Hunter talent calculator and leveling order

Rotations & Guide · PvE guide · PvP guide · Talent builds · Abilities · Talent Calculator · Macros · Changes vs Classic

Other classes: Warrior, Paladin, Rogue, Priest, Shaman, Mage, Warlock, Druid

Hunters are ranged physical damage dealers with pets, traps and stings. Forever adds Summon Hawk (a Beast Mastery talent: a hawk dive-bomb sharing Arcane Shot's cooldown), melee attack power on Aspect of the Beast, the Marksmanship capstone Sniper Shot and a real melee Survival toolkit with Strider Kick, Lacerate and a weapon-based Counterattack. Aimed Shot is a trainer ability at level 20 and shares its cooldown with Multi-Shot.

Plan your Hunter talents for WoW Forever: click talents into the three trees and the calculator records the order you take them in, one talent per level, so you know what to pick at every level-up. Drag a level to move it, or click it to change its pick; every level is checked against the tree's tier and prerequisite rules. Share the build as a short link, load a recommended build in one click, and send the plan to the ForeverDB addon, which tells you where each new point goes in game.

Talent points in WoW Forever

From the Forever client (TraitCurrencySource): one talent point per level from 10 to 60, 51 in all. The Legacy perk Talented gives the same points up to 5 levels sooner (one more rank each at levels 9, 8, 7, 6 and 5). In each section a row needs 5 more points spent in the rows above it.

Hunter talents compared with Classic

Of the 50 talents in Forever's Hunter tree, 14 are new, 17 changed from Classic Era and 19 are the same. Classic talents Forever doesn't have: Thick Hide (Beast Mastery tier 2), Improved Hunter's Mark (Marksmanship tier 2), Improved Scorpid Sting (Marksmanship tier 5), Improved Feign Death (Survival tier 4), Improved Serpent Sting (Marksmanship tier 4), Aimed Shot (Marksmanship tier 3).

Recommended Hunter builds

• Beast Mastery: Pet-tank leveling (level 20)
• Beast Mastery: Pet damage for dungeons (level 20)
• Beast Mastery: Pet and hawk leveling (level 30)
• Beast Mastery: Pet and hawk dungeon DPS (level 30)
• Beast Mastery: Bestial Wrath leveling (level 40)
• Beast Mastery: Bestial Wrath leveling with Lethal Attacks (level 50)
• Beast Mastery: Bestial Wrath with Trueshot Aura at 60 (level 60)
• Beast Mastery: Bestial Wrath dungeon DPS (level 40)
• Beast Mastery: Bestial Wrath dungeon DPS with Careful Aim (level 50)
• Beast Mastery: Bestial Wrath with Trueshot Aura for groups (level 60)
• Beast Mastery: Pet control PvP (level 20)
• Beast Mastery: Intimidation PvP (level 30)
• Beast Mastery: Bestial Wrath PvP (level 40)
• Beast Mastery: Bestial Wrath PvP with Improved Tracking (level 50)
• Beast Mastery: Bestial Wrath and Deterrence PvP (level 60)
• Marksmanship: Efficient shooter leveling (level 20)
• Marksmanship: Careful Aim dungeon shooter (level 20)
• Marksmanship: Marksman leveling (level 30)
• Marksmanship: Marksman dungeon DPS (level 30)
• Marksmanship: Sniper Shot leveling (level 40)
• Marksmanship: Sniper Shot leveling with Barrage (level 50)
• Marksmanship: Marksman with a pet at 60 (level 60)
• Marksmanship: Sniper Shot dungeon DPS (level 40)
• Marksmanship: Sniper Shot dungeon DPS with Improved Tracking (level 50)
• Marksmanship: Marksman with Surefooted for groups (level 60)
• Marksmanship: Long-range PvP (level 20)
• Marksmanship: Scatter Shot PvP (level 30)
• Marksmanship: Sniper Shot PvP (level 40)
• Marksmanship: Sniper Shot PvP with Improved Concussive Shot (level 50)
• Marksmanship: Marksman with Deterrence PvP (level 60)
• Survival: Hybrid melee leveling (level 20)
• Survival: Survival trapper for dungeons (level 20)
• Survival: Melee Survival leveling (level 30)
• Survival: Melee Survival dungeon DPS (level 30)
• Survival: Lacerating Strikes melee leveling (level 40)
• Survival: Lacerating Strikes leveling with Counterattack (level 50)
• Survival: Melee Survival with Deadly Aspects at 60 (level 60)
• Survival: Lacerating Strikes dungeon DPS (level 40)
• Survival: Lacerating Strikes dungeon DPS with Lethal Attacks (level 50)
• Survival: Melee Survival for groups at 60 (level 60)
• Survival: Hard-to-catch PvP (level 20)
• Survival: Counterattack PvP (level 30)
• Survival: Counterattack and Lacerating Strikes PvP (level 40)
• Survival: Trap and Deterrence PvP (level 50)
• Survival: Trap and Deterrence PvP at 60 (level 60)

Popular builds

Seen in WoW Forever: 7 players (8 characters). How it works: signed-in players upload their Companion addon file (its Your talent builds setting records each character’s talents). Each character counts once per level range, at most 2 of one player’s, and no names are shown. A spec appears once 5 characters from 3 different players at that level range have uploaded, and a build once 2 players run it.

Levels 10–19

5 Hunter characters at Levels 10–19.

• Beast Mastery 5/0/0: 40% of Beast Mastery characters (2 characters)

Levels 20–29

1 Hunter character at Levels 20–29.

• Marksmanship: Not enough players yet: 1 of the 5 characters needed, from at least 3 different players.

Levels 30–39

2 Hunter characters at Levels 30–39.

• Marksmanship: Not enough players yet: 1 of the 5 characters needed, from at least 3 different players.
• Survival: Not enough players yet: 1 of the 5 characters needed, from at least 3 different players.

Beast Mastery talents

• Tier 1: Deadly Aspects (changed from Classic) (5 ranks, level 10+): While Aspect of the Hawk is active, Auto Shot has a 10% chance of increasing ranged attack speed by 30% for 12 sec. While Aspect of the Beast is active, all melee auto attacks have a 10% chance of increasing melee attack speed by 30% for 12 sec. Classic: While Aspect of the Hawk is active, all normal ranged attacks have a 5% chance of increasing ranged attack speed by 30% for 12 sec.
• Tier 1: Endurance Training (5 ranks, level 10+): Increases the Health and Armor of your pets by 15%.
• Tier 2: Focused Fire (new in Forever) (2 ranks, level 15+): Increases all damage you and your pet deal by 2% while your pet is active.
• Tier 2: Improved Aspect of the Monkey (changed from Classic) (3 ranks, level 15+): Increases the Dodge bonus of your Aspect of the Monkey by 6%. Additionally, your pet gains 50% of the effect of your Aspect of the Monkey ability. Classic: Increases the Dodge bonus of your Aspect of the Monkey by 5%.
• Tier 2: Improved Revive Pet (2 ranks, level 15+): Revive Pet's casting time is reduced by 6 sec, mana cost is reduced by 40%, and increases the health your pet returns with by an additional 30%.
• Tier 3: Pathfinding (2 ranks, level 20+): Increases the speed bonus of your Aspect of the Cheetah and Aspect of the Pack by 6%.
• Tier 3: Bestial Swiftness (1 rank, level 20+): Increases the movement speed of your pets by 30%.
• Tier 3: Unleashed Fury (changed from Classic) (5 ranks, level 20+): Increases the damage done by your pets and hawks by 15%. Classic: Increases the damage done by your pets by 20%.
• Tier 4: Improved Mend Pet (changed from Classic) (2 ranks, level 25+): Gives your Mend Pet spell a 50% chance of cleansing 1 Curse, Disease, Magic, or Poison effect from your pet each time it heals and reduces the Mana cost by 20%. Classic: Gives the Mend Pet spell a 50% chance of cleansing 1 Curse, Disease, Magic or Poison effect from the pet each tick.
• Tier 4: Ferocity (changed from Classic) (5 ranks, level 25+): Increases the critical strike chance of your pets and hawks by 10%. Classic: Increases the critical strike chance of your pets by 15%.
• Tier 4: Summon Hawk (new in Forever) (1 rank, level 25+): Command a hawk to dive-bomb your targeted enemy, dealing 32 (+5% of ranged attack power) Physical damage and continuing its assault for 18 sec. Only 2 hawks can be active at once. Summon Hawk shares its cooldown with Arcane Shot.
• Tier 5: Spirit Bond (changed from Classic) (2 ranks, level 30+): While your pet is active, you and your pet will regenerate 1% of total health every 5 sec. Classic: While your pet is active, you and your pet will regenerate 2% of total health every 10 sec.
• Tier 5: Intimidation (changed from Classic) (1 rank, level 30+): Command your pet to Stun the target for 3 sec on its next successful attack, which also gains 100% increased critical strike chance. Generates high threat. Classic: Command your pet to intimidate the target on the next successful melee attack, causing a high amount of threat and stunning the target for 3 sec.
• Tier 5: Bestial Discipline (changed from Classic) (2 ranks, level 30+): Increases the Focus regeneration of your pets by 20% and allows 50% of your Mana regeneration to continue while casting. Classic: Increases the Focus regeneration of your pets by 20%.
• Tier 6: Frenzy (5 ranks, level 35+): Gives your pet a 100% chance to gain a 30% attack speed increase for 8 sec after dealing a critical strike.
• Tier 7: Bestial Wrath (1 rank, level 40+): Send your pet into a rage causing 50% additional damage for 18 sec. While enraged, the beast does not feel pity or remorse or fear and it cannot be stopped unless killed.

Marksmanship talents

• Tier 1: Hawk Eye (3 ranks, level 10+): Increases the range of your ranged weapons by 6 yards.
• Tier 1: Improved Concussive Shot (5 ranks, level 10+): Gives your Concussive Shot a 20% chance to stun the target for 3 sec.
• Tier 1: Lethal Attacks (5 ranks, level 10+): Increases your critical strike chance with all attacks by 5%.
• Tier 2: Improved Stings (new in Forever) (3 ranks, level 15+): Increases the damage of your Serpent Sting ability by 20%, reduces the cooldown of your Viper Sting ability by 6 sec, and increases the duration of your Scorpid Sting ability by 45 sec.
• Tier 2: Efficiency (changed from Classic) (5 ranks, level 15+): Reduces the Mana cost of your Shots, Stings, and melee abilities by 15%. Classic: Reduces the Mana cost of your Shots and Stings by 10%.
• Tier 2: Careful Aim (new in Forever) (5 ranks, level 15+): Increases your Attack Power by 100% of your Intellect.
• Tier 3: Rapid Killing (new in Forever) (2 ranks, level 20+): Reduces the cooldown on your Rapid Fire ability by 2 min. In addition, when you kill a non-trivial enemy or it dies while afflicted by your Serpent Sting, you gain Rapid Killing, increasing the damage of your next Shot ability within 20 sec by 20%.
• Tier 3: Improved Arcane Shot (changed from Classic) (5 ranks, level 20+): Reduces the cooldown of your Arcane Shot by 1.5 sec. Does not affect the cooldown of abilities which share a cooldown with Arcane Shot. Classic: Reduces the cooldown of your Arcane Shot by 1 sec.
• Tier 3: Lone Wolf (new in Forever) (1 rank, level 20+): You deal 20% increased damage with all attacks while you do not have an active pet.
• Tier 4: Trueshot Aura (changed from Classic) (1 rank, level 25+): Increases the Ranged Attack Power of party or raid members within 45 yds by 20. Classic: Increases the attack power of party members within 45 yards by 50. Lasts 30 min.
• Tier 4: Mortal Shots (5 ranks, level 25+): Increases the critical strike damage bonus on all ranged abilities by 30%.
• Tier 5: Rapid Recuperation (new in Forever) (2 ranks, level 30+): Afflicting a target with Serpent Sting allows 50% of your Mana Regeneration to continue while casting for 15 sec, increased to 100% when Rapid Killing is consumed.
• Tier 5: Barrage (3 ranks, level 30+): Increases the damage done by your Multi-Shot, Aimed Shot, and Volley abilities by 15%.
• Tier 5: Scatter Shot (1 rank, level 30+): A short-range shot that deals 50% weapon damage and disorients the target for 4 sec. Any damage caused will remove the effect. Turns off your attack when used.
• Tier 6: Ranged Weapon Specialization (5 ranks, level 35+): Increases the damage you deal with ranged weapons by 5%.
• Tier 7: Sniper Shot (new in Forever) (1 rank, level 40+): A long-range shot that deals ranged damage plus 320 and increases the range of your next 3 Shots by 10 yards for 10 sec.

Survival talents

• Tier 1: Improved Tracking (changed from Classic) (5 ranks, level 10+): While tracking Beasts, Demons, Dragonkin, Elementals, Giants, Humanoids, or Undead, all damage you deal to the tracked creature type is increased by 5%. Classic: Increases all damage caused against Beasts, Giants and Dragonkin targets by 3% and increases critical damage caused against Beasts, Giants and Dragonkin targets by an additional 3%.
• Tier 1: Deflection (5 ranks, level 10+): Increases your Parry chance by 5%.
• Tier 2: Entrapment (changed from Classic) (5 ranks, level 15+): When your traps are triggered, all affected targets are Entrapped, preventing them from moving for 5 sec. Classic: Gives your Immolation Trap, Frost Trap, and Explosive Trap a 25% chance to entrap the target, preventing them from moving for 5 sec.
• Tier 2: Savage Strikes (changed from Classic) (2 ranks, level 15+): Increases the critical strike chance of all your melee abilities by 4%. Classic: Increases the critical strike chance of Raptor Strike and Mongoose Bite by 20%.
• Tier 2: Survivalist (5 ranks, level 15+): Increases your total Health by 10%.
• Tier 2: Improved Wing Clip (changed from Classic) (3 ranks, level 15+): Gives your Wing Clip ability a 20% chance to immobilize the target for 5 sec. Classic: Gives your Wing Clip ability a 20% chance to immobilize the target for 5 sec.
• Tier 3: Clever Traps (2 ranks, level 20+): Increases the duration of Freezing and Frost trap effects by 30% and the damage of Immolation and Explosive trap effects by 30%.
• Tier 3: Surefooted (changed from Classic) (3 ranks, level 20+): Increases your hit chance by 3% and reduces the duration of movement impairing effects on you by 30%. Classic: Increases hit chance by 3% and increases the chance movement impairing effects will be resisted by an additional 15%.
• Tier 3: Deterrence (1 rank, level 20+): When activated, increases your Dodge and Parry chance by 25% for 10 sec.
• Tier 4: Survival Tactics (2 ranks, level 25+): Increases your chance to hit with your Trap and Feign Death abilities by 10%.
• Tier 4: Predator's Edge (new in Forever) (5 ranks, level 25+): Increases your melee ability critical strike damage by 30% and your Off Hand weapon damage by 50%.
• Tier 4: Counterattack (changed from Classic) (1 rank, level 25+): A strike that becomes active after parrying an opponent's attack. This attack deals 50% weapon damage plus 26 and immobilizes the target for 5 sec. Counterattack cannot be blocked, dodged, or parried. Classic: A strike that becomes active after parrying an opponent's attack. This attack deals 40 damage and immobilizes the target for 5 sec. Counterattack cannot be blocked, dodged, or parried.
• Tier 5: Resourcefulness (new in Forever) (2 ranks, level 30+): Reduces the Mana cost of your Trap and melee abilities by 60%, and grants your melee and ranged ability Critical Strikes a 100% chance to allow 50% of your Mana Regeneration to continue while casting for 30 sec.
• Tier 5: Expose Prey (new in Forever) (2 ranks, level 30+): Grants your melee and ranged attacks against enemies afflicted by Hunter's Mark a 10% chance to allow an activation of Mongoose Bite. Lasts 10 sec.
• Tier 5: Survivalist's Discipline (new in Forever) (2 ranks, level 30+): Reduces the cooldown of your Trap and Deterrence abilities by 40%.
• Tier 5: Strider Kick (new in Forever) (1 rank, level 30+): A powerful kick that deals 100% melee weapon damage and increases movement speed by 30% for 3 sec.
• Tier 6: Lightning Reflexes (5 ranks, level 35+): Increases your Agility by 15%.
• Tier 7: Lacerating Strikes (new in Forever) (1 rank, level 40+): Your Mongoose Bite also causes the target to Bleed for damage equal to 40% of the damage done by Mongoose Bite over 21 sec

Best in slot gear at any level: Beast Mastery, Marksmanship, Survival

Hunter abilities

• Harass
• Melee Specialization
• Readiness
• Auto Shot (level 1)
• Bite (level 1)
• Charge (level 1)
• Claw (level 1)
• Cobra Reflexes (level 1)
• Dismember (level 1)
• Dust Cloud (level 1)
• Growl (level 1)
• Lightning Breath (level 1)
• Mine! (level 1)
• Pinch (level 1)
• Raptor Strike (level 1)
• Savage Rend (level 1)
• Swipe (level 1)
• Tendon Rip (level 1)
• Track Beasts (level 1)
• Web (level 1)
• Aspect of the Monkey (level 4)
• Serpent Sting (level 4)
• Cower (level 5)
• Arcane Shot (level 6)
• Hunter's Mark (level 6)
• Concussive Shot (level 8)
• Demoralizing Screech (level 8)
• Scorpid Poison (level 8)
• Aspect of the Hawk (level 10)
• Beast Training (level 10, from the Classic class quest Training the Beast)
• Call Pet (level 10, from the Classic class quest Taming the Beast)
• Dismiss Pet (level 10, from the Classic class quest Taming the Beast)
• Feed Pet (level 10, from the Classic class quest Training the Beast)
• Furious Howl (level 10)
• Great Stamina (level 10)
• Natural Armor (level 10)
• Revive Pet (level 10, from the Classic class quest Training the Beast)
• Tame Beast (level 10, from the Classic class quest Taming the Beast)
• Track Humanoids (level 10)
• Distracting Shot (level 12)
• Mend Pet (level 12)
• Wing Clip (level 12)
• Eagle Eye (level 14)
• Eyes of the Beast (level 14)
• Scare Beast (level 14)
• Immolation Trap (level 16)
• Mongoose Bite (level 16)
• Multi-Shot (level 18)
• Track Undead (level 18)
• Aimed Shot (level 20)
• Arcane Resistance (level 20)
• Aspect of the Cheetah (level 20)
• Disengage (level 20)
• Fire Resistance (level 20)
• Freezing Trap (level 20)
• Frost Resistance (level 20)
• Nature Resistance (level 20)
• Shadow Resistance (level 20)
• Shell Shield (level 20)
• Trickster's Dance (level 20)
• Scorpid Sting (level 22)
• Beast Lore (level 24)
• Track Hidden (level 24)
• Rapid Fire (level 26)
• Track Elementals (level 26)
• Frost Trap (level 28)
• Aspect of the Beast (level 30)
• Dash (level 30)
• Dive (level 30)
• Feign Death (level 30)
• Lacerate (level 30)
• Prowl (level 30)
• Thunderstomp (level 30)
• Flare (level 32)
• Track Demons (level 32)
• Explosive Trap (level 34)
• Viper Sting (level 36)
• Aspect of the Pack (level 40)
• Track Giants (level 40)
• Volley (level 40)
• Aspect of the Wild (level 46)
• Black Arrow (level 50)
• Track Dragonkin (level 50)
• Tranquilizing Shot (level 60)

No longer trainer abilities in the live client

• Explosive Trap Effect

Data from the WoW Forever client, build 1.60.1.70862, extracted 2026-11-09.