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 management, specialization abilities, and overall gameplay. Key updates include:

• 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 those obtained from events like the Feast of Winter Veil.

• Beast Mastery Overhaul: Beast Mastery Hunters can now choose to utilize a single, more powerful pet instead of two, enhancing damage and size.

• Marksmanship Transformation: Marksmanship Hunters undergo a significant rework, losing their pet entirely. They instead gain a Spotting Eagle companion that marks targets for increased damage. This change has been met with mixed reactions from players.

• Undermine and the Liberation of Undermine Raid: Patch 11.1 introduces the Undermine storyline continuation, culminating in a raid against Chrome King Gallywix.

Detailed Hunter Class Changes:

The patch notes detail extensive alterations across all Hunter specializations:

• General Hunter Changes: Several abilities like Kindling Flare, Territorial Instincts, Wilderness Medicine, and No Hard Feelings have been redesigned or updated for improved functionality and clarity. Explosive Shot projectile speed is increased. Eyes of the Beast and Eagle Eye are now specialization-specific. Freezing Trap's triggering mechanism is adjusted. Tooltip updates clarify information for Marksmanship Hunters.

• Hunter Hero Talents: The Pack Leader talent is completely reworked, replacing it with Howl of the Pack Leader. This summons a Bear, Wyvern, or Boar to aid in combat, with various supporting talents offering different strategic options. Other talents are added or removed to streamline the specialization. The Dark Ranger talent, Withering Fire, is updated to improve consistency. The Sentinel talent, Lunar Storm, receives significant buffs to damage, radius, and duration.

• Beast Mastery Specific Changes: New talents like Dire Cleave and Poisoned Barbs are introduced. The Solitary Companion talent allows for solo-pet gameplay. Existing abilities like Stomp, Serpent Sting, and Barrage receive adjustments to damage and resource costs. Several talents are removed to simplify the specialization.

• Marksmanship Specific Changes: The loss of the pet is central to this specialization's overhaul. New abilities like Harrier's Cry and Manhunter are introduced. Eyes in the Sky introduces the Spotting Eagle mechanic. A wide array of new talents are added, focusing on damage output and utility, while many existing talents are removed. Numerous abilities like Aimed Shot, Rapid Fire, Volley, and Steady Shot receive adjustments to damage, cast time, and resource costs.

• Survival Specific Changes: The focus is on streamlining the rotation. New talents like Cull the Herd and Born to Kill are added. Existing abilities like Frenzy Strikes and Merciless Blow are updated. Flanking Strike and Butchery are now mutually exclusive choices. The Exposed Flank talent is removed.

Player Versus Player (PvP) Changes:

Significant PvP-specific talents are added or removed for each Hunter specialization, adjusting gameplay dynamics in competitive settings.

Player Feedback and PTR Testing:

Blizzard encourages player feedback on these changes, which will be tested on the PTR (Public Test Realm) early next year before the official release in February. This allows players to provide valuable input to shape the final implementation of these substantial alterations.