Scattered Shots: So you want to be a Hunter - Part 3 Levels 10-20
by Eddie Carrington 
Sep 2nd 2009 at 8:00PM
Welcome back to the Scattered Shots, So you want to be a Hunter series. This guide is intended to help new Hunters better understand how to play the best class in the game. So join me, Eddie "Brigwyn" Carrington from the Hunting Lodge as we explore the ins and out of how to be a Hunter.
Welcome back my Hunter compadres! We've made it to Part 3 of So you want to be a Hunter. I know we have had lot's of things happening of late with BlizzCon and Cataclysm, so it's probably a good time to give a quick recap on what we've done so far.Part 1: We reviewed racials and their impact on the Hunter class. Going over each of the factions races and what the benefits were of each racial. For now we haven't talked about the new races that will be added to the Hunter class in Cataclysm (Worgen and Goblins). We'll have to address that when the new expansion is released.
Part 2: We discussed each of the Hunter talent trees and their basic playstyle. We talked about Beast Mastery being the partnership between Hunter and pet. We also reviewed the Marksmanship and Survival trees and how they are more about the individual Hunter, their offensive power, utility and flexibility.
We also discussed what stats you will want to consider as you level. Though this might seem a bit out of place, knowing what to expect early on will hopefully help you make better decisions later on. However you shouldn't worry, we'll make sure to give a refresher course later on.
Now we are in Part 3 of our weekly series. We will continue reviewing leveling your Hunter from level 10-20. We'll talk about taming your first pet. We'll also review some of the more interesting pets and where they can be found. Having a unique is one of the perks of being a Hunter.
We'll also talk about placing those first talent points. Building on the lessons we learned last week. We'll be able to make a decision on how to craft a solid leveling talent build. One that will offer us enough power to down mobs, but also enough bonuses to help protect and keep our pet alive as it plays the role of tank.
As a reminder, here's some guidelines for using this guide.
- So you want to be a Hunter is for the new player and/or a new Hunter.
- This guide is not a "How-to get to 80 in less than 3 days" leveling guide. It's more of a "What to expect as you level" guide.
- Except where highlighted, this guide does not take into account Recruit a Friend or heirloom bonuses.
- Since most players tend to level by themselves, all talent build suggestions will focus on a solo leveling/grinding build.
- This guide focuses on the leveling the PvE Hunter. We will discuss PvP and raiding in other guides.
Level 10
As I mentioned before, when you reach level 10 you finally get to go out and tame your first pet. But you can't just go out and grab the first bear, boar, cat or whatever you see. No way! You need to get trained first.
Your beginning Hunter trainer will send you off on The Hunter's Path quest. You'll be sent out into the world in search of your next trainer and learn how to tame pets. This typically involves some form of go here and tame an animal, bring it back, release it, and repeat 2 more times (Taming the Beast).
Finally, once you've successfully learned those you'll be sent to learn how to train you pet. Well, we don't really need to do that anymore, so think of it as "learn how to take care" of your pet with the Training the Beast quest.
Now you're ready to head out into the wilds and tame your first pet. Personally, I'd recommend you get a Bear or a Boar, but if you check out Petopia you'll find about 30 different pets you can go search out and tame.
Besides learning how to tame pets, level 10 also gives you Aspect of the Hawk which will give you a +20 Attack Power buff. This will be your primary self buff until you get DragonHawk at level 74.
Another learned skill will be Track Humanoids. Now you can track both Beasts and Humanoids helping you finish those pesky, go here find "Mr. Fizlestiks" type quests faster. Also, if you happen to be on a PvP Server, having Track Humanoids up can be a real life saver.
The last big item you get at level 10 is your first talent point. This is often a point of contention with many. Some will have you go the added damage or attack power route of Marksmanship, and some will go for the added distance. I rather buff up my pet's stamina. The reason for this is pretty simple. From this point forward, we get to play our class as it's designed. We have our personal tank taking all the aggro and we get to do the damage from the sidelines. Of course this means we need to buff up our pet's stamina as much as possible. And for that I recommend you place your first talent in Endurance Training.
That's a lot to remember I know so here's a quick wrap up of level 10.
New Hunter Skills
Hunter Talent Allocation
Key Quests
- The Hunter's Path
- Taming the Beast (part 1)
- Taming the Beast (part 2)
- Taming the Beast (part 3)
- Training the Beast
- The Rake (Mulgore)
- Dusktalker (Teldrassil)
- Mother Fang (Elwyn Forest)
- Mazzranache (Mulgore)
- Timber (Dun Morogh)
Since you got so much on level 10 not much really happens until you get to Level 12. The biggest events are probably the infamous Hogger quest for Alliance and the Anok'suten quest for the Horde. Both give nice loot that will last you for a while as you level.
The best thing about finally hitting level 12 is receiving Mend Pet. Being able to heal your pet as you tackle higher level or multiple mobs at one time will make the leveling experience faster and more fun. Especially as you grind through all those eyeless liverless Goretusks.
New Hunter Skills
Hunter Talent Allocations
Quest Chains to Consider
- Wanted: "Hogger" (Alliance, Elwynn Forest)
- Anok'suten (Horde, Ghostlands)
- Ressan the Needler (Tirisfal Glades)
- Mangeclaw (Dun Morogh)
- Bjarn (Dun Morogh)
- Death Flayer (Durotar)
Not much happens during levels 13 and 14. You do learn a few interesting skills that can help you in PvP (Eagle Eye and Eyes of the Beast) and one that helps in PvE (Scare Beast). Otherwise it's continuing leveling up and gathering talent points.
New Hunter Skills
Talent Allocations:
Quest Chain to Consider
- Poor Old Blanchy (Alliance, Westfall)
- Old Vicejaw (Silverpine Forest)
- Shadowclaw (Darkshore)
- Dishu (The Barrens)
- Sri'skulk (Tirisfal Glades)
- Gorefang (Silverpine Forest)
The biggest news at Level 16 is the learning of Aspect of the Cheetah. Being able to increase our movement speed by 30% is a great bonus while running around collecting livers, stingers, tusks, and other savory delights. Just remember, if you get attacked while using Cheetah you will be dazed for 4 seconds reducing your movement speed. Even with this drawback, I'd like to see this given earlier on (maybe level 12?) but I'll take it at Level 16. It just helps make the leveling experience that much faster.
As Alliance you might want to consider your first round of Hunter quests. These start off in Loch Modan at the Farstrider Lodge.
New Hunter Skills
Hunter Talent Allocations
Quest Chains to Consider
- A Hunter's Boast (Alliance, Loch Modan)
- Lord Condar (Loch Modan)
- Krethis Shadowspinner (Silverpine Forest)
Level 17-20
Nothing big really happens after level 16 until you get to level 20. Courtesy of the mount changes in Patch 3.2 you can get your first mount. Nothing will help improve the leveling experience better, well maybe a bunch of heirlooms and Recruit a Friend but we're not talking about those.
This isn't all that happens during these levels though. At level 18 you'll learn how to Track Undead and get a new attack, Multi-Shot, to do extra damage. Then at level 20 you'll learn Aspect of the Viper. If you couple this with your Tenacity pet and you will never have to worry about mana again as you grind and quest your way to end game. One skill you learn is now bittersweet, Freezing Trap. I say bittersweet because as you level up or go into PvP you learn to love this new skill. However, once you hit endgame you will notice how it quickly becomes another unused skill on your toolbar.
The good news is we also learn Disengage. This is a Hunters new best friend. Use this with some well timed shots and you can kite elites and other mobs all around Azeroth. Also, this will prove to be a great skill to get out of some trouble when being attacked by Rogues, or after recovering from a charging Warrior.
New Hunter Skills
Level 18
Level 20
Hunter Talent Allocations
Quest Chains to Consider
- A Hunter's Challenge (Alliance, Loch Modan)
- Deviate Hides (Alliance/Horde, Wailing Caverns)
- Red Silk Bandanas (Alliance, The Deadmines)
17-18
- Snort the Heckler (The Barrens)
- Takk the Leaper (The Barrens)
- Shanda the Spinner (Lock Modan)
- Strider Clutchmother (Darkshore)
You want to be a Hunter, eh? Well then you came to the right place. Scattered Shots is the one column dedicated to helping you learn everything it takes to be a Hunter. Each week Scattered Shots will cover topics to help you Fix Your DPS, Choosing the Right Spec, Gear Selection, Macros and Pet Selection, Pet Specs and Management. Filed under: Hunter, Talents, Classes, Guides, Leveling, How-tos, Tricks, Tips, Analysis / Opinion, (Hunter) Scattered Shots
Reader Comments (Page 2 of 2)
Durane Sep 3rd 2009 1:38AM
Eddie, man, let's see some discussion on the future of hunters! Some speculation based on known facts... Something! I'm glad you're trying to help the lowbies level and all, but let's see something that we all can get into.
Boydboyd Sep 3rd 2009 1:53AM
. . . or more importantly, something accurate.
Boydboyd Sep 3rd 2009 1:54AM
You sir, are fail.
Your post has nothing to do with this Scattered Shots article. Your lame attempt at advertising your link is fail.
Down votes fuh-tuh-wuh. (FTW)
Big Red Sep 3rd 2009 5:52AM
I've rerolled a Hunter, and I'm never sure if I should change / ugrade my pet. I'm traipsing around the barrens and there doesn't seem to be anything worthwhile. Are there any rules (or guidelines) for pet upgrades?
Ash Sep 3rd 2009 7:58AM
You don't say what level you are Big Red but in Barrens is one of the best pets around - Humar The Pridelord! He is a level 23 elite and the best looking pet in the game imo (black lion). Located around a big tree on the eastern most point of the plains immediately north or Ratchet. I'm at work so I can't give you exact co-ords...there's plenty of info though if you search.
I was lucky 2nd time I trained him as he was there first time I looked. Spawns every 24 hours after someone has tamed him, I think that's correct.
Anyway beautiful pet! A must for any hunter.
Cogfizzle Sep 3rd 2009 8:00AM
Since they massively overhauled pets a while back there isn't really best pets or bad pets. There is some margin of difference, but the worst pet is like 90% as good as the best pet so it's not a big issue. I tend to go with the pet that I think goes best with my hunter, or that I like the look of most. Hyena's are nobody's idea of the 'best pet' but they look damn cool as an Orc's pet and are 95% as good as a cat, so I take a Hyena. Or a Bat, or a Crab, or the diseased Bear from Bloodmyst. Hell, even a Tallstrider!
Depending on what you want to do - annoy people in PvP, level quickly in PvE with fast damage, have your pet off-tank in raids - then you may choose to pick a pet with high DPS over one with high armor, or vice versa. But the idea of a pet 'upgrade' doesn't really exist.
Check out petopia for all your pet info needs.
www.wow-petopia.com/
Boz Sep 3rd 2009 10:24AM
To add some detail to Cogfizzle's comment, which is excellent, the pet tree you select is more important than which pet family you pick.
-Tenacity pets (bears, boars, gorillas, etc.) are tanks and generally considered best for leveling due to their high survivability and threat generation.
-Ferocity pets (wolves, raptors, cats, etc.) are dps pets, making them ideal to group situations where a tank is available. They are also viable for PvP.
-Cunning pets (bats, serpents, spiders, etc.) are pvp pets. You might benefit from using one on a PvP server, but in general they are not as useful for leveling.
Each family of pet within a tree has its own ability, and for some it can make a difference (wolves being the preferred raiding pet, at the moment, due to the buff from Furious Howl), but which particular pet in any given family you tame is more a matter of taste and less important than selecting the right pet tree.
Bears and Crocolisks are, however, typically the best leveling pets now that Thunderstomp is available to all Tenacity pets (though not until higher levels), since their "special abilities" tag multiple mobs, generating better aggro against groups to allow you to use multi-target attacks like Volley and Multi-Shot without worrying about pulling the mobs off your pet.
Good luck; I hope you enjoy playing your Hunter!
Dere Sep 3rd 2009 1:24PM
You're pet selection is about play style now....so no more Broken Tooth for the faster DPS. Find something you like and then find a rare spawn of that type and there you go you have upgraded it....i guess if that's what you're calling an upgrade. Basically all cats are the same, all wolves are the same, and so on. I would say if you plan to be a raider in the end game go up to Ashenvale and grab yourself a wolf, but then that's just me. Oh and don't waste time getting Humar since every level 76 can get his skin now in SB...... :( You can ask a Turen Warrior to let you tame there lvl 10 fight though that should be good times.
amethystlexi Sep 3rd 2009 7:16AM
I just recently started a hunter alt, so these guides are really useful to me, thanks! My hunter is 21 now, so I can't wait for the next part of the guide!
And to all those complaining, nobody said 'this is the best and absolute way to level your hunter'. This is just (useful) advice. I think most players would also check other guides/sources before making decisions anyway.
WafNyao Sep 3rd 2009 1:23PM
It's not so much that this isn't the "best" guide, it's more of a problem that it might actually do harm because of the errors contained.
People are complaining because it's actually misleading, and will make people think the hunter class is not as powerful as it is, or that it doesn't function as well as it actually does...
The talent choices are questionable, but other people have already covered that.
Two glaring problems I found:
1) It's suggested one uses multishot for extra damage- without actually describing how it works, or how easily this wipes groups, especially in early instances when you hit mobs you weren't planning on attacking. Even talent builds who use multishot in rotation for dps will leave it out or position mobs differently to avoid hitting extra adds.
A useful thing to learn early is to learn multishot's selective range - when it won't hit mobs far in the background of your present target. Furthermore, it only hits multiple targets in a certain cone formation in front of hunter- so even if you have three mobs in front of you, if you angle to one side or the other, you could hit two out of three or even one out of three of them.
2) Freezing trap is mentioned as being useful, but not exactly why. As soon as you get it, you can use it to tame mobs without taking large amounts of damage. Furthermore, when soloing in densely populated areas, being able to trap an extra add that's on you or chasing you could be the difference between life or death.
Though I agree we don't cc nearly as much as we did in BC, the above mechanic of trapping loose mobs still comes into play.
Furthermore, I wouldn't exactly call it useless in PvE, but more situational. Freezing trap still works on a lot more mob types than other cc's, and actually gains more practicality later on because of Freezing Arrow.
Even though we AoE the crap out of mobs in instances, traps are still extremely useful for keeping healers alive when things hit the fan or a pull goes wrong.
Also, frost trap is often preferable to freezing trap in many PvP situations- as that it can be talented to snare and hits a wider area. Because it's a lingering ground effect, instant effects like trinketing won't break the slow. In addition, there are so many dots and other attacks going on in bgs or arenas that it's risky to blow such a big cd for freezing trap just to see it get broken instantly...
LilBanshee Sep 3rd 2009 8:13AM
Hunter's leveling guide part one: 1,931 words.
Hunter's leveling guide part two: 1,505 words.
Hunter's leveling guide part one: 1,813 words.
Come now, this is one of the easiest and fastest classes to level; with a little dedication, a hunter in this level range could gain a level in the same time it would have taken to read even one of these articles.
Arrowsmith Sep 3rd 2009 8:43AM
Here's my two cents on what you left out: Glyphs.
At level 15 you've got a major and a minor slot. Put a Glyph of Mend Pet in that minor slot and you will never need to feed your pet again. Ever. 100 free happiness every time you cast Mend Pet? Why yes, please.
As for Major glyphs, you have a fairly nice selection by level 20. Glyph of Serpent Sting can be saved for later, you won't need that extra six seconds just yet. Pet tanks will appreciate the Glyph of Mending for some extra oomph to your Mend Pet. Anything that reduces the cooldown of something is mildly useful (Even Deterrence or Disengage). If you're not going the pet tank route, I recommend you pick up Glyph of Hunter's Mark instead. The bonus is small right now, but extra attack power is still attack power.
Happy Trails!!
Chips Sep 3rd 2009 10:40AM
I think I level from 10 to 20 before I actually finish reading this...
Oakraven Sep 3rd 2009 12:44PM
And you probably know more about being a hunter than this guy seems to
Bullseyed Sep 4th 2009 3:30PM
I lol'd at your comment and the prior.
Tragicmagic Sep 3rd 2009 2:11PM
There's no mention of using Aspect of the Monkey when taming a pet. I found it very useful for taming especially at the early levels when you don't have ice trap yet.
The extra dodge from Aspect of the Monkey lessens the chance an interrupting/knockdown attack will hit the hunter (which would otherwise break the tame beast channeling).
Cheesemonkey Sep 3rd 2009 9:03PM
First you ditch talking about level 80 material, now you're screwing up the leveling material.
Jesus christ, it's HUNTER LEVELING. You can make it to 80 in spellpower gear for gods sake.
Wojtek Sep 9th 2009 7:15AM
"eyeless liverless Goretusks" I hate those, maybe it's evolution at works here ;)
Aceman67 Sep 13th 2009 9:49AM
Good pet for those 19-20, go to Dark Shore and pick up the ghost saber http://www.wow-petopia.com/html/mobs/mob_ghostsaber.html
If you're not a dwarf hunter, take one with you, make it much easier to find those cat figurines (if you're horde, well, you're out of luck, and have fun getting ganked when the Alliance players find out there's a horde lowbie near a Transit Hub.
navarrov Sep 28th 2009 1:06PM
I am new to the hunter class so forgive me if it's a dumb question but are you really starting with concussion shot then serpent to arcane shot?
I've been starting serpent to concussion to arcane......