I like MM Hunter. I play it a good deal, so it’s one of the changes I’ve been looking forward to the most.
There certainly was a lot of learning to be done, but I think I found a build that works for me perfectly, and works as a goblin theme as well. I didn’t look at a guide or anything so I just formed this in the hope I had some idea of what I’m doing.
Heavy focus on Aimed Shot, Rapid Fire and Explosive Shot damage. Had to sadly make some sacrifices: No Bullseye is a DPS loss on execute windows, and I really wanted to fit Aspect of the Hydra due to Salvo but I really can’t think of any of my other talents I can replace it with. Big Game Hunter would have been nice but 3 talent points for 15% more Explosive Shot damage and Bullseye compared to a lot of the other options I have just seems wasteful.
Kill Shot is left to the wayside. Headshot isn’t worth it when my Arcane Shot is hitting just about as hard after Precise Shots x2 and Magnetic Gunpowder, and the Deathblow procs just interferes with the usual rotation for not much damage.
My rotation is this:
-Rapid Fire, throw Lunar Storm out (At Streamline x1)
-Explosive Shot (At Streamline x2)
-Aimed Shot (At Precise Shots x2)
-Arcane Shot (Streamline x2)
-Volley
-Aimed Shot (Salvo E. Arrow goes boom, Precise Shots x2)
-Arcane Shot
-Repeat when CDs reset
The CD reductions from Precise Shot x2 really helps with keeping Aimed Shot and Explosive Shot available as often as possible. Spotter’s Mark sadly isn’t reliable enough to constantly proc outside of Trueshot windows so I skipped on Target Acquisition.
This has been a great all-round build: Good single target, good burst AoE, AotH would be amazing for Salvo but there’s just not any room. The possible exception is Bulletstorm but sacrificing around 20% more Aimed Shot damage every Rapid Fire is a hard ask for more Explosive Shot damage since there’s no way to speed up Volley’s downtime outside of Bullet Hell. Bulletstorm felt more consistent to me.
Ran the dungeon and it performed very well, did LFR Queen and it also performed very well. Did very well in a T8 run but I think the scaling is currently a bit weird during the offseason so I’m not putting much value on that.
It is clunkier: That 16% free Haste we got before is gone so the rotation kinda chugs, and you have to be pretty darn quick to tag Explosive Shot with Aimed Shot. On Target helps but it’s a pretty slow buildup. I feel like the slower nature kinda fits in with MM more, though: You’re aiming careful shots, not swinging two oversized can openers in a wild frenzy.
With this rotation, everything hits for millions even off of Trueshot. With Trueshot you’re looking at consistent 3-4, even 5 mil hits on a regular basis. And this is at Ilvl 635. It’s slow but it’s sure beefy.
Steady Shot is handy to do damage on the move and keep Aimed Shot off CD all the while, but until Focus is a problem shouldn’t ever be touched otherwise. With this build I don’t even think Kill Shot is worth doing so it’s just going to sit there, I think.
May adjust as the season develops, but overall, I really enjoy the changes to MM Hunter. I feel like I am a proper sharpshooter, making precise shots that also happen to make really big booms.
Also, hey, Sniper Shot is finally replaced with something useful, so that’s a plus.