Survival Hunter Specs: A self analysis.
Derchlon — Fri, 12/26/2008 - 00:00
So, When I first started raiding in Wrath, I figured that I had found a good 0/17/54 spec to work with(http://www.wowhead.com/?talent=cZceV0oZe00iocIhxuAhcd). After a couple weeks of raiding, I'm finding that this spec has been alright, but I'm trying to push for better. Reading the EJ forums, I've been keeping up with the latest in SV theorycraft, and this is what I'm finding: The modern SV hunter should be as close to melee distance as possible, while still being able to loose arrows. What I'm speaking of, is called Trap Dancing. The idea that dropping a trap on a boss will proc LnL(http://www.wowhead.com/?spell=56344), causing you to use your highest damage ability, Explosive Shot (http://www.wowhead.com/?spell=60053) more often.
Before I had thought about trap dancing, I respecced into a 0/19/52 build (http://www.wowhead.com/?talent=cZ0eVbohZe00iocIhxuAhcz) due to my very high hit rating, which netted me ~20,000 extra damage on the Archavon kill from this past week. I'm thinking with all the synergy of the stings, LnL, and Explosive Shot, the idea of adding another wrinkle to the list of accents could be really good for extra dps.
The process of a trap dance involves standing close enough to the boss(right behind the melee), in order to drop an immolation trap, proc LnL, step back with a tap, then unload 3 Explosive Shots. With Serpent Sting up, more chances to proc LnL exist, for more triple explosive shot damage. A typical rotation would be as follows:
1. Serpent Sting
2. Explosive Shot
3. (If you aren't in position yet, Aimed Shot, if you are, move on to step 4)
4. Immolation Trap
5. tap your back button to get back to range
6. Blast away with Explosive Shot
7. Steady Shot until Explosive Shot is off CD or Serpent sting falls off(if it falls off, replace your next Steady Shot with a Serpent Sting.)
Working with that, I've compiled a new spec that I'd like to try out. 0/18/53 (http://www.wowhead.com/?talent=cZ0eVoohZe00i0cIhedAhod). This spec has the improved stings, and improved trap abilities for shorter CDs and improved Immolation trap damage. Considering that most of the fights in current end game are close and clustered, it seems like Sniper Training (http://www.wowhead.com/?spell=53304) is wasted. Putting those points into Resourcefulness adds shorter CDs, and makes the traps less of a drain on mana. Also gives the SV 41 point talent a use, with 30% increased immolation damage, which has been reported from the 3.08 test realm to be upwards of 5k damage alone.
I'm not a fan of being close to the melee, it doesn't feel like something a hunter should be doing. But if the DPS is higher, there is no reason why I shouldn't be able to try it on for size and see how it goes. The different specs are below for reviewing pleasure.
1. 0/17/54(http://www.wowhead.com/?talent=cZceV0oZe00iocIhxuAhcd) Notables: 3% more to hit, Scatter Shot, slightly higher Expose Weakness uptime
2. 0/19/52(http://www.wowhead.com/?talent=cZ0eVbohZe00iocIhxuAhcz) Notables: 30% more Sting damage, Scatter Shot, 50 more pet focus per crit, slightly higher Expose Weakness uptime. NO REPLENISHMENT BUFF.
3. 0/18/53(http://www.wowhead.com/?talent=cZ0eVoohZe00i0cIhedAhod) Notables: 30% more Sting damage, 30% more immolation trap damage, 6 second shorter trap CD, 25 more pet focus per crit.
Last minute thoughts: Being in close range, if might be better to toss two points from Hawk Eye into Savage Strikes, for a quick melee swing while I'm setting the immolation trap.


Is this a viable approach for
starstalker — Fri, 12/26/2008 - 01:26Is this a viable approach for bosses that require alot of movement?
How does hunter range work?
saedo — Fri, 12/26/2008 - 00:46How does hunter range work? Is it from the center of the model? Or does it work from the hittable melee hit box?
Read Me you hunters and
Derchlon — Fri, 12/26/2008 - 00:01Read Me you hunters and Theory Crafters! I'd like some input on your thoughts.
sad to say but this might see
Caronte22 — Fri, 12/26/2008 - 03:23sad to say but this might see a lot of hunter going surival please nerf them now
Hunter range starts 5 yards
Derchlon — Fri, 12/26/2008 - 12:35Hunter range starts 5 yards from the end of the hit box, not the middle of the boss.
As for using it on bosses with a lot of movement, how is that any different than what the melee would be doing anyway? Follow the melee closely, and drop a trap when you can. If you're forced to be at range, its not like you can't DPS from range too, you just can't trap.
The red hit box? Or the
saedo — Fri, 12/26/2008 - 12:45The red hit box? Or the melee hittable box? Like bosses Thaddius and Sapphiron, they have a huge melee hit box despite smaller red circle under em. Where do traps trigger? At the red hit box circle too?
I'm not exactly sure on
Derchlon — Fri, 12/26/2008 - 13:58I'm not exactly sure on that. I'm pretty sure that if you can melee from that distance, the trap will get set off. Especially considering that bosses like Thadius require me to stand back farther than the hit box would indicate it to me.
I was playing around with
runhilan — Fri, 12/26/2008 - 16:57I was playing around with these specs last night on 25 man OS, and it did produce good DPS and was real fun to play. It takes some nice coordination and timing to do effectively. A nice change from my normal BM spec.
Any more specific Runhilan?
Derchlon — Fri, 12/26/2008 - 20:21Any more specific Runhilan? Which specs did you try, and do you have numbers to support your "it did produce good DPS" statement? I haven't had the time/chance to test the latter of the three, I was hoping to get a Malygos or a Sartharion kill to measure against, but I suppose that will have to wait for next week or so.
Let me play with it somemore
runhilan — Fri, 12/26/2008 - 20:48Let me play with it somemore and I will give more specifics than you could hope for.
;]