1-60 Hunter Leveling Guide by Kargoz

[kargoz]

1-60 Hunter Leveling Guide

Class Overview, Talents, Rotation, Bow Progression, and more!
A World of Warcraft 1.13 Guide by Kargoz

Video

Youtube Video

Introduction

Greetings prospective Hunters, my name is Kargoz and I’ve been playing World of Warcraft for a long time. Starting my journey in 2004, I’ve since mained Hunter on three different Classic realms, once during retail vanilla progressing through AQ, again during Nostalrius, and most recently on Elysium’s Zeth’Kur. Out of all the classes in the game, Hunter has always resonated with me the most, primarily because it’s the most self reliant, independant class in the game. It is a core part of the Hunter ethos to be alone in the field relying only on yourself and your trusty pet to get the job done. Highly attuned to nature and its beasts you are cunning and resourceful, a master survivalist capable of dealing lethal damage at long range with surgical precision. Hunter’s are a blast to play in Classic offering an incredibly rewarding and flavorful playstyle. While this guide may not be perfect it is my hope that it will help set up new hunters for success.

Hunter Leveling

Pros

Fastest Leveling
Movement Boosting Abilities + Talents
Multi-Target Proficiency
Low Gear Dependance
High Sustain
High Self Reliance
Strong Open World PvP

Cons

Ammo + Food Dependance
Reduced Inventory Space
Taming Lupos / Brokentooth
Keeping Pets up to date

Which Hunter Race is BiS?

Alliance Races

Best in PvE = Night Elves, Best in PvP = Dwarf or NE

Night Elves: 17 Strength 28 Agility 20 Stamina 20 Intellect 21 Spirit
Shadowmeld, 1% Dodge, Wisp Spirit, 10 Nature Resist

Dwarves: 22 Strength 19 Agility 24 Stamina 19 Intellect 20 Spirit
Stoneform (Immune to Bleed, Poison, Disease, +Armor CD) +5 Guns, 10 Frost Resist

Horde Races

Best in PvE = Troll, Best in PvP = Orc

Orc: 23 Strength 29 Agility 23 Stamina 17 Intellect 24 Spirit
Blood Fury +AP CD, 25% to Resist Stuns, +5 Axe Specialization

Tauren: 25 Strength 18 Agility 23 Stamina 15 Intellect 23 Spirit
War Stomp Stun CD, Nature Resist, +5% HP, +5 Herbalism

Trolls: 21 Strength 25 Agility 22 Stamina 16 Intellect 22 Spirit - Berserking (Burst on CD Spell Haste), Bonus HP Regen), Beastslaying (+5% Beast Dmg)

Before You Start Leveling

It is CRUCIAL to setup an Auto Shot Timer. Use either YAHT or Rai’s Auto Shot.

Setup Quality of Life binds optimized for leveling. (Use your mouse scroll wheel!)

Setup Pet Attack and Recall Macros.

Bake your Auto Shot into your offensive Abilities through simple macros.

Auto Shot Timer

Before you get started it is of VITAL important that you download and setup an Auto Shot Timer.

What is an Auto Shot Timer?

An Auto Shot Timer is an addon that allows you to monitor the time between your natural auto attacks (Auto Shots) in a visual, precise way. It is useful to know this information so you can use abilities or move freely without clipping into your natural Auto Attack cycle and consequently losing damage. It is extremely important to have this addon from 1-10 as we don’t have a Pet to tank for us and we have to create kite mobs solo.

While the bar is loading to full it means you can move freely - you are not wasting any damage. As it starts to fill back up this signals that your auto attack cooldown has almost reset and you should position yourself to fire again.

Life 1-10

Engage mobs at max range with the following rotation.

Hunter’s Mark -> Max Range Auto Shot -> Move while firing Concussive Shot -> Auto Shot
-> Move while firing either Arcane OR Serpent sting -> Auto shot -> Melee till death.

Level 10 Considerations
Choose an Optimal Pet (see next slides)

Load up on ample food (buy the cheapest option 2-3 stacks)

Upgrade your bow from vendor or with a BoE green if you can snag one for a good price.

Upgrade your Ammo

Upgrade your Bags if you still have money left.

Buy all skills minus Track Humanoids.

All About Pets

Choosing Your Pet:

Pets in vanilla are balanced around 10% stat modifiers with each species of pets having a different profile.

These stat modifiers are as follows:

Damage: -10 to 10%
Armor: -10 to +13%
Health: -10 to 10%

Generally you want to tame pets with higher attack speed.
If you are a Night Elf Hunter grab an Owl.
If you are Orc / Troll grab a Pet with a Rank 2 focus dump.

Level 2 Focus Dump Pets

Claw 2: Pet Level 8 (4 TP). Claw the enemy, causing 8 to 12 damage.

Young Forest Bear (8-9, Elwynn Forest) * Claw 2
Thistle Bear (11-12, Darkshore) * Claw 2
Ferocious Grizzled Bear (11-12, Silverpine Forest) * Claw 2
Mangeclaw (11, Dun Morogh) * Claw 2
Bjarn (12 Rare, Dun Morogh) * Claw 2
Encrusted Surf Crawler (9-10, Durotar) * Claw 2
Tide Crawler (12-14, Darkshore) * Claw 2
Strigid Hunter (8-9, Teldrassil) * Claw 2
Death Flayer (11 Rare, Durotar) * Claw 2, Scorpid Poison 1
Venomtail Scorpid (9-10, Durotar) * Claw 2, Scorpid Poison 1
Bite 2: Pet Level 8 (4 TP). Bite the enemy, causing 16 to 18 damage.

Loch Crocolisk (14-15, Loch Modan) * Bite 2
Vicious Night Web Spider (9-10, Tirisfal Glades) * Bite 2
Forest Lurker (10-11, Loch Modan) * Bite 2
Webwood Silkspinner (8-9, Teldrassil) * Bite 2
Giant Webwood Spider (10-11, Teldrassil) * Bite 2
Lady Sathrah (12, Teldrassil) * Bite 2 * Caster
Tarantula (15-16, Redridge Mountains) * Bite 2
Oasis Snapjaw (15-16, The Barrens) * Bite 2
Worg (10-11, Silverpine Forest) * Bite 2, Furious Howl 1
Timber (10 Rare, Dun Morogh) * Bite 2
Prowler (9-10, Elwynn Forest) * Bite 2
Starving Winter Wolf (8-9, Dun Morogh) * Bite 2
Prairie Wolf Alpha (9-10, Mulgore) * Bite 2
Coyote (10-11, Westfall) * Bite 2
Coyote Packleader (11-12, Westfall) * Bite 2, Furious Howl 1

Talent Progression

Start in Beast Mastery Tree:

1 Imp Hawk -> 4 Endurance Training -> 2 Imp. Revive Pet
-> 3 Thick Hide -> 1 Bestial Swiftness -> 2 Pathfinding
-> 5 Unleashed Fury -> 2 Ferocity -> 1 Intimidation ->
3 Ferocity -> 1 Endurance Training -> 5 Frenzy -> 1 Bestial Wrath

Proceed into Marksmanship Tree:

5 Efficiency -> 5 Lethal Shots -> 1 Aimed Shot -> 3 Hawkeye -> 1 Hunter’s Mark -> 5 Mortal Shots

Life 10-20

---

Engage mobs with the following rotation if you are doing sustained grinding:

Hunter’s Mark Macro (with pet attack baked in)-> Auto Shot -> Serpent Sting -> Auto Shot -> Arcane Shot -> Auto shot till death

If you need to burn the target integrate multishot which you get a level 18 in addition to more arcane shots.

Skip training Eagle Eye, Eyes of the Beast, Scare Beast, Mongoose Bite, Track Undead

Stay up to date with Pet Training.

Life 20-30

Engage mobs with the following rotation if you are doing sustained grinding:

Hunter’s Mark Macro (with Pet attack baked in)-> Auto Shot -> Rapid Fire -> Serpent Sting -> Auto Shot -> Arcane Shot -> Auto Shot till death

If you need to burn the target integrate multishot which you get a level 18 in addition to more Arcane Shots.

Skip training Scorpid Sting, Track Hidden, Track Elementals

NOTE: Don’t be shy -use your offensive cooldowns every time they are available!

Life 30-40

Engage mobs with the following rotation if you are doing sustained grinding:

Hunter’s Mark Macro (with Pet attack baked in)-> Auto Shot -> Rapid Fire -> Serpent Sting -> Auto Shot -> Arcane Shot -> Auto Shot till death

Skip training Flare, Track Demons, Viper Sting, Track Giants, Volley, Explosive Trap

Try to tame Brokentooth. He is a level 37 rare cat with 1.0 attack speed in the Badlands.

NOTE: Use Feign Death to finesse your way through content. Dismiss your pet run through areas and feign to leap frog through otherwise impassable areas.

Life 40-50

Engage mobs with the following rotation if you are doing sustained grinding:

Hunter’s Mark Macro (with Pet attack baked in)-> Auto Shot -> Rapid Fire -> Bestial Wrath -> Serpent Sting -> Auto Shot -> Arcane Shot -> Auto Shot till death

Continue to try and fail to tame Brokentooth.

Skip training Volley, Aspect of the Wild, Track Dragonkin

Life 50-60

Engage mobs with the following rotation if you are doing sustained grinding:

Hunter’s Mark Macro (with Pet attack baked in)-> Aimed Shot -> Rapid Fire -> Bestial Wrath -> Serpent Sting -> Auto Shot -> Arcane Shot -> Auto Shot

Continue to try and fail to tame Brokentooth.

Skip training Volley, Aspect of the Wild, Track Dragonkin

Stat Priority

Agility
Increases attack power with melee weapons by 1 and ranged weapons by 2
Increases your crit chance by 0.0189% (1% crit per 52.91 Agility)
Increases Armor by 2 and Dodge by 0,0377% (1% dodge per 26.5 Agility)
Strength
Increases attack power with melee weapons by 1.
Stamina
Increases health points by 10 per point.
Intellect
Increases mana points by 15 per point and the rate at which weapon skills improve.
Spirit
Increases health & mana regeneration rates.

Agi > Int > Spirit > Stam > Strength
10 AP = 1.37 DPS
1 Crit = 4.8 DPS
1 Crit = 35,03 AP
1 AP = 0,0285% Crit

Alliance Bow Progression

Hornwood Recurve Bow - 2.4 DPS - Bowyer Vendor - Requires lvl 3
Ashwood Bow - 3.8 DPS - Reward from Teldrassil Vial Quest “Crown of Earth”
Hunting Bow - 4.6 DPS - BoE Green - Requires lvl 6
Laminated Recurve Bow - 5.8 DPS - Bowyer Vendor - Requires lvl 11
Daryl’s Hunting Bow - 5.9 DPS Reward from Loch Modan Quest “A Hunter’s Boast”
Fine Longbow - 7.4 DPS - BoE Bowyer Vendor Green - Requires lvl 14
Reinforced Bow - 7.5 DPS - Bowyer Vendor - Requires lvl 16
Naga Heartpiercer - 10.6 DPS Naga Heartpiercer in Blackfathom Depths
Raptor’s End - 12.1 DPS - Reward from Quest Ormer’s Revenge in Wetlands
Sturdy Recurve - 13.0 DPS - Darnassus / Ironforge Bow Vendor Requires lvl 27
Master Hunter’s Bow - 19.4 DPS - Stranglethorn Value Quest Reward for “Big Game Hunter”
Massive Longbow - 22.0 DPS - Darnassus / Ironforge Bow Vendor Requires lvl 42
Sylvan Shortbow - 22.8 DPS - Bowyer at Feralas, Darnassus, Winterspring
Verdant Keeeper’s Aim - 28.2 DPS - Maraudon Quest “Corruption of Earth and Seed”
Thornflinger - 26.6 DPS - Wildkin of Elune Quest in Winterspring
Satyr’s Bow - 29.8 DPS - Diremaul Drop off Zevrim Thornhoof 20%
Riphook - 30.2 DPS - Shadowhunter Voshgajin LBRS Drop 8%

Horde Bow Progression

Hornwood Recurve Bow - 2.4 DPS - Bowyer Vendor 2 Silver 85 Copper
Hickory Shortbow - 3.8 DPS - Reward from Harpy Quest “Securing the Lines” in Durotar
Orcish Battle Bow - 5.5 DPS - Reward from Barren’s Quest “Centaur Bracers”
Laminated Recurve Bow - 5.8 DPS - Bowyer Vendor - Requires lvl 11
Fine Longbow - 7.4 DPS - Bowyer Vendor Green - Requires lvl 14
Reinforced Bow - 7.5 DPS - Bowyer Vendor Green - Requires lvl 16
Bow of Plunder - 11.3 DPS - Reward from Quest “Dangerous” in Hillsbrad Foothills
Venomstrike - 11.5 DPS - Drops in WC off Lord Serpentis
Cliffrunner’s Aim - 12.0 DPS - Reward from Quest “The Sacred Flame” in Thunderbluff
Raptor’s End - 12.1 DPS - Reward from Quest “Ormer’s Revenge” in Wetlands
Sturdy Recurve - 13.0 DPS - Undercity / Thunderbluff Bow Vendor Requires lvl 27
Master Hunter’s Bow - 19.4 DPS - Stranglethorn Value Quest Reward for “Big Game Hunter”
Massive Longbow - 22.0 DPS - Undercity / Thunderbluff Bow Vendor Requires lvl 42
Hightland Bow - 23.6 DPS - Reward from Hinterland’s Quest Return to Primal Torntusk
Verdant Keeeper’s Aim - 28.2 DPS - Maraudon Quest “Corruption of Earth and Seed”
Satyr’s Bow - 29.8 DPS - Diremaul Drop off Zevrim Thornhoof 20%
Riphook - 30.2 DPS - Shadowhunter Voshgajin LBRS Drop 8%

Ammo Progression

Rough Arrow - +1.5 DPS - Level 1
Sharp Arrow - +3.5 DPS - Level 10
Razor Arrow - +7.5 DPS - Level 25
Jagged Arrow - +13 DPS - Level 40
Thorium Headed Arrow - 17.5 DPS - Level 52

Macros

Auto Shot Macro
/script if GetUnitName("target")==nil then TargetNearestEnemy() end
/run if CheckInteractDistance("target", 3) and (not PlayerFrame.inCombat) then AttackTarget() elseif not IsAutoRepeatAction(3) then CastSpellByName("Auto Shot") end

Macros
This two-line macro will:

• Automatically target anything in front of you if you don't have a target.
• Begin using Auto Shot if you're at the appropriate distance to strike.
• Prevent Auto Shot from being toggled off if you hit the key again.
• Swap to melee auto attack if you're too close to Auto Shot.
  Cast Hunter’s Mark + Pet Attack
  /cast Hunter’s Mark
  /script if GetUnitName("target")==nil then TargetNearestEnemy() end
  /script CastPetAction(2);
  /script CastPetAction(10);
  /script PetAttack(target)
  /cast Charge
  /cast Dash

This macro's six lines do the following:

• Automatic targeting.
• Pet will follow you when disengaged from combat.
• Pet will act passively when disengaged from combat.
• Pet will attack the target specified.
• If available, your boar will Charge the target specified.
• If Charge isn't available or possible, Dash will be enabled instead.

Macros

Call Pet Back

/script PetFollow("Your Name")
/script CastPetAction(10);
/cast Dash
Send Pet to Attack
/script if GetUnitName("target")==nil then TargetNearestEnemy() end
/script CastPetAction(2);
/script CastPetAction(10);
/script PetAttack(target)
/cast Charge
/cast Dash

Closing Thoughts

Thank you so much for your time - I hope this guide was of some help!

If you have further questions you can contact me in our community discord:

discord.gg/r9cVrzJ))

About the Author

I am an entrepreneur, U.S. Army soldier, and lifelong gamer from NYC and currently living in San Francisco. I stream and make video content on YouTube primarily for WoW Classic. I hope to continue to build my channel and this project and to become a positive influence in the Classic WoW community. I hope that more people can enjoy the same life changing experience I had when I stepped into Azeroth for the first time at age 13.

[PainBlanc]

2 Questions, is this build viable in WPvP or I should invest my points elsewhere and do you have a sheet with guns progressions A/H or I should stick with bows?

Nice Hunter leveling guide !

[LordofMMO]

Think that this might be more like an open world leveling guide, for mob grinding. Instead, why not look for the answers in more advanced guides maybe? Like this one here for example, hope this helps

[Spikkle]

This was the best levelling guide I found for Hunter by a good margin, you've got all the really important stuff in here so thanks for that!

My one gripe would be a lack of clear routing information. Granted, I've been able to work a lot of this out for myself based on the information provided such as important weapons and pets, but any additional thoughts you have on that could be useful, maybe in a future video.

[Shenk]

It’s a slower, more casual way to level, with lots of bouncing from zone to zone to ensure that you don’t outlevel quests and have them go gray. I’d say it’s about 2-3 times slower than normal leveling, but then it also saves you lots of time later on if you ever want another race’s mount and have to farm thousands of turn-ins to reach exalted otherwise. Anyway, this game leveling guide is very useful for me.

[Milo]

Nice guide. I always had a problem with collecting gold on WoW and I read an arcticle about not trusting every gold selling website. Can anyone reference a safe website where I can buy cheap WoW golds please?