I've been playing a hunter and a mage recently to fill the time before Cata hits... the hunter is only in his 20's but I wanted to get an idea of what I should be shooting.


I know everyone says go Beastmaster spec, I have decided to ignore this advice to go survival as I see it being a little more fun than letting your beast do all the damage... so I have:


- Explosive Shot

- Arcane

- Serpent Sting

- Multi

- Steady


I seem to be low on focus all the time, but usually go about my business by firing off an explosive shot/SS on the target, then keeping Steady Shot going to regain Focus until I have enough for another Explosive Shot, repeat... on mobs of 3 or more I use Multi Shot as well as SS.


My DPS isn't bad usually... but it's not exactly challanging. I don't feel like I am really maing the most of my abilities.


I know this is early in the game still, but is their any kind of priority system I should be following? what gives the most bang for my focus? I don't think i get any knew talents for several levels... LnL will make it a little more fun I imagine as I will need to start laying down traps

 

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Focus is pretty bad at low levels with shots and no perks to help it.

For the record, go beastmaster spec.

I leveled a little Survival with my new hunter and mainly went Explosive -> Serpent -> Steady over and over, it worked fine. (No idea if it is optimal or not)

Outside of Explosive the spec is pretty craptastic until the end of the talent tree, as is Marksman.

It's sad seeing a Kill Command do double the shot damage of any other spec, even when not specced BM.

SPEC BM!

Sorry if this post is next to useless.

 

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the reason to level as BM is because it's more efficient on time and it usually allows you to do more soloing of "group" quests.

For 10g you can dual spec now. ( i want my 9k back from all my alts.)
Dual spec a BM for group quests.

Truth is can level at whatever spec. I wouldn't worry about thinking about it too much. As you level you will figure stuff out.

 

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I've been leveling a new hunter, and with all my heirloom gear as survival I've been able to solo all the group quest mobs and everything I run into is butter to my knife.

For high level stuff, couldn't help you.

 

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I may go get my DS sorted out... I am against the idea of it as I am playing the class to be an archer not a pet handler, I don't mind levelling a bit slower, but I do want to optimise the way I play the spec.


It does seem a little unclear at the moment what shots are optimal for what situation and I expect most of my levelling to be via the DF more than anything else so I don't need the group quest flexibility.

 

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Focus is bad at all levels period!


What I do in BM is;


Mark


Then

SS(and keep it up)

Arcane (until I almost run out of focus)

Steady (twice, build focus back up)

Rinse & Repeat until Kill Shot pops

So in other words you're a complete baddie...stop telling people you play a hunter, you're making the rest of us look bad.

 

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Don't even bother to Mark.

Serpent Sting
Kill Command
Steady Shot till dead (usually only one)

Everything else is just fluff.

^^ This.

 

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That's what my hunter does. I still mark as I run up.

Mark
(Possible snare depending on how pet grabs aggro)
(Serpent or Arcane depending on how fast the stuff dies)
Kill Command
Arcane
Steady Shot
Kill Shot or whatever it's called at 20% health

 

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