Surv Hunter Overview & Changes

Surv Hunter overview

Choose Survival if you want to stay in melee and manage strikes, bleeds and control. You can activate Mongoose Bite against a tanked enemy without being attacked yourself. Counterattack remains a defensive response to a parry, so its presence is not a reason to stand in front of a boss.

On this page

The biggest changes from Classic

Hunter's Mark enables offensive bites: Expose Prey gives your attacks against marked targets a chance to activate Mongoose Bite for five seconds. The opportunity comes from attacking, not from waiting to dodge.
Melee weapon damage matters: Strider Kick deals 100% melee weapon damage on an eight-second cooldown. Predator's Edge also supports melee crit damage and offhand weapon damage.
Melee abilities still cost mana: Resourcefulness cuts melee and trap costs and can enable mana regeneration while casting after your crits. It helps sustain attacks without turning the Hunter into a Focus user.

Survival Hunter

Melee DPS and control

Original Classic Survival supported ranged damage through talents such as Lightning Reflexes and Surefooted, with reactive melee tools for pressure at close range. Forever gives you repeatable melee attacks and a marked-target proc to use behind the tank's target. Traps and defensive talents remain separate choices alongside that offense.

Build your talents

Mark the target and react to Expose Prey

Put Hunter's Mark on the enemy you intend to attack before looking for Expose Prey procs. At rank 1, your attacks against a marked target have a 5% chance to activate Mongoose Bite for five seconds. Keep attacking and watch for the opportunity; placing the mark does not guarantee a bite by itself.

Use Mongoose Bite while that window is open and you are in melee range. When forced movement is coming, spend an available bite before you go: unlike an ordinary cooldown, it will not wait. Move out for the mechanic if necessary, but do not spend the whole five-second opportunity on optional casts while standing next to the target.

Check the mark when your party changes kill targets. Attacking a different, unmarked enemy does not meet Expose Prey's condition. If the swap is urgent, move with the tank and mark the new target rather than continuing to attack the old one just to fish for another proc.

Classic Mongoose Bite required a dodge. Expose Prey adds an offensive route to it, so you can use bites while another player tanks. Stay behind a tanked enemy and take the proc opportunities your own attacks provide; pulling aggro to get dodges adds danger without being necessary for this talent.

Lacerating Strikes and bleed targets

Lacerating Strikes makes Mongoose Bite cause a bleed over 21 seconds equal to 40% of the damage the bite dealt. The bite lands its direct damage first; the additional bleed needs time to run. Prefer an assigned target that will remain alive and attackable when choosing where to spend a bite opportunity.

On a low-health enemy, you still have the direct bite, but should not count the whole bleed as damage that will land before it dies. If the group is finishing an add and moving to a boss, use that distinction when choosing the target for your next marked-target attacks. It does not justify abandoning an add your party needs killed now.

Keep bites and their bleed off enemies you need to trap or otherwise hold with breakable control. Moving your weapon attacks away does not remove a bleed already ticking. Agree on the control target before you start the melee sequence, not after a bleed is already ticking.

Strider Kick and Raptor Strike

Strider Kick is an instant attack for 100% melee weapon damage with an eight-second cooldown. It needs no dodge or parry trigger. If you are about to leave range, use an available strike before you move, as long as that does not delay the movement.

Raptor Strike remains a next-melee-swing attack. Queue it when you will still be in contact for that swing, rather than treating its button press as immediate damage. Classic Hunters already used Raptor Strike proactively, including weaving it between ranged attacks; Strider Kick adds another active melee attack rather than introducing the first one.

Mongoose Bite is the short window in that set. React to its activation, use Strider Kick when you have room to do so, and account for Raptor Strike's next-swing timing. A fixed repeating button sequence can miss the bite window because Expose Prey is a chance proc, not a scheduled activation.

Two-handed weapons or dual wield

Compare the damage of the weapons you can equip, not only their Agility or AP. Strider Kick uses melee weapon damage, and rank-2 Mongoose Bite includes melee weapon damage as well. A strong two-hander can therefore be valuable for its strikes, while two one-handers provide an offhand attack that Predator's Edge can improve.

At rank 1, Predator's Edge increases offhand weapon damage by 10% and also improves melee critical-strike damage. A two-handed setup does not use the offhand part. A dual-wield setup still needs a worthwhile offhand weapon; the talent is not a reason to replace a strong two-hander with any two weapons you happen to own.

Savage Strikes adds crit chance to all melee abilities, by 2% at rank 1. That scope supports your strikes without turning the talent into a ranged crit bonus. Lightning Reflexes separately increases Agility. Weigh weapon damage, offensive stats and the talents your setup can actually use, rather than assuming either setup is always best.

Learn Dual Wield before equipping an offhand weapon, and train the weapon types you want to use. Hunters can choose from their eligible swords, axes, daggers, fist weapons, polearms and staves as appropriate to the slot. A racial weapon bonus does not teach the proficiency; Dwarf Mace Specialization does not make maces a Hunter option.

Resourcefulness and melee mana

At rank 1, Resourcefulness reduces the mana cost of traps and melee abilities by 30%. It also gives your critical strikes a 50% chance to allow 50% of your mana regeneration to continue while casting for 30 seconds. The cost reduction helps every eligible use; the regeneration part depends on a proc.

Keep mana in reserve for an Expose Prey proc instead of finding that you cannot afford Mongoose Bite once it fires. If repeated utility casts are draining you, stop reapplying a slow that is already doing its job and preserve mana for the next strike or control response. Regeneration while casting is not an instant refund, so a proc does not immediately rescue an empty bar.

Efficiency is an optional Marksmanship investment that also reduces the cost of melee abilities, alongside shots and stings. It does not cover traps, whereas Resourcefulness does. Consider extra cost support over offensive points when running dry is what stops your attacks.

Surefooted helps you reach the target by shortening movement-impairing effects, alongside its hit bonus. It shortens those effects rather than making you immune to them. Follow the tank's route closely so a short snare does not leave you crossing the room after the target.

Counterattack and defensive positioning

Counterattack activates after you parry an opponent's attack. It roots for five seconds and includes weapon damage, but remains reactive. Against an enemy attacking you, use that root to create distance or give the tank time to recover it. Against a boss held by the tank, stay behind it and get Mongoose Bite opportunities through Expose Prey instead.

Deflection increases parry chance. Deterrence increases dodge and parry chance by 25% for ten seconds, with a five-minute base cooldown. These help when you are under physical melee pressure; the avoidance bonus is not a general immunity to spell damage. Use it before incoming swings become lethal rather than expecting it to undo damage already taken.

Counterattack requires Deterrence, so buying the root also commits points to that defensive branch. If you rarely receive melee attacks because a tank holds the enemies, consider whether more strike damage or mana support would help more often. In solo play or PvP, the ability to stop a pursuing melee enemy gives those same points a more frequent job.

Hunter talent trees

Hover, focus or tap a talent to read its effects. Each badge shows the talent's maximum rank; this is the full tree, not a suggested build.

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Spend your 51 points, try different paths and share your build in the talent calculator.

Build your talents

Read all talent descriptions

Beast Mastery

Deadly Aspects Maximum rank 5

Rank 1
While Aspect of the Hawk is active, Auto Shot has a 2% chance of increasing ranged attack speed by 30% for 12 sec. While Aspect of the Beast is active, all melee auto attacks have a 2% chance of increasing melee attack speed by 30% for 12 sec.

Rank 2
While Aspect of the Hawk is active, Auto Shot has a 4% chance of increasing ranged attack speed by 30% for 12 sec. While Aspect of the Beast is active, all melee auto attacks have a 4% chance of increasing melee attack speed by 30% for 12 sec.

Rank 3
While Aspect of the Hawk is active, Auto Shot has a 6% chance of increasing ranged attack speed by 30% for 12 sec. While Aspect of the Beast is active, all melee auto attacks have a 6% chance of increasing melee attack speed by 30% for 12 sec.

Rank 4
While Aspect of the Hawk is active, Auto Shot has a 8% chance of increasing ranged attack speed by 30% for 12 sec. While Aspect of the Beast is active, all melee auto attacks have a 8% chance of increasing melee attack speed by 30% for 12 sec.

Rank 5
While Aspect of the Hawk is active, Auto Shot has a 10% chance of increasing ranged attack speed by 30% for 12 sec. While Aspect of the Beast is active, all melee auto attacks have a 10% chance of increasing melee attack speed by 30% for 12 sec.

Passive

Endurance Training Maximum rank 5

Rank 1
Increases the Health and Armor of your pets by 3%.

Rank 2
Increases the Health and Armor of your pets by 6%.

Rank 3
Increases the Health and Armor of your pets by 9%.

Rank 4
Increases the Health and Armor of your pets by 12%.

Rank 5
Increases the Health and Armor of your pets by 15%.

Passive

Focused Fire Maximum rank 2

Rank 1
Increases all damage you and your pet deal by 1% while your pet is active.

Rank 2
Increases all damage you and your pet deal by 2% while your pet is active.

Passive

Improved Aspect of the Monkey Maximum rank 3

Rank 1
Increases the Dodge bonus of your Aspect of the Monkey by 2%. Additionally, your pet gains 50% of the effect of your Aspect of the Monkey ability.

Rank 2
Increases the Dodge bonus of your Aspect of the Monkey by 4%. Additionally, your pet gains 50% of the effect of your Aspect of the Monkey ability.

Rank 3
Increases the Dodge bonus of your Aspect of the Monkey by 6%. Additionally, your pet gains 50% of the effect of your Aspect of the Monkey ability.

Passive

Pathfinding Maximum rank 2

Rank 1
Increases the speed bonus of your Aspect of the Cheetah and Aspect of the Pack by 3%.

Rank 2
Increases the speed bonus of your Aspect of the Cheetah and Aspect of the Pack by 6%.

Passive

Improved Revive Pet Maximum rank 2

Rank 1
Revive Pet's casting time is reduced by 3 sec, mana cost is reduced by 20%, and increases the health your pet returns with by an additional 15%.

Rank 2
Revive Pet's casting time is reduced by 6 sec, mana cost is reduced by 40%, and increases the health your pet returns with by an additional 30%.

Passive

Bestial Swiftness Maximum rank 1

Rank 1
Increases the movement speed of your pets by 30%.

Passive

Unleashed Fury Maximum rank 5

Rank 1
Increases the damage done by your pets and hawks by 3%.

Rank 2
Increases the damage done by your pets and hawks by 6%.

Rank 3
Increases the damage done by your pets and hawks by 9%.

Rank 4
Increases the damage done by your pets and hawks by 12%.

Rank 5
Increases the damage done by your pets and hawks by 15%.

Passive

Improved Mend Pet Maximum rank 2

Rank 1
Gives your Mend Pet spell a 15% chance of cleansing 1 Curse, Disease, Magic, or Poison effect from your pet each time it heals and reduces the Mana cost by 10%.

Rank 2
Gives your Mend Pet spell a 50% chance of cleansing 1 Curse, Disease, Magic, or Poison effect from your pet each time it heals and reduces the Mana cost by 20%.

Passive

Ferocity Maximum rank 5

Rank 1
Increases the critical strike chance of your pets and hawks by 2%.

Rank 2
Increases the critical strike chance of your pets and hawks by 4%.

Rank 3
Increases the critical strike chance of your pets and hawks by 6%.

Rank 4
Increases the critical strike chance of your pets and hawks by 8%.

Rank 5
Increases the critical strike chance of your pets and hawks by 10%.

Passive

Summon Hawk Maximum rank 1

Rank 1
Command a hawk to dive-bomb your targeted enemy, dealing 32 Physical damage and continuing its assault for 18 sec. Only 2 hawks can be active at once. Summon Hawk shares its cooldown with Arcane Shot.

80 Mana | 35 yd range | Instant | 6 sec cooldown

Spirit Bond Maximum rank 2

Rank 1
While your pet is active, you and your pet will regenerate 1% of total health every 10 sec.

Rank 2
While your pet is active, you and your pet will regenerate 1% of total health every 5 sec.

Passive

Intimidation Maximum rank 1

Rank 1
Command your pet to Stun the target for 3 sec on its next successful attack, which also gains 100% increased critical strike chance. Generates high threat.

8% of base mana | 100 yd range | Instant | 1 min cooldown

Bestial Discipline Maximum rank 2

Rank 1
Increases the Focus regeneration of your pets by 10% and allows 25% of your Mana regeneration to continue while casting.

Rank 2
Increases the Focus regeneration of your pets by 20% and allows 50% of your Mana regeneration to continue while casting.

Passive

Frenzy Maximum rank 5

Rank 1
Gives your pet a 20% chance to gain a 30% attack speed increase for 8 sec after dealing a critical strike.

Rank 2
Gives your pet a 40% chance to gain a 30% attack speed increase for 8 sec after dealing a critical strike.

Rank 3
Gives your pet a 60% chance to gain a 30% attack speed increase for 8 sec after dealing a critical strike.

Rank 4
Gives your pet a 80% chance to gain a 30% attack speed increase for 8 sec after dealing a critical strike.

Rank 5
Gives your pet a 100% chance to gain a 30% attack speed increase for 8 sec after dealing a critical strike.

Passive

Bestial Wrath Maximum rank 1

Rank 1
Send your pet into a rage causing 50% additional damage for 18 sec. While enraged, the beast does not feel pity or remorse or fear and it cannot be stopped unless killed.

12% of base mana | 100 yd range | Instant | 2 min cooldown

Marksmanship

Hawk Eye Maximum rank 3

Rank 1
Increases the range of your ranged weapons by 2 yards.

Rank 2
Increases the range of your ranged weapons by 4 yards.

Rank 3
Increases the range of your ranged weapons by 6 yards.

Passive

Improved Concussive Shot Maximum rank 5

Rank 1
Gives your Concussive Shot a 4% chance to stun the target for 3 sec.

Rank 2
Gives your Concussive Shot a 8% chance to stun the target for 3 sec.

Rank 3
Gives your Concussive Shot a 12% chance to stun the target for 3 sec.

Rank 4
Gives your Concussive Shot a 16% chance to stun the target for 3 sec.

Rank 5
Gives your Concussive Shot a 20% chance to stun the target for 3 sec.

Passive

Lethal Attacks Maximum rank 5

Rank 1
Increases your critical strike chance with all attacks by 1%.

Rank 2
Increases your critical strike chance with all attacks by 2%.

Rank 3
Increases your critical strike chance with all attacks by 3%.

Rank 4
Increases your critical strike chance with all attacks by 4%.

Rank 5
Increases your critical strike chance with all attacks by 5%.

Passive

Improved Stings Maximum rank 3

Rank 1
Increased the damage of your Serpent Sting ability by 6%, reduces the cooldown of your Viper Sting ability by 2 sec, and increases the duration of your Scorpid Sting ability by 15 sec.

Rank 2
Increased the damage of your Serpent Sting ability by 13%, reduces the cooldown of your Viper Sting ability by 4 sec, and increases the duration of your Scorpid Sting ability by 30 sec.

Rank 3
Increased the damage of your Serpent Sting ability by 20%, reduces the cooldown of your Viper Sting ability by 6 sec, and increases the duration of your Scorpid Sting ability by 45 sec.

Passive

Efficiency Maximum rank 5

Rank 1
Reduces the Mana cost of your Shots, Stings, and melee abilities by 3%.

Rank 2
Reduces the Mana cost of your Shots, Stings, and melee abilities by 6%.

Rank 3
Reduces the Mana cost of your Shots, Stings, and melee abilities by 9%.

Rank 4
Reduces the Mana cost of your Shots, Stings, and melee abilities by 12%.

Rank 5
Reduces the Mana cost of your Shots, Stings, and melee abilities by 15%.

Passive

Careful Aim Maximum rank 5

Rank 1
Increases your Attack Power by 20% of your Intellect.

Rank 2
Increases your Attack Power by 40% of your Intellect.

Rank 3
Increases your Attack Power by 60% of your Intellect.

Rank 4
Increases your Attack Power by 80% of your Intellect.

Rank 5
Increases your Attack Power by 100% of your Intellect.

Passive

Rapid Killing Maximum rank 2

Rank 1
Reduces the cooldown on your Rapid Fire ability by 1 min. In addition, when you kill a non-trivial enemy or it dies while afflicted by your Serpent Sting, you gain Rapid Killing, increasing the damage of your next Shot ability within 20 sec by 10%.

Rank 2
Reduces the cooldown on your Rapid Fire ability by 2 min. In addition, when you kill a non-trivial enemy or it dies while afflicted by your Serpent Sting, you gain Rapid Killing, increasing the damage of your next Shot ability within 20 sec by 20%.

Passive

Improved Arcane Shot Maximum rank 5

Rank 1
Reduces the cooldown of your Arcane Shot by 0.3 sec. Does not affect the cooldown of abilities which share a cooldown with Arcane Shot.

Rank 2
Reduces the cooldown of your Arcane Shot by 0.6 sec. Does not affect the cooldown of abilities which share a cooldown with Arcane Shot.

Rank 3
Reduces the cooldown of your Arcane Shot by 0.9 sec. Does not affect the cooldown of abilities which share a cooldown with Arcane Shot.

Rank 4
Reduces the cooldown of your Arcane Shot by 1.2 sec. Does not affect the cooldown of abilities which share a cooldown with Arcane Shot.

Rank 5
Reduces the cooldown of your Arcane Shot by 1.5 sec. Does not affect the cooldown of abilities which share a cooldown with Arcane Shot.

Passive

Lone Wolf Maximum rank 1

Rank 1
You deal 20% increased damage with all attacks while you do not have an active pet.

Passive

Trueshot Aura Maximum rank 1

Rank 1
Increases the Ranged Attack Power of party members within 45 yards by 30. Lasts 30 min.

180 Mana | Instant

Mortal Shots Maximum rank 5

Rank 1
Increases the critical strike damage bonus on all ranged abilities by 6%.

Rank 2
Increases the critical strike damage bonus on all ranged abilities by 12%.

Rank 3
Increases the critical strike damage bonus on all ranged abilities by 18%.

Rank 4
Increases the critical strike damage bonus on all ranged abilities by 24%.

Rank 5
Increases the critical strike damage bonus on all ranged abilities by 30%.

Passive

Rapid Recuperation Maximum rank 2

Rank 1
Hitting a target with your Serpent Sting ability grants you 25% and consuming Rapid Killing grants you 50% of your Mana regeneration while casting for the next 15 sec.

Rank 2
Hitting a target with your Serpent Sting ability grants you 50% and consuming Rapid Killing grants you 100% of your Mana regeneration while casting for the next 15 sec.

Passive

Barrage Maximum rank 3

Rank 1
Increases the damage done by your Multi-Shot, Aimed Shot, and Volley abilities by 3%.

Rank 2
Increases the damage done by your Multi-Shot, Aimed Shot, and Volley abilities by 7%.

Rank 3
Increases the damage done by your Multi-Shot, Aimed Shot, and Volley abilities by 10%.

Passive

Scatter Shot Maximum rank 1

Rank 1
A short-range shot that deals 50% weapon damage and disorients the target for 4 sec. Any damage caused will remove the effect. Turns off your attack when used.

8% of base mana | 15 yd range | Instant | 30 sec cooldown

Ranged Weapon Specialization Maximum rank 5

Rank 1
Increases the damage you deal with ranged weapons by 1%.

Rank 2
Increases the damage you deal with ranged weapons by 2%.

Rank 3
Increases the damage you deal with ranged weapons by 3%.

Rank 4
Increases the damage you deal with ranged weapons by 4%.

Rank 5
Increases the damage you deal with ranged weapons by 5%.

Passive

Sniper Shot Maximum rank 1

Rank 1
A steady snipe that increases ranged damage by 160.

365 Mana | 8-35 yd range | 4 sec cast | 15 sec cooldown

Survival

Improved Tracking Maximum rank 5

Rank 1
While tracking Beasts, Demons, Dragonkin, Elementals, Giants, Humanoids, or Undead, all damage you deal to the tracked creature type is increased by 1%.

Rank 2
While tracking Beasts, Demons, Dragonkin, Elementals, Giants, Humanoids, or Undead, all damage you deal to the tracked creature type is increased by 2%.

Rank 3
While tracking Beasts, Demons, Dragonkin, Elementals, Giants, Humanoids, or Undead, all damage you deal to the tracked creature type is increased by 3%.

Rank 4
While tracking Beasts, Demons, Dragonkin, Elementals, Giants, Humanoids, or Undead, all damage you deal to the tracked creature type is increased by 4%.

Rank 5
While tracking Beasts, Demons, Dragonkin, Elementals, Giants, Humanoids, or Undead, all damage you deal to the tracked creature type is increased by 5%.

Passive

Deflection Maximum rank 5

Rank 1
Increases your Parry chance by 2%.

Rank 2
Increases your Parry chance by 4%.

Rank 3
Increases your Parry chance by 6%.

Rank 4
Increases your Parry chance by 8%.

Rank 5
Increases your Parry chance by 10%.

Passive

Entrapment Maximum rank 5

Rank 1
When your traps are triggered, all affected targets are Entrapped, preventing them from moving for 1 sec.

Rank 2
When your traps are triggered, all affected targets are Entrapped, preventing them from moving for 2 sec.

Rank 3
When your traps are triggered, all affected targets are Entrapped, preventing them from moving for 3 sec.

Rank 4
When your traps are triggered, all affected targets are Entrapped, preventing them from moving for 4 sec.

Rank 5
When your traps are triggered, all affected targets are Entrapped, preventing them from moving for 5 sec.

Passive

Savage Strikes Maximum rank 2

Rank 1
Increases the critical strike chance of all your melee abilities by 2%.

Rank 2
Increases the critical strike chance of all your melee abilities by 4%.

Passive

Survivalist Maximum rank 5

Rank 1
Increases your total Health by 2%.

Rank 2
Increases your total Health by 4%.

Rank 3
Increases your total Health by 6%.

Rank 4
Increases your total Health by 8%.

Rank 5
Increases your total Health by 10%.

Passive

Improved Wing Clip Maximum rank 3

Rank 1
Gives your Wing Clip ability a 7% chance to immobilize the target for 5 sec.

Rank 2
Gives your Wing Clip ability a 13% chance to immobilize the target for 5 sec.

Rank 3
Gives your Wing Clip ability a 20% chance to immobilize the target for 5 sec.

Passive

Clever Traps Maximum rank 2

Rank 1
Increases the duration of Freezing and Frost trap effects by 15% and the damage of Immolation and Explosive trap effects by 15%.

Rank 2
Increases the duration of Freezing and Frost trap effects by 30% and the damage of Immolation and Explosive trap effects by 30%.

Passive

Surefooted Maximum rank 3

Rank 1
Increases your hit chance by 1% and reduces the duration of movement impairing effects on you by 10%.

Rank 2
Increases your hit chance by 2% and reduces the duration of movement impairing effects on you by 20%.

Rank 3
Increases your hit chance by 3% and reduces the duration of movement impairing effects on you by 30%.

Passive

Deterrence Maximum rank 1

Rank 1
When activated, increases your Dodge and Parry chance by 25% for 10 sec.

Instant | 5 min cooldown

Survival Tactics Maximum rank 2

Rank 1
Increases your chance to hit with your Trap and Feign Death abilities by 5%.

Rank 2
Increases your chance to hit with your Trap and Feign Death abilities by 10%.

Passive

Predator's Edge Maximum rank 5

Rank 1
Increases your melee critical strike damage by 6% and your offhand weapon damage by 10%.

Rank 2
Increases your melee critical strike damage by 12% and your offhand weapon damage by 20%.

Rank 3
Increases your melee critical strike damage by 18% and your offhand weapon damage by 30%.

Rank 4
Increases your melee critical strike damage by 24% and your offhand weapon damage by 40%.

Rank 5
Increases your melee critical strike damage by 30% and your offhand weapon damage by 50%.

Passive

Counterattack Maximum rank 1

Rank 1
A strike that becomes active after parrying an opponent's attack. This attack deals 50% weapon damage plus 13 and immobilizes the target for 5 sec. Counterattack cannot be blocked, dodged, or parried.

30 Mana | Melee Range | Instant | 5 sec cooldown

Resourcefulness Maximum rank 2

Rank 1
Reduces the mana cost of your Trap abilities and melee abilities by 30%. In addition, your critical strikes have a 50% chance to allow 50% of your Mana regeneration to continue while casting for 30 sec.

Rank 2
Reduces the mana cost of your Trap abilities and melee abilities by 60%. In addition, your critical strikes have a 100% chance to allow 50% of your Mana regeneration to continue while casting for 30 sec.

Passive

Expose Prey Maximum rank 2

Rank 1
Your attacks against targets with Hunter's Mark have a 5% chance to activate your Mongoose Bite for 5 sec.

Rank 2
Your attacks against targets with Hunter's Mark have a 10% chance to activate your Mongoose Bite for 5 sec.

Passive

Survivalist's Discipline Maximum rank 2

Rank 1
Reduces the cooldown of your Trap and Deterrence abilities by 20%.

Rank 2
Reduces the cooldown of your Trap and Deterrence abilities by 40%.

Passive

Strider Kick Maximum rank 1

Rank 1
A powerful kick that deals 100% melee weapon damage.

5.81% of base mana | Melee Range | Instant | 8 sec cooldown

Lightning Reflexes Maximum rank 5

Rank 1
Increases your Agility by 2%.

Rank 2
Increases your Agility by 4%.

Rank 3
Increases your Agility by 6%.

Rank 4
Increases your Agility by 8%.

Rank 5
Increases your Agility by 10%.

Passive

Lacerating Strikes Maximum rank 1

Rank 1
Your Mongoose Bite also causes the target to Bleed for damage over 21 sec equal to 40% of the damage done by Mongoose Bite.

Passive

Trap triggers, placement and control

Place your intended control trap on the enemy's approach before the pull. Entrapment roots affected targets when a trap triggers; at rank 1, the root lasts one second. Original Classic Entrapment instead gave certain damaging and slowing traps a chance to root. So the root is now part of a successful trap, not a second roll on top.

Choose trap support according to the assigned effect. Clever Traps extends Freezing and Frost Trap effects and increases Immolation and Explosive Trap damage. Survival Tactics increases hit chance for traps and Feign Death. Survivalist's Discipline shortens trap and Deterrence cooldowns. Duration, damage, hit and cooldown are different benefits; none of these talents grants permission to place traps during combat.

Freezing Trap prevents the target from acting but breaks on damage. Frost Trap slows enemies in its area, which helps when several mobs must be kept away from the party. Keep damaging traps out of a Freezing Trap assignment, and place the slowing area where enemies will cross it rather than where they were standing before the pull.

Improved Wing Clip adds a chance for Wing Clip to root. Treat it as extra control on top of the slow, not a guaranteed root from one press. For the rest of the party's trap and pet assignments, use the Hunter group-play overview.

Deep Survival, petless melee and off-tree points

Lacerating Strikes is the 31-point Survival talent and requires Expose Prey. Strider Kick is a separate purchase at the 21-point tier, not a prerequisite for the bleed. Include the attacks you intend to press as well as the passive talents when planning the path down the tree.

A deep Survival build can reach Lone Wolf in Marksmanship: their minimum commitments are 31 and 11 points, totaling 42. Lone Wolf's 20% all-attack damage bonus includes melee attacks, but requires no active pet. Keeping a pet instead gives you another attacker and a way to hold solo enemies; do not dismiss it solely because you are playing a melee role.

Early BM offers a different use of off-tree points. Deadly Aspects supports melee auto attacks while Aspect of the Beast is active, and Focused Fire supports you and your pet while a pet is active. Petless melee cannot receive Focused Fire at the same time as Lone Wolf. Compare the pet and petless choices before buying talents that depend on opposite pet states.

Deep Survival cannot also reach Intimidation: 31 Survival points plus the pet stun's minimum 21 BM points would require 52. You still have Survival's own control choices, but they cost points that could improve damage or sustain. Use the removed Classic talent list to distinguish retired talents from the current paths, rather than copying an old ranged Survival build.

Melee stats, aspects and shared hit

Use Aspect of the Beast for its melee AP when you are committing to melee damage. Rank 1 adds 50 melee AP. Aspect of the Hawk instead supports ranged AP, so leaving it active out of habit does not supply the same benefit to your strikes. If you take Deadly Aspects, Beast is also the condition for its melee auto-attack speed proc.

Compare hit alongside your selected Surefooted rank, and consider crit in light of Savage Strikes, Predator's Edge and Resourcefulness. Lightning Reflexes adds an Agility multiplier, but it does not establish an item-by-item stat priority on its own. A weapon with better strike damage can still beat one chosen only for its Agility total.

Shared item hit helps attacks and trap reliability without making their miss rules identical. Dual wield also does not make offhand swings and special attacks interchangeable when assessing misses. Weapon skill retains its physical role, so train and develop the weapon skill for a new weapon type before judging its performance. See the Hunter gearing overview for the broader item changes.

For racial cooldowns, movement tools and weapon conditions, use the Hunter race comparison. Personal racial stats are not automatically transferred to an active pet, and choosing petless melee does not remove the proficiency requirements of your weapons.

Surv Hunter questions

Must a Survival Hunter tank hits to use Mongoose Bite?

No. Expose Prey gives your attacks against a target with Hunter's Mark a chance to activate Mongoose Bite. You can use that route while standing behind an enemy held by a tank, without relying on dodges.

Does Strider Kick interrupt spells?

Strider Kick deals melee weapon damage. It has no listed interrupt effect, so do not volunteer it for a cast-interrupt assignment because its name includes Kick.

Does Resourcefulness restore half my mana after a crit?

No. At rank 1, its crit-triggered effect allows 50% of your mana regeneration to continue while casting for 30 seconds. It is a chance proc and a regeneration effect, not an immediate return of half your mana pool.

Can a two-handed Survival Hunter use Predator's Edge?

The melee crit-damage benefit still applies, but the offhand weapon-damage benefit has no offhand to improve. Compare that partial benefit with other talent choices and the two-hander's strike damage before deciding to switch to dual wield.

Does Expose Prey also activate Counterattack?

No. Expose Prey names Mongoose Bite. Counterattack still requires a parry, so it remains a response to an enemy attacking you rather than another proc from hitting a marked target.

Surv Hunter overview

The biggest changes from Classic

Survival Hunter

Mark the target and react to Expose Prey

Lacerating Strikes and bleed targets

Strider Kick and Raptor Strike

Two-handed weapons or dual wield

Resourcefulness and melee mana

Counterattack and defensive positioning

Hunter talent trees

Beast Mastery

Marksmanship

Survival

Trap triggers, placement and control

Deep Survival, petless melee and off-tree points

Melee stats, aspects and shared hit

Surv Hunter questions

Hunter spec guides

Plan the rest of your character