Are There Any Healing Cantrips in D&D?

Yes, there is one official healing cantrip in the 5th edition of Dungeons & Dragons – a spell that can be cast at-will without expending spell slots. This cantrip is called First Aid, published in 2021 by the DMs Guild.

What is the First Aid Cantrip?

The First Aid cantrip allows a character to spend an action to heal 1d6 hit points to a creature they touch. It scales up at higher levels, healing 2d6 at 5th level, 3d6 at 11th, and 4d6 at 17th.

First Aid serves as a minor healing option that helps bridge the gap between spell slots. While it pales in raw healing power compared to leveled spells like Cure Wounds, its unlimited uses provide reliable in-combat healing. Many players find it strikes a good balance as an always-available option that won‘t fully replace primary healing spells.

How Cantrips and Leveled Spells Differ

Cantrips distinguish themselves from leveled spells like Cure Wounds in that they can be cast freely without expending spell slots. This allows cantrips like First Aid to serve as at-will healing options.

Leveled spells often provide much stronger healing but must be used judiciously. A Cleric only has so many spell slots available per day for Cure Wounds, whereas First Aid can be used as needed.

This core difference in spell slot usage is why certain potent healing options like Healing Word and Cure Wounds cannot be cantrips. Their healing output would be unbalanced if unlimited.

Analyzing Proposed Healing Cantrips

There are occasional proposals in D&D forums and communities for new healing cantrips, or suggestions to convert certain spells into cantrips. How might these affect game balance?

For example, one homebrew converts Prayer of Healing into a cantrip that restores 1 hit point. As a 10-minute cast, this would provide only trivial in-combat healing. Out of combat, it may restore a party without expending any resources, which some consider imbalanced.

Overall, extensive playtesting is needed to evaluate if a healing cantrip encourages spamming and invalidates class resources. Cantrips should not fully replace leveled healing spells in their strength and utility.

Druid Healing Options

Druids make excellent healers thanks to their versatile spell list. While lacking a healing cantrip, they have access to efficient healing spells, both in and out of combat.

Healing Word is a go-to Druid option, restoring 1d4+spell mod hit points as a bonus action. The always-prepared Cure Wounds averages higher healing. And the powerful Healing Spirit offers passive out-of-combat healing.

These spells combined with Wild Shape and healing-boosting features like the Circle of Dreams allow Druids to sustain and support a party well.

Comparing D&D‘s Best Healing Classes

When it comes to sheer healing power, the Life Domain Cleric is unmatched. Their Disciple of Life feature makes all healing spells more effective. And Preserve Life channels positive energy through multiple allies as a bonus action.

Druids may edge out Clerics in certain niche areas like group healing over time. But Clerics have access to high level spells like Mass Heal and True Resurrection. Overall, their features and spell list optimize them for raw healing throughput.

Other top healers include Celestial Warlocks with their Healing Light pool and Divine Soul Sorcerers blending Cleric healing options. But none gain the sheer leveled spell access and recovery that Life Clerics enjoy.

Healing Classes in World of Warcraft

In WoW, Holy Priests are regarded as the most beginner-friendly healer. Their direct healing toolkit is easy to learn, and they bring solid utility like Dispel Magic and Mass Dispel. Mistweaver Monks provide a similar basic healing style with options like Renewing Mist.

Restoration Druids thrive when able to pre-emptively apply HoTs (heals over time). Their mobility and damage also enable a more offensive playstyle. Restoration Shamans offer strong stacked healing and cooldowns like Healing Tide Totem.

In general for new players, discipline Priest and Fistweaving Monk add complexity. Prioritizing damage as healing can be challenging to learn.

Comparing Key Healing Options

This table summarizes some of the strongest healing spells available. While healing cantrips like First Aid have their place, leveled spells output much higher healing on average.

Conclusion

Healing cantrips in D&D provide reliable, low-powered healing that complements spell slots rather than replacing them. While limited, First Aid gives an always-available option between encounters or when resources run low.

Classes like Clerics and Druids have access to far stronger healing through leveled spells. Their spell lists and features enable them to sustain parties through the most brutal dungeon dives. But a healing cantrip can be a useful tool in any healing arsenal when used strategically. Just don‘t expect it to replace your Cure Wounds!