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MoP Classic Survival Hunter — Guide (Phase 5)
by FourenUpdated 9 minutes read views
viewsAbout the Class
Survival Hunter is a ranged physical DPS whose entire rotation revolves around 
Explosive Shot, 
Black Arrow and 
Lock and Load procs. The mastery 
Mastery: Essence of the Viper boosts your magical damage, and Survival has a lot of it.
The resource is Focus: it is generated by 
Cobra Shot, and spent on Explosive Shot, 
Arcane Shot and 
Multi-Shot. This is the best Hunter specialization for PvE in Mists of Pandaria Classic: top-tier steady single-target damage plus excellent multi-target damage, all while providing the full suite of Hunter utility with 
Trueshot Aura.
Strengths
- Best steady single-target damage among Hunters.
- Excellent AoE damage through Multi-Shot,
Explosive Trap and 
Serpent Spread. - Brings Trueshot Aura to the raid.
- Very mobile: the entire rotation is instant except for Cobra Shot.
- A full suite of crowd control and safety tools:
Binding Shot, 
Misdirection, 
Feign Death, 
Deterrence. - Very strong in Mythic dungeons and easy to gear up early on.
Weaknesses
- Requires constant pet management for the aura and its damage.
- Falls behind other classes in later phases.
- The rotation is proc-dependent: a dry streak on Lock and Load immediately causes a damage drop.
- Few defensive abilities and almost no self-healing.
- Heavily reliant on mastery, so it is sensitive to reductions in the boss's magic damage taken.
Stat Priority
Hunter Survival Stats Priority
- 1Agility
- 2Hit Rating (up to 7.5%)
- 3Expertise (up to 7.5%)
- 4Critical Strike Rating
- 5Haste
- 6Mastery
Both 2550-rating thresholds are mandatory: a missed Cobra Shot generates no Focus and does not extend Serpent Sting.
Talents
Talents
Rotation (Ability Priority)
Opener
The opener is a set sequence of abilities you use as you engage an enemy. Memorising it helps initiate your rotation in the most optimal way possible.
- 1
Hunter's Mark - 2
Aspect of the Hawk - 3
Virmen's Bite - 4
Serpent Sting - 5Black Arrow
- 6
Stampede - 7
Rapid Fire - 8
Fervor - 9Explosive Shot
- 10
A Murder of Crows - 11
Glaive Toss - 12Cobra Shot
Abilities Priority
- Serpent Sting — keep the periodic effect up with no gaps
- Explosive Shot — your damage core: on cooldown and on every Lock and Load charge
Kill Shot — on a target below 20% health- A Murder of Crows — a strong on-demand DoT, on cooldown
- Black Arrow — a DoT that also generates Lock and Load procs
- Glaive Toss — very cost-effective direct damage for Focus
- Arcane Shot — dump excess Focus
- Cobra Shot — filler: generates Focus and extends Serpent Sting
Important Abilities
Important Abilities
+40% ranged attack speed for 15 seconds, your main personal cooldown
summons all pets from your stable for 20 seconds
your signature three-tick hit and main Focus dump
a Shadow-school DoT and your only source of Lock and Load procs
a proc granting free Explosive Shots with no cooldown
50 Focus instantly plus another 50 over 10 seconds
a Ferocity pet cooldown that sharply raises its attack power
resets the cooldowns of nearly all your shots
your main AoE trap; on single target, use it when it's free
redirects threat to the tank or your pet
a full threat wipe
full avoidance for a short time
your combat aspect, should always be active
Best in Slot (BiS)
Best in Slot (BiS)Slot
Recommended Gear
Source
Head
Headguard of the Unblinking Vigil
Kor'kron Dark Shaman (H) — Siege of Orgrimmar
Neck
Gleaming Eye of the Devilsaur
Kor'kron Dark Shaman (H) — Siege of Orgrimmar
Shoulders
Spaulders of the Unblinking Vigil
Siegecrafter Blackfuse (H) — Siege of Orgrimmar
Back
Fen-Yu, Fury of Xuen
Black Prince Legendary Questline
Chest
Ancient Archer's Chestguard
Spoils of Pandaria (H) — Siege of Orgrimmar
Wrists
Bracers of Infinite Pipes
Siegecrafter Blackfuse (H) — Siege of Orgrimmar
Hands
Gloves of the Unblinking Vigil
General Nazgrim (H) — Siege of Orgrimmar
Waist
Arrowflight Girdle
Spoils of Pandaria (H) — Siege of Orgrimmar
Legs
Legguards of the Unblinking Vigil
Paragons of the Klaxxi (H) — Siege of Orgrimmar
Feet
Ravager's Pathwalkers
General Nazgrim (H) — Siege of Orgrimmar
Ring 1
Ring of Restless Energy
Malkorok (H) — Siege of Orgrimmar
Ring 2
Kil'ruk's Band of Ascendancy
Paragons of the Klaxxi (H) — Siege of Orgrimmar
Trinket 1
Assurance of Consequence
Sha of Pride (H) — Siege of Orgrimmar
Trinket 2
Haromm's Talisman
Kor'kron Dark Shaman (H) — Siege of Orgrimmar
Weapon
Kor'kron Hand Cannon
Malkorok (H) — Siege of Orgrimmar
Tier 16 Set — Battlegear of the Unblinking Vigil
Tier 16 Set — Battlegear of the Unblinking VigilSlot
Recommended Gear
Drops From
Head
Headguard of the Unblinking Vigil
Kor'kron Dark Shaman (H) — Siege of Orgrimmar
Shoulders
Spaulders of the Unblinking Vigil
Siegecrafter Blackfuse (H) — Siege of Orgrimmar
Chest
Tunic of the Unblinking Vigil
Sha of Pride (H) — Siege of Orgrimmar
Hands
Gloves of the Unblinking Vigil
General Nazgrim (H) — Siege of Orgrimmar
Legs
Legguards of the Unblinking Vigil
Paragons of the Klaxxi (H) — Siege of Orgrimmar
Enchants, Gems, Consumables
EnchantsShoulders
Secret Tiger Claw Inscription
or
Greater Tiger Claw Inscription
Back
Swordguard Embroidery
Chest
Enchant Chest - Glorious Stats
Wrists
Fur Lining - Agility
or
Enchant Bracer - Greater Agility
Hands
Enchant Gloves - Superior Expertise
or
Synapse Springs
Waist
Living Steel Belt Buckle
Legs
Primal Leg Reinforcements
Feet
Enchant Boots - Blurred Speed
Weapon
Lord Blastington's Scope of Doom
GemsMeta gem
Agile Primal Diamond
and after obtaining the legendary trinket —
Crystallized Dread
Red socket
Delicate Primordial Ruby
Yellow socket
Deadly Vermilion Onyx
Blue socket
Glinting Imperial Amethyst
For Jewelcrafters — up to three
Delicate Serpent's Eye
ConsumablesFlask
Flask of Spring Blossoms
Potion (damage)
Virmen's Bite
Potion (emergency)
Master Healing Potion
Food
Pandaren Treasure Noodle Soup
or
Sea Mist Rice Noodles
or
Seasoned Pomfruit Slices
Bandages
Heavy Windwool Bandage
Races
Orc
Increases pet damage by 2% — for a Hunter this works for the entire fight.
Sharply increases attack power for 15 seconds. 2-minute cooldown.
Reduces stun duration by 15%.
Troll
Increases haste by 20% for 10 seconds. 3-minute cooldown.
Increases damage to beasts by 5%.
Reduces the duration of slows by 15%.
Blood Elf
Silences within an 8-meter radius and restores energy — useful in Mythic dungeons.
Reduces Arcane damage taken by 1%.
Worgen
Increases critical strike rating by 1% — the best racial bonus on the Alliance.
Increases movement speed by 40% for 10 seconds. 2-minute cooldown.
Lets you skin without a knife.
Draenei
Increases the whole group's hit by 1% — makes it easier to reach the hit cap.
Heals the target over 5 seconds. 3-minute cooldown.
Reduces Shadow damage taken by 1%.
Best Professions
Engineering
Synapse Springs provides an Agility burst under your cooldowns, while Nitro Boosts handle positioning issues. This is the profession's most noticeable contribution to damage.
Blacksmithing
Socket Bracer and 
Socket Gloves add two Agility gems.
Leatherworking
Fur Lining - Agility on the wrists is stronger than the standard enchant.
Tailoring
Swordguard Embroidery on the cloak provides regular attack power procs.
Author
Fouren
Fouren has been playing World of Warcraft for over 15 years. He is an active player with 12 Cutting Edge achievements under his belt, and has reached the top 1% and 0.1% multiple times on various classes. His main classes are healers, particularly Holy Paladin.
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