Cast as a first level spell
- cure wounds = (4.5+wis) hit points of healing and range touch
- healing word = (2.5+wis) hit points of healing AND another action
When preparing, healing word is vastly superior.
Cast as a third level spell
- cure wounds = (13.5+wis) hit points of healing and range touch
- healing word = (7.5+wis) hit points of healing AND another action
Cure wounds's advantage is more pronounced but range touch and the action are huge incentives to stick to healing word.
I don't get it.
For one thing, D&D 5e is not at all like older editions. You don't have to use up a slot for healing word and that means you can't have cure wounds. Basically a cleric really into healing would have both. He'd use cure wounds every change he got and healing world when in a pinch. They are not mutually exclusive anymore.
I agree though that if you have to choose and especially if you are using the HD healing available by default that healing word is probably better.
Cure wounds though is really nice for right before you go to bed when no enemy is around.
roddyriot2 wrote:
Healing Word is more for combat clerics who don't want to "waste" their action healing. You can drop healing word and still smack someone with your weapon (or try to).
If you like Healing Word, then stick with it. Wisdom can easily be maxed at 8th level, when clerics have 4th level spells. Cure wounds does 23 healing then, and Healing Word does 15 healing. It all depends on what you want to do with your action; heal 65% less and still get your action, or heal 53% more and give up your action (though your bonus action is still available).
Emerikol. wrote:
Cure wounds and healing word weren't ever mutually exclusive.
They're both useful, just situationally.
They both just perefer an open relationship.. tisk tisk, scandalous 