Hunter talent reference
Hunters fight at range, usually with a pet at their side. Beast Mastery leans on the pet to do the heavy lifting, Marksmanship is pure sharpshooting, and Survival mixes traps and melee for the messy close-range work.
How to read this Hunter reference
- Read rank 1 first. Every Hunter talent below lists its full ranks in the exact beta-client wording: rank 1 is the pitch, the last rank is the finished product.
- The tags tell you what Forever changed: NEW never existed in Classic; Changed works differently than it used to; Active means you press a button to use it, everything else just happens on its own.
- Rows are the price. In Beast Mastery, Marksmanship, Survival, a row 4 talent needs 15 points spent in the rows above it, in the same tree. So plan each tree from the top down.
Beast Mastery
Beast Mastery runs 16 talents across 7 rows. Focused Fire, Summon Hawk are the new Forever additions here. Read them properly before you spend points. The row 7 payoffs are Bestial Wrath.
- Rank 1: While Aspect of the Hawk is active, Auto Shot has a 2% chance of increasing ranged attack speed by 30% for 12 sec. While Aspect of the Beast is active, all melee auto attacks have a 2% chance of increasing melee attack speed by 30% for 12 sec.
- Rank 2: While Aspect of the Hawk is active, Auto Shot has a 4% chance of increasing ranged attack speed by 30% for 12 sec. While Aspect of the Beast is active, all melee auto attacks have a 4% chance of increasing melee attack speed by 30% for 12 sec.
- Rank 3: While Aspect of the Hawk is active, Auto Shot has a 6% chance of increasing ranged attack speed by 30% for 12 sec. While Aspect of the Beast is active, all melee auto attacks have a 6% chance of increasing melee attack speed by 30% for 12 sec.
- Rank 4: While Aspect of the Hawk is active, Auto Shot has a 8% chance of increasing ranged attack speed by 30% for 12 sec. While Aspect of the Beast is active, all melee auto attacks have a 8% chance of increasing melee attack speed by 30% for 12 sec.
- Rank 5: While Aspect of the Hawk is active, Auto Shot has a 10% chance of increasing ranged attack speed by 30% for 12 sec. While Aspect of the Beast is active, all melee auto attacks have a 10% chance of increasing melee attack speed by 30% for 12 sec.
- Rank 1: Increases the Health and Armor of your pets by 3%.
- Rank 2: Increases the Health and Armor of your pets by 6%.
- Rank 3: Increases the Health and Armor of your pets by 9%.
- Rank 4: Increases the Health and Armor of your pets by 12%.
- Rank 5: Increases the Health and Armor of your pets by 15%.
- Rank 1: Increases all damage you and your pet deal by 1% while your pet is active.
- Rank 2: Increases all damage you and your pet deal by 2% while your pet is active.
- Rank 1: Increases the Dodge bonus of your Aspect of the Monkey by 2%. Additionally, your pet gains 50% of the effect of your Aspect of the Monkey ability.
- Rank 2: Increases the Dodge bonus of your Aspect of the Monkey by 4%. Additionally, your pet gains 50% of the effect of your Aspect of the Monkey ability.
- Rank 3: Increases the Dodge bonus of your Aspect of the Monkey by 6%. Additionally, your pet gains 50% of the effect of your Aspect of the Monkey ability.
- Rank 1: Increases the speed bonus of your Aspect of the Cheetah and Aspect of the Pack by 3%.
- Rank 2: Increases the speed bonus of your Aspect of the Cheetah and Aspect of the Pack by 6%.
- Rank 1: Revive Pet's casting time is reduced by 3 sec, mana cost is reduced by 20%, and increases the health your pet returns with by an additional 15%.
- Rank 2: Revive Pet's casting time is reduced by 6 sec, mana cost is reduced by 40%, and increases the health your pet returns with by an additional 30%.
- Rank 1: Increases the movement speed of your pets by 30%.
- Rank 1: Increases the damage done by your pets and hawks by 3%.
- Rank 2: Increases the damage done by your pets and hawks by 6%.
- Rank 3: Increases the damage done by your pets and hawks by 9%.
- Rank 4: Increases the damage done by your pets and hawks by 12%.
- Rank 5: Increases the damage done by your pets and hawks by 15%.
- Rank 1: Gives your Mend Pet spell a 15% chance of cleansing 1 Curse, Disease, Magic, or Poison effect from your pet each time it heals and reduces the Mana cost by 10%.
- Rank 2: Gives your Mend Pet spell a 50% chance of cleansing 1 Curse, Disease, Magic, or Poison effect from your pet each time it heals and reduces the Mana cost by 20%.
- Rank 1: Increases the critical strike chance of your pets and hawks by 2%.
- Rank 2: Increases the critical strike chance of your pets and hawks by 4%.
- Rank 3: Increases the critical strike chance of your pets and hawks by 6%.
- Rank 4: Increases the critical strike chance of your pets and hawks by 8%.
- Rank 5: Increases the critical strike chance of your pets and hawks by 10%.
- Rank 1: Command a hawk to dive-bomb your targeted enemy, dealing 32 Physical damage and continuing its assault for 18 sec. Only 2 hawks can be active at once. Summon Hawk shares its cooldown with Arcane Shot.
- Rank 1: While your pet is active, you and your pet will regenerate 1% of total health every 10 sec.
- Rank 2: While your pet is active, you and your pet will regenerate 1% of total health every 5 sec.
- Rank 1: Command your pet to Stun the target for 3 sec on its next successful attack, which also gains 100% increased critical strike chance. Generates high threat.
- Rank 1: Increases the Focus regeneration of your pets by 10% and allows 25% of your Mana regeneration to continue while casting.
- Rank 2: Increases the Focus regeneration of your pets by 20% and allows 50% of your Mana regeneration to continue while casting.
- Rank 1: Gives your pet a 20% chance to gain a 30% attack speed increase for 8 sec after dealing a critical strike.
- Rank 2: Gives your pet a 40% chance to gain a 30% attack speed increase for 8 sec after dealing a critical strike.
- Rank 3: Gives your pet a 60% chance to gain a 30% attack speed increase for 8 sec after dealing a critical strike.
- Rank 4: Gives your pet a 80% chance to gain a 30% attack speed increase for 8 sec after dealing a critical strike.
- Rank 5: Gives your pet a 100% chance to gain a 30% attack speed increase for 8 sec after dealing a critical strike.
- Rank 1: Send your pet into a rage causing 50% additional damage for 18 sec. While enraged, the beast does not feel pity or remorse or fear and it cannot be stopped unless killed.
Gone from Classic Beast Mastery (2)
These talents were in this tree in Classic Era but are gone in Forever. If an old favourite build is not feeling right, this list is the first place to check.
- Improved Eyes of the Beast (was 2 ranks, row 2). Increases the duration of your Eyes of the Beast by 30 sec.
- Thick Hide (was 3 ranks, row 2). Increases the Armor rating of your pets by 10%.
Marksmanship
Marksmanship runs 16 talents across 7 rows. Careful Aim, Rapid Killing, Lone Wolf, Rapid Recuperation are the new Forever additions here. Read them properly before you spend points. The row 7 payoffs are Sniper Shot.
- Rank 1: Increases the range of your ranged weapons by 2 yards.
- Rank 2: Increases the range of your ranged weapons by 4 yards.
- Rank 3: Increases the range of your ranged weapons by 6 yards.
- Rank 1: Gives your Concussive Shot a 4% chance to stun the target for 3 sec.
- Rank 2: Gives your Concussive Shot a 8% chance to stun the target for 3 sec.
- Rank 3: Gives your Concussive Shot a 12% chance to stun the target for 3 sec.
- Rank 4: Gives your Concussive Shot a 16% chance to stun the target for 3 sec.
- Rank 5: Gives your Concussive Shot a 20% chance to stun the target for 3 sec.
- Rank 1: Increases your critical strike chance with all attacks by 1%.
- Rank 2: Increases your critical strike chance with all attacks by 2%.
- Rank 3: Increases your critical strike chance with all attacks by 3%.
- Rank 4: Increases your critical strike chance with all attacks by 4%.
- Rank 5: Increases your critical strike chance with all attacks by 5%.
- Rank 1: Increased the damage of your Serpent Sting ability by 6%, reduces the cooldown of your Viper Sting ability by 2 sec, and increases the duration of your Scorpid Sting ability by 15 sec.
- Rank 2: Increased the damage of your Serpent Sting ability by 13%, reduces the cooldown of your Viper Sting ability by 4 sec, and increases the duration of your Scorpid Sting ability by 30 sec.
- Rank 3: Increased the damage of your Serpent Sting ability by 20%, reduces the cooldown of your Viper Sting ability by 6 sec, and increases the duration of your Scorpid Sting ability by 45 sec.
- Rank 1: Reduces the Mana cost of your Shots, Stings, and melee abilities by 3%.
- Rank 2: Reduces the Mana cost of your Shots, Stings, and melee abilities by 6%.
- Rank 3: Reduces the Mana cost of your Shots, Stings, and melee abilities by 9%.
- Rank 4: Reduces the Mana cost of your Shots, Stings, and melee abilities by 12%.
- Rank 5: Reduces the Mana cost of your Shots, Stings, and melee abilities by 15%.
- Rank 1: Increases your Attack Power by 20% of your Intellect.
- Rank 2: Increases your Attack Power by 40% of your Intellect.
- Rank 3: Increases your Attack Power by 60% of your Intellect.
- Rank 4: Increases your Attack Power by 80% of your Intellect.
- Rank 5: Increases your Attack Power by 100% of your Intellect.
- Rank 1: Reduces the cooldown on your Rapid Fire ability by 1 min. In addition, when you kill a non-trivial enemy or it dies while afflicted by your Serpent Sting, you gain Rapid Killing, increasing the damage of your next Shot ability within 20 sec by 10%.
- Rank 2: Reduces the cooldown on your Rapid Fire ability by 2 min. In addition, when you kill a non-trivial enemy or it dies while afflicted by your Serpent Sting, you gain Rapid Killing, increasing the damage of your next Shot ability within 20 sec by 20%.
- Rank 1: Reduces the cooldown of your Arcane Shot by 0.3 sec. Does not affect the cooldown of abilities which share a cooldown with Arcane Shot.
- Rank 2: Reduces the cooldown of your Arcane Shot by 0.6 sec. Does not affect the cooldown of abilities which share a cooldown with Arcane Shot.
- Rank 3: Reduces the cooldown of your Arcane Shot by 0.9 sec. Does not affect the cooldown of abilities which share a cooldown with Arcane Shot.
- Rank 4: Reduces the cooldown of your Arcane Shot by 1.2 sec. Does not affect the cooldown of abilities which share a cooldown with Arcane Shot.
- Rank 5: Reduces the cooldown of your Arcane Shot by 1.5 sec. Does not affect the cooldown of abilities which share a cooldown with Arcane Shot.
- Rank 1: You deal 20% increased damage with all attacks while you do not have an active pet.
- Rank 1: Increases the Ranged Attack Power of party members within 45 yards by 30. Lasts 30 min.
- Rank 1: Increases the critical strike damage bonus on all ranged abilities by 6%.
- Rank 2: Increases the critical strike damage bonus on all ranged abilities by 12%.
- Rank 3: Increases the critical strike damage bonus on all ranged abilities by 18%.
- Rank 4: Increases the critical strike damage bonus on all ranged abilities by 24%.
- Rank 5: Increases the critical strike damage bonus on all ranged abilities by 30%.
- Rank 1: Hitting a target with your Serpent Sting ability grants you 25% and consuming Rapid Killing grants you 50% of your Mana regeneration while casting for the next 15 sec.
- Rank 2: Hitting a target with your Serpent Sting ability grants you 50% and consuming Rapid Killing grants you 100% of your Mana regeneration while casting for the next 15 sec.
- Rank 1: Increases the damage done by your Multi-Shot, Aimed Shot, and Volley abilities by 3%.
- Rank 2: Increases the damage done by your Multi-Shot, Aimed Shot, and Volley abilities by 7%.
- Rank 3: Increases the damage done by your Multi-Shot, Aimed Shot, and Volley abilities by 10%.
- Rank 1: A short-range shot that deals 50% weapon damage and disorients the target for 4 sec. Any damage caused will remove the effect. Turns off your attack when used.
- Rank 1: Increases the damage you deal with ranged weapons by 1%.
- Rank 2: Increases the damage you deal with ranged weapons by 2%.
- Rank 3: Increases the damage you deal with ranged weapons by 3%.
- Rank 4: Increases the damage you deal with ranged weapons by 4%.
- Rank 5: Increases the damage you deal with ranged weapons by 5%.
- Rank 1: A steady snipe that increases ranged damage by 160.
Gone from Classic Marksmanship (2)
These talents were in this tree in Classic Era but are gone in Forever. If an old favourite build is not feeling right, this list is the first place to check.
- Improved Hunter's Mark (was 5 ranks, row 2). Increases the Ranged Attack Power bonus of your Hunter's Mark spell by 3%.
- Improved Scorpid Sting (was 3 ranks, row 5). Reduces the Stamina of targets affected by your Scorpid Sting by 10% of the amount of Strength reduced.
Survival
Survival runs 18 talents across 7 rows. Improved Tracking, Survival Tactics, Predator's Edge, Resourcefulness are the new Forever additions here. Read them properly before you spend points. The row 7 payoffs are Lacerating Strikes.
- Rank 1: While tracking Beasts, Demons, Dragonkin, Elementals, Giants, Humanoids, or Undead, all damage you deal to the tracked creature type is increased by 1%.
- Rank 2: While tracking Beasts, Demons, Dragonkin, Elementals, Giants, Humanoids, or Undead, all damage you deal to the tracked creature type is increased by 2%.
- Rank 3: While tracking Beasts, Demons, Dragonkin, Elementals, Giants, Humanoids, or Undead, all damage you deal to the tracked creature type is increased by 3%.
- Rank 4: While tracking Beasts, Demons, Dragonkin, Elementals, Giants, Humanoids, or Undead, all damage you deal to the tracked creature type is increased by 4%.
- Rank 5: While tracking Beasts, Demons, Dragonkin, Elementals, Giants, Humanoids, or Undead, all damage you deal to the tracked creature type is increased by 5%.
- Rank 1: Increases your Parry chance by 2%.
- Rank 2: Increases your Parry chance by 4%.
- Rank 3: Increases your Parry chance by 6%.
- Rank 4: Increases your Parry chance by 8%.
- Rank 5: Increases your Parry chance by 10%.
- Rank 1: When your traps are triggered, all affected targets are Entrapped, preventing them from moving for 1 sec.
- Rank 2: When your traps are triggered, all affected targets are Entrapped, preventing them from moving for 2 sec.
- Rank 3: When your traps are triggered, all affected targets are Entrapped, preventing them from moving for 3 sec.
- Rank 4: When your traps are triggered, all affected targets are Entrapped, preventing them from moving for 4 sec.
- Rank 5: When your traps are triggered, all affected targets are Entrapped, preventing them from moving for 5 sec.
- Rank 1: Increases the critical strike chance of all your melee abilities by 2%.
- Rank 2: Increases the critical strike chance of all your melee abilities by 4%.
- Rank 1: Increases your total Health by 2%.
- Rank 2: Increases your total Health by 4%.
- Rank 3: Increases your total Health by 6%.
- Rank 4: Increases your total Health by 8%.
- Rank 5: Increases your total Health by 10%.
- Rank 1: Gives your Wing Clip ability a 7% chance to immobilize the target for 5 sec.
- Rank 2: Gives your Wing Clip ability a 13% chance to immobilize the target for 5 sec.
- Rank 3: Gives your Wing Clip ability a 20% chance to immobilize the target for 5 sec.
- Rank 1: Increases the duration of Freezing and Frost trap effects by 15% and the damage of Immolation and Explosive trap effects by 15%.
- Rank 2: Increases the duration of Freezing and Frost trap effects by 30% and the damage of Immolation and Explosive trap effects by 30%.
- Rank 1: Increases your hit chance by 1% and reduces the duration of movement impairing effects on you by 10%.
- Rank 2: Increases your hit chance by 2% and reduces the duration of movement impairing effects on you by 20%.
- Rank 3: Increases your hit chance by 3% and reduces the duration of movement impairing effects on you by 30%.
- Rank 1: When activated, increases your Dodge and Parry chance by 25% for 10 sec.
- Rank 1: Increases your chance to hit with your Trap and Feign Death abilities by 5%.
- Rank 2: Increases your chance to hit with your Trap and Feign Death abilities by 10%.
- Rank 1: Increases your melee critical strike damage by 6% and your offhand weapon damage by 10%.
- Rank 2: Increases your melee critical strike damage by 12% and your offhand weapon damage by 20%.
- Rank 3: Increases your melee critical strike damage by 18% and your offhand weapon damage by 30%.
- Rank 4: Increases your melee critical strike damage by 24% and your offhand weapon damage by 40%.
- Rank 5: Increases your melee critical strike damage by 30% and your offhand weapon damage by 50%.
- Rank 1: A strike that becomes active after parrying an opponent's attack. This attack deals 50% weapon damage plus 13 and immobilizes the target for 5 sec. Counterattack cannot be blocked, dodged, or parried.
- Rank 1: Reduces the mana cost of your Trap abilities and melee abilities by 30%. In addition, your critical strikes have a 30% chance to allow 50% of your Mana regeneration to continue while casting for 30 sec.
- Rank 2: Reduces the mana cost of your Trap abilities and melee abilities by 60%. In addition, your critical strikes have a 60% chance to allow 50% of your Mana regeneration to continue while casting for 30 sec.
- Rank 1: Your attacks against targets with Hunter's Mark have a 5% chance to activate your Mongoose Bite for 5 sec.
- Rank 2: Your attacks against targets with Hunter's Mark have a 10% chance to activate your Mongoose Bite for 5 sec.
- Rank 1: Reduces the cooldown of your Trap and Deterrence abilities by 20%.
- Rank 2: Reduces the cooldown of your Trap and Deterrence abilities by 40%.
- Rank 1: A powerful kick that deals 100% melee weapon damage.
- Rank 1: Increases your Agility by 3%.
- Rank 2: Increases your Agility by 6%.
- Rank 3: Increases your Agility by 9%.
- Rank 4: Increases your Agility by 12%.
- Rank 5: Increases your Agility by 15%.
- Rank 1: Your Mongoose Bite also causes the target to Bleed for damage over 21 sec equal to 40% of the damage done by Mongoose Bite.
Gone from Classic Survival (6)
These talents were in this tree in Classic Era but are gone in Forever. If an old favourite build is not feeling right, this list is the first place to check.
- Monster Slaying (was 3 ranks, row 1). Increases all damage caused against Beasts, Giants and Dragonkin targets by 1% and increases critical damage caused against Beasts, Giants and Dragonkin targets by an additional 1%.
- Humanoid Slaying (was 3 ranks, row 1). Increases all damage caused against Humanoid targets by 1% and increases critical damage caused against Humanoid targets by an additional 1%.
- Trap Mastery (was 2 ranks, row 4). Decreases the chance enemies will resist trap effects by 5%.
- Improved Feign Death (was 2 ranks, row 4). Reduces the chance your Feign Death ability will be resisted by 2%.
- Killer Instinct (was 3 ranks, row 5). Increases your critical strike chance with all attacks by 1%.
- Wyvern Sting (was 1 ranks, row 7). A stinging shot that puts the target to sleep for 12 sec. Any damage will cancel the effect. When the target wakes up, the Sting causes 300 Nature damage over 6 sec. Only usable out of combat. Only one Sting per Hunter can be active on the target at a time.
Hunter talent reference questions
How do I read this talent tree?
Top down. Row 1 is open from the start; every 5 points you spend in one tree unlocks the next row in that same tree. Beast Mastery, Marksmanship, Survival all work this way. A row 4 talent needs 15 points in the rows above it before it opens.
What does each rank do?
Every Hunter talent lists its ranks in the exact beta-client wording. Rank 1 is the weakest version and the final rank is the full-strength effect. Read rank 1 first, then decide how many points the talent deserves.
What do the NEW and Changed tags mean?
NEW means the talent never existed in Classic. It is Forever-only. Changed means the Classic talent still exists but works differently now. Active means you press a button to use it; everything else just happens.
Take it to the Hunter calculator
Happy with your picks? Open the Hunter calculator and spend the points. Or take a tested starter build and change it to match the way you play.
