Comments on: Embracing the Whole Hunter

By: LytLady

LytLady — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 01:37:27 +0000

Looks like you already spec’d back to BM. I actually level’d as MM, but the guild I use to be in had me spec BM. I am now in a different guild and I am contemplating on returning to MM. Unfortunately I can’t dip into SV & pick up trapping like I used to be able to… Darn.. Hmmm

By: Ringo Flinthammer

Ringo Flinthammer — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 23:28:21 +0000

Welcome to Marksman Country! Chimera Shot has always been a hoot — even if the Viper effect doesn’t work right at the moment.

I definitely second what was said about Misdirect. I found a nice macro (I think at EJ, but make at WoWWiki) that smartly sends the MD to the appropriate tank, depending on whether you’re solo or grouped.

That said, I’ve been Marksman since level 11 back in 2004 and have not bowed to the Flavor of the Month thing. If you really do prefer BM, I say stick with it. At the current raiding tier, it’s not that big of a deal if you’re a bit behind other hunters. (Obviously, things may be very different by the time we’re kicking down the front door of Icecrown Citadel.)

Of course, when dual specs come along, I’ll either have a Survival secondary spec, or a min/maxed PvP one (or maybe a compromise between the two), so I can see the value in taking another spec for a trial run.

By: Stupid Mage

Stupid Mage — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 00:00:31 +0000

“-gives Pike a look with daggers in it-

Where shall the last bastion of BM be, I wonder?

First BRK, now you, Pike!

Whyyyy?!?”

—–

Be happy she’s still playing a Hunter instead of a Druid…

By: Sonvar

Sonvar — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 22:43:03 +0000

I’m not letting go of BM until dual specs in which I’ll switch to Survival if Replenishment is needed. Maybe I’m not playing against the right geared people but I’ve still found myself on top of dps charts in Heroics and 10 man Naxx runs. Besides once the mass of raiders go to Surv it means they’ll look at BM again and maybe undo some of those nerfs to balance out the damage. I agree though that Surv with that Lock and Load proc is weird. Especially with it’s low proc rate on serpent sting since traps on boss fights isn’t going to work well.

Though out of all the nerfs I really feel the scorpid one was the most deserved as a “tanking” type pet shouldn’t be dishing out as much damage as a pure “dps” pet is.

@Mithrilina
I disagree with the first point. The pet does much more than be pretty. It’s just that since the pet is bringing less damage you look more for just a pet that brings some good utility which opens up a lot of those Cunning pets PvE wise.

By: Shagrat

Shagrat — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 21:52:35 +0000

Word on the grapevine is that cats are STILL the top for damage if that’s what you’re looking for. But personally, I like raiding with a wasp. It gives a nice debuff (unless you have a druid overwriting it) and being a ferocity pet, does some good damage to boot.

By: Bristal

Bristal — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 21:14:34 +0000

I FINALLY got around to getting a devilsaur last weekend to up my damage output, and now everyone’s re-speccing!? So, with SV or MM does it even matter which type of pet we have? I’m actually kind of glad, the pounding footsteps were making me nuts…

By: Shagrat

Shagrat — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 14:27:32 +0000

I love doing the FSPR, although sometimes I fall into the trap of watching my cooldowns instead of the enviroment, which is almost gotten me killed a few times. Marks is fun though, I must admit but my spirit beast is sitting my stables, waiting for the dual-specs and the rebuff to the BM tree that it really needs.

By: eresin

eresin — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 08:39:28 +0000

I’m scared that if I try MM or SV then i’ll want to give up my Spirit Beast. I know it’s only a pet and there are plenty of other pets out there.
I guess I’m materialistic
<3 my beasty!

By: Rilgon Arcsinh

Rilgon Arcsinh — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 06:16:23 +0000

Henceforth, your pet’s main job is to be cute, and anything vicious is an afterthought.

Ayamiss begs to differ!

By: Mithrilina

Mithrilina — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 02:28:40 +0000

Hee, hee, all you ex-BM hunters moving to MM… get used to a few things, and do so quickly before MM becomes a bad experience that hurts your reputation:

1. Your pet is now a wimp. No more “red and growly” mode. Henceforth, your pet’s main job is to be cute, and anything vicious is an afterthought.

2. Learn to Misdirect to your pet, and when you’re solo-killing Elites, do so often. In groups, misdirect to the tank whenever Misdirection is off cooldown.

3. Your personal DPS has sky-rocketed and your pet’s has plummeted drastically. DPS is no longer a 60/40 split between you, but more likely 80/20 or even 90/10.

4. As a result of point 3, you will find your threat meter displaying all kinds of unbelievable things about how much the bosses hate you – learn to anticipate this, because the combined threat created by you and your pet is no longer an almost equal split.

5. Feign Death is your friend. Use it a lot, because you’re going to need it. A lot.

Happy huntering as MM hunters! It is a lovely and engrossing spec without the weirdness of Survival’s on-proc rotation shifting, and one I love returning to every once in a while.