World of Warcraft: Forever · class guide
Beast Mastery Hunter
Ranged damage, pet tank
The pet tanks, two 
Summon Hawks and Auto Shot do the damage. The fastest, safest levelling spec in the beta.
Beast Mastery puts its points into the pet and the new hawks. Deadly Aspects makes Aspect of the Hawk proc 30% ranged attack speed, Focused Fire adds 2% to everything while the pet is out, and Unleashed Fury and Ferocity raise both the pet and the hawks. Summon Hawk (16 points, level 25) keeps up to two hawks on the target and shares its cooldown with Arcane Shot. Intimidation at 21 points is a pet stun that also makes high threat, and Bestial Wrath at 31 needs level 40. Pets inherit your Stamina, armour, attack power and crit, so gear for yourself and the pet follows.
Strengths and weaknesses
| Strengths | Weaknesses |
|---|---|
| The pet tanks, so it is the fastest and safest levelling spec | Summon Hawk and Arcane Shot share a cooldown |
| Two hawks and Auto Shot add steady ranged damage | Pets take no player buffs, so only your own buffs carry part-way to the pet |
| Intimidation is a pet stun that also makes high threat | A pet's stats refresh only after a relog or a stable visit, an open bug |
| Pets inherit your Stamina, armour, attack power and crit, so your gear covers the pet too | Pet Aggressive mode can pull extra packs, so it must stay off in dungeons |
| Ammo, pet food and the 8-yard dead zone are constant chores |
Stat priority
- Ranged weapon damage
- Hit
- Agility
- Critical strike
- Intellect (with Careful Aim)
- Spirit (levelling)
- Stamina
Get the highest damage weapons possible and as much Agility as possible. At the level-30 list (70205), Intellect counts just as much, point for point, as Agility once 
Careful Aim is 5/5, attack power on gear is worth half as much, and Stamina and Strength count for nothing. Hit and crit are one stat for melee, ranged and spells in Forever. The 9% hit cap against bosses looks carried over from Classic: treat it as unverified. Your pet inherits your crit.
Do this
- A Bear tanks packs with Swipe; a fast Cat (1.3-second Moonstalkers in Darkshore) does the most damage, since pet damage isn't normalised.
- Turn Growl's autocast off in groups with a real tank, on when solo.
- Beside a healer, spend points on damage (Focused Fire, Unleashed Fury) rather than pet survival: other players' heals land on your pet.
- Pick up Bestial Swiftness at 20: the pet reaches the mob before you've finished your first shot, and Intimidation needs it.
Watch out for
- Summon Hawk and Arcane Shot share a cooldown, and Improved Arcane Shot doesn't shorten the hawk's.
- Pets can't take player buffs (no Fortitude, Blessings or Mark of the Wild); buff yourself and the pet inherits part of it.
- A pet's stats only refresh after a relog or a trip to the stable (open bug), and pets can lose unique abilities after a relog or flight path.
- Pet Aggressive mode is back: don't leave it on in a dungeon.