Midnight S1
Melee DPS

Hunter — Survival

Survival is the melee Hunter spec with real ranged reach through Aspect of the Eagle, Kill Command, and Wildfire Bomb. In Midnight it revolves around Focus, Tip of the Spear, Wildfire Bomb charges, Takedown, Boomstick, and spending empowered Raptor Strike/Raptor Swipe globals without capping resources.

World of Warcraft: Midnight · Season 1

Guide contents
Spec briefing

How Survival Hunter wins

Survival is the melee Hunter spec with real ranged reach through Aspect of the Eagle, Kill Command, and Wildfire Bomb. In Midnight it revolves around Focus, Tip of the Spear, Wildfire Bomb charges, Takedown, Boomstick, and spending empowered Raptor Strike/Raptor Swipe globals without capping resources.

Role
Melee DPS
Stat lead
Agility then Mastery
Single target
Pack Leader
Cleave / AoE
Pack Leader
Patch 12.0.7Updated Jul 16, 2026

Strong when

Plan around

  • Still loses value if melee uptime and pet uptime are sloppy
  • Focus, Tip of the Spear, and Wildfire Bomb charge management all matter
  • Cooldown cones and ground effects can miss if used while poorly positioned
  • Jack-of-all-trades profile rarely hard dominates one damage pattern
Character setup

Stat priority and consumables

Item level and effect strength still matter. Use this ordering to break close choices, then re-check it after major gear swaps.

  1. 1.Agility
  2. 2.Mastery
  3. 3.Critical Strike
  4. 4.Haste
  5. 5.Versatility

Single-target is generally Agility > Mastery > Critical Strike = Haste > Versatility. In AoE, Haste moves ahead of Crit because it improves Focus flow, GCDs, Kill Command, Wildfire Bomb, and Butchery cadence. Sim exact items after weapon, trinket, tier, and embellishment changes.

Consumables

Flasks, food, potions, weapon oils, and runes for this build.

7 rows
FoodSilvermoon ParadeDefault food.FlaskFlask of the MagistersDefault flask.Combat potionDraught of Rampant AbandonDefault combat potion.Health potionSilvermoon Health PotionCarry for raid and keys.WeaponThalassian Phoenix OilWeapon buff option.WeaponRefulgent WeightstoneWeapon buff option, especially for dual-wield setups when favored by sim.Augment runeVoid-Touched Augment RuneUse for progression and high keys.
Combat

Opener and priority

Use these as decision priorities, not a rigid cast sequence. Re-evaluate whenever targets, resources, procs, or mechanics change.

Core principles

  • Manage your resources: Kill Command is charge- and cooldown-limited and generates both Focus and Tip of the Spear, so use it as much as possible without over-capping either - with the optimal build that means two abilities between each Kill Command.
  • Spend in a controlled way: maximize Raptor Strike uses without idling, because more Raptor Strikes mean more Raptor Swipes - spending too much or too little Focus both cost free damage.
  • Respect your cooldowns: Wildfire Bomb and Boomstick are cooldown-limited, and a missed use cascades into lower damage for the rest of the encounter, especially in AoE.
Pack LeaderVery little mechanical RNG - you could do the exact same thing every pull, global to global. Plays around summoning Howl of the Pack Leader beasts and triggering Stampede out of Takedown.

Single-target priority

  1. 1.Hunter's Mark - if it is not yet active
  2. 2.Kill Command - whenever any Howl of the Pack Leader beast is available to summon, without wasting Tip of the Spear stacks
  3. 3.Takedown - first burn Tip of the Spear spenders (not generators) down the list below until you run out of stacks or Focus, then cast it
  4. 4.Wildfire Bomb - if you have a Tip of the Spear stack to spend
  5. 5.Boomstick - if you have a Tip of the Spear stack to spend
  6. 6.Raptor Swipe - if you have a Tip of the Spear stack to spend
  7. 7.Raptor Strike - with or without Tip of the Spear
  8. 8.Kill Command

AoE priority

  1. 1.Hunter's Mark - if it is not yet active
  2. 2.Kill Command - whenever any Howl of the Pack Leader beast is available to summon, without wasting Tip of the Spear stacks
  3. 3.Takedown - at 0 Tip of the Spear stacks to maximize Twin Fangs
  4. 4.Boomstick - if you have a Tip of the Spear stack to spend
  5. 5.Wildfire Bomb - if you have a Tip of the Spear stack to spend
  6. 6.Raptor Swipe - if you have a Tip of the Spear stack to spend
  7. 7.Raptor Strike - with or without Tip of the Spear
  8. 8.Kill Command
  9. 9.Takedown - fallback if you ran out of buttons or Focus and cannot manage a 0-stack cast

Opener

  1. 1.Pre-cast Hunter's Mark on the boss.
  2. 2.Pre-cast Wildfire Bomb about 1 GCD before the pull timer ends, standing far from the boss.
  3. 3.Cast Harpoon (or Disengage), Misdirection, and your combat potion together.
  4. 4.Cast Takedown, then Raptor Strike, then Kill Command.
  5. 5.Cast Boomstick, Wildfire Bomb, Wildfire Bomb.
  6. 6.Cast Kill Command, then Raptor Swipe.
  7. 7.Continue with the single-target priority.
SentinelSlightly less predictable thanks to random Sentinel's Mark procs, which can only come from spending Tip of the Spear (never from Kill Command). Moonlight Chakram replaces Takedown as a follow-up attack on the same keybind.

Single-target priority

  1. 1.Hunter's Mark - if it is not yet active
  2. 2.Kill Command - whenever you run out of Tip of the Spear stacks
  3. 3.Boomstick - with a Tip of the Spear stack, if the target is not affected by Sentinel's Mark
  4. 4.Wildfire Bomb - with a Tip of the Spear stack, if the target has Sentinel's Mark or the bomb is less than 4 seconds from fully recharging
  5. 5.Kill Command - once before entering Takedown, to maximize Tip of the Spear stacks
  6. 6.Takedown - if you have a Tip of the Spear stack to spend
  7. 7.Moonlight Chakram
  8. 8.Raptor Swipe - if you have a Tip of the Spear stack to spend
  9. 9.Raptor Strike - with or without Tip of the Spear

AoE priority

  1. 1.Hunter's Mark - if it is not yet active
  2. 2.Kill Command - whenever you run out of Tip of the Spear stacks
  3. 3.Boomstick
  4. 4.Wildfire Bomb - with a Tip of the Spear stack, whenever the target has Sentinel's Mark or the bomb is less than 6 seconds from recharging its second charge
  5. 5.Kill Command - once before entering Takedown, to maximize Tip of the Spear stacks
  6. 6.Takedown - if you have a Tip of the Spear stack to spend
  7. 7.Moonlight Chakram - if you have a Tip of the Spear stack to spend
  8. 8.Raptor Swipe - if you have a Tip of the Spear stack to spend
  9. 9.Raptor Strike - with or without Tip of the Spear

Opener

  1. 1.Pre-cast Hunter's Mark on the boss.
  2. 2.Pre-cast Wildfire Bomb about 1 GCD (~1.25 seconds) before the pull timer ends, standing far from the boss.
  3. 3.Cast Takedown and Harpoon together.
  4. 4.Cast Wildfire Bomb, then Boomstick, then Kill Command.
  5. 5.Cast Wildfire Bomb, then Moonlight Chakram.
  6. 6.Continue with the single-target priority - Lunar Calling gives the opener a predictable Sentinel's Mark proc; spend it efficiently to make room for new ones.

Pre-combat checks

  • Summon a pet with a Pet Specialization suited for the content.
  • Apply Hunter's Mark to the boss or strongest mob in a pack (+3% damage taken). With multiple Hunters, each should Mark a different target.

Major cooldowns

Takedown

  • An extremely short damage cooldown that should always be buffed with Tip of the Spear. It also buffs your and your pets' damage by 20% - class abilities only, so trinkets and non-class procs gain nothing.
  • Twin Fangs makes Takedown generate 3 Tip of the Spear stacks, so less of the short window is spent pressing Kill Command.
  • Pack Leader: Stampede! makes your next Kill Command after Takedown trigger Stampede and the next Howl of the Pack Leader beast - Stampede aims based on your position relative to the target, so line up its narrow zone.
  • Sentinel: Moonlight Chakram replaces Takedown's keybind as a powerful follow-up; with Stalk and Strike, delay Chakram until you can use its 10 seconds of Wildfire Bomb cooldown reduction, and Lunar Calling boosts Sentinel's Mark proc chance during Takedown.

Wildfire Bomb and Boomstick

  • Both are cooldown-limited and fuel your AoE - a missed use cascades into later windows drifting, so watch the recharge bars.
  • Both hit in cone or placement shapes: face and position them deliberately so they connect with as many enemies as possible.
  • Sentinel: a single Wildfire Bomb can consume multiple Sentinel's Marks - keep the Marked target as the bomb's primary recipient to empower its primary-target bonus.

Advanced tips

Strike as One

  • Despite being a passive talent, Strike as One is one of your most important damage sources - proc it as often as possible.
  • Proccing it well means playing tightly around Focus management and Kill Command charges: never let charges sit capped and never drown yourself in unspent Focus.
Build

Talents and hero trees

Use Pack Leader for the single-target profile below and Pack Leader when cleave or adds make its toolkit more valuable.

Recommended starting profiles

Single-target: Pack Leader

Pack Leader is the go-to Survival build in 12.0.7, especially with dual wield, and is recommended for single-target.

  • Pack Leader hero tree
  • Stat priority: Agility > Mastery
  • Interrupt: Muzzle

Multi-target: Pack Leader

Pack Leader is also the recommended AoE build. Sentinel remains playable if you prefer Moonlight Chakram and Sentinel's Mark timing.

  • Pack Leader hero tree
  • Prioritize AoE and add-swap talents
  • Interrupt: Muzzle

Verified import strings

Start with the profile matching your content. Boss and dungeon tabs in the gear section show the exact loadout used for each ranked result.

Open talent calculator

Single-Target - Pack Leader

Recommended single-target build. Dual-wield Pack Leader is the current go-to Survival profile and plays around Kill Command, Tip of the Spear, Takedown, Boomstick, and Wildfire Bomb.

Pack LeaderKill CommandTip of the SpearStrike as OneTakedownBoomstickWildfire BombRaptor Strike
In-game import string
C8PAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAMgxMGWIbwMM0gFjZmZmxyAAAAAAgZMzMDz4BMjZwYaGAAAAAAjllZmZxMzMzYmxAmZDwsMjxM2MA
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AoE / Mythic+ - Pack Leader

Recommended dungeon build. It emphasizes Wildfire Bomb, Boomstick, Raptor Swipe, Flamefang Pitch, and Pack Leader beast windows.

Pack LeaderKill CommandTip of the SpearWildfire BombBoomstickFlamefang PitchRaptor SwipeButchery
In-game import string
C8PAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAMgxMG2ILwMM0gFzMzMzwyAAAAAAgZMzMjlZMMmBjpZAAAAYAgxyyMzsYmZGjxMDYmNAMjxMzmBA
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Single-Target - Sentinel

Playable alternative if you prefer Sentinel gameplay and Moonlight Chakram timing, but Pack Leader is the cleaner default recommendation.

SentinelMoonlight ChakramSentinel's MarkKill CommandTip of the SpearTakedownWildfire Bomb
In-game import string
C8PAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAMWgBmxIWGAzEsZMzMm5BWGAAAAAAMjZmZYGPgZMDGTzAAAAAAYssNzMLmZmZGzMGAmhNmlZMmxmBA
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AoE / Mythic+ - Sentinel

Sentinel AoE build for players who want Moonlight Chakram and Sentinel's Mark in dungeons.

SentinelMoonlight ChakramSentinel's MarkWildfire BombBoomstickRaptor SwipeFlamefang Pitch
In-game import string
C8PAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAMWgBmxoxyAYmgNzMzMm5BWGAAAAAAMjZmZsMjxMmBjpZAAAAYAgxy2MzDsYmZGjxMDAzwGYMmZ2MA
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Complete talent reference

Every class, specialization, and hero-tree talent from Blizzard game data. Active and choice talents stay open; passive nodes remain searchable and expand on demand.

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Talent type

Hunter class tree

Shared class talents, including throughput, control, defensives, and movement.

50 of 50 shown

Active and choice talents

Survival of the FittestActiveReduces all damage you and your pet take by 30% for 6 sec.Concussive ShotActiveDazes the target, slowing movement speed by 50% for 6 sec.MuzzleActiveInterrupts spellcasting, preventing any spell in that school from being cast for 5 sec.Tranquilizing ShotActiveRemoves 1 Enrage and 1 Magic effect from an enemy target.MisdirectionActiveMisdirects all threat you cause to the targeted party or raid member, beginning with your next attack within 30 sec and lasting for 8 sec.Kodo TranquilizerChoiceTranquilizing Shot removes 1 additional Magic effect from up to 2 nearby targets.Devilsaur TranquilizerChoiceIf Tranquilizing Shot removes only an Enrage effect, its cooldown is reduced by 5 sec.Tar TrapChoiceHurls a tar trap to the target location that creates a 8 yd radius pool of tar around itself for 30 sec when the first enemy approaches. All enemies have 50% reduced movement speed while in the area of effect. Limit 1. Trap will exist for 1 min.Scare BeastChoiceScares a beast, causing it to run in fear for up to 20 sec. Damage caused may interrupt the effect. Only one beast can be feared at a time.CamouflageActiveYou and your pet blend into the surroundings and gain stealth for 1 min. While camouflaged, you will heal for 2% of maximum health every 1 sec.IntimidationActiveCommands your pet to intimidate the target stunning your target for 5 sec.Binding ShotActiveFires a magical projectile, tethering the enemy and any other enemies within 5 yds for 10 sec, stunning them for 3 sec if they move more than 5 yds from the arrow.TrailblazerChoiceYour movement speed is increased by 30% anytime you have not attacked for 3 sec.Moment of OpportunityChoiceWhen a trap triggers, gain 30% increased movement speed for 3 sec.Territorial InstinctsChoiceThe cooldown of Intimidation is reduced by 20 sec.Guttural RoarChoiceIntimidation now also stuns nearby enemies for 1.0 sec.Tar-Coated BindingsChoiceBinding Shot's stun duration is increased by 1 sec.Horsehair TetherChoiceWhen an enemy is stunned by Binding Shot, it is dragged to Binding Shot's center.Roar of SacrificeChoiceInstructs your pet to protect a friendly target, reducing their damage taken by 15%, but 50% of all damage taken by that target is transferred to your pet. Lasts 10 sec or until your pet's health drops below 25%.Guardian's HideChoiceYour pet protects you at all times, reducing the damage you take by 3%. Your pet receives 100% of the damage it mitigates.

Passive talents

Rejuvenating WindPassiveExhilaration now also heals you for an additional 12.0% of your maximum health over 8 sec.PosthastePassiveDisengage also frees you from all movement impairing effects and increases your movement speed by 50% for 4 sec.Natural MendingPassive2 ranksExhilaration's cooldown is reduced by 60 sec.Padded ArmorPassiveSurvival of the Fittest gains an additional charge.Hunter's AvoidancePassiveDamage taken from area of effect attacks reduced by 5%.Wilderness MedicinePassiveMend Pet heals for an additional 25% of your pet's health over its duration, and has a 25% chance to dispel a magic effect each time it heals your pet.Combat ExperiencePassiveYour Agility is increased by 3%.Improved Aspect of the CheetahPassiveThe cooldown of Aspect of the Cheetah is reduced by 30 sec.Precision StrikesPassiveYour auto shot damage is increased by 25%.Serrated TipsPassive2 ranksYou gain 4% more critical strike from critical strike sources.PathfindingPassiveMovement speed increased by 4%.Disruptive RoundsPassiveWhen Counter Shot interrupts a cast, gain 30 Focus.Improved Feign DeathPassive2 ranksThe cooldown of Feign Death is reduced by 10 sec.Kindling FlarePassiveFlare's radius is increased by 50%.Trigger FingerPassive2 ranksHaste increased by 2%.Touch of GrassPassive2 ranksYour maximum health is increased by 10%.No Hard FeelingsPassiveWhen Misdirection targets your pet, it reduces the damage they take by 50% for 5 sec. The cooldown of Misdirection is reduced by 5 sec.Improved Aspect of the TurtlePassiveThe cooldown of Aspect of the Turtle is reduced by 30 sec.Specialized ArsenalPassiveKill Command deals 10% increased damage. Scout's InstinctsPassiveYou cannot be slowed below 80% of your normal movement speed while Aspect of the Cheetah is active.Shell WallPassiveDamage taken during Aspect of the Turtle is reduced by an additional 20%.Improved SnaringPassiveWing Clip slows an additional 25%. Concussive Shot slows an additional 10%.Lone SurvivorPassiveThe duration of Survival of the Fittest is increased by 2.0 sec.Catlike ReflexesPassiveAspect of the Cheetah's initial burst of speed is increased by 2.0 sec.Cold FeetPassiveWhen your Freezing Trap breaks, the victim's movement speed is reduced by 70% for 4 sec.Born To Be WildPassive2 ranksThe cooldown of Aspect of the Cheetah, and Aspect of the Turtle are reduced by 30 sec.Keen EyesightPassive2 ranksCritical strike chance increased by 4%.Improved TrapsPassiveThe cooldown of Tar Trap and Freezing Trap is reduced by 5.0 sec.Emergency SalvePassiveFeign Death and Aspect of the Turtle removes poison and disease effects from you.Unnatural CausesPassiveYour damage over time effects deal 10% increased damage. This effect is increased by 50% on targets below 20% health.

Survival specialization tree

Every Survival talent currently exposed by Blizzard game data.

41 of 41 shown

Active and choice talents

Kill CommandActiveGive the command to kill, causing your pet to savagely deal 105 Physical damage to the enemy. Generates 15 Focus.Wildfire BombActiveHurl a bomb at the target, exploding for 55 Fire damage in a cone and coating enemies in wildfire, scorching them for 44 Fire damage over 6 sec. Deals reduced damage beyond 8 targets. Deals 80% increased damage to your primary target.Raptor StrikeActiveA vicious slash dealing 137 Physical damage.BoomstickActiveUnload a series of 4 shotgun blasts 20 yds in front of you, dealing 851 Physical damage over 2.7 sec. Deals reduced damage beyond 8 targets.Shrapnel BombChoiceWildfire Bomb's periodic effect is now a Bleed and grants you and your pet 15 Focus over 3 sec.FlamebreakChoiceAll Fire damage dealt is increased by 8%.Mongoose RoundsChoiceDamaging one or more enemies with your Boomstick grants you 1 stack of Mongoose Fury. Mongoose Fury Raptor Strike damage increased by 10%.Wildfire ShellsChoiceDamaging one or more enemies with your Boomstick reduces the cooldown of Wildfire Bomb by 2.0 sec.Bloody ClawsChoiceEach stack of Mongoose Fury also increases the damage of Strike as One by 10%.WallopChoiceGaining a stack of Mongoose Fury has a 20% chance to increase the damage of your next Raptor Strike by 50%.VulnerabilityChoiceRaptor Strike and Boomstick deal 20% increased critical strike damage.Blackrock MunitionsChoiceWildfire Bomb and Flamefang Pitch deal 20% increased critical strike damage.TakedownActiveYou and your pet leap to your target and strike as one, dealing 636 Physical damage. Your pet frees itself from roots when it leaps. For the next 8 sec, the damage dealt by you and your pet is increased by 20%. Generates 50 Focus.Flamefang PitchActiveToss a fiery concoction that explodes violently upon reaching its destination, dealing 206 Fire damage to enemies in its area. Damage reduced beyond 8 targets. After landing, your Flamefang Pitch ignites nearby terrain, dealing 141 Fire damage to enemies in its area over 8 sec.Raptor SwipeActiveRaptor Strike has a 25% chance to upgrade itself to a Raptor Swipe, dealing 95 Physical damage to all enemies within 15 yds in front of you. Damage reduced beyond 5 targets.

Passive talents

Guerrilla TacticsPassiveWildfire Bomb now has 2 charges, and the initial explosion deals 15% increased damage.Tip of the SpearPassiveKill Command increases the direct damage of your other abilities by 15%, stacking up to 3 times.LungePassiveThe damage of your auto-attacks is increased by 25%. Your Agility is increased by 2%, increased by an additional 2% while dual-wielding.Strike as OnePassiveConsuming Tip of the Spear provokes your pet to attack your target, dealing 63 Physical damage. All damage dealt by your pet is increased by 30%.BloodseekerPassiveYou and your pet gain 10% attack speed for every bleeding enemy within 12 yds.Quick ReloadPassiveBoomstick's cooldown is reduced by 15 sec.Flanker's AdvantagePassiveKill Command grants an additional 5 Focus and its critical strike chance is increased by 10%.Two Against ManyPassiveStrike as One damages 2 additional enemies and its damage is increased by 10% for each enemy it strikes beyond the first.Mongoose FuryPassiveRaptor Strike increases the damage of Raptor Strike by 10% for 8 sec. Multiple applications may overlap.ShellshockPassiveYour Boomstick's damage is increased by 40% when striking a single target. Each additional target reduces this bonus by 5%.Sic 'EmPassiveWhen Strike as One critically strikes, it bleeds its target for an additional 15 damage over 5 sec.Improved Wildfire BombPassive2 ranksWildfire Bomb deals 12% additional damage.BondingPassiveMastery increased by 3%. You gain 5% increased Mastery from all Mastery sources.Sweeping SpearPassive2 ranksRaptor Strike damage increased by 20%.Shower of BloodPassive2 ranksYour Bleed effects deal 16% increased damage.Outland VenomPassiveEach damage over time effect on a target increases the critical strike damage they receive from you by 4%.Explosives ExpertPassive2 ranksWildfire Bomb, Boomstick, and Flamefang Pitch damage increased by 10%.Killer CompanionPassive2 ranksAll damage dealt by your pet is increased by 20%.Twin FangsPassiveTakedown grants 3 stacks of Tip of the Spear.SavageryPassive2 ranksTakedown cooldown reduced by 30 sec.Wildfire InfusionPassiveKill Command damage increased by 15%. Kill Command reduces the cooldown of Wildfire Bomb by 1.0 sec.Grenade JugglerPassiveFlamefang Pitch gains 1 additional charge. Throwing your Flamefang Pitch grants 1 charge of Wildfire Bomb.Wildfire ImbuementPassiveThrowing your Flamefang Pitch imbues your weapon with flame, causing you and your pet's auto-attacks to deal an additional 14 Fire damage for 10 sec.FlankedPassiveTakedown damage increased by 50% and it now strikes 4 additional nearby targets. During Takedown, your attack speed is increased by 100%.Lethal CalibrationPassiveWildfire Bomb reduces the cooldown of Boomstick by 2.0 sec for each enemy hit, up to 10 sec.Primal SurgePassiveKill Command grants 1 additional stack of Tip of the Spear. Tip of the Spear's damage bonus is increased by 5%.

Sentinel

Sentinel hero talents, including every active, choice, and passive node exposed by Blizzard.

17 of 17 shown

Passive talents

Lunar CallingPassiveTakedown summons your Sentinel Owl and your chance to summon your Sentinel Owl is increased by an additional 10% during Takedown.Arcane TalonsPassiveSentinel's Mark further increases the damage of Wildfire Bomb by 50% Invigorating PulsePassiveKill Command grants an additional 5 Focus and its damage is increased by 20%. Maximum Focus increased by 25.Moon's BlessingPassiveConsuming Tip of the Spear has a 10% increased chance to summon your Sentinel Owl. When your Sentinel Owl applies Sentinel's Mark, reduce the cooldown of Wildfire Bomb by 4.0 sec.SentinelPassiveYour Eagle is replaced with a Sentinel Owl that applies an enhanced Sentinel's Mark. Sentinel's Mark Your next Wildfire Bomb deals 40% increased direct damage to the marked target.Lunar StormPassiveWhen Sentinel's Mark is consumed, it summons a barrage of 4 lunar missiles, each dealing 69 Arcane damage to enemies within 10 yds.Sanctified ArmamentsPassiveAn additional 15% of Raptor Strike's damage is dealt as Arcane damage over 6 sec.Don't Look BackPassiveConsuming Sentinel's Mark grants you an absorb shield equal to 10.0% of your maximum health.Can't Miss, Won't MissPassiveTip of the Spear damage bonus increased by 4%. Takedown duration increased by 2 sec.Radiant EdgePassiveYour Moonlight Chakram deals 25% increased damage each time it bounces.Moonlight ChakramPassiveFor 15 sec after casting Takedown, Takedown is replaced with Moonlight Chakram. Moonlight Chakram Throw a chakram blessed with moonlight at your current target that will rapidly deal 100 Physical damage 7 times, bouncing to other targets if they are nearby.

Pack Leader

Pack Leader hero talents, including every active, choice, and passive node exposed by Blizzard.

17 of 17 shown

Passive talents

Better TogetherPassiveDamage dealt by your pets is increased by 2%. Barbed Shot damage increased by 10%.Stampede!PassiveCasting Bestial Wrath grants Howl of the Pack Leader and causes your next Kill Command to rouse the nearby wildlife into a Stampede, charging your target and dealing 472 Physical damage over 7 sec.Shell CoverPassiveSurvival of the Fittest now summons a Turtle to aid you, further increasing its damage reduction effect by 10%.No MercyPassiveYour Bleed effects deal 10% increased damage.Fury of the WyvernPassiveYour pet's attacks increase your Wyvern's damage bonus by 1%, up to 10%. Casting Kill Command extends the duration of your Wyvern by 0.5 sec, up to 5 additional sec.Pack MentalityPassiveHowl of the Pack Leader increases the damage of your Kill Command by 50%. Summoning a Beast reduces the cooldown of Barbed Shot by 4.0 sec.HogstriderPassiveWhen your Boar deals damage, the damage of your next Cobra Shot is increased by 200%. Each additional enemy damaged by your Boar causes Cobra Shot to strike 1 additional target, up to 4.Howl of the Pack LeaderPassiveWhile in combat, every 30 sec your next Kill Command summons the aid of a Beast. Wyvern A Wyvern descends from the skies, letting out a battle cry that increases the damage of you and your pets by 10% for 12 sec. Boar A Boar charges through your target 1 time, dealing 504 damage to nearby enemies and an additional 420 physical damage to its primary target. Damage reduced beyond 5 targets. Bear A Bear leaps into the fray, rending the flesh of your enemies, dealing 156 damage over 10 sec to up to 8 nearby enemies.Dire SummonsPassiveKill Command reduces the cooldown of Howl of the Pack Leader by 1.0 sec. Cobra Shot reduces the cooldown of Howl of the Pack Leader by 1.0 sec.Sharpened FangsPassiveYour mastery is increased by 3%.Lethal BarbsPassiveYour auto shot grants 1 Focus to you and your pet. Auto shot damage increased by 25%.

Dark Ranger

Dark Ranger hero talents, including every active, choice, and passive node exposed by Blizzard.

18 of 18 shown

Active and choice talents

Banshee's MarkChoiceBlack Arrow and Bleak Powder critical strike damage increased by 10%.The Bell TollsChoiceAll pet damage increased by 6%. Dire Beast damage increased by 10%.Dark ChainsChoiceWhile in combat, Disengage will chain the closest target to the ground, causing them to move 40% slower until they move 8 yards away.Shadow DaggerChoiceWhile in combat, Disengage releases a fan of shadow daggers, dealing 0 Shadow damage per second and reducing affected target's movement speed by 30% for 6 sec.Ebon BowstringChoiceCasting Black Arrow has a 15% chance to grant Deathblow. Deathblow The cooldown of Kill Shot is reset. Your next Kill Shot can be used on any target, regardless of their current health.Through the EyesChoiceBlack Arrow deals 20% increased damage to enemies affected by Black Arrow's periodic damage.Black ArrowActiveYou attempt to finish off a wounded target, dealing 121 Shadow damage and 140 Shadow damage over 8 sec. Only usable on enemies above 80% health or below 20% health.

Passive talents

Smoke ScreenPassiveExhilaration grants you 3 sec of Survival of the Fittest. Survival of the Fittest activates Exhilaration at 50% effectiveness.Bleak ArrowsPassiveYour auto shot now deals Shadow damage, allowing it to bypass armor. Auto shot damage increased by 100%.Soul DrinkerPassiveKill Command has a 20% chance and Barbed Shot has a 50% chance to grant Deathblow. Deathblow The cooldown of Kill Shot is reset. Your next Kill Shot can be used on any target, regardless of their current health.Bleak PowderPassiveBlack Arrow now explodes in a cloud of shadow and sulfur on impact, dealing 89 Shadow damage to all enemies within an 8 yd cone behind the target. Damage reduced beyond 8 targets.Umbral ReachPassiveBleak Powder now applies Black Arrow's periodic effect to all enemies it damages. If Bleak Powder damages 2 or more enemies, gain Beast Cleave if talented. Blighted QuiverPassiveYou fire 2 additional Black Arrows during Withering Fire's barrage. Beast Cleave and Kill Cleave damage increased by 5%.Black ArrowPassiveYour Kill Shot is replaced with Black Arrow. Black Arrow You attempt to finish off a wounded target, dealing 121 Shadow damage and 140 Shadow damage over 8 sec. Only usable on enemies above 80% health or below 20% health.Withering FirePassiveBestial Wrath causes you to surrender to darkness, granting you Withering Fire for 10 sec and Deathblow. Withering Fire Casting Black Arrow fires a barrage of 2 additional Black Arrows at nearby targets at 50% effectiveness, prioritizing enemies that aren't affected by Black Arrow's damage over time effect.Pact of the HollowPassiveKill Command causes your Dark Hound to Shadow Thrash, dealing 73 Shadow damage to up to 8 nearby enemies.Wailing DeadPassiveBestial Wrath summons a Dark Hound. For 15 sec after casting Bestial Wrath, Bestial Wrath is replaced with Wailing Arrow. Wailing Arrow Fire an enchanted arrow, dealing 498 Shadow damage to your target and an additional 245 Shadow damage to all enemies within 8 yds of your target. Non-Player targets struck by a Wailing Arrow have their spellcasting interrupted and are silenced for 1 sec. Grants Deathblow.CorpsecallerPassiveWhen summoning a Dire Beast, you have a 10% chance to instead summon a Dark Hound that deals significantly increased damage.
Gear

Boss and dungeon loadouts

Switch between raid and Mythic+ to inspect the top player for every available encounter: exact talents, source link, item level, enchant and socket counts, and the player's gear.

Loading verified raid results

Pulling the top Warcraft Logs result, exact talents, and equipment for each boss.

Editorial acquisition targets

Use these slot targets when planning drops and crafted pieces. The encounter explorer above remains the source for the exact gear worn by each ranked player.

Raid acquisition targets

15 slots
Best high-track mail helm or tier helm
Head
298
Mastery / Crit or tierEmpowered Hex of Leeching
Raid tier / catalyst
Best socketed neck
Neck
298
Mastery / Critical StrikePowerful Eversong DiamondFlawless Deadly Amethyst
Raid, Sporefall, dungeon, or crafted
Best tier shoulders
Shoulder
298
TierSilvermoon's Mending
Raid tier / catalyst
Highest item-level cloak
Back
298
Mastery / Crit or Mastery / Haste
Raid, dungeon, or crafted
Best tier chest
Chest
298
TierMark of the Rootwarden
Raid tier / catalyst
Crafted or high-track mail bracers
Wrist
298
Custom Mastery / Critical StrikeLeatherworking
Leatherworking / dungeon
Best tier gloves
Hands
298
Tier
Raid tier / catalyst
High-track mail belt
Waist
298
Mastery / Critical Strike
Raid, dungeon, or crafted
Best tier legs or high-track mail legs
Legs
298
Tier or Mastery / CritForest Hunter's Armor Kit
Raid tier / catalyst
High-track mail boots
Feet
298
Mastery / Critical StrikeShaladrassil's Roots
Raid, dungeon, or crafted
Socketed Mastery ring
Finger
298
Mastery / Critical StrikeZul'jin's MasteryFlawless Deadly Amethyst
Raid, dungeon, or crafted
Socketed Mastery / Haste ring
Finger
298
Mastery / HasteZul'jin's MasteryFlawless Masterful Garnet
Raid, dungeon, or crafted
Best burst or passive Agility trinket
Trinket
298
Agility / burst
Raid / Sporefall / vault
Best passive or cleave trinket
Trinket
298
Passive damage
Raid / dungeon / vault
Highest item-level dual-wield weapons
Weapon
298
Agility / Mastery / CritAcuity of the Ren'dorei
Raid, dungeon, crafted, or vault

Mythic+ acquisition targets

15 slots
Best high-track mail helm or tier helm
Head
298
Mastery / Haste or tierEmpowered Hex of Leeching
Raid tier / catalyst
Socketed Mastery neck
Neck
298
Mastery / HastePowerful Eversong Diamond
Dungeon, Sporefall, crafted, or vault
Best tier shoulders
Shoulder
298
TierSilvermoon's Mending
Raid tier / catalyst
High-track cloak
Back
298
Mastery / Haste
Dungeon or crafted
Best tier chest
Chest
298
TierMark of the Rootwarden
Raid tier / catalyst
Crafted mail bracers
Wrist
298
Custom Mastery / HasteLeatherworking
Leatherworking
Best tier gloves
Hands
298
Tier
Raid tier / catalyst
High-track mail belt
Waist
298
Mastery / Haste
Dungeon or vault
Best tier legs or Mastery legs
Legs
298
Tier or MasteryForest Hunter's Armor Kit
Raid tier / catalyst
High-track mail boots
Feet
298
Mastery / HasteShaladrassil's Roots
Dungeon or vault
Socketed Mastery / Haste ring
Finger
298
Mastery / HasteZul'jin's MasteryFlawless Deadly Amethyst
Dungeon or crafted
Socketed Mastery / Crit ring
Finger
298
Mastery / Critical StrikeZul'jin's MasteryFlawless Masterful Garnet
Dungeon or crafted
AoE or burst Agility trinket
Trinket
298
AoE / Agility
Dungeon / vault
Passive damage trinket
Trinket
298
Passive damage
Dungeon / vault
Highest item-level dual-wield weapons
Weapon
298
Agility / Mastery / HasteAcuity of the Ren'dorei
Dungeon, crafted, or vault
Enhancements

Enchants

Choose enhancements after your equipment is settled. Secondary-stat enchant choices move with your current stat mix and the content you are preparing for.

Recommended enchants
7 recommendations
Acuity of the Ren'doreiWeapon enchant - +53 Primary Stat for 15 sec when Might of the Void triggersWeapon - Default weapon enchant.EnchantingEmpowered Hex of Leeching+44 Leech - Outdoor kills in Midnight zones heal 2% Health, once per 5 secHelm - Default helm enchant.EnchantingSilvermoon's Mending+132 LeechShoulders - Default shoulder enchant.InscriptionMark of the RootwardenChest - Default chest enchant.EnchantingForest Hunter's Armor Kit+41 Agility or Strength - +115 StaminaLegs - Agility mail/leg enhancement.LeatherworkingShaladrassil's Roots+28 Leech - +232 StaminaBoots - Default boot enchant.EnchantingZul'jin's Mastery+29 MasteryRings - Default Mastery ring enchant.Enchanting
Enhancements

Gems

Socket into the current stat priority, then re-check after major equipment swaps rather than treating a gem choice as permanent.

Recommended gems
3 recommendations
Powerful Eversong Diamond+23 Primary Stat - +0.15% critical strike effectiveness per unique Midnight gem colorDefault unique diamond.JewelcraftingFlawless Deadly Amethyst+16 Mastery - +7 Critical StrikeDefault filler gem.JewelcraftingFlawless Masterful Garnet+16 Critical Strike - +7 MasteryMastery option when simming favors it.Jewelcrafting
Crafting

Embellishments

Crafted effects are capped at two equipped embellishments. Lock these in only after deciding which crafted slots survive your next raid or Mythic+ upgrades.

Recommended embellishments
3 recommendations
Use two throughput embellishments once your crafted slots are settled.Throughput crafted embellishmentCrafted mail - Choose after weapon, tier, and trinkets are settled; sim exact crafted pairs.LeatherworkingStat-focused crafted slotCrafted weapon/armor - Use crafted stats to fix Mastery/Crit/Haste balance.Leatherworking
Survival and control

Utility, defensives, and movement

Your Hunter toolkit is part of the rotation whenever it prevents lost uptime, lethal damage, or an enemy cast.

Defensives

Utility & CC

Movement

Feign Death drops threat and resets many boss mechanics; Aspect of the Turtle is a full immunity.

Interrupt: Muzzle - grab a focus-interrupt macro on the Survival macros page.

Execution

Interface and macros

Use interface changes only when they expose a decision sooner: resources, procs, defensives, dispels, interrupts, and encounter assignments.

Better Blizzplates - cleaner, threat-colored nameplates with cast bars and cooldown text - the nameplate upgrade nearly every top player runs.
OmniCD - party and enemy defensive/utility cooldown tracking - the biggest information edge the base UI still does not show.
Mythic Dungeon Tools - build and follow pull-by-pull Mythic+ routes.
Details! (optional) - deep damage/healing breakdowns and Warcraft Logs uploads beyond Midnight's built-in meter.
Hekili - optional priority helper - great for learning a new spec's rotation.

Focus interrupt

#showtooltip Muzzle
/cast [@focus,harm,nodead][] Muzzle
Full addon guide →Survival macros →Keybind setups →
Execution review

What improves results

  • Think in two-GCD blocks between Kill Commands so you generate Tip of the Spear without wasting Focus.
  • Use high-priority spenders with Tip of the Spear, but do not freeze your rotation waiting for perfect stacks.
  • Do not cap Wildfire Bomb charges. Missed bomb cooldowns cascade into much lower damage.
  • Boomstick is a cone. Face the pack and do not fire it into empty space.
  • Aspect of the Eagle lets you keep dealing damage when melee is unsafe; plan it for downtime, not after you have already lost uptime.
  • Use @cursor Freezing Trap and Tar Trap macros so your CC lands instantly.
  • Roar of Sacrifice is now a real external for party/raid damage, but make sure the pet can survive the transfer.
Self-review

Common mistakes

Arena Talent Planning

Talents by enemy class

Pick an opponent to see the pressure your PvP build must answer. The baseline comes from this spec's current arena build when one is published.

Open full matchup guide
Their pressure

Grip setups, anti-caster pressure, and sustained melee uptime.

Talent focus

Mobility, anti-slow, and physical or magic mitigation.

Game plan

Keep an answer for grip-based isolation and do not spend movement before the Death Knight commits their control chain.

No reviewed PvP baseline is published for this spec yet. Use the live tree to apply the matchup focus above rather than treating a PvE build as an arena answer.

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