Scattered Shots: So you want to be a hunter - Levels 71-80
by Eddie Carrington 
Nov 12th 2009 at 5:00PM
Hey gang! Welcome to the last installment of the "So you want to be a hunter" leveling series. It's been a long and windy path through grassy plains, sweltering tropics, and fractured planets to finally end up in the frozen wastes of Northrend as we prepare to face the Lich King and hope to get a flying horse when PTR Patch 3.3 is dropped.
As we do every week, we'll review the skills you'll learn. Suggest talent builds for both you and your pet. And help you with finding some solid gear choices by recommending some of the Northrend 5-man instances to run through. And what trek through new territory and levels would be complete without identifying rare tamable beasts along the way?
If you've missed a previous edition, I've outlined below what we have covered in the 7 previous installations of this leveling series.
- Part 1: We reviewed each race and how their racial bonuses and abilities could affect your how you might play your hunter.
- Part 2: We quickly talked about the first nine levels. Then we started a review of each talent tree: Beast Mastery, Marksmanship, and Survival.
- Part 3: We discussed what happened from levels 10 through 20. We also went over the quests to learn how to tame your first pet and mount.
- Part 4: We covered some of the covered attacks, buffs and spells. We also began looking at how to teach your pet new skills by applying pet talents.
- Part 5: We covered levels 21 through 40. We ended up with you getting your epic riding mount and you now can wear mail. From now on completing quests and gaining levels will be much faster.
- Part 6: Is where we started to see that we were learning more new ranks than new spells as we leveled from 41 to 60. We ended our time in Outlands with our first flying mount.
- Part 7: We started at level 61 in Outlands and ended in Northrend at level 70.
Level 71-72
When it comes to learning new spells, Levels 71 and 72 can be summed up in two little words, Kill Shot. Then again, there's a catch, there is always a catch. Kill Shot isn't always available. It's a special attach that depends on the target's level of health. Even with this one little snag, Kill Shot is one really cool ability and should be at the top of your shot priority.
Just remember, Kill Shot will only work on enemies with their health at 20% or lower. However, as soon as that happens? You can shell out some massive damage (200% weapon damage plus [RAP * 0.40 + 410]) damage. In other words, if you have a level 72 hunter equipped with the Siege Captain's Gun with a 223 weapon damage and about 1,500 RAP, Kill Shot alone could score out around 1,456 points of damage. Excited now?
We also learn some skill-ups: Explosive Trap (Rank 5), Raptor Strike (Rank 10), Steady Shot (Rank 3), and Counterattack (Rank 5), Immolation Trap (Rank 7).
New Hunter Skills Hunter Talent Allocations Pet Talent Allocations Dungeon Quest Chains to Consider
As you complete your final push to wrap up leveling, you need to keep in mind what you will need to be prepared to raid when you hit level 80.
For example, one thing that many hunters face is learning how to play in groups. Even though we've said before to treat your pet as the tank and make sure it has and maintains threat, many hunters seem to fail to ever learn this and end up embarrassing themselves during their first raid.
The best way to break many of these nasty habits you may have learned while leveling out side of Northrend, is to start running the 5-man instances in both normal and heroic modes as soon as possible.
This will give you a couple of things. One, it will help get you accustomed to running in larger parties than just you and your pet. Next, it will help you gear up for those infamous raids. So even if you end up having to pug or maybe using the soon to be released Looking For Group utility coming out in Patch 3.3, you'll find that it was time well spent.
- Have They No Shame?: Cured Mammoth Hide Mantle or Tundra Tracker's Shoulderguards.
- Postponing the Inevitable: Bindings of Sabotage.
- Prisoner of War: The Shroud of Fluid Strikes
- Quickening: The Treads of Torn Future
- Ingvar Must Die! (Horde) or Into Utgarde! (Alliance): Executioner's Band
- Disarmament: Razor-Blade Pendant (Alliance) or Hundred Tooth Necklace (Horde)
- No new pets
When we hit level 74 we'll learn Aspect of the Dragonhawk. With its ability to increase our ranged attack power by 230 and our dodge by 18% while active (dodge isn't really that important to PvE but the PvP-Arena or Battleground folks might appreciate it), Dragonhawk will become your de facto Aspect to keep active.
We also get some nice skill-ups starting at level 73. Starting with Arcane Shot (Rank 10) and Serpent Sting (Rank 11). Especially the Serpent Sting since we use it for those really important extra damage ticks.
At level 74 we learn Mend Pet (Rank 9), Multi-Shot (Rank 7), and Volley (Rank 5). All of these are staples that you will use pretty regularly.
New Hunter Skills Hunter Talent Allocations Pet Talent Allocations
- No new pet talents
- Death to the Traitor King: Husk Shard Sabatons
- Don't Forget the Eggs!: Wraps of Quelled Bane
- Search and Rescue: Kurzel's Rage
- No new pets
When you hit Level 75 you'll pick up Master's Call. Having this skill in your arsenal can make you the hero of the day if you use it right. Being able to cast Master's Call on a stuck healer and having you pet head over and release them could end up being the difference between a dead healer or a dead boss.
Don't worry, this isn't the only skill-up we'll get to see. We also get Aimed Shot (Rank 8), Black Arrow (Rank 5), Explosive Shot (Rank 3), Kill Shot (Rank 2), Wyvern Sting (Rank 5), Aspect of the Wild (Rank 4) and an upgrade to our Hunter's Mark (Rank 5).
New Hunter Skills Hunter Talent Allocations Pet Talent Allocations Dungeon Quest Chains to Consider
Instances to Consider Rare Pets Levels 77 – 78
We're almost to the end of the leveling road. We've reach level 77 and only have a few more to go.
Now is the time to buy Cold Weather Flying, unless you already have an 80 and decided to buy the Tome of Cold Weather Flight. If that's the case, you've probably been flying around everywhere for a while now.
Either way, make sure you have Cold Weather Flying before moving forward. If you don't have it, go get it straightaway. You can't do much very quickly without it going forward. (Well, you can still level, but most of the quests here on out will require you to fly.
As for new hunter skills, levels 77 and 78 seem to disappoint a bit. We don't get anything new and shiny, but we do get some interesting skill ups. First we see an increase to Steady Shot (Rank 4). Next we see that the Survival tree adds a new rank of Explosive Trap (Rank 6).
Now Steady Shot and Explosive Trap will be appreciated. However, Raptor Strike (Rank 11), Counter Attack (Rank 6), and Immolation Trap (Rank 8), might not be so much.
As I said earlier, nothing really new and shiny but a nice skill up to Steady Shot and Explosive Trap at least.
New Hunter Skills
- No new skills
- No new pet talents
- Containment: Labryinthine Legguards
- Discretion is Key: 2150xp
- For Posterity: Ring of Foul Mojo
- Gal'darah Must Pay: Rangers Belt of the Fallen Empire
- One of a Kind: Rhino Hide Kneeboots
- Halls of Stone: Shoulderpads of Abhorrence
- Gondria (Zul'Drak)
Levels 79-80
Here we are! The last two levels on our long and winding journey to level 80. We've finally reached that final plateau (well at least until Cataclysm is released and we have to level to 85.)
You might disagree with me, but the fact that a hunter can now carry all of their pets with them (well not carry the pets but have the ability to access them anywhere) with Call Stabled Pet.
Call Stabled Pet can add tremendous flexibility as well as be a huge help to a hunter. Not sure what I mean? Let's take for example, starting out with your wolf as your raiding pet and enjoy the added attack power from using furious howl. Next, you run up against a where maybe having a pet wasp would be helpful by providing an extra armor debuff. No problem, just use Call Stabled Pet and avoid the mana loss penalty associated with Dual Talent Specialization.
We also learn Freezing Arrow. Now, I have to say I really like this ability. Besides having a really cool effect, Freezing Arrow basically allows you to place a Freezing Trap with near pinpoint accuracy.
No more dropping a trap, followed by pulling your mob, only to have the trap fail and your face almost bitten off by an angry Frostworg. Now, you can fire off the trap pull the mob and freeze it at a safe distance. And if it fails, still have enough time to send in your pet to pick up threat before you have to start kiting practice.
In addition to Freezing Arrow and Call Stabled Pets, you also get some key skill-ups. You will also learn: Arcane Shot (Rank 11), Serpent Sting (Rank 12), Aspect of the Dragonhawk (Rank 2), Black Arrow (Rank 6), Kill Shot (Rank 3), Mend Pet (Rank 10), Multi-Shot (Rank 8), Volley (Rank 6) and Wyvern Sting (Rank 6). All of which will play a critical roll as you start to use Dual Talent Specialization and call stabled pets in future raids and instances.
New Hunter Skills Hunter Talent Allocations Pet Talent Allocations Dungeon Quest Chains to Consider
- A Royal Escort: Grips of Chronological Events
- A Wing and a Prayer: Bindings of Raelorasz
- Diametrically Opposed: Charred Leather Shoulderguards
- Whatever it Takes!: Lightningbringer's Haulberk
- Skoll (The Storm Peaks)
- Terror Spinner (Zul'Drak)
(Authors Note: A previous release of this post had draft notes left in that stated Kill Shot wasn't available to BM Hunters. This isn't true. Beast Master Hunters should pick this skill up and use it. I've even highlighted in a previous Scattered Shots post how when active it should be the first shot in your BM Shot Priority in . I'm sorry for any confusion this caused, and offer my thanks everyone that overwhelmingly notified me so I could correct this right away.)
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, Analysis / Opinion, Tips, Odds and ends, Leveling, Guides, Classes, (Hunter) Scattered Shots
Reader Comments (Page 2 of 3)
catharsis80 Nov 12th 2009 5:26PM
Yeah, I don't play a hunter, and yet I see on wowhead.com that Kill Shot is a trainable ability, not a talent.
Tirrimas Nov 12th 2009 5:26PM
Kill Shot is a MUST-HAVE ability for ANY raiding hunter. Beast Mastery can most certainly use it!
Dastalis Nov 12th 2009 5:30PM
I use Kill Shot all the time when soloing as a BM hunter. I have no clue what he means when he says BM can't use it. That said, I do find that my pet normally does so much damage that when the mob hits 20%, he quickly dies before I can get the shot off. Kill shot is up and active though, just can't squeeze it off before the mob dies.
Snuzzle Nov 12th 2009 10:31PM
Turning on cower is pretty much a waste of a GCD in your average raid or party. If your pet is getting aggro with Growl off, then you are probably getting aggro first since you do more damage. And the other DPS classes (ie, rogues, mages, etc) are probably causing even MORE aggro.
In short, if you have to turn on cower because your pet and only your pet is getting aggro, there is something wrong. Perhaps your pet is attacking the wrong target (which Cower won't help). Or perhaps you left Growl on and your tank sucks. I don't know. But whatever it is, Cower won't help.
Snuzzle Nov 12th 2009 10:33PM
D'oh! This was meant to be a reply to Brig's comment below mine. Sometimes I hate WoW.com's comment system :(
Andrew R. Nov 12th 2009 5:48PM
And the whole "many hunters embarrass themselves during their first raid" comment. What was that? You act like every hunter leveling has never grouped with anyone or has no idea how to act in a raid setting.
Dboy Nov 12th 2009 6:21PM
Why hunters, specifically? Any person who doesn't listen to instructions, read up on the fights beforehand or move out of the fire on the ground will embarrass themselves in their first raid, and hunters are just as capable as anyone else in avoiding those embarrassments.
brigthedwarf Nov 12th 2009 6:55PM
Andrew - You're correct in that many hunters will have grouped up to do quests or even instances along the way.
On the flip side, there are a lot of hunters that decide to level and quest by themselves. (as with other classes, but in my experience hunters tend to solo more often.) For these players it's important that they learn some of the things we now take for granted. Things like turning off Growl, turning on Cower (well at least until maybe 3.3), making sure your pet is on Defensive, things like that.
Thanks for the feedback, I'll keep it in mind for future posts.
zappo Nov 13th 2009 10:06AM
Dboy: "Why hunters, specifically? "
Hunters have been traditionally the most played class in the game. It's also the easiest class to faceroll. Or as the saying goes, an easy class to play, a difficult class to play well. Hunters often struggle more due to the nature of they way they do combat if they don't group. Just about everything is an axis off of the pet, and occasionally coming after you, however rarely requiring the hunter themselves to be all that aware of their environment. Group mechanics are very different compared to solo play because instead of your pet being the focus, it now has to coordinate with the tank.
This makes a rather bad setup for people who don't turn of growl, set their pet on random targets or just let it go crazy all over the place. I think we've all had the "hunter didn't dismiss his pet" wipe. A rogue for example still hits the target in melee range, but assuming they're attacking the tanks target is probably doing it mostly right.
Edge Nov 12th 2009 5:54PM
That kill shot comment is the first thing I looked up because I thought to myself, "How in the world can a talent or spell be given to 2 specs and not the other?" It would either have to be a trainable talent for 2 specs only, which I don't think I've ever seen, or it would have ot be in a certain part of the talent tree that only those two specs can reach and not BM for some reason, which is also pretty much impossible. Even if you gimped your spec significantly, you could still technically use it. Now I see in further comments that it isn't a talent item but trainable on all specs. SO what the hell is the deal with that comment...especially from someone who has leveled so many damn hunters.
t0xic Nov 12th 2009 6:54PM
I think you hit the issue. He's leveled so many hunters that he gets the talents mixed up.
Have you ever stared at something for so long that it looked right and later had someone point out an obvious mistake that you completely missed?
Could he stand to do a little more research and fact-check his work? Probably. Does he deserve to be tarred and feathered? I don't think so.
Grunt Nov 12th 2009 6:24PM
So, to all readers who think or really do know better than the author...
I like to get some advise for my BM hunter which currently is at level 65. To make a long story short - I didn't use her for over two years now and don't really know how to play a hunter anymore. I am a casual player, do no raiding, although I am pretty comfortable with 5ths and heroics 5ths. My goal for my huntress is to enjoy beast mastery with exotic pets and see the world a little.
I'd really like to get a detailed run down from you what talents to take, which glyphs and a small rotation of shots to use.
I'd appreciate it (since it seems I should not rely on this guide very much).
Best
Edge Nov 12th 2009 6:36PM
I really like reading wowalone.blogspot.com for soloing tips, and he's a hunter main so it's right up your alley.
No this is not a spam post, no it's not my blog, I posted comments there under edge. Just a genuinely good blog for someone who might like it.
Dreyja Nov 12th 2009 7:00PM
Actually, for exactly what you are talking about this guide is just fine. I think the fact that the kill shot thing was a type-o and has been corrected needs to be pointed out.
Aspect of the Hare (BM hunter exclusively) is also a good blog and the people in the forums over at The Hunting Lodge are helpful and nice about it. That happens to be Brig/Eddie's blog. Places like that are much nicer to get information for casuals.
Seriously have fun out there. The levelling experience should be savoured and the hunt for great and different pets can be integral to that. Go w/ your gut and don't be afraid to experiment. :D
hillbillyrod Nov 12th 2009 6:28PM
People in BG wishes I could not use kill shot. While my Silithids webs them "kill shot" in the back.
Dreyja Nov 12th 2009 6:31PM
I hear you. My Silithid is still, hands down the best pvp pet I have ever had.
I've heard much complaining about kill shot in bgs. I love it. :)
Edge Nov 12th 2009 6:41PM
Well looks like it was just a mistake, as it's been edited now. In case anyone reading these comments are wondering, instead of saying "Then again, there's a catch, there is always a catch. Kill Shot isn't always available. It's a special attach that depends on the target's level of health.", it used to say something along the lines of "Kill shot cannot be used by BM Hunters at all".
Otherwise I imagine it would just be a full first page of down voted and faded comments.
Edge Nov 12th 2009 6:42PM
Another time an edit or delete button would be great, as now I see the update comment at the bottom. Oh well, just down vote me or something.
Dreyja Nov 12th 2009 6:57PM
Actually, for exactly what you are talking about this guide is just fine.
Aspect of the Hare (BM hunter exclusively) is also a good blog and the people in the forums over at the hunting lodge are helpful and nice about it. That happens to be Brig/Eddie's blog. Places like that are much nicer to get information for casuals.
Seriously have fun out there. The levelling experience should be savoured and the hunt for great and different pets can be integral to that. Go w/ your gut and don't be afraid to experiment. :D
Dreyja Nov 12th 2009 7:02PM
Blargh - when I hit [enter] it said I was replying to GRUNT I SWEARS to you! XD
UGH! My Kingdom for an edit button. ;-p I know it's not coming any time soon.
sorry gang. Plz down vote. thx.