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Hunter

A bow, a beast and thirty-five yards

A Hunter shoots from 35 yards, but inside 8 the bow falls silent. The entire class revolves around that distance. Until level 10 you fend for yourself; from 10, a beast you tamed runs beside you and holds the enemy while you shoot. In WoW Forever, pets draw strength from your equipment, traps work in combat, and beta testers argue about pet attack speeds because everyone wants the same fast cat.

Ranged

Hunter PvP

Level 60 builds with every talent explained, combos and a plan for every matchup, duels, battlegrounds and world PvP.

PvP · Hunter47 min read · builds and every matchupOpen guide

Start leveling

Step-by-step routes: where to go, which quests to pick up, when to enter dungeons, talents and addons.

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Level 1–30 routes · quests, gear and talents · guides in Russian

The hunter who never hunts alone

Warriors meet enemies with shields, Mages with fire, and Hunters with a beast that, from level 10, reaches the target before the first arrow. Everyone knows the role models: Sylvanas Windrunner, Ranger-General of Silvermoon before she wore the Forsaken crown, and Rexxar, Champion of the Horde, still roaming Desolace's roads with his bear Misha.

Your first trainers are in Razor Hill and Orgrimmar, while Thunder Bluff gives Hunters an entire Hunter Rise. And one privilege belongs only to Hunters: you choose your beast's name.

Count to two: how combat works

From level 10, Hunter combat finds its rhythm: send your pet, count to two while it builds threat, then open fire and let Auto Shot work. Every Hunter has fired too early at least once, sending the enemy straight past the pet toward whoever hits harder. If it reaches you, you enter the dead zone, where your bow cannot shoot inside 8 yards. The veteran's escape is simple: Wing Clip, two steps back, and the pet takes over again.

Always keep one of your stances, called Aspects, active. Aspect of the Monkey grants dodge before you have a pet; Aspect of the Hawk adds ranged attack power and remains your main levelling Aspect. From level 20, Aspect of the Cheetah grants +30% movement speed, your main travel button until a mount at 40. Do not fight in it: any hit dazes you for 4 seconds.

Before level 10, Hunters survive by kiting. Like Classic, Auto Shot only works while standing still, so shoot from maximum range, retreat as the enemy approaches, then shoot again. From level 8, Concussive Shot halves enemy speed for 4 seconds, buying a few more shots. Classic veterans also jump, turn in mid-air, fire an instant shot and land facing their escape route.

Your beast: tame it, feed it, keep it alive

The real Hunter begins at level 10. A Troll visits Thotar in Razor Hill for three practice tames with a rod - a boar, crab and scorpid - earning Tame Beast. Forever pets also draw power from you: beta data gives them 10% of your attack power, your full critical strike chance and some armour, so your Agility and crit now strengthen the beast too.

A happy pet deals 125% damage; an unhappy one deals 75%. Feed it only out of combat and with food its family accepts: cats eat meat and fish, while bears and boars eat almost anything. If it dies, Revive Pet helps, but takes ten seconds and all your mana: revive after combat, not mid-fight. Happiness barely falls on the beta, so you need less food in your bags.

Which pet? The classic choice is a fast cat. Pet attack speeds differ as in Classic, but Classic normalized damage; beta player measurements suggest faster pets hit harder. A level 10 Troll can therefore tame a Durotar Tiger attacking every 1.3 seconds, while tougher bears and boars suit cautious players. Learn new abilities as in Classic: tame a teacher, fight with it until the learning message appears, then teach your own pet with Beast Training.

Levelling 1–30: bow, arrows and mana

With a pet, Hunter becomes one of the fastest levelling classes according to beta guides, although some testers report a more Classic-like pace. Almost all damage before level 30 comes from Auto Shot, so no class depends on a ranged weapon as heavily. New bows at levels 11, 14 and 20 each provide a noticeable jump.

Arrows still exist in Forever. A stack holds 200, enough for roughly 25–35 enemies by our estimate. A quiver takes a bag slot but grants +10% ranged attack speed. New arrows at levels 10 and 25 are the game's cheapest damage upgrade; run out mid-fight and you simply stand there holding a bow that cannot shoot.

Mana is the bottleneck. Do not waste Serpent Sting on something that will die in three shots; save mana for healing your pet with Mend Pet. From level 16, traps work in combat but, as in Classic, only at your feet: Immolation Trap burns an enemy that reaches you. New buttons then arrive in batches: Aimed Shot and Freezing Trap at 20, Rapid Fire at 26, and the group favourite Feign Death at 30. Do not lie there too long: Forever's tooltip says that after 6 minutes of pretending, you really die.

Dungeons and raids: what a Hunter is expected to do

A good group Hunter goes unnoticed because their pet does not pull extra enemies: Growl is off and the pet is Defensive. Hunter's Mark goes on the tank's skull-marked primary target. Avoid Multi-Shot near sheep - enemies Polymorphed by the Mage - because hitting them breaks control. Place Freezing Trap off to the side in advance and pull a second enemy into it. If you pull threat from the tank, use Disengage, adding Feign Death from level 30. Hunters who do the opposite have been called Huntards in English chat for twenty years: Hunters who do not think before acting.

The other eternal joke is Hunter weapon: the Hunter rolls Need on everything, even an Intellect staff. It became such a fixture that Heroes of the Storm's Rexxar claims all loot for 'for... um... hunter reasons'.

Classic raids brought Hunters for mechanics: Tranquilizing Shot removed Frenzy from bosses such as Magmadar and Chromagg, with Hunters taking turns. It came from the Tome of Tranquilizing Shot dropped by Lucifron in Molten Core, and that tome remains in Forever's data. Forever's Trueshot Aura strengthens the entire raid's ranged damage from level 25, although raids are unavailable on the level 30 beta.

PvP: distance decides

In the open world, Hunters see enemies first: Track Humanoids shows players on the minimap, while Hunter's Mark still reveals marked Rogues through stealth in Forever. The duel plan is familiar: Concussive Shot, pet onto the enemy, Wing Clip and step back. If they reach melee, trap at your feet and retreat again. With all 21 points in Marksmanship, level 30 adds Scatter Shot, disorienting the enemy for 4 seconds.

Classic veterans had a trick against casters: as a Mage finishes Polymorph, Feign Death interrupts any cast targeting you. The enemy sees a corpse and looks for another target; you stand up and draw your bow again.

The beta has one battleground: Darkspear Islands, 15 versus 15 from level 30. For Trolls, it is a fight for their own people. According to guides, Warsong Gulch from level 10, Arathi Basin from 20 and Alterac Valley from 51 await release; you cannot queue for them in the beta.

What Forever changed and what testers say

The old Aimed Shot talent is now trained at level 20 and hits less hard, while Multi-Shot has a 6-second cooldown instead of 10. They share that cooldown. Arcane Shot gained up to +54% across ranks, Hunter's Mark gained 30%, and Disengage no longer drops combat but reduces twice as much threat.

Talents were rewritten. Beast Mastery's 16-point Summon Hawk sends a hawk diving at the target, with up to two active. Marksmanship has Lone Wolf, granting +20% damage without a pet, and 31-point Sniper Shot from 45 yards. Survival became a melee tree with Strider Kick and Predator's Edge; according to Warcraft Wiki, that was its intended design before the original game's release.

Testers criticize in-combat traps for supposedly breaking the Hunter fantasy, 200-arrow stacks instead of the desired 500, and room for only three pets. Some want the dead zone removed, but the first page of 'Hunter Dead Zone Should Be Fixed' has five votes against two arguing that it belongs to the class. The October 15 patch retains the dead zone.

Is this your class?

Choose Hunter if you want fast solo levelling and fewer ghost runs: your beast holds the enemy, you shoot, and Feign Death saves even a bad pull with extra enemies. That is why Hunters enjoy levelling alone.

There are drawbacks: mana runs out first, arrows and pet food consume bag space and money, and damage depends on your bow. The class's central rule is therefore: send your pet and count to two.

If your bow is already drawn, open the Troll Hunter 1–30 levelling guide: the full route from the Valley of Trials to level 30, with pets, bows, arrows and builds. Alliance players cannot follow the route, but the talents, pets, arrows and bows are shared.

Since October 15, Auto Shot requires you to stand still for 0.5 seconds before firing: leave that pause while kiting. Auto Shot continues during Aimed Shot and Sniper Shot. You can have one fire trap and one frost trap active at the same time. Trueshot Aura now affects the entire raid.

Hunter races

Horde

OrcBlood Fury, Hardiness, Savage, Shatter Curse (new)Savage grants +1% critical strike chance regardless of weapon. Blood Fury boosts attacks and spells for 15 seconds, now on a 3-minute cooldown. Hardiness shortens stuns by 20%. Shatter Curse removes curses and banes and reduces magic damage taken by 5% for 8 seconds; it does not prevent new curses.
TaurenWar Stomp, Endurance, Plainsrunning (new)War Stomp stuns nearby enemies for 2 seconds, a ready-made escape from the dead zone. Endurance grants +5% health and +2% critical damage. Plainsrunning builds up to +30% movement speed while running, resetting when you stop or take damage. Hunters shoot while stationary, so it helps travel more than combat.
TrollBerserking, Rapid Regeneration (new), Beast Slaying, Regeneration+10% ranged attack speed for 10 seconds, half your health restored over 6 seconds between fights, and +5% damage to beasts, plentiful in Durotar and the Barrens. Bow Specialization was removed in Forever. Blizzard has promised to revisit Troll active racials, but our Troll Hunter 1–30 guide is ready.
Skyborne · WindshaperWalk on Air (gliding), Wind's Blessing, Elemental Knowledge, Sky SightCombat benefits are +3% attack speed, including ranged, and +5% damage to elementals; gliding and +10% movement speed help travel. Zephris has no stable master, though a single report places foxes, Forever's new pets, there. This is a paid race. Since October 15, Walk on Air has a 90-second cooldown and racial recovery or speed effects can be activated while moving.

Alliance

HumanWill to Survive (new), Perception, Ruthless, The Human SpiritRuthless grants +2% critical strike chance regardless of weapon. Will to Survive removes stuns every 3 minutes; Perception helps detect stealthed enemies. After October 15, you no longer need a sword for a racial bonus.
DwarfStoneform, Big Game Hunter (new), Earth FuryStoneform removes bleeds, poisons and diseases and reduces physical damage taken by 10% for 8 seconds. Earth Fury grants +2% critical damage and healing regardless of weapon: critical strength, not chance. Big Game Hunter helps against beasts, while Find Treasure can now provide extra items from most chests.
Night ElfLight of Elune (new), Shadowmeld, Quickness, Wisp SpiritLight of Elune grants +10% critical strike chance for 15 seconds every 3 minutes. Because beta pets inherit your crit chance, it likely benefits both of you. Shadowmeld works in combat in Forever and makes enemies stop attacking you, serving as a threat drop before level 30. Quickness gives +1% dodge and +2% movement speed; Wisp Spirit speeds up corpse runs.
Skyborne · High OrderWalk on Air (gliding), Wind's Blessing, Elemental Knowledge, Ley ReadingThe same +3% attack speed and +5% damage to elementals. Ley Reading doubles health and mana regeneration for at least 30 seconds, or 15 minutes near a ley line, significantly reducing downtime for a mana-starved Hunter. This is a paid race. Since October 15, Walk on Air has a 90-second cooldown and racial recovery or speed effects can be activated while moving.

Leveling builds

Talents for levels 10–30, matching the beta cap. We will update these builds when leveling to 60 opens.

Beast Mastery: the beast leadsRecommendedBeast Mastery 21

Your pet tanks and provides half your damage; in Forever it also inherits some of your stats. At 25, take the new Forever talent Summon Hawk.

  1. 10–14Deadly Aspects5/5
  2. 15–16Focused Fire2/2
  3. 17–18Pathfinding2/2
  4. 19Endurance Training1/5
  5. 20–24Unleashed Fury5/5
  6. 25Summon Hawk1/1
  7. 26–30Ferocity5/5
Why these talents

Strengths: Deadly Aspects periodically increases Auto Shot speed by 30% while Aspect of the Hawk is active. Focused Fire (new) gives +2% damage to you and your pet. From 20, Pathfinding makes Aspect of the Cheetah grant 36% movement speed rather than 30%, speeding up the entire route to 40. Unleashed Fury gives +15% pet damage, the key levelling talent.

At 25–30: Summon Hawk sends a hawk diving at the target for 18 seconds; two can be active. Summon Hawk shares a cooldown with Arcane Shot. Then Ferocity 5/5 gives +10% crit to your pet and hawks, unlocking Frenzy from 35.

Alternatives: at 17–18, take Improved Revive Pet instead of Pathfinding if your pet often dies, for cautious or Hardcore play. At 30, replace the fifth Ferocity point with Spirit Bond if you often eat between fights (rank 1 restores 1% health to you and your pet every 10 seconds), or Bestial Discipline if mana is short.

Weaknesses: a dead pet means half your damage is gone. Watch its health and use Mend Pet promptly.

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Marksmanship with a petSharpshooterMarksmanship 21

More damage from you: crit, attack power from Intellect and a stronger shot after each kill. Recommended by Warcraft Tavern and wow.gg.

  1. 10–14Lethal Attacks5/5
  2. 15–19Careful Aim5/5
  3. 20–21Rapid Killing2/2
  4. 22–24Efficiency3/5
  5. 25Trueshot Aura1/1
  6. 26–29Mortal Shots4/5
  7. 30Rapid Recuperation1/2
Why these talents

Strengths: Lethal Attacks gives +5% crit, and Forever pets inherit your full critical strike chance. Careful Aim (new) grants attack power from Intellect. Rapid Killing (new) makes your next shot 20% stronger after each kill, giving each new enemy a powerful opener. Efficiency saves mana, Marksmanship's first resource to run out.

At 25–30: Trueshot Aura gives +30 ranged attack power to you and the raid; Mortal Shots strengthens ranged crits. At 30, Rapid Recuperation lets Serpent Sting and Rapid Killing restore mana in combat.

Group variant: Lone Wolf, available from 20 with 11 tree points, gives +20% damage without a pet. Only use it with a regular tank: soloing without a pet is hard, and testers consider the talent weak.

Weaknesses: the pet hits less hard than in Beast Mastery, and mana runs out faster.

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Light Survival: rangerCautiousBeast Mastery 10 · Survival 11

Less damage, but you and your pet are tougher. For Hardcore, weak gear and higher-level enemies.

  1. 10–14Improved Tracking5/5
  2. 15–19Endurance Training5/5
  3. 20–21Focused Fire2/2
  4. 22–23Pathfinding2/2
  5. 24–28Survivalist5/5
  6. 29Improved Revive Pet1/2
  7. 30Deterrence1/1
Why these talents

Strengths: Improved Tracking gives +5% total damage against tracked creature types; against beasts, Troll Beast Slaying brings this to +10%. Endurance Training makes the pet 15% tougher. Survivalist grants +10% health. At 30, Deterrence gives 10 seconds of dodge and parry, your emergency survival button.

Remember to match tracking to quest targets: Track Beasts for beasts, Track Humanoids for humanoids, and Track Undead for undead from 18.

Weaknesses: substantially less damage than Beast Mastery: Unleashed Fury and hawks do not fit this build.

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Survival: meleeFor laterSurvival 21

Forever's new tree: a Hunter with a two-hander. Weaker than Beast Mastery before 30; choose it only if you plan to play Survival at 60.

  1. 10–14Improved Tracking5/5
  2. 15–16Savage Strikes2/2
  3. 17–19Survivalist3/5
  4. 20–22Surefooted3/3
  5. 23Deterrence1/1
  6. 24Survivalist4/5
  7. 25Counterattack1/1
  8. 26–29Predator's Edge4/5
  9. 30Strider Kick1/1
Why these talents

Strengths: Improved Tracking gives +5% damage to tracked targets; Savage Strikes and new Predator's Edge improve melee crits. Deterrence at 23 and Counterattack at 25 provide an attack and immobilization after a parry. At 30, new Strider Kick strikes with your weapon and grants +30% movement speed for 3 seconds.

Weaknesses: until you learn Aspect of the Beast at 30 and get a good two-hander, testers report little to press, while shooting remains stronger. You need a high-DPS two-hander; see the Hunter section.

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Useful information

Hunter: skills, pets, arrows and bowsWhat to train, tame and shoot with through level 30

How to level. Before 10, shoot from maximum range: open with Arcane Shot, use Serpent Sting on durable enemies, Concussive Shot and step back, and Raptor Strike in melee. From 10, send the pet, wait 1–2 seconds for threat, then shoot. Always use Aspect of the Hawk in combat; from 20, Aspect of the Cheetah while travelling. Mana is scarce: reserve Serpent Sting and Hunter's Mark for enemies lasting more than 3–4 shots. With a second enemy, the pet holds the first while you use Concussive Shot, Scare Beast if it is a beast, and from 20 Freezing Trap at your feet. An enemy in melee means Wing Clip and retreat 8 yards.

Lvl.SkillPriceTrain?
1Auto Shot, Raptor Strike; Track BeastsFrom the start; 10 copperYes
4Aspect of the Monkey, Serpent Sting1 silver eachYes: keep Aspect of the Monkey active until you have a pet
6Arcane Shot, Hunter's Mark1 silver eachYes: main attack before 10
8Concussive Shot, Raptor Strike (rank 2)2 silver eachYes
10Aspect of the Hawk, Serpent Sting (rank 2), Track Humanoids4 silver eachYes
10Tame Beast, plus Call Pet, Dismiss Pet, Revive Pet and Feed PetTaming the Beast questEssential
10–12Beast TrainingTraining the Beast quest, turned in at OrgrimmarEssential: pet training
12Mend Pet, Wing Clip, Arcane Shot (rank 2), Distracting Shot6 silver eachYes; Distracting Shot is for groups
14Scare Beast, Eagle Eye, Eyes of the Beast12 silver eachYes to Scare Beast; the rest is optional
16Immolation Trap, Mongoose Bite, Raptor Strike (rank 3)18 silver 94 copper eachYes: traps work in combat
18Multi-Shot, Aspect of the Hawk (rank 2), Serpent Sting (rank 3), Track Undead21 silver 5 copper eachYes: Multi-Shot; Track Undead with Improved Tracking
20Aimed Shot21 silverYes: now trained
20Aspect of the Cheetah, Freezing Trap, Disengage, Mend Pet (rank 2), Arcane Shot (rank 3), Distracting Shot (rank 2)23 silver 15 copper eachYes: Aspect of the Cheetah and Freezing Trap
22Hunter's Mark (rank 2), Scorpid Sting63 silver 15 copper eachYes to Hunter's Mark; Scorpid Sting is optional
24Beast Lore, Raptor Strike (rank 4), Track Hidden73 silver 68 copper eachBeast Lore shows beast abilities; Track Hidden is optional
26Rapid Fire, Immolation Trap (rank 2), Serpent Sting (rank 4), Track Elementals73 silver 68 copper eachYes: Rapid Fire; Track Elementals with Improved Tracking
28Frost Trap, Aimed Shot (rank 2), Arcane Shot (rank 4), Aspect of the Hawk (rank 3), Mend Pet (rank 3)84 silver 21 copper eachYes
30Feign Death, Aspect of the Beast, Mongoose Bite (rank 2), Scare Beast (rank 2), Distracting Shot (rank 3)80 silver eachYes: Feign Death
30Counterattack (rank 2)76 silverOnly with Counterattack

Horde Hunter trainers: Jen'shan in the Valley of Trials (only through level 6), Thotar in Razor Hill, Ormak Grimshot in Orgrimmar and Holt Thunderhorn in Thunder Bluff. There are no Hunter trainers in the Barrens, Stonetalon Mountains, Undercity, Silverpine Forest, Hillsbrad, Ashenvale or Thousand Needles. Route pet trainers are only in Razor Hill (Harruk), Orgrimmar (Xao'tsu) and Thunder Bluff (Hesuwa Thunderhorn). The route therefore visits trainers itself: Razor Hill at 8 and 10, Orgrimmar at 12, 16 and 20, then Thunder Bluff and Orgrimmar. Wowhead puts all level 1–30 training at roughly 18 gold, or around 12 without optional eyes, Distracting Shot, Scorpid Sting and tracking if you lack Improved Tracking.

Lvl.What to tameFamilyLocationWhy
10Venomtail Scorpid, 9–10Scorpid, toughNorthern DurotarOn the route; Petopia lists Claw (rank 2)
10Bloodtalon Scythemaw, 8–10Raptor, higher damageThunder RidgeOn the route
10Durotar Tiger, 7–8Cat, 1.3-sec attack speedSoutheastern coastFast attacks; roughly 15-minute detour
12–13Savannah Huntress, 11–12CatAround the CrossroadsIf you want a cat earlier
16–17Savannah Patriarch, 15–16Cat, 1.3-sec attack speedThe Dry Hills; few spawnsOur recommendation: a fast cat at your level
16–17Ornery Plainstrider, 16–17Tallstrider, 1.3-sec attack speedThroughout the BarrensBeta measurement: 25 DPS versus 18 for a regular tallstrider
17Snort the Heckler, 17, rareHyenaIf you encounter it
17–18Savannah Matriarch, 17–18Cat, 1.7-sec attack speedEastern BarrensSlower than the Patriarch and tallstrider
18–22Thunderhawk Hatchling (18–20), Thunderhawk Cloudscraper (20–22)Wind serpentNear Camp TaurajoLightning from 20 yards: step
22Mist Howler, 22, rareWolfRoams western AshenvaleIf you encounter it: step
25Starving Mountain Lion, 23–24Cat, 1.2-sec attack speedHills between Tarren Mill and the fieldsFastest before 30 according to Petopia: step
25Elder Gray Bear, 25–26Bear, toughRoad to Dun GarokHits three targets; for cautious play: step
27–28Ghostpaw Alpha, 27–28Wolf, 1.3-sec attack speedEastern AshenvaleKnows Bite (rank 4); group melee attack power: step
29–30Needles Cougar, 27–28Cat, 1.2-sec attack speedThousand NeedlesStep
29–30Elder Cloud Serpent, 27–29Wind serpentThousand NeedlesLightning from 20 yards
Pet tamingLevel 10 class quests and Forever rules
  • At level 10, Thotar in Razor Hill: Taming the Beast (boar) → Taming the Beast (crab) → Taming the Beast (scorpid), each worth 840 experience; the last rewards Tame Beast. Then Training the Beast → Ormak Grimshot in Orgrimmar for Beast Training (step).
  • Taming takes 20 seconds, during which you have no armour. Start with full mana away from other enemies; damage to the beast interrupts taming.
  • Only beasts at or below your level (Forever, since September 24). Pets gain experience only from kills and cannot outlevel you; lagging pets catch up faster. Do not take a beast 3–4 levels below you just in case: it will miss frequently.
  • You cannot tame with a pet already present. Stable the old one while near a stable master; in the field you would have to abandon it. The stable has 2 slots, plus the pet accompanying you. Slots cost money as in Classic; beta prices remain under investigation. Stable masters along the route: Shoja'my (Razor Hill), Xon'cha (Orgrimmar), Sikewa (Crossroads), Reggifuz (Ratchet), Kelsuwa (Camp Taurajo), Gerek (Sun Rock Retreat), Bulrug (Thunder Bluff), Anya Maulray (Undercity), Sarah Goode (Sepulcher), Theodore Mont Claire (Tarren Mill), Killu (Splintertree Post), Awenasa (Freewind Post).
  • Track Beasts shows beasts on the minimap, making rares easier to find.
Food and happinessWhat pets eat and when to feed them
  • A newly tamed pet is unhappy: immediately use Feed Pet with food in your bags. Feeding only works out of combat.
  • Happiness affects damage: happy 125%, content 100%, unhappy 75%, as in Classic. On the beta it barely decreases over time, mainly after pet deaths; this may change before release.
  • Beta guides list these diets: cats, wolves, raptors, scorpids and spiders eat meat (cats also fish); bears and boars eat everything; wind serpents eat bread, cheese and fish; turtles and crabs eat fish, bread, fruit and fungus; tallstriders eat cheese, fungus and fruit; hyenas eat meat and fruit. Meat vendors include Innkeeper Grosk and Grimtak in Razor Hill and Zargh at the Crossroads: Tough Jerky, Haunch of Meat from 5, Mutton Chop from 15, Wild Hog Shank from 25.
  • At 20–30, route meat vendors are Borstan (Orgrimmar), Innkeeper Jayka (Sun Rock Retreat), Kaga Mistrunner (Thunder Bluff), Innkeeper Shay (Tarren Mill), Innkeeper Kaylisk (Splintertree Post) and Turho (Freewind Post). Undercity and Sepulcher innkeepers sell fungus and bread, not meat: stock up in Thunder Bluff for cats, wolves and scorpids.
  • Whether pets eat raw meat dropped by creatures is untested in the beta: hover Feed Pet over a piece and check the tooltip.
  • If the pet dies, use Revive Pet only after combat: 10 seconds and all mana. Feed it after reviving.
Pet abilitiesLearning and selecting abilities
  • Each family has Claw or Bite (cats have both), Growl and a family ability: boars Charge, scorpids Scorpid Poison, cats Prowl from 30, wolves Furious Howl, wind serpents Lightning Breath. New in Forever: raptor bleed, bear three-target attack, spider web, crab slow, crocolisk −25% target healing, hyena slow with bleed, and tallstrider armour reduction.
  • Higher ranks of Claw and Bite are learned as in Classic: tame a beast with the rank, fight until the learning message appears, then retrieve your pet and teach it using training points through Beast Training. Stable your pet temporarily. Blizzard adjusted some beast ranks on October 1, so Classic teaching tables may differ; from 24, check Beast Lore.
  • Pet trainers sell Growl, Great Stamina and Natural Armor. Trainers: Harruk, Xao'tsu and Hesuwa Thunderhorn. New ranks at 10, 12, 18, 24 and 30 cost from 10 copper to 16 silver.
  • Do not reset pet abilities at the trainer: testers report losing the pet's innate fast attack speed as well.
  • Teachers along the route, using Petopia tables (verify with Beast Lore): Claw rank 2 from Venomtail Scorpid (step); Bite rank 2 from Oasis Snapjaw (step); Bite rank 3 from Deepmoss Creeper (step); Claw rank 3 from Gray Bear, Bite rank 4 from Giant Moss Creeper (step); Bite also from Ghostpaw Alpha, Claw rank 4 from Ashenvale Bear (step). Pets learn rank 3 from level 16 and rank 4 from 24.
  • Solo, enable autocast on Growl and disable Cower by right-clicking its pet-bar icon: it reduces pet threat and sends the enemy toward you. Disable Growl in groups.
Arrows and quiversEvery shot consumes ammunition
  • Rough Arrow (+1.5 DPS) → Sharp Arrow from 10 (+3.5) → Razor Arrow from 25 (+7.5). Upgrade immediately: easy damage. At 25 you are in Hillsbrad; Razor Arrow is sold by Kayren Soothallow in Tarren Mill (step).
  • A stack has 200 arrows, roughly 25–35 enemies. Take 4–5 stacks per outing: Barrens arrows are sold only at the Crossroads and Ratchet.
  • A quiver occupies a bag slot but grants +10% ranged attack speed. You start with a 6-slot Light Quiver; do not sell it. Small Quiver, 8 slots, and Medium Quiver, 10 slots from level 10, give the same speed with more space. Heavy Quiver, 14 slots and +12%, requires 30, but no vendor on the pre-30 route sells it: buy from Benijah Fenner on your next Undercity visit. Leatherworkers craft Light Leather Quiver.
  • Vendors: Duokna (Valley), Trayexir (Sen'jin), Ghrawt (Razor Hill), Zendo'jian and Jin'sora (Orgrimmar), Uthrok and Barg (Crossroads), Jazzik (Ratchet), Borand (Sun Rock Retreat), Kuna Thunderhorn (Thunder Bluff), Abigail Sawyer (Undercity), Nadia Vernon (Sepulcher), Kayren Soothallow (Tarren Mill), Burkrum (Splintertree Post), Starn (Freewind Post).
Bows and melee weaponsAuto Shot is your main damage before 30
  • Route bows: Kolkar Bow from Lost in the Shadows (2.7 DPS) → Hickory Shortbow from Securing the Lines (3.8) → Laminated Recurve Bow from 11 (5.8), Ghrawt or Zendo'jian → Fine Longbow from 14 (7.4 and +4 attack power), Uthrok at the Crossroads → Reinforced Bow from 16 (7.5) if Fine Longbow was unavailable → Heavy Recurve Bow from 20 (9.2), Jin'sora in Orgrimmar (step) → Bow of Plunder from Dangerous! in Hillsbrad (11.4, step) → Cliffrunner's Aim from The Sacred Flame in Thousand Needles (12.0, step) → Dense Shortbow from 30 (14.2), Starn. Skipped Dangerous!? Keep Heavy Recurve Bow until Cliffrunner's Aim. With 2 spare gold, buy Sturdy Recurve (13.0, from 27) from Kuna Thunderhorn in Thunder Bluff (at 29).
  • Dungeon options: Venomstrike (12.1, from 19), Wailing Caverns; Naga Heartpiercer (13.3) and new Rootcoil Longbow (13.9), Blackfathom Deeps; rare Nightstalker Bow (17.1, from 29), Razorfen Kraul.
  • Only Ansekhwa in Thunder Bluff teaches guns; Archibald in Undercity teaches crossbows. Troll Hunters start with bows, and the route's strong ranged weapons are bows, so you can skip gun and crossbow training.
  • Melee weapons are stat sticks: Agility gives crit to you and your pet. Staff of Orgrimmar from Hidden Enemies (+6 Agility and Intellect), Harpy Skinner from Serena Bloodfeather (+3 Agility), Crescent Staff from Leaders of the Fang (+7 Agility, Stamina and Intellect), Edward's Knife from A Troubling Request (+2 Agility and Stamina). Melee Survival uses two-handed axes: Encroacher's Claim from False Accusations, Cleared Names and Forsaken Greataxe from Rath'mael's Wrath. Hanashi teaches staves; Forever Hunters already know daggers. Hunters cannot use maces at all.
  • Wear leather with Agility. As in Classic, Hunters probably only gain mail at 40.
  • Trolls have no Bow Specialization in Forever: racial weapon-skill bonuses were removed for everyone.
Staying aliveCombos that save you
  • While the pet holds the enemy, you are safe. Do not shoot before it builds threat.
  • Use Mend Pet when the pet is below half health and the enemy is still alive.
  • Enemy at your feet: Wing Clip and step back; from 16, Immolation Trap at your feet; from 20, Freezing Trap (10-second freeze, broken by damage). Disengage lowers your threat and sends the enemy back to your pet.
  • Bad pull: from 26, combine Rapid Fire and Berserking; from 30, Feign Death makes enemies lose you while your pet keeps fighting.
  • Between fights, Rapid Regeneration restores half your health over 6 seconds if you stand still and press nothing. Bandage while it is on cooldown.
  • Use Aspect of the Cheetah only for travel: a hit dazes and slows you for 4 seconds. See an enemy? Switch immediately to Aspect of the Hawk.
First Aid and professions
  • First Aid is essential: bandages heal without mana, which Hunters need for shots and Mend Pet. Learn from Rawrk in Razor Hill or Arnok in Orgrimmar. First Aid also makes healing potions in Forever.
  • Hunter professions: Skinning and Leatherworking. You already kill beasts, and Leatherworking makes Agility gear. Details in Professions.
Class questsFor Troll Hunters only
  • 1: Etched Tablet, Jen'shan (step).
  • 10: Taming the Beast → Taming the Beast → Taming the Beast (boar, crab, scorpid); the last rewards Tame Beast (step). Training the Beast rewards Beast Training (step). The Hunter's Path breadcrumb in Sen'jin is optional.
  • Horde Hunters have no further class quests until 50, according to Wowhead and QuestieDB. Level 20–30 skills are simply trained: Orgrimmar at 20 (step) and 26 (step); Thunder Bluff at 22 (step), 28 (step) and 30 (step).
Talents 10–304 builds with talent trees and levelling orders
  • Beast Mastery is the default: Unleashed Fury at 20–24, Summon Hawk at 25. Alternatives are Marksmanship with a pet, Light Survival for caution, and melee Survival for later.
  • All builds, trees and point orders are in Levelling talents.
This section in the leveling guide (Russian) →
Dungeons: what to collect in advanceQuests far from the entrance and group play as a Hunter
Hunter group basicsPet, marks, traps and threat
  • Disable pet Growl and choose Defensive or Passive, attacking only on your command. Bears hit three targets and break other players' control: keep yours on one target in dungeons.
  • Attack marked targets: skull first, cross second. Put Hunter's Mark on the same target. Pulling is the tank's job; if assigned to you, shoot the marked enemy and move behind the tank immediately.
  • Forever traps work in combat but only at your feet, with a 30-second cooldown; Freezing Trap starts at 20. Move aside, trap and bring the second enemy to you. Do not trap beneath the tank's pack.
  • Use Multi-Shot from 18 only on packs without sheep or frozen enemies.
  • Pulled threat? Do not run away. Let your pet take the enemy and stop shooting for a few seconds. From 20, use Disengage, twice as strong at threat reduction in Forever; from 30, Feign Death.
  • Enemy running toward the healer while the tank is busy? Distracting Shot from 12 draws it to you, where the pet can intercept.
  • Loot etiquette: Need bows, Agility leather and Agility staves. Staves with only Intellect and Spirit belong to Mages and Priests.
Ragefire Chasm13–18 · Orgrimmar, Cleft of Shadow · route at 16
  • Hidden Enemies → Hidden Enemies, ThrallNo dungeon, at 12: step
  • Hidden Enemies → Hidden Enemies → Hidden Enemies, ThrallGroup only, at 16: step. Reward: Staff of Orgrimmar
  • Slaying the Beast, Neeru FirebladeSame location
  • Searching for the Lost Satchel and Testing an Enemy's Strength, Rahauro in Thunder Bluff; The Power to Destroy..., UndercityOff the Troll route: it reaches these cities after 20

Hunter rewards: Staff of Orgrimmar from Hidden Enemies; Oggleflint occasionally drops Barbaric Crossbow, requiring crossbow skill. No group? Take none of these quests.

Wailing Caverns17–24 · Barrens, west of the Crossroads
  • Deviate Hides and Deviate Eradication, at the entranceImmediately before the run: step
  • Smart Drinks, Mebok Mizzyrix in RatchetAfter Raptor Horns: step
  • Trouble at the Docks, Crane Operator Bigglefuzz in RatchetAny Ratchet visit from level 14
  • Serpentbloom, Apothecary Zamah in Thunder BluffAfter the timed Apothecary Zamah quest: step
  • Leaders of the Fang, Nara Wildmane in Thunder BluffChain starts with The Forgotten Pools at the Crossroads. Reward: Crescent Staff, +7 Agility, Stamina and Intellect
  • The Glowing Shard → In NightmaresGlowing Shard drops from Mutanus the Devourer

Lord Serpentis drops Venomstrike - a 12.1 DPS bow, the best until 22. Hanashi in Orgrimmar teaches staves.

Ruins of LordaeronNew · above Undercity · 15–24, quests 21–22
  • Rat'mael's Wrath - Deathguard Christoph, the post outside UndercityBefore the run, at the Ruins entrance: step
  • The Light's Justice and A New Plague - UndercityBefore the run, at 24: step
  • A Troubling Request - Tabitha Captiveheart, the SepulcherFirst visit to the Sepulcher: step

The Light's Justice rewards Spare Parts Bracers: leather bracers with +3 Agility and +3 Stamina; A Troubling Request rewards Edward's Knife (+2 Agility). Do the dungeon at 24.

Shadowfang Keep22–30 · Silverpine Forest
  • The Book of Ur - Keeper Bel'dugur, UndercityAt 22: step
  • Deathstalkers in Shadowfang and Arugal Must Die - the SepulcherFirst visit to the Sepulcher: step

Do the dungeon at 23–24. Inside is the Slavering Worg, a wolf testers tame for its fast attacks. Kill worgen casters first: hunters have no interrupt.

Blackfathom Deeps24–32 · Ashenvale, the Zoram Strand
  • Trouble in the Deeps - Tsunaman, Sun Rock RetreatAt 27, even without a group: step. Required to unlock Allegiance to the Old Gods
  • The Essence of Aku'Mai and Amongst the Ruins - Je'neu Sancrea, Zoram'garOn the day of the run: step
  • Blackfathom Villainy - inside the dungeonTurn in at Thunder Bluff: step

For hunters: Naga Heartpiercer and Rootcoil Longbow (new, rare) drop from Blackfathom bosses; Blackfathom Villainy rewards Cultist Battle Bracers (+10 attack power).

Razorfen Kraul25–30 · southern Barrens · optional
  • Willix the Importer - inside Razorfen KraulGroup only, at 29–30: step. Hunter reward: Monkey Ring
  • A Vengeful Fate - Auld Stonespire, Thunder BluffFrom 29, if you already have a group: step
  • Blueleaf Tubers - Mebok Mizzyrix, RatchetThe route does not visit Ratchet before the run - skip this quest

The rare Blind Hunter can drop Nightstalker Bow.

This section in the leveling guide (Russian) →
Professions and suppliesWhat to pick, where to train, and what to gather - through level 30
How to learn for free
Trainers
  • Orgrimmar: Thuwd for Skinning, Karolek for Leatherworking, Arnok for First Aid, Makaru for Mining.
  • Razor Hill: Rawrk for First Aid, Cook Torka for Cooking (through the quest Survival Basics: Cooking), Krunn for Mining.
  • Apprentice caps at 75. Journeyman is available at skill 50 and caps at 150. Expert is available at skill 125 and caps at 225.
Fighter leather gear
  • West of the Crossroads is the new Durotar Supply and Logistics camp. Fill supply crates found in the world (from level 10) with hides, ore, or herbs, then turn them in for Trade Obligations.
  • Pawani also sells fighter patterns there for 30 obligations each: belt (12), gloves (15), boots (17), hood (20: +8 Agility, +10 Stamina), tunic (22), leggings (25). Method calls the hood one of the beta's best leveling items.
Camping (new in Forever)
  • Unlocked through Seeking Adventure → The Great Outdoors → Survival Basics: Cooking. Brakk south of Razor Hill teaches you to rest by a campfire; Cook Torka teaches Cooking.
  • Brakk also offers the profession Survival Basics quests: Survival Basics: Skinning (turn in to Thuwd, Orgrimmar), Survival Basics: Leatherworking (Karolek, Orgrimmar), and Survival Basics: First Aid (Rawrk). These teach you to make a camping buff item once your skill is high enough.
  • Camp buffs last an hour: the skinner's camp chair (+2% crit, also benefiting your pet because it inherits your crit), the leatherworker's tent (rested bonus), the miner's lodestone (+attack power), and the First Aid kit (+Stamina). They do not stack with similar class buffs; names in the Russian client may differ.
  • Sit by any campfire for a minute, even someone else's, to gain a one-hour buff.
Cooking and First Aid
  • In Forever, all cooked food grants +5% experience from kills for 15 minutes - keep it active. Split meat from mobs between cooking and pet food.
  • First Aid also makes healing potions in Forever. Bandages: Linen Bandage from Linen Cloth, Heavy Linen Bandage from skill 40, then wool bandages.
What to gather
Money
  • Hunter training from 1–30 costs about 18 gold, plus bows and arrows: hunters need money more than many classes. Sell gray items at every stop, and sell hides and cloth at the Orgrimmar auction house.
  • Do not buy a vendor bow if a quest reward is only 1–2 levels away (see the list in the Hunter section).
  • Aim to have around 10 gold saved by level 30: riding at 40 will probably cost around 100 gold, as in Classic.
This section in the leveling guide (Russian) →
What is new in Forever?Only changes relevant to this route
What remains unchanged
  • The old Durotar, Orgrimmar, and Barrens quests are all still there, with the same coordinates and experience requirements per level.
  • Level-10 hunter class quests are the same as in Classic, but the rewards differ (according to Wowhead): the third Taming the Beast quest immediately grants Tame Beast, while Training the Beast grants Beast Training. Horde hunters have no other class quests before 50.
  • No new Horde flight paths from 1–30. Hearthstone cooldown remains one hour.
  • Mounts still unlock at level 40.
Durotar and Orgrimmar
  • Durotar: 18 new quests. The Valley: Abandoned Weapons; the south: Too Many Legs, Lost in the Shadows, Forgotten Loa Idols, Subjugating Pendants, Bloodtalon Matriarch, Ukor's Lost Satchel; Razor Hill: For Honor, Biting Fruit, and the chain The Missing Hand → Danger from the Depths → Danger from the Depths → Danger from the Depths; the north: A Brewing Storm → Stormy Potential, Galikor's Hoof.
  • Orgrimmar: five level-15 city quests with no combat - Lunch on Schedule → Favorite Food, Stones for Rest, Yelmak's Surprise → Hasty Vuut. Around 4 thousand experience.
  • Camping begins with a journal in the Valley of Trials (Seeking Adventure); Brakk waits beside the campfire south of Razor Hill.
  • Blacksmiths and leatherworkers only: Backsplitter (Ug'thok) and Beasts of Thunder Ridge (Kamari) in Orgrimmar require Thunder Ridge lizard spines and hides. Beasts of Thunder Ridge rewards a pattern but no experience.
Hunter in Forever
  • Pets inherit stats from your gear: part of your attack power and your full crit chance; other players' buffs do not affect them. You can only tame beasts at or below your level. Foxes are a new pet family (none on the Horde 1–30 route).
  • Each pet family has its own ability (bears hit three targets, spiders root, raptors apply a bleed, and so on); shared abilities are Claw or Bite, and Growl.
  • Aimed Shot is trained at 20, with a 2-second cast and 6-second cooldown; Multi-Shot has a 0.5-second cast and shares its cooldown. Traps can be used in combat, are placed at your feet, and have a 30-second cooldown. Disengage reduces twice as much threat and no longer drops combat.
  • Arcane Shot +10–54% (the first rank gains the most), Hunter's Mark +30%, Serpent Sting is 21–50% weaker depending on rank. Aspect of the Beast at 30 grants +50 melee attack power; Rapid Fire also speeds up melee attacks.
  • Talents have been rewritten: new additions include Summon Hawk, Lone Wolf, Focused Fire, Careful Aim, Rapid Killing, and Strider Kick; Survival is now a melee tree.
  • Still present: consumable arrows, quivers (+10% ranged attack speed), and the 8-yard dead zone.
Troll racial abilities
  • Berserking gives exactly +10% attack and casting speed for 10 seconds, with a 3-minute cooldown (in Classic: up to 30% at low health). Also speeds up Auto Shot.
  • Rapid Regeneration (new) restores 50% health over 6 seconds; any movement, action, or damage interrupts it. 3-minute cooldown.
  • Regeneration gives +20% health regeneration, with 20% continuing in combat. Beast Slaying gives +5% damage against beasts: half of Durotar and the Barrens consists of beasts.
  • Bow and Throwing Specialization were removed, along with all racial weapon bonuses.
  • On October 8, Blizzard said orc and troll active racials might be too strong and promised adjustments - numbers may change.
What testers are saying
  • The hottest debate is pet attack speed: according to player measurements, fast pets deal more damage (a strider attacking every 1.3 seconds does 25 DPS versus 18 for a normal one). Blizzard has not answered; they may normalize it before release.
  • Pet happiness barely falls and loyalty rises quickly - some like it, while others want pet care back.
  • Players ask for the dead zone to be removed every beta, and each time the majority replies that it is part of the class.
  • Stable space is limited (2 slots plus your active pet): players want more.
PvP and rulesets
  • Choose a ruleset: Normal makes PvP voluntary (/pvp); PvP flags you automatically in contested and enemy zones; Roleplay works like Normal.
  • Horde territory on the 1–20 route: Durotar and the Barrens. Contested zones: Stonetalon Mountains (from 18), then Hillsbrad, Ashenvale, and Thousand Needles.
  • Battlegrounds: Warsong Gulch from 10, Arathi Basin from 20, and the new Darkspear Islands (15 versus 15) from 30. According to testers, only the level-30 battleground is open in beta.
  • Hunter advice: against melee opponents, use Concussive Shot, your pet, Wing Clip, and step back; from 20, place Freezing Trap at your feet. Use Aspect of the Cheetah in contested zones only when nobody is nearby.
Experience and conveniences
  • Cooked food grants +5% experience from kills. Camping buffs, tents, and bedrolls are available.
  • Dungeon quests award 2–3 times the experience of regular quests.
  • There is no automatic dungeon finder - only a listing board; meeting stones do not summon.
  • The Legacy System unlocks account-wide bonuses when your first character reaches 25.
  • Playing with friends who speak another language? Select the same preferred language under Languages and Communication to meet more often in the same world.
This section in the leveling guide (Russian) →
Tips and common mistakesHearthstone settings, dangerous mobs, and things to remember
Lvl.Key pointDo not miss
1–6Etched Tablet; Pelt Collecting for Beginners from Galgar's Cactus Apple SurpriseArrows - 3–4 stacks from Duokna
5–7Small Quiver; Kolkar Bow from Lost in the ShadowsWait until 9 for the elite spider by the road
7–9Set your Hearthstone to Razor Hill; learn First AidKeep The Admiral's Orders until Orgrimmar
10Three taming quests from Thotar; reward: Tame Beast and your own petSharp Arrow replaces Rough Arrow
11–12Laminated Recurve Bow; Orgrimmar: Training the Beast grants Beast Training and Mend PetGet the insignia for Hidden Enemies in Skull Rock
14Fine Longbow in the CrossroadsSet your Hearthstone to the Crossroads
16Orgrimmar: Immolation Trap; fast cat: Savannah PatriarchThe Orgrimmar meat delivery chain is for orcs and trolls only
17–18Get the Camp Taurajo flight pathApothecary Zamah is timed - group only
19–20Harpy Skinner from Serena BloodfeatherTurn in The Elder Crone and Kaya's Alive at 21–22
20Orgrimmar: Multi-Shot, Aimed Shot, Aspect of the Cheetah, Freezing Trap; Heavy Recurve BowUse Aspect of the Cheetah only while traveling
21Agamaggan's Agility buff in TaurajoChol'aruk the Vulture and Falsely Accused, Name Cleared require a partner
22Thunder Bluff: trainer, The Elder Crone → Forsaken Aid; buy pet meat from Kaga Mistrunner to last until Tarren MillSet your Hearthstone to Undercity; zeppelin master: Frezza
24Ruins of Lordaeron: Spare Parts BracersUndercity has no hunter trainer - learn your level-24 and level-26 skills in Orgrimmar at 26
25–26Hillsbrad: Razor Arrow; Dangerous! rewards Bow of PlunderHearthstone from Dun Garok to Undercity
26–27Orgrimmar: Rapid Fire; Trouble in the Deeps, even without a groupAlready have Bow of Plunder? Skip Sturdy Recurve
28Thunder Bluff: Frost Trap; Boorguard Tunic from King of the FoulwealdSet your Hearthstone to Splintertree Post
30Feign Death; Cliffrunner's Aim from The Sacred FlameSet your Hearthstone to Freewind Post
Hearthstone
  • 1: Valley of Trials. Around 7.5: Razor Hill for the taming quests; hearth back after Orgrimmar, where Takrin Pathseeker gives you Conscript of the Horde. Around 12.8: the Crossroads, until level 22.
  • Around 22.6: Undercity, so you can hearth from Hillsbrad to the zeppelin home. Around 27.5: Splintertree Post, to return from Zoram'gar to the Foulweald. Around 29.7: Freewind Post, to return to Thousand Needles after training level-30 skills in Thunder Bluff.
  • Use death skips for short distances only before 10: afterward, your pet often needs reviving after you resurrect (Revive Pet costs all your mana), and from 11 you also get Resurrection Sickness and lose 25% durability.
Dangerous mobs
  • Durotar: elite spider Ukor's Bane (8), elite lizard Galikor (12), elite giant Young Aggor (11), and casters Fizzle Darkstorm (12) and Gazz'uz (14).
  • The Barrens: Barak Kodobane, Hezrul Bloodmark and his guards, Baron Longshore (16), Serena Bloodfeather (20); Burning Blade casters stand in pairs on Dreadmist Peak.
  • Stonetalon Mountains: Grimtotem Sorcerers, elite Besseleth (wait until 27 without a partner), rare Venture Co. elites at Windshear Crag, Sorrow Wing, and Sister Riven. Hunters have no interrupt - kill casters and healers first.
  • The Barrens at 20–21: elite Chol'aruk and his guards, the level-23 marauder from Falsely Accused, Name Cleared; Bristleback Spearhide fears everyone nearby.
  • Hillsbrad: Syndicate Shadow Mages in Durnholde, Miner Hackett (29) for Dangerous! Ashenvale: Keeper Ordan and two guards, Eck'alom.
Common mistakes
  • Shooting immediately after ordering your pet to attack makes the mob run toward you. Wait 1–2 seconds.
  • Standing in the dead zone and pressing buttons: your bow cannot fire within 8 yards. Use Wing Clip and step back.
  • Fighting with Aspect of the Cheetah active: a hit dazes you and the mob catches up.
  • Not upgrading arrows at 10 and 25, or selling your starter quiver: 10–20% less damage.
  • A pet far below your level misses and cannot hold a mob. Tame a beast at your level.
  • Reviving your pet in combat takes 10 seconds and all your mana. Finish the mob, then revive.
  • Resetting pet skills at the trainer reportedly removes the pet's fast attack speed.
  • Using Serpent Sting and Hunter's Mark on mobs that die in 3 shots wastes mana.
  • Traveling to Undercity to train: there is no hunter trainer there.
  • Picking up dungeon quests for later without a group clutters your quest log. No group? Do not take them.
  • In groups, hitting polymorphed targets with Multi-Shot or leaving your pet's Growl enabled is exactly the behavior that earned hunters their old reputation.
This section in the leveling guide (Russian) →
AddonsWhat to install from CurseForge: only addons with a Forever version
For hunters
  • Hunter's Field Guide is a hunter bestiary covering all 631 tameable beasts in Forever across 18 families, including new foxes. It maps their locations, including dungeons, and shows which beasts teach each skill and rank. A beast enters your journal when you target it; Beast Lore reveals its skills. The default Immersive mode reveals beasts and skills only after you discover them. Enable Reveal all in the settings if you want a complete reference immediately. Includes searches by beast, zone, and skill, world-map pins, and beast tooltips. Open with /fg; settings: /fg config. Version 0.5.8 for Forever 1.60.1, dated October 13, has almost 40 thousand downloads. No Russian translation: English, German, French, Spanish, and Korean.
  • Hunter Pet Atlas is a reference for Forever's tameable beasts, with models, map locations, rare-beast alerts, and feeding reminders. Open with /hpa. The Forever 1.60.1 file is dated October 6 and has around 700 downloads. No Russian translation, only English and Spanish.
  • Feed Pet: Forever displays an icon when your pet is unhappy and lets you feed it from your bags with one click, with a separate warning when you have no suitable food. Settings: /fpf. Made for Forever 1.60.1, with no dependencies.
  • Scope counts your arrows and warns when supplies run low; clicking it places a built-in waypoint to the nearest ammunition vendor. Forever 1.60.1 file dated October 13.
  • Hunter's Field Guide and Hunter Pet Atlas overlap: both show beast locations. Hunter's Field Guide has more detail on skills and ranks, while Hunter Pet Atlas alerts you to nearby rares, so one is usually enough. Hunter Pet Atlas, Feed Pet: Forever, and Scope are young addons with hundreds of downloads and few reviews so far - install them if useful to you.
This section in the leveling guide (Russian) →

Frequently asked questions

Is Hunter beginner-friendly?

Yes. It is one of the most forgiving levelling classes: the pet holds enemies while you shoot from range. Groups and PvP are harder, where the dead zone, traps and pet control distinguish good Hunters. The first 9 petless levels are slow for everyone.

When does a Hunter get a pet?

At level 10, after class quests from Thotar in Razor Hill for Trolls and Orcs: three practice tames with a rod reward Tame Beast. The next quest sends you to Ormak Grimshot in Orgrimmar for Beast Training, required to teach pet abilities. One tester reported being unable to feed the pet until this quest, so do not delay the Orgrimmar trip.

Which pet should I level with?

A fast cat: pet attack speeds vary as in Classic, but beta player measurements show faster beasts dealing more damage. At level 10, Trolls can tame a Durotar Tiger attacking every 1.3 seconds, later a Hillsbrad Mountain Lion at 1.2. Bears and boars are tougher and suit cautious players; wolves buff the group. Blizzard has not commented on pet speed, so this may change before release.

Do Hunters still need arrows in Forever?

Yes. Arrows and bullets are consumed as in Classic and stack to 200. A quiver occupies a bag slot and grants +10% ranged attack speed; new arrows at levels 10 and 25 noticeably increase damage. Testers want 500-stacks and a separate quiver slot, but the beta retains the old system.

What is the dead zone, and is it staying?

It is the space inside 8 yards where you cannot shoot, while Hunter melee is weak. It remains in Forever and sparks constant debate, although most replies on the first page of Blizzard's 'Hunter Dead Zone Should Be Fixed' call it part of the class. The exits are familiar: Wing Clip and step back, let your pet take the enemy, or trap at your feet.

Which talent tree should I level?

Beta guides recommend Beast Mastery: the pet holds enemies and supplies much of your damage, with Summon Hawk arriving at 25. Marksmanship suits players who prefer shooting themselves, but Lone Wolf requires no pet and one tester finds it weaker than pets, making it more suitable for groups with a tank. Survival is now melee, but one tester says there is little to press before 30.

Is Hunter good in PvP?

Very good at range: the game's longest reach, slows, traps and a pet. Melee and the dead zone are the problem because there are no stuns or interrupts outside talents. Mana-draining Viper Sting is trained at 36 as in Classic, so it is absent from the beta. Streamers disagree: some call pets absurdly powerful; others say Hunters can be handled.

Which race is best for Hunter?

Troll looks strongest for the Horde: Berserking speeds up shooting, and +5% damage to beasts helps levelling. Orc lost Command's +5% pet damage in Forever. Alliance PvE favours Night Elf or Human depending on fight length: Light of Elune grants +10% crit, probably inherited by the pet, while Human gets Will to Survive and +2% critical strike chance regardless of weapon. Dwarf gives +5% beast damage and the strong PvP racial Stoneform.

Bow, gun or crossbow?

For a Troll's route, bow: you already know it, and nearly all good ranged weapons before 30 are bows - Laminated Recurve Bow at 11, Fine Longbow at 14, Heavy Recurve Bow at 20. Only Ansekhwa in Thunder Bluff teaches guns; Archibald in Undercity teaches crossbows. A new weapon type starts at low skill and misses frequently, so guns mainly make sense if you take Engineering.