(Naxx is not released but its beginning to look grim for hunters with the current release of hit gear). (Bloodvine in Zul'gurub).
Also I would like to note, some examples I use are from future patches but this guide is for all patches (after the release of Nightfall) and the gearlist/consumable sections I will keep up to date with current patch items only.
> Most people will think you're completely useless.
Hunters are useless anyway. Whats new?
> Tranquilizing Shot.
Mind Blown.
> More Nightfall uptime than Enhancement/Retribution Hybrids.
Only the most elitist will understand.
> This is how you become more useful than the previous views on hunters.
This is a little better on Horde. (Windfury).
Lets get started.
WHY MELEE HUNTERS HAVE SWAG AND YOUR HUNTER DOESN'T.
> Highest Nightfall uptime than any other class. Wingclip/Arcane Shot.
> Only class that can proc Nightfall with a ranged attack. (Arcane Shot).
> More Damage than traditional hunters with 10+ casters in the raid.
> Example.
Now I realize this is not the current patch but I will look for more current examples down the road.
This is Predictible's highest Patchwerk dps Record.
(Well known hunter in the Vanilla Community).
Lets do some math. If you add up all the caster dps you get 20981.
15% of that is 3147.
50% Uptime = 1574 Additional dps.
40% Uptime = 1259 Additional dps.
30% Uptime = 944 Additional dps.
20% Uptime = 629 Additional dps.
I usually experience 30-50% uptime myself but lets consider you have BIS Naxx Melee Gear like Predictible has BIS Naxx Ranged Gear. If you can pull even 300 dps with 20% uptime its still better than a ranged hunter.
STATS.
Stamina: 1 Stamina gives 10 health. (Important).
Agility: Gives 1 Melee Attack Power and .02 Melee Crit. (Important).
50 Agility = 1% Melee Crit.
Strength: Gives 1 Melee Attack Power. (Important).
Attack Power: Makes you Swing Harder #420blazeit. (Important).
Critical Strike: Increases your Chance to Crack Skulls. (Important).
Normal Hunters value this around 30 Attack Power.
Melee Hunters value it around 20 due to Savage Strikes.
Intellect: 1 Intellect is 15 Mana. (Not important on gear).
Mana per 5: Helps, get this mostly from Consumables. (Not important on gear).
The rest of the stats should be self explanatory.
RACES.
Alliance
Nightelf:
Quickness: 1% Dodge.
Mongoose Bite more often. (Higher Dps).
Shadowmeld: Stealth in place.
Powerful with Feign Death. (Stealth Runs).
Nature Resistance: 10 Nature Resist.
Soaker in Ahn'Qiraj when its released.
Wisp Spirit: 50% Ghost Form Speed.
Best Racial in the Game.
Horde
Orc:
Axe Specialization: Axe and Two-Handed Axe Skill Increased by 5.
1% Hit with Nightfall.
Blood Fury: 25% Base Attack Power Bonus for 15 seconds. 2 minute cooldown.
Reduces Healing Recieved by 50% for 25 seconds.
Command: 5% Increased Pet Damage.
Mad deepz
Hardiness: 25% Stun Resist.
Nerf.
Troll:
Bezerking: 10-30% Haste based on your Health.
Put this in your rotation above Wingclip.
Beast Slaying: 5% Damage against Beast.
Magmadar?
Bow Specialization: Bow Skill Increased by 5.
Arcane Shot. :3
Regeneration: 10% Health Regeneration Increase.
...
ABILITIES.
Mongoose Bite - Wingclip - Rapter Strike:
Nightfall is what cool kids use nowadays. Here is a rotation macro to make it a part of what you do.
You can also put Scatter Shot in above Wing Clip for 5 Mans.
Most Mobs in Raids are Immune to Scatter Shot damage.
/cast Mongoose Bite(Rank 4)
/cast Furious Howl(Rank 4)
/cast Wing Clip(Rank 1)
/cast Raptor Strike(Rank 8)
This will give Mongoose Bite and Wingclip priority so you never miss a global attack.
Note that you can put Use Trinkets and Juju Flurry in this macro under Mongoose Bite.
Don't forget to use Wing Clip(Rank 3) if your going deep with Mana Consumables or on Vaelastrasz the Corrupt.
Also you can download an add-on called Nightfall that will announce when it procs.
/nightfall to open the menu ingame. You can download it here:
http://www.mediafire.com/download/9z4m5 ... htfall.rar
Freezing Trap - Frost Trap - Immolation Trap - Explosive Trap:
All traps have a 15 second cooldown.
Freezing Trap - Freezes an enemy for 20 seconds. Be a CC Champion.
(26 seconds specced). 2/2 Clever Traps.
Frost Trap - 60% Area of Effect Slow for 30 seconds. Put on your ice skates and kite for days.
(39 seconds specced). 2/2 Clever Traps.
Immolation Trap - 690 Fire Damage over 15 seconds. Works on Raid Bosses.
(895-900 Fire Damage specced). 2/2 Clever Traps.
Explosive Trap - 201 to 257 Area of Effect Fire Damage and 330 additional over 20 seconds.
(261 to 335 Area of Effect Fire Damage and 420 to 430 additional over 20 seconds specced). 2/2 Clever Traps.
Aspect of the Monkey - Aspect of the Hawk - Aspect of the Cheetah - Aspect of the Wild:
Aspect of the Monkey - 6% Dodge. Use this in melee range to Mongoose Bite like a champ.
or like a chimp. I am bad at puns.
Aspect of the Hawk - 110 Ranged Attack Power.
Use this when you are using your ranged weapon.
Aspect of the Cheetah - 20% Movement Speed. Damage will Daze you. Use this while kiting.
Let it be known you don't need this to kite dragons on Razorgore.
Aspect of the Wild - 60 Nature Resist Aura.
Will come into play when AQ is released.
True Shot Aura - Deterrence - Rapid Fire - Flare - Scare Beast - Scatter Shot - Feign Death:
Trueshot Aura - 100 Attack Power Aura.
If you are alive and this isn't active you are bad.
Deterrence - 25% Dodge and Parry for 10 seconds.
Evasion tank!
Rapid Fire - Increases your ranged attack speed by 40% for 15 seconds.
Range attack cooldown. pew pew.
Flare - 10 yard radius no stealth zone.
Use to mark your territory.
Scare Beast - Fear a beast for 20 seconds.
Pros keybind this and use it all the time.
Scatter Shot - 181 to 203 Damage and disorients the target for 4 seconds. 30 second cooldown.
Can also be used for damage in melee range on most nonelite targets.
Nice to use with Feign Death to set up a Freezing Trap.
Feign Death - Get out of combat. 30 second cooldown.
Drinking, refreshing a Trap, Gearswap. Aggro Drop.
Arcane Shot - Aim Shot - Multi-shot - Tranquilizing Shot - Distracting Shot - Viper Sting - Serpent Sting:
Arcane Shot - 183 Arcane Damage. 6 second cooldown.
This shot counts as a physical spell and procs melee weapons.
Use running in and out on certain fights and when running in initially.
(5 second cooldown specced). 5/5 Improved Arcane Shot.
Aim Shot - 980 to 1024 Damage. 6 second cooldown.
3 second cast. Rapid Fire shortens cast time.
Use when ranging entire fights.
Multi-Shot - Hits 3 Targets for 458 to 508 damage.
Please avoid breaking CC.
Tranquilizing Shot - Gets rid of Frenzy.
This has the HIGHEST PRIORITY.
Time running out or even stay out if needed.
Distracting Shot - High threat ranged ability.
Always use this when kiting.
Viper Sting - Drains 1108 Mana over 8 seconds.
Use on mana drain fights.
Serpent Sting - 490 Damage over 15 seconds.
Hardly use this, maybe when people are dying to push damage.
Chromaggus Nature Vulnerability if your guild is cool with it.
PETS AND YOU. ft. SLAVERING WORG/DEATHMAW.
Wolves are easily the best pet for PVE.
I recommend these two wolves because they have a 1.20 attack speed for pushbacks.
That and if you ever spec Beastmaster they have more Frenzy uptime.
PET ABILITIES.
Send Pet
I would advise keybinding this.
Bite Rank 8
81-99 instant damage. 10 second cooldown.
Tame a Bloodaxe Worg in LBRS to Learn Rank 8 Bite.
Dash Rank 3
80% Movement Speed for 15 seconds. 30 second cooldown.
Tame a Bloodaxe Worg in LBRS to Learn Rank 3 Dash.
Furious Howl Rank 4
Party members receive 45-57 extra damage to their next physical attack. 10 second cooldown.
I put this in my rotation macro because your pet isn't always attacking.
Tame a Bloodaxe Worg in LBRS to learn Rank 4 Furious Howl.
TALENTS.
http://db.vanillagaming.org/?talent#cZVVq0thtIbbrRh
This yields the most utility. Highest Personal Dps with Trueshot Aura.
Highest Nightfall Uptime with Arcane Shot CD Reduction when you run out on certain fights.
I don't recommend entrapment due to certain kiting mechanics in PVE, for example goblins in BWL.
PRERAID NIGHTFALL MELEE GEAR LIST.
Helm: Crown of Tyranny
Enchant: 1% Haste
(BIS until Crown of Destruction).
Neck: Mark of Fordring
(BIS until Eye of Hakkar).
Shoulders: Truestrike Shoulders or Black Dragonscale Shoulders (Orcs Only).
Enchant: 30 Attack Power (When you get ZG exalted).
(BIS until Taut Dragonhide Shoulderpads).
Cape: Cape of the Black Baron
Enchant: 3 Agility
(BIS until Cloak of Firemaw).
Chest: Cadaverous Armor
Enchant: 4 Stats
(BIS until Runed Bloodstained Hauberk).
Bracers: Bracers of the Eclipse
Enchant: 9 Strength
Gloves: Devilsaur Gauntlets
Enchant: 1% Haste
Belt: Chiselbrand Girdle
(BIS until Dragonstalker's Belt or Therazane's Link).
Legs: Devilsaur Leggings
Enchant: 1% Haste
Boots: Pads of the Dreadwolf
Enchant: 7 Agility
(BIS until Boots of the Shadow Flame).
Ring: Blackstone Ring
(BIS until Don Julio's Band).
Ring: Painweaver Band
(BIS until Quick Strike Ring).
Trinket: Hand of Justice
Trinket: Darkmoon Card: Maelstrom
Weapon: Nightfall
Enchant: 3% Haste
Ranged Weapon: Riphook
Enchant: 3% Hit
(BIS until Heartstriker or Gurubashi Dwarf Destroyer).
CONSUMABLES.
Damage.
Elixir of the Mongoose (25 Agility 2% Crit).
Smoked Desert Dumplings (20 Strength).
Dragonbreath Chili (Breathe Fire).
Winterfall Firewater (35 Attack Power).
Blessed Sunfruit (10 Strength).
(Requires Revered with Argent Dawn.)
Mana.
Major Mana Potion (Restores 1350 to 2250 Mana).
Nightfin Soup (8 Mana per 5).
Mageblood Potion (12 Mana per 5).
Flask of Distilled Wisdom (Increases Mana by 2000).
Dark Rune (Restores 900 to 1500 Mana, Hurts you for 600 to 1000).
(Some of this can be resisted, watch your health bar before you use this).
Demonic Rune (Restores 900 to 1500 Mana, Hurts you for 600 to 1000).
(Some of this can be resisted, watch your health bar before you use this).
Health.
Elixir of Fortitude (Increases Health by 120).
Rumsey Rum Black Label (Only obtainable through fishing). (15 Stamina).
Rumsy Rum Light (Only obtainable through fishing). (5 Stamina).
(Light/Dark Rums stack, Black Label counts as a Dark).
Gordok Green Grog (10 Stamina).
(You can get this from Stomper Kreeg in Dire Maul North after completing a Tribute Run.)
Spirit of Zanza x1 (50 Stamina, 50 Spirit).
(Requires Revered with Zandalar Tribe. Trade in a Honor Mark for a Zanza.)
Scrolls.
Scroll of Stamina IV World Drop or Vender Cooldown. (16 Stamina).
Scroll of Agility IV World Drop or Vender Cooldown. (16 Agility).
Scroll of Strength IV World Drop or Vender Cooldown. (16 Strength).
Scroll of Intellect IV World Drop or Vender Cooldown. (16 Intellect).
Blasted Lands Quest.
Lung Juice Cocktail x1 (25 Stamina).
Obtained from the repeatable quest "Spirit of the Boar" in Blasted Lands.
Ground Scorpok Assay x1 (25 Agility).
Obtained from the repeatable quest "Salt of the Scorpok" in Blasted Lands.
R.O.I.D.S. x1 (25 Strength).
Obtained from the repeatable quest "Rage of Ages" in Blasted Lands.
Cerebral Cortex Compound x1 (25 Intellect).
Obtained from the repeatable quest "Infallible Mind" in Blasted Lands.
Winterspring Quest.
Juju Power (30 Strength).
Obtained from the repeatable quest "Winterfall E'ko" from Witch Doctor Mau'ari in Winterspring.
Juju Might (40 Attack Power).
Obtained from the repeatable quest "Frostmaul E'ko" from Witch Doctor Mau'ari in Winterspring.
Juju Flurry (3% Haste for 20 Seconds). (1 Minute Cooldown).
Obtained from the repeatable quest "Frostsaber E'ko" from Witch Doctor Mau'ari in Winterspring.
Juju Guile (30 Intellect).
Obtained from the repeatable quest "Wildkin E'ko" from Witch Doctor Mau'ari in Winterspring.
OTHER HASTE SOURCES.
Gnomish Battle Chicken: Battle Squawks adding 5% Melee Haste for 5 minutes.
Currently not working. Bug Tracker Link: https://report.nostalrius.org/plugins/tracker/?aid=4654
Blackblade of Shahram: Spirit of Shahram has a chance to give 25% Melee Haste for 8 seconds.
Currently not working. Bug Tracker Link: https://report.nostalrius.org/plugins/tracker/?aid=4604
WORLD BUFFS.
Darkmoon Faire Buff from Sayge. (2 Hour Cooldown).
10% Damage Combination: Slay the man, Execute your friend painfully. (1,1).
10% Stamina Combination: Confiscate the Corn, Speak against your brother openly. (3,1).
10% Intellect Combination: Turn him over to liege, Show not so quiet defiance. (2,2).
25 All Resist Combination: Turn him over to liege, Remain Quiet. (2,3).
Cleanse a Corrupted Songflower in Felwood.
Songflower Serenade: 5% Spell/Melee/Ranged Crit and 15 to All Stats.
Onyxia/Nefarian Head Turn in at Stormwind/Orgrimmar.
Rallying Cry of the Dragonslayer: 10% Spell Crit, 5% Melee/Ranged Crit and 140 Attack Power.
Heart of Hakkar Turn in at Molthor in Yojamba Isle.
Spirit of Zandalar: 10% Movement Speed and 15% All Stats.
Dire Maul Tribute Buffs.
Mol'dar's Moxie: 15% Stamina. (Talk to Guard Mol'dar).
Fengus' Ferocity: Attack Power Increased by 200. (Talk to Guard Fengus).
Slip'kik's Savvy: 3% Spell Crit. (Talk to Guard Slip'kik).
BIS FOREVER NIGHTFALL MELEE GEAR LIST.
Current Nostalrius Patch.
Helm: Crown of Destruction
Enchant: 1% Haste
Neck: Eye of Hakkar
Shoulders: Taut Dragonhide Shoulderpads
Enchant: 30 Attack Power (When you get ZG exalted).
Cloak: Cloak of Firemaw
Enchant: 3 Agility
Chest: Runed Bloodstained Hauberk
Enchant: 4 All Stats
Bracers: Windtalker's Wristguards
Enchant: 9 Strength
Gloves: Devilsaur Gauntlets
Enchant: 1% Haste
Belt: Therazane's Link
Legs: Devilsaur Leggings
Enchant: 1% Haste
Boots: Boots of the Shadow Flame
Enchant: 7 Agility
Ring: Quick Strike Ring
Ring: Master Dragonslayer's Ring
Trinket: Hand of Justice
Trinket: Darkmoon Card: Maelstrom
Weapon: Nightfall
Enchant: 3% Haste
Ranged Weapon: Gurubashi Dwarf Destroyer
Enchant: 3% Hit
NIGHTFALL CRAFTERS.
Nostalrius Begins PVP.
Alliance
-Badtank
-Taladril
-Josy
Horde
-Mogrul
-Kinnara
-Pwnster
-Forceberg
-Kirves
-Gnarle
-Holierthanu
-Papertank
3% HIT SCOPE CRAFTERS.
Nostalrius Begins PVP.
Alliance
-Talesavo
Horde
-Casp
I will continuously edit to keep this clean. Taking a break currently. 3/6/2016.
