TBC Classic Marksmanship Hunter Pre-Raid Gear

This is the best gear that you should try to obtain before entering the Tier 4 raids, which include Karazhan, Gruul's Lair, and Magtheridon's Lair.

The BiS lists that we present on this page follow the stat priority that can be found on our stats page below.

If your character is ready to jump into Phase 5 / Tier 6 content, then see our current best in slot list. If you wish to go through the content of Tiers 4 or 5 instead, then please see their respective lists below.

As a Hunter, your pre-raid BiS is actually relatively easy to accomplish compared to most classes, which is great. Your gear is built around two incredibly important sets - the Beastlord set, and the crafted Primalstrike set. The Beastlord set is BiS with its 4-piece bonus until Tier 5, making it the highest priority to farm early on. The Primalstrike set is actually a crafted Leatherworking set, and while it does require some expensive mats early, it is well worth the investment. One of the most common questions for Hunters is whether the crafted leather Primalstrike set is better than the crafted mail Ebon Netherscale set. The Primalstrike set is better. It simply gives better stats and will yield more damage.

Slot	Item	Source
Helm	Beast Lord Helm	Pathaleon the Calculator in The Mechanar
Neck	Choker of Vile Intent	Justice Vendor (25 Badge of Justice)
Shoulders	Beast Lord Mantle	Warlord Kalithresh in The Steamvault
Back	Vengeance Wrap	Tailoring
Chest	Primalstrike Vest	Leatherworking
Wrists	Primalstrike Bracers	Leatherworking
Hands	Beast Lord Handguards	Warchief Kargath Bladefist in The Shattered Halls
Waist	Primalstrike Belt	Leatherworking
Legs	Beast Lord Leggings	Warlord Kalithresh in The Steamvault
Feet	Fel Leather Boots	Leatherworking
Rings	Slayer's Mark of the Redemption Ravenclaw Band	Dissension Amongst the Ranks... in Shadowmoon Valley Talon King Ikiss in Sethekk Halls
Trinkets	Bloodlust Brooch Hourglass of the Unraveller	Justice Vendor (41 Badge of Justice) Temporus in Black Morass
Melee Weapon	Claw of the Watcher Void-Talon	Shirrak the Dead Watcher in Heroic Auchenai Crypts Purchased from Dealer Jadyan in the Netherstorm
Ranged Weapon	Wrathtide Longbow	Warlord Kalithresh in Heroic The Steamvault

The above list is the absolute BiS setup that you can achieve before stepping into raids. While Hunters do have an easier time getting pre-bis compared to most classes, getting the complete set of gear above would take significant investment, notably from the rep grinds and dungeon farming that you would need to do for some of the items. Below is a list of the alternative pieces for each slot.

Slot	Item	Source
Helm	Helm of the Claw Stalker's Helmet of Second Sight Mok'Nathal Beast-Mask Storm Helm	Reward from The Warlord's Hideout in The Steamvault Reward from Teron Gorefiend, I am... in Shadowmoon Valley Exarch Maladaar in Auchenai Crypts Blacksmithing
Neck	Earthen Mark of Razing Jagged Bark Pendant Natasha's Choker	Gurok the Usurper in Nagrand Warp Splinter in The Botanica The Hound-Master in Blades Edge Mountains
Shoulders	Expedition Scout's Epaulets Mantle of Perenolde	Reward from Fel Embers in Hellfire Peninsula Epoch Hunter in Old Hillsbrad Foothills
Back	Blood Knight War Cloak Cloak of the Craft Auchenai Death Shroud Cloak of the Inciter	Justice Vendor (25 Badge of Justice) World Drop Avatar of the Martyred in Heroic Auchenai Crypts Blackheart the Inciter in Shadow Labyrinth
Chest	Beast Lord Cuirass Felstalker Breastplate Ebon Netherscale Breastplate	Warp Splinter in The Botanica Leatherworking Leatherworking
Wrists	Nightfall Wristguards Ebon Netherscale Bracers Felstalker Bracers	Epoch Hunter in Heroic Old Hillsbrad Foothills Leatherworking Leatherworking
Hands	Netherdrake Gloves Fel Leather Gloves	Leatherworking Leatherworking
Waist	Ebon Netherscale Belt Dunewind Sash Felstalker Belt	Leatherworking Ghaz'an in Heroic The Underbog Leatherworking
Legs	Midnight Legguards Wastewalker Leggings Fel Leather Leggings	Quagmirran in Heroic Slave Pens Nexus-Prince Shaffar in Heroic Mana Tombs Leatherworking
Feet	Boots of the Endless Hunt Sky-Hunter Swift Boots The Master's Treads	Warp Splinter in Heroic The Botanica Darkweaver Syth in Sethekk Halls World Drop
Rings	Truestrike Ring Band of Anguish	World Drop News of Victory in Shadowmoon Valley
Trinkets	Abacus of Violent Odds Icon of Unyielding Courage Darkmoon Card: Crusade	Pathaleon the Calculator in The Mechanar Keli'dan the Breaker in Heroic Blood Furnace Reward from creating a Blessings Deck
Melee Weapons	Stormreaver Warblades Sonic Spear Stellaris Guile of Khoraazi	High Botanist Freywinn in The Botanica Murmur in Shadow Labyrinth Nethermancer Sepethrea in The Mechanar The Consortium — Exalted
Ranged Weapons	Marksman's Bow or Veteran's Musket Don Santos' Famous Hunting Rifle Ornate Khorium Rifle	Thrallmar or Honor Hold — Exalted World Drop World Drop

If you have further questions about gemming and enchanting these items, our Marksmanship Hunter Enchants and Gems page below provides more information.