CLASSCOMPASSWoW Spec Finder

Hunter

Beast Mastery

dpsrangedeasy difficulty

Playstyle

Ranged DPS built around mobility — the only ranged spec that can execute its full rotation while moving. Core loop alternates Kill Command and Barbed Shot filled with Cobra Shot, with a 30-second Bestial Wrath window driving burst. Relatively easy to pick up: no heavy buff-juggling, just steady pet/cooldown management.

Hunter's Mark (universal 3% single-target damage buff) makes it close to a mandatory raid pick regardless of spec choice

Season 2 Tier Set

Skulking Viper's Ambush

2

Barbed Shot causes your pets to stomp 1 additional time at 50% effectiveness.

4

Stomp causes your next Cobra Shot to either benefit from Beast Cleave at 20% effectiveness, or strike your primary target for 30% additional damage, stacking up to 4 times.

+ The Good

Hunter's Mark (universal 3% single-target damage buff) makes it close to a mandatory raid pick regardless of spec choice

Unmatched movement-while-casting

Strong AoE — great fit for busy Mythic+ pulls

− The Bad

Mediocre single-target/burst damage compared to other DPS

Weak passive survivability that leans entirely on active cooldowns

Pet pathing/AI can strand your damage source behind terrain, forcing an awkward dismiss-and-resummon

Damage tapers off hard once targets stop staying stacked together

Pick My Main ratings

Single target damage7 / 10
AoE damage6 / 10
Priority target / funnel damage7 / 10
Survivability4 / 5
Utility3 / 5
Fun1 / 5

Raid buffs

Hunter's Mark

Utility

Bloodlust / Heroism ("Lust")Enrage Removal

Hero talents

Dark Ranger

Leans on Black Arrow for upfront damage plus spread DoTs; proc-driven and reactive, with Smoke Screen as a strong defensive option.

Pack Leader

Summons Bear/Boar/Wyvern beasts via Howl of the Pack Leader for bleed, charge, and damage-buff effects on top of the normal rotation. Currently the stronger of the two trees across the board.