Best Hunter leveling build for WoW Forever (levels 1 to 20)
Level a WoW Forever Hunter as Beast Mastery: Deadly Aspects 5/5 first, the only damage talent at zero points, then Focused Fire for you and your pet, Pathfinding for speed, and pet talents to reach Unleashed Fury in the 20s. A boar holds everything while you shoot.
Reported Four independent guides agree on Deadly Aspects first and three on Focused Fire; the last four points are disputed filler. Talent rows are cross-checked against two beta client datamines. Talent effects come from the beta client, so numbers can change with each build. Open the Hunter talent calculator.
Why Beast Mastery for leveling a Hunter in WoW Forever
- Four guides agree on Deadly Aspects 5/5 by 14: under Aspect of the Hawk your auto shots have a 10% chance to gain 30% attack speed for 12 seconds, and it now scales melee too.
- Focused Fire is new and buffs both you and the pet by 2% while the pet is out, which is always.
- Beast Mastery keeps the pet tanking so you take almost no damage. Marksmanship with Careful Aim and Lone Wolf is real, but every guide puts it behind Beast Mastery until Aimed Shot and Intellect gear arrive in the 20s.
- The last two points at 19 and 20 are filler either way: Improved Revive Pet is what two guides take, Endurance Training 2/5 is the other choice.
Alternative: Marksmanship, from 20 if you would rather shoot than manage a pet: Hawk Eye 3, Lethal Attacks 5, Careful Aim 5 (attack power from Intellect), Rapid Killing 2. Lone Wolf is the 11-point Marksmanship talent and gives 20% damage with no pet, but only if every earlier point is Marksmanship.
Hunter talent order, levels 10 to 20
| Level | Talent | Rank | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | Deadly Aspects | 1 | New: 10% chance for 30% attack speed for 12 seconds under Hawk, same at every rank. |
| 11 | Deadly Aspects | 2 | |
| 12 | Deadly Aspects | 3 | |
| 13 | Deadly Aspects | 4 | |
| 14 | Deadly Aspects | 5 | |
| 15 | Focused Fire | 1 | New: you and your pet deal 2% more damage. |
| 16 | Focused Fire | 2 | |
| 17 | Pathfinding | 1 | Faster Cheetah between pulls. |
| 18 | Pathfinding | 2 | |
| 19 | Improved Revive Pet | 1 | Or Endurance Training 2/5 for pet health. |
| 20 | Improved Revive Pet | 2 |
Levels 21 to 30: Unleashed Fury to 5/5 from 21 to 25 (four guides agree), Summon Hawk at 25 or 26 (new: a hawk that dive-bombs for 18 seconds), Ferocity 2/5 to 3/5, and Intimidation at 30 as the 21st point.
Hunter abilities to train, levels 1 to 20
| Level | Ability | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Auto Shot, Raptor Strike, Track Beasts | You start with a ranged weapon. |
| 4 | Serpent Sting, Aspect of the Monkey | Serpent Sting on everything. |
| 6 | Arcane Shot, Hunter's Mark | Hunter's Mark before every pull. |
| 8 | Concussive Shot | For runners. |
| 10 | Tame Beast, Aspect of the Hawk, Beast Training | Tame a boar. Pets have loyalty and training points, and you train their skills yourself. |
| 12 | Mend Pet, Wing Clip, Distracting Shot | Mend Pet under 50%. |
| 16 | Immolation Trap, Mongoose Bite | Traps now work in combat. |
| 18 | Multi-Shot | Two or more targets. |
| 20 | Aspect of the Cheetah, Disengage, Freezing Trap, Aimed Shot | Aimed Shot is baseline with a 2-second cast and a 6-second cooldown shared with Multi-Shot. Sources differ on whether it is 20 or the early 20s. Aspect of the Beast is 30, not 20. |
Hunter leveling rotation in WoW Forever
- Hunter's Mark, send the pet, Serpent Sting, Arcane Shot, then Auto Shot.
- From 20, Aimed Shot on cooldown and Multi-Shot on two or more targets.
- Mend Pet under half health. Wing Clip then Raptor Strike if something reaches you.
- Cheetah between pulls. Freezing Trap for a second mob.
- Boar is the safest pet: Charge and Gore, and it eats anything. Pets scale with your Agility in Forever.
Best race for a leveling Hunter
| Faction | Race | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Alliance | Dwarf | Big Game Hunter for 5% damage against beasts and Stoneform. Two guides pick it. |
| Alliance | Human (new combination) | Sword Specialization and Will to Survive. Pick it for the novelty as much as the numbers. |
| Horde | Troll | Beast Slaying for 5% against beasts and Berserking for attack speed. Two guides pick it. |
| Horde | Orc | Blood Fury for a 10% attack power burst and Hardiness. |
Every racial is on the WoW Forever racials page, and the class list per race on the race and class table.
Professions and camping for a Hunter
Skinning and Leatherworking, since you wear leather until mail at 40 and your pet feeds you skins. For camping, the Blacksmith's Sharpening Wheel gives attack power and the Leatherworker's Tanning Rack is your own workspace. See how Camping works for every camp object.
Gear and stats under level 20
- Ranged weapon damage first, then hit, Agility and crit. Agility also scales your pet.
- Hall of Thanes drops reported for leather include Flamefist Grips and Direhammer Leggings; Ruins of Lordaeron includes Witherbite Bracers and Bloodied Chestwraps. Stats are not published yet.
- Keep a stack of arrows or bullets and pet food; both run out faster than you expect.
Hunter leveling questions
Is Beast Mastery or Marksmanship better for leveling a Hunter in WoW Forever?
Reported Beast Mastery to 20 and beyond; three guides agree. Marksmanship with Careful Aim and Lone Wolf becomes competitive once Aimed Shot and Intellect gear arrive, and in dungeons where the tank replaces your pet.
What is the best Hunter pet in WoW Forever?
Reported A boar for leveling: Charge, Gore and it eats anything. Every pet family now has a baseline special attack and pets scale with your Agility.
When do Hunters get Aimed Shot in WoW Forever?
Reported It is baseline with a 2-second cast and a 6-second cooldown shared with Multi-Shot. Sources put the first rank at 20 or the early 20s.
What is Lone Wolf in WoW Forever?
Reported The 11-point Marksmanship talent: 20% more damage with all attacks while you have no pet active.
Sources
7 independent reports
Reported means independent guides and the beta client agree but Blizzard has not published the build. Class changes with sources are on Hunter in WoW Forever.
Other WoW Forever leveling builds
Priest (Shadow (wand leveling)), Shaman (Enhancement), Druid (Feral), Warrior (Fury (first 11 points)), Paladin (Retribution), Rogue (Combat (swords)), Mage (Frost), Warlock (Affliction (Voidwalker))