Hunter Runes & Locations – Season of Discovery (SoD)

Druid Runes

Paladin Runes

Shaman Runes

Hunter Runes

Priest Runes

Warlock Runes

Mage Runes

Rogue Runes

Warrior Runes

Rune Engraving is a new system for Season of Discovery. It allows each class to tailor their gameplay experience by unlocking new unique abilities! In this guide you’ll find all of the runes that are currently available for Hunters in Phase 5 of SoD as well as some new skill books and class items.

Hunter Epic Class Discoveries

Although Hunters already had Rhok’delar & Lok’delar, they gained a new class quest in Phase 5 that awards another epic set of weapons, the dual swords Kestrel and Peregrine. To find out how to get your hands on these powerful new items, check out our Kestrel & Peregrine Guide.

Hunter Skill Books

In addition to runes, there are also skill books in the game that will teach you new spells. Here are the skill books that are available for Hunters in Season of Discovery.

Hunter Runes

New Runes in Phase 5

There were two new runes added for the Finger slot in Phase 5 of Season of Discovery: Healing Specialization and Meditation Specialization. These runes are unlikely to be of much use to Hunters except for very niche applications.

All Hunter Runes

Starting Locations & Level Requirements

The table below can help you plan your route or simply see if you’ve acquired all of the runes in your current zone. Levels with a single asterisk (*) are runes that have a specific level requirement while those with a double asterisk (**) are our recommendations based on the level of enemies in the area or other factors such as abilities that will make the process easier.

Rune	Starting Locations	Level
Chimera Shot	Dun Morogh, Teldrassil Durotar, Mulgore	2*
Flanking Strike	Dun Morogh, Teldrassil Durotar, Mulgore	4**
Master Marksman	Dun Morogh, Teldrassil Durotar, Mulgore	4**
Explosive Shot	Dun Morogh, Teldrassil Durotar, Mulgore	4**
Carve	Dun Morogh, Teldrassil Durotar, Mulgore	10*
Beast Mastery	Darkshore, Westfall Silverpine Forest, The Barrens	10**
Serpent Spread	Darnassus, Ironforge, Stormwind City Orgrimmar, Thunder Bluff, Undercity	10**
Lone Wolf	The Barrens	10**
Sniper Training	Darkshore, Loch Modan, Westfall The Barrens	20**
Kill Shot	Stonetalon Mountains	25*
T.N.T.	Ashenvale, Duskwood, Feralas, The Hinterlands	25**
Cobra Strikes	Hillsbrad Foothills	25**
Cobra Slayer	Wetlands	25**
Trap Launcher	Desolace	30*
Dual Wield Specialization	Stranglethorn Vale	32*
Steady Shot	Arathi Highlands	35**
Wyvern Strike	Swamp of Sorrows	35**
Expose Weakness	Badlands	38**
Lock and Load	Felwood	40*
Catlike Reflexes	Feralas	40**
Melee Specialist	Deadwind Pass	40**
Raptor Fury	Tanaris	42**
Rapid Killing	Searing Gorge	45*
Focus Fire	Searing Gorge	45**
Hit and Run	Burning Steppes	58**
Resourcefulness	Eastern Plaguelands	58**
Improved Volley	Silithus	60**

Phase 2 Hunter Runes

Dual Wield Specialization Rune

Dual Wield Specialization is a Hunter Rune for the Boots slot. Here’s how to get it:

• Go to the area north of Grom’Gol in Stranglethorn Vale, around 32, 16, and run around until you get the Danger! debuff.
• Use Track Hidden and Flares to locate the source of the debuff, a Bloodscalp Guerilla.
• Kill it to loot the rune.

Explosive Shot Rune

Explosive Shot is a Hunter Rune for the Gloves slot. Here’s how to get it:

• Kill one of the following enemies to loot the rune:
  • Arra’chea, a level 11 in Mulgore
  • Edan the Howler, a level 19 rare in Dun Morogh
  • Old Icebeard, a level 11 elite in Dun Morogh
  • Rageclaw, a level 10 in Teldrassil
  • Sarkoth, a level 4 scorpid in Durotar
  • The Rake, a level 10 rare in Mulgore

Expose Weakness Rune

Expose Weakness is a Hunter Rune for the Belt slot. Here’s how to get it:

• Kill Dustbelcher Brutes and Dustbelcher Ogres in Badlands until one drops a Primitive Drawing.
• Trade the drawing to Hemet Nesingwary in Stranglethorn Vale (35.7, 10.8) for an Empty Bait Cage.
• Use the Empty Bait Cage on any critter to capture it.
• Return to Badlands and use the captured critter at a nest in the southwest (22.4, 66.7) to summon Gharrik, a level 40 beast.
• Kill it to loot a trophy which you can take back to Hemet Nesingwary to get the rune.

Melee Specialist Rune

Melee Specialist is a Hunter Rune for the Belt slot. Here’s how to get it:

• Speak with the Dalaran Agent at Ariden’s Camp in the northeast of Deadwind Pass (52, 36) to get Ariden’s Sigil.
• Equip Ariden’s Sigil and look for locations where you get the Dark Presence buff:
  • Arathi Highlands (60, 40)
  • Badlands (58, 54)
  • Deadwind Pass (43, 29)
  • Desolace (65, 25)
  • Duskwood (23, 47)
  • Swamp of Sorrows (69, 28)
  • The Barrens (52, 36)
• In each of the above locations, use Ariden’s Sigil to summon a Dark Rider, a level 41 elite, and kill it to loot a relic.
• When you have all seven relics, return to the Dalaran Agent to trade them in for your rune.

Steady Shot Rune

Steady Shot is a Hunter Rune for the Belt slot. Here’s how to get it:

• Kill Needletooth, the level 35 fish in the pond at Witherbark Village in Arathi Highlands (68, 66).
• Loot the rune.

Trap Launcher Rune

Trap Launcher is a Hunter Rune for the Boots slot. Here’s how to get it:

• Pick up the quest Highway Robbery from an Extinguished Campfire near the Kodo Graveyard in Desolace (47, 54).
• Speak with Bibbly F’utzbuckle at the northern crossroads in Desolace (63, 39) to progress the quest to On the Lam.
• Speak with Tokal inside the inn at Booty Bay in Stranglethorn Vale (27, 77) to pick up the quest Cherry for Your Thoughts?.
• Buy a Cherry Grog from the nearby vendor, Nixxrax Fillamug, and bring it to Tokal to get the quest No Honor Among Thieves.
• Use the boat on the southern shore of Arathi Highlands near the bridge (53, 91) to travel to the east coast.
• Speak to Illari Duskfeather and either agree with her (Alliance only) or fight her to get Illari’s Key.
• Use the key to open the nearby Jewel-Encrusted Box to loot the rune.

Wyvern Strike Rune

Invigoration is a Hunter Rune for the Boots slot. Here’s how to get it:

• Buy an Entomology Starter Kit from Amaryllis Webb in western Swamp of Sorrows (24, 54).
• Open the Entomology Starter Kit to get a Bug Catching Net and a Field Guide.
• Use the Bug Catching Net to catch bugs at the following locations:
  • Stranglethorn Vale: on a tree stump at the Venture Co. Base Camp (45, 19)
  • Arathi Highlands: the stable at Northfold Manor (31, 28)
  • Desolace: the Kodo Graveyard (51, 59)
• Return to Amaryllis Webb to trade the bugs for the rune.

Phase 1 Hunter Runes

Beast Mastery Rune

Beast Mastery is a Hunter Rune for the Gloves slot. Here’s how to get it:

Darkshore:

• Kill Blackwood furbolgs in Darkshore until one drops Crab Treats. You can also get this item by fishing in Darkshore.
• Use the Crab Treats on a Young Reef Crawler along the coast of the zone to get the rune.

Loch Modan:

• Locate an Empty Tropy Display in the southeast corner of the zone (83.6, 65.5).
• Loot it to get the rune.

Silverpine Forest:

• Kill Ferocious Grizzled Bear in the northern part Silverpine Forest until a Grizzled Protector appears, a level 16 elite.
• Kill it to loot your rune.

The Barrens:

• Drop a Freezing Trap in the path of a Patrolling Cheetah north of Camp Taurajo in The Barrens.
• Kill it to loot your rune.

Westfall:

• Kill goretusks in Westfall until one drops a Goretusk Haunch.
• Use the Goretusk Haunch at the coast to lure Silverspur. Kill it to loot your rune.

Carve Rune

Carve is a Hunter Rune for the Gloves slot. Here’s how to get it:

Dun Morogh:

• Kill Rockjaw Troggs in Gol’Bolar Quarry in Dun Morogh until one drops a Rabbit Musk.
• Use the Rabbit Musk when near a Rabbit and then use your Tame Beast ability on the critter.
• Speak with Toby at Amberstill Ranch (64, 50) to trade the rabbit for the rune.

Durotar:

• Kill quillboars in Durotar until one drops an Adder Pheromone.
• Use the Adder Pheromone when near an Adder and then use your Tame Beast ability on the critter.
• Speak with Razzil at Razor Hill (52, 44) to trade the adder for the rune.

Mulgore:

• Kill gnolls in southern Mulgore until one drops a Prairie Dog Musk.
• Use the Prairie Dog Musk when near a Prairie Dog and then use your Tame Beast ability on the critter.
• Speak with Takoda Sunmane at Bloodhoof Village (46, 60) to trade the prairie dog for the rune.

Teldrassil:

• Kill furbolgs in Teldrassil until one drops a Deer Musk.
• Use the Deer Musk when near a Deer and then use your Tame Beast ability on the critter.
• Speak with Relaeron in the Cenarion Enclave in Darnassus (40, 9) to trade the deer for the rune.

Chimera Shot Rune

Chimera Shot is a Hunter Rune for the Gloves slot. Here’s how to get it:

Dwarf:

• Reach level 2 and pick up the quest Trek Through the Caves from the Hunter Trainer in Dun Morogh.
• Enter the cave in the south of Coldridge Valley and loot the rune from a Frostmane Loot Cache chest.

Night Elf:

• Reach level 2 and pick up the quest A Hunter’s Strength from the Hunter Trainer in Teldrassil.
• Enter the cave in the north of Shadowglen and kill Githyiss the Vile to loot the rune.

Orc:

• Reach level 2 and pick up the quest Hunt for the Rune from the Hunter Trainer in Durotar.
• Kill nearby Scorpid Workers until one of them drops the rune.

Tauren:

• Reach level 2 and pick up the quest A Hunter’s Strength from the Hunter Trainer in Mulgore.
• Enter the Brambleblade Ravine cave in the southeast of the zone and kill Bristleback Battleboar to get the rune.

Troll:

• Reach level 2 and pick up the quest Rugged Terrain from the Hunter Trainer in Durotar.
• Kill nearby Scorpid Workers until one of them drops the rune.

Cobra Slayer Rune

Cobra Slayer is a Hunter Rune for the Chest slot. Here’s how to get it:

• Enter the cave just north of Dun Algaz in southern Wetlands (53, 64).
• Kill Carrodin, a level 25 elite owl, to loot the rune.

Cobra Strikes Rune

Cobra Strikes is a Hunter Rune for the Chest slot. Here’s how to get it:

• Buy Freshwater Snapper Bait from Zixil, the goblin vendor who patrols the central road in Hillsbrad Foothills.
• Use the Freshwater Snapper Bait at a boat in the pond near Tarren Mill to spawn Koartul, a level 25 elite.
• Kill it to loot your rune.

Flanking Strike Rune

Flanking Strike is a Hunter Rune for the Pants slot. Here’s how to get it:

Dun Morogh:

• Kill boars in Morogh until one drops a Dun Morogh Pig Meat.
• Use the Dun Morogh Pig Meat inside the cave near Brewnall Village to summon Jorul.
• Kill it to loot the rune.

Durotar:

• Kill boars in Durotar until one drops a Durotar Pig Meat.
• Use the Durotar Pig Meat on the northern island of the Echo Isles to summon Raluk.
• Kill it to loot the rune.

Mulgore:

• Kill swoops and plainstriders in Mulgore until one drops a Mulgore Bird Meat.
• Use the Mulgore Bird Meat around 36, 57 to summon Mokwa.
• Kill it to loot the rune.

Teldrassil:

• Kill owls in Teldrassil until one drops a Teldrassil Bird Meat.
• Use the Teldrassil Bird Meat around 48, 31 to summon Mowgh.
• Kill it to loot the rune.

Kill Shot Rune

Kill Shot is a Hunter Rune for the Pants slot. Here’s how to get it:

• Pick up the quest Wild Wyvern Wrangling from Jixo Madrocket in the hut at the entrance to Windshear Crag in Stonetalon Mountains (60, 62).
• Kill furbolgs in Ashenvale until one drops a Wild Magic Essence.
• Craft or purchase a Greater Magic Wand and combine it with the Wild Magic Essence to get a Gnarled Wand of Wild Magic.
• Defeat Mutanus the Devourer, the last boss in the Wailing Caverns, to loot a Hypnotic Crystal.
• Return to Jixo Madrocket and progress the quest to Wrangling a Wild Wyvern.
• Watch Jixo tame a wyvern and then turn in the quest to get your rune.

Lone Wolf Rune

Lone Wolf is a Hunter Rune for the Chest slot. Here’s how to get it:

• Visit Grizzby inside the inn at Ratchet in The Barrnes.
• Purchase a Rune of Lone Wolf from him for 3 gold and use it to get the rune.

Master Marksman Rune

Master Marksman is a Hunter Rune for the Chest slot. Here’s how to get it:

• Use Hunter’s Mark on a Rustling Bush in any of the following places:
  • Dun Morogh: near Brewnall Village (29, 50)
  • Durotar: west of Razor Hill (40.5, 52)
  • Mulgore: northeast of Bloodhoof Village (59, 54)
  • Teldrassil: near the center of the zone (47, 46)
• Kill the mob that spawns to loot the rune.

Serpent Spread Rune

Serpent Spread is a Hunter Rune for the Pants slot. Here’s how to get it:

• Hand in Waylaid Supplies crates until you reach Friendly reputation with  Azeroth Commerce Authority or  Durotar Supply and Logistics.
• Purchase the rune from a Supply Officer. Supply Officers can be found near the Auction House in each major city.

Sniper Training Rune

Sniper Training is a Hunter Rune for the Pants slot. Here’s how to get it:

Darkshore:

• Pick up a Gnarled Harpoon that is sticking out of a rock along the northern coast of Darkshore.
• Throw the Gnarled Harpoon at Paxnozz, a level 20 elite thresher off the northern coast (48, 15).
• Kill it to loot the rune.

Loch Modan:

• Kill Kackle, an elite crocolisk on the southern island in The Loch (53, 56).
• Loot the rune.

The Barrens:

• Buy a Fishing Harpoon from Kilxx at the dock in Ratchet in The Barrens.
• Throw the Fishing Harpoon at Bruuz, a level 20 elite shark off the coast (65, 40).
• Kill it to loot the rune.

Westfall:

• Kill Defias Scout, an elite near Sentinel Hill (52, 56).
• Loot the rune.