World of Warcraft Patch 11.1: Hunter Class Overhaul
Patch 11.1 of World of Warcraft introduces significant changes to the Hunter class, impacting pet specializations, and the core gameplay of each specialization. Key updates include customizable pet specializations, Beast Mastery's optional single-pet mode, and the complete pet removal for Marksmanship Hunters. These changes, barring significant PTR feedback adjustments, are slated for release in February.
The patch, titled "Undermined," unfolds in the Goblin underground capital, continuing the narrative of "The War Within" and culminating in a raid against Chrome King Gallywix. Along with numerous class adjustments, Hunters receive a major overhaul.
Pet Specialization Flexibility: Hunters can now freely switch their pets' specializations (Cunning, Ferocity, or Tenacity) at the stables, applying this flexibility to all companions, including event pets like the Dreaming Festive Reindeer.
Specialization-Specific Changes:
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Marksmanship: Undergoes a complete redesign, eliminating the pet entirely. Instead, a Spotting Eagle marks targets for increased damage, reflecting a heightened sharpshooter focus.
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Beast Mastery: Offers the option to utilize a single, enhanced pet, increasing its damage and size. The Pack Leader Hero Talent is revamped, summoning a bear, boar, and wyvern simultaneously during combat.
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Survival: While receiving adjustments, the key change lies in making Butchery and Flanking Strike mutually exclusive choices within the talent tree, streamlining the rotation.
Community Reaction and PTR Testing:
The pet specialization changes and Beast Mastery's solo pet option have been well-received. However, the Marksmanship rework has sparked considerable debate, with some players feeling the pet's removal detracts from the class fantasy. Similarly, the fixed Pack Leader summon is a point of contention.
Crucially, these changes are still subject to player feedback. The Patch 11.1 PTR will launch early next year, providing Hunters an opportunity to test the changes and provide feedback to Blizzard.
Detailed Patch Notes (World of Warcraft Patch 11.1 Hunter Changes):
Pet Changes:
- Stable dropdown menu for changing pet specializations.
Class Changes:
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Hunter General Changes:
- Kindling Flare radius increased by 50%.
- Territorial Instincts reduces Intimidation cooldown by 10 seconds (pet summon removed).
- Wilderness Medicine increases Natural Mending cooldown reduction by 0.5 seconds.
- No Hard Feelings reduces Misdirection cooldown by 5 seconds.
- Roar of Sacrifice (Marksmanship only): Pet protects a friendly target from critical strikes for 12 seconds (Spotting Eagle disabled during this time).
- Intimidation (Marksmanship): Line-of-sight requirement removed, using the Spotting Eagle.
- Explosive Shot projectile speed increased.
- Eyes of the Beast: Beast Mastery and Survival only.
- Eagle Eye: Marksmanship only.
- Freezing Trap break condition changed (damage threshold).
- Tooltip updates for Roar of Sacrifice, Wilderness Medicine, and No Hard Feelings (Marksmanship).
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Hunter Hero Talents (Pack Leader):
- Howl of the Pack Leader: Summons a Bear, Wyvern, or Boar with Kill Command (30-second cooldown).
- New talents: Better Together, Dire Summons, Pack Mentality, Ursine Fury, Envenomed Fangs, Fury of the Wyvern, Hogstrider, No Mercy, Shell Cover, Slicked Shoes, Horsehair Tether, Lead From the Front.
- Removed talents: Beast of Opportunity, Cornered Prey, Covering Fire, Cull the Herd, Den Recovery, Frenzied Tear, Furious Assault, Howl of the Pack, Pack Assault, Pack Coordination, Scattered Prey, Tireless Hunt, Vicious Hunt, Wild Attacks.
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Hunter Hero Talents (Dark Ranger):
- Withering Fire updated (triggers from Black Arrow during Trueshot/Bestial Wrath).
- Bleak Powder cone damage area corrected.
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Hunter Hero Talents (Sentinel):
- Lunar Storm damage, radius, duration, and frequency increased; visual effects and tracking updated.
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Beast Mastery:
- New talents: Dire Cleave, Poisoned Barbs, Solitary Companion.
- Stomp damage instances updated.
- Serpent Sting and Barrage damage increased; Barrage focus cost reduced.
- Alpha Predator damage calculation changed (multiplicative).
- Hunter's Prey Kill Shot targeting updated.
- Dire Command summon chance reduced.
- Dire Beast visual effects and targeting updated.
- Dire Frenzy updated; Basilisk Collar removed.
- Removed talents: Basilisk Collar, Venom’s Bite.
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Marksmanship:
- New ability: Harrier’s Cry (increases Haste for 40 seconds).
- New passive: Manhunter (Aimed Shot applies Grievous Injury).
- New passive: Eyes in the Sky (Spotting Eagle marks targets).
- New talents: Aspect of the Hydra, Improved Spotter’s Mark, Moving Target, Obsidian-Tipped Ammunition, Shrapnel Shot, Magnetic Gunpowder, Precise Detonation, On Target, Quickdraw, Target Acquisition, Eagle’s Accuracy, Headshot, Feathered Frenzy, Tensile Bowstring, Incendiary Ammunition, Bullet Hell, Improved Streamline, Windrunner Quiver, Cunning, Tenacious, Ohn’ahran Winds, Double Tap, Killer Mark, Deadeye.
- Precise Shot renamed to Precise Shots and updated.
- Focused Aim updated.
- Trueshot redesigned.
- Razor Fragments updated.
- Calling the Shots updated.
- Unerring Vision updated.
- Bulletstorm updated.
- In the Rhythm updated.
- Fan the Hammer renamed to Ammo Conservation and updated.
- Multi-Shot learned at level 10.
- Aimed Shot damage and cast time adjusted.
- Rapid Fire focus gain increased.
- Volley damage increased.
- Steady Shot damage and focus gain increased; Pin Cushion effect added.
- Salvo updated.
- Surging Shots bug fix.
- Kill Shot damage bonus talent bug fix.
- Bullseye updated.
- Removed talents: Barrage, Careful Aim, Chimera Shot, Crack Shot, Heavy Ammo, Hydra’s Bite, Improved Steady Shot, Legacy of the Windrunners, Light Ammo, Lone Wolf, Multi-Shot, Pin Cushion, Rapid Fire Barrage, Readiness, Serpentstalker’s Trickery, Steady Focus, Tactical Reload, Unerring Vision, Wailing Arrow.
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Survival:
- New talent: Cull the Herd.
- New talent: Born to Kill.
- Frenzy Strikes updated.
- Merciless Blow updated.
- Alpha Predator damage calculation changed (multiplicative).
- Merciless Blow bleed damage reduced.
- Tactical Advantage updated.
- Flanking Strike and Butchery choice node.
- Exposed Flank removed.
Player versus Player (PvP):
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Hunter:
- New PvP talent: Explosive Powder (Bursting Shot knockback and snare increased).
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Beast Mastery:
- Dire Beast: Basilisk redesigned (auto-triggers on Call of the Wild).
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Marksmanship:
- New PvP talents: Sniper’s Advantage, Aspect of the Fox.
- Ranger’s Finesse updated.
- Removed PvP talents: Interlope, Sniper Shot, Trueshot Mastery, Wild Kingdom.
This detailed overview provides a comprehensive understanding of the Hunter class changes in World of Warcraft Patch 11.1. Remember to test these changes on the PTR and provide feedback!
