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Guardian of the First Ones, Healer Guide

Updated 10 months ago for patch 9.2.7 by Preston. View the change log.

Guardian of the First Ones Dungeon Journal ModelThis page covers a healer-focused strategy for Guardian of the First Ones in Sanctum of Domination in Shadowlands. While it's tailored for healers, other roles may also find the information useful. If you have any suggestions or feedback, you can leave a comment below or tweet @PrestonDvorak.

This guide has been updated and maintained based on my own experiences with the encounter, combat log information, and Dungeon Journal information. I'll continue to update it as-needed.

General Mechanics and Abilities

Normal and Heroic

  • Players must assist the tanks in dealing with Elimination Pattern.
    • During Sunder, stay more than 6-yards away from the tank to avoid the critical damage dealt. Players hit take greatly increased damage from subsequent Sunders while the debuff persists.
    • On Heroic, during Obliterate, stand within 6-yards of the tank to split the damage dealt. Players hit take greatly increased damage from subsequent Obliterates while the debuff presists.
  • Don't stand in front when it turns to cast Disintegration. Players hit are stunned and take light damage over time.
  • When targeted by Threat Neutralization, move more than 10-yards away from other players and avoid the subsequent impact location.
  • Summons Sentries throughout the encounter, which orbit the Guardian.
  • At 0% energy, deals increasing heavy damage over time to all players with Purging Protocol.
    • To prevent this, the Guardian must be brought to an Energy Core, detailed below, to have its energy recharged.
  • Three Energy Cores are present from the beginning of the encounter.
    • Energy Core
      • Emits an Radiant Energy field.
        • If the Guardian is in the field, it gains energy over time from Energizing Link while dealing heavy damage over time to all players with Unstable Energy.
        • If players are in the field, they take greatly reduced damage from Unstable Energy.
        • All players should stand in the field any time the Guardian is about to be moved to the field.
      • At 0% energy, stay more than 15-yards away to avoid the critical damage from Meltdown.
        • Additionally, this deals moderate damage to all players.

Mythic Differences

  • At least four players must be hit by Obliterate to prevent the Guardian from losing additional energy.
  • Energy Cores now begin the encounter at 0% energy and must be recharged with Energy Absorption by being hit with Threat Neutralization.

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Healing Notes

Quick Notes, All Difficulties

The notes below mostly pertain to progression difficulty, meaning if you out-gear the difficulty you're on or use extra healers they may not apply.

Debuffs to Track

Major

  • Disintegration causes players to be incapacitated and need additional healing over time.
  • Several debuffs can cause players and tanks to take additional damage, however, this is rare unless a mistake is made, so the debuffs may just clutter raid frames.


Useful Addons

Sanctum of Domination DBM Import Code for Healers - +

To use this import code, install the Deadly Boss Mods addon, type /dbm in your chat, expand the Shadowlands header in the left-hand panel, click on the Sanctum of Domination heading, click on the Load AddOn button in the right-hand panel if necessary, click on the Import Profile button, paste the code into the box and click Import. Note that importing this code will replace all of your current settings for all Sanctum of Domination bosses.


Comment on Guardian of the First Ones, Healer Guide

Changelog - View the last ten changes. - +

July 29, 2022 - 4:04 am (Healer) - Added DBM Import code.

July 29, 2022 - 4:04 am (Healer) - Added DBM Import code.

August 04, 2021 - 1:31 pm (Painsmith Raznal) - Changed cooldown usage recommendations.

August 04, 2021 - 11:15 am (Sylvanas Windrunner) - Clarified Domination Chain information.

July 28, 2021 - 11:59 am (Sylvanas Windrunner) - Made minor guide updates and clarifications, fixed some broken spell links.

July 13, 2021 - 9:06 pm (Sylvanas Windrunner) - Updated health breakpoint for ending stage one based on hotfix notes.

July 10, 2021 - 6:02 pm (Painsmith Raznal) - Added better Spiked information.

July 10, 2021 - 1:33 am (Painsmith Raznal) - Updated Shadowsteel Chains spell ID, hopefully for the last time.

July 09, 2021 - 9:49 pm (Soulrender Dormazain) - Updated Torment and Tormented Eruptions information.

July 08, 2021 - 4:55 pm (Guardian of the First Ones) - Updated Obliterate spell ID.