- Author: Nevermore
- Date: July 9, 2024
- Updated: July 20, 2024
- Expansion: WoW Classic
Welcome to our Season of Discovery (SoD) Phase 4 Marksmanship Ranged Hunter DPS Guide!
This guide focuses exclusively on the Marksmanship specialization, exploring key components such as Runes, Talent Trees, Stat Priorities, Rotations & Abilities, Best Professions, BiS (Best in Slot) items, and Race Choices. With the new Rune System introduced in the Season of Discovery, Marksmanship Ranged Hunter gained many tools that improve its already awesome performance, the specialization now being considered a true powerhouse.
Talents
Runes
- Helm: Lock and Load
- Cloak: Resourcefulness/Improved Volley
- Chest: Lone Wolf/Cobra Strikes
- Wrist: T.N.T/Focus Fire
- Hands: Chimera Shot
- Waist: Expose Weakness
- Legs: Sniper Training/Kill Shot
- Feet: Trap Launcher
- Ring: Nature Specialization
- Ring: Ranged Weapon Specialization
Stat Priority
- Hit Chance
- Agility
- Attack Power
- Critical Strike Chance
- Strength
- Intellect
- Stamina
Rotations & Abilities
Both builds use a fairly similar rotation with the main differences between the two being the use of Focus Fire and a pet. Additionally, Aimed Shot and Kill Shot‘s use will depend on whether you pick the Sniper Training or the Kill Shot rune. Builds that use Kill Shot will only use Aimed Shot as an opener while builds that take Sniper Training will use Aimed Shot consistently.
Single-Target Rotation
- Prioritize Rapid Fire for Burst Phases
- Maintain Aspect of the Hawk
- Use Aspect of the Viper if you run low on Mana
- Cast Hunter’s Mark
- Cast Focus Fire when you reach 5 stacks of Frenzy if you play the Pet Build
- Cast Serpent Sting (Upkeep it)
- Cast Immolation Trap (On cooldown to deal damage and proc Lock and Load)
- Cast Frost Trap (On cooldown to proc Lock and Load)
- Cast Chimera Shot (On Cooldown)
- Cast Chimera Shot twice after Lock and Load procs
- Cast Aimed Shot when you have 5 stacks of Sniper Training (If you pick Sniper Training)
- Cast Kill Shot on cooldown (If you pick Kill Shot)
- Spam Kill Shot once your target reaches 20% HP
- Cast Multi-Shot on cooldown if any of the other abilities are not available
AoE Rotation
- Spam Volley (If you pick the Improved Volley rune)
- Cast Explosive Trap on cooldown
- Cast Multi-Shot on cooldown
Best Professions
Engineering
Engineering has always been regarded as one of the most versatile and effective professions in both PvE and PvP. This remains true in the Season of Discovery as Engineering is one of the best professions you can acquire for the Hunter Class due to all the creative gadgets, bombs, and equipment it provides
Leatherworking
Almost all of the newly crafted items in the Season of Discovery which are specifically tailored for Hunters come from Leatherworking, making it one of the best professions that you can acquire.
Skinning
Skinning pairs fantastically well with Leatherworking, allowing you to easily get materials for crafting while also being a good way of generating gold.
Best Races
Alliance doesn’t have one superior race for PvE, however, Night Elf has a slight advantage over Dwarf for the Hunter Class, especially for its overall aesthetic look. The only situation in which Dwarf is superior is the case of using a powerful gun thanks to the Gun Specialization racial, although that is extremely situational as the best weapons are usually bows or crossbows.
Meanwhile, the Horde has strong PvE racial effects, with Troll being the best option thanks to Bow Specialization and Berserking racials, followed up by Orc with the Blood Fury and Command racials.
Dwarf
Night Elf
Orc
Tauren
Troll
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