Beast Mastery Hunter PvP Guide — 12.1

Patch 12.1 introduced several throughput adjustments to the Beast Mastery specialization that do not majorly impact its core gameplay, although burst during Bestial Wrath has been slightly reduced. There has also been a reduction in the potency of slowing effects (although Shadow Jump from your Whitail is not affected).

Finally, we've seen the much anticipated return of Scatter Shot, which is a gamechanging and versatile crowd control effect in arena.

• Hunter
  • Ranged auto-shot damage increased by 600%.
  • Hunting Pack radius increased to 30 yards (was 15 yards).
  • Chimaeral Sting no longer applies its subsequent effects when dispelled.
  • Roar of Sacrifice reduces damage taken by 25% in PvP combat (was 15%).
  • Scatter Shot has returned as a PvP talent: A short-range shot that deals damage, removes all harmful damage over time effects, and incapacitates the target for 3 seconds. Any damage caused will remove the effect. Turns off your attack when used.
  • Tar Trap movement slow reduced to 30% (was 50%) in PvP combat.
  • Cold Feet movement slow reduced to 50% (was 70%) in PvP combat.
  • Concussive Shot movement slow reduced to 30% (was 50%) in PvP combat.
  • Scorpid Venom movement slow reduced to 70% (was 90%) in PvP combat.

• Beast Mastery
  • Heart of the Pack renamed to Razor Sharp and has been redesigned: Increases the damage of your pet's Bite, Claw, and Smack by 100%.
  • Piercing Fangs has been redesigned: Kill Command critical damage increased by 15%.
  • Bloody Frenzy has been updated: Now reduces Barbed Shot's periodic rate increase by 33% (was 50%).
  • Kill Cleave has been updated: Kill Command now only cleaves 20% of its damage during Beast Cleave (was 40%).
  • Barbed Shot damage increased by 25%.
  • Kill Command damage increased by 20%.
  • Cobra Shot damage increased by 20%.
  • Beast Cleave duration increased to 10 seconds (was 8 seconds).
  • Dire Beast summons can now be tracked on the Cooldown Manager.
  • Wild Instincts has been removed.
  • Auto Shot damage increased by 20%.
  • Cobra Shot damage increased by 30%.
  • Serpentine Strikes now increases Cobra Shot's critical strike damage by 20% (was 50%).
  • Cobra Senses now increases Cobra Shot's damage by 10% (was 35%).
  • Barbed Shot damage reduced by 12%.
  • The Venomous Abyss 4-Set Bonus: Now increases Cobra Shot's damage against a single target by 15% per stack (was 30%).
  • Beast Cleave can no longer be cancelled.
  • Beast Cleave now causes your pets to strike nearby enemies for 55% of the damage dealt (was 40%).
  • Cobra Shot damage reduced by 20%.

• Hero talents: Dark Ranger
  • Bleak Arrows damage increased by 300%.
  • Withering Fire's Black Arrow damage reduced by 40%.
  • Dark Hound summons can now be tracked on the Cooldown Manager.
  • Black Arrow damage increased by 25%.
  • Through the Eyes has been redesigned: Increases the damage of Kill Shot and Black Arrow by 10%.
  • Black Arrow no longer highlights itself whenever it is able to be used against the target.
  • Black Arrow direct damage reduced by 40%.
  • Ebon Bowstring now causes Black Arrow to have a chance to cause your next Aimed Shot to grant the Deathblow effect.
  • Dark Minion summons can now be tracked on the Cooldown Manager.
  • Dark Chains movement slow reduced to 30% (was 40%) in PvP combat.
  • Shadow Dagger movement slow reduced to 20% (was 30%) in PvP combat.

• Hero talents: Pack Leader
  • Hogstrider now increases the damage of your next Cobra Shot by 100% (was 200%).
  • Hoof and Blade now increases the bonus Cobra Shot damage from Hogstrider by 25% (was 50%).
  • Hogstrider now lasts for 1 minute (was 20 seconds).
  • Hogstrider is now cancelled when starting a Raid encounter or Mythic+ dungeon.

• Pet Abilities
  • Tendon Rip movement slow reduced to 30% (was 50%) in PvP combat.
  • Talon Rend movement slow reduced to 30% (was 50%) in PvP combat.
  • Blood Bolt movement slow reduced to 30% (was 50%) in PvP combat.
  • Prowl movement slow reduced to 30% (was 50%) in PvP combat.
  • Frost Breath movement slow reduced to 30% (was 50%) in PvP combat.
  • Pin movement slow reduced to 30% (was 50%) in PvP combat.
  • Ankle Crack movement slow reduced to 30% (was 50%) in PvP combat.
  • Lock Jaw movement slow reduced to 30% (was 50%) in PvP combat.
  • Trample movement slow reduced to 30% (was 50%) in PvP combat.
  • Web Spray movement slow reduced to 30% (was 50%) in PvP combat.
  • Spirit Walk movement slow reduced to 30% (was 50%) in PvP combat.
  • Dust Cloud movement slow reduced to 30% (was 50%) in PvP combat.
  • Warp Time movement slow reduced to 30% (was 50%) in PvP combat.
  • Furious Bite movement slow reduced to 30% (was 50%) in PvP combat.
  • Acid Spit movement slow reduced to 30% (was 50%) in PvP combat.

The Midnight Expansion brings huge changes for all Hunter specs, primarily focused on streamlining and simplifying aspects of the kit.

• No more Deathblow procs from Auto-Shots.
• Barbed Shot has a 50% chance to grant Deathblow.
• After you activate Bestial Wrath, the Bestial Wrath button itself turns into Wailing Arrow, a powerful cast that activates Deathblow.

• Increased Focus regen with each auto-attack granting 2 Focus.
• The Bear has been nerfed by 40%, making it more balanced relative to the other Beasts. In the past, we often had to pay special attention to optimizing around the Bear. Now, Beasts are more balanced which means that you do not tend to worry too much about which one you have coming up.

• Frenzy is entirely gone as a mechanic.
• Beast Cleave is now activated by Wild Thrash, with the same cooldown and duration, meaning that by using the abillity on cooldown, you will have near 100% uptime.
• Bestial Wrath is now a flat 30 second cooldown. Its initial damage is increased, while its damage buff component has been lowered from 20% to 30%.

Midnight introduces new Apex Talents, unlocked between Level 80 and 90. Beast Mastery gets:

• Nature's Ally
• Nature's Ally
• Nature's Ally

These encourage you to avoid using Kill Command twice in a row, instead using a "filler" between each cast.

• Various crowd control abilities have been removed, including Scatter Shot, High Explosive Trap, and Entrapment.
• Concussive Shot has been enhanced by the new talent Improved Snaring.
• You now have Wing Clip by default if you do not take Concussive Shot.