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Hunter specialization

Survival Hunter in WoW Forever

Close-range attacks and traps.

  • Your role: Melee damage
  • Advice for every level to 60
  • Class notes checked

Your character

I’m playing
Updating…

Choose the level you are playing now. The playbook and gear rankings update to match.

Level 40 · Combat priorities

How to play at level 40

Your combat loop

Press the first one that is ready.

Keep up:
  1. Rapid Fire Cooldown · every 5 min

    Use it whenever it is ready, every 300 sec. It raises the rest.

  2. Raptor Strike Every 6 sec

    Use it whenever it is ready, every 6 sec.

    9% of your damage
  3. Strider Kick Every 8 sec

    Use it whenever it is ready, every 8 sec.

    14% of your damage
  4. Mongoose Bite When it lights up

    Use it when Expose Prey makes it ready.

    14% of your damage
  5. Auto attack All the time

    Your weapon swings on its own. Stay in melee range.

    62% of your damage

The first 30 seconds

When to press each one from the pull. The blue line under a press is the global cooldown (1.5 sec) or cast it holds: nothing else on the global cooldown can go until it ends, so of two that are ready together the higher one goes first. Rapid Fire and Raptor Strike are off the global cooldown, so they have no line and go alongside.

In the gaps
Mongoose Bite
All the time
Auto attack

How MaxDPS works this out

Talents at level 40

The MaxDPS build at this level, in the game’s talent frame. Click a talent to learn it and right click to unlearn it, as in the game.

Talents
Unspent Talents
Point order: when each point goes in
  1. Improved Tracking 5/5 · levels 10–14 no damage
  2. Savage Strikes 2/2 · levels 15–16 +1.3% damage
  3. Survivalist 5/5 · levels 17–19 and 23–24 no damage
  4. Surefooted 3/3 · levels 20–22 +3.4% damage
  5. Predator's Edge 5/5 · levels 25–29 +5.8% damage
  6. Strider Kick 1/1 · level 30 +9.1% damage
  7. Expose Prey 2/2 · levels 31–32 +8.2% damage
  8. Resourcefulness 2/2 · levels 33–34 +1% damage
  9. Lightning Reflexes 5/5 · levels 35–39 +5.2% damage
  10. Lacerating Strikes 1/1 · level 40 +2.1% damage

Every Hunter talent

Preliminary item rankings

Survival Hunter gear rankings

Melee and ranged weaving; two-hand or dual-wield · Level 40 · Dungeons · Calculated defaults

Off hand 243 items · Updating…

Where it comes from
Faction

Level 40 dungeon loot is still being found.

Key stats show the stats behind the three largest score contributions, as the game tooltip states them; open an item’s details for every value and source.

Off hand items with imported stats, weighted scores and acquisition sources.
Rank Item Score (pts) Where to get it Actions
1 in this filtered list
Vanquisher's Sword Sword · iLvl 44 · Req. 39* · Quest Key stats: 30 Weapon melee DPS22 Attack power
74.50

Score breakdown

  • Weapon melee DPS: 30 × 1.827 = 34.63 pts
  • Weapon damage per swing: 66 × 0.4427 = 29.22 pts
  • Attack power: 22 × 0.4843 = 10.65 pts

Rare

2 sources

2 in this filtered list
Shovelphlange's Mining Axe Axe · iLvl 40 · Req. 35 · Other drop · Provisional stats Key stats: 27.32 Weapon melee DPS11 Attack power7 Strength
72.75
Digmaster ShovelphlangeBoss drop · 20% · Badlands

Score breakdown

  • Weapon damage per swing: 76.5 × 0.4427 = 33.87 pts
  • Weapon melee DPS: 27.32 × 1.827 = 31.54 pts
  • Attack power: 11 × 0.4843 = 5.33 pts
  • Strength: 7 × 0.2889 = 2.02 pts

Rare

Source

Digmaster ShovelphlangeBoss drop · 20% · Badlands
3 in this filtered list
Legionnaire's Sword Sword · iLvl 43 · Req. 38 · Vendor · Horde only Key stats: 29.26 Weapon melee DPS8 Strength3 Stamina
71.53
Kelm HargunthVendor · 7g 48s 21c · The Barrens

Score breakdown

  • Weapon damage per swing: 79 × 0.4427 = 34.97 pts
  • Weapon melee DPS: 29.26 × 1.827 = 33.77 pts
  • Strength: 8 × 0.2889 = 2.31 pts
  • Stamina: 3 × 0.1554 = 0.47 pts

Rare

Source

Kelm HargunthVendor · 7g 48s 21c · The Barrens
4 in this filtered list
Protector's Sword Sword · iLvl 43 · Req. 38 · Vendor · Alliance only Key stats: 29.26 Weapon melee DPS8 Strength3 Stamina
71.53
Illiyana MoonblazeVendor · 6g 35s 98c · Ashenvale

Score breakdown

  • Weapon damage per swing: 79 × 0.4427 = 34.97 pts
  • Weapon melee DPS: 29.26 × 1.827 = 33.77 pts
  • Strength: 8 × 0.2889 = 2.31 pts
  • Stamina: 3 × 0.1554 = 0.47 pts

Rare

Source

Illiyana MoonblazeVendor · 6g 35s 98c · Ashenvale
5 in this filtered list
Nordic Longshank Sword · iLvl 43 · Req. 38 · Dungeon drop · Provisional stats Key stats: 29.32 Weapon melee DPS8 Agility5 Stamina
71.18
BaelogNPC drop · 8.8% · Uldaman

Score breakdown

  • Weapon melee DPS: 29.32 × 1.827 = 33.84 pts
  • Weapon damage per swing: 64.5 × 0.4427 = 28.55 pts
  • Agility: 8 × 1 = 8.00 pts
  • Stamina: 5 × 0.1554 = 0.78 pts

Rare

Source

BaelogNPC drop · 8.8% · Uldaman
6 in this filtered list
Jhordy's Misplaced Screwdriver Dagger · iLvl 45 · Req. 40 · Vendor · Reputation required Key stats: 30.26 Weapon melee DPS9 Agility6 Strength
70.99
RettrickVendor · 9g 46s 14c · Tanaris

Score breakdown

  • Weapon melee DPS: 30.26 × 1.827 = 34.93 pts
  • Weapon damage per swing: 57.5 × 0.4427 = 25.46 pts
  • Agility: 9 × 1 = 9.00 pts
  • Strength: 6 × 0.2889 = 1.73 pts
  • Intellect: -1 × 0.1261 = -0.13 pts

Rare · Reputation required — check item requirements

Source

RettrickVendor · 9g 46s 14c · Tanaris
7 in this filtered list
Sickle Axe Axe · iLvl 39 · Req. 34 · Other drop Key stats: 26.54 Weapon melee DPS5 Agility6 Strength
68.38

Score breakdown

  • Weapon melee DPS: 26.54 × 1.827 = 30.64 pts
  • Weapon damage per swing: 69 × 0.4427 = 30.55 pts
  • Agility: 5 × 1 = 5.00 pts
  • Strength: 6 × 0.2889 = 1.73 pts
  • Stamina: 3 × 0.1554 = 0.47 pts

Rare

Source

8 in this filtered list
Mithril Claws Fist weapon · iLvl 45 · Req. 40 · Crafted Key stats: 26.54 Weapon melee DPS5 Agility6 Strength
67.91

Score breakdown

  • Weapon melee DPS: 26.54 × 1.827 = 30.64 pts
  • Weapon damage per swing: 69 × 0.4427 = 30.55 pts
  • Agility: 5 × 1 = 5.00 pts
  • Strength: 6 × 0.2889 = 1.73 pts

Uncommon

Source

9 in this filtered list
Gut Ripper Dagger · iLvl 45 · Req. 40 · Other drop · Provisional stats Key stats: 33.89 Weapon melee DPS
66.12
Galgann FirehammerNPC drop · 1.2% · Uldaman

Score breakdown

  • Weapon melee DPS: 33.89 × 1.827 = 39.12 pts
  • Weapon damage per swing: 61 × 0.4427 = 27.00 pts

Epic

28 sources

Galgann FirehammerNPC drop · 1.2% · Uldaman
Fungal OozeNPC drop · <0.1%
Southsea KidnapperNPC drop · <0.1% · Tanaris
Deeprot TanglerNPC drop · <0.1% · Maraudon
Zukk'ash WorkerNPC drop · <0.1% · Feralas
Saturated OozeNPC drop · <0.1% · Sunken Temple
Cavern ShamblerNPC drop · <0.1% · Maraudon
Constrictor VineNPC drop · <0.1% · Maraudon
Enraged Feral ScarNPC drop · <0.1% · Feralas
Sandfury Witch DoctorNPC drop · <0.1% · Zul'Farrak
All 28 sources
10 in this filtered list
Wicked Mithril Blade Sword · iLvl 45 · Req. 40 · Crafted Key stats: 26.6 Weapon melee DPS4 Agility6 Strength
65.88

Score breakdown

  • Weapon melee DPS: 26.6 × 1.827 = 30.70 pts
  • Weapon damage per swing: 66.5 × 0.4427 = 29.44 pts
  • Agility: 4 × 1 = 4.00 pts
  • Strength: 6 × 0.2889 = 1.73 pts

Uncommon

Source

11 in this filtered list
Sword of Serenity Sword · iLvl 44 · Req. 39* · Quest · Alliance only Key stats: 30 Weapon melee DPS9 Stamina4 Spirit
65.65

Score breakdown

  • Weapon melee DPS: 30 × 1.827 = 34.63 pts
  • Weapon damage per swing: 66 × 0.4427 = 29.22 pts
  • Stamina: 9 × 0.1554 = 1.40 pts
  • Spirit: 4 × 0.0998 = 0.40 pts

Rare

12 in this filtered list
Sword of Omen Sword · iLvl 44 · Req. 39* · Quest · Horde only Key stats: 29.74 Weapon melee DPS3 Agility9 Strength
65.56

Score breakdown

  • Weapon melee DPS: 29.74 × 1.827 = 34.33 pts
  • Weapon damage per swing: 56.5 × 0.4427 = 25.01 pts
  • Agility: 3 × 1 = 3.00 pts
  • Strength: 9 × 0.2889 = 2.60 pts
  • Stamina: 4 × 0.1554 = 0.62 pts

Rare

13 in this filtered list
Blue Glittering Axe Axe · iLvl 44 · Req. 39 · Crafted Key stats: 25.83 Weapon melee DPS8 Agility
65.26

Score breakdown

  • Weapon melee DPS: 25.83 × 1.827 = 29.82 pts
  • Weapon damage per swing: 62 × 0.4427 = 27.45 pts
  • Agility: 8 × 1 = 8.00 pts

Uncommon

Source

14 in this filtered list
Scout's Blade Dagger · iLvl 43 · Req. 38 · Vendor · Horde only Key stats: 29.12 Weapon melee DPS8 Agility3 Stamina
63.99
Kelm HargunthVendor · 8g 67s 91c · The Barrens

Score breakdown

  • Weapon melee DPS: 29.12 × 1.827 = 33.61 pts
  • Weapon damage per swing: 49.5 × 0.4427 = 21.91 pts
  • Agility: 8 × 1 = 8.00 pts
  • Stamina: 3 × 0.1554 = 0.47 pts

Rare

Source

Kelm HargunthVendor · 8g 67s 91c · The Barrens
15 in this filtered list
Sentinel's Blade Dagger · iLvl 43 · Req. 38 · Vendor · Alliance only Key stats: 29.12 Weapon melee DPS8 Agility3 Stamina
63.99
Illiyana MoonblazeVendor · 6g 55s 6c · Ashenvale

Score breakdown

  • Weapon melee DPS: 29.12 × 1.827 = 33.61 pts
  • Weapon damage per swing: 49.5 × 0.4427 = 21.91 pts
  • Agility: 8 × 1 = 8.00 pts
  • Stamina: 3 × 0.1554 = 0.47 pts

Rare

Source

Illiyana MoonblazeVendor · 6g 55s 6c · Ashenvale
16 in this filtered list
Speedsteel Rapier Sword · iLvl 41 · Req. 36 · Other drop Key stats: 28.06 Weapon melee DPS8 Agility3 Stamina
63.21
Large Darkwood ChestObject loot · 6.3% · Uldaman

Score breakdown

  • Weapon melee DPS: 28.06 × 1.827 = 32.39 pts
  • Weapon damage per swing: 50.5 × 0.4427 = 22.36 pts
  • Agility: 8 × 1 = 8.00 pts
  • Stamina: 3 × 0.1554 = 0.47 pts

Rare

58 sources

Large Darkwood ChestObject loot · 6.3% · Uldaman
MurdalocNPC drop · 3.7% · Badlands
Ghostly MarauderNPC drop · 2% · Desolace
Wastewander ThiefWorld drop · 0.9%
Mudrock BorerNPC drop · 0.5% · Dustwallow Marsh
Gordunni OgreNPC drop · 0.4% · Feralas
All 58 sources
17 in this filtered list
Dwarf Captain's Sword Sword · iLvl 45 · Req. 40* · Quest · Alliance only Key stats: 26.6 Weapon melee DPS9 Stamina
61.54

Score breakdown

  • Weapon melee DPS: 26.6 × 1.827 = 30.70 pts
  • Weapon damage per swing: 66.5 × 0.4427 = 29.44 pts
  • Stamina: 9 × 0.1554 = 1.40 pts

Uncommon

Source

18 in this filtered list
Stalvan's Reaper Axe · iLvl 37 · Req. 32 · Other drop Key stats: 24.83 Weapon melee DPS
60.54
Shadowforge DarkweaverWorld drop · 1.5%

Score breakdown

  • Weapon damage per swing: 72 × 0.4427 = 31.87 pts
  • Weapon melee DPS: 24.83 × 1.827 = 28.66 pts

Rare

44 sources

Shadowforge DarkweaverWorld drop · 1.5%
Mottled Drywallow CrocoliskWorld drop · 1.2%
Syndicate SaboteurWorld drop · 0.9%
Drywallow VicejawWorld drop · 0.7%
Mosh'Ogg Witch DoctorWorld drop · 0.4%
Elder Mesa BuzzardWorld drop · 0.4%
Hoard of the Black DragonflightContainer loot · 0.3%
Syndicate SentryWorld drop · 0.2%
Alliance ChestObject loot · 0.2% · Arathi Highlands
Crushridge MaulerWorld drop · 0.1%
All 44 sources
19 in this filtered list
Scorpion Sting Sword · iLvl 39 · Req. 34 · Other drop Key stats: 26.46 Weapon melee DPS
58.65
Dustbelcher MaulerWorld drop · 4%

Score breakdown

  • Weapon melee DPS: 26.46 × 1.827 = 30.54 pts
  • Weapon damage per swing: 63.5 × 0.4427 = 28.11 pts

Rare

30 sources

Dustbelcher MaulerWorld drop · 4%
Skullsplitter ScoutWorld drop · 1.1%
Stromgarde Troll HunterWorld drop · 1.1%
Skullsplitter Witch DoctorWorld drop · 0.9%
Mosh'Ogg Witch DoctorWorld drop · 0.3%
Strong Iron LockboxContainer loot · 0.1%
Thundering ExileWorld drop · 0.1%
Jungle StalkerWorld drop · <0.1%
Sawtooth CrocoliskWorld drop · <0.1%
Swampwalker ElderNPC drop · <0.1% · Swamp of Sorrows
All 30 sources
20 in this filtered list
Glutton's Cleaver Axe · iLvl 42 · Req. 37 · Dungeon drop · Provisional stats Key stats: 28.75 Weapon melee DPS
58.64
GluttonNPC drop · 50% · Razorfen Downs

Score breakdown

  • Weapon melee DPS: 28.75 × 1.827 = 33.19 pts
  • Weapon damage per swing: 57.5 × 0.4427 = 25.46 pts

Rare

Source

GluttonNPC drop · 50% · Razorfen Downs

Item stats from the WoW Forever game files; sources from data collected from the live game.