WoW Forever DB

World of Warcraft: Forever · class guide

Survival Hunter: Leveling

Client build 1.60.1.70425 · updated

Level as Beast Mastery: it is the fastest and safest Hunter levelling spec.

How this works

Mark the target, send the pet in, Serpent Sting, then Auto Shot with Aimed Shot and Summon Hawk on cooldown. The pet tanks; you keep your distance. The XP curve is Classic's (testers took 20.5 hours to reach 20, against 20.4 in Classic), but dungeon quests still pay about 2.2 times Classic's XP. Carry plenty of ammo and pet food. The spells and ranks in each band come straight from the client's trainer data.

How Survival fights is on its rotation page.

Level by level

Your race

taming quests: game data · other bands: Classic routing on Forever zone levels

1–10Your first pet

Shoot things, then tame a pet at 10

Raptor Strike and Auto Shot from level 1, Serpent Sting at 4, Arcane Shot and Hunter's Mark at 6, Concussive Shot at 8. At 10 your race's taming quest teaches Tame Beast, and the trainer teaches Aspect of the Hawk. Melee until you have a bow and arrows, then stay at range.

Where
Human: Northshire, where the new Hunter trainer Tordrin Stemblade waits (A Scribbled Letter), then Elwynn Forest. New taming quest: Josephine Carson in Elwynn sends you to tame a Rockhide Boar, a Gray Forest Wolf and a Young Forest Bear, then Isaac Chan in Goldshire finishes Training the Beast.
Dwarf: Coldridge Valley, then Dun Morogh. Grif Wildheart in Kharanos: Large Crag Boar, Snow Leopard, Ice Claw Bear, then Belia Thundergranite in Ironforge.
Night Elf: Shadowglen, then Teldrassil. Dazalar in Dolanaar: Webwood Lurker, Nightsaber Stalker, Strigid Screecher, then Jocaste in Darnassus.
Skyborne (High Order): Zephras Isle (1–12). The Way of the Hunter at level 2, then Taming the Beast from Quel'ana Quickgale in Valanaar: Vuldren Alpha (a Fox), Windsong Crawler and Ornery Galestrider (a Tallstrider with Dust Cloud, 2.0 sec swing), then Quel'dora Quickgale.
Orc: Valley of Trials, then Durotar. Thotar in Razor Hill: Dire Mottled Boar, Surf Crawler, Armored Scorpid, then Ormak Grimshot in Orgrimmar.
Troll: Valley of Trials, then Durotar. Thotar in Razor Hill: Dire Mottled Boar, Surf Crawler, Armored Scorpid, then Ormak Grimshot in Orgrimmar.
Tauren: Camp Narache, then Mulgore. Yaw Sharpmane at Bloodhoof: Adult Plainstrider, Prairie Stalker, Swoop, then Holt Thunderhorn in Thunder Bluff.
Skyborne (Windshaper): Zephras Isle (1–12). Same Hunter chain as the High Order: Taming the Beast from Quel'ana Quickgale, with a Fox, a crab and a Tallstrider to tame.
New spells
Auto Shot 1 Raptor Strike 1 Track Beasts 1 Aspect of the Monkey 4 Serpent Sting 4 Arcane Shot 6 Hunter's Mark 6 Concussive Shot 8 Tame Beast 10 Aspect of the Hawk 10 Call Pet 10 Dismiss Pet 10 Feed Pet 10 Revive Pet 10 Track Humanoids 10 Beast Training 10
New ranks
Raptor Strike 2 8Tame Beast 2 10Serpent Sting 2 10
Talents
Deadly Aspects 5/5 10–14
Tips
  • You can't tame a beast above your own level, so tame at 10 and swap as you find better ones.
  • Pick a pet from the class guide's family table: a Bear for tanking, a fast Cat or Wolf for damage.
11–20Aimed Shot at 20

Talents start; Aimed Shot, traps and Disengage at 20

Mend Pet at 12, Multi-Shot at 18, Immolation Trap and Mongoose Bite at 16. At 20: Aimed Shot, Freezing Trap, Disengage and Aspect of the Cheetah. Talents from 10: Deadly Aspects first.

Where
Human: Westfall (9–18) or Loch Modan (10–18), then Redridge from about 15. Loch Modan's Grizzled Black Bears (13–14) are reported to teach Swipe.
Dwarf: Loch Modan (10–18), then Westfall or Darkshore. A Loch Modan bear is the easy tank pet.
Night Elf: Darkshore (11–19). Its Moonstalkers are 1.3-second cats, the best damage pet in reach; Thistle Bears for a tank.
Skyborne (High Order): Leave Zephras Isle about 12 for the Alliance zones: Westfall, Loch Modan or Darkshore.
Orc: The Barrens (10–25). Hyenas and raptors to tame; Silverpine is the alternative.
Troll: The Barrens (10–25), or Silverpine Forest.
Tauren: The Barrens (10–25), or Stonetalon later. Oasis Snapjaws are a 15–16 Turtle.
Skyborne (Windshaper): Leave Zephras Isle about 12 for the Horde zones: the Barrens or Silverpine.
Dungeons

Alliance: Hall of Thanes 13–18 (new, under Ironforge) · Wailing Caverns 17–24 · Deadmines 17–26

Horde: Ragefire Chasm 13–18 (Horde) · Ruins of Lordaeron 15–20 (new) · Wailing Caverns 17–24 · Deadmines 17–26

New spells
Mend Pet 12 Distracting Shot 12 Wing Clip 12 Eagle Eye 14 Eyes of the Beast 14 Scare Beast 14 Immolation Trap 16 Mongoose Bite 16 Multi-Shot 18 Track Undead 18 Aspect of the Cheetah 20 Aimed Shot 20 Disengage 20 Freezing Trap 20
New ranks
Arcane Shot 2 12Raptor Strike 3 16Aspect of the Hawk 2 18Serpent Sting 3 18Mend Pet 2 20Arcane Shot 3 20Distracting Shot 2 20
Talents
Deadly Aspects 5/5 10–14 Focused Fire 2/2 15–16 Improved Tracking 2/5 17–18 Pathfinding 2/2 19–20
Tips
  • Wailing Caverns gear at 20 (Venomstrike, the Fang set) is the pick.
  • From 20, Aspect of the Cheetah out of combat and Aspect of the Hawk in combat; you get no mount until 40.
21–30Beta cap

Summon Hawk at 25 and the beta cap

Scorpid Sting at 22, Summon Hawk with your 16th Beast Mastery point at 25, Rapid Fire at 26, Frost Trap at 28, and at 30 Feign Death and Aspect of the Beast. Levels 20–30 cost 331,800 XP, twice all of 1–20.

Where
Human: Redridge (20–22) → Wetlands from Menethil (22–24) → Duskwood (24–28) → Ashenvale from Astranaar (28–30).
Dwarf: Redridge (20–22) → Wetlands from Menethil (22–24) → Duskwood (24–28) → Ashenvale from Astranaar (28–30).
Night Elf: Stonetalon from Stonetalon Peak (20–22) and Ashenvale (20–24), then Wetlands and Duskwood with the other Alliance races.
Skyborne (High Order): Redridge (20–22) → Wetlands (22–24) → Duskwood (24–28) → Ashenvale (28–30).
Orc: The Barrens from Camp Taurajo (20–22) → Hillsbrad from Tarren Mill (22–24) → Ashenvale from Splintertree (24–27) → Thousand Needles (27–30).
Troll: The Barrens from Camp Taurajo (20–22) → Hillsbrad (22–24) → Ashenvale (24–27) → Thousand Needles (27–30).
Tauren: The Barrens from Camp Taurajo (20–22) → Hillsbrad (22–24) → Ashenvale (24–27) → Thousand Needles (27–30).
Skyborne (Windshaper): The Barrens (20–22) → Hillsbrad (22–24) → Ashenvale (24–27) → Thousand Needles (27–30).
Dungeons

Alliance: Shadowfang Keep · Blackfathom Deeps · Stockade (Alliance) · Razorfen Kraul · Gnomeregan · Excavation Site: Wetlands 26–31 (new) · Razorfen Downs · Uldaman

Horde: Shadowfang Keep · Blackfathom Deeps · Razorfen Kraul · Gnomeregan · Excavation Site: Wetlands 26–31 (new) · Razorfen Downs · Uldaman

New spells
Scorpid Sting 22 Beast Lore 24 Track Hidden 24 Rapid Fire 26 Track Elementals 26 Frost Trap 28 Aspect of the Beast 30 Feign Death 30 Lacerate 30
New ranks
Hunter's Mark 2 22Raptor Strike 4 24Serpent Sting 4 26Immolation Trap 2 26Aspect of the Hawk 3 28Mend Pet 3 28Arcane Shot 4 28Aimed Shot 2 28Scare Beast 2 30Distracting Shot 3 30Mongoose Bite 2 30
Talents
Improved Tracking 5/5 21–23 Savage Strikes 2/2 24–25 Improved Wing Clip 3/3 26–28 Surefooted 3/3 29–31
Tips
  • Keep two hawks up: Summon Hawk shares its 6-second cooldown with Arcane Shot, so Arcane Shot is only for spare mana.
  • Greater Friend of the Library (about 30 books in all, from 30; one player's count) gives Truthseeker's Bow, the best ranged weapon at the cap.
31–40Bestial Wrath at 40

Thirties: Flare, Explosive Trap, the mount

Flare at 32, Explosive Trap at 34, Viper Sting at 36. At 40: Volley, Aspect of the Pack, mail armour, your first mount, and Bestial Wrath with the 31st point. Dual spec unlocks at 40.

Where
Arathi Highlands, Stranglethorn Vale (great cat and raptor pets), Desolace, Alterac, then Dustwallow Marsh, Badlands and Swamp of Sorrows. Riverglades (36–44) is a new contested zone (announced).
Dungeons
Scarlet Monastery wings · City of Dalaran 28–33 (later beta update) · The Drowned City 35–40 (new) · Razorfen Downs
New spells
Flare 32 Track Demons 32 Explosive Trap 34 Viper Sting 36 Aspect of the Pack 40 Volley 40 Track Giants 40
New ranks
Raptor Strike 5 32Serpent Sting 5 34Disengage 2 34Mend Pet 4 36Arcane Shot 5 36Aimed Shot 3 36Immolation Trap 3 36Aspect of the Hawk 4 38Wing Clip 2 38Aspect of the Beast 2 40Hunter's Mark 3 40Distracting Shot 4 40Raptor Strike 6 40Freezing Trap 2 40Lacerate 2 40
Talents
Surefooted 3/3 29–31 Clever Traps 2/2 32–33 Predator's Edge 5/5 34–38 Strider Kick 1/1 39 Resourcefulness 2/2 40–41
Tips
  • Stranglethorn has the first Gorillas and better Cats to tame; check attack speed with Beast Lore.
41–50Aspect of the Wild at 46

Forties: back into Marksmanship

Aspect of the Wild at 46. With Beast Mastery done at 40, the levelling order moves into Marksmanship: Lethal Attacks, then Careful Aim.

Where
Tanaris, Feralas, the Hinterlands, Searing Gorge, Swamp of Sorrows and Azshara.
Dungeons
Krol'dok Stronghold 40–45 (new) · Uldaman · Zul'Farrak · Maraudon · Alcaz Prison 48–53 (new)
New spells
Aspect of the Wild 46 Track Dragonkin 50
New ranks
Serpent Sting 6 42Mend Pet 5 44Arcane Shot 6 44Aimed Shot 4 44Mongoose Bite 3 44Explosive Trap 2 44Scare Beast 3 46Viper Sting 2 46Immolation Trap 4 46Aspect of the Hawk 5 48Raptor Strike 7 48Disengage 3 48Aspect of the Beast 3 50Serpent Sting 7 50Distracting Shot 5 50Volley 2 50Lacerate 3 50
Talents
Resourcefulness 2/2 40–41 Expose Prey 2/2 42–43 Survivalist's Discipline 2/2 44–45 Survival Tactics 2/2 46–47 Lightning Reflexes 1/5 48 Lacerating Strikes 1/1 49 Lethal Attacks 5/5 50–54
51–60Tranquilizing Shot at 60

Fifties: Tranquilizing Shot and the Hunter quests

The last ranks of everything at 56–60, and Tranquilizing Shot at 60. Ogtinc in Azshara has the level-50 Hunter quests (The Hunter's Charm to The Green Drake in Sunken Temple); the Rhok'delar chain starts at 60.

Where
Un'Goro Crater, Felwood, Burning Steppes, Western and Eastern Plaguelands, Winterspring and Silithus.
Dungeons
Sunken Temple · Blackrock Depths · Dire Maul · Blackmaw Hold 55–60 (new) · Lower Blackrock Spire · Scholomance · Stratholme · Shaper's Terrace 58–60 (new)
New spells
Tranquilizing Shot 60
New ranks
Mend Pet 6 52Arcane Shot 7 52Aimed Shot 5 52Explosive Trap 3 54Aspect of the Wild 2 56Viper Sting 3 56Raptor Strike 8 56Immolation Trap 5 56Aspect of the Hawk 6 58Serpent Sting 8 58Hunter's Mark 4 58Volley 3 58Mongoose Bite 4 58Aspect of the Hawk 7 60Mend Pet 7 60Aspect of the Beast 4 60Serpent Sting 9 60Arcane Shot 8 60Distracting Shot 6 60Aimed Shot 6 60Wing Clip 3 60Freezing Trap 3 60Lacerate 4 60
Talents
Lethal Attacks 5/5 50–54 Lightning Reflexes 5/5 55–58 Careful Aim 2/5 59–60

Talents above follow the Survival leveling order. The 1–60 levelling order for Survival. With the Talented legacy perk every step comes up to five levels sooner. Guide's pick, untested Step through it in the talent trees.

Class quests and mounts

  • Level 10, taming quests for every race (three tames, then Training the Beast, 850 XP each). New for Humans: Josephine Carson in Elwynn (Rockhide Boar, Gray Forest Wolf, Young Forest Bear; finish with Isaac Chan in Goldshire). New for Skyborne: Quel'ana Quickgale in Valanaar on Zephras Isle (Vuldren Alpha, Windsong Crawler, Ornery Galestrider). Dwarf, Night Elf, Orc, Troll and Tauren keep their Classic quests. Live in beta
  • Level 20, quiver: Vyrin's Revenge rewards a Hunting Quiver or Hunting Ammo Sack (+10% ranged attack speed). Remember the quiver still takes a normal bag slot. Live in beta
  • Level 30, Truthseeker's Bow: Greater Friend of the Library (hand in about 30 books in total) rewards a bow with no level requirement, the best ranged weapon at the cap. Live in beta
  • Level 50, Ogtinc in Azshara: The Hunter's Charm, Courser Antlers, Wavethrashing, then The Green Drake in Sunken Temple (Hunting Spear, Devilsaur Eye or Devilsaur Tooth; the Tooth now makes your next Revive Pet free). In the Forever quest data, not reachable in the beta. Unconfirmed
  • Level 60, Rhok'delar: the Classic chain is in the quest data (The Ancient Leaf to Stave of the Ancients, four demons solo), with the quiver step paying 9,950 XP instead of 10,900. Unconfirmed
  • Mount at 40: no Hunter-specific mount; you buy your race's riding mount like everyone else. Classic

Weapons on the way

  • 5–11, new quest bows: Refined Shortbow (Zephras, 5), Militia Bow (Alliance, 7), Windswept Shortbow (8), Junior's Hunting Bow (10), Bow of Hours (Skyborne Alliance, 11). Live in beta
  • 12–18: Skorn's Rifle (+1 Agility in Forever), Misplaced Shooter (Horde, 13), Harvester's Pestslayer (15), Daryl's Hunting Bow or Rifle (16), Walton's Second-Favorite Gun (Horde, 18, +2 Agility). Live in beta
  • 16, Hall of Thanes (Alliance): Calibrated Blunderbuss, a 15–29 gun at 9.6 dps from Old Ironforge Incursion. Live in beta
  • 20–30: Privateer Musket and Owlsight Rifle (20), Bow of Plunder (28), Cliffrunner's Aim and Raptor's End (29), Lunaris Bow (30, +2 Agility +2 Stamina). Live in beta
  • 30, best at the cap: Truthseeker's Bow from the library quest; Golemsight Long Gun from Excavation Site: Wetlands is the dungeon option. Live in beta
  • Survival melee weapons: Armor Piercer (Razorfen Kraul) tops the list; for dual wield, take the one-handers Cruel Barb (Deadmines) and Butcher's Cleaver (Shadowfang Keep). Strider Kick does 100% weapon damage, so a slow, heavy weapon hits hardest. Live in beta

How to level well

  • Buy ammo in bulk and carry a quiver: one tester went through 1,325 arrows in a single Deadmines run. Arrows for bows and crossbows, bullets for guns. Night Elves get a new 10-slot Ban'ethil Quiver at 4 from Escaping Ban'ethil.
  • Keep the pet fed and close. Happiness decays slowly now, but an unhappy pet does 25% less damage (Classic rule). Pets eat by family: a Bear or Boar eats almost anything; a Cat only meat or fish, a Wolf only meat.
  • Mark, pet, sting, shoot. Hunter's Mark before the pull, send the pet, Serpent Sting, then Auto Shot with Aimed Shot and Summon Hawk on cooldown. Disengage if you pull aggro.
  • Stay out of the dead zone. Ranged attacks don't work within 8 yards. Back off, or use Raptor Strike and Wing Clip until you can.
  • Your abilities don't clip Auto Shot, and Auto Shot needs you to stand still for 0.5 seconds before it fires (on purpose, as in early WoW). Casting Aimed Shot or Sniper Shot still lets it fire, so stop moving a beat before you shoot.
  • Feign Death resets bad pulls from 30: it drops you out of combat, and your pet keeps the mob busy. Cancel it before 6 minutes: the tooltip says you really die.
  • Professions: Skinning and Leatherworking are the natural pair; Engineering adds scopes and Mechanical Dragonling.
  • XP extras: the Cozy Sleeping Bag (+3% for 2 hours), well-fed food with +5% kill XP, and the Well Rested and Talented legacy perks.