Preliminary Mentions↑top

In this guide, we will offer you some quick and practical information for leveling up your Hunter from level 85 to level 90. We cover rotation, talents and glyphs. We do not, however, cover statistics, gear, or any information about the zones you should be questing in.

This guide requires a basic understanding of how the Hunter class works at level 85. This guide is not meant to reflect how you should play your character at level 90, or in a raid environment or dungeon.

While leveling up, you can complete 4 dungeons:

• Temple of the Jade Serpent;
• Stormstout Brewery;
• Shado-Pan Monastery;
• Mogu'shan Palace.

These dungeons have quests which reward you with vast amounts of experience.

In the next few weeks, we will extend this guide to cover the entire leveling journey, from level 1 to level 90.

In our opinion, you can level your Hunter up as any of the three specialisations.

1. Beast Mastery Leveling Guide: 85-90↑top

1.1. Level 85

1.1.1. Talents and Glyphs

Before setting out on your leveling journey, you should take these talents and glyphs, for maximum efficiency. Obviously, this is not set in stone, and you have a lot of liberty.

For glyphs, it is important to note that Glyph of Misdirection allows unlimited misdirecting to your pet, which is very useful while questing.

Also, Glyph of Fetch grants you Fetch, which you should use extensively to speed up the looting process.

1.1.2. Rotation

You have to adapt your raiding rotation to work against against targets which, generally, will not live very long. As such, you will probably only have time for one or two cycles before the target is dead. This rotation is very similar (practically identical) to your normal raiding rotation. We will summarise this rotation below, but keep in mind that we do not go into cooldown usage, although you should try to use your DPS cooldowns (also listed in the rotation page linked above) as much as possible.

1. Cast Kill Command on cooldown.
2. Apply Serpent Sting to targets who will live for 10 or more seconds.
3. Cast Cobra Shot to generate focus.
4. Cast Arcane Shot to dump focus.
5. Cast Kill Shot when the target is below 20% health.

As a Hunter, you have many cooldowns, and you must remember to use them. We list them here, to ensure you did not forget any:

• Focus Fire;
• Bestial Wrath;
• Rabid (it is in your pet's spellbook);
• Rapid Fire;
• Readiness;
• Blink Strike (if you have taken the talent);

Against multiple targets, you can replace Arcane Shot with Multi-Shot, but otherwise you should maintain the same rotation.

You should always be in Aspect of the Hawk.

You have many abilities which help you while questing, such as Disengage, Feign Death, Deterrence, and Master's Call.

You can always Mend Pet to heal your pet.

1.2. Level 86-90

At level 87 you gain a new ability, Stampede. This is a DPS cooldown that calls all your pets (all 5, the ones in your stable are not included) to fight by your side for 20 seconds.

2. Marksmanship Leveling Guide: 85-90↑top

2.1. Level 85

2.1.1. Talents and Glyphs

Before setting out on your leveling journey, you should take these talents and glyphs, for maximum efficiency. Obviously, this is not set in stone, and you have a lot of liberty.

For glyphs, it is important to note that Glyph of Misdirection allows unlimited misdirecting to your pet, which is very useful while questing.

Also, Glyph of Fetch grants you Fetch, which you should use extensively to speed up the looting process.

2.1.2. Rotation

You have to adapt your raiding rotation to work against against targets which, generally, will not live very long. As such, you will probably only have time for one or two cycles before the target is dead. This rotation is very similar (practically identical) to your normal raiding rotation. We will summarise this rotation below, but keep in mind that we do not go into cooldown usage, although you should try to use your DPS cooldowns (also listed in the rotation page linked above) as much as possible.

1. Cast Chimera Shot on cooldown.
2. Apply Serpent Sting to targets who will live for 10 or more seconds.
3. Cast Steady Shot in pairs to generate focus and keep up your Steady Focus buff.
4. Cast instant cast Aimed Shots when they proc.
5. Cast Arcane Shot to dump focus.
6. Cast Kill Shot when the target is below 20% health.

As a Hunter, you have many cooldowns, and you must remember to use them. We list them here, to ensure you did not forget any:

• Rabid (it is in your pet's spellbook);
• Rapid Fire;
• Readiness;
• Blink Strike (if you have taken the talent);

Against multiple targets, you can replace Arcane Shot with Multi-Shot, but otherwise you should maintain the same rotation. If you are facing a large amount of mobs, you can resort to spamming Multi-Shot.

You should always be in Aspect of the Hawk.

You have many abilities which help you while questing, such as Disengage, Feign Death, Deterrence, and Master's Call.

You can always Mend Pet to heal your pet.

2.2. Level 86-90

At level 87 you gain a new ability, Stampede. This is a DPS cooldown that calls all your pets (all 5, the ones in your stable are not included) to fight by your side for 20 seconds.

3. Survival Leveling Guide: 85-90↑top

3.1. Level 85

3.1.1. Talents and Glyphs

Before setting out on your leveling journey, you should take these talents and glyphs, for maximum efficiency. Obviously, this is not set in stone, and you have a lot of liberty.

For glyphs, it is important to note that Glyph of Misdirection allows unlimited misdirecting to your pet, which is very useful while questing.

Also, Glyph of Fetch grants you Fetch, which you should use extensively to speed up the looting process.

3.1.2. Rotation

You have to adapt your raiding rotation to work against against targets which, generally, will not live very long. As such, you will probably only have time for one or two cycles before the target is dead. This rotation is very similar (practically identical) to your normal raiding rotation. We will summarise this rotation below, but keep in mind that we do not go into cooldown usage, although you should try to use your DPS cooldowns (also listed in the rotation page linked above) as much as possible.

1. Cast Explosive Shot on cooldown (take advantage of any Lock and Load procs you get).
2. Apply Serpent Sting to targets who will live for 10 or more seconds.
3. Apply Black Arrow on the target, if they will live for 12 seconds or more, roughly.
4. Cast Cobra Shot to generate focus.
5. Cast Arcane Shot to dump focus.
6. Cast Kill Shot when the target is below 20% health.

As a Hunter, you have many cooldowns, and you must remember to use them. We list them here, to ensure you did not forget any:

• Rabid (it is in your pet's spellbook);
• Rapid Fire;
• Readiness;
• Blink Strike (if you have taken the talent);

Against multiple targets, you can cast Multi-Shot in order to apply Serpent Sting to all targets (thanks to Serpent Spread), and then resume your normal rotation.

You should always be in Aspect of the Hawk.

You have many abilities which help you while questing, such as Disengage, Feign Death, Deterrence, and Master's Call.

You can always Mend Pet to heal your pet.

3.2. Level 86-90

At level 87 you gain a new ability, Stampede. This is a DPS cooldown that calls all your pets (all 5, the ones in your stable are not included) to fight by your side for 20 seconds.