Hello again guys. Today and following the class guides we will talk about the PvE Beast Hunter updated to patch 8.1 in Battle for Azeroth, with a small guide on this specialization.
Beast Hunter
Hunters fight their enemies from a distance, ordering their pets to attack while preparing their arrows and reloading their pistols. While their missile weapons are devastating at close and long range, hunters are also extremely agile. They are able to avoid or slow down their enemies to regain their advantage in battle.
In this guide we will talk about the Beast Hunter talents, abilities, and rotation in Patch 8.1. As I always tell you in all my guides, this is an orientation on how you can take a Beast Hunter and get performance, but with the use of his character each player acquires the skill and way of playing appropriate to him and decides at all times what talents and skills to use. No guide is to the letter since everything depends a lot on the team that we carry at that time and also on who we are going to face.
I also have to tell you that all this can change at any time both on my part and because some talents or abilities change throughout this expansion. If that happens, I will keep you posted.
Changes in 8.1
- Beast tradition: No longer shows health and damage.
- Blood discharge: The Blood Beast spits blood at the target, reducing movement speed by 50% for 6 sec.
- Blood beasts can be tamed using Written on dark whispers soaked in blood.
- Matar: Now deals 8% more damage.
- Trumpet: Now deals 12% more damage.
Azerite
- Nature's Balm: Arousal Heals You 26488 p. Health bonuses and cooldown is reduced by 15.0 sec.
- Atrocious consequences: Kill deals 1208. more damage and has a chance to summon a Dire Beast (replaces Pack alpha)
Talents
Here is the build of the talents that I am currently using with my Beast Hunter for the new Battle of Dazar'alor raid. Anyway, at the moment we have a lot of ease to be able to change talents depending on the boss we are going to face, so if one of them is not to your liking, you can try any other that you think may be better for you.
- Level One: Murderous instinct
- Level One: Chimera Shot
- Level One: Natural relief
- Level One: Flock of crows
- Level One: Immediacy / Born to be Wild
- Level One: Stomp
- Level One: Aspect of the beast
Level One
- Murderous instinct: Kill deals 50% increased damage to enemies below 35% health.
- Animal companion: Your Call Pet ability also summons the first pet in your stable. The pet will obey your Kill, but will not use the abilities of its pet family.
- Fearsome beast: Summons a powerful wild beast that attacks the target and roars, increasing your Haste by 5% for 8 seconds.
I have chosen Murderous instinct for most matches since it is the one that works best for a single objective and the one that I find best in combat.
Level One
- Blood trail: Barbed Shot generates 8 points. more focus while it lasts.
- One with the herd: Call of the Wild has a 20% increased chance to reset the cooldown of Barbed Shot.
- Chimera Shot: A double shot that hits your main target and another nearby target, dealing (79.092% of attack power)% Nature damage to one and (79.092% of attack power)% Frost damage to the other . Generate 10 focus points for each target hit.
I have chosen Chimera Shot because it is with the one that I cause the most damage and the one that I like the most of the three without hesitation, in any situation.
Level One
- Burns: Your movement speed will increase by 30% when you have not been attacked for 3 seconds.
- Natural relief: Every 30 focus points you spend reduces the remaining cooldown of Arousal by 1 second.
- Camouflage: You and your pet blend into the environment and gain stealth for 1 minute. While cloaked, you heal for 2% of maximum health every 1 second.
Here I have chosen Natural relief for almost all encounters, although in certain situations we can also use either of the other two. You can try them and decide which one you like the most.
Level One
- Poisonous bite: Cobra Shot reduces the cooldown of Wrath of the Beasts by 1 second.
- Thrill of the hunt: Barbed Shot increases your critical strike chance by 3% for 8 seconds, stacking up to 3 times.
- Flock of crows: Summons a flock of crows that attacks your target, dealing [(23% of attack power) * 16] points of physical damage over 15 seconds. If the target dies during the attack, the cooldown of Flock of Crows is reset.
I have chosen Flock of crows because he is the best for a single goal and at the moment compared to the other two that we have is the one with which I feel best for all the meetings.
Level One
- Born to be Wild: Reduces the cooldowns of Aspect of the Cheetah and Aspect of the Turtle by 20%.
- Immediacy: Separation also frees you from all movement impairing effects and increases your movement speed by 50% for 4 seconds.
- Binding shot: Fires a magic projectile that links the enemy and all other enemies within 5 yards for 10 seconds, rooting them for 5 seconds if they move more than 5 yards away from the arrow.
Here I have chosen Immediacy due to the increase in movement speed that it gives me and that is very good for our survival, although in some encounter I do not rule out using Born to be Wild.
Level One
- Stomp: When you cast Barbed Shot, your pet stomps on the ground, dealing [((50% of attack power)) * (1 + Versatility)] points of physical damage to all nearby enemies.
- Trumpet: Rapidly fires a barrage of shots for 3 seconds, dealing an average of [(14.196% of attack power)% * 10] points of physical damage to all enemies in front of you. It can be used on the go.
- Estampida: Summons a herd of wild animals to stampede around you, dealing damage to your enemies for 12 seconds
Here I have opted for Stomp since it is the one that best goes in any situation.
Level One
- Aspect of the beast: Increases the damage of your pet's abilities by 30%. Increases the effectiveness of the passive Predator's Thirst, Stamina Training, and Find Your Pet's Path by 50%.
- Killer cobra: While Wrath of the Beasts is active, Cobra Shot resets the cooldown of Kill.
- Spitting cobra: Summons a Spitting Cobra for 20 seconds that attacks your target for (31.2% of attack power) damage. Nature damage every 2 seconds. While the cobra is active, you gain 2 focus points every second.
Here I have chosen Aspect of the beast due to the increased damage to the pet and for my taste it is the one that works best of the three.
Priority statistics
These are the statistics that I carry with my Beast Hunter but you already know that nothing is to the letter and that depending on the character, his equipment etc, these statistics may vary. For all this, it is best to do a simulation with our character and find out which ones are the best for you at that moment.
- Single objective: Agility - Critical Strike - Haste - Mastery - Versatility
- Various objectives: Agility - Mastery - Haste - Critical Strike - Versatility
Skills
- Cheetah appearance: Increases your movement speed by 90% for 3 sec and then by 30% for another 9 sec.
- Bellow: Your pet growls at the target and generates threat, provoking the target to attack your pet.
- Counter shot: Interrupts spell casting and prevents spells of that same school from being cast for 3 sec.
- Barbed shot: Shoot your enemy through, causing them to bleed and receive [(10% of Attack power) * 8/2] p. damage over 8 sec. This causes your pet to go into a frenzy and its attack speed increased by 30% for 8 sec. It stacks up to 3 times. Generates 20 p. focus for 8 sec.
- Cobra shot: Deals 70% weapon damage in the form of Nature damage and increases the duration of your Snake Sting on the target by 6 sec. Generates 0 p. can be used on the move.
- Concussion shot: Dazed the target, slowing their movement speed by 50% for 6 sec.
- Intimidation: Command your pet to intimidate the target and stun them for 5 sec.
- Teacher call: Removes all movement impairing effects on the target and makes them immune to such effects for 4 sec (cunning branch pet).
- Matar: You give the order to kill, causing your pet to savagely inflict [Attack power * 1.12 * 1 * (0.5 + min (Level, 20) * 0.025) * (1 + Versatility) * 1.06] p. physical damage to the enemy.
- Multi-shot: Fires multiple missiles that hit your current target and all enemies within 8 yards, dealing (10.9512% of Attack power) p. of physical damage.
- Redirection: Mistakenly redirects all threat you generate to the target party or raid member for the next 8 sec.
- Separation: You jump back.
- Freezing trap: Throws a Frost Trap at the targeted location incapacitating the first enemy to approach for 1 min. Damage will nullify the effect. Limited to 1 target. The trap lasts 1 min.
- Tar trap: Places a tar trap that creates an oily stain around it for 30 sec when the first enemy approaches. All enemies within 10 yards will be slowed by 50% while in the area of effect. The trap lasts 1 min.
Defensive
- Appearance of the turtle: Deflects all attacks and reduces all damage taken by 30% for 8 sec, but you cannot attack.
- Excitement: Heals you for 30% of maximum health.
- Survival of the fittest: Reduces all damage you and your pet take by 20% for 6 sec.
Offensive
- Aspect of the wild: Grants you and your pet 5. Focus every second and 10% increased critical strike chance for 20 sec.
- Wrath of the beasts: You and your pet go into a rage, increasing all damage you both deal by 25% for 15 sec.
- Primal rage: Increases the Haste of all party or raid members by 30% for 40 sec. Allies who receive this effect will be sated and will no longer be able to benefit from Primal Rage or similar effects for 10 min.
Battle of Dazar'alor Team
| Groove | Part name | Boss who lets go |
| Helmet | Target tracking helmet | mekkatorque |
| Necklace | Heart of Azeroth | Artefact |
| Shoulder pads | Soulbinder's Mantle of Caresses | King Rastakhan |
| Cover | Shroud of the exulting loa | Conclave of the Chosen |
| Front | Naval officer coat | Lady Jaina Valiant |
| Bracers | Icebinder Bracers | Lady Jaina Valiant |
| Gloves | Grips of Harmonious Spirits | Jadefire Masters |
| Belt | Girdle with gold foils | Opulence |
| Trousers | Deathhunter Leggings | King Rastakhan |
| Feet | Boots of the Emblazoned Path | Opulence |
| Ring 1 | Seal of the Lady Admiral | Lady Jaina Valiant |
| Ring 2 | Seal of the Zandalari Empire | King Rastakhan |
| Trinket | Kimbul's Cutting Claw | Conclave of the Chosen |
| Arma | Pterrorala Longbow | Conclave of the Chosen |
Gems and enchantments
Gems
- In a hollow: Kraken Eye of Agility: +40 Agility
- Rest of gaps: Lethal Amberfire: +40 critical hit
Enchantments
- Ring:
- Enchant Ring - Pact of Critical Strike: Permanently enchant a ring to increase Critical Strike by 37.
- Arma:
- Enchant Weapon - Master Navigation: Use: Permanently enchant a weapon to sometimes increase Mastery by 50. for 30 sec. It accumulates up to 5 times. Upon reaching 5 stacks, all stacks are consumed to grant you 600. Mastery for 10 sec.
- Incendiary ammunition: Permanently improves the ammo of a ranged weapon, sometimes causing it to deal extra Fire damage when dealing damage with ranged attacks. If this device is added to a ranged weapon, it is soul bound.
- Look from the top: Permanently adds a scope to a ranged weapon, sometimes increasing Critical Strike by 650. for 12 sec when dealing damage with ranged attacks. By adding this device to a ranged weapon, the weapon is soul bound.
Flasks, potions, food and runes
Flasks
- Flask of currents: Increases Agility by 238. for 1 hour. Counts as a guardian and battle elixir. The effect persists beyond death. (3 Sec Cooldown)
Potion
- Battle Potion of Agility: Increases your Agility by 900. for 25 sec. (1 Min Cooldown)
- Coastal Healing Potion: Restores 33251 p. of health. (1 Min Cooldown)
Meal
- Captain's Bountiful Feast: Prepare a Lavish Captain's Feast to feed up to 35 people in your gang or party! Restore 166257 p. of health and 83129 p. mana over 20 sec. You must remain seated while eating. If you spend at least 10 seconds eating you will become well fed and gain 100. of a statistic for 1 hour.
- Galley banquet: Prepare a galley banquet to feed up to 35 people in your band or group! Restore 83129 p. of health and 41564 p. mana over 20 sec. You must remain seated while eating. If you spend at least 10 seconds eating you will become well fed and gain 75. of a statistic for 1 hour.
- Syrupy leg: Restores 166257 p. of health and 83129 p. mana over 20 sec. You must remain seated while eating. If you spend at least 10 seconds eating you will become well fed and gain 55. critical strike for 1 hour.
- Bloodthirsty feast: Use: Prepare a bloodthirsty feast to feed up to 35 people in your raid or party! Restore 166257 p. health and 0 p. mana over 20 sec. You must remain seated while eating. If you spend at least 10 seconds eating you will become well fed and gain 100. of a stat for 1 hour.
- Boralus blood sausage: Use: Restores 166257 p. health and 0 p. mana over 20 sec. You must remain seated while eating. If you spend at least 10 seconds eating, you will be well fed and gain 85. in a stat for 1 hour.
Runes
- Battle Damaged Augment Rune: Increases Agility, Intellect, and Strength by 60. for 1 hour. Rune of augmentation.
Rotation and practical tips
Against one or more targets
- Barbed shot (when we have 2 charges or it will expire Frenzy)
- Flock of crows
- Aspect of the wild
- Wrath of the beasts
- Chimera Shot
- Matar
- Cobra shot
Matar it is a priority and we must keep it active whenever we can.
Use Appearance of the turtle when we see our life in danger, but taking into account that by using it we will not be able to use our abilities.
Use Tar trap y Freezing trap when necessary.
Use Counter shot to interrupt spell casting when necessary.
Do not use Barbed shot without more or more. Try to keep the 3 charges on the pet but if for some reason we lose them we will use Barbed shot with only one charge.
Use Chimera Shot whenever we have it available.
Use Cobra shot when we need to spend focus.
Use Flock of crows whenever we have it available.
Use Wrath of the beasts as many times as possible together with Aspect of the wild.
Try to have our pet always alive so as not to lose damage.
Azerite Traits
Outer ring
Middle ring
Outer ring
Specific for beast hunter
- Dance of death: Barbed Shot has a chance equal to your critical strike chance to grant you 908. agility for 8 sec.
- Atrocious consequences: Kill deals 1208. more damage and has a chance to summon a Dire Beast.
- Serrated maw: Kill has a 40% chance to inflict 2526. additional damage and grant your pet 5. focus.
- Hungry frenzy: Barbed Shot deals 0. additional damage over the duration and the duration of Frenzy is increased to 9 seconds.
- Primal instincts: Aspect of the Wild increases your Mastery by 1018. and grants you a charge of Spiked Shot.
- Haze of anger: Wrath of the Beasts increases your Agility by 954. for 8 sec.
Useful addons
- Recount/Skada Damage Meter - Addon to measure dps, agro generated, deaths, healings, damage received, etc.
- Deadly Boss Mods - Addon that alerts us to the abilities of the gang leaders.
- weakauras - It graphically shows us information about the combat.
- Omen - Aggro meter.
- ElvUI - Addon that modifies our entire interface.
- Bartender4/dominos - Addon to customize the action bars, add shortcuts to the keys, etc.
- SimulationCraft - To do simulations with our characters.
And so far the Beast Hunter guide in patch 8.1. As I go deeper into this expansion I will add things that I find interesting or useful to improve. I hope it helps you to have a slight idea of how to carry your Hunter.
Greetings, see you in Azeroth.