Survival Hunter in Cataclysm Classic

This guide will teach you how to play a Survival Hunter in PvE encounters, no matter if they are difficult dungeons or terrifying raids․ We will be covering everything from enchants and consumables, to talents, rotations, macros, and addons․

Introduction

Welcome to our Survival Hunter DPS guide for World of Warcraft 4․3․ Here, you will learn everything you need to know about playing a Survival Hunter in a raid environment, though most of the content also applies to normal and heroic dungeons․ The Survival specialization is currently the best for Hunters in Cataclysm, as it provides the most consistent damage output and is the most forgiving specialization to play, with a very flexible rotation․ This guide will cover everything you need to know about playing a Survival Hunter, from the basics of the specialization to advanced tips and tricks․ Whether you are a new player or a veteran looking to brush up on your skills, this guide has something for you․

In this guide, we will cover the following topics⁚

• Builds, Talents, and Glyphs
• Pets
• Rotation and Cooldowns
• Spell Summary
• Stat Priority
• Enchants and Consumables
• Gear and Best in Slot
• Leveling
• Pre-Raid Gear

We will also provide a detailed explanation of the Survival Hunter’s rotation, cooldowns, and abilities, as well as tips on how to optimize your damage output․ With this guide, you will be well on your way to mastering the Survival Hunter specialization and becoming a top DPS in your raid group․

Builds, Talents, and Glyphs

On this page, you will find out the best PvE talent choices and builds for your Survival Hunter in Cataclysm Classic, as well as advised glyphs․ Pages in this Guide 1 Introduction 2 Builds, Talents, Glyphs 3 Pets 4 Rotation and Cooldowns 5 Spell Summary 6 Stat Priority 7 Enchants, Consumables 8 Gear and Best in Slot 9 Leveling 10 Pre-Raid Gear․ The Survival Hunter spec is very dependent on haste as haste allows for you to generate Focus quickly and use your abilities more often․ To start, the majority of your talents will be in the Survival tree, with some talents in the Beast Mastery tree․ For those who are just starting out with the Survival Hunter specialization, it is recommended to start with the following build⁚

Survival Tree⁚

• 1․1) Fixed Talents 3/3 http://cata․openwow․com/spell52786 ー Must have as we are haste dependent․
• 2/2 http://cata․openwow․com/spell82834 ‒ Gives us the ability to do instant damage upon applying SS․ With in synergy it gives us survival hunters the best stable aoe dps you could ever ask for․

Glyph Choices⁚

• Arcane Shot ‒ As you will be generating a lot of Focus, Arcane Shot Glyph will allow you to use it more often and deal more damage in the process․
• Explosive Trap ‒ Explosive Trap Glyph will increase the damage of your Explosive Trap, making it a more potent tool for both single-target and AoE damage․
• Serpent Sting ‒ Serpent Sting Glyph increases the damage of Serpent Sting, making it a more potent tool for single-target damage․

As you progress through the game, you will be able to unlock more talents and glyphs, allowing you to further customize your build to suit your specific needs and playstyle․ Experiment with different talent builds and glyph choices to find the combination that works best for you․

Pets

Cataclysm has several new race options for Hunters, including Human, Undead, Worgen, and Goblin․ For Horde players, Troll is going to be the best option due to 1 crit from using bows and the Berserking cooldown․ Orc is a close second with 5 pet damage bonus from Command and the cooldown Blood Fury․․ As Alliance, Worgen is your best choice due to their passive 1 crit and their movement speed increase․ In Cataclysm, Survival Hunters have a wide variety of pets to choose from, each with its own unique abilities and strengths․ The ideal choice for a Survival Hunter pet will depend on your specific needs and playstyle, but some popular options include⁚

• Tenacity Pets⁚ Tenacity pets are known for their survivability and ability to hold aggro․ These are the best pets for dealing with large amounts of damage and are ideal for tanking in dungeons and raids․ Some popular tenacity pets include bears, wolves, and the new Cataclysm pet, the Devilsaur․
• Ferocity Pets⁚ Ferocity pets are known for their damage output․ These are the best pets for dealing massive damage to single targets and are ideal for dealing with bosses in raids and dungeons․ Some popular ferocity pets include cats, raptors, and the new Cataclysm pet, the Core Hound․
• Cunning Pets⁚ Cunning pets are known for their speed and agility․ These are the best pets for dealing with multiple targets and are ideal for dealing with large packs of enemies in dungeons and raids․ Some popular cunning pets include spiders, scorpions, and the new Cataclysm pet, the Wind Serpent․

When choosing a pet, consider the type of content you will be playing․ For example, if you are primarily focused on raiding, you may want to choose a ferocity pet for its damage output․ However, if you are primarily focused on tanking, you may want to choose a tenacity pet for its survivability․

It is important to note that some pets have better synergy with certain abilities or talents․ For example, the Devilsaur has a special ability called “Devilsaur Frenzy” which can provide a significant boost to your damage output․ Make sure to research the abilities of each pet to find one that complements your build and playstyle․

Rotation and Cooldowns

Survival Hunter is a spec about buff and cooldown management at the same time․ Between most abilities, you want to weave a Kill Command in for the Tip of the Spear stacks it generates․ The goal is to have Tip of the Spear cover as many of your non-Kill Command abilities as possible, such as Wildfire Bomb, and Raptor Strike / Mongoose Bite․ The rotation is very dynamic, fast-paced, and busy․

The rotation for a Survival Hunter in Cataclysm Classic is better described as the following priority list⁚

• Keep Hunters Mark up․
• Keep Serpent Sting active;
• Cast Explosive Shot whenever its available․
• Cast Kill Shot if your target is below 20 health․
• Cast Black Arrow whenever its available and your target lives through the full duration of it․

Important Cooldowns for Survival Hunters⁚

• Bestial Wrath⁚ Increases your pet’s attack power and haste․ This is a powerful cooldown that should be used on cooldown for maximum damage output․
• Aspect of the Cheetah⁚ Increases your movement speed and attack speed․ This is a useful cooldown for chasing down enemies or repositioning yourself in combat․
• Rapid Fire⁚ Increases your attack speed and allows you to fire extra shots․ This is a powerful cooldown that should be used on cooldown for maximum damage output․
• Kill Command⁚ A powerful ability that deals a large amount of damage to your target․ This ability should be used on cooldown, but make sure to track the Tip of the Spear stacks to maximize its effectiveness․
• Wildfire Bomb⁚ A powerful AoE ability that deals a large amount of damage to multiple targets․ This ability should be used on cooldown for maximum damage output․
• Explosive Trap⁚ A powerful trap that deals a large amount of damage to any enemies that trigger it․ This trap can be used to control crowds or deal significant damage to a single target;

Remember to track your cooldowns and use them strategically to maximize your damage output․

Spell Summary

Survival Hunters in Cataclysm utilize a diverse set of abilities, each playing a crucial role in their damage output and overall effectiveness․ Here’s a breakdown of the key spells and their functions⁚

• Steady Shot⁚ Your primary Focus generator, providing a reliable source of Focus to fuel your other abilities․ This spell is replaced by Cobra Shot once acquired․
• Cobra Shot⁚ A potent Focus spender that delivers a burst of damage and extends the duration of Serpent Sting, making it a key component of your rotation․
• Serpent Sting⁚ A damage-over-time effect that inflicts poison damage on your target, amplifying the effectiveness of your other abilities․
• Explosive Shot⁚ Your primary damage-dealing ability, delivering a powerful blast of damage to your target․ This spell is crucial to your rotation and should be used whenever available․
• Kill Shot⁚ A powerful finishing move that deals a significant amount of damage to your target when their health falls below 20%․ This ability should be used whenever possible to capitalize on low-health targets․
• Black Arrow⁚ A powerful ability that deals a large amount of damage to your target and reduces their armor for a short duration․ This spell is ideal for maximizing damage output against heavily armored targets․
• Kill Command⁚ A powerful ability that deals a large amount of damage to your target․ Its effectiveness is amplified by Tip of the Spear stacks, making it a crucial part of your rotation․
• Arcane Shot⁚ A Focus spender that deals a moderate amount of damage to your target․ This ability is useful for filling in gaps in your rotation, especially when you have excess Focus․
• Wildfire Bomb⁚ A powerful AoE ability that deals a large amount of damage to multiple targets․ This ability is useful for clearing crowds of enemies․
• Explosive Trap⁚ A powerful trap that deals a large amount of damage to any enemies that trigger it․ This trap can be used to control crowds or deal significant damage to a single target․

Mastering the use of these abilities in conjunction with proper cooldown management will make you a formidable force in Cataclysm’s challenging encounters․

Stat Priority

As a Survival Hunter in Cataclysm, your primary focus is on maximizing your damage output, and certain stats are paramount in achieving this goal․ Here’s a breakdown of stat priority, from most important to least⁚

1. Agility⁚ This stat boosts your attack power, directly increasing your damage output․ It also contributes to your armor, providing a secondary layer of defense․
2. Critical Strike⁚ This stat enhances your chance to land critical hits, dealing significantly more damage․ It’s essential for maximizing your damage output, especially against high-health targets․
3. Haste⁚ This stat reduces the cooldown of your abilities, allowing you to unleash more attacks per minute․ It’s crucial for maintaining a fast-paced rotation and maximizing your DPS․
4. Mastery⁚ Survival Mastery increases the damage dealt by your Kill Command and Raptor Strike/Mongoose Bite․ This stat directly boosts your primary damage dealing abilities, making it a valuable addition to your overall damage output․
5. Hit Rating⁚ This stat reduces the chance of your attacks being missed․ It’s important to maintain a sufficient level of Hit Rating to ensure your attacks land consistently․ However, its priority falls behind the other stats listed above․
6. Expertise⁚ This stat reduces the chance of your attacks being dodged․ While it’s important to maintain a sufficient level of Expertise to ensure your attacks hit reliably, it generally takes a backseat to other damage-enhancing stats․

Prioritize acquiring gear and enchants that provide the highest amounts of Agility, Critical Strike, and Haste․ These stats will significantly enhance your damage output and overall effectiveness as a Survival Hunter in Cataclysm․

Enchants and Consumables

In Cataclysm, maximizing your damage output as a Survival Hunter requires careful consideration of enchants and consumables․ These enhancements can significantly boost your stats and overall performance in raids and dungeons․ Here’s a breakdown of recommended enchants and consumables⁚

Enchants⁚

• Weapon⁚ For your main-hand weapon, opt for either “Glyph of the Eagle” or “Glyph of the Colossus;” “Glyph of the Eagle” provides a significant boost to attack power, while “Glyph of the Colossus” grants a larger attack power bonus when your target is below 20% health․ Choose the enchant that best suits your playstyle and the encounters you’re facing․
• Head⁚ “Arcanum of the Eagle” is the preferred enchant for your head slot, as it provides a substantial increase in attack power․ This enchantment will significantly boost your damage output during encounters․
• Shoulders⁚ “Glyph of the Eagle” or “Glyph of the Colossus” are also viable options for your shoulder slot․ Choose the enchant that aligns with your preferred weapon enchant, maximizing your damage output in various scenarios․
• Chest⁚ “Glyph of the Eagle” or “Glyph of the Colossus” can be used on your chest slot, offering a powerful boost to your attack power and overall damage output․
• Gloves⁚ “Glyph of the Eagle” or “Glyph of the Colossus” can be utilized on your gloves, providing a significant increase in attack power․
• Legs⁚ “Glyph of the Eagle” or “Glyph of the Colossus” are recommended for your leg slot, further enhancing your attack power and damage output․
• Boots⁚ “Glyph of the Eagle” or “Glyph of the Colossus” are the ideal enchants for your boots, providing a substantial boost to your attack power and overall damage output․

Consumables⁚

Before engaging in raids or dungeons, consume the following consumables to maximize your damage output⁚

• Food⁚ Choose food that provides a significant boost to attack power or critical strike, enhancing your damage output during encounters․
• Potions⁚ Carry a variety of potions, including attack power potions and critical strike potions, to use during challenging moments or when facing particularly tough opponents․
• Flasks⁚ Use flasks that provide a substantial increase to attack power or critical strike, maximizing your damage output for extended periods․

By employing these enchants and consumables strategically, you can significantly boost your damage output as a Survival Hunter in Cataclysm․

Gear and Best in Slot

In Cataclysm, gearing your Survival Hunter for optimal performance in PvE encounters requires a strategic approach․ By acquiring the best-in-slot (BiS) gear, you can maximize your damage output and contribute significantly to your raid team’s success․ Here’s a breakdown of the BiS gear for Survival Hunters in Cataclysm Classic⁚

Head⁚ The Helm of the Unseen, acquired from the Halion encounter in Icecrown Citadel, is the BiS headpiece for Survival Hunters․ It provides a powerful combination of Agility, Critical Strike, and Hit Rating, crucial for maximizing your damage output․

Shoulders⁚ The Mantle of the Unseen, also obtained from the Halion encounter in Icecrown Citadel, is the BiS shoulder piece for Survival Hunters․ It offers a significant boost to Agility, Critical Strike, and Hit Rating, enhancing your overall damage output․

Chest⁚ The Chestguard of the Unseen, acquired from the Halion encounter in Icecrown Citadel, is the BiS chest piece for Survival Hunters․ It provides a substantial increase in Agility, Critical Strike, and Hit Rating, further improving your damage output․

Gloves⁚ The Gauntlets of the Unseen, obtained from the Halion encounter in Icecrown Citadel, are the BiS gloves for Survival Hunters․ They offer a significant boost to Agility, Critical Strike, and Hit Rating, enhancing your overall damage output․

Legs⁚ The Leggings of the Unseen, acquired from the Halion encounter in Icecrown Citadel, are the BiS leg piece for Survival Hunters․ They provide a substantial increase in Agility, Critical Strike, and Hit Rating, maximizing your damage output․

Boots⁚ The Sabatons of the Unseen, obtained from the Halion encounter in Icecrown Citadel, are the BiS boots for Survival Hunters․ They offer a significant boost to Agility, Critical Strike, and Hit Rating, enhancing your overall damage output․

Weapon⁚ The best weapon for Survival Hunters in Cataclysm is the legendary bow, “Thori’dal, the Stars’ Fury,” which can be acquired through a lengthy questline․ However, if you’re unable to obtain this legendary weapon, the “Bow of the Unseen” from the Halion encounter in Icecrown Citadel is a solid alternative․

By acquiring these BiS items, you’ll be well-equipped to maximize your damage output and contribute significantly to your raid team’s success in Cataclysm․