World of Warcraft: 5 Best Hunter Tips

World of Warcraft is home to many, many classes, one of which is the Hunter, a formidable DPS-inclined support type that’s genetically engineered for the likes of ranged combat and beast mastery. As far as starting class types go, it’s certainly one of the better choices, as it not only offers a wide selection of armors and weaponry to choose from, but even a second line of defense — a pet, of all things, that can wage war in your favor and clean the battlefield for all the while you pick your shots and remain mostly unscathed.

Anyway, if you have decided to roll the dice and pursue the Hunter class, then be sure to read on for a few beginner tips. Here’s everything you need to know about making a dent in Azeroth as an up-and-coming survivalist with an itchy quiver finger.

5. Your Pet Is Your Second Half

Once you’ve successfully managed to brush through the introductory quests and complete your initial training zones, you’ll have the opportunity to tame your very first pet, which will come as part of a specialized class quest at level 10. It’s worth pointing out here that, depending on the area you’re in and the race you’ve chosen, every pet will have different dietary requirements, abilities, and mood sets. It’ll be your responsibility, as its newfound keeper, to keep on top of these three things and level them accordingly while also working on your own progression. Sounds relatively easy, no? Well, it has its pros and cons.

It goes without saying that, having a pet is like having a second pair of hands — it’s going to grant you an immediate advantage in battle. What’s more, as pets tend to draw the lion’s share of the attention, more often than not, you’ll find that you’re free to rain arrows down on your targets from afar without the risk of onboarding any unnecessary damage. Just note that, if you’re not keeping on top of your pet’s basic needs outside of combat, then you’ll come to notice that their standard passive, defensive, and aggressive abilities won’t be anywhere near as effective.

To stay on top of your pet’s needs, you’re going to need to feed them. Now, depending on the pet you’ve chosen to tame, it could be that a good old-fashioned filet steak is enough to sow their appetites. But that’s not all, as you’ll also need to aid them when they’re wounded, and accrue training points to help strengthen their weaknesses. If you can earn your pet’s trust, then you’ll eventually earn Loyalty, which will essentially tighten the bond, and ultimately make combat situations a whole lot easier to overcome.

4. Know Your Position

Given the fact that you’ve chosen the Hunter class to pursue, you’re probably already familiar with the duties that it holds. If not, then you’ll need to know that such a class is best suited for ranged combat, and preferably not anything that involves standing on the frontline and in the thick of the action. It’s a support class, is what we’re saying, which means Hunters, really, shouldn’t ever aim to be the center of attention during combat — even if it’s in a Raid or Dungeon.

Think of the Hunter class as the middle layer on a three-tier prism; its purpose is to provide additional ranged support for the frontline, but also serve as a line of defense for Healers and other support classes that occupy the outer tier. In other words, Hunters are  not Tanks, and so anyone who’s rolling as one should understand what their position is before joining a Guild or Dungeon/Raid party. If you can get the gist of your position and your duties, then you won’t have to worry about any potential technical or formation hiccups later down the line.

3. Don’t Neglect Your Armor

Although most of your fights will be approached from a distance, it doesn’t mean you’ll never have to confront your enemies — especially with groups of mobs that flock to your position without forewarning. To tackle these situations, you’re going to need some sturdy armor—a set that’s high in both agility and stamina, as these are the two primary nodes that will allow you to deal with your targets both swiftly and effectively. Anything else, such as the critical hit, for example, will serve as ideal stat boosters, and will increase your attack power, in general.

While there are some pretty fantastic cloth and leather armor options available in World of Warcraft, you’ll find that the best wears with the higher stat boosts often fall within the chain mail category. As Hunters are able to equip any of the three types, it’s often best to opt for the chain mail attires, as these will have higher durability than most cloth and leather sets, and will, at least cosmetically, appear a lot cleaner overall. So, if you’re looking to get your hands on a good suit of armor, always be sure to check out the stats; if they don’t suit the Hunter class, then steer well clear of them.

2. Master the Aspects

One of the exclusive perks of being a Hunter is the ability to learn Aspects, which serve as self-buffs to help boost your stats for all the while one of them is active. For example, if you learn Aspect of the Cheetah, then you’ll have the ability to increase your movement speed by 90%, which can of course make sticky situations a little easier easier to slip out of. And that doesn’t just apply to one Aspect, either, but each and every one of them.

Once you’ve managed to remove the training wheels and learn a few worthwhile Aspects, you’ll want to hardwire their perks into your subconscious, and not to mention your hotbar, which will in turn make it easier to alternate between buffs during combat and other world activities. As you’ll be the one with exclusive access to these temporary stat boosts, you’ll want to use them as often as possible, and if applicable, on your party members during Raids or Dungeons. Note that certain Aspects can only be used by a Hunter, meaning not all buffs will apply to other class types.

1. Take Advantage of Your Abilities

As Hunters, you’ll have access to a variation of traps and additional abilities. Traps, for example, can be a perfect way to lure rare enemies out to open areas, as well as quest-related bosses and what have you. If possible, always scope out an area before engaging in battle — especially if you’re facing off against a higher-level enemy. Chances are, your health will be significantly lower than that of your opponent’s — so preparation is vital in most, if not all cases.

An ability worth keeping slotted in your hotbar is the Feign Death command, an impromptu action that allows you to drop dead and immediately distract your oppressor. If you’re cutting a little too close to the edge and your odds are beginning to decrease, utilize this command and retreat to a safe distance to rethink your strategy. Fact is, taking a quick loss and redeploying your assets is much quicker than having to make the long hike back from the graveyard.

So, what’s your take? Do you have any solid tips for budding Hunters in World of Warcraft? Let us know your thoughts over on our socials here.