DistillNote
SimSign in

Beta, level cap 30 · data read 13 Oct

HunterClass page

Survival Hunter guide

Melee-weave DPS · our guide of 13 Oct 2026 Recommendation

Talent trees, every tier list's rating and the sim: the Survival tab.

In short

  • A Hunter who fights in melee and shoots between hits.
  • Number 2 of 20 damage specs in our newest sim run, at 836 DPS. Sourced: Sim · 11 Oct run
  • Built around Mongoose Bite: Expose Prey can make it usable when you hit a target with your Hunter's Mark on it, and Lacerating Strikes makes it leave a bleed. Sourced: Talent database
  • Weak spot: nobody has raided with it yet, so its level-60 build is theory.

How it plays

Up to level 30. Until the deep Survival talents it plays as a hybrid: Serpent Sting and shots at range, Raptor Strike whenever you're in melee, Mongoose Bite after the target dodges, and Wing Clip to keep it close. Predator's Edge and Deterrence come at 30. Predator's Edge makes your melee crits hit harder and your off-hand weapon deal more damage; use Deterrence for 25% more dodge and parry for 10 sec.

Sourced: Guide · 2 Oct, Talent database

At level 60. Theory Hunter's Mark first, so Expose Prey can trigger, which lasts 10 sec since 8 Oct. Mongoose Bite whenever it's usable, and Lacerating Strikes adds a bleed of 40% of the bite's damage over 21 sec. Raptor Strike in between, Strider Kick to close the gap (a weapon hit and 30% more speed for 3 sec), and Serpent Sting. Multi-Shot and Volley on packs.

Sourced: Talent database, Dev notes · 8 Oct

Talents at a glance

Our level-20 and level-30 builds for Survival are still to come; for now, here is the level-60 build.

  • Level 60: Improved Tracking 5, Deflection 1, Savage Strikes 2, Survivalist 3, Surefooted 3, Deterrence 1, Predator's Edge 5, Survival Tactics 2, Expose Prey 2, Resourcefulness 2, Survivalist's Discipline 2, Strider Kick 1, Lightning Reflexes 4, Lacerating Strikes 1, Lethal Attacks 5, Careful Aim 5, Rapid Killing 2, Efficiency 3, Mortal Shots 2

    Lacerating Strikes requires Expose Prey 2/2; Counterattack skipped (needs Deterrence). MM filler: Lethal Attacks, Careful Aim, Rapid Killing, Efficiency, 2 points of Mortal Shots (legal — Careful Aim is 5/5).

    Theory · See the trees · Open in the calculator

Rotation at level 30

Recommendation

Single target

Open with Hunter's Mark, Serpent Sting, close in.

  1. Raptor Strike on cooldown
  2. Mongoose Bite on dodges
  3. Serpent Sting
  4. Wing Clip to keep them in melee
  5. Auto-attack + Auto Shot weave

Groups

  • Multi-Shot, then melee

Tip

Predator's Edge and Deterrence come online here.

Stats

Each guide's stat order as it gives it, the sim's stat weights, then ours. Guides dated before the last big tuning are shown but not counted.

Guides differWeapon damage first on every guide; the order after it differs.

WhereStat order
Guide · 5 Oct PvE, level 30 · read 12 OctWeapon damage › Hit › Agility › Crit › Strength › Intellect › Spirit › Stamina
Guide · 1 Oct PvE, level 20 · read 12 OctWeapon damage › Agility › Spirit › Intellect › Stamina › Hit › Crit
Guide · 1 Oct leveling, level 30 · read 12 OctNot ranked
Sim · stat weights level 60 · run 12 Oct, 5,000 iterations

Per 1%: Expertise 5.26 › Crit 4.29 › Attack speed 1.89 › Hit 0.0296

Per point: Physical damage 1.61 › Agility 0.265 › Intellect 0.145 › Strength 0.141 › Attack power 0.128 › Armour penetration 0.0506 › Ranged weapon DPS 0.0137 › Ranged attack power 0.001

No DPS change in this run: Mana every 5 sec.

The DPS each stat adds, for a level-60 character on the engine's preset gear in a 2-minute fight on a beta engine: a direction, not a verdict. = marks a tie: stats within each other's margin. Not counted toward "Guides agree".

Where they differ: ours puts Hit before Crit, which the sim weighs higher per 1%; ours puts Weapon damage, melee and ranged before Agility, which the sim weighs higher per point; ours puts Weapon damage, melee and ranged before Attack power, which the sim weighs higher per point.

Ours RecommendationWeapon damage, melee and ranged › Hit › Agility › Crit › Attack power › Stamina

Ours adds Attack power, which neither guide lists.

Our order matches the guides' wherever they all agree.

Race

Each guide's race picks for Survival, then our pick for the Hunter.

Alliance

Guides agreeHuman on 2 guides.

Horde

Guides agreeTauren on 2 guides.

Professions

One guideOnly one guide names professions.

  • Guide · 5 Oct PvE, level 30 · read 12 OctSkinning, Leatherworking
  • Guide · 1 Oct PvE, level 20 · read 12 OctNot given
  • Guide · 1 Oct leveling, level 30 · read 12 OctNot given
  • Ours, for the Hunter RecommendationSkinning + Leatherworking (while leveling); or Mining + Engineering (endgame)

What changed for Survival

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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

In the news