Jurai wrote:Survival Hunter
Colourful post that will compile
this thread (so basically read there for more detailed information).
SV Specs
Depending on gear, your specs can vary.. generally SV hunter go for either:
6/14/51 or
1/18/52.
Choosing which spec to go depends on your gear - also, these specs can be changed slightly to your own playstyle, however i'd recommend staying as close to those specs, especially picking up the key talents.
★
6/14/51 - This spec relies more on providing haste from Improved Aspect of the Hawk (may lack haste in gear).
★
1/18/52 - This spec relies less on providing haste (expected to have 400-500 + haste) and making sure that the survival buffs are up / stronger stings. It also adds the option of using aimed shot in your rotation instead of multi.
Note;
★ If you lack hit and need to put points in Focused Aim, i'd recommend following the
6/14/51 spec and moving 1-3 points (however many you need to put in FA) from Improved Aspect of the Hawk to FA in the MM tree.
Read
this thread for more detail on each useful talent in these specs.
Shot Rotation
Hunter's shot rotations follow more of a priority based rotation now due to certain talent procs/new skills. The follow shot priority is used in SV hunter rotations:
1. Kill Shot
2. Explosive Shot
3. Aimed/Multi-Shot (if you have aimed in your spec)
4. Serpent Sting
5. Steady Shot
This rotation can change however, if the talent '
Lock and Load' procs. Once this procs, do the following;
Explosive Shot > filler (multi/serpent/steady/refresh mark if needed) > Explosive Shot > filler > Explosive Shot > continue rotation.
You can also wait 0.5 seconds in between the explosive shots, but i'd recommend using steady shot / others, esp if heroism or other haste buffs are on at the time.
I'd also recommend
trap dancing every 30seconds on fights when you can (ESPECIALLY on OS3D adds). This involves planting a frost or immo trap on the boss/adds, causing lock and load to proc = high spike damage.
Itemisation
The following stats are all very important and what you need most is dependent on the rest of your gear. As a hunter
hit rating cap is the most important thing you want to aim for, as well as getting as much agility as possible,
so long as it doesn't gimp your other stats too much.
★
AGILITY - Very important stat for SV hunter due to Expose Weakness. Also scales with Lightning Reflexes (and BoK in raids) as well as providing a boost to both ap and crit at the same time.
★
ATTACK POWER - Scales with raid buffs as well as 22% of your ap being giving to your pet.
★
CRIT RATING - very important to SV hunters due to SV talent procs as well as mana back from Thrill of the Hunt.
★
INTELLECT - Very useful stat for hunters now due to Careful Aim. Also provides more mana back from Replinishment and AotV.
★
HASTE - Unlike BM hunters, SV does value haste to reduce the casting time of steady from 2 to as close to 1.5 seconds. Despite SS damage nerf, quicker SS = more Explosive Shots in your rotation as it has a 6 second cd.
Glyphs
Major
★ [item]Glyph of Improved Aspect of the Hawk[/item]
★ [item]Glyph of Steady Shot[/item]
★ [item]Glyph of Serpent Sting[/item]
Minor
★ [item]Glyph of Mend Pet[/item]
★ [item]Glyph of Revive Pet[/item]
★ [item]Glyph of Feign Death[/item]
Professions
I'd highly recommend that people take JC as a proffesion, as it seems to be very strong at the moment and i personally don't see that changing. This is due to:
★ Being able to make 3 unique gems, granting highly agility than a normal gem.
★ These gems can be placed anywhere, despite their colour, and still provide a socket bonus.
★ These prismatic gems count as an 'all colour gem' so by using 3 of them means that you'll have already met your meta gem requirements (1 of each colour) so that you don't have to use poor gems for this.
This means that there is no need to use poor stat gems, especially those of the blue/green/purple colour that are needed to meet those meta requirements. You could use all your gems on pure +16 agility or +27 agility (JC unique one) and still meet socket bonuses and meta requirements.
There are a handful of other professions that are strong to be used as a second profession, such as;
★ Enchanting (+64 ap from ring enchants).
★ Leatherworking (+64 ap from wrist enchant).
★ Inscription (+64ap from the shoulder enchant).
★ Blacksmithing (Provides an extra glove and wrist socket).
Alchemy could also be an option as it can increase the power of flasks/elixirs in a raid environment, but i'd think that the other professions listed above are stronger.
Blacksmithing would be the strongest second profession for a SV hunter as this would provide more agility gems, which are favoured over raw attack power.
Remember these are only suggestions, I am not forcing anyone to go into any of these suggestions, just providing input and information

.
Please read the elitistjerk's thread on SV hunter
here (and the hunter forum in general), as this post has gathered the most important information from there.