I always play melee classes but I’m interested in something ranged. The problem is besides warlock I haven’t played much of any other ranged class. It’ll probably be used for all content and when I just want a good class to play on the side. I was thinking balance druid or MM hunter. Any advice on a class that will hopefully stay near the top of the pack for ranged dps?
Balance is the answer to all life’s problems.
7 Likes
I love hunter…but druid.
I run the game solo in Resto personally. Balance just feels wonky to me since the changes for whatever reason.
1 Like
If you never played hunter, definitely choose that. Taming pets is fun and BM is fairly easy. Worth trying out. Balance is a bit tricky on rotation, but the best for outdoor stuff. You can tag so much stuff fast, hunter also, but druid can also self heal if needed. Boomkins just look stupid tho.
3 Likes
Hunters are in a weird place atm but it will only be temporary. moving to a range position a hunter spec like BM is a nice easy shift as the play style of BM is very similar to melee, only at range.
Balance is absolutely dominant in PvP and PvE atm with very little downside and no nerfs pending.
Hunter is… ok.
I’ll vote Druid. Personally, Balance is boring, but everyone seems to love it. I just don’t like the eclipse mechanic.
I had lot of fun playing Resto and Guardian.
3 Likes
Hello. I play MM Hunter. Definitely Ranged. Learn how to play it, learn how to play your Pet, you will be able to go anywhere, survivability unmatched.
Our ranking is all over the place, consistently wobbling about. All three Specs.
Somebody loves Druids, and it shows.
Both are fun but I love my druid, I will always recommend a druid.
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Druid and hunter are my main and even in classic. Tried others classes but always go back to Druid or hunter.
Balance druid->night fae convoke->easy win. Hunters are in a bad spot right now.
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Depends on the content. If you don’t care about competitive content then play whatever you like… probably with an emphasis on hunter since BM +pet makes world content super easy. If you want to do anything competitively, then go druid. Blizzard likes to punish hunters for their mobility.
Try Shadow Priest. They do great dps and can take the hits really well.
1 Like
Yes.
Balance Druid
Affliction Warlock
Shadow Priest
Those three specs are currently the top DPS specs in Mythic Castle Nathria.
MM Hunter was nerfed multiple times throughout and is mid-tier at best right now. All 3 Hunter specs are in the bottom 6 (last I checked) when it comes to mythic raid dps. For heroic though, I think MM is still near the top, but I haven’t looked in a while.
Go with Balance Druid if that was one of your initial choices. 
edit: added recent CN parses for comparison
Mythic Castle Nathria DPS Rankings - 95% parse
Heroic Castle Nathria DPS Rankings - 95% parse
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I may be biased but I’d say Hunter.
Also what content are you wanting to play? I have experience in PVP and M+. I don’t raid though.
I have tried balance a few times and just never really cared for it. Druid is a great concept because you get a great tool kit just being a druid, then get “advanced” tools with each spec. It would be great if I liked balance, I’d probably just have to maintain a handful of druids but I don’t. sad face.
Then you’d like BM Hunter. Every ability is instant cast and can be performed on the move. No hard casting. Great mobility. It’s the closest thing to melee playstyle while being ranged.
Unfortunately it’s not doing great with regard to balance so far in SL.
As a Hunter and a Druid, I love seeing Hunter pals, and both can have pet parties. However, Hunters have pets and Druids are the pets, so that is an important difference to note.
Also Druids cannot be Gnomes, which I understand is highly discouraging, but we finally got Gnome Hunters in Legion, so no need to worry!