Introduction
Welcome to the Method Beast Mastery Hunter guide written by me, Qenjua. I've been a Hunter main for the past 6 years. I’m occasionally streaming both Progress as well as high Mythic +. If you want deeper insights into this class, that the guide might not be able to provide, you can find my coaching on: https://metafy.gg/@qenjua. Feel free to join my group as well on: https://metafy.gg/groups/qenjuas-hunter-hideout-FvPiEwA7TLa. There I will be sharing updates on my UI, as well as some tips and tricks.
Beast Mastery Hunter is a ranged spec with very high mobility and can do all their damage while moving. Thanks to their pets, this is one of the best classes for soloing content. This class also grants a bunch of unique utilities such as Implosive Trap, Binding Shot, Freezing Trap, Misdirection, and Primal Rage, as well as an immunity Aspect of the Turtle. For Aoe Damage, BM Hunter has Beast Cleave for sustained damage, and Explosive Shot + Barrage for a bit of burst.
The weakness of this spec is that it depends on your pet to deal most of your damage means if your pet is stuck, you don't do damage. The newly reworked Dark Ranger Hero Talent tree does help a lot with shifting some power away from pets. Also, pet travel to the next target might take some time in fights where you must switch targets. Beast mastery hunter also has a limited ability to do AoE damage since it is only hitting around your main target.
What has changed
Patch 11.1 Changes
Patch 11.1 brings a rework to the Pack Leader Hero Talent tree, as well as changing up some class talents:
- Solitary Companion gives you the opportunity to just play with a single pet instead of two. This is purely used for role playing reasons, and not at all competitive!
- Poisoned Barbs passively applies Serpent Sting in AoE situations.
- Dire Cleave grants your Dire Beasts Beast Cleave.
- Thundering Hooves triggers a buffed Stomp every time you use Explosive Shot.
Patch 11.0.7 Changes
There are no talent or balancing changes for BM Hunter in Patch 11.0.7. We do get access to the new Cyrce’s Circlet, a powerful unique ring, that can be customized with several special gems. Some of them provide us with bonus secondary stats, others proc damage on one or multiple enemies. From a damage dealing perspective there are a bunch of different combinations of gems, for different scenarios.
Patch 11.0.5 Changes
Patch 11.0.5 brought with it some changes for BM Hunter:
- Deathblow is now free to take on every Hunter spec.
- Barbed Shot duration increased to 14 seconds.
- Several new Cobra Shot talents like Snakeskin Quiver and Serpentine Rhythm.
- The Dark Hero Hero Talent Tree received a complete rework, where Black Arrow is replacing Kill Shot.
The War Within Changes
In general, Hunter has received a couple of QoL changes that bring both utility and survivability up to par with other classes.
The most notable additions/ changes are as follows:
- Explosive Shot is now free to take on every spec.
- Emergency Salve provides a self dispel against poison and diseases.
- Implosive Trap changes Explosive Trap into an AoE knockup.
- Bursting Shot is now a general Hunter Talent and a nice budget AoE knockback.
- Padded Armor provides a second charge of Survival of the Fittest.