I’ve been a little indecisive on what spec I should make my hunter. Even though we can change specs with no penalty, I don’t want to switch a lot since my character could be built around a spec, then I have to rearrange myself to the new one. I disliked beast mastery just a tad bit because of how squishy my hunter is if my pet(s) aren’t %100 aggroing the enemy at all times, though I may be playing it wrong since I keep forgetting to use disengage and my tar and ice traps. But even still, I could disengage into other enemies and get wasted. I’m actually wanting to try out Survival from the beginning on a new character but I’m kinda afraid of running into the same problem, though I do like the two handed animation for Nightborne/Night elves. If anyone can provide insight and advice on the beast mastery and survival specs and how to play them well, I’d appreciate it
It sounds like you’re a solo open world player(?). All hunter specs are squishy, it’s supposed to counter our insert theoretically op hunter trait. I can mostly only speak for BM and MM tbh.
Growl on, misdirect to pet, mend pet up at all time. Feign to drop threat. I really only use ice trap in OW when I cannot be bugged to deal with a mob. Tar and binding shot can be used to kite. Intimidation is a stun (some mobs will be immune, specifically bosses), concussive isn’t used much in PvE but can help kite as well. Interrupt when you can.
What covenant are you running? Necro helps with squish, NF for aoe, venthyr for ST although NF ST with legendary is pretty good. IDRK about Kyrian, but it used to be BIS iirc.
Spacial awareness. Don’t butt pull lol.
I recommend picking up the items from the Scholazar Basin NPC, teaches the pet version of feign death and fetch (pet loots for you).
If you want to raid? Marksman.
If you want to M+? Survival.
If you want to sit through denial after denial after denial? Beast Mastery.
Most certainly!
I am actively playing both right now.
https://worldofwarcraft.com/en-us/character/us/frostmourne/waken
https://worldofwarcraft.com/en-us/character/us/frostmourne/isx
Beast mastery:
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Relies mostly on your pet so your goal is to make sure they are most optimised. Macro your pet attacks into your normal skills so you know they are attacking as much as possible.
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DPS at the moment especially for tier set relies on you keeping frenzy stacks as high as possible. Distribute your barbed shots and use a weak aura frenzy tracker to make life easier.
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To AoE simple use a multi shot every 4 seconds while in combat. This gets easier with the set bonus.
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Otherwise use Kill command and Kill shot as much as possible and cobra shots to fill.
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Beastial Wrath and Aspect of the Wild on CD as they are our DPS increase cool-downs.
I’d say this is very simple but fun. Still leaves plenty of room to be optimal.
Survival:
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Incredibly strong at the moment.
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Serpent sting up to 4 targets.
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Kill Command / Wildfire Bomb on cool-down, kill shotting whenever you can. Fill with Raptor strike.
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Swap fill to Carve as filler for 3+ targets.
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Harpoon is our gap closer.
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Coordinated assault is our dps cool-down.
Survival is one of the most fun specs in the game, imo. I highly recommend giving it a shot if you are considering it.
Get a Ferocity Pet, turn Growl on, Misdirect to your pet before large AOE pulls. Feign Death and Turtle Aspect if you take too much aggro. Open world is cake.
Edit: Also my own enjoyment, pick the Terms of Engagement for open world pve and Harpoon yourself across the map like freaking Spider-Man!
Classic hunter entitlement…
Posts in general instead of hunter forums cause “I can use it so I’ll roll need”
I love beastmaster hunter for solo-ing. My pets tank and take most of the devestating crap while I stand back shooting and healing and hitting their abilities. If you have the 2-pet talent going, that’s nice. Commanding pets to loot stuff rather than running all over myself is nice too. Most BS thing I’ve done as BM was to feign death to avoid Stormsong’s mind control while my pets got him to 1% health, then pop up and kill him.
Marksman hunter is probably the way to go in a any small or large group so the group can control the flow of the battle easier. If it’s just a small group in a dungeon and your tank sucks or quit halfway through, a creative BM hunter can get the other 3 players to the end. (If you heed the target markers and let her draw things out one a time, don’t break the freeze traps, etc.) Edit: BM Hunter seems good in pvp, adding some confusion to enemy targetting and still okay damage even though it’s tuned.
I think survival hunter just exists for people who love melee class, but I never really got the hang of it. Their weird stuff might be interesting in PVP.
Vengeance demon hunter is the melee I’m best with, but I got the hang of all the melee classes/specs EXCEPT survival hunter. Shooting and stampeding are the only things that feel right to me as a hunter.
Omg I did actually discover that beforehand but thanks so much for the tip. I was so happy when I discovered those! I’m planning on coming back and getting those.
To note, they’re also sold in Trueshot Lodge for people too lazy to go to Sholazar.
I didn’t know that actually xD didn’t play legion so never felt compelled to go there.
Thanks a bunch everybody! Since my hunter is gonna be a bit squishy anyways, I may just do survival and go with maldraxxus. I don’t mind using a bow but I guess it can be a bit boring just shooting at stuff. Plus with survival if I can’t find a target to click on during a raid or dungeon (because of so many people in one spot ) I can just click on any button and I’d at least target something lol.
My biggest challenge is figuring out a name for my female Nightborne. Oh boy
I know i’m a little late in this talk but i’d like to add some things about survival spec hunter it is well known that hunters can wield 2h weapons in survival but they can also wield 2 1h weapons as well but can’t use the skills because it says must wield 2h weapon but don’t you think it would be good if they could wield 2 1h weapons as well and get the drops from rares or have a choice from quests to get said weapons . I play a male human hunter I really like the survival spec I
just wish I had better choices of weapon use
Or that the drops would be more fair, right? I heard that with hunters it is common you won’t loot 2H as much as other classes