Survival Hunter PvE Guide - Cataclysm Classic

Introduction

    Survival Hunters bring a Melee Attack Speed buff to raids with
    Hunting Party
    . All Hunters also have access to pets that can bring other raid buffs such as 5% Crit and Agility/Strength buff.

Cataclysm Classic Survival Hunter Rotation

    Hunters now have Focus instead of Mana, which works similar to Energy but with a slower regen rate. This means you will need to do your best not to cap your Focus, as well as making sure you have enough Focus when you need to cast your high priority abilities. Survival Hunters need to maintain an important buff in
    Sniper Training
    and always make sure they have enough Focus when
    Explosive Shot
    and
    Black Arrow
    come off cooldown. They also have an important proc with
    Lock and Load
    that gives them free
    Explosive Shot
    casts.

Opener

  1. Apply
    Hunter's Mark
    if assigned.
  2. Use
    Misdirection
    on the tank if assigned.
  3. Pre-pot
    Potion of the Tol'vir
    .
  4. Use
    Serpent Sting
    .
  5. Use
    Explosive Shot
    .
  6. Use
    Black Arrow
    .
  7. Use
    Rapid Fire
    and
    Call of the Wild
    .
  8. Use
    Cobra Shot
    .
  9. Proceed with single target rotation.

Single Target

  1. Use
    Aspect of the Hawk
    .
  2. Maintain
    Hunter's Mark
    if assigned.
  3. Maintain
    Sniper Training
    buff by standing still.
  4. Use
    Rapid Fire
    and
    Call of the Wild
    .
  5. Maintain
    Serpent Sting
    .
    Cobra Shot
    will do this for you.
  6. During
    Lock and Load
    , cast
    Explosive Shot
    with a filler ability between each one.
  7. Use
    Explosive Shot
    .
  8. Use
    Kill Shot
    on targets 20% health or below.
  9. Use
    Black Arrow
    .
  10. Use
    Arcane Shot
    when above 70 Focus. Make sure doing this does not delay an
    Explosive Shot
    or a
    Black Arrow
    cast.
  11. Use
    Cobra Shot
    to generate Focus.
  12. During movement, use
    Aspect of the Fox
    with
    Cobra Shot
    .

AoE

    2 targets:

  1. Maintain
    Serpent Sting
    on both targets.
  2. Use
    Explosive Trap
    instead of
    Black Arrow
    .
  3. Follow single target rotation.
  4. 3 or more targets:

  5. Use
    Explosive Trap
    .
  6. Use
    Multi-Shot
    .
  7. Use
    Explosive Shot
    if
    Lock and Load
    procs.
  8. Use
    Kill Shot
    on targets 20% health or below.
  9. Use
    Cobra Shot
    to generate Focus.

Cataclysm Classic Survival Hunter Talents

Standard Build

There are 2 points you can move around early in the Survival Tree. We opted for
Survival Tactics
, but you can move those 2 points to
Hunter vs. Wild R2
or
Point of No Escape
depending on your preference.
0
Beast Mastery
0
Marksmanship
0
Survival

Cataclysm Classic Survival Hunter Glyphs

  1. Prime:
    Explosive ShotExplosive Shot
    ,
    Arcane ShotArcane Shot
    ,
    Kill ShotKill Shot
  2. Major:
    Trap LauncherTrap Launcher
    ,
    DisengageDisengage
    ,
    MendingMending
  3. Minor:
    Feign DeathFeign Death
    ,
    Revive PetRevive Pet
    ,
    Aspect of the PackAspect of the Pack

Cataclysm Classic Survival Hunter Best Consumables

Flasks and Elixirs

    Best:
  • Flask of the Winds

Food

    Best:
  • Seafood Magnifique Feast
    ,
  • Skewered Eel
    ,
  • Fortune Cookie
    Alternatives:
  • Broiled Dragon Feast
    ,
  • Tender Baked Turtle

Potions

    Best:
  • Potion of the Tol'vir

Cataclysm Classic Survival Hunter Best Races

Alliance

  1. Worgen:
    Viciousness
    and
    Darkflight
  2. Dwarf:
    Gun Specialization
  3. Draenei:
    Heroic Presence

Horde

  1. Troll:
    Berserking
    and
    Bow Specialization
    . Below Orcs if not using a Bow.
  2. Orc:
    Command
    and
    Blood Fury
  3. Goblin:
    Time is Money
    ,
    Rocket Barrage
    , and
    Rocket Jump
  4. Blood Elf:
    Arcane Torrent

Cataclysm Classic Survival Hunter Best Professions

  1. Engineering:
    Synapse Springs
    .
  2. The rest of the professions are very close in power, with Blacksmithing becoming better with epic gems in T13.