Beast Mastery Hunter DPS Stat Priority (Legion 7.2.5)

Table of Contents

• +Introduction
  • 1. Class Overview
  • 2. What Has Changed in 7.2.5?
    • 2.1. Tomb of Sargeras Set Bonus Simulation
  • 3. How Does it Work?
  • 4. Viability of Spec Choices in Patch 7.2.5
    • 4.1. Tier 20 - Tomb of Sargeras Mythic Gear - Single-Target Spec/Build Comparison
    • 4.2. Raiding — Single-Target Focus with AoE as a secondary objective.
    • 4.3. Mythic+ — AoE Focus with single-target as a secondary objective.
  • 5. Strengths
  • 6. Weaknesses
  • 7. Contents
  • 8. ChangeLog
• +Easy Mode
  • 1. The Basics
  • 2. Talent Choice
  • 3. Stat Choice
  • 4. Basic Rotation
  • 5. Pet Types
  • 6. ChangeLog
• +Spell Summary
  • 1. Spell Summary
  • 2. Main Resource
  • 3. Basic Abilities
  • 4. Movement Tools
  • 5. Important Procs and Passives
  • 6. Offensive Cooldowns
  • 7. Additional Utility & Traps
  • 8. ChangeLog
• +Builds and Talents
  • 1. Talent Cheat Sheets
    • 1.1. For Mythic+ Use
  • 2. Tier 1 (Level 15) Talents
  • 3. Tier 2 (Level 30) Talents
  • 4. Tier 3 (Level 45) Talents
  • 5. Tier 4 (Level 60) Talents
  • 6. Tier 5 (Level 75) Talents
  • 7. Tier 6 (Level 90) Talents
  • 8. Tier 7 (Level 100) Talents
  • 9. Pet Talents
  • 10. ChangeLog
• +Artifact Traits and Relics
  • 1. Artifact Progression
    • 1.1. Early Progression
    • 1.2. Patch 7.2 Progression
  • 2. Artifact Ability
  • 3. Traits versus Item Level
  • 4. Relic Choice
  • 5. ChangeLog
• +Rotation, Cooldowns, and Abilities
  • 1. Single Target Rotation
  • 2. Multiple Target Rotation
  • 3. 7.2.5 Rotational Changes
  • 4. Legendaries' Effects on Rotation
  • 5. Cooldown Usage
  • 6. Opener Sequence
  • 7. Optional Read: Mastering Your Beast Mastery Hunter
    • 7.1. Trinket Usage
    • 7.2. Focus
    • 7.3. Auto-shots and Special Shots
    • 7.4. Pet Contribution
    • 7.5. Detailed Cooldown Usage
      • 7.5.1. Bestial Wrath
      • 7.5.2. Tier 1 Talents
      • 7.5.3. Tier 2 Talents
      • 7.5.4. Tier 4 Talents
      • 7.5.5. Tier 6 Talents
      • 7.5.6. Tier 7 Talents
    • 7.6. AoE Pets
  • 8. ChangeLog
• ×Stat Priority
  • 1. Basics
  • 2. Getting a Better Understanding
    • 2.1. Choosing Gear
    • 2.2. Stat Softcaps, Distributions & Other Clarifications
    • 2.3. Statistics Explanations
  • 3. ChangeLog
• +Gems, Enchants, and Consumables
  • 1. Gems
  • 2. Enchants
  • 3. Consumables
  • 4. ChangeLog
• +Macros and Addons
  • 1. Macros
    • 1.1. Generic Macros for Hunters
      • 1.1.1. Aspect of the Turtle Cancelaura Macro
      • 1.1.2. Misdirection Mouseover/Focus Macro for Marksmanship/Beast Mastery
      • 1.1.3. Trap Macros for Survival
      • 1.1.4. Petattack Macros
    • 1.2. Specific Macros for Beast Mastery Hunters
      • 1.2.1. Kill Command
  • 2. Addons
    • 2.1. Generic Addons for Hunters
      • 2.1.1. ElvUI
      • 2.1.2. Weak Auras
      • 2.1.3. Boss Mods: Deadly Boss Mods or Bigwigs
      • 2.1.4. GTFO
      • 2.1.5. JSHB 4
      • 2.1.6. Pawn
    • 2.2. Specific Addons for Beast Mastery Hunters
  • 3. ChangeLog
• +Gear, Legendaries, and Best in Slot
  • 1. Best in Slot List
  • 2. Tier Piece Ranking
  • 3. Trinket & Legendary DPS Rankings
  • 4. Legion Legendaries
    • 4.1. Beast Mastery Legendaries
      • 4.1.1. Beast Mastery Legendary Ranking
  • 5. Loot Competition
  • 6. ChangeLog
• +Simulations
  • 1. Disclaimer Page
  • 2. Racial Bonus Simulation
  • 3. Tomb of Sargeras Set Bonus Simulation
  • 4. ChangeLog

General Information

On this page, we explain what the best statistics are for Beast Mastery Hunters in World of Warcraft Legion 7.2.5, how the class benefits from each of them.

The statistics priority is important as it influences itemisation choices (gear, enchants, and gems).

The other pages of our Beast Mastery Hunter guide can be accessed from the table of contents on the right.

About Our Author

This guide has been written by Azortharion, the main theorycrafter of the spec. He is also an accomplished player who raids in Solaris. You can also watch his stream on Twitch.

1. Basics

The general stat priority for a Beast Mastery Hunter is:

1. Critical Strike for Zoo Build, Mastery otherwise;
2. Haste;
3. Mastery for Zoo Build, Critical Strike otherwise;
4. Versatility.

Note: If you are using the Stomp/OWTP "Zoo" build that is referenced throughout this guide, then Critical Strike generally becomes better than Mastery, though you should always sim your own stat weights using something like RaidBots.com to be sure.

These statistics have been obtained by combining common sense, in-game testing, and simulations using Simulation Craft.

2. Getting a Better Understanding

2.1. Choosing Gear

Pawn is an add-on that calculates the value of items based on the stat weights you input for your character. Below you will find importable Pawn strings that you can and should use with the addon, unless you have used SimulationCraft to generate Pawn strings that are specific to your character, which is always the better option.

Marksmanship - Single-Target Trick Shot Build

( Pawn: v1: "Azor-MM": Class=Hunter, Spec=Marksmanship, Agility=19.69, Ap=18.70, CritRating=29.31, HasteRating=28.55, MasteryRating=32.77, Versatility=23.92, Dps=58.11 )

Beast Mastery - Dire Frenzy

( Pawn: v1: "Azor-BM-FrenzyBuild": Class=Hunter, Spec=BeastMastery, Agility=23.68, Ap=22.42, CritRating=21.58, HasteRating=23.02, MasteryRating=26.05, Versatility=21.26, Dps=13.63 )

Beast Mastery - Stomp/"Zoo" Build

( Pawn: v1: "Azor-BM-Stomp": Class=Hunter, Spec=BeastMastery, Agility=24.12, Ap=23.12, CritRating=30.65, HasteRating=28.79, MasteryRating=25.48, Versatility=21.85, Dps=12.92 )

Survival

( Pawn: v1: "Azor-SV": Class=Hunter, Spec=Survival, Agility=20.77, Ap=19.71, CritRating=18.64, HasteRating=20.49, MasteryRating=18.21, Versatility=19.41, Dps=26.84 )

2.2. Stat Softcaps, Distributions & Other Clarifications

There are currently no stat soft or hard caps worth chasing for any stat right now. Unless anything else is noted, your gearing goal should involve getting as much of the best stat as possible, followed by the rest and so on. This stat priority and the stat weights in the Pawn string are designed to cover as many different gearsets as possible, and they are usually based around a reasonable, mid-tier raiding setup to be relevant for as many players as possible. While it is possible to use SimulationCraft to generate your own stat weights, this is recommended only for very advanced users, because the weights that SimulationCraft give you are not necessarily to be taken at face value.

There is not a specific distribution of stats that you should try and chase after, either. The best way to decide on gear is to use SimulationCraft to determine your own stat weights and Pawn string whenever you get an upgrade, this is especially important as certain legendaries can have a pronounced effect on your stat weights. The second-best way is to use the more generic Pawn string found in these guides. These are good for general usage, but obviously not tailored for your character.

2.3. Statistics Explanations

Agility is your primary statistic. It provides you with Attack Power, which determines the damage your abilities do across the board.

Mastery, through Mastery: Master of Beasts, increases the damage done by your pets, Dire Beasts, Stampede and A Murder of Crows

Haste increases your attack speed and Focus regeneration, reduces your Global Cooldown from 1.5 seconds to a minimum of 0.750 seconds, and reduces the cooldown on your Kill Command, Dire Beast, Dire Frenzy, and Chimaera Shot abilities.

Critical Strike increases your chance to critically hit with all spells and abilities, causing them to deal double damage. For Beast Mastery in particular, Crit increases the frequency of Wild Call procs, which gives auto-shot critical strikes a 20% chance to reset the cooldown of Dire Beast.

Versatility increases all your damage and healing done, and decreases all damage taken.

3. ChangeLog

+ show all entries - show only 10 entries

• 18 Jul. 2017: Rewrote the stat priority to take all common builds into account.
• 30 Jun. 2017: Added Pawn string for the Stomp build and added a note that Critical Strike is often better than Mastery when using it.
• 13 Jun. 2017: Removed non-Shoulder softcap as the Shoulder effect is now baseline. Updated stat weights. More updates might come leading into ToS in this department.
• 03 Jun. 2017: Added Beast Mastery Dire Frenzy Hastecap. Remember it only applies if you do not have Shoulders.
• 25 May 2017: Gave the stat weights a maintenance update.
• 17 Apr. 2017: Checked today and deemed updated.
• 04 Apr. 2017: Remove noted about Crit for Shoulder-wearing BM Hunters as that build relied on One with the Pack which is no longer optimal.
• 27 Mar. 2017: No changes needed for Patch 7.2.
• 01 Mar. 2017: Added note about Crit with the Mantle of Command legendary.
• 28 Jan. 2017: Added a BM-specific Critical Strike statistic explanation. Updated stat weights.
• 11 Jan. 2017: Updated stat priority and removed Agility from the listing as it does not do anything but confuse at this point.
• 09 Jan. 2017: Checked and confirmed for Patch 7.1.5.
• 17 Oct. 2016: Ordered statistics explanation in order of priority because OCD.
• 09 Oct. 2016: Added some notes to clarify frequently asked questions.
• 29 Aug. 2016: Updated for Legion's launch.
• 06 Aug. 2016: Updated stat priorities to take AoE into account, as well as using different talents as a base. This punishes Haste a lot.
• 29 Jul. 2016: Updated stat priority to reflect kill times in Legion more accurately.
• 20 Jul. 2016: Added Opener Sequence section.
• 18 Jul. 2016: Updated for the Legion pre-patch.