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Beast Mastery Hunter · Ranged DPS

Beast Mastery Hunter guide

Complete guideData-drivenMediumPatch 12.1.0
3.4KUpdated

More Beast Mastery Hunter guides

This guide is assembled by the site from match data and the game's own information — nobody wrote it by hand. Official and community guides appear alongside it when they exist.

Overview

Beast Mastery Hunter is a ranged dps specialization of the Hunter in World of Warcraft. It is A tier on our ladder: 24.9% presence in the top Mythic+ groups (average key +14.2) and 50.5% of Solo Shuffle rounds won. A master of the wild who can tame a wide variety of beasts to assist them in combat. Preferred Weapon: Bow, Crossbow, Gun

Strengths

  • Very present in top keys: 24.9% of the top Mythic+ groups we read bring one, up to +21.
  • Wins 50.5% of its Solo Shuffle rounds across 9786 rated players.
  • Most played in Temple of Sethraliss, where it shows up in 27% of the top runs.
  • Top players stack Critical Strike (43% of their secondary stats).

Build cheat sheet

Pick the build that fits what you want to do this game.

Builds

Beast Mastery Hunter · Mythic+

BalancedMythic+
Open build

When to use it

What the 15 top Mythic+ players we read are using, with the Pack Leader hero tree (100%). Average item level 328. The talent code is the one 13.3% of them use exactly.

Mythic+ build

15 top profilesAverage item level 328Hero tree: Pack Leader (100%)

Talent code to import in-game (Talents → Import). Used exactly by 13% of the sample.

C0PAD57yiELKEty14ekTDtZEqAMmxwCsAzwQDbAAYGzMzs8AzYmZmZMzgZGzMMzYmZGbzMjZMDLDNDAAAAAAAAMjxAmZjAmFw2AA

Talent trees

Hunter talents

Survival of the FittestRejuvenating WindSpecialized ArsenalImproved Aspect of the TurtleCounter ShotPrecision StrikesCombat ExperiencePadded ArmorPosthasteNatural Mending2/2Touch of Grass2/2Intimidation93Unnatural CausesTrigger Finger2/2Improved Feign Death87Lone SurvivorHunter's AvoidanceKeen Eyesight2/2Tranquilizing Shot80Pathfinding93Scout's Instincts33Binding Shot7Camouflage7Improved Aspect of the CheetahBorn To Be Wild2/2Guttural Roar73Tar-Coated BindingsHorsehair TetherImproved TrapsGuardian's Hide93Concussive ShotDisruptive Rounds80Serrated Tips2/2Kodo TranquilizerDevilsaur Tranquilizer47Emergency Salve93Misdirection53Wilderness MedicineTar TrapScare Beast7Improved SnaringShell Wall47Catlike Reflexes20TrailblazerMoment of Opportunity13Kindling FlareCold FeetNo Hard Feelings
Howl of the Pack Leader

Pack Leader100%

Fury of the WyvernPack MentalityShell CoverStampede!Better TogetherNo MercyLethal BarbsDire SummonsSharpened FangsHogstriderUrsine FuryWyvern's GazeSlicked Shoes

Dark Ranger

Umbral ReachCorpsecallerWithering FirePact of the HollowBleak PowderSoul DrinkerBleak ArrowsSmoke ScreenWailing DeadBlighted QuiverEbon BowstringThrough the EyesBanshee's MarkThe Bell TollsBlack ArrowDark ChainsShadow DaggerBlack Arrow

Beast Mastery talents

Go for the ThroatCobra ShotBestial WrathJagged WoundsBloodshedSavageryStompWar OrdersAlpha PredatorBarbed ShotAnimal CompanionKill CommandScent of BloodThundering HoovesBarbed ScalesPack TacticsThe Beast WithinFrenzy2/2Snakeskin Quiver93Training Expert80Bloody Frenzy27Dire Command20Wildspeaker20Huntmaster's Call20Dire Frenzy20Dire Beast7Razor Sharp93Killer InstinctSerpentine StrikesThrill of the Hunt93Wild Thrash80Beast Cleave80Laceration80Kill Cleave80Aspect of the Beast53Dire CleaveBrutal CompanionPiercing FangsMaster HandlerKiller Cobra

Apex

Nature's Ally
Most picked PvP talentsSurvival Tactics80The Beast Within60Kindred Beasts40Diamond Ice33Chimaeral Sting33Hunting Pack20

Gold means more than half of the top picks it; the number is the share that takes it when it isn't nearly everyone. Lines show which node unlocks which.

Secondary stat split

  1. 1. Critical Strike 43%
  2. 2. Mastery 41%
  3. 3. Versatility 8%
  4. 4. Haste 8%

Most socketed gems

  • 147%Flawless Deadly Amethyst+16 Mastery & +7 Critical Strike
  • 133%Flawless Masterful Garnet+16 Critical Strike & +7 Mastery
  • 53%Powerful Eversong Diamond+23 Primary Stat and +0.15% critical strike effectiveness per unique Midnight gem color
  • 47%Indecipherable Eversong Diamond+32 Primary Stat
  • 40%Flawless Deadly Lapis+16 Versatility & +7 Critical Strike
  • 27%Flawless Deadly Peridot+16 Haste & +7 Critical Strike

Gear by slot

  • Main hand

    • Caustic Repose Greatbowilvl 335 · 93%
    • Gebbo's Backup Blasterilvl 334 · 7%

    ✦ Rite of the Hash'ey (93%)

  • Trinket

    • Voracious Heart of Ula'tekilvl 333 · 67%
    • Font of Venomous Rageilvl 334 · 40%
    • Keeper's Seething Coreilvl 334 · 27%

  • Head

    • Skulking Viper's Weeping Fangsilvl 331 · 100%

    ✦ Enchant Helm - Empowered Rune of Avoidance (87%)

  • Neck

    • Aqirbane Reliquaryilvl 332 · 100%

  • Shoulders

    • Jaws of the Skulking Viperilvl 325 · 93%
    • Soulslither Spauldersilvl 321 · 7%

    ✦ Enchant Shoulders - Amirdrassil's Grace (87%)

  • Back

    • Shroud of the Skulking Viperilvl 324 · 27%
    • Speakeasy Shroudilvl 321 · 27%
    • Amani Summoning Shawlilvl 333 · 13%

  • Chest

    • Skulking Viper's Scuteplateilvl 334 · 93%
    • Awoken Dreadfang Cuirassilvl 321 · 7%

    ✦ Enchant Chest - Mark of the Worldsoul (100%)

  • Wrists

    • Farstrider's Plated Bracersilvl 331 · 80%
    • Rising Tide Wristguardsilvl 334 · 7%
    • Saptorbane Guardsilvl 321 · 7%

  • Hands

    • Skulking Viper's Hidepiercersilvl 323 · 87%
    • Grips of Swirling Furyilvl 334 · 7%
    • Galerattle Gauntletsilvl 321 · 7%

  • Waist

    • Farstrider's Trophy Beltilvl 331 · 73%
    • Prized Fangs of the Skulking Viperilvl 328 · 13%
    • Cursed Reliquary Cinctureilvl 331 · 7%

  • Legs

    • Farstrider's Reinforced Fauldsilvl 331 · 53%
    • Skulking Viper's Coiled Legwrapsilvl 323 · 47%

    ✦ +41 Agility/Strength & +115 Stamina (100%)

  • Feet

    • Skulking Viper's Tracksilvl 329 · 33%
    • Boots of the Reckless Wayfarerilvl 334 · 27%
    • Galerider's Chaussesilvl 321 · 13%

    ✦ Enchant Boots - Lynx's Dexterity (87%)

  • Ring

    • Charged Sandstone Bandilvl 321 · 67%
    • Signet of Snarling Servitudeilvl 321 · 47%
    • Vile Alchemist's Bandilvl 325 · 27%

    ✦ Enchant Ring - Eyes of the Eagle (200%)

Abilities

  • Kill Command0.5 sec cooldowns30 Focus mpGive the command to kill, causing your pet to charge your target and savagely deal 86 Physical damage to the enemy.Cooldown 0.5 sec cooldown · 30 Focus
  • Barbed ShotFire a shot that tears through your enemy, causing them to bleed for 150 damage over 12 sec. If Barbed Shot is reapplied, any remaining damage will be added to the new Barbed Shot. Generates 20 Focus over 8 sec.Core ability of the specialization.
  • Wild Thrash8 sec cooldowns35 Focus mpCommand your pet to thrash all enemies within 10 yds, dealing 66 Physical damage to them. Damage is increased by 300% if Wild Thrash hits 2 or more enemies. Deals reduced damage beyond 8 targets.Cooldown 8 sec cooldown · 35 Focus
  • Bestial Wrath1.5 min cooldownsSends you and your pet into a rage, instantly dealing 280 Physical damage to its target, and increasing all damage you both deal by 20% for 15 sec. Removes all crowd control effects from your pet.Cooldown 1.5 min cooldown
  • Cobra Shot35 Focus mpA quick shot causing 137 Physical damage. Reduces the cooldown of Kill Command by 1 sec.35 Focus
  • Animal CompanionPassiveYour Call Pet additionally summons the pet from the bonus slot in your stable. This pet will obey your Kill Command, but cannot use pet family abilities.Core ability of the specialization.
  • Solitary CompanionPassiveYour pet damage is increased by 35% and your pet is 10% larger.Core ability of the specialization.
  • Alpha PredatorPassiveKill Command now has 2 charges, and deals 15% increased damage.Core ability of the specialization.

Strategy

1Your job in the group

As a ranged dps, your job is to deal damage from range while handling mechanics that target spread players.

  • Pre-position before each pull where you can hit the whole pack and still be in range of your healer.
  • Keep casting while moving as much as your kit allows: a ranged player who stops casting stops dealing damage.
  • Save your major cooldowns for the damage-amplification windows of the boss and for the biggest pulls of the route.

2Talents

The build below is the most common among the 15 top Mythic+ players we read. 100% of them pick the Pack Leader hero tree.

  • Pathfinding — 93.3% of the top players
  • Intimidation — 93.3% of the top players
  • Emergency Salve — 93.3% of the top players
  • Guardian's Hide — 93.3% of the top players
  • Snakeskin Quiver — 93.3% of the top players
  • Razor Sharp — 93.3% of the top players

3Stats and gear

Secondary stat split of the top players: Critical Strike 43% > Mastery 40.9% > Versatility 8.4% > Haste 7.7%.

  • Main hand: Caustic Repose Greatbow (93.3%, item level 335) · Rite of the Hash'ey
  • Trinket: Voracious Heart of Ula'tek (66.7%, item level 333)
  • Head: Skulking Viper's Weeping Fangs (100%, item level 331) · Enchant Helm - Empowered Rune of Avoidance
  • Neck: Aqirbane Reliquary (100%, item level 332)
  • Shoulders: Jaws of the Skulking Viper (93.3%, item level 325) · Enchant Shoulders - Amirdrassil's Grace
  • Back: Shroud of the Skulking Viper (26.7%, item level 324)

4Where it is played

Share of the top runs of each Mythic+ dungeon this week that include Beast Mastery Hunter.

  • Temple of Sethraliss: in 27% of the top runs (4906 runs)
  • Kings' Rest: in 26% of the top runs (4731 runs)
  • The Blinding Vale: in 26.2% of the top runs (4717 runs)
  • Voidscar Arena: in 24.5% of the top runs (4493 runs)
  • Murder Row: in 24.2% of the top runs (4465 runs)
  • Den of Nalorakk: in 24.7% of the top runs (4459 runs)
  • Ruby Life Pools: in 24.6% of the top runs (4445 runs)
  • Altar of Fangs: in 22.2% of the top runs (4085 runs)

5Common mistakes

  • Standing too far from the group and out of the healer's range.
  • Standing in avoidable damage: in high keys and raid bosses, avoidable damage is what wipes groups, not the healer.
  • Holding personal defensives until it is too late: use one the moment a big hit is announced.
  • Ignoring the interrupt rotation: every uninterrupted dangerous cast is damage your healer has to fix.

Tips

  • Use pillars and corners to pull casters to the tank.
  • Know which spells you can cast while moving: it is the difference between good and great ranged damage.
  • Import the talent code of this guide in-game (Talents → Import) and adjust only the rows the fight asks for.

Matchups

Works well with

  • Holy Paladin

    In 29.6% of the top Mythic+ groups with Beast Mastery Hunter.

  • Blood Death Knight

    In 29.2% of the top Mythic+ groups with Beast Mastery Hunter.

  • Restoration Shaman

    In 26.4% of the top Mythic+ groups with Beast Mastery Hunter.

  • Arms Warrior

    In 25.2% of the top Mythic+ groups with Beast Mastery Hunter.

  • Arcane Mage

    In 25% of the top Mythic+ groups with Beast Mastery Hunter.

Changelog

  1. Guide created for patch 12.1.0.

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