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Class guide · Beginner

Hunter

Shoot enemies from a distance while your pet keeps them busy. The easiest class to level on your own.

Pre-launch · beta info Checked Oct 26, 2026 against Wowhead's Forever database and Icy Veins (updated Oct 17)

The 30-second version

  1. Mark the enemy, send your pet in, wait 2 seconds, then start shooting.
  2. Stay at range. Enemies should be fighting your pet, not you.
  3. Get your pet at level 10. Before that you're weak. After that you're one of the strongest classes in the game.
  4. Keep your pet alive with Mend Pet. A dead pet means a hard fight.
At a glance

Is Hunter right for you?

Beginner-friendly5 / 5
Few buttons, forgiving mistakes.
Playing solo5 / 5
Your pet acts like a tank, so you rarely need help.
Wanted in groups3 / 5
Always useful, but many players pick Hunter.
RolesDamage only
Damage
Your job in groups is DPS. You won't tank or heal.
Your action bar

Where every button goes

Each key has the same job for every class, so you always know where to look. The level shows when you get each ability; nothing ever moves once it's placed. (Not sure how to set up your keys? Start Here covers it.)

Don't forget ammo. Your bow or crossbow fires arrows; a gun fires bullets. Buy a stack from a general goods or weapon vendor every time you're in town, because you can't shoot without it. Put it in a quiver (arrows) or ammo pouch (bullets) to shoot faster.
Keep these on a second bar

Things you use between fights, not during:

Summon Hawk takes over Arcane Shot's key at 25 because they share a cooldown, and the hawk is better. Your Aspect isn't a fighting button: turn it on and leave it on.

Your core loop

How to fight one enemy

Repeat this for every mob. After 20 fights it becomes muscle memory.

Target an enemyClick it, or press Tab
Hunter's Mark Before anything else
Send your pet to attack Pet bar → Attack
Count to 2Let the enemy get angry at your pet (your pet gets aggro)
Serpent Sting then Auto Shot
Use your shots whenever they're ready Arcane Shot until 25, then Summon Hawk on the same key. Aimed Shot from 20.
Is the enemy attacking you?
YES
Raptor Strike until your pet takes it backDon't run: your pet needs a moment
NO
Keep shootingAuto Shot does most of the work
Enemy defeatedSend your pet at the next enemy while you loot. Pet under half health? Mend Pet .

↺ Then pick the next target and start again.

The one weird Hunter rule

Avoid the dead zone

Hunters can shoot from far away or stab up close. In between, there's a small gap where you can't attack at all. That gap is called the dead zone.

If your attacks suddenly stop working, take one step back or one step forward.

Exact numbers

Melee works up to about 5 yards. Shooting works from 8 yards out. Between 5 and 8 yards you can't do either. WoW Forever keeps this from the original game.

You Melee DEAD ZONE Shooting range stay out here
Leveling milestones

What changes as you level

Remember to visit your trainer every 2 levels to learn new abilities.

Lv 1

Start shooting. You're weak for now; that's normal.

Lv 4–6

Serpent Sting, Arcane Shot, Hunter's Mark.

Lv 10

Get your pet (class quest) and your first talent point.

Lv 20

Aimed Shot and Aspect of the Cheetah (run faster).

Lv 25

Summon Hawk (talent): your biggest power boost.

Lv 30

Feign Death: pretend to die so enemies leave you alone.

Lv 40

Dual Specialization: save two talent setups and switch between them.

Lv 60

Max level. Dungeons, raids, and gear.

Which pet should I tame?

Any beast at or below your level works. A bear is a great leveling pick: it's tough, and its Swipe hits several enemies at once, which helps it hold their attention. Remember to feed your pet, because an unhappy pet fights worse and can eventually leave.

Talents · from level 10

Which spec should you pick?

Hunters have three talent trees. For leveling, go Beast Mastery: it makes your pet do most of the work.

Recommended for leveling

Beast Mastery

Makes your pet stronger and tougher. Your pet does more of the work, so fights are safer.

  • Best for: first-time players
  • New in Forever: talents that reward you for keeping your pet out
Later

Marksmanship

Makes your own shots hit harder. Popular for groups and raids.

  • Best for: dungeons at max level
  • New in Forever: "Lone Wolf" lets you play without a pet
Advanced

Survival

A close-range Hunter who fights up close with traps and melee attacks.

  • Best for: players who want a twist
  • Much more melee-focused in Forever
Talents as you level

Where to put each point

You get 1 talent point every level from 10 to 60. Slide to your level to see where your next point goes. Points marked ★ give you a new button.

How do I spend a talent point?

Press N to open your talents. Click a talent to put a point in it. Trees unlock row by row: you need 5 points in a tree to open the next row. Made a mistake? Your class trainer can reset your talents for a small fee.

Build: 31 Beast Mastery / 20 Marksmanship, from Icy Veins (updated Oct 17, 2026). Pre-launch; may change.

Gear

What to upgrade

When you get a new item, check it for these stats, in this order. Higher on the list matters more.

How do I compare items?

Hover your mouse over the new item, then hold Shift to see what you're wearing now. If the new one has more of the stats on this list, equip it.

  1. Your bow, gun, or crossbowThis matters more than anything else. Upgrade it whenever you can. Slower weapons that hit harder are better.
  2. AgilityMore damage and more critical hits, for you and your pet.
  3. IntellectMore mana, so you can keep shooting. From level 46 it also adds damage.
  4. StaminaMore health for you and your pet. Your pet takes the hits, so this matters least.
Learn from others

Top 5 beginner mistakes

Shooting before your pet attacks

The enemy comes for you instead of your pet.

Send your pet, count to 2, then shoot.

Standing in the dead zone

Your attacks stop and you don't know why.

Take a step back to shoot again.

Forgetting your pet's health

Your pet dies and you have to fight alone.

Mend Pet whenever its health is under half.

Leaving Growl on in groups

Your pet steals enemies from the group's tank.

In dungeons, right-click Growl on your pet bar to turn it off.

Running out of ammo

Out in the wild with an empty quiver, you can't shoot at all.

Restock arrows or bullets every time you visit town.

Want more detail?

Go deeper

Ready for advanced builds and min-maxing? These sites go into much more depth.

Mobalytics ↗ Icy Veins ↗ Wowhead ↗ Method ↗