This page covers a healer-focused strategy for Gothik the Harvester in Naxxramas in Wrath of the Lich King. 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.

During this encounter, players fight against Gothik's minions in separate groups before engaging him directly.

Stage One - Divided Efforts

This stage begins the encounter and ends after about 4.5-minutes.

• The room is divided into two sides. The side you first enter is called the Living Side, the other side is called the Undead Side.
• When Gothik is engaged, the gate between the two sides closes and Gothik teleports to his balcony, out of reach of players.
• Enemies spawn in waves, first on the Living Side, then when killed, spawn a similar enemy on the Undead Side.
• Living Side
  • Enemies are susceptible to most forms of crowd control, slows, and snares, except where noted.
  • Unrelenting Trainee
    • Dispel Death Plague (Death Plague on 10-Player) (disease) to remove the light damage over time effect.
  • Unrelenting Deathknight
    • Stay more than 8-yards away to avoid Shadow Mark.
  • Unrelenting Rider
    • Susceptible only to snare effects.
    • Interrupt Shadow Bolt Volley (Shadow Bolt Volley on 10-Player) to prevent the light damage dealt to all players with Shadow Mark.
    • Deals light damage over time to all players with Unholy Aura.
• Undead Side
  • Enemies are generally not susceptible to crowd control. Only non-elite enemies are susceptible to Shackle Undead. 
  • Spectral Trainee
    • When possible, stay more than 20-yards away to avoid Arcane Explosion.
  • Spectral Deathknight
    • Stay more than 5-yards away to avoid Whirlwind.
  • Spectral Rider
    • Interrupt or dispel Drain Life (Drain Life on 10-Player) (magic) to prevent the healing over time.
    • Deals light damage over time to all players with Unholy Aura.
  • Spectral Horse
    • Don't stand in front to avoid Stomp.

Stage Two - The Harvester

This stage begins after 4.5-minutes in stage one and ends when Gothik is killed.

• Any enemies leftover from stage one will need to be dealt with, either by crowd controlling or killing them.
• Gothik
  • Joins the encounter starting on the Living Side, and switches sides about every 20-seconds.
    • At 30% health, the gate dividing the sides opens.
  • The tanks will be dealing with Shadow Bolt.
  • Applies stacks of Harvest Soul to all players every 20-seconds, reducing all stats.

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.

• Use Cooldowns as-needed
  
  • on Unholy Aura while Unrelenting Riders/Spectral Riders are active
  • on Arcane Explosion while Spectral Trainees are active
• Pre-heal Before (mainly for heal over time classes)
  • Unrelenting Riders/Spectral Riders or Spectral Trainees are active
• Other things to watch for
  • Tanks and melee players are likely to be taking most of the damage throughout the encounter.
  • As mana and healing permit, help DPS Gothik during stage two to help end the encounter faster before Harvest Soul stacks get too high.

Minor

• Death Plague (Death Plague on 10-Player) (dispel, disease) should be dispelled when possible.
• Shadow Mark can cause players to need additional healing.