Patch 4.0.1 hunter DPS hotfix
by Matthew Rossi 
Oct 20th 2010 at 7:00PM
Zarhym - Re: Class balance as of Oct 13, 2010 We have pushed a hotfix to improve hunter damage.
Specifically, we increased the damage of the signature abilities (Chimera Shot, Black Arrow, Explosive Shot, and Kill Command) by 15-25%. This will both improve overall damage-dealing and make sure that these abilities are prioritized higher than other shots. We think this will bring hunters to a good enough state until they hit 85. Aspect of the Fox and Cobra Shot solve some specific issues at higher levels. Marksman hunters may still trump Survival and Beastmaster hunters until they're 85, since their rotations rely a little on Cobra Shot.
Specifically, we increased the damage of the signature abilities (Chimera Shot, Black Arrow, Explosive Shot, and Kill Command) by 15-25%. This will both improve overall damage-dealing and make sure that these abilities are prioritized higher than other shots. We think this will bring hunters to a good enough state until they hit 85. Aspect of the Fox and Cobra Shot solve some specific issues at higher levels. Marksman hunters may still trump Survival and Beastmaster hunters until they're 85, since their rotations rely a little on Cobra Shot.
So just in time for Hallow's End, you hunters get 15 to 25 percent more damage on several signature abilities. I don't play a hunter myself, but I'm happy for y'all, as long as I don't end up in Sholazar with my wife camping some rare spawn parrot thing. I really don't understand you non-melee types, but I can't see a downside to more base damage here.
Filed under: Hunter, Analysis / Opinion, News items
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
carlfike Oct 20th 2010 7:03PM
Bout time.
Xirifus Oct 21st 2010 7:38AM
"Hell, it's about time"
fix'd
QQinsider Oct 21st 2010 9:09AM
Chimera Shot = 8-10% of total dps
Chimera buff = 20% (tested on EJ)
Total dps buff = 1.6-2%
Not fix'd.
Pwnzoar Oct 20th 2010 7:04PM
FINALLY. Now maybe all the noobs who keep yelling at me to just faceroll Arcane shot will stop complaining.
wutsconflag Oct 20th 2010 7:08PM
We'll see...
Tirrimas Oct 20th 2010 7:09PM
Nice Hallow's End present. Thanks, Blizz!
Gryph Oct 21st 2010 8:26AM
Idd :) I was one happy Hunter when I once more, just like before the patch, was unbeatable in DPS in my guild :D
Corbett Oct 20th 2010 7:11PM
Sadly not as exciting as it sounds. At least for MM hunters, Chimera is accounting for 10% or less of damage, so the overall buff comes out to 2.5% more dps. I'm just shrugging and rolling with things until Cataclysm, but I don't think a 2% damage buff really addresses any of the various complaints hunters have been making, and the Blue post also makes it clear they consider their job done.
AJ Oct 20th 2010 7:17PM
I agree. I ran icc 25 11/12 HM last night apparently after this buff had taken place and hunter dps is still worse than pre patch. With the 30% zone buff pre patch I was getting 13-15k dps depending on the fight with a 100% arp MM build, now me and the other hunter was really struggling to break 10k, and the lolmage had 18k on fester
Ringo Flinthammer Oct 20th 2010 7:31PM
They probably consider their job done because a lot of people have wrung WotLK dry, and they think they know from internal testing that, at level 85, hunter DPS is more than fine. By Christmas, a fair chunk of the folks worrying about their DPS will be at the new level cap. With Blizzcon imminent, I can't imagine they want to spend a lot of time on this.
That said, I'm still doing a bit of raiding on my MM hunter, and I appreciate it. My focus is more on learning the new ropes, though, rather than getting back to the top of the chart on threat and DPS, but it's good to have one less thing to worry about, at least to an extent.
MrJackSauce Oct 20th 2010 9:10PM
I don't understand. Why is DPS still important?
Elmouth Oct 20th 2010 10:44PM
GC always consider his job done, until someone rubs his nose in it, then he'll sprout a witty comment and ignore the issue again.
SR Oct 21st 2010 1:06AM
Don't forget that our Master Marksman procs ain't working.
Unless it's just me.
Then Blizz hates me, specifically.
That'd just make me sad.
sherekhan88 Oct 21st 2010 2:25AM
@ SR: They are, but right now special procs on spells like our Master Marksmen ability on Aimed Shot WILL NOT WORK if you put that spell in a macro. Just drag it onto your bar barebones for now.
sherekhan88 Oct 21st 2010 2:35AM
@MrJackSauce
Tank DPS still isn't sufficient to bring down a boss before the Enrage timer. Paragon had over 10k DPS on all their DPS in ICC25 doing Heroic Lich King and they STILL nearly didn't beat the Enrage timer. In fact, they didn't. When they came out of Frostmourne, he was already Enraged, and I think what they did was have a hunter use Distracting Shot to stop him 1-shotting the tanks and having him kite LK as long as he could. They pushed as hell and did it.
sherekhan88 Oct 21st 2010 2:36AM
@MrJackSauce
PS: Forgot to say, of course this was prior to the 30% buff. They all prolly did 15k-16k each in ICC25 after the buff.
Crowqueen Oct 22nd 2010 5:53AM
Good. The most difficult part about hunter DPS is that not having mana makes management of abilities much more crucial and although I welcome not having to drink all the time, or switch in and out of Aspect of the Viper, I'm struggling badly in instances and it feels like I'm trying to shoot with one hand tied behind my back. Once I adjust I'll probably be fine, but it's just a nuisance having to change something I levelled quite nicely with suddenly at levels 77-80 (which I've covered in the last week).
feniks9174 Oct 20th 2010 7:29PM
As a leveling BM hunter, this was a huge buff. Kill command was hitting for about 40-50% of the mobs health in Borean and I was the same level or just barely higher than the stuff I was killing. Serpent, Steady, Kill Command, dead.
d503 Oct 21st 2010 12:17PM
Why bother Serpent Stinging when the mob likely dies only 1 tick in...if anything, Arcane -> Steady -> KC...though that's probably overkill.
myhelfy Oct 21st 2010 1:06PM
@d503: Don't forget that BM hunters have Improved Serpent Sting, which deals instant damage equal to 15%/30% of what SS's normal DoT would be. Pretty ass-kicky for burst damage.