Marksmanship Hunter Pre-Patch Guide for WotLK Classic

While Marksmanship Hunter has loomed in Beast Mastery Hunter's shadow throughout TBC, Wrath is where Marksmanship finally shines once again. Especially in the pre-patch with relatively strong gear, Marksmanship will once again be one of the premiere ranged DPS specializations, capable of outputting massive damage with huge burst shots. While the ups and down may get a bit more complicated for Level 80 content, below we talk about all that you can expect in the month of pre-patch content while still Level 70.

This is the basic PvE talent tree that we recommend while playing MM in the pre-patch. At Level 80 there is significantly less choice, but while only Level 70 you have several competing DPS talents to choose from, all of which are viable. You could choose to pick up Silencing Shot if you wanted for a bit more utility and burst damage, and dropping 2 points in Focused Fire or Improved Steady Shot for 2 more points in Careful Aim could be a good choice depending on how strong your gear is. Hunters have tons of DPS talent choices though, so keep in mind that virtually any points spent on utility will come at a damage cost.

1. Hit to cap;
2. Agility;
3. Armor Penetration;
4. Critical Strike;
5. Attack Power;
6. Haste;

The major ability that you are missing at Level 70 from what you would have at 80 is Kill Shot, which you do not learn until 71. This is unfortunate, as Kill Shot is your strongest hitting attack by far on single-target, and an incredible execute button. However, the rest of your rotation is basically the same.

Hunter AoE revolves entirely around two buttons: Explosive Trap and Volley. Volley is significantly more powerful in Wrath than in TBC, and actually makes Hunter AoE some of the strongest in the game. Properly setting up an Explosive Trap into Volley spam on an AoE pack will do absolutely incredible damage that very few other classes can even hope to compete with.

Marksmanship Hunter's single-target operates on a simple priority system. Apart from keeping up the necessary Aspect of the Hawk and Hunter's Mark, you just need to follow the priority below, basically using your shots on cooldown and filling with Steady Shot when you can.

1. Maintain Serpent Sting;
2. Chimera Shot;
3. Aimed Shot;
4. Arcane Shot;
5. Steady Shot as your filler.

Arcane Shot is only worth using while at a low gear level, specifically with low Armor Penetration. Once you have enough gear, you will drop it from your rotation. There is a bit more to it, but you can compare the damage it does to a single Steady Shot to determine if it is worth dropping.

Additionally, you will want to macro in both Kill Command and Silencing Shot to be used on cooldown with other abilities. These both are off the GCD, so you can just macro them into other shots.

Listed below will be a list of some items that are very powerful and require a relatively low time investment to get to help you get a bit more powerful during the Wrath of the Lich King pre-patch as you prepare to head to Northrend and continue your journey through WoW classic. The list below is for the best possible gear you can get to prepare for the launch of Wrath.

Especially for newer players or if you are playing on one of the Fresh Servers, the gear listed below is not realistic to obtain for most players in only a month. If you want the most efficient start possible, we would highly recommend farming Honor in the pre-patch through battlegrounds. This will allow you to buy the full "Brutal" PvP set, which is close in power to gear from Sunwell Plateau. While not BiS, it is the closest you will get with the short time frame, and you are guaranteed to obtain it with enough farming.

Spicy Hot Talbuk is your best well-fed buff if you are not Hit-capped or Grilled Mudfish if you are Hit-capped, as your goal is to maximize your Agility.

Flask of Relentless Assault is your typical go-to against most mobs. The exception to this is when fighting Demons the Elixir of Demonslaying by itself is stronger than any flask and can be paired with a Guardian Elixir of your choosing.

Haste Potion is your best offensive potion.