I dont really think there is an easy role…
If the tank and dps are good, healer can go AFK
If the dps and healer are good, tank has no stress.
If the tank and healer are bad the dps are suffering
So its depending on the group id say.
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Healer is harder hands down
Speaking as a tank, the amount of stuff healers have to put up with is rediculous
They’re basically expected to be fulfilling two roles, DPS as hard as you can and keep everyone alive
For tanking there’s more prep for a dungeon but once you’re actually in there playing the game it’s really not that big of a challange
Missed one
When (not if) dps are bad everyone suffers…
Healing is just fine if you are a bit skilled and don´t have retarded group. You literally don´t need anything else.
Tanking requires a lot of preparation and I am honestly not willing to sacrifice that much time outside of the game so that is why I play healer as a main.
Personaly I would enjoy playing dps the most, but simply I don´t have time to spend hours on looking for groups.
Depends on the class/spec.
As a proactive healer (if I’m not totally wrong disc priest and druid) you can’t just look for damage and heal it, you have to know when it comes, if your players can and will mitigate/avoid it.
As for the “tank is leader” thing, that’s only partially true. Yes, in many cases that’s how it goes, but as someone who only started tanking this expansion, I had a lot of dps/healers taking the lead and calling the route, when I said that I don’t know a route and asked for someone to do so. You can even have someone else pull as long as he knows what he’s doing, pulling the mobs through you so you just have to take them.
As for which is easier to pick up as a pure dps player, I don’t think there’s a simple answer to that.
You should just try what suits you better. There are people that are great healers, but totally lost as a tank and vice-versa.
For me, tanking is easier, it suits me better and I basically only need to have an eye on myself, the healer and the mobs, instead of everyone.
So if you have the possibility, try it all and look what’s better for you, best in a group of friends/people who know you’re new to the role, so it’s less frustrating for everyone when you fail in your first attempts.
With that, I might also suggest a druid if available for testing, as you can relatively easily do anything on him and bear is a tank that’s easy to get behind, with a lot of potential for optimisation once you’re into it, and really strong against physical damage, especially in bigger packs.
My opinion only, but tanking has a higher initial curve (routes, packs, pulls) but once you have that down it’s easier than healing
Healing has a lower initial curve but the amount of consistent effort you need to deploy remains higher than tanks. Once a tank learns a dungeon route with an affix setup, they largely just do what the script is and maintain it, a healer in higher keys will always be pushed to be pulling out the numbers because the encounters require they do (and often the way the tank pulls for optimal route speed requires they do as well).
It’s always worth remembering that at this stage in the game, speed comes at the price of stability and the healer is largely the one who shoulders that burden ATM due to our gear. Later in the game when we become gods again I’d say the healing role will get easier because they won’t need to throw about as much, but at current in higher keys a healer is very much busy pretty much all run and being stretched in one way or another and the run speed requires them to “keep up” whereas the tank merely sets the pace largely.
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Would suggest trialling both roles with a guild/friend group in normals/heroics to see which you like best.
These are all really helpful! I think the consensus is both are equally as hard with similar skill floor and ceiling. I’m going to try out a few classes and decide what role.
Tank.
Healing is way easier to learn than tanking.
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Very true, indeed if dps are bad everything goes bad 
Yeah… I once had dps that did like 1k dps on a +2 tyrannical boss in mists…
No kidding the timer ran out before they even got him down to half hp.
I have to disagree with this. I have no idea of most of the dungeons and I’m doing just fine in my 15s.
A reactive healer spec is prob easier than any tank.
Tanking is easier than healing when you are comfortable with dungeons and your spec. But it has steeper learning curve than a healer.
Both are hard, but tanking is definitely harder, as you’re in charge of the route
I think this is a more important question to ask.
Difficulty is such a subjective broad term, but put in the effort and you’ll eventually learn to handle even the most difficult role with ease.
Though as a tank you’re very often expected to assume the leader role and know the best route, which pack to take etc. You’re making most decision and decide the rhythm and pace of the party.
Which can be a lot of pressure and feel very stressful for some .
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This is dependent on the group, if the dps use their kicks and personals what more is there to know other than boss mechanics and what abilities to kick yourself. It helps that resto shaman has a massive amount of throughput at the moment.
@OP
If I play with voice comms I find it very easy to be situationally aware when playing a healer I know what cds I have and when people need to use personals. When I’m playing dps this all goes out of the window. It’s all down to personal preference.
I don’t think either role Is particularly ‘hard’ if you like playing it. Maybe try both out at a lower level and see which you align with most.
Healing is way easier then tanking even in high m+, why because of the way a tank need to know wich route, wich enemies he pulls. Healing is just healing there isnt rlly a hard thing about it then knowing wich spell to use in wich situation. As a tank you need to know what every boss do or wich pack of mobs is hard.
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Ask yourself which is more hard to find: Tanks or Heals? That would be the more demanding and difficult role.
Tanking is way harder. There are more things to know.
Healer you can AFK and then blame them for standing in fire (Even if there are not any).
DPS is more difficult role than healer.