The wand swipe from Menders feels like one of the fastest attacks in the game. Correct me if I'm wrong, but it also lacks the visible windup that most other attacks have. As it stands, this ability makes me feel very uneasy about engaging Menders in melee combat, as they can simply elect to bash my skull in for 8 anytime I'm taking a swing.

If the poison damage on heal is supposed to be a visible effect, then the ones I fought moments ago simply stopped trying to heal, and were just sort of chilling out in their bubbles. If it happens invisibly, then... make it visible so I know my clever strategy is working properly, I guess?

It's an unwritten rule of spiral knights that every new balancing update makes gremlins terrifying.

But aside from slightly lower HP that other units, healers have powerful offensive AND defensive capabilities- almost no drawbacks. They get way too many gimmicks:
1. Invincible shield dome that takes > 1 charged strikes to break
2. Ability to attack and heal self/others while inside said dome
3. Frequently used ranged attack (powerful)
4. Frequently used close attack (powerful)
5. Melee attack that can be performed INSTANTLY- no other monster I know of has this
6. Ability to keep almost a dozen allies at full health at the same time, WHILE attacking.
7. Revive dead spell with no apparent casting limit
8. AI that encourages them to hang out at the center of the pack where protected- they heal too fast to kill without swords, but are hard to reach
9. Area heal that seems substantially more effective than normal heal; gremlin healers can perform additional actions while this spell is in effect.

Only abilities 3 and 4 are widespread, though few enemies even combine both of those. I can think of maybe 1 other enemy (silkwings) with item 8. That leaves 6 highly exciting and powerful abilities that are exclusive to- and concentrated in- one single bundle of death.

While we're on the subject of overpowered units, I'd also be remiss not to mention my other new favorite: the teleporting shock wolvers. They shock on contact, and, since they teleport, packs of them are basically unavoidable (one will touch you, and you will die). Not a fun combo. (Greavers are also totally undodgeable and scary)

EDIT: I tried some healers today, and it seems that gremlin healers are no longer able to hit me from inside their bubbles. They certainly did swing their wands fiercely, but my past problems of being smacked senseless while attacking a shield no longer seem to apply. Yay!

I find them easy to hit and when I solo I usually 1 hit them, but thats just me. I would like to see there attack lowered since its real fast its hard to dodge there attack along with those shocking jellies mixed with some Shock Puppies.