Medicine Operative 5.x Healing Class Guide

SWTOR Medicine Operative 5.x Healing class guide.

Change Discipline:

Gearing & Stats

The tables on this page were generated using optimizer scripts created by Bant aka Goblin_Lackey. The stats were calculated to give the maximum theoretical DPS/HPS/DTPS for each discipline, however you may wish to alter the builds depending on your play style or what content you are facing in SWTOR. Each table assumes you have a full set of the specified gear.

Suggested Best-in-Slot Stats

Name GEMINI MK-5
Tier 4: Legendary
(248)
GEMINI MK-3
Tier 4: Artifact
(246)
Iokath MK-5
Tier 3: Legendary
(242)
Iokath MK-2
Tier 3: Artifact
(240)
Eternal Commander MK-15
Tier 2: Legendary
(236)
Eternal Commander MK-13
Tier 2: Artifact
(234)
Mastery 7136 (Stim)6871 (Stim)6745 (Stim)6745 (Stim)6493 (Stim)6367 (Stim)
Power 406338753793379336053523
Critical 2020 (2xE, 14xA, 2xC)1966 (8xE, 2xC)1949 (5xE, 7xA, 2xC)1949 (5xE, 7xA, 2xC)1893 (5xE, 7xA, 2xC)1872 (6xE, 5xA, 2xC)
Alacrity 1848 (8xE)1784 (2xE, 14xA)1747 (5xE, 7xA)1747 (5xE, 7xA)1697 (5xE, 7xA)1664 (4xE, 9xA)
Accuracy 000000
Absorb 000000
Defense 000000
Shield 000000

"E" = Enhancement or Implant or Earpiece
"A" = Advanced _ Augment 45
"C" = Advanced _ _ Color Crystal (+41 ones)

Discipline Statistics

Name GEMINI MK-5
Tier 4: Legendary
(248)
GEMINI MK-3
Tier 4: Artifact
(246)
Iokath MK-5
Tier 3: Legendary
(242)
Iokath MK-2
Tier 3: Artifact
(240)
Eternal Commander MK-15
Tier 2: Legendary
(236)
Eternal Commander MK-13
Tier 2: Artifact
(234)
HPS 21,348 +/- 80520,745 +/- 77420,381 +/- 75620,277 +/- 75019,702 +/- 72119,270 +/- 699
APM41.641.541.441.441.341.2

HPS Rankings

Current
Rank
Previous
Rank
Rank
Change
HPS Standard
Error
vs Average HPS
(17,885)
Imperial Class Republic Class
2 2 - 17,136 +/- 581 -4.19% Corruption Sorcerer Seer Sage
3 3 - 15,172 +/- 746 -15.17% Bodyguard Mercenary Combat Medic Commando
1 1 - 21,348 +/- 805 +19.36% Medicine Operative Sawbones Scoundrel

Note: HPS rankings assume best-in-slot 242-rating gear.


Suggested Best-in-Slot Gear & Items


Set Bonuses

Pieces Set Bonus
2Activating a healing ability has a 15% chance to grant Field Medic's Critical Bonus which causes your next Kolto Injection or Underworld Medicine to be a critical. This effect can only occur once every 30 seconds.
4Reduces the energy cost of Kolto Infusion or Kolto Pack by 2.
6Reduces the cooldown of Recuperative Nanotech or Kolto Cloud by 3 seconds.

Suggested Utility Skills

PvE

Suggested PvE Utility Build

PvP

Suggested PvP Utility Build

Abilities

Medicine Discipline Abilities

Name Description Type
Executes your Tactical Advantage to summon a probe that instantly heals the target <<1>>. Requires and consumes Tactical Advantage.Instant
Heals a friendly target for <<1>>.Casted
Executes your Tactical Advantage to hurl a canister that fills the target area with poisonous gas, dealing <<1>> internal damage to up to 8 enemy targets within 8 meters over 6 seconds. The haze stuns standard and weak enemies for 6.1 seconds. Requires and consumes Tactical Advantage.Instant
Heals up to 8 allies that remain within 8 meters of the targeted area for <<1>> health over the channel duration. Depletes 28 energy over the duration of the channel.Channeled
Heals the target and up to 3 allies within 10 meters for <<1[%d/%d/%d]>> over 6 seconds.Instant

Operative Advanced Class Abilities

Name Description Type
Ambushes an enemy for <<1>> kinetic damage. Only usable while behind the target. If used from stealth, Backstab deals <<2>> kinetic damage and grants a Tactical Advantage.Instant
Roll forward 12 meters. Activating Exfiltrate a second time within 10 seconds allows you to roll again, but puts the ability on cooldown for 10 seconds. While rolling, your chance to dodge melee and ranged attacks is increased by 30%. Does not break stealth. Cannot be used while immobilized or hindered.Instant
Executes your Tactical Advantage to drop a canister that fills the vicinity with poisonous gas, dealing <<1>> internal damage to up to 8 enemy targets within 8 meters over 6 seconds. The haze stuns standard and weak enemies for 6.1 seconds. Requires and consumes Tactical Advantage.Instant
Summons a droid that heals a friendly target for <<1[%d/%d/%d]>> over 18 seconds. Stacks up to 2 times.Instant
Executes your Tactical Advantage to grant Tactical Superiority to you and your Operation group members within 40 meters, increasing critical chance by 10% for 10 seconds. Does not break stealth.Instant
Throws a knife at the target, dealing <<1>> kinetic damage and slowing the target's movement speed by 50% for 12 seconds.Instant
Cleanses a friendly target of up to 2 negative tech or physical effects.Instant
Overloads your stealth generator, immediately exiting combat and entering stealth mode. For 10 seconds, you become virtually undetectable.Instant
Deals <<2>> energy damage and stuns the target for 4 seconds.Instant
Stabs a target for <<1>> kinetic damage.Instant
Fires a carbine burst that hits up to 8 targets in a 10-meter cone in front of you for <<1>> weapon damage.Instant
Blasts a target for <<1>> weapon damage.Instant
Summons a droid that revives an incapacitated ally. This ability is usable while in combat. When used, all group members can neither use nor be the target of an in-combat revival for the next 5 minutes.Casted
Cloaks all group members within 10 meters of you in a temporary stealth field that lasts 15 seconds. Cannot be used in combat. Only usable while in stealth mode.Instant
Inject yourself with a specially-engineered Imperial stim, immediately gaining Tactical Advantage and boosting alacrity by 10% for 15 seconds. Does not break stealth.Instant
Executes your Tactical Advantage to heal the target immediately for <<1>> followed by <<2>> over 9 seconds. Requires and consumes Tactical Advantage.Casted
Activates your stealth generator, increasing your stealth level by 15 and making you and your companion difficult to detect. Movement speed is reduced to 85% of normal while in stealth. Most hostile actions and taking cover will break Stealth. Your companion will not react to enemy attacks while in stealth.Instant
Supercharge your stealth generator, quickly moving you to a friendly or enemy target and increasing your movement speed by 75% for 3 seconds. Does not break stealth. Cannot be used against enemy targets in cover.Instant
Heals a friendly target for <<1>> over 3 seconds.Channeled
Defeating an opponent or activating Shiv puts you in a position of Tactical Advantage, enabling the use of executions for 24 seconds. Up to 2 charges of Tactical Advantage can exist at once.Passive
Puts the target to sleep for 60 seconds. Damage will break the effect prematurely. Only usable from stealth and only usable on targets not in combat. Only one target can be incapacitated at a time. Does not affect droids.Instant

Imperial Agent Class Abilities

Name Description Type
Shoots your rifle at the target, dealing <<1>> weapon damage.Instant
Purges all incapacitating and movement-impairing effects.Instant
Increases a friendly target's critical hit chance by 5% for 60 minutes. If the target is a group member, all other group members are also affected.Instant
Activates countermeasures, instantly lowering threat by a moderate amount.Instant
Interrupts the target's current action and prevents that ability from being used for 4 seconds.Instant
Summons a probe droid that projects a shield around the Agent, absorbing a moderate amount of incoming damage for 10 seconds. Does not break stealth.Instant
Increases your chance to dodge melee and ranged attacks by 200% for 3 seconds. Does not break Stealth.Instant
Fires a dart at the target that deals <<1>> internal poison damage over 18 seconds.Instant
Summons a droid that helps you recover 50 energy over 3 seconds.Instant
Deals <<1>> kinetic damage to the primary target and <<2>> kinetic damage to up to 7 standard or weak enemies within 5 meters of the primary target. If the primary target is a standard or weak enemy, it is knocked to the ground.Instant
Detonates a flash bang that blinds the target for 8 seconds. Damage causes this effect to end prematurely.Instant
Seize the moment, restoring 2% of your maximum health every 3 seconds. Requires an active companion. Lasts 60 seconds.Instant

Rotation

Rotation

Recuperative Nanotech > Filler > Kolto Wave > Kolto Wave* > Kolto Injection > Kolto Infusion > Filler > Filler
Recuperative Nanotech > Filler > Filler > Filler > Kolto Injection > Kolto Infusion > Filler > Filler

Filler: Surgical Probe (79%) / Kolto Probe (0%) / Diagnostic Scan (21%)

Minor Rotation: 8+ GCDs
Major Rotation: 36+ GCDs

Comments: Healers are tough to determine when there is not a set rotation and they just respond to situations. That is why Orderken's models are nice because they work in the opposite direction from the way I am calculating. He starts with the assumption that he knows the % of healing each ability will do and he works backwards to find the activation rate that matches those percentages. Healers should be warned that the gearing assumes a static rotation that is not representative of an actual fight. This rotation is only slightly valid for 3 targets. The new utility for making Kolto Infusion Instant decreases the total healing of the move by ~7% but it front loads the healing

References: Orderken

Advanced Tactics

Advanced Tactics

Cooldowns
  • Evasion - Increases your chance to dodge melee and ranged attacks by 200% for 3 seconds and self-cleanses DOTS. Doesn't break stealth.
  • Shield Probe - it puts a protective shield around you absorbing a moderate amount of damage for 10 seconds.
  • Exfiltrate - Roll forward 12 meters. Activating Exfiltrate a second time within 10 seconds allows you to roll again, but puts the ability on CD for 10 seconds. While rolling, your chance to dodge melee and ranged attacks is increased by 30%. Does not break stealth. Cannot be used while immobilized or hindered.
  • Holotraverse - Supercharge your stealth generator, quickly moving you to a friendly or enemy target and increasing your movement speed by 75% for 3 seconds. Does not break stealth. Cannot be used against enemy targets in cover.
  • Escape - Purges all incapacitating and movement-impairing effects.
  • Distraction - Interrupts the target's current action and prevents that ability from being used for 4 seconds. It’s important to save this when necessary in an operation or when it’s called for by the leader of the group.
Energy Management

Operative healers only hold up to 100 energy so it's important to keep your energy up around 50-60%. In order to do that you can use Diagnostic Scan which rebuilds energy pretty quickly. If you are DPSing use Rifle Shot, however it rebuilds energy up at a slower rate.

  • Adrenaline Probe - Summons a droid that helps you recover 50 energy over 3 seconds. This should only be used as your backup energy regeneration in an emergency. The cooldown is 1 minute so use it sparingly.
Single Target Healing

For single target healing I like to start with Kolto Injection which gives you a Tactical Advantage, then onto Kolto Infusion, then Diagnostic Scan (which you channel while moving and it helps keep your energy where you need it. It''s recommended you try to maintain your energy at 50-60%) and then Surgical Probe, if necessary.

Kolto Injection > Kolto Infusion > Diagnostic Scan > Surgical Probe

Multiple Target Healing

For multiple target healing I usually start off hitting the tanks with Recuperative Nanotech (which heals up to 3 targets for 8423 over 9 seconds). It provides a HOT and adds more healing to targets that are close to it.

Typically, when you use Recuperative Nanotech (this effect also procs a Tactical Advantage) in the middle of a fight, hit Kolto Waves right after. It is a channeled AOE effect that heals up to 8 targets and is best to be used when everyone is grouped up.

Recuperative Nanotech > Kolto Waves

When using either Multiple or Single Target Healing try to keep Kolto Probes on each target as much as possible.

Burst Healing

Stim Boost will proc your Kolto Injection and/or Kolto Infusion to be cast instantly. It also gives you a Tactical Advantage and boosts alacrity by 10% for 15 seconds.

Kolto Injection > Diagnostic Scan > Surgical Probe > Recuperative Nanotech > Kolto Waves

Procs and Buffs

Making sure you time using your procs and buffs at the right moment because they are critical for your HPS.

  • Countermeasures - Periodic healing over 10 seconds and procs Kolto Probe (this only heals for 10 seconds if you have Curative Agent set in utilities).
  • Critical Surge - Critical rating increased. This occurs when you hit Recuperative Nanotech.
  • Field Medic's Critical Bonus - You receive this bonus from having a 2 set piece. It can only be activated once every 30 seconds and will make your next Kolto Injection or Underworld Medicine will critically heal.
  • Invigorated - Healing received increased. It lasts up to 42 seconds and increases healing received from your co healer as well.
  • Mastery Surge - Mastery increased. It occurs when you heal either yourself or friendly targets.
  • Tactical Superiority - It Executes your Tactical Advantage to grant Tactical Superiority to the whole raid group within 40 meters. It increases critical chance by 10% for 10 seconds. Usually used at the beginning of a boss fight or when the raid leader calls for it.
  • Tactical Advantage - Executions enabled. It stack up to 3 times and it lasts 23 seconds. It can be gained over time through stacking your HOTS or placing Kolto Probe on targets.
  • Tactical Medicine - Increases all healing output by 3% for 6 seconds.
  • Resistant - Internal and elemental damage reduction increased over 44 sec when you use Kolto Infusion.
  • Kolto Probe - Procs Critical Surge, Field Medic's Critical Bonus and Tactical Advantage.
Reviving Targets During Combat

As a stealth class there are two ways to revive a target during combat:

  • Combat Revive: Combat reviving a dead player in your group using Resuscitation Probe causes a buff on all members in the raid group so that they can’t use combat reviving again until the cooldown runs out for 4.25 minutes. Usually, this is reserved for tanks and, if the fight is heavy on dps checks, a dps.
  • Stealth Revive: Make sure your HOTs are not active before using Cloaking Screen to revive a dead player otherwise it will put you back into combat therefore not allowing you to revive the player. Once you have revived the player you (or the revived player) can revive more before entering combat.
DPSing in Heal Spec

There will be certain fights that require healers to dps as well. Dps’ing depletes your energy more quickly than healing.

Single Targets: Corrosive Dart > Backstab > Shiv > Noxious Knives > Overload Shot > Debilitate (deals 2392-2692 energy dmg and on a weaker target stuns them) > Rifle Shot

Multiple Targets: Fragmentation Grenade > Corrosive Dart > Shiv > Toxic Haze (Requires and consumes Tactical Advantage) > Noxious Knives > Overload Shot > Rifle Shot

Use Rifle Shot to regain energy.

Make sure to look at your discipline paths next to the utilities and read through them. It will be extremely helpful in knowing your class better, which in turn will make you more effective as a healer.

About the Author
Hayward
Author: Hayward
Hayward founded TORCommunity in 2008 the day after SWTOR was announced. Engineer by day, software dev by night, he does his best to keep the site up to date.