This guide will focus specifically on level 80 content and abilities. It will be updated throughout the Wrath of the Lich King expansion as more content rolls out.
If you haven’t seen our basic Hunter PvE Guide for Wrath Classic yet, check this out as well. It will have additional information that may not be covered in this specialization-specific guide.
Important New and Reworked Talents and Abilities
Auto Shot - A huge change for hunters in Wrath of the Lich King is how Auto Shot works with Hunters. Previously, Hunters would have to ensure they don’t “clip” their auto shots. Essentially, players would have to ensure they’re not using any other abilities on your attack timer to always auto shot on time. If you interrupted the automatic attacks, this was known as “clipping,” and it was a DPS loss. That’s all a thing of the past now; your Auto Shot will attack even when using abilities such as Steady Shot that have a cast timer. This is a very welcome update for the class.
Kill Shot - One of the most important additions for Hunters in Classic Wrath. This serves as a much needed execute for the class, allowing players to ramp up their damage when enemies are below 20%.
Chimera Shot - This new ability is essential to the new Marksmanship Hunter rotation. Not only does it refresh your Serpent Sting, but it is also your highest damage ability.
Volley - This now scales with your ranged attack power. This formerly useless ability now allows Hunters to deal respectable AOE damage when appropriate.
Trueshot Aura - This is now a raid wide buff instead of strictly party wide.
Talent Build for Marksmanship Hunters
This is the default talent build for Marksmanship Hunters as they begin endgame content Wrath of the Lich King Classic, complete with the ideal glyphs as well.
Eventually, as you are able to obtain more hit rating from gear, you can remove the talent points from Focused Aim and move them into Improved Hunter’s Mark.
It’s important not to neglect your pets. They, too, have an ideal talent build.
You’ll want to use a Wolf as your pet due to the benefit of Furious Howl.
Marksmanship Hunter Rotation and Cooldowns - Wrath Classic
The rotations for Marksmanhip Hunters are fairly easy in Classic Wrath of the Lich King once you get used to it. The days of timing and precision are over. Instead, it’s a priority rotation based on what ability is off of cooldown; Steady Shot acts as a filler ability in single target situations. Thanks to the rework on Volley, your AOE damage is now respectable.
Single Target Rotation
Kill Shot - your highest priority ability. Only usable when the target is below 20%. Serpent Sting - Open with this and always make sure the debuff is on your target. Chimera Shot - Your highest damage ability and also a way to refresh the timer on your Serpent Sting debuff. Aimed Shot - This no longer has a cast time; you can use this while moving around. Arcane Shot - Eventually, this will be dropped from your rotation when you have enough armor penetration. Steady Shot - Your filler ability while you wait for everything to come off of cooldown.
AOE Rotation
Explosive Trap - Try your best to place the trap in the middle of the pack to ensure hitting the maximum amount of enemies. Volley - Cast this on repeat until you’re out of mana. Viper Sting - Target any enemy that has mana so you can drain them, helping you regenerate mana and continuously cast Volley. Chimera Shot - This will help your mana regeneration.
Cooldowns
Hunters have a wide variety of options available for their cooldowns in terms of both utility and damage output. Their toolkit continues to be impressive, even when their DPS output starts to decline.
Misdirection has been reworked to now transfer threat for a full four seconds, rather than the next three attacks. Rapid Fire is as beneficial as it has ever been. Readiness is now a Marksmanship talent, having been moved over from the Survival tree. Orcs and Trolls have the racial abilities Blood Fury and Berserking respectively. Call of the Wild is a 5 minute cooldown available from the Ferocity tree for pet talents. Potion of Speed is the preferred potion cooldown. Keep in mind that Wrath of the Lich King reworks how potions work; you can no longer use them every two minutes in a fight, so be sure to use them before combat to get double use out of them.
Hunter Stat Priority in WotLK
The most important stats for Hunters in Wrath of the Lich King Classic are as follows, in order:
Hit Rating Agility Armor Penetration Critical Strike Attack Power Haste
You will always need to make sure you’re at hit cap to ensure you’ll never miss any of your attacks. The hit cap is an overall 8% rating. With the Focused Aim talent, you only need 5% hit from gear. With Draenei in your party or raid, you’ll only need 4% hit from gear.
Pre-Raid Best in Slot Gear
The best thing you can do to determine your Marksmanship Hunter pre-raid best in slot gear for Wrath of the Lich King Classic is to simulate your DPS. Thanks the efforts from theorycrafters throughout the years, we have a list of the best gear you can get pre-raid for Wrath. Our tables are complete with recommended gems and enchants.
Helm
If you’re an engineer, this is an easy choice. If you managed to pick up Coif from Kil’Jaeden, you can ride that out for a long time.
Neck
Easy options here; Jewelcrafters can craft their pre-raid bis or you can buy them with emblems.
Shoulders
The ability to farm a normal dungeon should give players viable options if they’re loot luck in heroics is unlucky.
Cloak
The leatherworking BOE might be a bit expensive, but if you have the money, always take the easy gear. Worse case scenario, you need to farm some rep.
Chest
Grinding rep with Argent Crusade is your best bet here, and you’re not reliant on gear to drop from dungeons.
Wrist
If you can’t get Keristrasza to drop your item, you have some alternative options.
Hands
I don’t blame you if you don’t want to run Violet Hold. At least you have a decent option otherwise.
Waist
If King Ymiron isn’t cooperating, you have two options to pick up emblem gear.
Legs
If you’re not a leatherworker, then you’re going to have to work for your pre-raid bis in the leg slot.
Feet
If Keristrasza isn’t dropping your boots, there are some alternative options from reputation grinds.
Rings
Unless you’re made of money, don’t bother with the Band of the Kirin Tor. You’re going to replace it in raid.
Trinkets
Is the Darkmoon deck worth a lot of money? Yes. Is it worth it? Absolutely.
One-Handed Weapons
These sim a little lower than two-handed options, which are preferred.
Two-Handed Weapons
The preferred weapon option.
Ranged Weapon
Nesingwary 4000 will probably be a lot of money, so it’s worth it. You can ride Thori’dal, the Stars’ Fury throughout the leveling process.
Phase 1 Best in Slot
Once you step into raids, these are the best available items for each slot.
You will want to use you Delicate Dragon’s Eye in the neck, shoulder, and chest item slots once you obtain your bis items.
Helm
Blue Aspect Helm is far and away the best option. If you need the upgrade that badly over the Engineering helm, Valorous Cryptstalker Headpiece will be a bit easier to obtain.
Neck
You’ll have a shot at your best neck every week as Malygos will drop the quest item every time. Good luck!
Shoulders
The only hurdle with Valorous Cryptstalker Spaulders will be class competition. Upstanding Spaulders is a very solid consolation prize.
Cloak
Drape of the Deadly Foe may be the uncontested best cloak, but Hammerhead Sharkskin Cloak is the best option if you need the hit rating.
Chest
Chestguard of Flagrant Prowess is far and away the best option. If your guild uses soft reserves, this is the item you reserve and don’t look back.
Wrist
Slime Stream Bands gets the edge thanks to its socket, but Armguard of the Tower Archer will be easier to obtain.
Hands
Frosted Adroit Handguards will have a lot of competition. The other options will be more than fine while you wait your turn.
Waist
Torn Web Wrapping is everything you could ever want in an item stat wise.
Legs
Not only are Leggings of Failed Escape the best itemized option, but they have two sockets as well.
Feet
Boots of the Renewed Flight and Crippled Treads are incredibly similar in output. You won’t be disappointed with either.
Rings
Due to their popularity, you might not be able to obtain Strong-Handed Ring and Surge Needle Ring. You’ll be more than happy to pick up Ring of Invincibility with emblems.
Trinkets
You’re reading this right; your pre-raid bis trinkets are also your phase 1 bis trinkets.
One-Handed Weapons
Two-handed weapons are preferred options. You should never, ever, ever take Webbed Death or Sinister Revenge from a melee class.
Two-Handed Weapons
Once again, the preferred weapon option.
Ranged Weapon
Final Voyage may have the best name, but Envoy of Mortality is the ideal ranged weapon here.
