to prevent those nasty mesmers from screwing with me. Now that skill is crap, and I use Inspired Hex instead.

In PvE, I'm ALL healing/protection with no mesmer skills at all, and with the Signet of Devotion, when I'm out of energy or waiting for Word of Healing to recharge, I can still get off a heal.

I would have to agree, the DF bonus not replaceable with extra energy. (This coming from someone who has never played E/Mo past presearing!)

Mo/whatever for PvE
Mo/Me for PvP but this depends on what build you are using.

Mo/Necro - abuse well of blood and healing prayers.

Dont dismiss E/Mo off hand though, with Ether Prodigy (that's you got 10 pips of energy regen) you can really keep up the healing.

Also Mo/E for PvE is good but reasonable choice only at the end because of that elite glyph skill.

5 energy spam skills + Divine Spirit + Glyph of Renewal = gg

Maybe works in PvP too. I haven't tried.

Thank you for all of the great information and suggestions!

I went with Monk/Mesmer as it sounds like it is a nice combination. In the future, I can always change the secondary if I want to try something else I suppose.