World of Warcraft Patch 11.1: Hunter Class Overhaul
Patch 11.1 of World of Warcraft introduces significant changes to the Hunter class, impacting pet management, specializations, and core abilities. These alterations, while subject to player feedback during PTR testing, are poised to reshape the Hunter experience.
Key Changes Summarized:
- Pet Specialization Changes: Hunters can now alter their pet's specialization (Cunning, Ferocity, Tenacity) at the stable.
- Beast Mastery Overhaul: Beast Mastery Hunters can opt for a single, more powerful pet instead of two.
- Marksmanship Transformation: Marksmanship Hunters lose their pet entirely, gaining a Spotting Eagle companion that marks targets for increased damage.
- Undermine and the Liberation of Undermine Raid: The new patch introduces the Undermine storyline, culminating in a raid against Chrome King Gallywix.
Detailed Hunter Class Changes:
The ability to switch pet specializations offers greater flexibility and customization. The Beast Mastery single-pet option provides a different playstyle, while the Marksmanship rework, although controversial, aims to enhance the sharpshooter fantasy. The Pack Leader hero talent is redesigned, summoning a bear, boar, and wyvern simultaneously.
Specific Ability and Talent Adjustments:
Numerous ability adjustments and talent reworks are detailed below:
- Kindling Flare: Increased flare radius by 50%.
- Territorial Instincts: Reduces Intimidation cooldown; removes pet summon if no pet is present.
- Wilderness Medicine: Increased Natural Mending cooldown reduction.
- No Hard Feelings: Reduced Misdirection cooldown.
- Roar of Sacrifice (Marksmanship only): Pet protects a friendly target from critical strikes. Spotting Eagle is inactive while this is active.
- Intimidation (Marksmanship): Line-of-sight requirement removed; uses Spotting Eagle.
- Explosive Shot: Increased projectile speed.
- Eyes of the Beast: Learned only by Survival and Beast Mastery Hunters.
- Eagle Eye: Learned only by Marksmanship Hunters.
- Freezing Trap: Breaks based on a damage threshold.
- Withering Fire (Dark Ranger Talent): Triggers from Black Arrow casts during Trueshot/Bestial Wrath; no longer auto-fires Black Arrow.
- Pack Leader Talent Rework: Introduces "Howl of the Pack Leader," summoning a bear, wyvern, and boar for assistance. Several new talents are added, and many old talents are removed. The specific new talents and removed talents are listed in the original text.
- Sentinel Talent: Lunar Storm receives significant buffs to damage, radius, duration, and functionality.
- Beast Mastery: New talents like Dire Cleave, Poisoned Barbs, and Solitary Companion are introduced. Several talents are removed.
- Marksmanship: A complete rework, losing the pet and gaining a Spotting Eagle. Numerous new abilities and talents are introduced, replacing the old system. Many talents are removed.
- Survival: Flanking Strike and Butchery are now mutually exclusive choices. New talents like Cull the Herd and Born to Kill are added.
Player Feedback and PTR Testing:
Blizzard emphasizes the importance of player feedback on these changes. The PTR (Public Test Realm) will allow players to test the changes early next year, providing valuable input before the official patch release. This feedback will be crucial in fine-tuning the Hunter class changes for a balanced and enjoyable experience.
