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 customizable pet specializations, a solo-pet option for Beast Mastery, and the complete removal of pets for Marksmanship hunters. These changes, pending PTR feedback early next year (likely launching in February), will reshape the Hunter experience.

Undermine, the new raid in Patch 11.1, continues the narrative from "The War Within," culminating in a confrontation with Chrome King Gallywix. This expansion introduces substantial class adjustments, with Hunters receiving some of the most notable alterations.

Significant Hunter Changes:

• Pet Specialization Swapping: Hunters can now freely change their pet's specialization (Cunning, Ferocity, or Tenacity) at the stables, offering greater flexibility in pairing pets with preferred combat styles. This applies to all pets, including event-exclusive companions like the Dreaming Festive Reindeer.

• Beast Mastery: Beast Mastery hunters now have the option to utilize a single, more powerful pet, enhancing its damage and size.

• Marksmanship: A complete rework transforms Marksmanship Hunters into sharpshooters. They lose their pet entirely, instead relying on a Spotting Eagle to mark targets for increased damage.

• Pack Leader Talent Rework: The Pack Leader talent is redesigned, summoning a bear, boar, and wyvern simultaneously during combat. This fixed composition has sparked debate among players.

Community Response and PTR Testing:

While the pet specialization changes and the Beast Mastery solo pet option have been generally well-received, the Marksmanship rework is proving divisive. Many players appreciate the Spotting Eagle concept, but object to the loss of the pet, a core element of the Hunter class identity. Similarly, the predetermined Pack Leader animal companions have drawn criticism.

Crucially, these changes are still subject to alteration based on player feedback. The Patch 11.1 PTR will allow for extensive testing early next year, providing a valuable opportunity for Hunters to influence the final implementation.

Detailed Class Changes (Patch 11.1):

The following outlines specific adjustments to Hunter abilities and talents across all specializations:

Hunter General Changes:

• Kindling Flare radius increased by 50%.
• Territorial Instincts cooldown reduction for Intimidation (10 seconds), pet summon removed.
• Wilderness Medicine now additionally reduces Natural Mending cooldown by 0.5 seconds.
• No Hard Feelings now additionally reduces Misdirection cooldown by 5 seconds.
• Roar of Sacrifice (Marksmanship only): Pet protects a friendly target from critical strikes for 12 seconds; disables Spotting Eagle's mark during activation.
• Marksmanship Intimidation: Line of sight no longer 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).
• Tooltip updates for Roar of Sacrifice, Wilderness Medicine, and No Hard Feelings for Marksmanship clarity.

Hunter Hero Talents:

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

Beast Mastery Specific Changes:

• New Talents: Dire Cleave, Poisoned Barbs, Solitary Companion.
• Stomp damage instances adjusted.
• Serpent Sting damage increased by 50%.
• Barrage damage increased by 100%; focus cost reduced.
• Alpha Predator damage calculation changed (multiplicative).
• Additional Kill Shots targetting adjusted.
• Dire Command summon chance reduced.
• Dire Beast visual effects and summoning updated.
• Dire Frenzy updated (2-point node).
• Several talents removed.

Marksmanship Specific 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.
• Streamline, Precise Shots, 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 adjusted.
• Small Game Hunter damage bonus adjusted.
• Pin Cushion functionality integrated into Steady Shot.
• Several talents removed.

Survival Specific Changes:

• New Talents: Cull the Herd, Born to Kill.
• Frenzy Strikes, Merciless Blow updated.
• Alpha Predator damage calculation changed (multiplicative).
• Merciless Blow damage adjusted.
• Tactical Advantage updated.
• Flanking Strike and Butchery on choice node.
• Exposed Flank removed.

Player versus Player (PvP) Changes:

• New PvP Talent: Explosive Powder (Beast Mastery).
• New PvP Talents: Sniper’s Advantage, Aspect of the Fox (Marksmanship).
• Ranger’s Finesse functionality adjusted.
• Several PvP talents removed.

This detailed breakdown highlights the extensive changes impacting Hunters in World of Warcraft Patch 11.1. The PTR testing phase will be crucial in shaping the final version of these updates.