Hunter - Beastmaster

Updated for 3.3

Purpose

A Beastmaster hunter provides ranged DPS and redirects threat with Misdirection∞. She also provides increased damage to the raid with Ferocious Inspiration∞ and relies on her pet to contribute a significant amount of damage.

Talent Builds

Standard: 53/15/3∞

Pet talents: 20 points Ferocity∞ (In raids a Ferocity∞ pet should be used. The Beastmaster has access to exotic pets among which the Devilsaur∞ and Spirit Beast∞ families are most effective in a raid setting, alongside the non-exotic Wolf∞ family.)

Ability Rotation

A Beastmaster Hunter should use a Ferocity∞ pet in raids.

Primary Aspects:

• Aspect of the Dragonhawk∞
• Aspect of the Viper∞ (Switch to this aspect when you are about to run out of mana (10-20%) until you have regained sufficient mana to finish the fight. Switch back to Aspect of the Dragonhawk∞ at that point.

The Beastmaster Hunter uses a priority rotation. The hunter uses abilities as soon as they become available, and not in any specific order. If the hunter has a choice between two or more abilities, she should use the abilities with the following priority:

1. Kill Shot∞ (if available)
2. Serpent Sting∞ (if it has expired)
3. Arcane Shot∞
4. Steady Shot∞

Key Cooldowns

• Kill Command∞ (use whenever off cooldown)
• Bestial Wrath∞
• Call of the Wild∞
• Rapid Fire∞ (use while in Aspect of the Viper∞ to increase mana regeneration)

Key Stats

Stats are listed in order of value per point of item budget. All these stats are useful, but look for gear with more stats from the top of the list.

1. Hit Rating (up to a cap of 8% or 263 Hit Rating)
2. Attack Power
3. Agility
4. Armor Penetration (the value of a single point of Armor Penetration increases as the total amount increases)
5. Critical Strike Rating
6. Intellect
7. Haste (up to a cap of 16% or 523 Haste, this is will bring the cast time of Steady Shot∞ to 1,5 seconds)

Recommended Glyphs

Major:

• Glyph of Steady Shot∞
• Glyph of Serpent Sting∞
• Glyph of Bestial Wrath∞

Minor:

• Glyph of Feign Death∞
• Glyph of Mend Pet∞
• Glyph of Revive Pet∞

Recommended Enchants

Enchants are listed from best and most expensive to least expensive. If you have a crafting profession, you may have access to crafter-only enchants which are better than these recommendations.

• Head: Arcanum of Torment∞
• Shoulders: Greater Inscription of the Axe∞ or Lesser Inscription of the Axe∞
• Cloak: Major Agility∞ or Superior Agility∞
• Chest: Powerful Stats∞ or Super Stats∞
• Bracers: Greater Assault∞ or Striking∞
• Hands: Crusher∞ or Major Agility∞
• Belt: Eternal Belt Buckle∞
• Legs: Icescale Leg Armor∞ or Nerubian Leg Armor∞
• Feet: Superior Agility∞ or Icewalker∞ (if in need of hit rating) *
• Ranged: Heartseeker Scope∞
• 1H Weapon: Exceptional Agility∞ or Accuracy∞ (if in need of hit rating)
• 2H Weapon: Massacre∞ or Greater Savagery∞

* While not providing additional DPS Tuskarr's Vitality∞ is often used in raid settings for the speed increase.

Recommended Gems

• Meta socket: Relentless Earthsiege Diamond∞
• Red socket: Bright∞
• Yellow socket: Wicked∞, Pristine∞ or Rigid∞ (if in need of hit rating)
• Blue socket: Nightmare tear∞ or Bright∞
• Prismatic socket: Bright∞

Recommended Consumables

• Flask: Flask of Endless Rage∞
• Food: Blackened Dragonfin∞
• Pet Food: Spiced Mammoth Treats∞

Additional Tips

• Always make sure to track an enemy type to make use of Improved Tracking∞
• Always make sure to apply a Hunter's Mark∞ to the enemy you're fighting prior to engaging in battle

Sources and Other Resources

• Elitist Jerks' Hunter Forum∞ (Forum for hunter theorycrafting)
• Hunter DPS Spreadsheet∞ (Excel DPS Spreadsheet by Shandara & Cheeky)
• Female Dwarf∞ (Hunter DPS Spreadsheet adapted for web-browsers)
• Petopia∞ (All-encompassing pet-bible)