Marksmanship Hunter

Talents by level

For 21–30, the ForeverDB and Icy Veins cells list the points added after 20. Wowhead's level 30 build is shown in full, because it leaves the level 20 split behind.

ForeverDB's dungeon build takes Careful Aim before Efficiency, because you drink between pulls in a group. Icy Veins warns that its 21-point Marksmanship build is meant for dungeons. For general play at 30 it points to the Beast Mastery build, and it would spend Legacy points on Deadly Aspects.

The WoWSims level 60 preset is 5/41/5 with no pet. It takes Deadly Aspects, almost the whole Marksmanship tree up to Ranged Weapon Specialization (including Lone Wolf), and Improved Tracking. Notably it skips Sniper Shot, and its priority list has Sniper Shot switched off by default.

Rotation and priorities

• Icy Veins: Hunter's Mark, pet in first, Serpent Sting, Aimed Shot on cooldown, Auto Shot throughout, and Arcane Shot only when mana is capped. Its levelling page adds: keep Serpent Sting on the target as it dies, then open the next fight with Sniper Shot (or Aimed Shot) while Rapid Killing is up.
• Wowhead (level 30): Hunter's Mark, Serpent Sting, then Arcane Shot and Aimed Shot (single target) or Multi-Shot (packs) on cooldown.
• ForeverDB's simulator, level 30: Serpent Sting up (about 84% of the fight), Aimed Shot on cooldown, Arcane Shot as filler. Rapid Fire once mana is below 95%. Mana still runs dry for about 23 seconds of every minute.
• WoWSims, level 60 (turret): Hunter's Mark if missing, Aimed Shot, Serpent Sting if not ticking, Sniper Shot only during Rapid Fire or a Quick Shots proc (when switched on), Arcane Shot, then Multi-Shot if switched on. A "Turret (Multi-Shot)" variant spends the shared cooldown on Multi-Shot instead of Aimed Shot.

Multi-Shot breaks Freezing Trap, so keep it and Serpent Sting away from a frozen mob. Rapid Killing also takes 2 minutes off Rapid Fire's cooldown (ForeverDB PvE guide, builds).

Pet or Lone Wolf

Lone Wolf gives 20% more damage while no pet is out. At level 20–30 the guides keep the pet. Wowhead says a fast cat currently out-damages the bonus, and ForeverDB's simulator shows about 20% less damage without a pet at 30. Icy Veins takes Lone Wolf only for dungeon area damage, where the bonus boosts Multi-Shot. Looking further ahead, Wowhead's overview expects most Marksmanship Hunters to drop the pet in dungeons and raids, and every WoWSims Marksmanship preset at 60 runs without one.

Levelling

Marksmanship levels well but behind Beast Mastery (Icy Veins). You deal more damage yourself, so the pet loses threat more easily and you spend more mana. Efficiency (ForeverDB), and later Rapid Killing with Rapid Recuperation (Icy Veins), are the guides' answer to mana. When you run low, stop casting and let Auto Shot work, since it's free.

Gear and consumables

Icy Veins ranks weapon damage first, then hit, Agility, crit (which Mortal Shots rewards) and Intellect through Careful Aim. ForeverDB's simulator values Intellect at 3.38, Agility at 2.4 and hit rating at 1.22 per point of ranged attack power at 30. Gear picks match the other specs: Venomstrike and the Fang set at 20; Truthseeker's Bow and Dusky Leather Armor at 30. Wowhead's Beast Mastery page adds Stalker's Leather Belt and the Master Hunter's Rifle quest reward.

Carry plenty of ammunition (Rough Arrow or Light Shot) in a quiver or ammo pouch, which also speeds up your shots. Elixir of Agility and Tender Wolf Steak top ForeverDB's consumable list. The WoWSims level 60 default pairs Thorium Headed Arrows with a high-end quiver.

Where the guides disagree

• Trueshot Aura's size: Wowhead lists 50 ranged attack power for the party. In the client, rank 1 gives 30 ranged attack power to party or raid members (ForeverDB).
• Sniper Shot: Icy Veins describes a 4-second cooldown. Blizzard and the client give a 4-second cast and a 15-second cooldown.
• Level 20 build: a Marksmanship start (ForeverDB, Icy Veins) or a Beast Mastery-heavy split (Wowhead, which calls the tree awkward for levelling).
• Arcane Shot: on cooldown (Wowhead, ForeverDB's simulator) or only when mana-capped (Icy Veins).
• Wowhead's Legacy-points build includes Lone Wolf, even though the same page advises keeping the pet.