DistillNote

Beta, level cap 30 · data read 11 Oct

Hunter

Fastest leveler in the beta. BM is the safe pet build, Marksmanship pays you for going petless (Lone Wolf) and owns Scatter Shot, Survival is the new melee-weave spec.

Source pending

Alliance races: Human (new), Dwarf, Night Elf, SkyborneHorde races: Orc, Tauren, Troll, Skyborne

Sourced: Blizzard news · 22 Sep

Our picks

Recommendation

What the tier lists say

Each rating exactly as its tier list gives it, with the list's own date. Ratings are opinions, so lists often differ; we compare them only within one role.

Beast Mastery

PvE · damage lists

One ratingA on 1 list

Beast Mastery, PvE · damage lists
RatingListPage dateRead
Adamage dealerspage 3 Oct · read 6 Oct6 Oct

Marksmanship

PvE · damage lists

Different scalesA on one list, #4 of 5 on a ranked list

Marksmanship, PvE · damage lists
RatingListPage dateRead
Adamage dealerspage 3 Oct · read 6 Oct6 Oct
#4 of 5best raid DPSpage not shownnot dated · read 6 Oct6 Oct

Survival

PvE · damage lists

One ratingB on 1 list

Survival, PvE · damage lists
RatingListPage dateRead
Bdamage dealerspage 3 Oct · read 6 Oct6 Oct

The whole class

PvP · class lists

Lists agreeA on 2 lists

Hunter, PvP · class lists
RatingListPage dateRead
APvP tier listpage 2 Oct · read 6 Oct6 Oct
APvP tier listpage not shownnot dated · read 6 Oct6 Oct

Leveling

Different scales

  • #1 of 3best leveling classes · page not dated
  • Sclass leveling tier list (levels 1–20) · page not dated

Class tier list, no mode stated

One rating

  • Aclass tier list · page not dated

What changed this patch

  • 1 Oct: Sniper Shot 45-yd range and the next 3 shots gain +10 yd; Survival's Deflection 1–5% parry (was 2–10%); pet Aggressive mode restored.

    Sourced: Dev notes · 1 Oct

  • Furious Howl (Wolf) attack-power bonus −40%; Tame Beast no longer works on beasts above your level; Bat pets get Sonic Blast.

    Sourced: Dev notes · 24 Sep

  • Marksmanship: talenting out of Lone Wolf no longer leaves −4% damage with a pet — BM ⇄ MM respecs are clean.

    Sourced: Dev notes · 24 Sep

  • Survival: Lacerating Strikes can crit; Strider Kick +30% move speed for 3 sec.

    Sourced: Dev notes · 24 Sep

  • Some guns/bows weren't consuming ammo — fixed.

    Sourced: Dev notes · 24 Sep

  • 8 Oct: Disengage now drops twice as much threat, as first planned; Beast Mastery's Unleashed Fury now raises pet damage; Marksmanship's Improved Concussive Shot procs at its intended rate.

    Sourced: Dev notes · 8 Oct

  • Survival: Expose Prey 10 sec (was 5 sec); Entrapment only triggers when Frost Trap first goes off, and has diminishing returns; Improved Wing Clip procs at its intended rate, less often from low ranks.

    Sourced: Dev notes · 8 Oct

Seen in the beta

  • Every guide keeps BM as the safest leveler. Summon Hawk (15 BM points) shares its 6 sec cooldown with Arcane Shot.

    Source pending

  • Focused Fire (+1%/pt with a pet) is the anti-Lone Wolf; a dead pet now costs you more than its own damage.

    Source pending

  • Sim, 11 Oct run: Survival 836 (second of 20 damage results), Marksmanship 724 (sixth), BM 650 (17th). MM overtook BM on the 3 Oct run, once the engine modelled Lone Wolf and Sniper Shot properly. BM stays the leveling and solo spec.

    Sourced: Sim · 11 Oct run

  • Mortal Shots sits behind Careful Aim 5/5; Scatter Shot needs 20 MM points; Sniper Shot requires Trueshot Aura.

    Source pending