World of Warcraft Patch 11.1 is Going to Be a Big Update for Hunters

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 specializations, and individual Hunter specializations. Key updates include:

• Pet Specialization Changes: Hunters can now alter their pet's specialization (Cunning, Ferocity, or Tenacity) directly from the stable, offering greater flexibility in companion customization. This applies to all hunter pets, including event-specific companions.

• Beast Mastery Overhaul: Beast Mastery Hunters gain the option to utilize a single, more powerful pet, increasing its damage and size.

• Marksmanship Transformation: Marksmanship Hunters undergo a substantial rework, losing their traditional pet companion. Instead, they gain a Spotting Eagle that marks targets, increasing damage dealt by the Hunter's abilities.

• Undermine and the Liberation of Undermine Raid: Patch 11.1 introduces the "Undermine" content update, leading players into the Goblin capital for a raid encounter against Chrome King Gallywix.

The Hunter class changes are generating mixed reactions. While the pet specialization and Beast Mastery solo-pet options are generally well-received, the Marksmanship rework is proving more controversial, with some players expressing concern over the loss of the pet. The Pack Leader talent has also been redesigned, forcing a specific animal trio (bear, boar, wyvern) instead of allowing player choice.

These changes are currently under testing on the Public Test Realm (PTR) early next year, allowing players to provide feedback to Blizzard before the official release, likely in February.

Detailed Hunter Class Changes in Patch 11.1:

Pet System:

• Stable dropdown menu allows changing pet specializations.

General Hunter Changes:

• Kindling Flare radius increased by 50%.
• Territorial Instincts cooldown reduction for Intimidation (10 seconds), pet summon removed.
• Wilderness Medicine increases Natural Mending cooldown reduction by 0.5 seconds.
• No Hard Feelings reduces Misdirection cooldown by 5 seconds.
• Roar of Sacrifice (Marksmanship only): Pet protects a friendly target from critical strikes; Spotting Eagle disabled while active.
• Intimidation (Marksmanship): No line of sight required, uses Spotting Eagle.
• Explosive Shot projectile speed increased.
• Eyes of the Beast (Survival and Beast Mastery only).
• Eagle Eye (Marksmanship only).
• Freezing Trap break condition changed (damage threshold).
• Tooltips updated for clarity (Roar of Sacrifice, Wilderness Medicine, No Hard Feelings).

Hero Talents (Hunter):

• Dark Ranger: Withering Fire redesigned (triggers from Black Arrow during Trueshot/Bestial Wrath). Bleak Powder cone damage fixed.
• Pack Leader: Completely redesigned with new Howl of the Pack Leader ability, summoning a Bear, Wyvern, or Boar. New talents include Better Together, Dire Summons, Pack Mentality, Ursine Fury, Envenomed Fangs, Fury of the Wyvern, Hogstrider, No Mercy, Shell Cover, Slicked Shoes, Horsehair Tether, and Lead From the Front. Several talents removed.
• Sentinel: Lunar Storm damage, radius, and duration increased; cooldown and visual effects updated.

Beast Mastery Changes:

• New talents: Dire Cleave, Poisoned Barbs, Solitary Companion.
• Stomp damage updated (separate instances).
• Serpent Sting damage increased by 50%.
• Barrage damage increased by 100%, focus cost reduced to 40.
• Alpha Predator damage multiplier changed.
• Hunter's Prey Kill Shots now target enemies regardless of health.
• Dire Command chance reduced to 20%.
• Dire Beast visual effects and summoning animation updated.
• Dire Frenzy is now a 2-point node, replacing Basilisk Collar.
• Several talents removed.

Marksmanship Changes:

• New abilities: Harrier’s Cry, Manhunter, Eyes in the Sky.
• New talents: Aspect of the Hydra, Improved Spotter’s Mark, Moving Target, Obsidian-Tipped Ammunition, Shrapnel Shot, Magnetic Gunpowder, Precise Detonation, On Target, Quickdraw, Target Acquisition, Eagle’s Accuracy, Headshot, Feathered Frenzy, Tensile Bowstring, Incendiary Ammunition, Bullet Hell, Improved Streamline, Windrunner Quiver, Cunning, Tenacious, Ohn’ahran Winds, Double Tap, Killer Mark, Deadeye.
• Precise Shot renamed to Precise Shots, functionality updated.
• Focused Aim, Trueshot, Razor Fragments, Calling the Shots, Unerring Vision, Bulletstorm, In the Rhythm, Ammo Conservation, Salvo updated.
• Aimed Shot, Rapid Fire, Volley, Steady Shot damage and functionality updated.
• Small Game Hunter, Pin Cushion functionality updated.
• Many talents removed.

Survival Changes:

• New talents: Cull the Herd, Born to Kill.
• Frenzy Strikes, Merciless Blow updated.
• Alpha Predator damage multiplier changed.
• Merciless Blow damage reduced.
• Tactical Advantage updated.
• Flanking Strike and Butchery are now mutually exclusive.
• Exposed Flank removed.

Player vs. Player (PvP):

• New PvP talent (Hunter): Explosive Powder.
• Beast Mastery: Dire Beast: Basilisk redesigned.
• Marksmanship: New PvP talents: Sniper’s Advantage, Aspect of the Fox. Ranger’s Finesse updated. Several PvP talents removed.

This detailed overview summarizes the extensive changes to the Hunter class in World of Warcraft Patch 11.1. Remember to test these changes on the PTR and provide feedback to Blizzard.