WoW Patch 11.1: Hunter Class Overhaul
Patch 11.1 of World of Warcraft introduces significant changes to the Hunter class, impacting pet management, specialization abilities, and overall gameplay. Key updates include:
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Pet Specialization Changes: Hunters can now alter their pet's specialization (Cunning, Ferocity, or Tenacity) at the stable, offering greater flexibility in companion customization. This applies to all pets, including event rewards like the Dreaming Festive Reindeer.
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Beast Mastery Adjustments: Beast Mastery Hunters gain the option to utilize a single, enhanced pet, boosting its damage and size.
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Marksmanship Revamp: A major overhaul transforms Marksmanship Hunters into sharpshooters. They lose their pet, instead relying on a Spotting Eagle to mark targets for increased damage. This change has generated mixed player reactions.
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Undermine and the Liberation of Undermine Raid: Patch 11.1 introduces the Undermine storyline, culminating in a raid against Chrome King Gallywix.
The changes are currently being tested on the Public Test Realm (PTR) early next year, allowing players to provide feedback before the official release, anticipated for February.
Detailed Hunter Class Changes:
Several abilities and talents have been adjusted or redesigned:
- Kindling Flare: Increased flare radius by 50%.
- Territorial Instincts: Reduced Intimidation cooldown by 10 seconds; removed pet summon functionality.
- Wilderness Medicine: Increased Natural Mending cooldown reduction effect.
- No Hard Feelings: Reduced Misdirection cooldown by 5 seconds.
- Roar of Sacrifice (Marksmanship only): Pet protects a friendly target from critical strikes; disables Spotting Eagle's mark while active.
- Intimidation (Marksmanship): Line-of-sight requirement removed; utilizes Spotting Eagle.
- Explosive Shot: Increased projectile speed.
- Eyes of the Beast: Now exclusive to Survival and Beast Mastery.
- Eagle Eye: Now exclusive to Marksmanship.
- Freezing Trap: Breaks based on a damage threshold.
- Tooltip Updates: Marksmanship Hunter tooltips updated for clarity.
Hero Talent Changes:
The Pack Leader talent has undergone a complete redesign, replacing several existing talents. The new Howl of the Pack Leader summons a Bear, Wyvern, or Boar to aid in combat. Other new talents offer various strategic options and adjustments to pet abilities. Many previous Pack Leader talents have been removed. The Sentinel talent, Lunar Storm, has received significant buffs to damage, radius, and duration.
Beast Mastery Specific Changes:
New talents, Dire Cleave and Poisoned Barbs, enhance AoE capabilities. The Solitary Companion talent allows for a solo-pet playstyle. Several abilities have received damage or cost adjustments.
Marksmanship Specific Changes:
The removal of the pet has been a point of contention. New abilities, Harrier's Cry and Manhunter, introduce new gameplay mechanics. Numerous talents have been added or reworked to support the new sharpshooter focus, including talents that modify Spotter's Mark, Aimed Shot, and Trueshot.
Survival Specific Changes:
The new Cull the Herd talent leverages bleed effects. Flanking Strike and Butchery are now mutually exclusive choices.
Player vs. Player (PvP) Changes:
New PvP talents have been added for each specialization, along with adjustments to existing talents.
This comprehensive overview highlights the substantial changes impacting Hunters in World of Warcraft Patch 11.1. The PTR testing phase will be crucial in shaping the final iteration of these updates.
