Beast Mastery Hunter leveling guide
Beast Mastery is the easiest and one of the fastest ways to level in WotLK Classic. Your pet does most of the work and holds the enemy’s attention, while you shoot from range. The Beast Mastery talent lets you tame exotic pets such as a Devilsaur, a Core Hound or a Spirit Beast, and Kindred Spirits and Bestial Wrath make your pet even stronger.
Strengths and weaknesses
- Your pet tanks almost every enemy, so you rarely take damage.
- Exotic pets and Bestial Wrath give you a lot of damage and survivability.
- Very little downtime: Spirit Bond heals you and your pet, and Aspect of the Viper restores mana.
- Lower damage of your own than Marksmanship or Survival, and you depend on your pet staying alive.
Talents by level
At level 70
- In Beast Mastery: Improved Aspect of the Hawk 5/5, Endurance Training 5/5, Focused Fire 2/2, Aspect Mastery, Unleashed Fury 5/5, Ferocity 5/5, Spirit Bond 2/2, Intimidation and Bestial Discipline 2/2.
- Frenzy 5/5, Ferocious Inspiration 3/3, Bestial Wrath, Serpent’s Swiftness 5/5, Invigoration 2/2 and The Beast Within.
- Kindred Spirits 5/5 and Beast Mastery, for 51 points. In Marksmanship: Lethal Shots 5/5 and Mortal Shots 5/5.
Level 71 to 80
- Careful Aim 3/3 and Go for the Throat 2/2.
- Efficiency 5/5, for 20 points in Marksmanship.
Rotation
One enemy
- Send your pet in, wait a moment, then Hunter’s Mark and Serpent Sting.
- Kill Command on cooldown, Arcane Shot and Steady Shot in between.
- Kill Shot from level 71 once the enemy is below 20% health.
Groups of enemies
- Let your pet hold one enemy, and Multi-Shot or Volley on the group.
- Bestial Wrath and Explosive Trap for a big pull, and Intimidation on the enemy that attacks you.
Staying alive
- Mend Pet between fights, and Misdirection to pass threat to your pet.
- Feign Death, Disengage and Frost Trap when enemies come after you, and Deterrence as a last resort.
- Aspect of the Viper when mana runs low, and Aspect of the Dragonhawk from level 74.
Leveling route
| Level | Alliance | Horde |
|---|---|---|
| 70-72 | Borean Tundra (Valiance Keep), Howling Fjord (Valgarde) | Borean Tundra (Warsong Hold), Howling Fjord (Vengeance Landing) |
| 72-74 | Dragonblight (Wintergarde Keep) | Dragonblight (Agmar’s Hammer) |
| 74-75 | Grizzly Hills (Amberpine Lodge) | Grizzly Hills (Conquest Hold) |
| 75-76 | Zul’Drak (Zim’Torga) | Zul’Drak (Zim’Torga) |
| 76-78 | Sholazar Basin (Nesingwary Base Camp) | Sholazar Basin (Nesingwary Base Camp) |
| 78-80 | The Storm Peaks (K3), Icecrown (Argent Vanguard) | The Storm Peaks (K3), Icecrown (Argent Vanguard) |
Dungeons worth the detour: Utgarde Keep and The Nexus from level 70, Azjol-Nerub and Ahn’kahet: The Old Kingdom around 72, and Drak’Tharon Keep and The Violet Hold from 74.
Stats, weapons and tradeskills
- Agility and Attack Power first, then Hit, Crit, Haste and Armor Penetration.
- The slowest bow, gun or crossbow with the highest damage, and a Ferocity pet such as a wolf or cat, or an exotic pet.
- Enchants: Heartseeker Scope on the ranged weapon, Crusher on the gloves and Greater Assault on the bracers.
- Tradeskills: Skinning with Leatherworking for mail gear and Fur Lining on the bracers.