Welcome to the Wrath of the Lich King Classic Hunter’s guide! We’ll try to help you learn about what’s new in the class since the last expansion, and improve your knowledge of the various specialization of this class, so you can take on some of the toughest dungeon and raid bosses or Arena/Battleground fights in Wrath of the Lich King Classic.
In this guide, you’ll learn the different sides of the class to enhance your Hunter experience. So, let’s analyze talents and talent builds, BiS gear choice, stat priorities, consumables, gems, enchantments, various tips, features, and macros.
WotLK Classic Hunter Overview
The play style of the Hunter class varies depending on the specialization you choose. The Survival branch is based on traps, the Marksmanship aims to increase your shooting damage, and the Beast Mastery specialization gives you an ultra-strong pet. You will need to change them depending on the tactics of the battle and the situation in which you are. There is a certain meta that determines which specialization will be best suited for raiding or PvP in the current expansion or phase. We will tell you more in this guide.
Hunter specialization choice
So, Hunter has only DPS specializations, but with its own unique features which we’ll talk about below.
Beast Mastery
Throughout the phases of this expansion, this specialization is inferior in strength to the next two due to the fact that very high damage rates are achieved only in short-term battles and low in long-term battles.
| Strengths | Weaknesses |
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Survival
In Wrath of the Lich King, Survival Hunter has received a significant damage boost that competes with the MM specialization and is already at the “A” tier in the first phase. Unfortunately, in the later phases of this expansion, it will be significantly inferior to the competing specialization and you will need to reconsider your choice in favor of the MM talent tree.
| Strengths | Weaknesses |
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Marksmanship
In Wrath of the Lich King, Marksmanship Hunters will be quite good throughout all phases of this expansion, although they have low damage at the beginning due to the lack of some characteristics from things, they will still remain in the “A” tier.
| Strengths | Weaknesses |
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WotLK Classic Hunter Changes
At first, let’s see the general changes not tied to specialization:
- Changed the mechanics of Auto Shot, you no longer need to manage the auto shot timer;
- The Steady Shot has been nerfed and is a filler in the rotation;
- Aspect of the Viper now restores your mana based on the damage you dealt, and also reduces the damage you deal;
- Deterrence is now available in all 3 specializations;
- Distracting Shot now has taunt mechanics like tanks;
- Kill Shot new execute phase ability with extremely huge damage;
- Misdirection now redirects your threat for 4 seconds instead of just 3 hits;
- Aspect of the Dragonhawk is a new aspect that combines Aspect of the Hawk and Aspect of the Monkey;
- Volley now is a powerful AOE ability that now scaling of your attack power;
- Disengage now useful ability for your mobility in fights;
- Call Stabled Pet new ability, no more traveling to stable in the city!
Also, we have some changes for every Hunter specialization.
| Beast Mastery | Survival | Marksmanship |
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WotLK Classic Hunter Leveling
There are two suitable Hunter specs for leveling, so let’s check them.
Beast Mastery
Beast Mastery build [55/16/0]: standard talents and sequence of talents choosing.
Beast Mastery pet build [20/0/0]: the best leveling talents for your loyal friend.
Leveling tips:
- Your use priority is always higher with the Aimed Shot;
- Always use Intimidation after the cooldown expires to help your pet get threat;
- Pet choice before getting Beast Mastery talent is: Wolf, Bear, Crocolisk;
- Suggested pet choice after getting Beast Mastery: Devilsaur.
Marksmanship
Marksmanship build [0/62/5]: standard talents and sequence of talents choosing.
Marksmanship pet build [16/0/0]: the best leveling talents for your loyal friend.
Leveling tips:
- If you are well geared you should prioritize Chimera Shot to 1-2 shot enemy. If your gear is no so good, you should cast Serpent Sting before using Chimera Shot;
- Don’t forget about Disengage and Deterrence keeps you alive in bad situations;
- Best pet choice: Wolf.
WotLK Classic Hunter Talents and Glyphs
Below are the most popular WotLK Hunter talents that you can use to raid in WotLK Classic. Also, presenting you with a list of the best Wrath Hunter Glyphs for your specialization that are best suited for raiding.
Beast Mastery
Beast Mastery build [53/13/5]: this is one main WotLK BM Hunter build, it’s worth mentioning that if you haven’t reached the hit cap yet, then it’s worth using 3 talent points for Focused Aim instead of Careful Aim.
Beast Mastery pet build [20/0/0]: the best talents for your loyal friend.
The best pet choice is Wolf or Devilsaur.
Survival
Survival build [0/17/54]: this single target WotLK Surv Hunter build focused on early reached hit cap. Once you hit the hit cap with better items, feel free to replace Focused Aim by spending 3 points on Hunting Party and Resourcefulness talents.
Survival pet build [16/0/0]: the best talents for your loyal friend.
The best pet choice is Wolf.
Marksmanship
Marksmanship basic build [7/57/7]: this is a standard WotLK MM Hunter build focused on Careful Aim 3/3 talent.
Survival pet build [16/0/0]: the best talents for your loyal friend.
Marksmanship alternative build [7/54/10]: this build is for “skilled” Hunters called “Trap Dancer” and used Trap Mastery 3/3 talent instead of Improved Arcane Shot, but this changes your rotation compared to the standard build.
Survival pet build [16/0/0]: the best talents for your loyal friend.
WotLK Classic Hunter Stats Priority
It is worth paying great attention to those characteristics that will increase your usefulness to a greater extent.
| Beast Mastery | Survival | Marksmanship |
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WotLK Classic Hunter Best Race
There are the best options for both factions.
| Horde | Alliance |
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WotLK Classic Hunter Consumables, Chants & Gems
In the first phase of this expansion, we will not have all the top consumables, enchantments, and gems at our disposal. The list will change in the future.
it’s interesting, that all three specs have the one common BiS least for all these stuff.
WotLK Classic Hunter Best Professions
BiS profession for all 3 specs is Engineering with grenades and enchants such as:
- Global Thermal Sapper Charge, Super Sapper Charge, and Saronite Grenade
- Nitro Boosts
- Flexweave Underlay
- Frag Belt
- Hyperspeed Accelerators
Jewelcrafting with 3 possible gems Bright Dragon’s Eye or Delicate Dragon’s Eye is also a suitable option for WotLK Hunter.
WotLK Classic Hunter Rotation
Faceroll is always a great method for every class, but the rotations below can provide you with bigger DPS.
Beast Mastery
| Single-target | AoE |
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Survival
| Single-target | AoE |
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Marksmanship
| Single-target | AoE |
At the start of fighting use your burst cooldown macro to cast all of your cooldowns (Potion, Call of the Wild, Trinkets, Rapid Fire).
Then back to main rotation like:
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WotLK Classic Hunter Phase 1 BiS List
Below you can find the lists of items that make you much more epic and improve your performances.
Pre-Raid BiS
WotLK Hunter Raid BiS
WotLK Hunter PvP
All three specs are good on Battleground and Arena. The choice of your specialization will depend directly on the class of the teammate with whom you potentially want to play on Arena. WotLK Beast Mastery Hunter is good for a beast cleave strategy on Arena 3v3. WotLK Survival Hunter spec has a lot of controlling spells and traps. WotLK Marksmanship Hunter has great burst potential with interrupting options.
Let’s consider the most popular and effective setups for all 3 specs.
Beast Mastery
| 2v2 comps | 3v3 comps |
| Hunter/Retribution Paladin Hunter/Discipline Priest | Hunter/Enhancement Shaman/Holy Paladin |
Survival or Marksmanship
| 2v2 comps | 3v3 comps |
| Hunter/Retribution Paladin Hunter/Discipline Priest | Hunter/Retribution Paladin/Discipline Priest Hunter/Death Knight/Holy Paladin |
WotLK Classic Hunter Macros
Let’s consider the most needed macros for all three specializations that will make your class more comfortable and enjoyable to play.
One Button Burst
#showtooltip
/cast Bestial Wrath
/cast Rabid
/cast rapid fire
/use blood fury
/cast Call of the Wild
/use [combat] 13
/use [combat] 14
/use [combat] Potion of Wild Magic
That was everything you need to know about new features and changes in all 3 hunter’s specializations in Wrath of the Lich King Classic. If our WotLK Hunter guide was useful to you, please let us know with feedback, and good luck in your raiding, leveling, or PvP adventures!
