When DH was announced, I interpreted its lack of variance as a rushed project. DH seemed like a class that was rushed out the door, and I think Blizzard wasted a good opportunity to address that going into Shadowlands.
Bear in mind this post isn’t so much a complaint about the state of Havoc in the new expansion, I personally have little issue with the nerfing, but it’s something that few other classes really have to deal with–because more often than not, they have a well-performing spec which they can just switch over to.
From what I’ve learned, apparently the reason DH has no third spec is largely because Blizzard has yet to really finalize its philosophy on the class’ design, and hasn’t determined much of the class fantasy beyond what we’ve already been given. What’s disappointing about this is that it doesn’t seem like a difficult problem to solve.
There’s several things I feel like Blizzard could do, like making a 2H-polearm spec that functions a bit like survival hunter. Or perhaps even open the class to orc and human, and add a Diablo-style ranged spec to the class.
I just fail to see any reasonable excuse as to why DH is so bare-bones and limited in terms of class design still to this day. I really hope Blizzard puts some love into DH at some point soon, because I enjoy this class a lot, and I’d hate to see it be a novelty that just goes from OP to dog-sh*t every couple patches.
Yup I agree with you 100% op. Some classes have up to 4 well defined specs with multiple play styles within each spec. Meanwhile we have 2 specs with 1 (being Havoc)with what seems like to me an unfinished spec.
Demonic while being the clear go to talent is the clear winning play style yet they still try to shove this broken Momentum build down our throats.
I really enjoy the lore, the appearance, the fel energy abilities. These things drove me to choose this class as my main since Legion release. But I gotta say with all the nerfs and the addition of UBC (which made Blade Dance irrelevant) I find it incredibly boring to play.
I really hope that with SL some of the issues will be addressed but i am not banking on it.
With it being the only dps spec in a two spec class it will be a priority to fix the issues, in comparison to something like druid that has consistent issues with classes every xpac.
As the OP suggests, msurv is the logical third DH spec. The pet could be something thematic like a Coilskar or a Shivara. The weapon could be a 2h glaive. You could replace the the hunter ability animations/names with fel-themed abilities/animations…it wouldn’t be that hard, and hunters would be overjoyed to receive ranged surv back as compensation.
