World of Warcraft®

Me and a friend started up hunter alts the other night. Totally new to the class, and not sure which spec I should go into as for lvling purposes. I've seen many different opinions in regards to BM and MM, but what about SV? Also, still semi-new to WoW so bear with me if I don't understand 100% of whats said right away. Any and all help is appreciated greatly.

Def not survival.

BM has its utility if you want to use Glyph of Misdirection and keep casting misdirection to keep all aggro on your pet. Makes it a good farming tool if you are killing multiple high level adds.

But I would say that Marks suffices, most often you won't be killing elites ( harder dudes with the gold dragon around their picture). An aimed shot with Hunters Mark and Aspect of the Hawk on will most often do the job.

So if you don't know what to decide I would say go with marks and follow that plan ^ up there for killing things.

Don't lose sleep over it, they are both viable

Well the best spec theres not a real best spec but i can explain them for you.
BM will allow you to learn how to be a hunter and much more forgiving if you dont rly know how to play only major job keep pet alive.
MM as kelz said you might beable to one shot most things at lower levels, but most your shots are channeled which means your kinda stuck and cant move.
Survial you are moble and almost all shots are instant and IMO explosive shot and aim shot are both just as good.
If i was you i would roll with BM untell you start becoming comfortable with shooting, moving, controling pet, and t%%@*#* if you pull to much

08/01/2012 01:55 PMPosted by Eponine

You really really hate survival, don't you? It sucks at max level PVP but it's perfectly fine for leveling. Explosive shot kills everything at lower levels, and LnL is great when you get it.

Did you play Anarchy Online? Asking cuz of your name lol.

I'll take this all into consideration. Im probably going to roll BM to get comfortable with the class and better used to pet management. Then maybe respec down the road.

All things considered I greatly appreciate the responses and the help! Thanks all.

Survival and Marksmanship both hit like a truck at low level, while BM simply allows your pet to better kill stuff *for you.*

Surv is not terrible at low level. Whoever is stating such is misinformed.

Nothing is terrible if you have gear and you know what you are doing.

I'd just rather not have to set traps individually for LnL procs in leveling when I can just use an Aimed shot or send my pet in with BM.

As far as I'm concerned, Survival is good for raiding and thats it. None of this really matters too much anyway concidering MoP is coming out next month

All specs are good for leveling.

BM and SV are more mobile then MM.

That said an MM hunter who knows how to kite is a pure beast. In fact BM / SV hunters who know how to kite are also pure Beast.

Truth is spec is not the issue. Knowing how to kite is the issue.

All specs can misdirect and anyone telling you, you need a tank pet is misinformed or doing it slooooooow. Leveling via quest is good and will help you learn how to be a hunter as well as improve your professions (skinning keep it maxed). Any spec with BOA gear (enchanted) and kiting skills with a ferocity pet can quest 5-10-?? levels above their toon level.

Soloing old content is a different story.

Do beastmastery, just for the little extra pet buffs. Your pet is your tank. Trust me it'll be easy mode.

If you have the points, get the hierloom weapons. Since you are levelling together with a friend, I'd say forget about the + XP hierlooms, so that you stay closer in level and don't drift apart as easily. Just get the weapons for better damage.

Whatever spec you choose, key bind your attacks and learn how to kite.

One of the best ways to do that is dismiss your pet and quest. Or you can put your pet on passive and only use your pet's utility abilities.

Once you learn how to kill without your pet, your pet becomes a DOT. BM hunters will have a very Big Red DOT and MM /SV will have a utility DOT.

Bottom line: If you cant kite and continue to use the "S" key you will be a huntard no matter what spec you pick. Starting as BM is fine. However, sitting around and pew pewwing while letting your pet do all the work will get you killed at higher levels. Key bind your abilities and learn how to keep range (with or without your pet).

Survival is fine for leveling. It's also the main pve spec so it's good practice to level it. Marksman is what most people take.

My thoughts on each spec (in order from left to right in your talent page):

BM:

You will not hit as hard and believe it or not, it will take longer to kill the mob. KC hits hard, but your pet has to be there to KC, whereas other specs shots are there immediately for massive dmg.

You will learn how to play BM which will be important for the next ex-pac (I am convinced). And when you hit Cata zones, BM's damage normalizes a little better with SV/MM.

You can pvp while leveling and still do well

Your pet does more damage

MM:

You will hit like a mack truck on the freeway.

Your pet will do less damage - but it is important to know that your pet will STILL hold aggro if you use Glyph of MD.

Your shots cost a good amount of focus, perhaps more downtime (though it's really quite minor)

While SV is tops in dmg in max 85 gear, I found that MM did considerable DPS if you follow Kalilah's guides for pre Dragon Soul groups (including normal and heroic dungeons).

SV:

Your pet does even less damage

Your damage is still going to hit hard (explo shot) though most of your damage will be lower than an Aimed Shot + Chimaera Shot. (You're driving a Ram 4x4, not a Mac 18 Wheeler)

With Glyph of MD you are able to take on large groups of mobs with relative ease. Ie. Send pet in (doesn't even have to be a tank though it makes it easier), mobs jump him. MD, Explo Trap on pet's location, and Multishot 2x. Mobs that are not dead will be soon.

You will learn how to play the current top dps build in top raids which can be helpful - thoguh you don't really get to practice a rotation at all until 80 b/c everything dies so fast.

People like to claim that BM is the only spec that a pet can keep aggro, but I think otherwise - especially with glyph of MD. People like to say that SV can't level fast b/c it's all dots. I think otherwise again - Explo Shot hits hard. Ultimately play something that will get you to 85 fastest. Just b/c MM blows crap up doesn't mean that it's going to be fun for you, and fun = fastest generally.