Cataclysm and Hunters

[Loki_Ashaman]

Hunter page @ MMO-Champion
Hunter Talent Tree so far.

Ability Changes

• Aspect of the Monkey and Aspect of the Dragonhawk are both gone. Aspect of the Viper is also gone.
• Kill Command has gone back to a direct damage ability, its also available at lvl 10. 50 focus, 40 focus with talents.
• Aimed Shot no longer provides the Mortal Strike debuff.
• Widow Venom is available at lvl 40, provides the Mortal Strike debuff, and counts as a "Venom"
• Venoms: Widow, Viper Venom (formerly viper sting), and Scorpid Venom (formerly Scorpid Sting). Can only have 1 Venom up at a time. Serpent Sting is NOT a venom.
• Scorpid Venom does not reduce the targets offensive abilities anymore, instead it reduces Armor by 4% and steady / cobra shot add another stack (up to 3 stacks). Suck it warriors and rogues, Hunters can sunder now bitches!
• Viper Venom no longer drain mana, instead it increases the targets spell casting time by 30%. Hunters, stealing other classes abilities since TBC.
• Steady Shot and Cobra Shot do NOT generate Focus by themselves. In order to get the +9 Focus effect, you have to be in Aspect of the Hawk.
• NEW ASPECT: Aspect of the Fox. The hunter takes on the aspects of a fox, increasing your focus regeneration by 20% and allows you to Auto-shot while moving. OMGOMGOMG. Talents bring the focus regen to 30%.
• Camouflage lasts for 1 minute and has a 1 minute CD. While stationary you are stealthed, and it reduces movement by 30%.

Some thoughts on talent trees
I don't see anything in BM making Cobra Shot the "Signature" shot that blizzard said it would be. On the other hand, Kill Command has enough talents affecting that I think it is the signature.
Kill Command Talent Boosts

• Improved Kill Command (-10 focus cost)
• Animal Handler (+10% KC crit chance)
• Cobra Strikes (no longer works off Steady shot or Kill shot, Kill Command takes over)
• Focus Fire (New): When you use KC, it consumes your pet's Frenzy stacks increasing your attack speed by 3% per stacks of frenzy for 12 seconds. Hello more BM haste!

I'll put more stuff from the talent tree later, looks interesting. But why the hell does survival still provide replenishment, we don't use mana, let the stinking casters find another mana well!

[Loki_Ashaman]

Ability Changes

• Aimed Shot no longer provides the Mortal Strike debuff.

I apparently missed something... Aimed Shot has a 2.5 second cast. Sweet Jebus, if this is the return of the Vanilla WoW Aimed Shot, you're all gonna die!

Nuclear Launch Detected.

[Loki_Ashaman]

Frost Rules. Hunter's Union has a nice break down of the talents and changes, he doesn't get too indepth yet. I'll ninja some of what
he has and copy/paste it here.

Focus Costs:

• Cobra Shot: 0 focus  -  1.5 sec cast – no cooldown – generates 9 focus
• Steady Shot: 0 focus  -  1.5 sec cast – no cooldown – generates 9 focus
• Arcane Shot: 50 focus – no cooldown
• Multi-Shot: 60 focus – no cooldown – now instant shot
• Aimed Shot: 50 focus – no cooldown – now 2.5 sec cast
• Chimera Shot: 50 focus – 10 sec cooldown
• Silencing Shot: 0 focus – 20 sec cooldown
• Explosive Shot: 50 focus – 6 sec cooldown
• Kill Shot: 20 focus – 6 sec cooldown
• Distracting Shot: 0 focus – 8 sec cooldown
• Concussive Shot: 35 focus – no cooldown
• Tranq Shot: 35 focus – no cooldown
• Hunter’s Mark: no focus – no cooldown
• Venoms: 30 focus – no cooldown
• Serpent Sting: info not currently available
• Aspects: 0 focus – 1 sec cooldown
• Traps: 0 focus – 30 sec cooldown
• Mend Pet: 25 focus – channeled!?!?
• Kill Command: 50 focus – no cooldown
• Misdirection: 15 focus – 30 sec cooldown
• Deterrence: 0 focus – 2 min cooldown
• Feign Death: 0 focus – 30 sec cooldown

Beast Mastery Talent Stuff

• Beastial Discipline: Increases the Focus regeneration of your pets by [6%/12%/18%/24%/ 30%] (nerf from 50%/100%)
• One With Nature: Increases the attack power bonus of your Aspect of the Hawk by [5%/ 10%/15%/20%/25%], and increases the amount of focus restored by your Aspect of the Fox by [2%/4%/6%/8%/10%] (replaces Improved AotH)
• Improved Kill Command: Reduces the focus cost of your Kill Command by [5/10] focus.
• Fervor: Instantly restores 50 Focus to you and your pet
• Frenzy: Your pet gains [1%/2%/3%/4%/5%] attack speed after attacking with a special ability, lasting for [15 seconds] (nerf from 30% attack speed bonus after a crit)
• Animal Handler: Increases the critical strike chance of your Kill Command by [5%/10%] and increases the duration of your Master’s Call effect by [3/6] sec. (change from 10% ap boost and Master’s Call duration increase)
• Focus Fire: When you use Kill Command, you consume your pet’s Frenzy stacks increasing your attack speed by [3%/6%] for each stack of Frenzy consumed. Lasts for 12 sec. (old focused fire was a 2% damage increase to you and pet, plus 20% crit bonus to pet specia while kill command active. This new one requires the Frenzy talent)
• Invigoration: When your pet scores a critical hit with a special ability, you instantly regenerate [3/6] focus. (instead of mana regen)
• Aspect of the Monkey:
  • Whenever you are critically hit by a melee attack, the cooldown of your Disengage is instantly reduced by [2/4] sec.
  • Whenever you are cr[itically hit by a ranged attack, the cooldown of your Deterrence is instantly reduced by [4/8] sec
• Envenomation: Reduces the focus cost of your Scorpid, Widow and Viper Venom abilities by [10/20]
• Beast Within: While your pet is under the effects of Bestial Wrath, you also go into a rage causing 10% additional damage and reducing the focus cost of all shots and abilities by 50% for 10 sec. (focus reduction instead of mana reduction (which is much better, btw))
• Rhumba: When you cast two Steady Shot or Cobra Shot attacks in a row, your next Steady Shot or Cobra Shot will summon 3 Rattlesnakes onto the enemy target. If the enemy target attacks a friend or foe, a Rattlesnake will instantly strike the enemy dealing damage equa to [5%/10%/15%] of your Steady Shot or Cobra Shot damage
• Kindred Spirits: Increases you and your pets maximum focus by [5/10]. (old version (5 ranks) increased pet damage by 20% and your movement by 10%)

Marksman Talent Stuff

• Efficiency: Reduces the focus cost of your Arcane Shot, Explosive Shot and Chimera Shot by [2/4/6/8/10]. (old version reduced mana cost of all shots by 3-15%)
• Rapid Killing: After killing an opponent that yields experience or honor, your next Aimed Shot, Steady Shot or Cobra Shot causes [10%/20%] additional damage. Lasts 20 sec(nerfed to no longer reduce Rapid Fire cooldown)
• Aimed Shot: An aimed shot that increases ranged damage by 5 50 Focus, 5-35 yd range, 2.5 sec cast (old version instant cast, did less damage, and applied the 50% healing reduction debuff – we’re seeing the return of the vanilla Aimed Shot(which was 3 sec cast and hit like a truck))
• Go for the Throat: Your ranged auto-shot critical hits cause your pet to generate 3 Focus.(nerfed from 25/50 focus regen)
• Barrage: Increases the damage done by your Multi-Shot, Aimed Shot, and Volley spells by[5%/10%/15%]. (buffed from 4/8/12%)
• Careful Aim: Increases the critical strike chance of your Aimed Shot by [20%/40%/60%] on targets at or above 90% health. (old version converted your int to AP. We no longer wil have int on gear.)
• Sic ‘Em: When you critically hit with your Arcane Shot, Aimed Shot or Explosive Shot the focus cost of your Pet’s next 2 basic attacks are reduced by [100%/50%] for 12 sec
• Improved Steady Shot: When you steady shot twice in a row, your ranged haste will be increased by [5%/10%/15%] for 8 sec. (buffed from a crappy talent to awesomesauce)
• Bombardment: Increases the critical strike chance of your Volley by [15%/30%], and when you critically hit with your Multi-Shot your next Multi-Shot’s focus cost will be reduced by[25%/50%]. (replaces Improved Barrage, which has been removed)
• Wild Quiver: Increases the damage done by your Wild Quiver attack by [10%/20%/30%] (changed – wild quiver is now a mastery bonus, and the talent boosts that bonus. Old version gave you the wild quiver proc (12% chance on autoshot to proc a 80% auto-shot nature damage shot))
• Resistance is Futile: When your marked target attempts to run, flee or move, you have a[10%/20%/30%] chance to cause your next Steady Shot or Cobra Shot within 8 sec to critically hit on them
• Master Marksman: You have a [20%/40%/60%] chance when you Steady Shot to gain the Master Marksman effect lasting 30 sec. After reaching 5 stacks, your next Aimed Shot’s cast time and focus cost is reduced by 100% for 10 sec. (changed from 5% crit boost and mana reduction of certain shots)
• Rapid Recuperation: You gain [6/12] focus every 3 sec while under the effect of Rapid Fire and you gain [25/50] focus instantly when you gain Rapid Killing. (changed from mana regen, new version looks about equivalent)
• Chimera Shot: You deal 125% weapon damage, refreshing your Serpent Sting and triggering an effect depending on the venom on the target:
  • Viper Venom – Instantly burns 5% of the targets total mana
  • Scorpid Venom – Attempts to Disarm the target for 10 sec. This effect cannot occur more than once per 1 minute.
    Widow Venom - Instantly heals you for 15% of your total health
  50 Focus, 5-35 yd range, Instant, 10 sec cooldown (changed for new venoms, and serpent sting damage bonus aspect removed.)

Survival Talent Stuff

• Improved Serpent Sting: Your Serpent Sting also does instant damage equal to [15%/30%] of its total periodic effect
• Lock and Load: You have a [33%/66%/100%] chance when you trap a target with Freezing Trap, Freezing Arrow or Frost Trap to cause your next 2 Arcane Shot or Explosive Shot abilities to cost no focus and trigger no cooldown. (no longer procs off black arrow ticks by default – T.N.T. talent (below) now does that)
• Toxicology: Increases the periodic critical damage of your Serpent Sting and Black Arrow by 50%
• T.N.T.: When you deal periodic damage with your Immolation Trap, Explosive Trap or Black Arrow you have a [4%/8%/12%] chance to trigger Lock and Load. (changed from a 6% damage increase to explosive shot. Note the L&L proc chance is double the old lock & load chance)
• Resourcefulness: Reduces the cooldown of all traps and Black Arrow by [2/4/6] sec(removed the mana reduction to traps, melee, and black arrow)
• Expose Weakness: After you shoot [5/4/3] consecutive Steady Shot or Cobra Shots in a row on a target, you expose a weakness in the target. The Expose Weakness effect is unique to the different creature or class that the enemy is. Lasts for 20 sec. (changed from ranged crits increase AP by 25% of agility)
• Hunting Party: Increases your total Agility by an additional [2%/4%], and your Steady Shot and Cobra Shot have a [50%/100%] chance to trigger Replenishment when they deal damage Replenishment – Grants up to 10 party or raid members mana regeneration equal to 1% of the maximum mana per 5 sec. Lasts for 15 sec. (changed to only 2 ranks instead of 3 ranks at 1/2/3% agility increase & 33% chance/rank of arcane/explosive/steady crits procing replenishment)
• Thrill of the Hunt: When you critically hit with Arcane Shot, Explosive Shot or Black Arrow you instantly regain [10%/20%/40%] of the focus cost of the shot. (changed mana regen to focus regen)

[ThePhil]

Been busy this morning Cal? Good stuff here.

Looks like they're taking the best aspects of the hunter throughout WoW's many stages and seeing what happens. It sounds like the shots and rotations will be a lot more varied, and that hunters will be more effective in boss fights overall since they would now be able to shoot while moving with the AotF.

[Loki_Ashaman]

Beta Forums are now open to everyone. Below is a huge ass post Ghostcrawler put in a hunter feedback thread, about a week ago this was posted.

Hunter Warning, epic post ahead

We wanted to share some our intent with some of the hunter changes, which will in turn help you give feedback

Focus -- We'll be messing with ability costs for some time. Depending on your weapon autoshot costs can be higher than "focus dump" abilities, which clearly won't work We're working on a DPCT priority list that makes more sense. As far as regen goes though, we think the current rate is about right. We don't want the rotation to become erratic and we like the gameplay of building focus through shots. In situations where you just can't stand still, such as kiting, you can use the new Aspect of the Fox. We've tied the focus regen for using cast-time shots during Aspect of the Hawk, otherwise there would be no reason to be in anything but Fox. Focus is more of a combo between keeping your focus high enough -- as it is somewhat random due to procs -- but use it before you overflow.

Shots -- Each hunter talent tree has a "signature" focus dump: Survival has Explosive Shot, Marks has Chimera Shot, and Beastmaster has Raccoon Shot... I mean Kil Command. These all have cooldowns, so if you are at 100 focus, use Kill Command and still have focus left over, you can use Arcane Shot next. This is why Explosive and Arcane no longer share cooldowns. Once you figure out which abilities to use for each spec, the number of abilities you need to manage should feel less daunting. For example, Marks would use Serpent Sting, Steady Shot, Arimed Shot, Chimera Shot and Arcane Shot on a boss fight, and Serpent Sting gets refreshed automatically. Think less in terms of shot rotations and more in terms of prioritizations

Pets -- We haven't done our design pass on them yet. The design is for them to no onger receive raid buff since they get complete scaling from the master (and we don't want them to double dip). Their abilities will be divided into 3 categories: basic focus dumps (e.g. Claw), specials (e.g. web), and exotic abilities for the BM exotic pets. Specials never cost focus and basics have short cooldowns but meaningful damage. Al pets will do the same dps. We don't want "wolf or die" in Cataclysm (and before that it was cat). Each pet family will bring a unique raid buff, allowing hunters to be wildcards for when you are lacking something. The ease of swapping pets will facilitate this further

Cobra Shot -- We're not happy with the damage yet. We want BM to basically not use Steady ever again. Marks may use Cobra in PvP situations where spell damage trumps physical damage

Kill Command -- We like the Frenzy / Focus Fire mechanic, but are likely to make it it's own clicky and not tied to Kill Command. Kill Command itself will be the signature focus dump for BM. For other specs, it will be more situational, such as dealing damage to a target out of your (but not your pet) LoS. Marks also has the Resistance is Futile talent to give it some more use.

Aimed Shot -- We are returning this ability to be an opener once again, like Ravage or Ambush. In longer fights, Master Marskman can proc instant Aimed Shots, to keep the ability relevant.

AE damage -- The design is that you use Multi-Shot on 2+ targets, and Explosive Trap and Volley on 4+ targets

Venoms -- The focus cost may be too high. However, don't expect to have to use these on every target. Part of separating Serpent Sting from the Venoms so that they could be more situational. Even Serpent Sting isn't necessary on every target, especially those that will die quickly. Instead 2-3 Steadies with an Arcane or Kill Shot should do the job that will die quickly. Instead 2-3 Steadies with an Arcane or Kill Shot should do the job. Hunters are used to using every ability on every target because there is no real resource cost with mana. Now priority and efficiency become important. Hunters are used to using every ability on every target because there is no real resource Hunters are used to using every ability on every target because there is no real resource cost with mana. Now priority and efficiency become important

Ultimately, we think these changes will solve some of the problems the hunter class has re-design.

We're still working on talent trees. You'll probably see a lot more of the passive or boring talents go away in the next build or two. Talents like Master Marks are here to stay though.

[Loki_Ashaman]

The shoot on the move part of Aspect of the Fox will be interesting Phil. One of the hunter blogs I read made an interesting comment on it: Skilled hunters can already do this via stagger stepping. So a really skilled hunter (not me) will stay in Hawk while those who haven't quite mastered that technique can switch to Fox. Although with the improved focus regen, you might see a few skilled shift to it for certain instances.

[Loki_Ashaman]

• Scorpid Venom does not reduce the targets offensive abilities anymore, instead it reduces Armor by 4% and steady / cobra shot add another stack (up to 3 stacks). Suck it warriors and rogues, Hunters can sunder now bitches!

I was reading Elitist Jerks, and a few of the theory crafters had some interesting insight into something I missed here. Their thought is that since steady / cobra shot adds a stack, it is also resetting the 30 second cooldown. I was thinking that you'd have to recast scorpid every 30 seconds, but now that I think about it, the duration resetting makes sense.

Because steady / cobra shot will be such an important part of all hunter rotations (per Ghostcrawler they want the mini game of "building" focus to be important and fun), scorpid will be insanely easy to maintain because we're already using the ability. Compare this to warriors and rogues who have to alter their rotation to maintain sunder / expose armor on a boss. Good chance that hunters may be the preferred class to apply this debuff in raids.

----


Elitist Jerks had another interesting insight as well. Most people are going to look at Camoflauge, and for PvE think aimed shot opener for boss fights. EJ has a different route: Serpent Sting opener. BM and Survival are gaining the ability to maintain serpent sting via cobra shot, so now all 3 specs can keep it up for the entire fight without recasting. Gaining +15% damage to serpent and maintaining it the entire fight will be one of the top dps tricks, similar to how MM hunters recast serpent sting the first time their T10 2-pc procs currently.

Of course, I'm thinking BM will add a step to that: Camo, Big'n'Red, Serpent Sting to open. BM might end up king of the serpent sting damage.

[Loki_Ashaman]

"Stay" for pets on the beta is no longer "Stay at this location" it is now "goto that location and then stay" complete with a targetting circle for where you want your pet to stay.

[Loki_Ashaman]

Tracking has check boxes now, can multi-track. Note: this applies to all classes, not just hunters.
/checks everything to get +5% damage, /seizures from information overload.

And aspects finally get their own bar in the default UI. Pet UI is moved to the right side, over the bags / lower right toolbar.

[Loki_Ashaman]

The new Stables / Call Pet UI, currently heavily bugged according to every site known to hunters.

The 5 slots on the left are your active pets that you can switch at any time (outside of combat). The mass of bottom slots are the pets in storage that you have to go to a stable master to access.

[Loki_Ashaman]

MM shot rotation with current focus regen.

[Loki_Ashaman]

Female Dwarf has added a beta focus simulator. You select your shots / abilities and from a small selection of talents, and it gives you a nice view of how your rotation throughout a fight might look.

I tossed in a MM shot selection and a BM shot rotation, both looking fairly solid.

[Loki_Ashaman]

Frostheim has done a new MM rotation video (focus regen has changed, MM has been polished ALOT) and a Survival video. BM doesn't have a video, cause its still non-functional due to pets. MM sounds to be the most polished of the 3 specs so far, Surv is even more reactionary than it is on Live.

[Loki_Ashaman]

Aspect of the Fox has been changed on Beta. It no longer allows auto shot to continue firing while moving and it doesn't give a passive focus regen boost. Instead it allows you to move and cast steady / cobra shot and gain focus when you get hit. In unrelated news, Blizzard has admitted they have no fucking clue how they want Hawk and Fox to interact, so one or both of them will probably change again before beta is over.



Silencing Shot has had ALL damage removed from the ability, it is not a pure interrupt. Blizz didn't like all the MM hunters macroing it to every ability and using it for MOAR DAMAGE instead of an interrupting stuff.

Call Pet has gotten a HUGE revamp. There are now 5 versions (Call Pet 1, Call Pet 2, etc). You get the 2nd version at about lvl 30. Blizz not sure when to give the other 3, they might dump all 3 together or spread them out.

As for how it works. You have 1 button you put on your toolbar (Call Pet), mousing over the button (toolbar or in spellbook) gives you a fly-out menu of all the Call Pets. Only they not Call Pet 1, 2, etc. Its Call Fenris, Call Underbyte, Call Saber, Call Khral, Call Frisky. Whatever the actual pet names are in your 5 active pet slots!

[Loki_Ashaman]

Blizzard says they are happy with how BM and MM are shaping up and only Surv needs work.

This is why BM is NOT done. DO NOT WANT 1 BUTTON FOR ENTIRE SHOT ROTATION!

[Utna]

I just read where they removed Volley and they want multi-shot to be used more.

[Loki_Ashaman]

I was reading that too this morning. Heard of one hunter getting kicked out of a dungeon group in beta because he was single targetting instead of using Volley. "DUDE, I can't aoe because they deleted my aoe!"

That is even worse then WoW 1.0, volley did crap damage then and had a 1 minute cooldown (or was it 30 second?)... but we had it! How can they boost multi to be even close to an aoe ability? 2 multi shots, then single target for focus, 2 more multi shots. Bah, rogues and feral druids even got better aoe than that right now.

[Zoyi]

They got rid of volley?!?!?!?!?!?! WTPOOP!!!

[lasereye]

yea... they did, just read the blue post about it on mmo champion.... /sadface

[Loki_Ashaman]

I got no problem with them going away from the current AOE fest design and would be happy with it if it made dungeons challenging again. But if we going back to a more CC / tactical approach, I want my CC capabilities boosted.

• Lower freezing traps CD
• Give Survival a reactive trap talent, example if freezing gets broken early or target is immune (fucking cyclones) it reset the CD or at least knocks 10-15 seconds off it.
• Give MM a talent that boosts concussion shot by giving it a 2 second root on contact (might be OP with new conc CD and duration).
• Give BM a talent that when activated, the pet IS a CC. Pet jumps on you and disables you for a duration (say 20 seconds / 8 second pvp) but the pet is also useless during that time. Not broken by damage, broken by killing pet (other ppl would have to)

Those just some crazy ideas, but if we don't have the AOE then give us the CC.

[frankentruck]

I like the idea of using the pet to cc a mob and keep the pet out of combat, give it to cats and call it "Pin". Be similar to the Sacrifice ability of Warlocks and Voidwalkers.

Patrick

[Loki_Ashaman]

Level cap on beta got raised to 85 yesterday, which means Camouflage testing! An 85 Hunter used a shadow priest as the testing partner (he couldn't find another hunter), and here are the results:

Out of combat/duel, he was able to /target me and follow my nameplate if I was moving. While standing still, he could only see/target me if he was withing ~5 yards or so. This also applied to being in combat.

While camouflaged during the duel, he was unable to do anything harmful at all even if he could see me and stand right on top of me. He was unable to dot me, wand me or melee me. Mind Sear didn't bounce off a nearby mob and Psychic Scream was completely ineffective.

I was able to Feign -> instantly Camo at any point in combat (which then led to the above scenarios of being "untouchable").

We also tried putting a dot on me and then using Camo to see what happened. Needless to say, feigning into a Camo with a dot on you results in the next tick breaking you out of Camo.

Maybe someone can actually track down a Hunter and see how Mark interacts with it. I don't think they will be able to mark you if you are already Camo'd, but Camo most likely will not protect you if you were already marked (if that makes sense).

Anyways, fun skill; still a bit underwhelming for an 85 talent, but not as terrible as I originally thought it would be.

So "dot" the hunter is the first thing everyone will do in PvP. This plus "Crouching Tiger Hidden Chimera" is going to be fun. And the immunity to AOE is going to be a blast even for PvE: boss about to do a massive AOE, FD + Camo + laugh at the dead melee.

[Loki_Ashaman]

Level cap on beta got raised to 85 yesterday, which means Camouflage testing!

It also means... CAMOUFLAGE SCREENSHOTS!

I R predator!

Camo looking badass -- not bug.

[Loki_Ashaman]

What good are screenshots without a video to show the awesomeness! And here is the new multi-shot in action, hello new AOE.

[Utna]

jeez, that top hunter movie the dude has 66k health and the pet has 40k UNBUFFED