Calls upon a guardian spirit to watch over the friendly target. The spirit increases the healing received by the target by 40%, and also prevents the target from dying by sacrificing itself. This sacrifice terminates the effect but heals the target of 50% of their maximum health. Lasts 10 sec.
Guardian Spirit is the 31-point Holy priest talent ability. A friendly target receives 40% more healing for 10 seconds. If the target dies while under the effect of the spell, the Guardian Spirit will prevent death by sacrificing itself and restore 50% of the target's maximum health.
Guardian Spirit won't prevent death from fall damage.
The maximum amount that can be healed by Guardian Spirit is 200% of the maximum health of the caster. Previously, it appeared to be roughly 100,000 health.
Tips and tactics
This is the Holy priest's panic button when a party member is about to die.
Casting Guardian Spirit on the tank will allow the priest to heal other party members, while the tank is safe.
[Glyph of Guardian Spirit] can be extremely valuable in raids when used just before a boss' heavy damage ability, especially when the target survives.
[Glyph of Desperation] allows the priest to cast Guardian Spirit (and Pain Supression) while stunned. This can often make a critical difference in PvP, effectively granting the priest an emergency 50% health instant heal when surprised by rogues, warriors, etc.
Using a macro or addon to announce your target is recommended.
Patch changes
Patch 4.0.6 (2011-02-08): The absorb/heal from this ability can now never exceed 200% of the maximum health of the caster.
Patch 3.0.3 (2008-11-04): A target may now have only one Guardian Spirit active.