Survival Hunter 6.2

[Guest Hunter4life]

My only issue with this guide is this statement here: 

"It is worth noting that Survival is the easiest Hunter specialisation to play, as there are no cooldowns to manage."

 

As of the latest version of the game, this is the EXACT opposite. (In PvE situaitons at least)

Just because it has no cooldowns does not make it easy. I have played all 3 specs, SV being my favorite and to maintain optimal DPS you have to pay strict attention to your focus management and priorities or your dps goes right n the dumper. 

BM and Mm you can literally faceroll 3-4 keys and do more dps than SV in the current games state/available gear without having to worry about any of that. 

[Niix 169]

My only issue with this guide is this statement here: 

"It is worth noting that Survival is the easiest Hunter specialisation to play, as there are no cooldowns to manage."

 

As of the latest version of the game, this is the EXACT opposite. (In PvE situaitons at least)

Just because it has no cooldowns does not make it easy. I have played all 3 specs, SV being my favorite and to maintain optimal DPS you have to pay strict attention to your focus management and priorities or your dps goes right n the dumper. 

BM and Mm you can literally faceroll 3-4 keys and do more dps than SV in the current games state/available gear without having to worry about any of that. 

 

Well, to be entirely fair, the way MM is working right now, if you cast one too many Aimed Shots, or misplay Thrill even once, your next Chimaera will be delayed by anywhere from 2 to 3 seconds. If you do this consistently, your DPS will be absolute trash.

 

With BM, there's not a lot of worry about that because Arcane Shot costs a lot less focus so you can recover from a mistake faster, same with SV, except it's dump is our cheapest and one Cobra Shot will likely give you enough focus to cast it. MM is a lot more punishing than people give it credit for. So is BM.

[Guest Guest]

Hi! I'm brand new player to WoW 

I was just wondering do I need macros from lvl 10 up? Someone suggested I should start using macros from that lvl.

[yoco007 0]

Hi! I'm brand new player to WoW 

I was just wondering do I need macros from lvl 10 up? Someone suggested I should start using macros from that lvl.

[Orthios 271]

Hi! I'm brand new player to WoW 

I was just wondering do I need macros from lvl 10 up? Someone suggested I should start using macros from that lvl.

You don't need any macro's at all if you wish.  The ones I have are a mouseover b-rez (though I will likely never use that since lone wolf), a spirit mend macro (which will become obsolete since I will not be playing beast mastery for awhile), and a pet misdirection macro (which is, again, obsolete since I use lone wolf).  Outside of those, I don't see any need for a hunter to need any class/spec specific macros.  The non-class/spec-specific macros I have are from leading flex raids in my old guild (long story short, it didn't work out) such as world markers and target markers, which you won't have to worry about if you are new and low level.

 

As for addons, I would suggest setting up a UI that you like, as this can make a world of difference.  You can opt to use ElvUI, which is an all-inclusive UI package (I don't use it, so I don't know how it looks or much about it), or you can use individual addons to create one that you like.

[Guest Hunter4life]

Well, to be entirely fair, the way MM is working right now, if you cast one too many Aimed Shots, or misplay Thrill even once, your next Chimaera will be delayed by anywhere from 2 to 3 seconds. If you do this consistently, your DPS will be absolute trash.

 

With BM, there's not a lot of worry about that because Arcane Shot costs a lot less focus so you can recover from a mistake faster, same with SV, except it's dump is our cheapest and one Cobra Shot will likely give you enough focus to cast it. MM is a lot more punishing than people give it credit for. So is BM.

Except with the way MM is also working ATM is you can just chim shot and steady shot and still do more dps than SV without even having to worry about rotation. 

[Orthios 271]

Except with the way MM is also working ATM is you can just chim shot and steady shot and still do more dps than SV without even having to worry about rotation.

Not true at all. If you use only chimaera shot and steady shot your dps won't be very good, maybe 40-50% of what it would be with a normal rotation as MM. SV does more than 50% of MM dps, so you are wrong.

[Guest PJ_Bottoms]

Yet the main point still stands. SV is not the easiest by far right now. 

MM has 3 main shots to worry about. Press 2 buttons and the 3rd when thrill lights up or you're full focus. You're also never focus starved between the massive amount of steady shots used in the rotation as filler, the haste buff from rapid fire, and the fact that haste is actually a useful stat for the spec resulting in higher focus regen.
Same with BM. 3 shots to worry about and press the 4th when it lights up. Haste is also a somewhat useful talent.

 

SV has to manage 6 skills (if using MoC and barrage), including 3 dot timers and keeping them up at all times to maximize dps while also managing horrible focus regen as well. Cobra shot not refreshing sting anymore makes it useless in the rotation except for focus gain and haste being our worst stat makes it highly detrimental to the overall dps of the spec, and also creates even more micro-management in your rotation, specially if using steady focus talent (which sucks btw). Not having haste not only ruins our focus regen but makes the shot slow as heck to boot. 

 

Yes there's focusing shot, but it's just an overall dps loss compared to the other two available talents. Plus focusing shot removes the one major pro of the spec, which is our movement ability and as mentioned before, has at least a 2.3+ sec cast time which doesn't fit into our need to keep dots shots up at all. 

Back to the main point. SV is not the easiest spec just because it has no cooldowns, and it's highly unfair to new players to state it as so in a guide such as this. 

[yoco007 0]

Is there any specific dungeon to run for gear? I'm doing random dungeons and honestly I'm getting no gear drops at all. It's always something that does'n include agility! :( I'm almost lvl 60 and I still have some gear I got when i was lvl 30.

[Orthios 271]

Is there any specific dungeon to run for gear? I'm doing random dungeons and honestly I'm getting no gear drops at all. It's always something that does'n include agility! I'm almost lvl 60 and I still have some gear I got when i was lvl 30.

Do quests, best way to gear up while leveling.  You'll get better gear eventually, and a lot faster than from dungeons.

[Guest ThatHunterGuy]

I'd just like to mention that from the testing I've done with diff gear sets, mastery seems to be our absolute worst stat at the moment. I get significant dps increases from haste and versatility, haste being a prime candidate, specially paired with multistrike. Yet this guide has mastery as our 4th stat in the hierarchy. Not sure if this is true anymore. 

[Guest Looloni]

is the dmg of explosive shot going to stack whem i cast them all in a row?

 

[Guest Deadfoxx]

Versatility is obviously better than mastery! This needs to be corrected to the guide.

[Vlad 411]

I'd just like to mention that from the testing I've done with diff gear sets, mastery seems to be our absolute worst stat at the moment. I get significant dps increases from haste and versatility, haste being a prime candidate, specially paired with multistrike. Yet this guide has mastery as our 4th stat in the hierarchy. Not sure if this is true anymore. 

The stat priority is being updated right now. Thank you.

 

is the dmg of explosive shot going to stack whem i cast them all in a row?

Yes, it is.

 

Versatility is obviously better than mastery! This needs to be corrected to the guide.

Yep, updating right now. Thanks.

[Guest ThatHunterguy]

Why is crit under vers now in the priorities. Crit is still better than vers. Only vers/mastery should have been changed IMO unless there's something I'm missing here. 

[Guest Quickfire]

^{To the Pros: What should i be doing when Explosive Proc occur [From Black Arrow] Should I be insti expending them, or Explosive Shot --> [other insti] ---> Explosive Shot ---> Etc.}

[Guest EclipsingSky]

To the Pro's: When I get Black Arrow, Explosive shot procs, should I be:

 

A ) Expending them all ASAP

or

B ) Explosive Shot ---> [insti-Whatever] ---> Explosive Shot  ---> Etc.

[Guest Guest]

Is Focusing shot currently better than Lone Wolf for SV ?.

 

I have tested them both on target dummies and i much much prefer lone wolf means i dont have to worry about moving for focusing shot and if being survival is for more movement surely this contradicts that.

 

Any way which is better for DPS ? I see the majority of top SV Hunters using Focusing and not Lone wolf.

 

In Your opinion which is bet ? 

[Orthios 271]

To the Pro's: When I get Black Arrow, Explosive shot procs, should I be:

 

A ) Expending them all ASAP

or

B ) Explosive Shot ---> [insti-Whatever] ---> Explosive Shot  ---> Etc.

Spam Explosive Shot and use them all at once.

Is Focusing shot currently better than Lone Wolf for SV ?.

 

I have tested them both on target dummies and i much much prefer lone wolf means i dont have to worry about moving for focusing shot and if being survival is for more movement surely this contradicts that.

 

Any way which is better for DPS ? I see the majority of top SV Hunters using Focusing and not Lone wolf.

 

In Your opinion which is bet ?

Focusing Shot has a higher skill cap and will provide more dps than Lone Wolf when played with a high degree of skill. Lone Wolf is however easier to use. If you aren't comfortable with using FS then your dps will be lower.

[Guest QuickFire]

Spam Explosive Shot and use them all at once.

 

This confuses me because Explosive Shot is a DoT, if Spamed all at once, does the full dot damage register for each of the 3? I have been alternating either ES into 2 isti-shot into ES into CS into ES. That way the dot runs the full length on all 3.

 

If the damage just overlaps on refresh then I would understand the spam all at once.

[Guest Gad]

Survival is back on top'ish, #2 in dps stats per simulationcraft.  I'm wondering if there are stat caps (hard and soft) any more.  At what point do I stop stacking multistrike in favor of <insert wutever stat here>.  Also, on the survival page, it says that you gain multistrike from eating a savage feast, which isn't true.  You gain crit.

[Orthios 271]

This confuses me because Explosive Shot is a DoT, if Spamed all at once, does the full dot damage register for each of the 3? I have been alternating either ES into 2 isti-shot into ES into CS into ES. That way the dot runs the full length on all 3.

 

If the damage just overlaps on refresh then I would understand the spam all at once.

The remaining damage is added into the next when it is refreshed.

Survival is back on top'ish, #2 in dps stats per simulationcraft.  I'm wondering if there are stat caps (hard and soft) any more.  At what point do I stop stacking multistrike in favor of <insert wutever stat here>.  Also, on the survival page, it says that you gain multistrike from eating a savage feast, which isn't true.  You gain crit.

There are no soft caps for survival stat wise. As for savage feasts, you gain 100 of whatever your highest stat is, by rating, before counting buffs.

[Guest Andreas]

In Highmaul I think that FS is not very reliable since it's alot of moving. And I have a question about suv hunters. I have 645 ilvl and can't push over 20k dps. Im using http://eu.battle.net/wow/en/tool/talent-calculator#Yba!2010022!OdWPNthose talents atm and I keep BA up all the time as well as MoC and use ES on cd and use barrage when i can and i keep serpent sting up all the time. But I must be doing something wrong but I cant figure out what. Any ideas or tips?

[Magnus 0]

I was wondering a couple of things...

1. I noticed on the tooltip that my lower and upper damage are within 1 of each other even though my weapon (shredder gun) has a range of 670-1100. is there something I'm not understanding?

2. BM has weapon damage listed as #1 but SV doesn't mention weapon damage>>>why?
3. is exotic amunitions a viable option? it would seem for SV an extra dot that benefits from mastery and ms would...also does ahste become more valuable if you use exotic since it would speed up auto attacks to get more applications?

4. does EA have a cap on applications?

 

I think EA is a cool idea....be cooler if it was more like pally seal change or if there was glyph decreased to the setup time.

 

Thanks

[Orthios 271]

I was wondering a couple of things...

1. I noticed on the tooltip that my lower and upper damage are within 1 of each other even though my weapon (shredder gun) has a range of 670-1100. is there something I'm not understanding?

2. BM has weapon damage listed as #1 but SV doesn't mention weapon damage>>>why?

3. is exotic amunitions a viable option? it would seem for SV an extra dot that benefits from mastery and ms would...also does ahste become more valuable if you use exotic since it would speed up auto attacks to get more applications?

4. does EA have a cap on applications?

 

I think EA is a cool idea....be cooler if it was more like pally seal change or if there was glyph decreased to the setup time.

 

Thanks

1) Don't worry too much about weapon damage, generally a higher ilvl weapon will always be better.

2) See above

3) Exotic Munitions sims considerably lower than lone wolf focusing shot, so no it is not worth taking. It would take a LOT of mastery for it to catch up, at which point the lack of crit and ms would make the build worse off than when you started.

4) I assume you mean EM here, as I don't know what EA could mean right now. As for a cap on applications, the dot works like any other dot, whenever it is reapplied the duration refreshes (and adds up to 30% due to pandemic). It doesn't stack upon itself so faster applications mean it refreshes faster.