BigRedKitty: Gorilla
by Daniel Howell 
Sep 22nd 2008 at 9:00AM
Daniel Howell contributes BigRedKitty, a column with strategies, tips and tricks for and about the Hunter class, sprinkled with a healthy dose of completely improper, sometimes libelous, personal commentary.
Gorillas are nothing new; they've been around forever. What is changing in Wrath of the Lich King is that gorillas are going to become AoE-Tanks.
No no, don't /pshaw just yet.
There are two keys to the Ascent of the Gorilla in WotLK. First, Thunderstomp's cooldown has changed from one minutes to ten seconds. Take 3/3 points in Longevity, and Thunderstomp's cooldown can be reduced to seven seconds. /blink
Second, we're getting a hugely buffed Volley. It is totally losing its one minute cooldown, foshizzle, and we can Auto Shot while Volley is being channeled. Sweet? Sweet.
Take a Tenacity pet with an AoE attack, add a Volley unhindered by a cooldown, stir in the "Auto Shot keeps cooking" bonus, and we get a hunter-pet combo that mimics a Paladin.
Don't believe us? Watch the movie.
You are invited to download the YouTube version (53MB) of this movie here, and the full-sized version (218MB) here.
As always, a great big Thank You to the WoW Insider editors for allowing us to publish this movie both here and on our little blog at the same time!
From his video guides to Karazhan For Hunter Dummies, nobody covers raid Hunters like BRK. Looking for more Hunter goodness? Check out our non-raid Hunter column, Scattered Shots or the WoW Insider Directory of Hunter Guides.Filed under: Hunter, (Hunter) Big Red Kitty
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Xino Sep 22nd 2008 9:16AM
If you want a real aoe tank go for a croc
Also volley stacks with attack power now as well can crit
Dood Sep 22nd 2008 9:23AM
Why crock? Did they change the 3 minute cool down on bad attitude?
Previously the only think keeping me from gorillas was the minute cooldown on t-stomp. With this new development (assuming it doesn't get nerfed too much) the gorilla overtakes my previous favorite the Bear.
Xino Sep 22nd 2008 10:55AM
2 min cd, and since it lasts for 45 seconds it should last most aoe situations.
Dightkuz Sep 22nd 2008 9:22AM
Good vid, enjoying BRK's work even though I'm not a hunter.
Ametrine Sep 22nd 2008 9:23AM
Remember the old videos about Feral Druid buffs and THE BOOMKIN!! that talked about druids being "able to tank FIVE GORILLAS!"...?
So... with these changes, can a gorilla tank five druids?
Rugus Sep 22nd 2008 9:23AM
Sounds awesome but the video is a bit misleading. The hunter is way overpowered for that instance. He never heals the pet (healing = time/mana lost) and mobs do not hit hard on the gorilla. Doing the same thing on a 70/heroic would not work at all (pet dead in few seconds).
Another "sad" thing is that on the live game... the highest gorilla level is 55 (Uhk'loc) making it impossible for higher level players. Even after the updaqte, a 70 will tame the gorilla @65... and grinding 65-> for pets is a nightmare.
Life sounds better for players who already have a gorilla, of course :) any feedback?
Bond Sep 22nd 2008 9:39AM
Petopia.com shows lvl 75-77 gorillas in Sholazar Basin.
Joonces Sep 22nd 2008 9:40AM
If you're willing to go without a gorilla for a little bit, there are new ones in Wrath starting at level 75 according to Petopia.
http://petopia.brashendeavors.net/index.php
When I tamed Uhk'loc he was 5 levels below me. He's now 12 below me. I put my 66 hunter on the PTR, took him out and he was 61 (nice!). He was able to tank the 63 elite rock guys outside of Telemat (hellfire) with no problem. He never lost aggro. At least I know I'll be able to quest with him to level him. It was almost impossible before.
Rugus Sep 22nd 2008 9:46AM
@ Bond ^
Yes, I was referring to level 70 content (pre-WOTLK) :)
Manatank Sep 22nd 2008 12:21PM
If you were going to do a real instance, you'd bring a real healer to heal the pet. I'd still be doubtful that a pet could tank a heroic, but we will see. They can get some pretty insane armor, and with spirit link their incoming healing is buffed a pretty decent amount.
muhahahaha! Sep 22nd 2008 3:33PM
QQ Rugus...
Apparently you have never leveled up a low level pet tamed with a lvl 70 up to level cap. Examples like the Grimtotem Spirit Guide (lvl 30), Ghost Saber (lvl 19), or something else like a turtle (oh gawd that is a grind). All this and more before the current pet leveling buffs.
Be thankful puke, that you won't have to truly earn it anymore.
I for one, am thankful for the change even though the loss of the "badge of honor" for having leveled rare/unique low pets to 70 after my hunters had already reached 70.
mudge Oct 8th 2008 2:10PM
Actually Uhk'loc is not a problem for lvl70s. I simply use him for my dailies. Got him 2 days ago and he's lvl60 now. I'll continue to use him for dailies till the patch comes out and I dont expect taking him up 65>70 will be all that much of a chore.
stephe Sep 22nd 2008 9:48AM
Another great BRK video. I'm the proud owner of Uhk'loc (who is level 52 not 55 when you tame him) and put in a lot of time leveling him to 70. I'm very pleased he'll actually be somewhat useful with the new talent trees.
Also on a side note, it looks like there will be new gorillas added to the game in WoltK. 3 different ones in the level 75-77 range in the Sholazar Basin. Good news for those hunters who would like to give the gorilla a try without the pet leveling grind.
Rugus Sep 22nd 2008 9:50AM
@ Xino ^
> If you want a real aoe tank
> go for a croc
Jsut testing it and yes, it works (highest croc I found was a 69, good enough). The downside is the cooldown (2 mins) that can be reduced if you're BM specced, but not MM/SV.
Raster Sep 22nd 2008 9:54AM
Hunter's don't need to level pets in WOTLK, as they are making it so they will automatically be 2 levels below the hunter once tamed.
Ametrine Sep 22nd 2008 10:18AM
5, not 2. At least, unless they've changed it and nobody's told me.
Xino Sep 22nd 2008 10:58AM
It's 5, and there really is a big difference with a pet 5 lvl's lower
Naix Sep 22nd 2008 9:59AM
After watching BRK videos a few weeks back I rolled a hunter. Now he is level 55 and these videos are simply awesome. Imagine 4 hunters with 1 shaman. They would rock an instance!
Blorg Sep 22nd 2008 10:03AM
It's not that hard to level pets these days, and after the expansion it's going to be a piece of cake. 5 levels is nothing to the hunters who have already levelled pets like Arikara all the way to 70. I assume there's going to be some mobs to farm for rep in the expansion, like the consortium mobs in netherstorm in TBC. Just take your new pet along when you're doing those, or take it along when you're running your friends through an instance you're overgeared for.
Eddy Sep 22nd 2008 10:21AM
BRK amuses me every time. Thank you for posting his work.